HOT LIST ON THE HALF SHELL
5 Hampton Roads spots to eat excellent oysters in November
This is not a list of the best five restaurants in Hampton Roads. Rather, it’s a recurring feature in which we list places we’re most excited about this month — a great new restaurant you should try, a special event at an old favorite, or a hidden gem.
It’s designed to answer a simple question: Where should you go out to eat this week?
1. Fuller’s Raw Bar
38 E. Mellen St., Hampton, fullersrawbar.com
On the Peninsula and looking for a deepcupped, sweet and luscious White Stone — fought for by restaurants in New York and Washington? Often enough, they’re at Fuller’s — owned by the same Phoebus restaurant group behind Deadrise and Casa Diablo. That said, bargain hunters should show up Tuesdays for dollar oyster night, which sometimes offers oysters rarely seen on dollar menus: mild Mobjack Bays, say, or the brine-packed majesty of Sewansecotts from the Eastern Shore. Or show up Wednesday evening and get a cheap bottle of rose bubbly and a dozen oysters for $20.
2. The Atlantic on Pacific
3004 Pacific Ave., Virginia Beach, 757-422-2122, theatlanticvb.com
The Atlantic is a champagne oyster bar whose happy hour shoots down to High Life prices. From 3-6 p.m. daily, get $5 muscadet and dollar oysters (recently Rock Holes) that are best in grilled form. They also have one of the broadest selections in town of higher-end oysters from along the Atlantic Coast: Balanced and lovely Lynnhavens are usually on the menu, and other recent menus have included fruity Malpeques, Sweet Jesus shells that taste lightly of cucumber, and soughtafter Blue Points from the Long Island Sound.
3. Casa Pearl
722 Merrimac Trail, Williamsburg, 757-208-0149, eatcasapearl.com
Alongside excellent oyster tacos, Williamsburg’s Casa Pearl continually offers a discerning selection of oysters — not to mention a $1 happy hour special that often includes premium shells such as brine-packed Seaside Salts, which more than live up to their name. Happy hour runs 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays to
Saturdays, and includes $6 margaritas.
4. Big Easy Oyster Bar
111 W. Tazewell St., Norfolk, 757-227-6222, norfolkseafoodco.com
In Norfolk, it can be difficult to find a dollar oyster that you actually want to pay a dollar for. Well, thank goodness for the Big Easy in the basement of Norfolk Seafood Company — whose happy hour offers oysters for 59 cents, 79 cents and 99 cents. Spring for the “expensive” dollar versions and you’ll generally get a plump, stately shuck — luxuriant Prince Edward Islands, on our last visit.
5. Blue Seafood and
Spirits
2181 Upton Drive, Suite 420, Virginia Beach, 757-689-5395, blueseafoodandspirits.com
Blue Seafood and Spirits is not a raw bar with a painter’s palette worth of oyster options, but whenever it’s possible, chef Charles Thain uses wild-caught oysters from the Eastern Shore. Get them raw and they’re mild and melony, or especially try them in an oysters Rockefeller plate that isn’t on the menu, but is available anyway. As wild-caught oyster season starts (a bit late) in November, Blue is where you’re sure to find them.