There's nothing more tempting than a platter of freshly shucked raw oysters—except when those oysters come for just $1 a pop. Here's our guide to 10 of the best and briniest buck-a-shucks in Washington D.C.
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace & Black Jack
Near Mcpherson Square
This oyster specialist offers Maryland "uglies" for half-off on weekdays from 4-7pm (with a minimum order of a dozen). Wash them down with $7 vodka martinis, $5 glasses of wine and 50 percent off draft beers.
Upstairs, sister bar Black Jack has $1.40 oysters Tuesday-Thursday from 6-8pm, Friday from 5-7pm, Saturday from 3-5pm and all day on Sunday, with a minimum order of 12. It also hosts "Tuesday Oyster Mania," where oysters on the half shell are half-price from 6pm till closing time.
Old Ebbitt Grill
Near Mcpherson Square
One of the city's oldest restaurants continues to keep its customers happy with a daily double oyster happy hour, featuring 50 percent off all oysters from both 3-6pm and 11pm-1am (2am on Fridays and Saturdays). The discount knocks the price of most varieties down to $9 for a half-dozen and $16.50 for a dozen.
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Near McPherson Square
Happy hour starts early at Joe's, where oysters are half-off from 2:30-6:30pm daily. The discount also applies to signature cocktails, wine by the glass and draft beers, and if you need some more food, there are additional items on the menu for $2.95-$4.95.
Grillfish DC
Near West End
Raw oysters are just a buck from 4-7pm daily at Grillfish, and on half-shell Wednesdays, fried oysters are included in the deal as well. Specialty cocktails run $5.75, beers are $3.50-6, and a glass and a half of wine can be had for $7.25-11.
Pops Seabar
Adams Morgan
If you're willing to take the leap on eating oysters at a dive bar, this casual joint will hook you up for a buck each from 4-7pm on weekdays, and 10pm-close on the weekend.
Ventnor Sports Cafe
Adams Morgan
Catch the game and some cheap oysters at this sports bar, where they're just $1 for both raw and fried varieties all day on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Hank's Oyster Bar
Multiple locations
At this family-friendly seafood restaurant with three D.C.-area outposts, $1.25 oysters are offered on Monday to Saturday from 3-7pm and and on Sunday from 3pm till closing. Pair them with a glass of beer or wine for $4-$6.
Legal Sea Foods
Various locations
This Boston import knows its seafood, and at happy hour (weekdays, 3:30-6:30pm), diners can enjoy half-off oysters, $3.95 draft beers, $5.95 glasses of wine, $6.95 cocktails and $6 snacks.
Senart's Oyster & Grille Room
Capitol Hill
You get a better deal when you order more oysters at this upscale seafood spot's happy hour, when half a dozen bivalves run $9 ($1.50 each) and a dozen are $14 (about $1.17 each). Pair them with a $5 glass of house wine. The deal is available from 4-7pm during the week and from 3-7pm on Saturday and Sunday.
J. Paul's
Georgetown
On weekdays from 4-7pm, this Georgetown institution dishes out $1.50 oysters (with a minimum order of six), $3 rail drinks and drafts, and $5 cocktails and wine. Tuesday night is also Wine O'Clock, with half-off bottles starting at 5pm.
