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    Monroe Bay Oysterette

    4.5 (135 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    MONROE BAY OYSTERETTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Monroe Bay Oysterette

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    Happy Hour menu 6/5/26. Tuesday-Friday 2-5.
    Charles H.

    Found this place here on Yelp. Great find in Haymarket. A/C was getting a little overworked on this hot summer afternoon. Ordered my first beer 3 minutes before the 2:00 happy hour start, but was not advised of this. Service remained a little spotty. Happy hour food was great. Daughter and I shared hush puppies ($6) and the Smoked Whitefish Crostini ($9). We each had a huge Crabcake Slider ($15 each). Totally worth it. One of the best crabcakes I've ever had. Recommend stopping in, especially for a late lunch during the 2-5 happy hour, Tuesday- Friday!

    Crawfish etouffee
    Megan G.

    Monroe Bay Oysterette may have a smaller, cozy atmosphere, but the menu delivers the kind of seafood experience you'd expect from a true waterfront gem. The oysters were impeccably fresh with that perfect briny bite, and the mussels were loaded with flavor in a broth worthy of savoring to the last spoonful. The crab cake sandwich was packed with lump crab and beautifully balanced without all the unnecessary filler. And the crawfish étouffée brought rich, comforting Cajun flavor with just the right kick of spice. This is the kind of spot that quietly surprises you -- intimate, welcoming, and serving seafood that feels straight off the dock.

    Crab dip
    Jon H.

    Had boom boom shrimp and crab dip for apps, cold lobster roll with truffle fries, Ruben, and fish and chips. Food was amazing as always! Monroe's consistently hits the mark of flavor and quality. Been coming here for a couple of years and have never been dissatisfied. Chef is nice and engages with the customers, service is always prompt and courteous. The ambiance is that of a BeSpoke quaint atmosphere.

    Lobster roll
    Menghai T.

    I got raw oysters ($3 ea) with the cape cod and salt grass oyster as well as a hot lobster roll ($28) with Parmesan truffle fries (+$3). Food came out in about 15 mins. Lobster roll was good, very buttery compared to some other restaurants but good. Lobster meat was sweet. Fries were crispy and seasoned good. I preferred the cape cod oyster over the salt grass flavor wise. The inside is quite small, but had a nice local vibe to it. They have QR code on the table in order to place an order as well as pay the bill. Unfortunately a few items were sold out so it limited the menu. Overall a good experience here! Food(50%): 8.0 Staff/service(25%): 6.5 Value(25%): 6.5 Overall: 7.3/10

    Lobster roll
    Shawn M.

    Had an incredible lunch at this local favorite. Can't wait to go back and try some other stuff I didn't get, but the fried oysters were a huge hit.! almost like being in Maine!

    Hushpuppies
    Janet N.

    Spent Mother's Day here and enjoyed everything! Customer service was great and the food was exceptional. We started with the hushpuppies and crab claws. The hushpuppies came out piping hot and were crispy on the outside with soft inside. The crab claws were meaty and dipped in the warm butter, they melted in your mouth. For the entree we had the hot lobster roll. The bread was toasted and full of lobster that was super flavorful. We ended with the key lime pie. It had a great flavor. I would have liked a little more pucker to it but it was still good and we cleaned the plate. Lol! I feel like I've missed out after finding out they've been right in my backyard for 2 years now and Im just finding out about this place. It's a small, quaint spot. Will definitely be back again...probably in a few days. Looks like they have some good happy hour options from 2-5 during the week.

    Fish tacos
    Tonya S.

    For fear of this becoming TOO popular, you owe yourself a visit. Wow--what an incredible experience! I tried a little bit of everything: the crab cake sandwich, peel-and-eat shrimp, fried scallops, hush puppies, crab dip, cold lobster roll, and fish tacos--and every single dish was AMAZING! The seafood was fresh and perfectly cooked, the flavors were balanced, and you could tell everything was made with care. The crab cake was full of sweet lump crab (not filler!), the scallops were golden and tender, and that lobster roll--chilled, buttery, and just the right amount of seasoning--was perfection. Even the hush puppies were crisp on the outside and soft inside. The service was friendly and attentive, and the relaxed coastal vibe made it feel like a little getaway right in Haymarket. If you love great seafood, Monroe Bay Oysterette is an absolute must-try. I'll definitely be coming back soon!

    All lump crab dip!!!

    The absolute best experience! I was in town for a concert and happened to stumble upon this gem. The service was exceptional, and the seafood was absolutely delicious. My friends and I couldn't stop talking about how amazing everything was. I can't wait to come back the next time I'm in town!

    warm crab dip with chips
    Em B.

    Found this little gem on instagram out towards Haymarket. Located in a small strip with plenty of parking. Highly recommend a reservation since it is a small restaurant. There is seating inside with a tiny bar area and an outdoor patio. There is a QR code for the menu and you self order and it was easy to use. We started with the warm crab dip with the option of chips or bread. The chips are similar to pita chips, which was a good option since we both ordered sandwiches with fries. The warm lobster roll was so good! Lots of lobster and not drenched in sauce and portion was great for the price ($28). The crab cake sandwich had so much crab and seasoned really well on a nice warm bun ($29). The menu does slightly change frequently but I think their staples are always on the menu. They have a good beer selection too. The waitress came by to check in frequently. On the app, there is also an option to request more water, utensils, etc... instead of looking for a waiter. We opted for dessert down the street at Mr. Swirlies. Looking forward coming back to try some other items on the menu!

    Oysters

    This was an amazing find and a must go to if you are looking for a great seafront experience. The bartender jay was awesome and created a great experience. Oysters were great, crab claws, and lobster roll... the pictures don't do it justice.

    Boom boom shrimp
    S P.

    Great food and excellent customer service! I came in for lunch, their clam chowder was amazing! I then tried the boom boom shrimp and fish and chips. Both excellent flavor, crispy and seasoned well.

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    1 month ago

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    Jason H.

    Thank you so much!! We are so happy you enjoyed everything

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    2 months ago

    We are glad to have found this gem. Really great seafood. We loved the oysters, crab claws, and boom boom shrimp. Nice and quaint.

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    4 months ago

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    30 days ago

    Great food. Been there a few times and will be going back. Just beware. They get very busy on the weekends.

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    3 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Fresh seafood is great. Try the Crawfish Etouffe! Just terrific. Outdoor seating when weather cooperates.

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    6 months ago

    The Cod etouffee and crab cake sandwich were both amazing. I'd come back here for sure!

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    5 months ago

    Our food was good. We had the crab dip, shrimp po boy and warm lobster roll. Everything was delicious

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    Jason H.

    Wow. what an awesome review!! thank you so much.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Monroe Bay Oysterette

    Are dogs allowed if we dine outside?

    yes we love our furry friends. Just as long as they are behaved and don’t disturb other guests they are welcome. .

    View All 3 Questions

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    The food here is genuinely good -- well-cooked, clearly upscale for the Tex Mex category, and the…read moreservice staff are attentive and friendly. But a few things held this visit back from being a great experience. The biggest issue, and the one that cost the most stars: the noise. There's essentially no acoustic treatment in the dining room, and even at maybe 25% capacity, the sound is overwhelming. We couldn't hold a conversation without leaning in and repeating ourselves constantly. That's a real problem. It also had a direct impact on our order -- our server couldn't hear us clearly either, so a simple substitution (no beans, double rice) came out as no beans and no rice. Small thing, but avoidable. On the menu side, the descriptions need work. The patron salad lists "house dressing" with no further detail -- turns out it's quite sweet, which felt out of place on that dish. That's emblematic of the menu overall: the flavor combinations lean creative, sometimes mixing profiles that don't really belong together in a Tex Mex context. It's not bad, just occasionally confusing, and more transparency in the descriptions would help guests set expectations. Bottom line: solid kitchen, good staff, but fix the acoustics and tighten up the menu copy and this place has real potential.

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    3.9(106 reviews)
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    Stopped by for lunch during the weekday & opted for their weekday lunch special of $10 for 2 slices…read more& a drink. Ordered a slice of: margherita, grandma pizza, BBQ chicken, & plain cheese. Pizza here is delicious!! Great, thin, crispy crust. The Margherita here is with a white sauce, not red, but still enjoyed it. My son LOVED the BBQ one. My favorite was the slice of grandma's pie. Slightly thicker crust & I loved the red sauce on it. On the tangy side, which I prefer. We recently moved to Haymarket from Fairfax area & was bummed we couldn't find a good pizza spot that could compare to our favorites (Andy's, Crust neapolitan). Lo & behold, this is it!! We'll be regulars here for sure. Great, quick service too. Already planning a big order for my son's upcoming birthday party :)

    Great, real New York style pizza. The best you will get in Northern Virginia. I ordered in-store by…read morethe slice and the pizza was oh so good. Hot, cheesy, and fresh. Just like back in New York where I grew up. Don't often get that here. Service was quick, prompt, and efficient. There is a cooler with drinks, one cooler for non-alcohol, one cooler with alcohol. There are some tables inside to eat at after you order at the counter, or you can get takeout or delivery. Parking is a bit confusing since there are a lot of other stores, but you will figure it out. You can park behind or to the side of Valentino's and walk a tad bit. No more than a minute. It's fine.

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    Monroe Bay Oysterette - seafood - Updated September 2026

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