Celebrate National Oyster Day on Saturday, August 5th

-Courtesy of Punch Media
Assembly Rooftop Lounge Oysters by Harry Paris Field

Nothing screams summertime more than indulging in some freshly-shucked, briny East or West Coast oysters! National Oyster Day on Saturday, August 5, is swiftly approaching and there are plenty of ways to enjoy stunning shellfish offerings across the Greater Philadelphia region. From oyster-centric deals to classic raw bar essentials, we’ve got the seafood-loving foodie covered with ultra-elevated fresh takes on these delightful mollusks from locales including Assembly Rooftop Lounge, At The Table, The Dutch, Gaul & Co. Malt House, Royal Boucherie, The Twisted Tail, Townsend EPX, and Urban Farmer.

Assembly Rooftop Lounge, the swanky ninth-floor year-round cocktail bar and lounge overlooking the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, is in the second season of their popular spring/summer pop-up, The Grove at Assembly, an experience designed to transport guests to a rejuvenating coastal Mediterranean escape  fit with an Appertivo Happy Hour and an array of Mediterranean-inspired snacks and drinks. While sipping on the Frozen Aperol Spritz or Frosé, guests can snack on Assembly’s Oysters ($16) consisting of four chilled oysters served with cucumber mignonette and pickled Fresno peppers, that will leave guests feeling as though they’re on an Italian cliffside getaway.

At The Table, Wayne’s venerable and award-winning fine-dining BYOB, is debuting a new dish, Grilled Acadian Pearl Oysters ($22), just in time for National Oyster Day. Chefs Tara Buzan-Hardy and Alex Hardy took inspiration from their annual trip to Martha’s Vineyard when crafting the recipe, which utilizes six fresh oysters on the half-shell, kale, lemon herb compound butter, crispy Old Bay potato chip, Parmesan cheese, and pancetta.

The Dutch, the popular breakfast-through-dinner eatery with a focus on reinventing the Pennsylvania Dutch classics, offers a fan-favorite pairing from predecessor restaurant Fond, Oysters & Rosé, every Thursday from 5pm – 9pm at the bar and patio overlooking East Passyunk Avenue. For just $19, oyster-lovers can enjoy a half dozen oysters and glass of rosé while taking in the ambience of South Philadelphia. In honor of National Oyster Day, The Dutch will feature this special on Saturday, August 5 in addition to Thursday service. 

Forsythia, Chef Christopher Kearse’s contemporary French restaurant and bar in Old City, is celebrating National Oyster Day on Saturday, August 5 with specialty cocktails, discounted beverages, and of course, oysters. For just $22, guests can knock back a half-dozen oyster medley of both east coast (two varieties) and west coast (one variety) oysters, accompanied by three different sauces: green tomato cocktail sauce, rosé mignonette, and uni Champagne sauce. Guests can also look forward to sipping on two specialty cocktails, Smoky and the Bandit ($12) comprised of bourbon, smoked simple syrup, and Bràulio, as well as Oh Captain, My Captain ($12) made with gin, Cappelletti, lemon, and sparkling wine. Forsythia will also offer house sparkling wine ($11 per glass) as well as $5 bottles of Kronenbourg 1664.

Gaul & Co. Malt House, the neighborhood gastropub known for good food, booze, and people, and home of the “Wit-or-Witowski” Kielbasa Cheesesteak, is no stranger to serving up ultra-fresh and classic summer seafood. Guests can indulge in buck-a-shuck oysters ($1 each) during Gaul & Co. Malt House’s popular Seafood Night, available each Wednesday at both the Port Richmond and Rockledge locations from 4pm – 12am through the rest of the summer, plus indulge in other tasty specials like the recently launched All-You-Can-Eat Snow Crab, Mussels, and Fries for $49.99.  Both locations will be celebrating National Oyster Day on Saturday, August 5 with buck-a-shuck oysters ($1 each) available all-day in two varieties: Cape May Salts and Savage Blonde.  

Oloroso, Philadelphia’s premier Spanish tapas restaurant in the heart of Center City, has recently added a Spanish tapas-style take on the classic seafood tower to their offerings in the form of Parrillada de Mariscos that is perfect for tackling on National Oyster Day. The brainchild of Executive Chef Jason Peabody, diners ordering a Parrillada de Mariscos can look forward to a generous platter of assorted seafood, including fresh oysters on the half shell, that can be supplemented with caviar for a truly indulgent culinary experience.

Royal Boucherie, Old City’s lively and atmospheric neighborhood restaurant and bar, has a bevy of oyster-centric offerings featured on the newly-refreshed all-day menu including Oysters on the Half Shell (M/P), served with mignonette and cocktail sauce, from the famed raw bar adjacent to the first-floor bar and dining room. Additionally, diners during happy hour service (Monday – Friday, 4 – 6pm) can indulge in a Half Dozen Oysters and Glass of Sparkling Wine for just $15 total, or enjoy them alone at $2 per mollusk.

The Twisted Tail, the Southern-inspired restaurant, bar, and live Juke Joint on Headhouse Square known for its extensive array of brown spirits, offers a dozen Pink Moon Oysters ($18) with vodka cocktail sauce, mignonette, and hot sauce during dinner, and a half dozen for $9 during Social Hour, every day from 4 to 6 pm. These oysters hailing from PEI’s New London Bay carry just the right balance of salt and creaminess with a pleasing mineral finish that pairs well with a sparkling glass of rosé – Perfect for enjoying on The Twisted Tail’s outdoor patio on sunny days.

Townsend EPX, Chef Townsend Wentz’s French-forward restaurant and bar on East Passyunk Avenue, is serving up an imaginative, fresh and flavorful riff on the classic oyster starter with Savage Blonde Oysters. Wentz’s mid-summer take on the traditionally briny mollusk is prepared with cucumber granita and borage flower, and is available for purchase à la carte or showcased on the rotating six-course tasting menu.

Urban Farmer, Logan Square’s rustic chic modern American steakhouse, offers a half-dozen Oysters ($23) that come topped with champagne cucumber granita for a light, effervescent take on a classic mignonette. Urban Farmer’s oysters are available for dinner as a refreshing appetizer, which of course marries gorgeously with a crisp glass of champagne.