The Grilled Oyster is an absolute gem. First of all, their oysters are delightful. The Rockefeller is especially delicious, rich, and perfectly prepared. Every dish feels fresh and thoughtfully made. The atmosphere is small and quaint but still classy, creating a cozy spot that feels special without trying too hard. It is the kind of place where you can relax, enjoy amazing seafood, and have great conversation. The staff is warm, attentive, and knowledgeable, which adds to the overall experience. Whether you are stopping in for oysters or enjoying a full meal, The Grilled Oyster is a place you will want to return to again and again. read more

Great food and service! Mother's Day celebration was great! Loved the oysters, sides, crab soup and Salmon entree.

Hard pass. The owner seems to prefer Caucasian patrons. We've been here multiple times. Every time he passes us over and then seats us in the worst places. The service is meh. The food is oooook. Their dip takes forever. read more

I sent a message to them privately or through this app. The place has changed and it is sad and disappointing. The random hair in my pasta didn't help either. I will need to give them a break. read more

If you are looking for an affordable and filling happy hour in Gaithersburg try this place. This review is only for the happy hour as I have not dined in the dining room yet. The bar area can get tight. Staff described it as intimate so get ready to be social. There is a patio outside but as we are now in the cooler months that was not an option for me. I am looking forward to spending many a cozy winter evening here to manage my winter blues. Staff is really nice each time I come. read more

The Grilled Oyster - Enjoyed some yummy oysters at happy hour this evening at Grilled Oyster Co. w/ my friend visiting out of town. Delicious per usual! - Seafood Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

The best local seafood! We are so glad we found this place! Seafood is fresh daily. Even though it was busy, staff were friendly and ensured everything went well! Highly recommend if you like good local seafood! read more

The Grilled Oyster - Poke bowl, Rockfish, lobster Mac n cheese. - Seafood Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Our party of six was seated quickly on a Thursday evening, which was a nice start. Drinks started with the banana bread Old Fashioned--a little heavy on the banana for me, but definitely a creative twist on the classic. For appetizers, the crab dip was a bit salty for me, but my friends really enjoyed the grilled oyster trio and PEI mussels. Overall, a lovely experience with attentive service. A spot worth checking out! read more

The Grilled Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

We had a delicious Mother's Day meal at The Grilled Oyster. Since we celebrated a few days early, we weren't able to get a reservation (they only take reservations for holidays). It's a small, cozy space, perfect for intimate celebrations or date nights. For appetizers, we tried the crab soup and the fried calamari. The crab soup was wonderfully creamy and not too salty. I loved the fried calamari, it was perfectly crispy and not at all oily. For entrées, we ordered the crabcake sandwich, the Maryland burger, and the jumbo lump crabcakes. I found the size of the jumbo lump crabcakes a bit disappointing, considering they were around the same size as the crabcake sandwich. I was still a little hungry afterwards, feeling like I needed more. However, the crabcake itself was seasoned perfectly and was delicious. Both the crabcake sandwich and the Maryland burger were solid choices. I'd recommend getting the crabcake sandwich over the jumbo lump crabcake for the better price and portion. Their french fries were absolutely loved by the table. They were thinly cut and super crispy. Overall Rating: 4.5/5 read more

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I was pleasantly surprised at how much I adored this restaurant. I got the NOLA Oysters, Chesapeake wings, scallops risotto, lump crab cake, and the maple blueberry crème brûlée. It was some of the best seafood I've had. The servers were very kind and attentive. The environment was small and intimate. I can't wait to go back! read more

We stopped by on the way return to VA. Would like to have some light seafood branch. Amazing food & wonderful place! read more

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Good food and good service. Love the scallop risotto dish! Fresh oysters and delicious drink. Went here for a family lunch and girls dinner. Loved it both times! read more

The grilled oyster is by far the best gem we have found since relocating to the DMV! This spot is hidden on a street corner disguised as a regular house almost! The ambiance is so cute! It gives the cutest coastal mom & pops kitchen vibes! The service was amazing, so personable and attentive! But let's get down to the star of the show! We tried 4 of their favorite dishes and we were not disappointed one bit! The oysters on the half were amazing! Featuring three different types of oysters, our favorites were actually the Maryland oysters! The salinity was perfect and not too briney. The calamari was so light and fluffy! Not even a little bit of grease which I was a huge fan of! You didn't feel heavy after eating them! The clams casino was also a big hit! Pretty much Rockefeller style clams, baked to perfection! The muscles were in my opinion the best! The white wine sauce was to DIE for! I mean so flavorful and light, it just paired so well with everything! This definitely getting added to our date night rotation, 10/10 recommend!! read more

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We genuinely don't understand how this place has so many high star reviews as our experience was the complete opposite! From the moment we walked in, the restaurant felt run down. The floors, windows and overall space just didn't look well maintained, which immediately made us question the cleanliness of everything else! Especially concerning when seafood is involved. The staff were also incredibly unpleasant. Service was slow, disorganized, and came with an attitude that made us feel like we were an inconvenience rather than paying customers. Unfortunately, things only got worse when we tried to address an issue with who I believe was the manager or owner was shockingly rude and dismissive. As for the food, it didn't redeem anything. It was underwhelming at best and not worth the price or the experience. To top it all off, there's only one bathroom, which created a line and added to the overall frustration. Overall this was a really disappointing experience, and definitely not somewhere I would return to or recommend. read more

Here's aAmazing Experience for My Birthday Dinner! I'm so grateful to The Grilled Oyster for providing a wonderful birthday meal for myself and my family. From start to finish, everything about the experience was delightful. The ambiance struck a perfect balance of simplicity and beauty, creating a warm and inviting setting for a special night. The staff were incredibly attentive, friendly, and welcoming, which made us feel right at home. And the food? Absolutely amazing. Of course, I had to try the grilled oysters--how could I not, given the namesake? As someone who usually sticks to raw or fried oysters, I wasn't sure what to expect, but this was a delightful departure from the usual. The flavor was incredible, and I'm so glad I gave it a try. I also had the clam chowder, which was delicious, though it leaned more toward a soup consistency than a thick, hearty chowder. It was still fresh and flavorful, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My in-laws and aunt raved about the crab chowder, which had the perfect consistency and rich flavor--though I couldn't sample it myself due to allergies. Speaking of which, I'm mildly allergic to shellfish, and many seafood restaurants have cross-contamination issues, but I had no problems here. That level of care and attention to detail in the kitchen really impressed me. Everything from the food to the atmosphere set the tone for a memorable evening. If you're looking for fresh seafood, excellent service, and a warm dining experience, The Grilled Oyster is the place to go! read more

The Grilled Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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My wife and I arrived shortly after Saturday morning opening. A cheerful Giovanni promptly welcomed us. I informed him we would be a party of 5 or 6, the rest of our party would be there shortly. Giovanni welcomed us to wait at the bar, and handed us menus to get familiar with. He also offered to prepare any drinks we might be interested in and mentioned several. We do not drink, but hung out at the front. We mentioned we were celebrating my daughter's birthday. This was our first visit here. When the rest of our party arrived, Mark had our table ready. Giovanni brought us to the table. He took care of water and checking if we wanted any other beverages. After that, we ordered two starters. A dozen oysters on the half shell, and their smoked fish platter. Both were very well presented and very appetizing. We ordered our entrees sometime during the appetizers. Giovanni was continously smiling, joking around, and very happy in general. Our main course were served in a timely manner. Everyone ordered something different. Every dish was very well prepared and presented. The serving sizes were generous, from our point of view. We were full and satiated, but not stuffed. Everything was fresh looking and fresh tasking. The seasoning brought out the natural flavors of the proteins and sides. Everyone had a clean plate at the end. To our surprise, Giovanni brought over a desert with a candle in it. He led us in a happy birthday song. Obviously we were very happy with the entire experience and look forward to visiting again. read more

The Grilled Oyster - Rockfish - Seafood Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Cream of Crab Soup: 10/10 Norwegian Halibut: 9/10 Grilled Chesapeake Oysters Trio: 6/10 This restaurant is a perfect place for an intimate outing/a place to go with someone you're close with! It's a tiny place with dim lightning & serene vibes. The service was prompt & the food came out quickly. The menu has a great selection of things that I feel would accommodate most people. My favorite part of this whole meal was the cream of crab soup ! Delicious doesn't even do it justice. It was so creamy, flavorful, & perfect if you want something warm and filling. My entree, the norwegian halibut was also delightful. The mashed potatoes the fish laid on were packed with flavor that complimented the fish so well. My least favorite dish was the Grilled Chesapeake Oyster Trio. The flavor profiles were almost overbearing and in my opinion, too much for a little oyster. Overall, I definitely plan to go back for the cream of crap soup and try some of their other entrees! read more

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My boyfriend and I had our anniversary date here and everything was so good! We loved every dish. Super flavorful and cooked to perfection. We've eaten here a couple times and will always come here for the oysters which they make it 3 ways! Definitely recommend! read more

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Located right in the middle of the kentlands with indoor and outdoor seating, the grilled oyster definitely seems like one of those local gems. Many things on the menu are locally sourced and therefore very fresh. I sat at the bar and the bartender, Kyle, made the most amazing drinks. He also had lots of great recommendations if you have trouble deciding like me, that's a big help. read more

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I cannot say enough good things about this place and the people who help run it. Kyle is an awesome bartender and the owner is just super sweet. The whole place is cute, and the food and drinks are delicious. My girlfriend and I went in for dinner last night and of course just our luck a man at the bar made us feel weird so we moved seats but Kyle and owner really had our backs and made us feel safe which is not just good customer service but just good people service, showing you care about your customers is huge. We got 3 of the happy hour apps, crab eggrolls, calamari, and baked oysters. All of them were so good!! We will definitely be back for brunch and just back in general. We love it here! read more

Fantastic and fresh! Absolutely gourmet but reasonably priced. Cozy spot in the Kentlands

I ordered crab cake plate with potatoes and asparagus. It was not good. Potatoes were not good at all and only one small crab cake. Crab cake was not good either. Had too much gooey filling that tasted like raw dough kinda and burned on bottom. Music playing on the speakers was horrible, annoying Sweet Caroline Neil Diamond stuff. I also ordered 1/2 dozen oysters that were pretty good and fresh. I had a Caesar salad, meh. Waited about 30 minutes after finishing my food until finally getting someone to give me the electronic check. Pretty sure I won't be returning. read more

I was just looking for quality drinks and a good menu of options on a Sunday to meet a friend and watch a game. I'd never heard of this place but the ratings and photos were promising. I like the arrangement of the place. It's small but they've got it arranged into three distinct areas. Patio seating for nice days, bar seating for casual patrons, and an elegantly styled dining room for upscale occasions or date night. Their drink menu is thoughtful and has a yesteryear vibe. Great beers and a nice but not overwhelming wine menu. The food is excellent with only one notable exception. I would pass on the roasted Brussels sprouts. They seemed to be steamed then roasted which made them over cooked and rubbery. However, every single other dish was delicious. I had the seared scallops with lobster which was perfectly prepared and seasoned. Very flavorful. I knew that at the end of dinner I had to try the sweet potato and pecan cake after seeing the photos online, and it did not disappoint. The perfect fusion of flavors the had noted of pumpkin bread, pecan pie, and spice cake. Amazing. My friend and I ate in the bar area which was primarily served by the bartender who kept up very well with the room. Every once in a while the owner would check in on us which was nice. An altogether great dining experience. read more

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Had enjoyed this restaurant at their cabin John location so was super happy that they were moving closer to where I live. Unfortunately, they moved to a much smaller space and no parking lot (street parking), thus the loss of one star for my review. Quality for service and food still great. Our server was wonderful-- both knowledgeable and friendly. For food, each hot dish came out piping hot and very tasty. The beets in the roasted beet salad, however, did not seem roasted. Another plus is having this place for happy hour. read more

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Great oyster bar and attached white tablecloth dining space in what used to be the country when I was growing up nearby but what is now a thriving little town all on its own. Met my older (did I mention she's older?) sister there for a late lunch and it was about as chichi as it can get in that area. A truly wonderful Maryland crabcake-none better in the known universe-accompanied by some roasted Brussels sprouts and a serviceable NZ sauvignon blanc made for a special afternoon treat. Neat locals bar scene and nice owner who checked up on how we were doing a couple of times put the icing on the cake. If you're ever in the area check out this great little spot. read more

The Grilled Oyster - 3D google maps view - Seafood Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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We missed the chance to try out The Grilled Oyster when they were located in Cabin John Mall in Potomac. We were excited to see them back in action and give them a try in Kentlands. Overall, we enjoyed the food very much. We are fans of hush puppies so we had to give the crab hush puppies a shot. Not what we expected but quite impressive. Five plum-sized hush puppies served as a sharing plate. The crab meat was generous and visible from the exterior of the crispy puppies. They were served with a maple butter. We ate three and took two home. They even made a delicious breakfast "muffin" the next morning. I really enjoyed the grilled oyster trio. All three preparations were delicious but my favorite was the Rockefeller. The oyster meat itself was barely touched by the heat and retained its soft slightly warmed bite. I also had the jumbo shrimp cocktail with four very jumbo (3 bites each) shrimp. My wife enjoyed the seared scallops over lobster risotto. Although they tasted fine, the scallops themselves were a bit "over seared." The portion was 3 scallops. This might have been fine if the scallops were larger, but they were quite small for sea scallops so this seemed a bit underwhelming. The risotto itself was very delicious. It had a really nice seafood flavor and chunks of lobster meat mixed in. The food definitely is what shines at The Grilled Oyster! I am happy to lead this review with their strength, but overall I was not impressed with our experience. One concern is this restaurant is tiny! Tables are packed in! It is an obvious challenge for serving staff to navigate. And getting up from your table to use the restroom is undertaking. There is not any sense of a front desk at all. We walked in and thought we had come in a side door as we came right up on two patrons at a table. Although we got there for an early dinner, it was still dark out. The interior was kept very dark during our entire experience. Dark to the point that we had real trouble even reading the menu. And at the risk of sounding like an Old Fart, the music was just too loud for this tiny space. It really created a challenge to speak to our server. By the time we left, a wait had formed. But there is really no place to wait. So parties were standing in the front bar area all around seated tables. It was challenging to work our way to the front door to exit. It was too chilly on this November night, but the additional outside seating would be welcomed come spring. read more

A great community restaurant that is super friendly and inviting. It's not a very large restaurant so reservations could be warranted if you are concerned about time. Our server was on the money. Recommendations were spot on and we enjoyed our meal and drinks. Definitely a spot worth trying that will resonate different than your typical restaurant. Yes of course, we enjoyed the oysters. Especially the Maryland oysters. read more

This is one of the finest sea food restaurants' in Montgomery Country. We've been acquainted with Rick Dugan, the co-owner for several years, since his days at O'Donnell's in the Kentlands. I love their Cream of Crab Soup, it is the creamiest and loaded with lump crab meat. The serving is large so I take half home. Two weeks ago I tried their Lemon Shrimp Pasta for the first time. Outstanding! Nice sized shrimp and a spiced sauce that was not too thick. Just right. The pasta (spaghetti) is cooked just right. I've had their Seared Sea Scallops 2 or 3 times. They are so good. Five or six scallops are not enough. You will want more. The service is excellent. We've been waited upon by Lilly and Sydney, who are friendly, attentive and courteous. The ambiance is plain and simple. Comfortable and cozy is probably a better description. Dave Reiser read more

The dishes were delicious and the salad could jane used a couple more scallops. The service was a bit rushed ans the servers were busy the whole night. This was a good experience. read more

The Grilled Oyster - Shrimp and Lemon pasta - Seafood Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Super cute little restaurant on Main St in the Kentlands. Staff was super friendly. I came here w/ a friend for brunch and we had the cream of crab soup, lobster grilled cheese, & the clams appetizer. We originally really wanted to try the PEI mussels but sadly they ran out of them on a Sunday so get in earlier in the weekend if you want to try those. We clams were delicious. It was 6 of them for $15 which I guess is a lil pricey but it was delicious. It was loaded with bacon, butter and other things. My friend liked her soup but stated it wasn't as flavorful or complex as she'd hope for & it was "just okay". I had the lobster grilled cheese and it was huge, portion wise. Although there was more cheese to lobster ratio. I kind of expected it to be more loaded. The fries it came with were delicious though and well cut and fried. We could come back again! read more

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We're new to the area and so glad we stopped in. Service was fast, friendly and attentive!! Cocktails were refreshing and the dishes were rich with flavor and everything was so fresh. Grilled oyster trio was the star, what a deal and such unique flavor combos! As was the lobster pasta and the jumbo crab cake entree. You will leave here wanting to come back asap to try more dishes! read more

The Grilled Oyster - Grilled Oyster Trio - Seafood Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Went for Sunday brunch last week to celebrate a birthday. Very good food and service. The roasted vegetable hash was very tasty. Others tried the lobster omelet. Would definitely come again. read more

The Grilled Oyster - Sweet potato cake - Seafood Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Wow the ambiance was so nice here I took my dad for his birthday and he'd been wanting To try this place for a while. It's a cozy small intimate space with excellent lighting and our waiter was very attentive and helpful. We had delicious food and everything came out hot and relatively fast considering it was packed! Definitely check it out if you're in the Kentlands! read more

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Been here a few times for happy hour and dinner. Love coming here for their Rockefeller Oysters and clam casino. Always on point. They also had a few other type of oyster style. Another I tried was the Drunken, which was in a bourbon garlic butter. Delicious, loved the unique twist to it Also their Seared Sea Scallops with Creamy Maine Lobster & Kale Risotto. Hands down absolutely amazing. The perfect amount of creaminess to it, scallops seared perfectly and amazing amount of lobster in the dish. A must try!!! read more

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The grilled Oyster is my wife's favorite restaurant in the kentlands. Its always busy and everyone seems to be having a good time. Parking is easier behind the restaurant. If you live in the kentlands then even better. The burger was solid and the fries are unique and I totally blew my low carb diet on them. The oyster selection is nice. There are always a few options for raw oysters. As for the trio.... Amazing and I recommend that everyone orders some. Get the sweet potato pecan cake to finish every thing off nicely. Easy 5 stars! The owners are doing everything right! read more

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We got a wind of this place from our daughter. Based on their experience, we had to try it. For our anniversary dinner celebration, my husband and I chose to dine here. We started with drinks- I got the mocktail Lavender Lemonade Spritz- tasty and refreshing! Hubby got his vodka and cranberry drink. Not enough vodka her said but he didn't want to make a big deal of it. Let me tell you! The food was amazing! I picked Maryland Grilled oyster as my app and my husband got the Sautéed PEI mussels. We can't get enough of the mussels and they give you a lot. The toasted grilled bread that came with it was perfect for dipping in the wine sauce. That alone could have filled me. But I had to be disciplined lol. The freshness of the oyster and crab meat was delectable. No regrets on the apps ordered. For the main course I had the Clam and Mussel Bowl. I got to bites in and I was full but nevertheless, I packed it to bring home and it was still yummy the 2nd time around when I heated it for dinner the following day. Hubby got the Norwegian Halibut. Oh boy, the flavor was the bomb! Mango salsa blends perfectly. I only got a bite but my husband devoured the whole thing and no leftover. For dessert, I got the Pistacio Crème Brûlée- very tasty and the pistachio flavor was on spot. Hubby got the Chocolate Silk Mousse and he said it was very good- he ate it too fast I didn't get a bite lol. The place was packed but the food came fast and the service was excellent. I love the decor and the ambiance of this place. We have plans to come back. The sooner the better! I can't wait to try other dishes. read more

The Grilled Oyster - Me u - Seafood Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Great little place! Staff very friendly and pleasant. Rockfish was fantastic. Hubby had trout which was great too. Kyle the bartender was super! Owner came over to check on us. Go see them! read more

This was our first visit here. We have nothing but good stuff to say about this place. It has a nice ambience and good place for a romantic dinner. We were seated in a quiet corner by the window. The staff was very pleasant, friendly, and cheerful. Seeing smiles on the staff goes a long way for me. Food was excellent. In no particular order: Cream of crab- nice and thick soup with lump crab meat. Great flavors. Wings with sauce on the side. Perfectly cooked. Crab hush puppies served with a side of sweet better - decent amount of crab meat in the hush puppies. Seared scallops with lobster risotto- delicious. All these are making my mouth watering again. Overall a great experience. Looking forward to our next visit. read more

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A delightful find! Came for brunch and everything we had was amazing! Yummy cocktails, unique and tasty mignonette for the oysters, and big pieces of crab in the crabby dishes! We got a Half Dozen Oysters, Cream of Crab Soup, Maryland Hash, & Stuffed French Toast (+ some Mimosas and cocktails). Staff was attentive and friendly, food was served in a very timely manner, and everything tasted wonderful. Worth the trip! read more

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Great food, cocktails and service! We also found the prices to be very reasonable. We sat at the bar area and there was a great vibe. Can't wait to come back to try more of the menu. read more

4.22.22 I most likely would have had issues finding the restaurant had my friend not met me at Whole Foods and walked with me. I came from the side passing by Whole Foods. If I had drove by the front side, the patio tables would have been a giveaway that it is a restaurant. It is situated by a roundabout if that helps and there is a parking lot around back of the restaurant. The restaurant is small. There is a bar to the right upon entering the establishment and the dining area is in the back. My friend and I shared everything. We ordered Crab Hush Puppies, Jumbo Crab cake with Roasted Veggies, Scallops & Kale Risotto, and Spiced Sweet Potato and Pecan Cake. Our waitress asked what we wanted to drink and also put in our appetizer, the Hush Puppies. Awhile later, a waiter came out with our drinks and took our order. Here is where the mishaps started. Apparently, the waitress never put in our order so our two entrees came out first. A different server brought out our entree and we told him we placed an order for the hush puppies so he said he would go check on it. A short while later, the hush puppies came. Of our two entrees, I enjoyed the scallop & risotto more than the crab cake. I'd rate that dish a 5/5. It seemed a bit pricy given the portion size, but since it was delish I didn't mind paying more. The description of the crab cake claimed it was award winning, but I respectfully disagree. It was good, but not the best I've had. It was all meat and no filler, which was a plus, but again the portion size was small. The Crab Hush Puppies were unique and I really enjoyed it. The cake was average, not particularly noteworthy. It kind of reminded me of carrot cake. So at the end of dinner, we get the tab and apparently they charged us twice for the hush puppies so they messed up twice. First by not remembering to place our order for the app, then double charging us. My friend dined here a few years ago with her family and they messed up her order before. She was willing to give them a second chance tonight, but after a subsequent bad experience with the service, she will not be returning. The food was good, but no wow factor and the service and attention to detail needs improvement. All the servers were friendly so kudos for that. read more

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