I'm a big oyster fan. And really, in Toronto, there are only 2 places to get Oysters in the city, here and Rodney's. I'd have to say the oysters and service are right on par with each other. Both are fresh, both are served by fun waiters and waitresses who are, or look, somewhat overworked, but manage to get the job done. What I like about Oyster Boy is the other menu, which is a little less expensive and a little more 'roadhouse' than the more upscale Rodney's, which has a broader more diverse menu. Tonight I had a couple dozen oysters, which were as good as oysters get, as well as a nice caesar salad, with some fragrant smoked trout and onion rings, which probably were the best onion rings I've had in a long time, if ever. Only two staff on tonight, but they managed to keep a busy place sane and comfortable. Highly recommended. read more

This place is always good. I have to confess, everytime I come, it's for oysters only. Sometimes I get something else in addition to the oysters, and that's always been good, but it's about the oysters. What else have I had? Salad with smoked fish, I think. Fries, definitely. Other stuff? I don't really remember. But I do remember the oysters. Always good, always fresh, always served by knowledgeable and friendly staff. They usually have a nice variety from PEI, Eastern, Western Canada and the U.S. and the servers make good recommendations. Extra tip - they will sell you boxes or bags of oysters to bring home and shuck yourself. Or, for a little more cashola, they'll shuck and ice them for you to take home. We've bought a box once in a while for a party and shucked them at the party and they've been really great. As long as you keep 'em cold, they'll last. Oyster Boy is a great place, with good food and service, and a laid back vibe. I am glad to live nearby. read more

Just moved into the neighborhood and have to say this place is de-lish! Great vibe also! The staff are super friendly and helpful. I have to admit I was not expecting to enjoy Oyster Boy so much cause I'm not the biggest fan of Oyster, but found the rest of the menu very accommodating. read more

I had eaten a few oysters here and there, but never had I sat down for a full meal of the raw seafood delicacy that everyone loves so much. I brought my girlfriend here for her birthday since she is an oyster-lover and I have to say that, although squeamish at first, I was a full convert by the end of the night. The service was incredible. Our waiter recommended a range of oysters since we had no idea what we were doing and he was able to explain the taste notes of each type as if he was describing a fine wine. We ended up trying 5 different types (from both the Atlantic and Pacific) and enjoyed them all to varying degrees. We also had the deep fried oysters (loved them!) and the smoked fish and cheese plate. The flavours were a bit bold for me, but my girlfriend enjoyed everything. I've heard the fish cakes are a must...I'll have to try them next time. The place is extremely small so I recommend making a reservation if you don't want to have a long wait. And if you loved it so much you keep blowing your paycheck (oysters can be pretty pricey), they also wholesale their fresh oysters so you can eat them at home! Highly Recommended. A++++ read more

Every time I go to Oyster Boy, the service is terrible but the food is amazing. One time they spilled my drink on me and never offered me an apology, let along think to bring me a replacement. Another time they served the people after my group before us, and when we asked them when our meal was, they said there was a big group that came in before us and the couple that came in after us ordered something that was faster to make. Even if they were right, the server by no means tried to make us feel at ease. The food on the other hand as I mentioned, has always been amazing. I love their oysters as well as their clam chowder, and every time I've gone there I've ordered them. I just stopped going there as I got tired of the terrible service. read more

If you LOVE fresh oysters, this is as good as it gets. This is my favourite place in the city for fresh oysters. Large selection at great prices. They are well prepared too. No shell residue or dirt in my oysters. If you decide to host a party, you can order a crate from them at great prices too. The shells are cleaned ahead of time, but there's no harm rinsing them a bit more before when you get home. I would go back in a heartbeat. read more

Cozy restaurant and great oyster!! I ordered salad, steamed mussels and onion rings as well. These are enough to share for two. read more

Oyster Boy - Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Fabulous! We stopped for a quick app and beer and there were no tables available. The bartender/shucker/server offered to seat us right up front at the bar and we happily obliged. My fiancee and I ordered raw oysters (they had a dozen varieties that night) and baked oysters (5 types). The raw came out with 3 special sauces and a freshly grated horseradish (I saw them grate it right before serving) and they were as fresh as you could ask for. The baked unfortunately were forgotten by the server but he admitted that and served us 2 sets of 3 raws on the house because of the delay. What service! Every party that came in while we sat there (without reze) was asked to wait a sec and tables were checked to see if they could be fit in. Again, great service by all 4 people that night. Definitely a regular spot for us as we stop into TO monthly. read more

this is hard one for me.. I LOVED their selection of oysters, fantastic, fresh and well picked and mixed by Meagan, our server.. so that was five stars for me... but... when i had my ceviche, i was so disappointed, it was soooooo sour i couldnt stomach it.. and the beer battered fish and chips was good but not great.. only oysters at this place.. read more

After trying to find a place to eat in Queen West on a Saturday night, during prime time, my friend and I finally settled on Oyster Boy and it was definitely a great decision. The place was pretty packed at about 8:30pm, but there were two empty spots left at the bar. Servers were super friendly and let us know when a table was free, although we were pretty comfy at the bar, so we just decided to stay put. We ordered a couple rounds of wine, raw oysters, and baked oysters that night. I don't completely recall all of the raw oysters we had that night, but our server was super helpful and let us know which ones tasted like what and what size they were, and how meaty they were, and how they were in terms of texture. My favorites were the beach angels from BC, but I don't remember any of the others ones that we had. As for the baked oysters, they were AWESOME. The Royale was my favorite since it had crab on the top, but the Rustico followed closely behind. The Gruyere on the top was a great touch. I also liked the Rockerfeller- the fennel in it didn't have that licorice flavor so I ate a bunch of them. We also had the frites with curry sauce. The curry sauce was sooo good! I will definitely be back. I loved the food and the staff at Oyster Boy and the place was super cute. read more

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We had an excellent dinner last night at Oyster Boy. Probably some of the nicest oysters I've had in a long time. Our awesome server recommended the St. Simon which were meaty and had a nice savoury and sweet flavour profile. She also recommended the Valentine, which were from the west coast and really really delicious. Overall, they oysters were the highlight of the meal. The wine list has some perfect pairings, too. The rest of the food was good, but we found most of it to be under seasoned. The Onion rings were thick cut, huge and super crispy, but they needed some more flavour. The fish tacos were also a good size, but the only identifiable flavour was chipotle until I got to a bit of cilantro. The fish was fresh and tender, but again, the seasoning wasn't there. Crab cakes were much the same. Don't get me wrong-- everything was fresh, which is what you want when you're having seafood, but definitely missing some zip. The beet marinated scallop ceviche was wonderful. Great presentation and the subtle flavour of beet and lime shone through. I would absolutely come back to Oyster Boy for the raw stuff. They did an excellent job. If I was watching my sodium, I may have given them five stars, but for now, I'll leave it at a solid 4 and look forward to some more tasty oysters and white wine from the Loire Valley in the near future. read more

Been here dozens of times, and it's my favourite oyster restaurant in town, bar none. The staff is ridiculously nice, and their oyster and seafood selection is incredible. If you haven't tried oysters before, sit at the bar and ask the bartender what they'd recommend based on what you're after (large & meaty, salty, sweet, etc.). Staff is very accommodating, and when I wanted to share fish 'n' chips with my friend, they brought out an extra plate of fries for free. Amazing Lobster and Crab too. read more

My husband was excited to eat at Oyster Boys after reading that they had great seafood. We got one dozen oysters, their seafood chowder, crab cakes, and honey roasted brussel sprouts. Oysters arrived shortly after they were ordered and was served with a red wine sauce, spicy sauce, cocktail sauce, lemon, and fresh horseradish. I was hoping for more creative sauces for a place that specializes in oysters, but they did the job. Oysters were fresh and the husband enjoyed them. There were a few pieces of shell in our oysters. The other dishes was so incredibly underwhelming that it was almost unpleasant to eat. The seafood chowder was thick, but it wasn't creamy like a traditional chowder. The flavour also wasn't quite right; like they added something that didn't belong. We thought Red Lobster clam chowder was way better. The crab cakes weren't good at all. Served with coleslaw, pickled red onion, and mayo. I can't tell if the crab cakes were fried or baked because the texture was mushy throughout. The battered outside didn't add any crunch to them and the flavour was bland and uninspiring. The brussel sprouts were actually my favourite part of our meal and they didn't taste like they were honey roasted at all. Just cooked nicely. Service, while friendly and casual, wasn't really existent. We weren't offered water because we ordered drinks, but shouldn't water come by default? We were never checked upon at any point of our meal, otherwise we would have been honest with them. We begrudgingly ate our food and left unsatisfied. read more

Oyster Boy has - you guessed it - great oysters. Also, great fries, and really hospitable, friendly service. I like oysters a lot, so I don't personally have a lot to say about the non- oyster dishes (I'm pretty easy to please at this place - I go in, order a bunch of oysters and some wine, and leave very, very happy), but I've gone there with people who don't like or are indifferent to oysters, and they've been really happy with their meals. The fish and chips are particularly good. This is one of my favourite places in Toronto. I ordered oysters here for my wedding. Reservations aren't strictly necessary - they're happy to seat you at the bar if they're full - but are helpful especially on weekends because it's a small restaurant. read more

I've never been mad for mollusks and so when I was dragged here kicking and screaming like an infant, I didn't think I'd enjoy myself (or eat anything!). I was wrong as per usual. Oyster Boy is a lil hole in the wall, but it has huge personality and it knows its oysters. In fact, it's THE go-to place for oysters in Toronto...as I had been told (but had previously ignored) and soon discovered for myself. I've always had an aversion to these slimy suckers, but the staff does the shucking for you, while offering up explanations and tossing away the bad boys. Their knowledge of oysters is truly legit. Their assistance also makes the situation a little more comfortable if you're new this sort of dining experience. Luckily for me, I caught on quick and started to develop a palate for the raw kind. Or, perhaps I had just tricked myself into believing I loved it all because oysters are known as aphrodisiacs (dot dot dot). To sum it up, this place is aces and I'll definitely go back to try out some other fan favourites, like clams, marinated calamari, and beer battered fish oh my!- or shall I say, oh Oyster Boy! read more

An institution in Toronto. Absolutely must go for people that love seafood. They have the largest selection of oysters in the city. The BEST oysters in Toronto. Small and unpretentious. It's a warm, inviting room. Always filled with good vibes and pleasant chatter. FOH staff are knowledgeable, friendly and genuinely good people. I've never been disappointed. A great place to bring friends from out of town. Really a gem. read more

What a cool place! I can't even say I'm a huge fan oysters.... Lets be honest, despite being fairly tasty they look kind of gross and I end up tasting more of what I put on it (including a salsa, hot sauce and a mango chutney-ish thing as well as grated horse radish!) then the actual oyster. However, I'd say this is one of those places that is about the dining experiences as well as the actual food. Servers are knowledgeable and oysters are definitely fresh and tasty. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for something a bit different to do for a light dinner. However, I would caution anyone looking for a big meal - while delicious, the oysters are fairly pricey and with a bottle of wine or two the bill was definitely on the expensive side. read more

Fresh, constantly-changing selection of oysters, knowledgeable, friendly staff, kick-ass fries, did I mention fresh oysters? Came to Toronto on business, was in an oyster mood. Found this place due to Yelp. Pretty expensive for oysters IMO, ~$22-$30/dzn, but they were excellent. They had 6 different varieties to choose from at the time, 4 east-coast and 2 west-coast. The shucker(my apologies if he reads this, I forget his name right now) said the owner takes the staff on tour every year to try oysters in different locations, and only stock their place with the best. Here's the thing about this place that I loved. Their sauces are some of the best I've ever had. Seriously. Oysters come with fresh-ground horseradish, house-made cocktail, house-made mignonette, and house-made pepper/hot sauce. They're all incredible, but I've been trying to train myself on oysters w/a squeeze of lemon only. Couldn't resist with these ones, though. I also ordered fries, on account of the sauces. They had a house-made curry sauce that was like curry crack, I'd steal the recipe if I could. They also had two other sauces available, and I'm sure they were just as amazing. Also, they have beers the size of your head for $6, and you can order take-out oysters for a hell of a lot cheaper. I am planning another trip to Toronto over memorial day, and you can bet your sweet a$$ that I'm coming back her to get more oysters & fries. read more

This was stop 4 of our 7 for our restaurant hopping adventure. It wasn't too busy and yet the service was slow. The owner (i think) greeted us but after that went and sat down at the bar with a friend and chatted for the rest of the time we were there. We ordered oysters, raw and fried, and a beer. The later never came and as I asked for the bill our server asked if we still wanted it... didn't make sense at that point. The fried oysters were delicious, the coating was crispy and was flavored well and it came with a nice horseradish dip. The raw ones came with 3 sauces including red wine vinegar, banana peppers and cocktail sauce. Overall the good food didn't over ride the meh service, except the gentleman responsible for the oysters. He was friendly and informative and stopped by to pick up our dishes and told us some cool information on oyster shells. I probably wouldn't go back unless i was craving seafood and in the neighborhood. read more

Go for the oysters, but not much else. Got 36 raw oysters, 24 baked oysters, 1 appetizer and 5 mains. Raw oysters were decent. Fresh, but not inexpensive. Baked oysters had a decent sauce on them. Mains were mediocre. Too much butter. Nothing that stood out for the price. read more

My friend took me here for my last night in Toronto. It was great and the food was fresh and exactly what I expected. Nothing too over-the-top or spectacular but I was satisfied. read more

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I've got a weak spot for oysters and this is my go to place. There's a variety of oysters that come in fresh from different regions available to you. It's a simple joint that focuses on one thing and they do it well. The restaurant is small and fills up quick so make sure to nab a reservation. read more

Oyster Boy - Seafood Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Had dinner at oyster boy on a Saturday night. As others have said, make sure to call ahead for a reservation. Tried a few types of oysters - fresh, good selection, nice accompaniments. For the main, I had the mixed grill and they've definitely added more to it than I saw in past yelp photos and it is ALOT of food. 3-4 large shrimps, 3-4 nice size scallops, grilled calamari, mussels, crab leg, parmesan fries Plus a whole grilled sea bream. It was enough food for 2 (if you got 2 apps and that as a main - more than enough food for 2 people). My dining partner had the artic char, which was very nice too but he definitely had room to help me finish off the mixed grill platter. Service was very nice too. I'd def come back. read more

Oyster Boy - Mixed grill platter on April 15, 2017. There's lots of seafood under the fish. - Seafood Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I wish Yelp accommodated .5 scores as I'd give Oyster Boy a 3.5 out of 5. My partner took me here for my birthday last week. Being a fairly recent convert to the delicacies of oysters, we've been trying out a few places. Not sure why I avoided them my whole life but what a revelation. As far as our visit to Oyster Boy, the highlights were definitely the oysters we had as appetizers. After some solid explaining by our server, we settled on a couple varieties. Delicious! Fresh, flavourful, meaty and tender. Second highlight was the bouillabaisse my partner had. Other than the over cooked and rubbery clams, the broth was delicious and the shrimp and trout were outstanding. Also some of the tastiest mussels we've eaten. I had the halibut and chips which was solid. Beautiful, flaky, large piece of fish. Nice crispy batter. The fries were soggy and over salted but the side order of onion rings made up for the disappointing fries. Incredible crispy thick onion rings with chipotle aioli. Yum! Over all solid service, including the odd gentleman who presented our oysters. The few negatives that pulled down this rating were the very mediocre and disappointing beer selection, the uncomfortable stools we sat on, the soggy greasy fries and the over cooked clams. We'll come back, but next time we're eating oysters at the bar and ordering wine. read more

My gf decided to surprise me on our 10th year together going to this place...Since I am a big seafood LOVER!!! We came just after 9PM where the restaurant was about half full... We were seated quickly and started off with two beverages. I had the Dark & Stormy which is spiced rum with ginger beer. Its quite tasty i'd say. We were trying to try lots of food, so we went big by going 4 apps and 2 mains... Chowder ($11)- Light, creamy, not salty, and had a bit of fish, mussels. Nice chowder. Portion is right. Deep Fried Oysters ($12)- 5 pieces of panko crusted oysters (kushii or some small oysters) with pickled veggie and slaw. I like how the slaw and pickled veggie accompanied the oysters. I didn't feel the oyster bite as much as compared to the panko crust...A bit too much crust in my opinion... Brussels w/ bacon ($7)- This is their featured special for veggies. Its glazed with Maple Syrup and double smoked bacon. Its tasty as well, and well seasoned i'd say. Crab Cakes ($12)- Served with some aioli mayo sauce and some veggies. This comes two thick hockey sized crab cakes. I thought the portion of the crab was very nice, and breading is just right for this cake. Definitely one of the better crab cakes; however, there are one or two restaurants I've been that serves better! After eating all this, we were getting quite full, but our mains were coming about 10-15 mins after. BC Dungeness Crab & bay scallop pasta papardelle, lemon butter & arugula - $24 - I actually like this papardelle pasta, but it would be nice to have it cut, instead of a long flat hanging noodle like spaghetti. It tasted nice and light, but the bay scallops showed more than the crab meat.. I maybe noticed two decent size crab meat and some were mushed... Grilled halibut with seasonally inspired succotash - $29 (Girlfriend's) - This was grilled nice and looked very moist and juicy. And it definitely tasted fresh for shizzle... Now where the food really stood out, we definitely felt the service was a bit lacking. I believe only one girl asked us once 'how was everything, and if we required any pepper on our food', but besides that, no more coming to us, unless they drop off food or cleared it all when we were done. Maybe they all tip pool, so not every server wants to try as hard. When taking our order, they were not that informative about dishes so we can visualize. Food is a solid 4/5 Service is a 2.5/5 Atmosphere Seating is a 2/5 I thought the seating is not very comfortable, and definitely not good for big size group to join in on this restaurant capacity seating of 40 possibly. I would come back again for the food in the future, and if the service improved more that would possibly entice me to come more often. (btw- even with the lacklustre service we still gave 18% gratuity of our $120+ bill) I know possibly most people won't do that, but this is our 10 year anni, so I'm being quite nice today. =p read more

I went with my another guy friend, and had a great time eating oysters. They only had 4 different oysters the day we went but seems like they have more variation usually. However, four was enough for us to taste one each and order an another Dozen of it. I think I will just come here to have a nice wine and oyster. other food was ok. Maybe the oyster was soo good that the other food didnt taste as good as oyster did... LOL Wish they had happy hour or something but its worth it to go =) read more

Who ever thought that oysters and gazpacho for brekkie wasn't good had better make it over to Oyster Boy!! Had the MOST fantastic brunch ever. Really good. Great friendly attentive servers. read more

The thyme out drink was, clean and summery. The oysters were nice, the best being the caraquette. Yummy with lots of flavor but not too fishy. read more

Oyster Boy - The last of the oyster menu - Seafood Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We went here a few weeks ago just for the oysters on a packed Saturday evening and although it was really busy, and didn't have a reservation we were seated in reasonable time. The seats we got were right in front of the shucker who was really friendly and recommended some fantastic oysters. The oysters and the made-from-scratch condiments to go with them were fresh and delectable. Food (4.5/5) Service (4/5) Price (4/5) Ambiance (4/5) read more

Oysters oysters oysters. Between the two of us we shared 2 dozen mix of Kumamoto's, PEI's, and honeysuckles. The textures and flavors were so complex and delicious. They obviously know their oyster-stuff. For mains, we had the fish and chips (crispiest, yummiest I've had) and I had the mussels (which were small, which is why I took one star off)...but it was just probably seasonal The place itself is small and quaint...actually perfectly sized. The shucker really knew what she was doing and smelled each one she shucked as to assure freshness. Servers were attentive even if it was a full house on a Tuesday night. Solid oyster place for sure. I'd be a regular if we'd live in T.O. read more

A little hard to find... but well worth it once you do. We got to sit at the bar, and just had raws. Great suggestions for the shucker dude- was fun to watch him open, clean and present. He checks each oyster for smell and freshness and isn't shy about ditching ones that don't pass snuff. Fresh ground horseradish, plus a few sauces if you fancy. Kitchen menu looked pretty good too. Definitely worth a visit. read more

If you are looking for an oyster joint in Toronto than this place is for you. When I went, I was hardly an expert on oysters, so I relied on the knowledge of my server. I mentioned how we knew Malbec oysters were supposed to be good, but he suggested a different east coast oyster from New Bruinswick that they had just gotten in. He stated that in his opinion it tasted better AND it was cheaper. Sold! I really appreciate places that do not try to oversell the clientele. Our server totally hooked us up as they were quite good, and all of the three sauce accompaniments were great. We also got a plate of fries, and I would put them up at some of the best fries in the city. They are very thin and crispy, and come with your choice of mayo (curry, chipotle, etc). We also got some coleslaw which was loaded with dill and was a good pairing with the seafood fair that they offer. read more

This place was highly recommended by a buddy of mine, and we decided to check it out on our last trip to Toronto. First of all, make a reservation if you can, because the restaurant is quite small and it gets filled quick. As the name of the restaurant suggests, oyster is the main attraction. They have plenty of selections and all are fresh! Ask your server to bring you a mix if you have no idea what you like. Overall, super good place if you are into raw oysters! read more

Until recently I was an oyster virgin, so once I had plucked up the courage to pop that cherry I needed to dine at Oyster Boy. Friday night and this place was busy! It is bright, clean and fresh. My only complaint is that the tables are tight together and I imagine it could get pretty loud in here! Our group had oysters to start, I loved the accompaniments which included horseradish, lemon, red wine and shallot, ginger hot sauce (house made and was my favourite) and seafood sauce. Each table is set with the obligatory hot sauce. We did get carried away and ordered alot! I had the grilled char which was fantastic and cooked to perfection. My friends had the fish tacos which I want to try at some point. All the main courses looked lovely. Our bill was expensive which left me thinking it was pricey, but then in context we got so carried away that we ordered about 2 dozen oysters and then some! I will definitely return, loved the experience and the food! read more

We came here to feast - and boy did we feast. First off - I'm not a fan of oysters or clams or mussels. So I didn't really try those, and won't even comment. With that said, we got pretty much everything else on the menu. The pasta was delicious. The lobster mac n cheese was solid. The crab was delicious. The deep fried oysters were pretty damn delicious. Hell, even the fries were solid. It's a reliable and delicious place to get a ton of seafood done right. I may give it more of a 3.5/5, but if I had to hedge, I'd give it a 4. read more

Finally gave this place a try last week, after passing by many times! Our server was fantastic at helping us pick a variety of oysters to try. I had the watermelon crab salad, which was delicious. A little small for the price but beautifully plated. My boyfriend had the fish and chips and said it was delicious, as well. Overall a little pricey, but great service and atmosphere. I would come back here to try other dishes. read more

I have been going here for years and have never been met without a smile. And bringing clients is a perfect pay to intro them to the Toronto restaurant scene Food: phenomenal Ambiance: So Canadian Ppl: always welcoming Cost: worth it read more

Love love love! We love casual date nights at Oyster Boy! Been coming to this place for years and it's still one of our neighbourhood faves. Despite being located at hipster ground zero, the quality and service haven't been tainted by the mass influx of people in the area (like so many other restaurants have). Always a great variety of oysters and good fish options too. It's a tight space but keep in mind that it's in the heart of the city, so it's standard. We'll be back for more soon! read more

Came here with my fiance on a Friday night, we arrived without a reservation and had to wait ~20 minutes for a table. It was no biggie since Nadege is 1 minute away (a delicious bakery you HAVE to try). They also took my phone number down so that they could call when the table was ready. Ambience: We sat at the bar and saw all the oyster shucking in action. The place has dim lighting, was on noisy side and definitely crowded (I could easily hear the conversations beside me). There's a map showing the locations of all the oysters which was fun to learn. There are lots of interesting posters on the walls. Food: Oysters were fresh and shucked well, there was a good variety. I like mine with a bit of lemon and horseradish. We got 2 of 7 different types, some raw clams and reordered a half dozen of our favourite (kumamoto). We also ordered fish and chips - nothing memorable. Service: Before the meal: great. During the meal: average. Oyster Boy was A-ok. Perhaps if I had better seating at a table instead of the bar I would of had a better experience. read more

Pristine oysters. Different varieties, beyond Malpeque and Kumamoto. This is the best oyster place I know, bar none. Can't comment on the food read more