I’ve been a little MIA these days and I’m not really sure why. It’s not as if work is any more hectic at the new place (switched jobs in March), but I think I had tunnel vision. I also got a little sick of sitting in front of a computer. As a nerd, you think I wouldn’t, but maybe it’s a certain glow from imac, just SICK OF IT. So, the perfect cure? LOBSTER and OYSTERS, duh.
I’ve been getting really fixated on lobster rolls and oysters lately. I barely spend money during the week or really go out, but on Friday’s it has become a little obscene.
Pearl Oyster Bar
This is a little place on Cornelia Street near West 4. We heard about it and after my incessant nagging about, “I WANT OYSTERS! I WANT LOBSTERS!” He researched a couple of seafood places that we could check out. This place had a solid reputation on Yelp! so Ryan was excited about that. This place isn’t too tiny, but was packed. They had a counter area, though, with little table space that was available right away. And who am I to complain? I just wanted to be fed.
Once we were seated, the waitress was warm and great. (It’s stressful with a line down the street and people crowding by the door.) I got an Amber beer that was delicious and we ordered some fried oysters (for Ryan), raw oysters (for moi), and a lobster roll to split. The fried oysters here were the best I’ve had. They were crispy and flavored well, but the oysters weren’t mush either. They held together well. Raw oysters were delicious, of course, as long as they are fresh and tight, there’s nothing much to say. For $11-13 each (for some reason the market raised the price of the fried oysters, but not the raw ones?) they were a pretty good deal. The lobster roll came out on a butter roll with shoestring fries and a bottle of malt vinegar. The lobster was buttery, creamy, and full of sinful calories. Seriously, they must have put that thing in a vat of cream and butter. Loved it.
The dinner was light and delightful, but I will say we had to get hot dogs at Crif Dogs later… which is a whole different other story.
Mary’s Fish Camp
Mary’s is very close to Pearl Oyster Bar, but a little closer to Christopher Street than West 4th Street Station. It’s on Charles St and West 4th. This place looks a little more laid back, but ended up being pricier than Pearl Oyster Bar. It’s cute, smaller, with a much more diverse menu full of fish and all sorts of fried stuff. However, I was a girl on a mission and wanted the lobster roll, of course. Oh yeah, and we saw Parker Posey there, too!
We ordered white anchovies on a baguette, with olives and mandarin oranges to start. Mandarin oranges and olives were such a different accompaniment to the usual caramelized onions. Of course we got some raw oysters, for me, and some fried oysters and clam strips for Ryan. Then, we split a lobster roll with thin cut fries. The oysters were pricier, but just as delicious. The fried oysters and clams were good and substantial, nice and crispy. The lobster roll was on a buttery hotdog bun, which was really yummy and the lobster was piled up in large chunks. And but of course, the lobster was also dipped in tons of butter and cream.
The above picture doesn’t do the lobster roll justice. When it came, just without thinking, I cut it in half, took a big bite, and then remembered the photograph. Oops. It came with lots of fries, which was delicious covered in malt vinegar. Mmm. I had some Coney Island Lager and was a very happy (fish) camper.
Next time… I want my own roll. :P
