Of course the World Series begins tonight but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the launch of Flying Fish’s Exit 1 Bayshore Oyster Stout as well.

There are two launch parties, from 6 to 8pm at the Oyster House and from 7 to 9pm at the Standard Tap. Both these locations typically do not have televisions but will for the World Series. The Oyster House will also be offering $1 oysters and $3 oyster shooters.

Exit Series [Official Site]

The Oyster House is kicking off Fish & Chips Tuesdays between 5 and 11 pm. The $14 platter comes with beer battered day boat cod and hand cut fries. Add a Yards Brawler to the mix for $3.

Oyster House [Official Site]

Craig LaBan checks out the new interpretation of the Oyster House on Sansom Street and though he finds some classics off a bit there is more than enough to recommend.

There are more than enough touchstones done right here, however, to warm a fish-house fanatic’s heart. The grilled blue fish was the freshest I’ve had, the dusky meat updated with a summer salad of limas and heirloom tomatoes in vinaigrette. The clam chowder and lobster bisque were also unthickened, but their Lancaster-cream broths were vividly rich. The shrimp and lobster cocktails were pure raw-bar decadence, far superior to the too-lightly-grilled lobster entree. Steamed soft-shell belly clams were was the definition of New England clam-ocity.

The gumbo and fisherman’s stew, meanwhile, were satisfying seafood meals in a bowl. A Pernod-scented broth for the stew was the next best thing to good bouillabaisse. And then, of course, there is that quintessential Philadelphian odd couple: fried oysters with chicken salad.

Two Bells – Very Good

Oyster House [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Oyster House [Official Site]

Joy Manning finds a little bit of California in this rendition of the Oyster House. She also finds a fish house menu worth diving into.

The heart of the menu, the oyster list, changes every day. It usually features five to seven varieties, with options from both coasts. Mink thought about confining the list to East Coast specimens, but his love of the Westerners, like the tiny, succulent, cucumber-scented Kumamoto, mandated that both regions be represented. Servers offer spot-on descriptions and guide newbies through the oyster-ordering process. During one visit, I fell head over heels in love with the Wellfleet from Cape Cod.

Food: B+
Service: B+
Vibe: A

East Meets West [Philadelphia Magazine]

Oysters have long been thought of as aprodisciacs and Philadelphia Weekly has a list of spots where you can get in the mood for just a buck.

• Union Trust
• Pub & Kitchen
• Oyster House
• Coquette Bistro
• Devon Seafood Grill
• Johnny Brenda’s

Buck-A-Shucks [Philadelphia Weekly]

Adam Erace visits Sam Mink’s Oyster House and finds the food to be “shucking good.”

With oysters as good as these, any ostentation further than classic mignonette would be like covering a grass-fed filet mignon in Heinz 57. Or so you’d think. It’s ironic that chef Greg Ling, last of sushi den Raw, showed real finesse with the cooked oyster dishes. Let the purists scoff; you and I will be tossing back the roasted ones Español style, having the last laugh through mouthfuls of Delaware Bays electrified by fiery, finely diced, house-made chorizo and cilantro-lime butter. Here was the injection the Delawareans needed, the sausage grease and melted butter enrobing each one in a crimson aurora of liquid fat (in a good way) balanced by the citrus and herb.

Oyster House [Philadelphia Weekly]
Oyster House [Official Site]

Tonight is the last night of the Oyster House’s crab fest. $19 gets you three hard-shells, corn on the cob and coleslaw.

And although this might be the last crab night at the Oyster House, have no fear because the Illadelph informs us that Varga Bar picks up the torch next Tuesday.

Oyster House [Official Site]

Build your own Restaurant Week with Grub Street’s prix fixe picks for every day of the week. [Grub Street]

Snackbar has added a special food and drink menu between 5 and 7 with all items between $5 and$7.

Derek’s is celebrating 18 years in Manayunk with a 3-course meal for just $18. The bargain has been extended through August. [The Latest Dish]

Illadelph does its own deal dump just on $1 oysters. Oyster House, Union Trust and Pub & Kitchen are all offering bargain bivalves. [The Illadelph]

With a name like Miel Patisserie, you might not expect a great deal. But that’s just what you’ll get at the 17th Street spot. $5.35 for a sandwich, water and dessert bar. [Meal Ticket]

The $24 “Appetite Stimulus” lunch at Lacroix features 3-courses including a Gouda burger with double-smoked bacon plus fries topped with truffle oil, Parmesan and shallots. [Restaurant Club]

Want to try new Liberties Walk restaurant Sonata? Hit up any store on the walk for a 10% off coupon. [Meal Ticket]

There are lobster specials at Bridget Foy’s through mid-August including a $29 lobster boil featuring a 1 1/4 pound lobster, chorizo, mussels, corn and potatoes. [Meal Ticket]

High profile bartenders and their fancy cocktails have mixologists stepping into the limelight.

Raising the bar [Metro Philadelphia]

The Oyster House’s Katie Loeb came away the winner at last night’s ROOT Cocktail Contest at Silk City. The ingredient rich winning concoction included:

.5 oz. Demerara simple syrup
6 large mint leaves
1.25 oz. Lairds Bonded (100 proof) Applejack
1.0 oz. Root Liqueur
.5 oz. B & B
.5 oz. fresh lime juice
2 dashes Fee Brother’s Aztec Chocolate bitters
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Muddle mint in simple syrup. Add ice and other ingredients. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass. Top with a spanked mint sprig.

Update: recipe adjusted

ROOT [Official Site]

Oyster House [Official Site]