Shireen's Favorite Things

Midtown Oyster Bar, 3301 NE 1st Avenue, Miami Florida 33137

Midtown Oyster Bar is this amazing little boutique restaurant carving its own seafood niche into the heart of Midtown Miami. With a dimly lit bar, nautical stylings and a menu that would make Jacques Cousteau proud, its mission is to serve the freshest of fish and a mind-blowing array of raw oysters.

I arrived at the cozy eatery last Friday night after co-hosting Deco Drive and the place was comfortably crowded. As soon as I walked onto the patio, I was quickly greeted with a refreshing glass of Sparkling Rosé.

That wasn’t the only sipping I would do. I started Spotlight with their Basil Martini (which was incredibly unique) and White Sangria with Apples (which was just as pretty as it is tasty).

An assorted platter of oysters on the half shell (with two jumbo shrimp) were the first things to arrive at the table. With fresh horseradish, cocktail sauce and a silky mignonette dip, I tried an East Coast smattering of 2 Pleasant Bay, 2 Black Duck Salt and 2 Navy Point oysters.

From the West Coast, I slurped my way through 2 Arcadias and 2 Kumamotos. I enjoy salty oysters most (which are usually from the East Coast), but the sweet ones were just as good. All were incredibly fresh and easy-to-eat. My photographer, James, claims he “doesn’t like oysters;” well, I think he changed his mind after knocking back a few like a seafood-eating pro. His form was a straight-up 10, impressive for a novice.

The Spanish Octopus (served with chickpeas, rosemary coulis & bread chips) was an interesting dish. I always hear the key to cooking octopus is to do it slow and steady, so it’s not chewy or tough. In my opinion, I think it’s also about the quality of the actual octopus. Midtown Oyster bar has both; making this dish tender and delicious.

I tried two main courses, starting with Fregola Sarda (sardinian grain pasta, seafood ragu, fresh basil) and a Lobster Roll served on homemade toasted bread with a side of French fries. The pasta was hearty and provocative (with a yummy mix of sea creatures), but the Lobster Roll? It rocked my world. If I wasn’t trying to be lady-like, I would have asked for seconds.

Everyday, Midtown Oyster Bar serves a special dessert. Lucky for me, I got to try the Mascarpone Lemoncello Cake. #StopThePresses this was amazing, a must-try if you have a sweet tooth. Of course, I washed it down with a shot of Limoncello.

I love this eatery because it’s intimate and takes its namesake seriously, serving up some of the best oysters I’ve ever eaten in Miami and that’s why it’s one of my favorite things.

Midtown Oyster Bar is located in the heart of Midtown, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of boutiques, restaurants and bars. Street parking is next to impossible in this area (unless Lady Luck is on your side), but the good news is, there are a couple of large garages right by the restaurant which are decently priced and definitely walkable.

Also, there’s a valet across the street that services a handful of restaurants. Your best bet, though, is to UBER and get dropped off curb side. That way, you can enjoy your evening without worrying about the drive. Cheers!

Monday-Thursday 12pm-11pm, Friday-Saturday 12pm-12am & Sunday 12pm-10:30pm.