Casamento's Oysters Question

[mikemill]

Since the board is refusing to let me bump the "best oysters" thread, I'll do it this way...

Are the oysters at Casamento's always so dirty? I literally had clumps of grime and grit falling from them as I ate them. My paper napkin was entirely gray by the end of the meal. What's up with this? A friend tells me it's just New Orleans, but I have a hard time believing that this is acceptable to anybody...

[Uncle Bob]

Is there a rhyme or reason they don't wash them??

[hazelhurst]

Hardcore oyster lovers insist that washing oysters is a sin comparable to putting ketchup on crabmeat

[cajungirl]

I agree. Many people I know just laugh at the idea of oysters that have been washed...what? wash away the flavor?

[Clarkafella]

Personally, I would prefer that they rinse them off if they are covered in mud, but I would still eat them if they didn't...

[bulldogx2]

We ate there on Saturday afternoon - first time. Oysters were great (on the half shell and in an oyster loaf), but I did notice that they were pretty dirty. Ended up with a lot of grime on my hands by the end of the meal.

[Hungry Celeste]

I never noticed the dirt, but then I never pick up the shells and slurp when in a restaurant (backyard, yes; on the boat, yes; at the track, yes; but not in a restaurant).

[mikemill]

Then it must have been a recent development. I know that you're a big fan of Casamento's, and it wasn't an issue of 'noticing' the dirt, rather, it was more an issue of attempting to ignore the dirt and still eat the oysters.

[Spencer]

Don't get me wrong- I am not questioning your report.
I am sorry this happened, as I am a big fan.
We eat there at every NOLA visit and always get raw. We've not experienced this. I hope they were just having a bad day.

[cheesegrater]

I think the oysters are always dirty. I ate there with my wife and my parents last week and we were really put off. They were having drain issues at the oyster bar, but I asked at work and was told that is just the way they roll. My wife refused to eat more than two (and those were just to placate the table). In short, unwashed oysters are unacceptable, I don't care how long you've been in business. The oyster loaf was great though.