After dinner on The Square, we made a pit stop at Black Pearl, a small, narrow bar attached to Rick's On the Square. We all ordered a drink. My friend and my girlfriend both ordered their espresso martini that my friend claimed was the best espresso martini in town, while I got the bartender's recommendation of the Animal Style, a pineapple and jalapeño infused tequila with strawberries, cardamom bitters, and a lemon peel garnish. Normally, I hate any drink that is spicy. I cannot stand a Bloody Mary because I don't believe drinks should be allowed to be spicy, but this one, for having jalapeño, is not spicy at all. If anything, it's slightly savory with its tropical flavor. The bartender was great. They have appetizers and tapas as well and as my girlfriend sat down, she really wanted just one of their fresh oysters. I ordered her just one to try and it was $4.25. They gave us the smallest one they could find. The tiniest oyster of all time. I guess size really didn't matter because according to her it was very good. I would go back and have a few more cocktails, but it is a nice place to hang out on the square on a Friday night. A good time to be had by all. RIYL: The finest, most $15ish cocktail you can find. read more

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Great atmosphere and service. Great drinks! Wish it had more space but overall A+ locale. read more

3 Fried Jumbo Shrimp, good but not worth $17. Good is ridiculously expensive. Live band was great, ambiance was good. If you're looking for a cool low key spot for drinks and hanging out with friends, this is a good spot. read more

Black Pearl - 3 Jumbo Shrimp 3, not worth $17. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tyler, Texas

I love the oyster choices. I wish they would bring some west coast species in like kumamotos (my fav). The only thing is there service is sooooooo slow for food. They get overwhelmed quickly. We have been several times and it is always like this if there is more than 6 people in the restaurant. They only have one guy doing food and two bar tenders. We like to order a mix of oysters They have available and then do another dozen of our favorites. We end up waiting an hour+ between when we get the first set and get the second set. Restaurant is cute on the inside and the cocktails are good. read more

Top notch in every department. Animal style is my favorite drink in East Texas. Bartenders are knowledgeable and personable. Great music and atmosphere. Oysters are always fresh. Only thing that I would change is that I wish they sold bags of their homemade chips. These chips will blow your socks off. read more

Dad gum, this place just grows on me. Every time I'm in Tyler I gravitate to the town square and there it is. Black Pearl, keeps calling my name. The food (oysters again) simply fresh, almost as if I were in some beachside cafe. All the oysters here are from cold water places Nova Scotia for one. A small delicacy to reward myself after a long week. Dark , cool, and welcoming, my type of place. Great company and friendly folks too. This is where we get ready to cha cha, swing, rhumba, and tango. Ran into my fellow veteran friend Al whom I met my first time here. Wonderful food, friends, and company. You'll love it too. Go ! read more

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Small menu of verygood here. I am doing Ahi Tuna Tartare and Crab Louis Salad, White Moscato and club soda. I very much enjoyed foods here. Bailey is not a raw food guy. So he basically would not try anything we had and didn't understand what we were getting. Overall food quality and service was really good. read more

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It's arguably the best bar in Tyler. I'm afraid to review it, because I don't want to attract too many people. I want to keep this a secret because then we won't have anywhere to sit when we go! Hands down best drinks. Innerarity is my fav bartender. He's friendly and attentive! Look for him. The others are cool too, but he's memorable. The setting is like an old tavern; narrow shot-gun style. On certain days they play r&b and oldies. If they aren't playing that, we just still go, but don't stay as long. My favorite bar food is the boiled shrimp. If you get stuffed, they are topped with crab meat. While there aren't many hot food options, it beats the traditional wings and burgers at typical bars. Like I said, don't crowd the place and steal our seats, but check it out. You won't be disappointed. read more

Black Pearl - a man sitting at a table with a plate of food and a drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tyler, Texas

I've been here as a customer and it's good. The bartenders and barbacks are all great, the cocktails and food are nice. My review is for a different reason. Tonight as I was leaving Rick's with my husband, we saw an obviously inebriated woman leaving BP. She could barely walk and was getting into a large blue truck. Within a minute of speaking with her, she's telling us we're the nicest people she's ever met, like I said, inebriated. We try and get her to accept a cab or a ride but she won't do it, so I snuck inside to seek help from the bar staff. They knew exactly who I was talking about and went to get someone to handle it. Jay comes out, at which point me and my husband stepped away, thinking he would get her a cab or at least make her stay and sober up for a bit. Nope, he just asks if she's okay, she says yes, and he lets her get in her truck and leave for her home nearly 1 hr away. This woman was very clearly drunk and should not be behind the wheel of any vehicle. I'm appalled at the handling of this situation by BP and am kicking myself for not staying and helping her myself. I pray she gets home safe and SHAME ON THE STAFF for being so cavalier with someone's life. read more

This is a new experience for us. My wife gave me the pick of restaurants on a date night. So I picked this place. It's a cocktail bar for drinks and a raw bar for food. They have oysters on the half shell from several different locations. This night they had some from a couple of places in Nova Scotia. They were some of the best raw oysters I've ever had! They reminded me of oysters from Maine and Oregon. The best in Tyler! We also had a lobster roll, a crab salad, crab crostinis, and steak tartare. All were excellent. Never had beef tartare before but I liked it. The crab crostini's were a hit! Very good!! The crab salad was ok, nothing special, more greens than anything. Finally, the lobster roll was very good! I've had better in Maine but it's the best around here! The service was excellent, very prompt and professional. I liked the atmosphere, cozy and dark, a nice place for a date night. They had a very nice menu of cocktails and a nice wine list. It's kind of expensive. So don't have a heart attack when the bill arrives! We will definitely be going back. I recommend giving this place a try. read more

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Everything was amazing! The oysters, drinks, service and guests were all welcoming and friendly and delicious! Lighting is low and chill and a nice place to hang out! read more

This place is pretty magical as the name suggests. My only real annoyance was the time that it took considering there were only six people in the restaurant. The food is beyond delectable. We had a crab roll and lobster bisque with cocktails. The price is very expensive but I thought it was worth it considering the beautiful calming atmosphere and just the overall presentation of the entire facility. Highly suggest for a date night, probably not a family night. read more

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TLDR: Meh. Not worth the hype. Mediocre limited food options. Good oysters. OK drinks. Expected much more from the reviews. It is 98% bar, 2% restaurant. Food was Mediocre & expensive. Tapas sort of- in that the plates were small. Had the Halibut ceviche. Good. Little bland, little halibut. Lots of avocado which was nice. Carpaccio NY strip. Total miss. Was plated well but zero substance. Lobster roll - chunky lobster. Had potential. Buried in mayo. Crustacean abuse. Dozen oysters - various places. They have a ton. No idea how fresh. Decent if you like oysters. Paper Plane - "my drink" love that it was on the menu! Was OK, not great. Proportions were off. Dark & Stormy - was a good drink. Well made. And Pineapple coconut pancetta. My companion asked "what is it?" I describe it as, "fancy jello". It rolls out and . . . Pineapple, coconut & cream on top were good. Canned & bagged, not fresh. "Jello" was completely flavorless, completely. Could have been tofu or unflavored gelatin & would have been the same. Service was poor before they were busy and then became nonexistent. For $120 we should have gone to a good steakhouse. Rare, but this one was a 100% miss. read more

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Food and service was exceptional. The selection of up east oysters was extensive. The best lobster bisque I have ever had.

A great place with great food and super service. I was visiting from out of town and this was just perfect. Drinks were perfect

I have been here twice and the first time was good but went again and did not have a pleasant experience. It seemed that if you are not a regular you're not wanted. The Asshole serving oysters only wanted to treat patrons badly and belittle them when they had a question. I mean if you are behind the bar most would think that you are a bartender. Apparently he is just an ass clown that serves oysters and should be at the other end of the bar since he does nothing but act like he is too good to be nice and wanted to show out in front of the regulars. read more

I've been wanting to stop by to check out the Black Pearl for quite a while now and I am so glad we did! The service was great and the oysters were amazing. The bartender made a perfect dirty martini and we also enjoyed the crab stuffed shrimp and ceviche. We will absolutely be back again soon. read more

Ridiculous prices for stingy sub-par food. I couldn't find any lobster in the lobster roll for all the onions. We will never be cheated there again! That $50 could buy a meal somewhere else. read more

Over the top! Yes, it's pricey, but oMg!!!! The oysters were divine, service the best and drink's delicious!!!!!!

Old enough to remember a dry Smith county and a wallet full of specialized club memberships, each holding my special bottle of booze. This is way better, in every way. Charming, go-to bar in Tyler that is open four to closing wed to weekend. Excellent mixed drinks, including some eccentric options like a chartreuse smash that is excellent. Delightful selection of oysters, alf a dozen chef's choice is a great way to go. Don't sleep on the desserts. Atmosphere is intriguing: bartenders first introduced me to Deep Ellum Brewing Company Blonde beer, the first iteration of that can, which makes me laugh to this day. read more

Half price oysters on Tuesday. The vibe at this spot is nice and chill. The food is great and the assortment of oyster varieties is by far the best in ETX. read more

Black Pearl - Tuna Tartare - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tyler, Texas

Delicious. We had a mix of oysters, the halibut ceviche, crab crostini, lobster bisque, and a couple of cocktails. The crab crostini was decent, but I felt like it was missing something in the flavor profile. The oysters and ceviche were great. The bisque was too salty for me. The side car and animal margaritas (?) were great. read more

Food was phenomenal and bartenders are fantastic!! However, the tall older guy with gray/white hair (i think a dishwasher) was extremely homophobic and made a homophobic comment right when my wife and I were leaving. The food is always great but frankly, he ruined the experience we had at a place we usually enjoy. read more

We've been here twice now, and I'm sure this is only the first of many!! Food was Wonderful, Drinks are to die for ( my husband's description of their Old Fashion) !! I actually have to agree on this point, shrimp and oysters were Wonderful!! Can't go wrong with Anything here! read more

Food was good. Ceviche mediocre. Nathan treated my friend and I like we were 2nd class citizens presumably because we were from out of town. If you want lighter fare than normal heavy Texas food this is the place to go but be prepared to be ignored, mocked, and belittled. read more

This place has a great atmosphere and even better food. To have a place like this in Tyler where you can get oysters from all over the east coast and Canada is awesome! Have been coming here for a while and will continue to come back! Staff is very friendly too! read more

I absolutely LOVE his place. A total gem around here. Food is fabulous, cocktails are fabulous and servers are fabulous. Certainly one of my favorite upscale places to dine in Tyler. read more

DRESS CODE! We came in off the freeway hungry on a day trip. Stopped in downtown to eat in Tyler. Had on a muscle shirt-- sleeveless and was asked to leave. We are from outta town-- Los Angeles. Not really "tourist" friendly-- no signs posted saying there was a "dress code" being enforced. We were THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANT! Once asked to put on a sleeve shirt-- (we didn't have one)--we decided to eat elsewhere. On vacation passing through read more

Black Pearl - Yeah that shirt wasn't permitted inside the location. So we left the area heading back to freeway - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tyler, Texas

Yes! Yes! Yes! Although they may be primarily a great bar, if you miss the food you have missed some of the best in Tyler. We eat out 8-10 times a week between lunches and dinners and so far, in Tyler, this cannot be beat. read more

First timer and excellent service and fabulous food. The Crab salad was the best I've ever had, hands down. Will definitely go back!

A hidden gem in downtown Tyler Texas. Everything we tried was delicious. Fresh. Small portions, perfect for sharing. Fun craft cocktails, good wine by the glass. Atmosphere gets a thumbs up from me. Slow night while I was there, I bet it can get crowded at times. read more

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Ahoy, matey and welcome to The Black Pearl. Nah, I'm just kidding. This is not a Pirates of the Caribbean themed bar as my dumbass half expected. Nonetheless, I'm glad my friends and I made this our last stop on a day trip to the ever welcoming environment of Tyler, TX. The drinks were good and beautifully crafted by a bunch of self-proclaimed "alcohol nerds" and the banter we had was enjoyable, as well. Now, my friends and I have been known as a "hurricane" in our hey-day and this was no exception. The bartenders were gentlemen and took us in stride. It was the loveliest of evenings. The environment? Spot on! The music? Great choices. The drinks? Not too strong, but strong enough. The patrons and bartenders? Fun and professional. On top of their menu, the men have a secret one all of their own. Ask them to whip up their favorite drink of choice, and they are entirely different, but just an enjoyable. I hope you check this place out, fellow Yelpers! read more

Oh, we love the Black Pearl! The character and ambiance are spot on. The drink menu takes an upscale and unique take on your classics, which is very well done. Our favorite spot to have a drink in Tyler. I'm not an oyster person, but my husband and all friends that are oyster people rave about the food! They have an amazing cheese and charcuterie tray to make those non-oyster people like me happy. The bar tenders and chef are top notch and take excellent care of their clientele. We love this place! read more

Black Pearl - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tyler, Texas

Excellent. Four bartenders kept busy by 20+ at the bar. A little high end and a little full of themselves, but the drinks tell the story. read more

Black Pearl - Old fashioned. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tyler, Texas

Wonderful spot! Food unusual & delish. We had oysters (ok, a lot of those!), fresh seafood appetizers, drinks really nice, great music choices. Would be great for date or comfortable to eat alone because atmosphere is easy & friendly. Just a couple cool guys running the place! read more

Some friends and I happened upon this place on a Tuesday afternoon day trip to Tyler, and boy are we glad we did! I'm not a huge oyster-lover, but I'll nibble on one or two when available. This place offers them at an individual price, so you can have as many or few as you like. The very attractive Oyster Man informed us that our fears of summertime oyster noshing were for naught, because these oysters were shipped in from the Atlantic Northeast no fewer than three times a week! In addition to the usual cocktail sauce, a ramekin of mignonette (sp) accompanied these bad boys and I will now long for the stuff any time I have half shells at any other place. This place is a Must(!) when in Tyler. It's like walking into a seaside pub, with the welcome of LoneStar hospitality. read more

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This place is an absolute ripoff. I ordered a whiskey on ice and got all ice and no whiskey. They didn't skip on the bill though, it was a ridiculous $15. Save your money and walk down to East Texas Brewery. read more

This is an amazing venue in the heart of downtown Tyler. Beautiful dark woods with a granite bar. A couple of tables beside the entry then the main bar down the entire right wall which seats about 15. On the left side is a rail bar down the entire length of the building with bar stools to seat another 15 to 20. Three big screen TVs behind the bar. The bartenders are competent, friendly, and helpful. The custom crafted cocktails are well made and delicious with good ratio of spirits to mixers. Specifically, Gustav's Gimlet and the South Side are excellent. Decent selection of bottled beers but only included one that today's hop head might even consider (Sierra Pale Ale). No craft beers that I saw. Nice selection of mid-priced wines. Food is pricey but great. We chose one each of all available selections (6 on the day we visited). Then we came back for one each of the 4 we liked best. Served with traditional cocktail sauce (add your own horseradish) or, my favorite, a mignonette sauce which was a fabulous compliment to the briny oysters. Also sampled the lobster bisque which was amazing, the king crab on the half shell served cold with remoulade sauce, and finally a creme brulee with not just one or two but a handful of fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries). All of the food, two cocktails, two beers, and tip rounded out at about $150, but the experience was well worth it. Love, love, love it! read more

We went to Black Pearl on April 20th for my wife's birthday. First impression was that it may be a good bar/cocktails. We sat at the bar and decided to give the menu a try. Menu is simple and yet intentionally very focused on their best offerings. We ordered 3 different items and we loved all of them. Definitely going back there soon read more

Food was good but service really slow. They are understaffed and while our server did a good job it just took a long long time to get drinks and food. We went to another establishment close by and service much better. So many options in Tyler that I don't think it's worth the money and time. Lobster Bisque was excellent as a positive!! read more