It's starting to feel like all I ever write here is links to Chowhound threads, but that's where I do most of my posting.

Anyway, we have a thread on this topic going on right now, including a post on my favorites.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/474662

The PEI oysters I had from Lebanese Taverna were memorable - small, yet tasty, definitely fresh.

Mama's On the Half Shell in Canton Square.

Interesting that this topic should come up. On New Years Eve in Philadelphia, we enjoyed Oyster Happy Hour at the Sansom Street Oyster House which is a must for anyone traveling to Philadelphia.

However, then for dinner, we were served a pickled oyster, which was three times the size of our oysters at Sansom Street. The subsequent discussion and conclusion was that most of us enjoyed smaller to medium size oysters than the largest of the large oysters because we felt that we could enjoy the flavor more. Does anyone know if there are large oysters that are fantastic?

Oh and that being said, we've found the best oysters at:

The Wine Market - they do an oyster appetizer to die for
Faidley's - ambiance aside :)
Woodberry Kitchen - every time I've gone there they have 4 or 5 varieties to choose
Nick's Seafood - The Oyster Po Boy is great

Honorable Out of Town Mentions -
Sansom Street Oyster House - Philly ($5 1/2 dozen oyster happy hour!)
B&G Oyster Ltd. - Boston

After reading some things, I am now disappointed that Nick's only had two varities of oysters on New Year's Eve. Seems like everyone else has many more than that.

Well, this oyster issue makes it obvious the opinion side of the paper is driving the news side. Many people thought the editorial board influenced the news room, but now it is apparent the real strings are being pulled by the restaurant critic.

MAMAS ON THE HALF SHELL

Jamie,

The appetizer you refer to at Wine Market is cornmeal crusted oysters with bacon buerre blanc. I agree that it's very good.

Even better, it sometimes appears on their happy hour menu for $3 for 3 oysters. I had a dinner at the bar consisting of six oysters, aged cheddar mac and cheese, and marinated potatoes and olives along with two glasses of wine for a whopping $18 one night. Surely one of the better deals around.

A few for your list...

Fun bar, good atmosphere, good food, lots of variety in oysters:

- Ryleighs Oyster Bar
- Mama's on the Half Shell
- Nick's Fish House
- Ocean Pride on York Rd.
- Washington Street Pub - Easton

Place where it looks, smells and feels what it should be when eating slimy filter feeders out of a dirty shell:

- Faidleys in Lexington Market
- Nick's in Cross Street Market
- Annapolis City Dock Market

High Quality, but really not tradtional oyster place:

- Oceanaire
- McCormick and Schmick's
- Capital Grill

Good spots to buy oysters to shuck or cook at home:

- Faidley's
- Nick's Cross Street
- Franks Seafood in Jessup

I think you've done my job for me. Thanks!

The top 3 places to eat oysters in th Baltimore area are:

1.) Ocean Pride on York Road in Lutherville.

2.) Ocean Pride on York Road in Lutherville.

3.) Ocean Pride on York Road in Lutherville.

And be sure to sit in the bar. The atmosphere is great as are the bartenders.

If i want good oysters i'll go to Blue Sea grill.
For happy hour they offer .75 cent each for the oyster of the day, and also in they're regular menu they offer 5-6 kind of oyster that are remarkably awesome from blue points and moonstones to island creek......slurp

To John Parker--

Impressive listing. I would make one addition. Ocean Pride also has an entire seperate seafood carry-out area. I see they made your first category, but I would also add them to your category of "Good spots to buy oysters to shuck or cook at home."

Not sure I agree w/ some of the places listed as most carry only Louisiana bay oysters or less credible versions from around this region or a Blue Point for namesake mixed in. Oceanaire and Ryleigh's Oyster are the best by far in town...I have experienced NOTHING in the county RAW at any of the mentioned locations that I would list as "good oysters" I do know oysters and I travel outside of Baltimore so I have a benchmark from coast to coast.

When Ocean pride carried "Blue Points", they came straight from Blue Point, CT. they were THE best. But now they get them from DE Bay. Not as good, but not horrible either.

As for Oceanaire, the food may be pretty good, but the service is HORRIBLE. I've been there 3 times and had downright horrible service, especially when you consider the $$$$$ it costs to eat there. Even the service at the bar was bad.

A little northeast of town, -- but my favorite place to "get" oysters is Richard's Seafood in Churchville on Rt. 22. He carries local choptanks, chincoteagues, Blue Points, and PEI. The choptanks are $15.00 / 3doz. It's not a place you can eat at, but for that price, I don't mind standing over the kitchen sink with a shucking knife and a cold beer. They also have shucked oysters for around $12.00 / pt. - and on Tuesdays those are 20% off.