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Clark's Oyster Bar

4.1 (122 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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Recommended Reviews - Clark's Oyster Bar

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Oysters we chose
Ann M.

Celebrating my husband's birthday all month because this man deserves the world! We love a good oyster bar and this place is it! The server shared some great history about this place. I wished I got her name. She was a doll. The first Clark's can be found in Texas and when they opened this one in Menlo Park that shipped their sourdough starter to this location. From there they kept feed the starter and it's from the original Clark's, the sourdough was complimentary and sooo good! We got two servings! The butter with it was perfect. Everything from this place is made from scratch other than the ketchup and thousand island. We had an oyster extravaganza and the yunmiest buttermilk pancakes! The presentation of the pancakes was beautiful. It looked great and tasted even better! Can't wait to come back here! The oysters we chose were from the east coast and all of it was good!

Anuk B.

Really cool new seafood spot in downtown Menlo Park, my friend and I were intrigued by their happy hour which was 50% off of martinis, 5 dollar oyster shooters, and half off burgers and cheap oysters. The inside of the restaurant was really cute and reminds me an old timey restaurant vibe. Our server was super nice and recommend some specific oysters and I got a vespr martini which both were fabulous. The burger was amazing and the fries were so crispy. The shooter was a fun twist. Next time will definitely try the lobster roll or crab cakes (although I will say this place is pricy). Would come again!

Mussels and Clams, grilled sourdough and ask for that spicy sauce on the side!  Yummy yummy!
Elizabeth S.

Clark's is my new favorite restaurant as a lover of sourdough and seafood. It reminds me of the late Fish Markets but dishes with more of a creative touch and a higher caliber of ingredients The sourdough offering here is housemade and keeps coming as you wish. The Catch of the Day is constantly changing. The Barramundi and Branzino were delicious. The seafood crudo is a must every time. I love raw fish and the flavors in the assortment of fresh fish are of simple lemon, oil and caper flavors. I yearn for the crudo if I haven't had my fix in a bit! The shellfish here is also damn good. That clam linguine is a guilty pleasure. It's got just the right amount of cream in it leaving the sauce light and nuanced with harmonious flavors. The mussels and clams go perfect with the grilled sourdough for dipping in the broth. Ask for the spicy oil. Omg I want to put it in everything! I never order crab cakes. Because they're usually breaded up with the actual crab meat taking a back seat but not at Clark's! It's all tasty crab meat with almost no casing if any. I only order crab cakes here. If you crave dessert, this is the place also. I'm not a huge dessert person, but I enjoy their sweet treats. Sometimes they have special desserts also like that berry cheesecake. There is a great selection of wines here, and Wine Wednesday bottles are half off. I took my mommy here for Mother's Day. She loved it. Clark's is of exceptional quality, and I can't wait to get my next fix in my favorite seafood restaurant! Excellent, beautifully made fresh food, impeccable service, fun atmosphere and reasonable prices.

Roasted Cauliflower
Matt J.

We live in San Francisco and have a decent number of restaurants to try further down the Peninsula, but mostly we can't restrain ourselves from another visit to Clark's. The food somehow keeps getting better--perhaps more lemony dressing on the kale, more golden raisins with the cauliflower--and the servers are simply delightful, welcoming us back like old friends and remembering our order; they even recall our bespoke elements, such as keeping the Fresno chiles on the side of the roasted cauliflower so I can add them on while my partner can hold them off. Clark's is another installment in the world of seafood-centric eateries that is also divine for vegetarians. While I build my meal around their sides, there is zero drop-off in enjoyment and excellence. While many places prepare the veggie dishes as throwaways, Clark's takes great care with the details. Pine nuts and Parmesan support the kale while raisins and hazelnuts back the cauliflower. The space is a bright and airy oasis on the main downtown stretch, but transports us to a beachside destination. I'd be hard-pressed to feel stressed here, much less dissatisfied with a meal.

Oysters
Marge C.

I'm in seafood heaven... I had an amazing seafood dining experience with all of my favorite seafood dishes! Started with some fresh oysters. Tried 3 kinds and they were all fresh. Next, their New England Clam Chowder. I like the touch of tabasco on top. The heat goes well with the soup. From now on I will crave that touch of heat. Also added the Ceviche which I'm glad we did because I really love the vibrant flavors. For the main dishes we had Lobster Roll and Scallops .Scallops were good but slightly overcooked to my liking. But the Lobster Roll is now at the top of my list. I usually preferred just buttered version without the mayo. But their mayo version is one of the best I've tried. The mayo is light and does not overpower the lobster meat. And they put a full piece of the claw meat on top. The bread was buttery, soft, and crunchy. The shoestring fries is enjoyable to pair it with. (Writing about it makes me want to go back right now. Haha.) And to end the meal, we had Key Lime Tart. The citrus lime taste is just right. The ratio of crust to topping is good and creates a perfect bite. I love the coconut on top, it totally complements the taste. What a delicious meal! It can be a bit pricey especially when you want to try so many dishes. But most of it is worth it. If there's any dish I would get again when I come back, definitely the Lobster Roll, Ceviche, and Key Lime. The facade of the restaurant is plain, but when you go inside, you feel the transport to a seafood haven. The staff's uniforms give nautical vibe. The service was fast and efficient. They check on our experience and they are on top of things. Tables can be a bit cramped maybe because it was a busy weekend. But overall a good dining experience. And bonus points for having a clean and nice restroom.

Sourdough bread- yummy
Eva L.

First time having burnt honey ice cream and a chimichurri style bell pepper tomato sauce which I thought were quite unique. Had the following from their brunch menu: Sourdough bread - complimentary sourdough bread with whipped butter and a side of coarse salt to start. The bread was not overwhelmingly sour. Soft with slight chewy texture. One of the best sourdough breads I've had. You can tell it's made from scratch. The staff said it was fresh made daily. Nice detail to serve with salt on the side to allow diners to add the amount of salt to their liking. Buttermilk Pancakes w/ Ricotta Chantilly cream - pancakes' texture was a cross between a slightly fluffy pancake and a spongy thick crepe. Definitely had the buttermilk taste and just the right amount. The ricotta cream was very light. Yummy pancakes. Dungeness Crab Omelette - big lump of fresh sweet crab literally folded in the soft sheet of scrambled eggs. Very light hollandaise sauce. Came with crispy roasted baby potatoes sitting in what tasted like bell pepper tomato sauce and that looked like is what prepared chimichurri style. Good sauce. New England Clam Chowder - not the full on creamy type of chowder but it didn't need to be because it was very tasty. The bacon added another layer of flavor to the soup which balanced the seafood flavor. Not overly clammy flavor. They serve the oyster crackers in its own little bowl which I thought was an elegant touch. Basque Cake - The cake was topped with burnt honey ice cream and surrounded with chunks of caramelized pears and peeled almond pieces. The cake itself was not too sweet. I was expecting a cheesecake but it was more like a gooey butter cake. The outer layer had a coarse but soft texture, like an almond flour. The center layer was smoother and had a more sticky consistency. The honey ice cream added the sweetness that remind me of toffee flavor mixed with dark caramelized sugar. The pear added the sour tart flavor to balance the sweetness. The dining room was bright with a relaxed atmosphere. The staff who served our table added to the calm friendly ambiance. Pricey but they definitely pay attention to details with complex taste and use quality ingredients.

oysters
Purva D.

I am a big oyster lover and my partner surprised me for valentine's day to this hidden gem in Menlo Park. We got the Miyagi and East Coast oysters and they did not disappoint. The service was okay because we felt we were being judged for just ordering oysters. We didn't want to eat too much because we had more meals planned throughout the day. We requested outdoor seating but there were so many bugs outside that it went inside our drinks many times. I am a bit surprised that Menlo Park isn't clean and especially in the winter. This might mean they don't clean their outdoor area and the kitchen might not be as clean either.

Eric L.

Great ambience, you have a choice of indoor and outdoor dining. The oysters really fresh and delicious. Staffs are very friendly!

Oysters
Joanna L.

Oysters were amazing, the staff were very knowledgeable and attentive. The whole restaurant felt like you got transported out of the South Bay and up to SF. Overall great date night spot :)

Menu
Jonathan C.

Having loved Hog Island in the Bay Area, and Eventide/Row 34/Neptune Oysters in New England, I was very excited for an oyster bar to come to the Peninsula. Unfortunately, Clark's doesn't meet the same standards and I can put it in the same conversation as the others. Easy street free parking. Complimentary sourdough bread: Solid, but I wished it was served warm. They have a variety of rotating fresh oysters daily. At $4.50 each, they are definitely on the higher end. We tried the Royal Miyagi and Barnstable. They bring it out with horseradish, saltine crackers, cocktail sauce and a vinaigrette. Crudo Plate (1/5): This seemed like a popular dish and was looking forward to trying it. Personally, it fell flat as each fish had a slight mushy texture and the capers, onions and oil were quite overpowering. It could have used some sort of fruity notes as the lingering flavors weren't great. Lobster Roll (4/5): You can have it served warm "Connecticut style", which I usually recommend. It was a solid roll and not much to add. Mussels and Clams: Unfortunately, we didn't realize it was spicy so keep that in mind based on your tolerance. We ended up not being able to eat it. They were kind enough to remove it from our bill and comped us a free dessert, which was a kind gesture. Service was hit and miss. Our oysters and Crudo plate came out super fast, but there was a long lull until our entrees came out.

Crudo plate ($34)
Sandee L.

We had a very nice dinner with our friends at Clark's. The cocktails were on point, we loved the "dressed" raw oysters, the crudo was fresh and delicious. The grilled octopus was perfectly tender and was yummy atop the bed of aioli. The pepperoncini was a bit of an odd pairing though. The shells and cheese had big chunks of crab up in there and was so cheesy and creamy. The linguini and clams also hit the spot and the crusty complimentary bread was perfect to mop up all that extra sauce. I totally missed the "whole" part in the description of the sand dab and was turned off when it was brought to the table: eyeballs, fins, skin and all. I prefer mine already filleted, de-skinned and not remotely resembling a fish. My dining companions thought it was delicate and tasty though. Stuffed, we still couldn't pass up dessert. We shared the double chocolate pie which was decadent and uber chocolate-y. Loved the smoooooth salted caramel ice cream too. Save room for this! Awesome service too! Not cheap: Clark's will set you back over a hun per person, but hey, seafood has never been cheap and we ARE in the middle of the Bay Area.

Noelle J.

Noelle's Yelp Notebook 2025 August 8, 2025 Dear Clark's Oyster Bar, Greetings :) On a warm summer day recently (yesterday) I was trying to figure out where to have lunch. Your restaurant came to mind as it was on my Yelp List of places to try. So I made the trek from the Willow Glen area of San Jose to Menlo Park. Being a homemaker my schedule is my own and I had no previous lunch engagements. Traffic was bad because I left San Jose around 11:30 PM Yet it was an easy peasy drive to Menlo Park (we dine all over the SF Bay Area). I called to see if you took Apple Pay, the person who answered your phones didn't know the answer but took my number down and said she would call me back. I never got a call back but it turned out fine. You do accept Apple Pay :) I scored parking in front of your beautiful restaurant. It gave a very vintage vibe which I loved. I had 15 minutes before my Open Table reservation so I decided to take a quick stroll before lunch. I love how Penzey's is across the street. Upon arrival I was greeted by the friendly host at the hostess desk. The aquarium caught my eye immediately, the sleek hardwood floors, the gorgeous painting about the handsome wood bar with the retro style stools and purse hooks made my heart skip a beat. The comfy booths and the tables with white table cloths - stunning. After being sad at a booth for two near the bar I couldn't help but notice the delectable loaves of freshly baked bread. Just wow- but even more so when I was able to savor the best sourdough bread with butter, sea salt and radish. I was dining solo. Bread - Butter - Radish - Sea Salt Shirley Temple Lobster Roll with shoe string fries Key Lime Pie Dahlia was a great server from start to finish. Everyone on staff was friendly and helpful. The Lobster roll was absolutely delicious from the delicious warm homemade bun to the fresh lettuce and the chilled and delicious lobster filling. Shoe string fries were perfectly fried and seasoned. The butter was the perfect accompaniment to the most delicious lobster roll. Shirley Temple was perfect. Key Lime Pie was so good it could make you cry (I'm not kidding you). It like the bread was pure perfection. I love how when I was sat they promptly gave water, with my seasonal allergy issues and sometimes parched throat it's always nice when water and menus are placed as you are seated. The tap water was good tasting (I'm a water snob). I'm looking forward to dining here with my husband and son, family and friends and just by myself. I know others have commented on the prices at your dining establishment but everything in the SF Bay Area is expensive. You have delicious food and high quality ingredients so it makes sense. Keep up the good work Clark's :) You're a great addition to the SF Bay Area and you're closer than Scoma's when I need my seafood fix!!! Cheers, Noelle Noelle's Notes Delicious food Great customer service Takes Apple Pay Expensive like my Cartier Love bracelets lol ;) The acoustics are loud but hey - you could always use your air pods max (only if you're dining solo, hahahaha). Restrooms are clean and like Star Noodle nice (at their first location on Maui) or nice like Be.Steak.A

Linguine with clams: so-so

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2 months ago

Just want to say how much I appreciate the service, atmosphere, food, all of it. And Justin, he is amazing. He gets it.

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Temp & Time - Clockwise: Matcha Latte w/ oat milk ($6.75), Hōji Roll Cake ($6), Thai Tea Roll Cake (OTH), Hōji Latte w/ oat milk ($6.75)

Clockwise: Matcha Latte w/ oat milk ($6.75), Hōji Roll Cake ($6), Thai Tea Roll Cake (OTH), Hōji Latte w/ oat milk ($6.75)

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