25 Spots For Great Oysters In Connecticut

It’s no secret that oysters are a catalyst for romance.  Ordering from the raw bar is adventurous, yet sexy: the perfect start for a date.  With its proximity to Long Island Sound, 618 miles of coastline, and bustling culinary scene, Connecticut is the perfect place to dine on fresh seafood. 

Here are 25 CT restaurants in the state that serve up delicious oysters.

Mill Street Bar & Table

Greenwich native Geoff Lazlo recently opened Mill Street Bar & Table in the Byram neighborhood of Greenwich. The restaurant celebrates the flavors of the season, with locally sourced ingredients.  The grilled Stella Mar oysters begin in the wood-fired grill and are finished with white wine, butter and thyme.

230 Mill Street Greenwich, CT 203 813-3323 

Liv’s Oyster Bar

Established in 2006, Liv’s Oyster Bar offers an array of delicious seafood.  They offer oysters on the half shell, but also have an Oyster’s Casino appetizer baked Blue Point oysters, bacon, and herbed butter.

Liv’s Oyster Bar 166 Main Street Old Saybrook, CT 

Elm Street Oyster House

Situated just off of Greenwich Avenue, Elm Street Oyster House has been serving the Greenwich area for over 20 years.  Try the oysters from the raw bar, pan-fried, as an addition to a salad, or in a baby kale stew.

11 West Elm Street Greenwich, CT  06830 (203) 629-5795

The Whelk, Westport

Established Chef Bill Taibe is at the helm of The Whelk, a restaurant and seafood bar in Saugatuck, but Executive Chef Anthony Kostelis creates the outstanding menu diners experience every day.  The menu includes a changing selection of wild and farmed oysters served with a mignonette with a hint of jalapeno.  Guests can also enjoy oyster shooters and roasted oysters.

575 Riverside Avenue Westport, CT (203) 557-0902

Outrigger’s Restaurant

Outrigger’s Restaurant, located right along the Housatonic River in Stratford, makes for both a scenic and delicious dining experience.  Gaze at the marina, the river, and Long Island Sound while enjoying Blue Point oysters from the raw bar, Oysters Rockefeller, and more.  They even offer a prix fixe dinner for two for that special occasion.

555 Broad Street Stratford, CT (203) 377-8815 

Oyster Club

Mystic’s Oyster Club was featured in Travel + Leisure’s Best Oyster Bars in America 2014 Edition.  With brunch, lunch, and dinner options, diners can enjoy oysters in a variety of settings.  They have a rotating selection of oysters and clams.

13 Water Street Mystic, CT (860) 415- 9266

F.I.S.H. Restaurant + Bar

Choose your favorite variety of oyster or try a sampler at F.I.S.H. Restaurant + Bar in Stamford.  The restaurant, which opened in 2014, comes from the same owners as Quattro Pazzi and Osianna.

245 Bedford Street Stamford, CT (203) 724-9300

The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood

Tucked next to the seafood market, The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood offers waterfront dining and a seasonal menu.  Enjoy their rotating selection of oysters on ice, in seafood platters, fried, or in warm dishes like Oysters Rockefeller.

89 Rowayton Avenue Rowayton, CT (203) 866-4488

Summer Shack

Jasper White’s Summer Shack is a modern take on the New England seafood shack.  The sprawling restaurant is located in the Mohegan Sun Casino.  They have an extensive raw bar along with traditional favorites, including fried seafood baskets and lobster rolls.

1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard Uncasville, CT (860) 862-95100

Max’s Oyster Bar, Hartford

Ever since its conception in 1999, Max’s Oyster Bar has received acclaim. Connecticut Magazine named it “Best New Restaurant” and Zagat’s rated in “extraordinary.”  The restaurant provides the ambiance of a New York City oyster bar in Connecticut.

964 Farmington Avenue West Hartford, CT (860) 236-6299

Riverview Bistro

Riverview Bistro in Stratford overlooks the Housatonic River.  With lunch, dinner, an early bird menu, and happy hour, diners have many options for visiting the restaurant.  They serve oysters on the half shell and also suggest a wine pairing for them.

964 Ferry Boulevard Stratford, CT (203) 690-1616

Match

With its “New School Raw Bar,” Match in South Norwalk puts a modern, creative twist on the traditional raw bar.  They use local purveyors for their delicious oysters.

98 Washington Street Norwalk, CT (203) 852-1088

Shell & Bones

New Haven’s Shell and Bones prides itself on using fresh and sustainable ingredients.  Try oysters from the raw bar or in appetizers like Oysters Rockefeller.  You can also indulge in their clam chowder which won The Big Taste Competition of greater New Haven.

100 S Water Street New Haven, CT (203) 787-3466

The Spread

The Spread in South Norwalk has established itself as an oyster destination!  Join them on Tuesdays for $1 oysters from Bloom & Brothers, which is located in Norwalk and gets their shellfish from Long Island Sound.  Oyster dishes regularly appear on their menu.

70 North Main Street Norwalk, CT (203) 939-1111

Millwright’s

Feast on oysters in Millwright’s elegant dining room or their more relaxed tavern.  They complete their dishes with organic produce from local farms.

77 West Street Simsbury. CT (860) 651-5500

Harbor Lights

The New York Times deemed Harbor Lights in Norwalk “very good.”  Order oysters from their raw bar or find them in other dishes on the menu.

82 Seaview Avenue Norwalk, CT (203) 866-3364

Off the Hook

Off the hook in Stratford is, in fact, “off the hook!”  Join them for happy hour, which includes half priced oysters and clams on the half shell.  They also offer a $5 platter of peel and eat shrimp.

170 Ferry Boulevard Stratford, CT (203) 690-1777

Ten Twenty Post

Located in the heart of Darien, Ten Twenty Post has a raw bar as well as changing daily specials.  They derive inspiration from New Orleans’s French Quarter and the New York City Oyster Bar- making them the perfect place to dine on oysters.

1020 Post Road Darien, CT (203) 655-1020

Atelier Florian

The raw bar at Atelier Florian in New Haven serves up East and West Coast oysters, little neck clams, and shrimp cocktail.  Connecticut Magazine called them one of the Best New restaurants for 2016.

1166 Chapel Street New Haven, CT (203) 859-5999

South End Uncorked

The team behind South End unveiled its second restaurant, South End Uncorked, last summer.  There they serve Oysters Kilpatrick, roasted oysters topped with Benton’s bacon and a house-made BBQ sauce.

15 Elm Street New Canaan, CT (203) 920-1212

The Capital Grille

Capital Grille is famous for its upscale dining experience, and iIts shellfish options are legendary.  Diners can order impressive platters for the table, like the “Grand Plateau” that incudes jumbo lump crab, main lobster, shrimp cocktail, and oysters on the half shell.

44 Front Street Hartford, CT (860) 244-0075

230 Tresser Blvd Stamford, CT (203) 967-0000

J House Restaurant

The J House is a boutique, luxury hotel in Greenwich.  At its restaurant, diners can order six east coast oysters with red wine mignonette and cocktail sauce from the raw bar.

1114 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich, CT (203) 698-6980

Elm

Last summer elm restaurant welcomed Chef Luke Venner as its new Executive Chef. Guests love his new menu.  In fact, the 2015 Greenwich Food + Wine Festival recognized him as an Innovative Chef.

73 Elm Street New Canaan, CT (203) 920-4994

Washington Prime

Washington Prime’s all day menu boasts a variety of oyster dishes, such as oysters by the piece, Oysters Rockefeller, and a Grand Tower of assorted shellfish.

141 Washington Street Norwalk, CT (203) 857-1314

Polpo

“The Chef Tower” at Polpo gives four to six diners an assortment of delicious seafood from the raw bar, including oysters.  You can also order them by the piece.

554 Old Post Road Greenwich, CT (203) 629-1999

Blackstone’s Steakhouse

Blackstone’s Steakhouse in Greenwich transcends meat.  They also have a raw bar with oysters, clams, crab, shrimp, lobster, and seafood platters.

28 West Putnam Avenue Greenwich, CT (203) 661-8700