Raw Oyster Bar

[jesstifer]

I'm on a crazy oyster binge. Suddenly can't get enough of 'em. I recently got back from NYC where I spent a couple of hours sampling some of the dozens of different varieties at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station. I'm desperate to find a similar experience in LA, preferably somewhere where I can knock back an icy martini or two while assessing the differences between Discovery Bay and Fanny Bay, Blue Point and Shinnecock. The closest I've come so far is McCormick and Schmick, a very pale imitation. I'd love to find somewhere in Hollywood. Ideas?

http://lafoodcrazy.blogspot.com

[EclecticEater]

In OC Kings usually has an excellent variety of oysters on the half shell. Their fish is quite commendable, and they know how to cook it. I also had some really great oysters one night at the seafood restaurant bar in san clemente on the pier, and when I asked what type they were they told me they came from Baja. These were substantial, not thin, very fresh and very tasty, They were absolutely wonderful with a schooner of heifenweisen at 9:30 at night in this real California beachy bar.

[OCAnn]

Taps in Brea has a nice oyster bar.

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Taps Fish House & Brewery
101 E. Imperial Hwy., Brea, CA 92821

[FED]

as far as i'm concerned, water grill is the very best place. depending on where you live, you can get a more restricted selection at a lower price at King's Fish House, which is owned by the same folks. quality is very, very good.

[carln]

Its not in hollywood, but if you want a serious selection of oysters then Quality Seafood is the place for you. Go to Redondo Beach with a cooler, select from the 18 or so types of oysters, and then take them wherever you want to eat them.

[TomSwift]

A strong second for Quality Seafood. The selection is usually closer to 25-30 than to 18. Alas, no martinis; but a good selection of beers on tap. It's hard to beat sitting under an umbrella with a frosty one and eating oysters fresh from the saltwater tank until you burst. By all means take a cooler as you might decide that you've just got to take something home, but bear in mind that you'll have to shuck the oysters yourself.

[vvconst]

go with FED's suggestion. i've been to a couple of king's fish and they all have a decent selection of fresh oysters. can't go wrong if you don't know any dives

[cls]

Add Water Grill downtown and Ocean Ave Seafood in Santa Monica.

[Chowpatty]

Hungry Cat would certainly be your best option, especially as far as good cocktails are concerned.
BLT Steak in West Hollywood does a nice raw bar but I'm sure it comes at a price.
On the other end of the spectrum, Sgt. Recruiter (next to Cobras and Matadors) has pretty good oysters but I think it's beer and wine only.

[SauceSupreme]

And Hungry Cat has a healthy selection of oysters, too, from Pacific Northwest to Chesapeake Bay to St. Lawrence River.

Doesn't Comme Ca also serve oysters, or am I mistaken?

[Chowpatty]

Yes, and good cocktails as well.

[Obessed]

Agree with all the recos re: Hungry Cat. The best!

Comme Ca does have oysters on their menu (was there Friday night)...I didn't order any so can't tell you if they are good or not, but everything else we had that night was great (esp the cheese plate - am still dreaming about it).

[bad nono]

I had oysters there for my B-Day a couple weeks ago, and they were extremely good.
I liked the cheese plate too, but I truly, truly enjoyed the charcuterie plate, especially the rillettes.

[jesstifer]

Hungry Cat is awesome, but the selection of oysters tends to be tiny, two or three varieties. I will try Comme Ca, and I'd forgotten that Water Grill has a raw bar.