This article was first published in September 2019. It was last updated on September 16, 2020.
Love oysters? Here are the 10 best restaurants to devour oysters in Charlotte.
Oysters can be enjoyed year-round, but the old-school rule of thumb is to eat them during the months that contain the letter “r” — September through April, the cooler months.
Below is a list (in no specific order) of the top oysters spots in Charlotte.
Note: The availability of oysters varies from week to week. Be sure to call before you go.
RockSalt
Farm-to-table spot in the Back Lot of Park Road Shopping Center featuring oysters and clams from their sister Rappahannock Oyster Company
Oysters: Owner Travis Croxton also owns an oyster farm in Virginia. Expect a variety of oysters, including grilled with herb butter, preserved lemon, or tomato jam. RockSalt does a $1 oyster “happy hour” from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
N.C. Red
“New England-New South” restaurant in Plaza Midwood
Creator: This is the fourth restaurant from Bruce Moffett — the guy behind Good Food, Barrington’s, and Stagioni. N.C. Red is located in the former Penguin space in Plaza Midwood.
Oysters: They’re sourced from both the East and West Coasts and served up as grilled, Rockefeller, casino, and broiled.
Deal: $1.50 North Carolina and Virginia Coast oysters on Tuesdays.
Sea Level
Seafood restaurant and oyster bar in the heart of Uptown
Deal: Sea Level offers oysters for $1 from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Sea Level typically has 8-10 different types of oysters.
STIR
New South End restaurant with an oyster bar
Oysters: STIR’s oyster bar has raw, char-broiled, fried oysters casino, and oysters Rockefeller. Speciality rotating oysters are $3 each.
Full story: Oyster and cocktail bar STIR is now open in South End’s RailYard
Fin & Fino
Spacious, well designed Uptown spot featuring seafood and American dishes
Oyster situation: Expect a rotating daily selection of oysters, including Rappahannock and Olde Salt. Most oysters are about $3 each.
Go big: Go on a tasting tour of F&F’s menu and order “The Treatment” for $59. $5 of that goes to charity; the current charity is Heal Charlotte.
[Related Agenda guide: The 20 best restaurants in Charlotte, right now]
Growler’s Pourhouse
Cozy bar in the heart of NoDa know for its good bar food
Oyster situation: Their limited menu during the pandemic includes roasted oysters ($15). In pre-corona times, Growler’s had 3-4 oyster selections with a focus on Atlantic varietals. It was also one of the only spots in town that you could order 50 oysters at a time (chef’s selection for $90).
Beverage: Order the oyster shooter with a Pourhouse Point oyster, cocktail sauce, lemon juice, cracked black pepper, and Absolut Peppar Vodka.
Eddie V’s
Seafood and steakhouse in Uptown
Oyster situation: Eddie V’s offers a handful of east and west coast oyster options served on ice with cocktail and mignonette sauces.
The Crunkleton
Popular cocktail bar in Elizabeth
Oyster options: You can order them raw with charred lemon, mignonette, horseradish, and saltines — or charred with pecorino, blackening spice, and hearth bread. Each option comes with a half-dozen oysters for $18.
Agenda related guides: 20 best weekly specials in Charlotte and best cocktail bars in Charlotte
Hello, Sailor
Award-winning restaurant overlooking Lake Norman
Creators: Owners are Joe and Katy Kindred, the couple behind the hit restaurant Kindred in Davidson (side note: when you go to Kindred, obviously get their famous Crispy Oysters).
Dish: East vs west coast oysters with fernet mignonette.
Agenda related guides: Best seafood restaurants in Charlotte and best overall restaurants in Charlotte
The Waterman
Casual fish bar in South End with an 80-seat rooftop bar dubbed Topside
Oyster options: Usually about six types of oysters, including Sea Level oysters and Delaware Wilds.
Deal: $1 oysters from 2-7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
