42nd Street Oyster Bar
based on 10 reviews
508 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 831-2811
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Category: Restaurants
Tags:
seafood, fresh local seafood
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Price Range: Moderate, $11-30
Accepts Credit Cards: yes
Parking: Street
Wheelchair Accessible: yes
10 reviews for 42nd Street Oyster Bar
Some of the negative reviews seem to have been written by the same hand...That said, yes the wait can be long, especially on weekends. Folks won't wait that long for bad service or mediocre food. The food is excellent and so is the service. Best is local seafood from the Carolina coast, and obviously some of the exotic items are frozen from a vendor. It is worth the wait!
The oysters are fresh, plump and delicious and raw oysters were meant to be eaten at an oyster bar! Shucked and slurped! Ummm
Here's the deal- if you want fresh seafood you either have to:
A. Drive to the beach
B. Go to Earp's or City Seafood, buy it and cook it yourself
C. Go to the 42nd street oyster bar.
The boiled shrimp are always good, the steamed oysters are always cooked correctly and the fresh fish is just that- fresh either from NC or SC.
But, the more critical folks are correct- the ambience is not great- it's loud and often hard to get seated. If you're sitting at the oyster bar, sometimes it gets a little smokey from the smokers over at the bar. Also, if you get exotic and order seafood or other dishes that are not local, the quality is not very good- best advice stick with the local stuff! And yes, there are lots of lawyers, lobbyists and other generally loud people, if you want to go somewhere for quiet dinner conversation, this is probably not the place.
The service is always very good- sit at the oyster bar and watch these guys work, there are no slackers. I have yet to have a bad waiter or waitress. The prices are reasonable for what you get.
I always feel like I'm being watched there. The acoustics make it a loud place so it's not great for light dinner conversation. The food is good, though, and we have a few nice times there.
DISGUSTING!!! My husband and I ordered two dozen raw oysters, one for each of us. He was not able to eat all of his. While waiting for our check we witnessed our server take the oysters to the prep area, replace the eaten oysters, used lemon and cocktail sauce and deliver to another table. So, oysters served to us but not consumed were passed on to another table. Needless to say, we were disgusted! Not only is that disgusting but the some unsuspecting soul paid for oysters we had already paid for. We have told everyone we know of our experience and all were as disgusted as we are. I wonder if they re-serve bread, pasta, etc, too?????? Needless to say, we will never go back. YUK!!!
Reality Finality nailed it: this isn't a good place to go to do anything except see the old lawyers and party apparatchiks who run the state gorging themselves. The (men's, at least) bathroom is a hoot- signs with bad jokes that would've been bawdy in 1943, of the sort the wattled and gnarled old barristers outside will crack when drunk, good old boys with J.D.s they are.
Really, it's pretty much the vortex of all that's wrong with the political aristocracy of North Carolina. Good viewing, though.
Although, also: there was a large group of yuppies having dinner before a night on the town when I ate there. Like twenty, and then kept taking pictures of themselves. Flash bulb every few seconds.
So yeah. Two stars because I have to give them, and I wanted to give it one extra star for the edutainment value.
If you're going to rebel against 'everything thats wrong with the political aristocracy of NC", write on a political blog where people are used to seeing one-sided skewed views of society, dont sneak up on a restaurant review and dump your cynicism on us. thank you.
This place is awesome. My wife and I love to go there. I enjoy the boiled shrimp and trout. She on the other hand enjoys a big juicy steak (doesn't like seafood). Every time we've been the food has been excellent, servers are usually very prompt and correct with our order, and the prices won't drain you dry.
"...and the prices won't drain you dry."
Let me take a guess at your annual household income or the size of your trust fund! HAHAHA!!!!
service was great. Our waiter, Kipton, was a delightful young man who I know will achieve much in life. It was truly a pleasure to enjoy such fine cuisine and receive such caring and outstanding service from the waitstaff. Thank you. Our family will certainly return soon!
The place has been over rated and over priced for years...only those that think they're going to be seen by someone that gives a damn tend to go...politicians, political hacks, gold-diggers, etc., etc. My favorite line from an old girl friend, who used to trawl there...."but he said he was taking me to the governor's ball." My reply was "Which one?" For those looking for a strange urban sociological field trip, have fun. However,this place is far from being a family place...screw their over priced popcorn shrimp, oysters, etc... A better quality of food, service, and people can be found else where in Raleigh.
The popcorn shrimp are great. Kids love them too. Make sure to make a reservation or you will be waiting for a while on the weekends.
Interesting place. You can only get raw oysters if you are sitting at the oyster bar. No one that works there seems to know how to tell time. Double whatever time the hostess says the wait time is! We only go when out of town guests suggest it because of these eccentricities. Great place for sitting at the bar and having some oysters-provided you get there early enough to get a seat at the bar!
Once seated at a table, the service is acceptable. Portions are average and price borders on the high side.