For bonafide oyster lovers, nothing beats throwing back a juicy dozen with a cold cocktail or glass of wine. These briny bivalves are fresh, light, and deliciously rewarding either as a snack or appetizer. Here are six North Shore spots where you can satisfy your hankering on the half shell.
Tuscan Sea Grill & Bar, Newburyport
Newburyport’s Tuscan Sea Grill & Bar overlooking the Merrimack River offers a selection of oysters along with a full raw bar including clams, shrimp cocktail, ceviche, crudo, tuna tartare, and sushi rolls. Stop by every Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for happy hour and add special menu items to your oysters. Happy hour specials include tuscan meatballs, pizza, and fish tacos. Their wide drink menu includes five variations of spritzes with most including bubbles - Aperol, Watermelon, Tokyo, Sophia, and Amalfli. “Bubbles and oysters are a great pair,” says David Crinieri, culinary director for Tuscan Brands, explaining that the fizz refreshes and aerates the palate.
38R Merrimac St., Newburyport, 978-465-2211, tuscanseagrillbar.com
Elm Square Oyster Co., Andover
For the past few years, Andover’s Elm Square Oyster Co. has been offering $1.49 oysters (versus $3.50 and up) every Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Each week executive chef Michael Sherman picks one oyster out of the six or so the restaurant offers to serve during happy hour. “We often offer Beau Soleil from New Brunswick, Canada, because they’re a medium-size oyster and really approachable,” he says. “They’re good for people who want to try an oyster for the first time and delicious enough for those who order, like, 100 oysters—and we get these tables of three and they’ll just keep ordering a dozen, after a dozen, after a dozen, after a dozen.” Sherman sources his oysters from New Brunswick down to Rhode Island, including many from small farms in Maine.
Oyster-friendly sips he recommends include the restaurant’s zippy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Von Trapp Pilsner, and Spring Gin and Tonic enlivened with pink grapefruit juice and thyme simple syrup. When Happy Hour ends, the restaurant offers market price oysters. They also serve plenty of raw bar offerings, including the shellfish platter heaped with oysters, smoked fish, crudo, clams and shrimp. “If you’re into oysters,” says Sherman, “it’s quite the upgrade.”
2 Elm Square, Andover, 978-470-2228, elmsquareoysterco.com
Brine, Newburyport
Brine in Newburyport offers dollar oysters every Thursday evening—from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
In addition to fresh oysters Brine always has its full raw bar menu including shrimp cocktail, littleneck clams, crudo, and caviar. Coming with a group? Order their raw bar Power Tower that comes in two sizes (small and large). Brine was recently voted BONS 2025 Editor's Choice for oysters.
17 State St., Newburyport, 978-358-8479, brineoyster.com
CK Pearl, Essex
With a superlative view of the Essex River and expert sourcing from Duxbury and other boutique New England oyster farms, CK Pearl is a go-to spot for those craving a bit of the brine. Accoutrements here are simple: cocktail sauce and mignonette. The menu at CK Pearl includes house-made barbecue and a variety of seafood-centric options, but regardless of how you choose your entrée, don’t skip the bivalve appetizer course. CK Pearl was recently voted BONS 2025 Reader's Choice for oysters.
112 Main St., Essex, 978-890-7378, ckpearl.com
Sea Level Oyster Bar, Newburyport
Newburyport’s Sea Level, situated on the main floor of the Firehouse Center for the Arts, commands the city’s prime dining real estate. The estimable raw bar, which includes oysters, shrimp cocktail, littlenecks, and full seafood towers in varying sizes, tastes great on the front patio, or on the rear one, where diners can enjoy a view of both the Merrimack River and whatever performance happens to be brewing downtown. Sea Level was recently voted BONS 2025 Editor's Choice for raw bar.
1 Market Sq., Newburyport, 978-462-8862, sealevelnewburyport.com
1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Gloucester
In 2021, Gloucester’s Beauport Hotel expanded. An addition was built to include a raw bar, and the results are stunning. Shades of blue and turquoise mimic the sea, and the ocean views do not disappoint. But then, neither does the actual food: oysters on the half shell, seasonal composed oysters, littlenecks, Jonah crab claws, local seafood ceviche, New England lobster tail, daily crudo, jumbo shrimp cocktail, caviar service, seafood towers, and a selection of conservas. 1606 Restaurant was recently voted BONS 2025 Reader's Choice for raw bar.
55 Commercial St., Gloucester, 978-491-5090, 1606restaurant.com