The Best Oysters in Toronto
A trendy appetizer on Toronto menus these days seems to be the oyster shooter - perhaps best pulled off at spots like Japango or Fuzion. Nothing quite says aphrodisiac like a slimy mollusk coated by uni, quail egg yolk, ponzu jelly, tobiko and green onions.
But when oyster cravings call for something more substantial then a savoury snack served in a shot glass it's time to hunt down one of Toronto's oyster houses for some fresh and seasonal Malpeque, Watch Hill, Quonset Point, BeauSoleil, Kumamoto, Aspy Bay, Pickle Point, Newport Cup or, say, Blue Point oyster on the half shell options.
Leading the pack of five oyster-destinations that made the cut in our recent Best of Toronto survey is Queen West's Oyster Boy. Over the years they've carved out a reputation as one of the city's best and most reliable suppliers of fresh oysters to restaurants, corporate events or shuck-'em-yourself parties at home. To get oyster-lovers in the mood they also offer regular shucking classes (they call it Shuck U) at the restaurant.
But beyond Oyster Boy there's some other spots worth a look - all of which distinguish themselves not just by the quality of their oysters but also by other tasty seafood options that round our their menus.
Oyster Boy
Their wholesale and retail oyster business might keep the cash registers humming, but it's worth a visit to their Queen West restaurant to catch the shucking in action. The menu also features fish cakes, mussels, chowder and fish and chips. More...
Rodney's Oyster House
Formerly on Adelaide, Rodney Clark's oyster house moved west to a sub-level space on King in 2001. Don't miss his five varieties of oyster sauces including the aptly named Back From Hell. More...
Starfish
Starfish is home to Patrick McMurray, one of the fastest oyster shuckers in the world - he set the world record for the most oysters shucked in a minute (33). Splurge for one of his "Shucker's Special Plates". More...
Pure Spirits Oyster House
A good bet if you're dining with friends who aren't fans of the slimy stuff. Fresh oysters plus an extensive range of fish and other seafood options. Bonus - a side patio open in the summer. More...
Zee Grill & Oyster Bar
Going strong since 1981, Zee Grill feeds Mt. Pleasant locals with fresh crab, fish, mussels and a dozen varieties of oysters (in season). More...
Comments (7)
I'm going to look at my lunch of rice and turkey and pretend it's a delicious oyster. :( Glad Oyster Boy took top spot though.
Starfish is shells above all the others in terms of variety, freshness and superb culinary delights...a must-visit for any seafood lover....!!!
Zee Grill is the best pick for me. Not nececeraly for the oysters, all the other restaurants mentioned above serve about the same product. The food itself however is superb. Great seafood combinations like their version of New Orleans Jambalaya. They use REAL file gumbo powder in the rice and that gives the dish a real stew like texture. Also their non seafood menu items are outstanding. My favorite....!! The toasted Quebec duck breast. It is a must try.
Oyster Boy had tremendous difficulty living up to its hype. Although the fare was by all counts delicious, the menu was almost entirely outdated (still mentioning the mini mill st. organic bottles). Comprised almost entirely of east-coast oysters that weren't available, while leaving off the west-coasters that they did have in stock, the ordering process became difficult and convoluted. It's a shame, too, because their Kumomotos and Lambertinis were delicious (one even the size of a small child's shoe)... it just shouldn't have taken such tremendous confusion to have gotten there.
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