The Oyster Bar
ADDRESS: Kitchener Dr, Darwin Waterfront PHONE: 8981 2242 OWNERS: Kirsty and Jarrad Carter MANAGER/CHEF: Jess Hyde ENTREES: $16 to $21 MAINS: $18 to $38 OPEN: 7 days lunch and dinner STAR QUALITY: 3.9/5
ICAN’T recall a time when I have walked past this place and it hasn’t been busy. It’s the sort of place you can pop in for a drink and a quick snack or stay the whole night and graze on oysters, fresh seafood and other delights. The Carters started their adventure in South Australia and now have places in Perth, Mandurah and Darwin. Managed by local chef Jess Hyde, the place is in very capable hands. We went on a Sunday evening. Live music in the form of a great voice and country rock was being belted out. There is live music on Wednesday and Friday nights too.
We found a table inside where it was a tad quieter.
It is a bar, so you have to order and pay at the counter, bistro style and food is brought to you. Very casual, and it seems to work well once you know the rules. Oh, and talking of rules, they don’t take bookings after 1.30pm, so just turn up and get pot luck to a table.
With beer in hand, we ordered a half dozen of the monthly special oysters: grilled chipotle bourbon butter.
Service for food is quite quick, considering the crowds. These little beauties were pretty spesh. A slice of bread to sop up the juices would have been ideal.
Next time order the garlic bread as a side. And another ordering tip: If you want to graze, order as you go otherwise everything comes out together for the whole table.
Our next order did contain bread, as the juices always taste better with bread. Selfconfessed food junkie, I especially love the food from the “dirty south”. Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia and the like cook my kinda food.
So if you offer up a New Orleans style prawn Po’boy, it had better be damned good, or I will send it back.
This one is sure worth talking about. A pile of crumbed and fried juicy succulent and tasty prawns on a toasted long bun. A cursory toss of some greens and drizzled with a very wicked spicy mayo made this my hero for the night.
Yup, that’s what I been talkin’ ‘bout. We may need to collectively humbug them to keep this edible gem on the menu.
I was obliged to at least have a go at some classic kilpatrick oysters. Though I’m not super fussed with raw if there are cooked oysters at the ready. Salty bacon bits and Worcestershire sauce are placed over the oyster and then grilled. Seriously good. A simple, classic food marriage that is still going strong. This time with a serve of very nice garlic bread.
Not realising the ginormous size of the jerk chicken loaded fries, we were staring down the barrel of a food coma, over packed tummy or both. A bowl the size of a bathroom sink arrived. Oodles of melted cheese, slices of pickled chillies, and shredded spiced chicken was placed before us. The spices were milder than expected, possibly so that it wouldn’t turn ordinary folk into real jerks. I will bring my hot sauce next time.
In all, the experience was good. Not being a fan of the oyster, they have done well to satisfy us all. My advice is to come as a group of six and slowly graze through the menu and get a wide sampling of chef Jess’s talents.