The month of November is a popular time for oysters. The crisp air, fall foliage, and your cozy favorite sweater are everything you need to put you in the mood to enjoy a warm cocktail while enjoying your favorite oysters.
If you're not heading to a neighborhood oyster roast, Charlotte has a ton of great restaurants that serve the tasty little morsels anyway you like them.
1. Sea Level
Sea Level is a trendy, Uptown restaurant located in the base of the Hearst Tower on 5th Street.
Since opening in 2016, Sea Level has quickly rocked the Charlotte restaurant scene.
Their menu consists of every type of oyster you could imagine, from Oyster Shooters to oysters on the half shell from all over the globe — places like Martha's Vineyard, Alpine Bay, and Sea Level, North Carolina.Every Monday through Saturday Sea Level's happy hour special includes oysters on the half shell for $1 per piece, so head over after work and enjoy your favorites with a glass of wine on the patio! Address: 129 E 5th St., Charlotte, NC 28202
2. Rocksalt
Rocksalt is an awesome seafood restaurant located in Charlotte's famous Park Road Shopping Center.
Rocksalt is known for their wood-fired grill and fresh oyster bar and serves oysters, clams, and shellfish that is delivered fresh daily.
The oysters here are delicious and you have your choice from the popular Rappahannock oyster from Topping, VA; the Rochambeau oyster from Yorktown, VA; or the Olde Salts from Chincoteague, VA. If oysters on the half shell aren't your thing, don't worry. The Barcat Oyster Chowder will melt in your mouth and the Roasted BBQ Oysters offer a tangy, sweet flavor that you won't forget. Address: 512 Brandywine Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209
3. Kindred
Kindred is a little bit further from Charlotte located in Davidson, NC but the food is well worth the drive.
Not necessarily a seafood restaurant, Kindred is a family-owned spot that offers locals a contemporary cuisine based on flavors picked up from traveling all over the world.
The Crispy Oysters are one of the most popular dishes on the dinner menu and consist of lightly fried oysters served with a dill yogurt sauce and drizzled with Calabrian chile oil. These oysters have restaurant goers from all over Charlotte raving. Pair them with the Charcoal Broccoli or Grandfather's Pickles and you have a tasty bite that you'll truly treasure. Address: 131 N Main St., Davidson, NC 28036
4. Pearlz Oyster Bar
Pearlz Oyster Bar is a low-country, eclectic seafood joint located in the Stonecrest Shopping Center in Ballantyne.
Oysters come steamed or on the half shell served with cocktail sauce and mignonette.
The Southern Fried Oysters with blue cheese and buffalo sauce are to die for and the Baked Oysters Rockefeller with crawfish, lump crab and bacon offer a unique twist on a classic recipe. If you are living in Ballantyne and looking for a fun, new place to enjoy great seafood, check out Pearlz Oyster Bar. It's one of Charlotte's best. Address: 7804 Rea Rd., Charlotte, NC 28277
5. Upstream
Upstream is a popular, high-end seafood restaurant located in Charlotte's South Park neighborhood at Phillip's Place.
Serving fresh catch, sushi, and small plates, Upstream is a wonderful place for date night or an intimate dinner out with friends.
Raw items like oysters, clams, and mussels are always on the menu, and a Crispy Oyster Salad offers a different take on our favorite seafood item.These Crispy East Coast Oysters were recently featured as a special one night and they were so amazing.
Address: 6902 Phillips Place, Charlotte, NC 28210
6. Dogwood Southern Table & Bar
Dogwood Southern Table & Bar is a modern, Southern restaurant located in South Park.
The menu at Dogwood is full of small plates and snacks which of course include many types of oysters.
North Carolina and Virginia Coast oysters are $2.50 each and the Gulf Fried Oysters are crispy deliciousness served with tartar sauce for dipping. If you're feeling especially adventurous, try the Oysters Dogwood which is oysters roasted on the half shell with chorizo, chives, and shallots. Yum! Address: 4905 Ashley Park Ln., Charlotte, NC 28210
7. Clean Catch Fish Market
If you're more of an at-home chef or if you're looking to throw an oyster roast of your own, pick up some of the best oysters in town at Clean Catch Fish Market.
Located on Selwyn Avenue, this fish market is our go-to destination for not only oysters but any kind of fresh catch you plan on serving.
The chefs at Clean Catch Fish Market can give you tips and pointers on how to cook the oysters that you purchase there or how many you need to purchase based on the number of people you're providing for. And if you're short on time, you can pre-text your orders to the shop and have it waiting for you when you get there. This market is our favorite place to by fish in Charlotte and it will be yours too once you try it! Address: 2820 Selwyn Ave., Charlotte, NC 28209
8. The Asbury
The Asbury is a chic Southern restaurant in the historic Dunhill Hotel of Uptown Charlotte. Offering rustic, Southern, farm-to-table dishes, the Asbury has quickly become one of Charlotte's favorite hot spots.
Oysters are always on the menu at the Asbury in the Starters section.
However, depending on the day they might be prepared differently. The menu lists the oysters appetizer as the Chef's Choice meaning he can serve them however he wishes depending on his mood. This version was a lightly fried oyster served with sour slaw and a Wilcox Family green sauce gel. One thing we have learned on our oyster hunt is the city of Charlotte does fried oysters right! Address: 235 N Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202.
9. The Cellar at Duckworth's
The Cellar at Duckworth's is a swanky, speakeasy-style restaurant located in the basement underneath Duckworth's Grill & Taphouse Uptown.
Featuring a colorful menu of small plates, the menu features everything from cheese and charcuterie to Tuna Tartar and Handcut Truffle Fries.
The oysters at the Cellar at Duckworth's are a popular choice and are served char-grilled with creole butter, pecorino, and toasted baguettes. Elegant and delicious, The Cellar at Duckworth's is a great place to take someone who wants to try oysters but doesn't want to take the jump into completely raw oysters yet.Address: 330 N Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202
10. George's Brasserie
George's Brasserie is a classic French restaurant in Charlotte located in the Piedmont Row area of South Park. George's has been a staple of Charlotte for a while and offers premium meats as well as great seafood options and a raw bar.
Oysters are freshly shucked and you have your choice of oysters from the East Coast or the West Coast.
Every Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., George's offers oysters for $1 per piece, making it a great place to stop after work to start your weekend right. George's also offers fresh lobster, middle neck clams, various fish entrees, and more. George's is a great place to go to celebrate a special occasion or to just treat yourself to an amazing French meal. Address: 4620 Piedmont Row Dr. #110, Charlotte, NC 28210
11. Growler's Pourhouse
Growler's Pourhouse is a casual, industrial style pub in NoDa. Offering customers 14-rotating taps and bar bites, Growler's Pourhouse is a fun place to visit on a night out with friends.
Offering a small menu of what they call "Beer Food," oysters make the cut and are absolutely awesome paired with your favorite ale.
The Pourhouse Point oysters are a North Carolina variety and the Daily Atlantic Variety offers a different option each day. The Absolute Peppar Oyster Shooter is a fun take on your average oyster shooter and is a Pourhouse Point oyster with cocktail sauce, lemon juice, cracked black pepper, and Absolut Peppar Vodka for a tangy, spicy shot that will clear your sinuses! Address: 3120 N Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205
12. BLT Steak
BLT Steak is one of Charlotte's most exquisite steakhouses serving prime meats and seafood from the Ritz Carlton Uptown.
While steak is definitely the thing to get when dining at BLT Steak, how about making it a surf and turf with a few specialty oysters on the side?
BLT Steak offers East and West Coast oysters by the half dozen and dozen, as well as a seafood platter, which gives you a taste of everything from oysters to lobster. The modern, beautifully designed atmosphere of BLT Steak is the perfect place to sit back and relax while enjoying a heavenly meal of your favorite steak and seafood. Address: 201 E Trade St., Charlotte, NC 28202
13. Fenwick's
Fenwick's is a neighborhood restaurant and bar located in the Myers Park neighborhood. If you happen to be driving down Providence Road at night, it's hard to miss with it's purple and teal fluorescent light up sign.
Serving a variety of dishes from burgers and sandwiches to London Broil and fish, Fenwick's is the type of place where you feel like family every time you visit.
Fenwick's has some of the best fried oysters in town served which are lightly breaded and fried and served with a side of remoulade sauce. You can also have a fried oyster Po'Boy if you are especially hungry or add the fried oysters to any salad if you are looking for something on the lighter side. Address: 511 Providence Rd., Charlotte, NC 28207
Where's your favorite spot to shuck oysters? Tell us in the comments!
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