City Oyster Bar
Reviews
Name: Quan Cao
Occupation: Professor
Lives in: Boca Raton
Restaurant Pick: City Oyster Sushi & Bar
Restaurant Reviewed: City Oyster & Sushi Bar on 1/26/12
City Oyster is located in the middle of booming Delray Beach and is one of the Avenue’s oldest and most famous establishments. For years it was known for its chic and elegant clientele, which is made up of locals, Northerners who come down during the season, as well as an international community from businesses and universities located nearby. On a quiet, sultry evening, we were immediately seated up front where we can watch the crowd mill along and listen to the varieties of music from Elvis, to rock, to blues to occasional Buddha Bar/Café del Mar mixtures.
We started with the traditional lobster bisque, and the waitress, who had remembered me from a previous occasion, brought an extra serving of sherry without being asked for the soup. That was followed with a nice goat cheese arugula, apple and toasted pinole salad. Yet, the piece de resistance every time we come is the yellow snapper, delightfully prepared and presented piping hot with just a touch of saffron sauce on a bed of garlic mashed aside cream spinach steamed to perfection. The Stag 2007 Chardonnay added nicely to the meal. We finished with a crème brulee and cappuccinos. It’s a delightful dining evening experience in a great establishment. I highly recommend the pleasure.
Name: Vanessa Peeck
Occupation: College Recruiter
Lives in: Miami
Restaurant Pick: Biscayne Triangle Food Truck Roundup
Restaurant Reviewed: City Oyster & Sushi Bar on 1/28/12 at 8:00pm
I was a bit nervous to try City Oyster and Sushi Bar; I had never had oysters and am a bit squeamish around sushi. I brought a co-worker with me who promised she would make me get out of my comfort zone a bit.
We found free parking a block away from the restaurant, and it was an easy walk from there. Thanks to our reservation, we were seated inside immediately.
Our server Elizabeth had the patience of a saint when dealing with our millions of seafood and menu questions. Not only was she knowledgeable, but she had tried all the items we were asking about, so her answers were honest and in-depth.
We started with the dreaded oysters. I was proud of myself for eating two, but I stopped there; they just aren’t my thing- I think it’s the texture.
Next up was a Rocco sushi roll. The tempura shrimp, avocado, pickled jalapenos and spicy mayo combination was a better fit for me and I inhaled my half within a couple minutes.
My entrée was a grilled vegetable and mozzarella Panini. It was well-seasoned and came with an arugula salad. I appreciated that the bread stayed crispy while filled with a medley of mushrooms, peppers and onions. My dining partner had Bob’s Veggie Nutty Grilled Chicken Salad; I enjoyed the bites I stole from her, but was pleased that I had chosen my entrée instead. Both entrees were very generous in size and the vegetables used were crisp and flavorful.
Sadly, we were too full for dessert; next time I will skip the oysters in lieu of something sweet.
Throughout our lunch, our server was attentive and accommodating. We were given new utensils and napkins with each course and our glasses were never half-empty. There was no problem splitting the check.
While seafood can be a premium dining experience, the cost of our meal matched the quality of our food. I didn’t feel like we were paying an especially marked-up price for what we enjoyed.
Name: Randall Frazier
Occupation: Travel Specialist
Lives in: Pembroke Pines
Restaurant Pick: My Big Fat Greek Restaurant
Restaurant Reviewed: City Oyster & Sushi Bar on 1/29/12 at 2:30pm
If you like the feel of Hollywood near the beach, this is a great place to try. Yes, it was a drive, but it was well worth it. The food was fantastic and the service was great; it was a great time and great experience. The décor was a stand out - I love the openness of it and we sat right at the door. I loved people watching on a Sunday afternoon while enjoying a great meal. It gave me a new respect for Delray Beach and I would go back. City Oyster was worth every penny spent. It’s a great place to meet friends after work, or take them there for a special occasion, but either way City Oyster is a lot of fun.
Restaurant Information
Location: 213 West Atlantic Blvd, Delray Beach, FL
Parking: East on Atlantic, past Swinton, first left after train tracks on Pineapple Grove. The #2 valet is on Atlantic.
Phone: 561-272-0220
Website:bigtimerestaurants.com
Restaurant Owners: Bill Watson, Todd Hersbt, Lisabel Summa
Executive Chef: Denis Texiera
Pastry Chef: N/A
Type of Cuisine: American Seafood with Asian flair
Signature Dishes: Chilean Sea Bass, Saffron Bouillabaisse, Twin Lobster Tails
Vegetarian Options: Yes
Alcohol Served: Full Bar
Corkage Fee: $15.00
Bottle Limit: 3
Restaurant Hours:
Monday – 11:30 am - 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm -10:00 pm
Tuesday – 11:30 am - 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm-10:00 pm
Wednesday – 11:30 am - 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm-10:00 pm
Thursday – 11:30am - 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm -11:00 pm
Friday – 11:30am - 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm -11:00 pm,
Saturday – 11:30am - 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm -11:00 pm,
Sunday – 11:30am - 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm -10:00 pm,
*Happy Hour 4:00pm-7:00pm. ($1.75 oysters, half priced drinks)
Meals Served: Lunch and Dinner
Prix Fix Menu: No
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: No
Average Dinner Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $25-$35
Average Lunch Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $13-$25
Payment Options: do you accept credit cards and if so, which ones? Amex, Visa, Mastercard, Discover.
Accept Reservations: Yes
Need Reservations: Depends on time/day
How far in advance do you require reservations be made: Weekdays: 1-2 days. Weekends: 1-3 days.
Accommodations for Children: yes: grilled cheese, chicken fingers, pasta.
Dining Style: casual
Disabled Access: yes
Restaurant Size: 180 people
Accommodate Groups: yes
Private Dining Room: no
Tables with Scenic Views: yes, patio overlooking Atlantic Ave
Outdoor Dining: yes
Entertainment: no