Excellent food! Exceptional service! I walked in with my two kids (13 and 10) and every one was so nice to us! The food was just devine! The lobster roll was a slice of heaven and the oysters were so fresh! Thank you again for great service! read more

I was in Monterey for a golf trip and we were wanting oysters. I didn't know this place existed obviously because I don't live there, but I found them on Yelp and we looked it over and decided to check it out. I mean, I wanted oysters and found Oystertown. Seems like a logical choice. Went down there and sat at the bar, got a beer and scoped out the menu. Man, so much to choose from! It was awesome! I think we tried at least five different selections. They were all excellent. Don't ask me what my favorite was because they were all equally great. Fresh, good service, cool ambiance, couldn't ask for anything more. I felt bad for the lady serving us because she was the only server there and she was pulling a double shift. She was like the energizer bunny though. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because it's a little pricey. I get it because it's close to cannery row and they all get the tourists. Otherwise, go for it if you want oysters. It's the spot! read more

This was so close to being a stand out meal this trip, but fell short on many fronts.. We walked in at around 5:30 and waited for about 10 minutes to be seated. No biggie at all. Pretty place, small bar seating, but overall a nice vibe. However, after we were seated, we were kind of just forgotten about for a while, to the point where a couple that had come after us had already started to receive drinks and food while we had yet to order anything. By the time the local beer and lavender citrus spritz came - thanks to the other waitress that seemed to realize we were tossed to the side - things were starting to look up. Both drinks were delicious albeit a little pricey. We ended up ordering the following; a seafood sampler, hot cross buns, bbq baked oysters, and the special of the night - a seafood, saffron risotto. The buns were delicious but at $9.00, it felt like it should've come with 4 instead of 2 pieces. Then came the risotto before the bbq oysters and the sampler plate. So we did in fact have our entree before our starters. The risotto was overcooked, and lacked salt. We actually took some of the salt from the baked oyster dish to put on the rice. But yeah pretty overcooked and bland, unfortunately. At this point we were starting to get dismayed by the combination of little things to affect our experience. But the two kickers were that our sampler plate came last and was delivered to a different table (mind you, we also watched them deliver a dish to the wrong table, take it back after it sat on that table and the guests later told them it wasn't theirs, and then bring it to the correct table... which was a little off putting), and that they suggested tip on the taxed subtotal (not pre-tax). At this price point, most of the restaurants we frequent back at home surpass this place in almost every way. But what made us really sad, is that the place had the concept down and the taste was almost enough to warrant the price of admission. Alas, the flavors unfortunately fell short, and the service fell even shorter, disappointingly leaving us slightly bitter at our first bite in Monterrey Bay. read more

Oystertown - seafood risotto - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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4.5 STARS UGH, I really want to give Oystertown 5 stars because they're so deserving of it. BUT, I can't get over the taste of schweaty cooch for one of our dishes. Hey, it happens but more on that later. Pop-up turned brick and mortar, Oystertown is a MUST visit if you're in the Monterey area (not a tourist trap). Although it's only been open since Spring 2025, they seem to be a fav among locals for their fresh seafood and creative dishes. Hot cross buns filled with Old Bay and herb cream cheese or Banana pudding with oyster-cracker "Cracker Jacks", anyone? No rezzies, walk-in only. We arrived on a Thursday at 4:30 pm (opening time) to snag one of two outdoor tables. By the time we left at 5:30 pm, the place was filled so def get there early. M E N U Raw bar, baked oysters, and more substantial items like meatballs, grilled cheese sandwich, etc. Beer, wine, low abv cocktails. *** HH Specials *** Monday - Saturday, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: $3 oysters and discounted beer + wine. D R I N K * Grapefruit & Sea Salt Sake Spritz ($14) Refreshing, light, and citrusy. F O O D * HH Oysters w/ rosé mignonette & lemon ($3 each/ reg. $4.50 each): https://tinyurl.com/62ny6s52 Oysters of the day - fresh and pleasantly briny with a soft, slippery texture. Served with a zesty mignonette. * Unbelievable Oyster w/ uni ($13 each): https://tinyurl.com/mr7mn9z9 A special of the day, I wanted a dozen more! Super fresh and ocean-y, with the uni adding a rich, creamy, and subtle sweetness and the ponzu adding a nice tang. * Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail w/ provocative cocktail sauce (4 pc-$16): https://tinyurl.com/3rjwfddb These babies were the size of my dog's head - tender and juicy with a tangy kick from the cocktail sauce. The doggies also enjoyed it. * The Swan Crudo w/ yellowtail, salmon, sea scallop ($30): https://tinyurl.com/5n7t25dh An nod to SF's Swan Oyster Depot's iconic dish, the Sicilian-style crudo consists of fresh, silky slices of raw hamachi, salmon, and scallops dressed with fruity olive oil, citrus, capers, and chives. BOMB. Get this! * Top Neck Clam ($4 each): https://tinyurl.com/3n28nwnw Good thing this was the last to arrive...it had a strong, funky ammonia-like taste...that lingered. I brought it up to our server - she was apologetic and they ended up throwing their entire batch away. S E R V I C E Awesome hospitality! The staff and our server, Ashley was warm, welcoming, and attentive. Prompt food service. For the clam mishap, they kindly only charged us for half a dozen oysters instead of the full dozen. A M B I A N C E Casual club house with a modern coastal vibes - there's a horseshoe-shaped bar and several indoor tables with banana-leaf wallpaper and tropical greenery. The cute little courtyard patio is tucked behind a gate. Overall, we really enjoyed our time at Oystertown...it checks all the boxes for a 5-star resto: fresh seafood, top-notch hospitality, and a casual chic vibe. Def put this one on your list! Sadly, I gotta round down for the clams. read more

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What a cute gem!! We came in for a quick oyster shooter and flight before late night snacks.. - oyster shooters: omg? I've never tried an oyster shooter before. The addition of the quail egg and sauce mix, was chefs kiss! 5/5 stars - oysters: there were 3 kinds and of course my favorite was the one from Washington State 5/5 stars Great date night spot! Chill vibes, yummy food read more

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The best oysters on the Monterey peninsula!!! From the fresh oysters, clams, soups, and the famous hippie hand grenade Oystertown has something to offer everyone. The Poppy Hall gang is back together again, knocking it out of the park with Oystertown. Right next to Poppletons and just a short walk to CVS if you have to pick up anything while you're traveling. 100% all guests are welcome, but probably not your kid finely place with the massive bar and 2 tables. There is a nice patio of your not wanting to eat at the oyster bar, which would be ok for children. They even have blankets for cold evenings. Pro tip Happy hour is from 4:30-530. Pop in for a nice cold glass of wine $5 or beer & oysters 1/2 dozen for $15. It's totally an awesome vibe once they get the surround rocking! read more

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Very cute place in the heart of Monterey!! Came here for HH oyster. The oysters were so fresh and sweet, not too big. Everyone there was so friendly and attentive. Highly recommend when you're in the area. read more

Oystertown - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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I stopped by here on a Sunday afternoon for a late brunch. They were not too crowded and it looked like a light crowd. I promptly sat at the bar and ordered a Rouanne Sparkling Rośe and an order of Ad Astra bread with a herb butter and half a dozen of the oysters of the day. The main course was the Crab Cake with a slaw. It was a good size crab cake. Ordered another sparking wine to pair up with the oyster shooters (yeah I had two of them). No room for dessert. I had to move my car. The service was excellent and attentive. I can't wait to go back again. read more

Oystertown - Inside view of the crab cake - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Their happy hour food was really good, and I enjoyed their happy hour option for white whine too. read more

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Went here on a quiet Sunday right around opening and it wasn't crowded at all. Clean, cute little spot with wonderful service and all of the seafood was so fresh and tasty. And let's be real -- you're here for the oysters! They had so many different types of oysters, all seasoned and paired to perfection. We also didn't know that Sunday was their happy hour, so our oysters ended up being half off -- which was a super nice surprise. So we ate our fill of oysters and also filled up on some of their other dishes, which were just as good. Definitely recommend stopping by if you're looking for oysters in Monterey! read more

Oystertown - Oyster platter - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Food, service, ambiance - all amazing! My friends and I really loved the oysters, and very surprisingly enjoyed the scallop ceviche & hippie hand grenade. Overall, highly recommend checking this place out! read more

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Stop by this unassuming spot for happy hour and I'm glad we did. Had a whole bunch of different but yummy oysters, some huge mussels in a flavorful garlic, lemony sauce, a couple very interesting oyster shooters and those brioche buns with a really nice spread in inside. The staff were super cool, authentic, helpful, funny, fun and I'm glad I got to meet the chef/owner as we shared some East Coast history. We'll definitely return! read more

On a chill Friday evening, my partner and I were looking for a nice dinner spot in Monterey. We stumbled upon oystertown and I am so glad we did. When we came, they had a great happy hour going on where certain drinks were half off as well as raw oysters. However, we decided not to partake in the happy hour. This is the type of place where I order items based on how much I liked the previous. Because of this, I ended up ordering a ton of items. We started with their two specials of the night the Lobster Roll and the Pineapple Express. Both of these items were so good and had us absolutely hooked. We also ordered the Meatballs, which had really great flavor but the texture was a little crumbly. Next up came the BBQ Bacon Oyster which was also great, but not as dynamic as the pineapple express. Our last savory item was the Oyster Stew. It was not as I expected at all and if you love the taste of oyster this is right up your alley. The oysters are only parcooked and the soup they sit in tastes so much of oyster. This was the least impressive dish we tried as I could sum it up as oyster liquor + celery + milk. However, to end our meal we tried the banana pudding and this was so good. Perfectly balanced and the oyster cracker brittle on top was to die for. Hands down the best banana pudding I've ever had. Overall I loved this meal so much and the dining area is so unique as it's basically just one big bar almost like an omakase. I would definitely recommend coming here and getting your oyster fix. read more

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What a great experience! The oysters were absolutely amazing, but honestly, every bite we ordered was just as delicious. The wine selection was excellent too, and everything felt thoughtfully curated. It's a little on the pricey side, but the quality of the food, service, and overall experience absolutely justifies it. We sat at the bar, which ended up being one of the highlights of the evening. We struck up a conversation with the person next to us and ended up making a new friend! We just moved here about a month ago, and this has already become one of our favorite places. If you love oysters or are looking for a special night out with outstanding food and a welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend giving this place a try. read more

Food is fantastic, staff are friendly and knowledgeable, ambiance is a very homely laid back oyster by the ocean vibe.

We stumbled upon Oystertown this past August and wanted to say it was excellent! Wife and I hit their happy hour and had a nice glass of Vinho Verde white wine along with fresh oysters ~ a perfect combination as the Vinho Verde was minerally. Perfect pairing. The mussels.......probably the best I have ever had in my life ~ the broth was amazing and shows the chef's excellent tasting skills. I cannot recall having anything close to this dish. The cross buns were quite delicious. A pleasant surprise to the taste buds. Cannot wait to visit the next time we are in Monterey. Thank you Oystertown team for the fantastic service and terrific food experience. .. read more

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Oystertown was a great experience for a romantic night out. First, it is a small restaurant so there will be only street parking. When we walked in, no one greeted us despite looking at us for almost 10 minutes. It was quite busy, but it would have been great to let us know that we will be seated. They also have a stand for merch, tinned fish, stickers, et cetera. We eventually got seated and order. We got the oyster shooters, swan crudo, old bay hot cross buns, 12 oysters, and a half crab dip. I feel like it's hard to get an oyster shooter wrong, so it was good here! The swan crudo was alright, the sauce was not too flavorful and felt kinda oily. The hamachi/yellowtail and salmon were okay, but the scallop was the best. The old bay hot cross buns were decent, as they were toasty and flaky. This is skippable but I never tried a hot cross bun before, despite knowing the song on the recorder. The crab dip (seasonal special) came with bread and it was delicious to dip in the rich, head butter sauce. I have never tried dipping bread in the head butter before, so I was very excited to try it. Last but not least, the oysters! We tried 3 different types of oysters. I personally prefer a hot sauce with my oysters. When we asked for some, they gave us an almost-empty bottle... in which we had to ask the server again...for a new one. Luckily, she gave us a brand new bottle so we could enjoy it to our heart's content! The meal was definitely expensive, as we ended up getting canned toro belly as well. There were some hiccups in service, but the food and ambiance here made up for it! read more

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Best vibe, incredible creative seafood and lovely people. A 12 out of 10. We are now true believers. Hey Michelin, where are you?? read more

Everything was amazing. I've been meaning to go as a local, but i always want to wait for a while post-grand opening, and the wait was definitely worth it. BBQ Oysters were my fave for sure. Can't wait to come back and see what they add to the specials next. Service was great, Ambiance was nice and peaceful. I sat out in the patio and enjoyed the greenery read more

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Excellent Happy Hour! $3 beer cans, $5 house wine glass (it was vinjo verde onour visit) and $15 half dozen various oysters. The oysters were fresh and the service was speedy and friendly! We didn't feel rushed at all even as the place picked up. Get there early and take a seat at the bar and make some new friends. read more

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The oysters were amazing. They had a lot of creative new ways to serve them and they were all delicious. The staff were amazing, engaged, friendly and attentive. It was a counter style / bar setting which is cool cause we got to meet people and engage with staff. read more

INCREDIBLE ESTABLISHMENT!!! my favorite place to go for a little fancy, a little casual, extra high quality local eats and hospitality. no place on the peninsula serves up a similar experience. go here for the fresh seafood and curated drink offerings. Phil, Monica, and the whole gang will treat you like a friend as soon as you walk in. May they prosper forevermore! read more

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This is a very cute little spot. Small Space outside for your furry friends too. No appointments allowed but know you may wait a few minutes or so. The bar has lots of seats so you may be seated next to a few new friends ! Loved their specials and roasted veggies ! All the oysters were fresh and never got a shell! Excited to return ! Great for date night or an evening with friends . read more

Went to Oystertown with my family. Had the Half dozen oysters 3 Oysters with smoked Trout Roe and creme fraiche 3 Little Neck Clams The Swan Crudo 2 Rounds of 3 BBQ oysters The Greens and Beans Special The Steamed Mussels Everything was amazing quality and so delicious. The 1/2 dz oysters were so refreshing and sweet. Slightly briney so delicious with the Mignonette The littleneck clams were ok. Slightly salty and had a little fishy taste but overall just ok. The Swan Crudo was not bad. The salmon and hamachi were really good quality. Super buttery and the fruitiness of the olive oil mixed with the earthy herbs and brightness of the capers were really good. The only issue I had was with the Scallops. They were still good but def not the freshest. They had a slightly fishy smell and taste. I've had fresh Hokkaido scallops and these were not the best. Not sure if they were slightly cooked to kill the bacteria which may have added to the fishiness. The Bean.Special side was pretty tasty. The beans were all cooked very nicely but the star was the sauce. It was a savory buttery sauce that was so good. The Steamed Mussels were pretty good too. Nothing too special but the mussels were fresh and also very buttery in the rich and tart wine sauce. Very solid. The stars of the show for me were the Oysters with Smoked trout Roe and creme fraiche. Very refreshing. The smokiness mixed with the bright creme fraiche added such a nice flavor mixed with the oysters. The other star was the BBQ oysters. Slightly smokey from being bbqed and breadcrumbs mixed with what I think was bacon was just amazing. Normally when you cook oysters it brings out the briney fishiness but you couldn't even taste any of that. You did get a nice plump oyster with an amazing flavor. So good we had 2 rounds of this. All in all it was really good and such an amazing place with fresh ingredients. In my opinion I don't think the Swan Crudo or the Little Necks were worth it. The entire bill was about 200$. A little pricey but it was still amazing quality and surprisingly did fill us up quite a bit. We had to get tacos after to completely fill up but still a great place to go hang out and gran some drinks and small bites of food. Can't wait to try more of what they have to offer. read more

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Everything on the menu was delicious and fresh. . . Baked oysters with pineapple. Who knew! So yum. Get the escargot. And the meatballs are the best in the galaxy. And service was so personable. Highly recommend for a stop near cannery row. read more

A very fun place to have an ocean inspired meal. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was lively. If you like oysters, it's great. Meatballs were also fantastic. read more

Food, ambiance and staff were great! They were very friendly and helpful. The bar area has a modern design but with some natural elements to make it more relaxing. The raw oysters and baked oysters were my favorite dishes, there were 3 types of oysters I can't remember the names but they're on the wall. Of the two baked oysters I tried, the soyster was my favorite. I would definitely come again! It's a great spot that can either be a casual hangout or something more elevated too. read more

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Great ambiance! Can't wait to go back. I was on a very restricted diet. They assisted me in choosing appropriately. Excellent Service! read more

My husband and I were from out of town and walked here from staying on Cannery Row. The walk wasn't too bad the the restaurant was a really nice experience. The staff was super friendly and the layout is very cozy. The food was super fresh and I liked that there wasn't paralysis with so many options to choose from. We asked the staff to bring our shells home for our kids and they helped us find a bag to put them in and told us to bring our kids the next time (although, I think we enjoyed that there weren't any kids there). read more

Oystertown - Deviled Eggs with Caviar - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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The food was divine, so fresh and fun. The hand grenade salad was delicious. The crudo was refreshing. The staff were awesome and the restaurant itself is very cute. read more

Oystertown - Crudo - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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Phenomenal food, excellent wine selection and even better people! We will be back. 10/10 recommend. read more

Oystertown - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

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So good. We kept saying so good during our meal. We came later in the evening so there was lots of nearby street parking. The restaurant seems pretty informal and we sat at the bar. I came for soup but ended up trying some specials and was not disappointed. Everything was 10/10. Raw oysters and clams were clean and fresh. The mignonette was a perfect touch. Love when that is served with oysters. The specials were a lox and uni risotto. Insanely good. The clam stew was a thin soup with whole steamed clams. We also loved the bbq oysters. We finished with the buns and omg they were so good and almost like a savory dessert. Also loved the made to order celery mint soda. read more

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Super sweet staff, fantastic location and a wonderful oysters. What more could you ask for? Very great quality, fun specials and possibly the best happy hour in Monterey. read more

The BEST!! Just moved here and it was the most fantastic meal yet! Monica. Jennifer and Ashley were so gracious! Food phenomenal! Vibe fantastic!! read more

Service is great but I came in asking for steam mussels and saw that they had a clam stew. I was going to order that but they have a rotating menu apparently. They did have a seafood stew which I ordered reluctantly after the fact. A small bowel with one wine glass cost me $44 not including tip. I get it when the food has small portions but when it small it should be amazing. This was not worth 44 bucks imo. Also they said it was happy hour, which you would think it be around the $30 range nope not the case. I would just say update your yelp page to show what is available. I would try the Thai restaurant down the street it's bomb. Went after this place cause I was still hungry. Food is crazy good. read more

We wanted a snack and a drink in the late afternoon. Found this place and was so impressed! First, the place is adorable. One of the owners is there waiting on customers and the other server was so friendly and helpful. The menu is creative and everything is delicious and the platings are beautiful. We wished we could have tried everything! Will definitely return. We had a dozen oysters, the deviled eggs with caviar, and the cauliflower- this was one of the best vegetable preparations I've had recently. read more

Oystertown - Outside of restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Great place! The oysters, clams, oyster dip & hippie hand grenadine were all fabulous. Don't skip on dessert - really unique banana pudding! Staff is fabulous & so fun! read more

So lucky we (wife and i) audibled to this new eatery while on a recent weekend trip to Monterey/Pacific Grove. Everything was delicious! some stand-outs include the smoked trout roe dressed oyster, the hot cross buns, and (surprisingly) the cream-vegetable soup! We also got one of the weekend specials (bean and octopus ragout) and the swan crudo, both of which were excellent. My wife particularly enjoyed the interior design of the interior space. We sat at the bar and I think it's a great space for singles or couples, large groups might have a harder time (I only saw tables for two inside, outside patio looked like it could have one large group). I really hope this place continues serving up the good eats because we will definitely make it a point to stop by here next time we're in Monterey. read more

The very best seafood I've had in Monterey - outstanding and creative small plate cuisine! Oysters are the star here - both the cold and hot options were stellar. Also the scallop ceviche and mussels - so tasty!! Note that Oystertown is not a traditional chowder-in-bowl/fish and chips type place like you'll find on Cannery Row but so much better. Monica, the owner, who was behind the bar was so accommodating and fun and she made great wine pairing recommendations - we will be back again soon!! read more

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im still sitting here writting this review. the oyster topped with uni. thats all you need. periodt. read more

Oystertown - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California