By: Lindsay Garbacik By: Lindsay Garbacik | January 24, 2024 | Food & Drink, Community,
Oysters are a tasty bivalve, natural aphrodisiac, and refreshingly salty seafood. We’ve rounded up the 10 very best restaurants for fresh, quality oysters in Chicago. The world is truly your oyster, try something unexpected today!
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2700 W Chicago Avenue / Website
This luxe restaurant has a hefty array of oysters. On the menu, find up to five varieties from the likes of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Maine. Add a bit of flair to your oysters by adding one of Heritage’s chef reserve caviar from Rare Tea Cellars and Polanco caviar. Visit Heritage’s daily happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to snag a dozen oysters and a glass of bubbly for $26. Reservations can be made here.
1024 N Rush Street / Website
Head to this iconic seafood hot spot for chill elegance and a truly massive selection of seafood. Oyster lovers will be pleased to indulge in oysters from Glacier Bay and Totten Virginica, though specific oyster varieties vary as the seasons change. Snag enough seafood for your whole table with the over-the-top towers, complete with oysters, shrimp, tuna ribbons, crab avocado salad, and lobster. Pop in on Tuesdays to take advantage of the oysters Rockefeller special. Reservations can be made here.
616 N Rush Street / Website
With locations in NYC and South Beach, this upscale seafood spot is known for its unique oyster options. The joint’s signature oyster pairings include North American selections including Beau Soleil New Brunswick oysters with pineapple relish, Kusshi British Columbia oysters with jalapeño ponzu, Kumamoto Washington oysters with a wasabi leaf, and Blue Point New York oysters with caviar and cream. For happy hour, hosted Monday to Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., indulge in a dozen Blue Point oysters for just $24. Reservations can be made here.
8 W Maple Street / Website
Visit two Michelin-star chef Danny Grant’s upscale steakhouse for stellar wine selections and tasty oysters on the half-shell. Served with horseradish, cocktail sauce and Champagne mignonette, the raw bar’s oysters can be ordered as a meal or a la carte. Add a touch of luxury to your oyster with the steakhouse’s golden Kaluga, classic Siberian, and Royal osetra caviars. Reservations can be made here.
222 N LaSalle Blvd. / Website
Head to this locally-loved steakhouse for a romantic night out, complete with two kinds of aphrodisiacs. Enjoy oysters from both the east and west coast, served with lemon ginger mignonette and cocktail sauce. Add a touch more luxury to your table spread with the addition of the grilled king crab, Kaluga caviar potato skins, and chilled Maine lobster. Stop in for happy hour, hosted Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., for $1 oysters. Reservations can be made here.
317 N Clark Street / Website
For upscale, waterfront dining, RPM Seafood is your spot. Indulge in oysters harvested from right here in the U.S. with the RPM Prestige oysters from Lilliwaup, Washington, and the RPM Pearl oysters from New Brunswick, Canada. Come with a group and order the burgeoning seafood towers. Available in two sizes, each seafood tower contains prawns, Maine lobster, Alaskan king crab legs, and both East and West Coast oysters. Seeking more seafood? On top of the menu’s loaded seafood offerings, they also serve four unique caviars. Reservations can be made here.
21 E Hubbard Street / Website
This seafood spot has been a Chicago institution for almost four decades. Shaw’s regularly has a loaded raw bar of oysters. Give the restaurant a call anytime for specifics on which oysters are in this week, if you’re curious. Taste a variety of seafood with the grand shellfish platter and cold appetizer combo special. Both platters include oysters on the half shell, along with jumbo shrimp and Maine lobster tail. Reservations can be made here.
837 W Fulton Market / Website
For a truly diverse selection of oysters, head to The Publican. The menu features six different varieties of oysters, all of which are harvested in North America. Order a few of each a la carte or let the chef team choose a lineup of oysters for you. Stop in for happy hour, hosted Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., to enjoy oysters on the half shell for $2 each, served with cocktail and mignonette sauces and oyster crackers. Reservations can be made here.
400 N Clark Street / Website
With locations in NYC and DC, The Smith has gained a reputation for its thorough seafood offerings, and the Chicago location is no different. On the menu, find oysters from Cotuit Bay, MA, Fishers Island, NY, and Puffer Petite oysters from Wellfleet, MA. Can’t get enough oysters? Order one of the over-the-top seafood platters, complete with oysters, chilled shrimp and spicy salmon tartare. All of the oysters are available during brunch, for those who like to start their day with a slurp of luxury. Or, opt to visit during happy hour, hosted Monday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., to score a half dozen oysters for just $13. Reservations can be made here.
224 N Michigan Avenue / Website
Head to this luxe brasserie and oyster bar for exciting oyster specials and spanning varieties. Venteux features oysters from the east and west coasts and serves each platter with a lemon, mignonette and cocktail sauce. Or, order the ‘fruit de mer’ for your oysters nestled with mussels, clams, shrimp, lobster and king crab. Stop in on Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. to experience oyster shooters rimmed with Tajin. Or, try happy hour, hosted Tuesday to Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., to score a dozen oysters for $22. Reservations can be made here.
Looking for more luxe stops in the city? Check out our picks for 20 of the Best Italian Restaurants Across America.
Photography by: thesomegirl / Getty Images