best raw oysters

Freshest is the key word here. Apalachicola Bay was closed to oyster harvesting recently, maybe it still it. Too much rain and fresh water. I'd give it a week or so.

Had a half dozen at Caliza a couple of weeks ago that were spectacular. Almost cancelled rest of dinner to instead just order several more courses!

The Hightide Lounge in FWB or Nick's in the sticks or Hunt's in Panama City. I only eat oysters where they shuck them in front of me. I have lived here my whole life and would not go anywhere but these 3 joints for fresh shucked Appy's!

Ask the server or shucker where they are from. They're all equally fresh if they come from Apalachicola. Sometimes when they close the bay to harvesting oyster bars will get them from Louisiana.

I disagree. Just because they are coming from Apalachicola doesn't mean they are equally fresh. Each oyster bag is tagged and dated, and they are NOT equally fresh at different restaurants.

My "rule of thumb"... if the place moves a lot of raw oysters each day the better your chances of getting really fresh oysters.

I love 'em and have eaten them from most of the places they are available in SoWal. I have had "good" and "mixed" success. Some places pre-shuck, which is blasphemous in my opinion, and your chances of getting an oyster that's been hangin' out in a cooler too long go up considerably during slower periods of the day (if the oyster's look dryer than normal and have wrinkles around the edges you should risk being high maintenance and ask for a fresh dozen - you won't be happy).

Apalachicola oysters are very bland. Go to Acme oyster house in Baytowne Wharf. They have Louisiana oysters which are salty and yummy. Watch out for their horseradish. It's the hotest ever!!!!!!!

bland? Not sure where you have eaten your Apalachicola Oysters, but you probably got some watered down oysters while eating at a place you shouldn't have been eating oysters. When fresh, Apalachicola oysters are very salty and delicious. You can keep your Louisiana oysters. I've eaten Acme's.

I've eaten oysters at a few local restaurants, but I'd rather drive to Gene's, Hunt's or Capt.'s Table to eat raw oysters, in that order.

Apalachicola oysters are very bland. Go to Acme oyster house in Baytowne Wharf. They have Louisiana oysters which are salty and yummy. Watch out for their horseradish. It's the hotest ever!!!!!!!

Bland huh.....

Perhaps that polluted Cajun water that those ole Louisiana oysters come from have tainted your taste buds....;-)


Acme...now that's funny:clap:

bland? Not sure where you have eaten your Apalachicola Oysters, but you probably got some watered down oysters while eating at a place you shouldn't have been eating oysters. When fresh, Apalachicola oysters are very salty and delicious. You can keep your Louisiana oysters. I've eaten Acme's.

I've eaten oysters at a few local restaurants, but I'd rather drive to Gene's, Hunt's or Capt.'s Table to eat raw oysters, in that order.

Hunts's is my number one! Where is Gene's?

A bland oyster is probably full of some nastiness. Usually if there's a lack of salt in the flavor then there's been a lot of rain and run off thus lowering the salt content in the bay. Same thing could definitely happen to a Louisiana Loogie.

...and sometimes I wonder if the restaurant rinses the oysters in fresh water to make them look fresh after too many in-advance openings. Or, maybe they soak them in fresh water too long while trying to wash them.

Iris, I'll have to send you a pm about Gene's because there are only about 15 seats in the entire place, and I don't want to see a line out the door when I go for lunch.

The saltiness of the Apalachicola oyster or lack thereof has everything to do with the tides when they are harvested.

I personally wont be eating ANY oysters for a while due to all the flooding / rain to the north of us.

Hey.
THe oysters at Goatfeathers taste good. They even run a speical. Before 6 pm they are ony $4.99 a dozen. I enjoy them and normaly eat 3 dozen.

Hey.
THe oysters at Goatfeathers taste good. They even run a speical. Before 6 pm they are ony $4.99 a dozen. I enjoy them and normaly eat 3 dozen.

We had them recently at Goatfeathers and they were shucked for us and delish. Can't beat the price.;-)

Iris, I'll have to send you a pm about Gene's because there are only about 15 seats in the entire place, and I don't want to see a line out the door when I go for lunch.

You mean this one?

Gene's Oyster Bar in Panama City, FL 32401 - (850) 785-1232

The saltiness of the Apalachicola oyster or lack thereof has everything to do with the tides when they are harvested.

What?

After some research it turns out that oysters are actually very good at regulating their own salinity level. The difference occurs when some processors "blow" the oysters. Essentially it's a similar process to what is done to crawfish/crayfish. It's to get the "nasty" out. Not all processors do this and the ones that do use the process vary from salt water, tap water, and well water. This is why you may occasionally get a chlorine taste in oysters.

So if you want an all natural oyster just ask if they are blown or not.

You mean this one?

Gene's Oyster Bar in Panama City, FL 32401 - (850) 785-1232

no comment

Imho

Gene's, Dusty's, Goatfeathers.......I watch the shucker open a burlap bag and sort of look at the date and ask where they're from and then sit back, let the man (or woman) do his/her thing, and enjoy a couple of dozen raw whenever and wherever I can but those three places above in the area are my favorites. I like Dusty's, too, because of the clientele watching, and I get to sit close to the action.

Gene's, Dusty's, Goatfeathers.......I watch the shucker open a burlap bag and sort of look at the date and ask where they're from and then sit back, let the man (or woman) do his/her thing, and enjoy a couple of dozen raw whenever and wherever I can but those three places above in the area are my favorites. I like Dusty's, too, because of the clientele watching, and I get to sit close to the action.

I agree...Dusty's is my favorite new "Dirty dive"....old school... crappy beach bar atmosphere and great oysters.

Hurricane Oyster Bar has the best

Had a real tasty dozen at Stinkys today. I like my oysters to be shucked right in front of me out of ice.

Lots of good oysters around right now. On thanksgiving I would rather have fresh shucked oysters then turkey!

Go to Dusty's always great!! Plus a national oyster shucking champ! Scotty-O. K Jessica