Three Great Places for Oysters in Georgia
If you follow the rule of only eating raw oysters in the months with the letter R in them, rejoice! Oysters on the half shell are back on the menu (in truth, they never left some menus), so you can eat them by the dozens.
If you're looking to enjoy oysters in Georgia, here are three places to try — one that offers raw oysters that are super affordable, another that allows you the privilege of shucking your own, and there's even one where the oysters are cooked if just can't stomach the thought of swallowing a raw oyster.
For the Frugal Oyster Eaters
$1 oysters! Yes, my frugal friends, The Optimist & Oyster Bar in Atlanta opens its oyster bar a bit earlier than the rest of the dining room — weekdays from 5 – 6 p.m. — so that you can come in and enjoy certain oyster varieties for $1. During this small window of time, you can feast on fresh oysters on the half shell with all the fixins AND the restaurant's house-made saltines — and those in themselves are worth a dollar. For oyster lovers with a more discerning palate, visit on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 – 4 p.m. for fancier oysters that are, yes, still a buck a piece.
For the Can't-Eat-It-Raw Oyster Eaters
Located in one of the oldest commercial buildings in Georgia overlooking Savannah's Ellis Square, Sorry Charlie’s Oyster Bar & Cocktails prides itself in serving oysters sourced from only a few miles away. Although they do serve raw oysters, they also offer a delicious variety of oysters roasted in a wood-burning brick oven and topped with everything from garlic and parmesan cheese, mushrooms and fennel, to bacon and jalapeno.
For the Adventurous Oyster Eaters
Those of you who enjoy the thrill of "hunting" your own food will be pleased to learn that you can hunt (and shuck) your own Georgia oysters. A fishing license is required for recreational oyster harvesting, and seasonal rules apply, but they are there for the picking. Most notably, a marsh island of public oyster beds can be accessed easily from any point from the Downing Musgrove Causeway to Jekyll Island and U.S. Hwy. 17 South. The rules allow harvesting of two bushels of oysters per day, with a limit of six bushels of oysters per boat per day. So, pack your shovel, hot sauce and a sleeve of saltine crackers.
For some tips for hosting an oyster roast, follow these simple steps from Liberty County.
Not up for trekking through the oyster beds, but still want to have a little fun? Visit Sunbury Crab Company in Liberty County and get a bucket of steamed oysters. They bring the bucket, you shuck the oysters!
