If you want a cute date night spot, check out Pearl Dive! Our waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and gave great recommendations. She recommended the mussels, gumbo, and of course the oysters! We decided to get the seafood gumbo which included shrimp, crabmeat, and oysters. For $30, I was expecting a gumbo with a dark flavorful roux and that's exactly what I got! Oh and you'll be given a piece of delicious toasted bread to sop up any gumbo residue left! read more

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I've been to this place multiple times while in DC, and I honestly try to stop by every time I'm in town. It's such a cool spot with a great vibe. I haven't had the chance to try dinner yet, but their happy hour is seriously hard to beat. As per May 2026: $2 oysters (12 minimum), $5 draft beers, discounted bites, and some cocktails for around $8. I think also house wine discounted It does get busy though, so be prepared for a crowd! read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here for lunch for the first time and was really impressed with everything abput Pearl Dive. The food was great. I got the salad with crawfish and was very happy with my choice. My Partner got the burger and was also very happy and we shared some beignets .... Cause of course. We were a little bummed on the minimum oyster order since they are a bit high in price but I am sure it is high quality as the reason. Service was great... we must have had our water refilled 20 times lol, and really liked the music. I can see this place getting really loud when crowded so if that's not your vibe at the moment something to think about read more

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I visited Pearl Dive Oyster Palace for brunch after previously only having drinks outside at the bar, and I'm glad I finally checked out the full experience. We kicked things off with the bottomless mimosas . I actually love how they serve them with champagne pours + little juice decanters. Super cute touch! The only downside is waiting for the server to come back and pour your champagne. It would be amazing if they left small pitchers of champagne on the table and just refilled as needed. For oysters, our table tried a little bit of everything - raw, Rockefeller, Tchoupitoulas, and I went for the grilled oysters. All were fresh and delicious! For my entrée, I ordered the Hangtown Fry, which is basically a fried oyster hash topped with an egg. I got mine over easy over the potatoes and it was so satisfying. I also love that they offer Crystal and Louisiana Pride hot sauces - it's a small detail, but it really matches the Cajun-inspired vibe and makes the meal that much better. Service was great throughout. Our server was friendly, attentive, and made the experience feel special. We were celebrating our friend's engagement, and she surprised us with a complimentary champagne toast at the end - loved that! The restaurant itself isn't too large and the tables are pretty close together, but the decor and ambiance tie everything together well. Prices are decent, especially for the area, and the whole brunch felt worth it. All in all, we had a great time, and I can't wait to dine here again! read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Hangtown Fry - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Returned to DC after moving and return to Pearl. It's as good as when I left. I was only there for a few days but ate there twice late night. All the food is delicious. The cat fish is perfectly fried. And the French fries were delicious. I came back and had the mussels (white sauce)-also yummy. The staff is amazing! I really missed this place. Always a good dine and delightful dining. read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Tchoupitoulas oysters - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Wonderful service and great food. Oysters were especially good as was the fish of the day. Will return!

Fresh oysters, good happy hour menu, and a cute playlist playing in the background. Overall I had a good experience at the upstairs happy hour bar. Service was great, it can turn to a rough crowd on a late afternoon on a Saturday so be mindful of the vibe you're looking for. Overall, no complaints. read more

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Came here for two reasons, one, it'd been suggested as an oyster alternative to Hanks, and, it was super close to where I was at the moment. Came in, got a table for three without a problem. Although the happy hour area was very crowded. Food wise, some things were good, some were just okay. The soup was fine, our tomato and watermelon app was fine (tomatos really lacked that ripeness punch) and could have used some salt to make them punch above their weight. The oysters were good, I undersand the suggestion as an alternative to Hanks, and i'm sure being here for happy hour would be great. The chicken was crispy and good, besides the oysters, the best thing we had. Overall, the place is fine. This is more of a 3.8 than a 3 or 4. I'd come back if I was nearby for HH, easily. But for a sit down dinner, there are so many great spots in DC that i wouldn't say no to here, but i'm not running back. read more

This was my first time at Pearl Dive but it's been on my list for ages. Decided to try it for brunch on President's Day but really came for the oysters so I decided to try them all! It was surprisingly slow for a holiday weekend but that worked for me because the food came out quickly. I started with the raw oysters which were lovely. Then I went down the line on the hot oysters and then ended with the mussles. Everything was amazing and came out quick and hot. I learned during my visit that they have a huge upstairs space with 2 bars known as Blackjack that has great happy hour specials but shares the same kitchen. Definitely plan to come back for weeknight and weekend happy hour! read more

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Went here when visiting my daughter in DC. There was a big crowd at the bar outside, but we had reservations and went inside to eat. I hadn't tried raw oysters, but I love seafood in general, so I decided to take a chance. My daughter ordered a sampler of three different kinds. The Chincoteague were by far my favorite - so flavorful! I also had the seafood gumbo, and added andouille sausage. Delicious! I topped it all off with a glass of Moscato. Service was attentive and friendly, and now I can't wait to go back next time I'm in town! read more

I think the primary draw is the happy hour oyster deal (which you can't decide where the oyster comes from). Their actual entrees are actually so mediocre and nothing to write about honestly. Was not a fan of the lobster Rangoon which didn't even taste like lobster and it's $15 for 3 pieces of what is mostly cream cheese. It's expensive, small portions, and there's a 4.4% charge for using a credit card. They also charge a non refundable booking fee for holding a reservation. Service is good and they have space for groups but I personally wouldn't come back. read more

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I've been here 2x with friend just to grab a drink. Espresso martinis are pretty good. I love the outdoor bar area when it is warm out. Drinks are a bit high in my opinion. I have yet to try out the food. read more

It was good, not great. We only stopped in for oysters and martinis, so I can't speak to the rest of the food. I wasn't overly thrilled with my meal - oysters were all right, but to be completely honest, the martini was not great. Service was a quite slow, however our waitress was very friendly, which was very appreciated and she was very apologetic for the slow service. We had another reservation so we were in a bit of a rush and had to slurp down our oysters and martinis as they took so long to come, but again the place was busy and this was partially our fault. Ambience is great though I must say - it definitely feels like a place that you wanna chill and have some great seafood. I will definitely come back to Pearl Dive and try the rest of their food as it did look delicious . read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I found this place last time in DC and it did not disappoint. The oysters were very good and the food was outstanding. I had the Cajun Shrimp and Grits while my friends ordered different versions of Gumbo. Everyone left happy and I will be back soon. read more

Why would a guy who doesn't like oysters come to an oyster place. Because he likes his friends when they are in town. It's funny when your friends, from out of town, know about some choice spots in a city you have yet to totally discover. We got here for a late dinner and close to closing time. Not on the cusp of closing time which would force them to be open longer than they need be. We were promptly seated and menus in hand. Greeted by our server quickly and he ran through our list of questions and we were set to go over the menu. The night that we showed up they had a special going on oysters. I can't remember the exact special but I believe it was six different oysters for $2 apiece. My friends enjoyed it, I abstained. I saw what I wanted from the menu and waited for the server to come back to ask a question. I wanted to know what the house pickles were like. Were they dill, were they sweet, were they hot? Only one way to now for sure...ask the server. Funny when I did ask the server, he had no clue about the pickles. Next natural place to ask in the restaurant is the chef on duty. But...even the chef that day had no idea. The server was supposed to bring some to try and that he did. He brought some, they were amazing and then my order was set. I went with the Catfish Po'boy. This was to come with the aforementioned house pickles, diced onions, shaved lettuce, cayenne aioli and served with fries. I liked the house pickles so much I asked if I could get extra pickles. Food shows up and I start to dig in. First bite of that pretty perfect sandwich and I noticed something was missing. I was without the house pickles. I was going to wait until our server came back to take another bite. But it was winding down and I had to start at the sandwich again. By the time I was halfway done with the sandwich our server came back. I let him know I didn't get any pickles on the sandwich. He went back and checked on it and found out that the chef read the ticket as 'no pickles' instead of 'extra pickles.' He brought me out a ramekin filled with the house pickles. After that it was smooth sailing. The sandwich was amazing with the addition of the pickles, but what got me, beside the breading on the catfish, was the crisp onions. There were just enough on this sandwich that you had a sufficient amount in each bite. The side of fries were the perfect compliment to the sandwich. I will definitely be back here to enjoy again. read more

I'd heard good things about this spot so I was excited to be able to finally check it out. We had a brunch reservation and my only concern was that parking would be a challenge but to my surprise, there were no issues. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. We sat inside and we were seated quickly. It's not very large inside so it makes sense to make a reservation. Our server Aries greeted us with a smile. I started off with a cranberry mimosa and two types of oysters (Tchoupitoulas w/o ham and wood grilled). If you're not a fan of oysters but want to try them, the Tchoupitoulas would be a good choice. Both were tasty. The Cajun shrimp and grits was next and it was absolutely delicious...creamy grits. For dessert we tried the cinnamon ice cream...just enough cinnamon flavor and not too sweet. This experience was outstanding because there were no issues with removing items from some dishes because I don't eat meat and it gave me more dining options. Added to my list.... definitely be returning!! read more

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Food was amazing! I got the scallops, oysters, and chicken. I thought the chicken would be baked and not fried so I didn't enjoy it that much. read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Just an FYI, Pearl Dive Oyster Place has an abbreviated menu from 3 to 5 pm. First, I will say that our waitress, a Black woman with green-blue highlights in her hair, was absolutely wonderful because was very friendly and attentive. During our late lunch/early dinner, we never had to wait for her to check us. Before we could think about summoning her to the table, she was already there. For our "light flare" lunch, we shared orders of mussels, ceviche mixto, clam chowder, an oyster po'boy, and a bottle of wine. Overall, I thought all of our items were pretty good, and the portion sizes were decent. While everything was great, I have to say that I was expecting a bit more seafood in the ceviche mixto. The mussels were pretty good and fresh, but the broth/wine sauce was a bit too salty for my tastes. The oysters for the po'boy were perfectly friend and well-seasoned. Overall, I cannot complain too much about food, and we definitely enjoyed our lunch/early dinner. Also, I thought the menu prices were pretty fair compared to other similar restaurants in the area. Perhaps, I'm reading too much into my next point, but I'll mention it anyway. When we arrived to the restaurant, it took a few minutes for a host/hostess to great us. After waiting for about 5 minutes, I had to ask the bartender to find the host/hostess. Normally, this would not have been too big of a deal, but there were only about five to eight people eating in the restaurant. Basically, what I'm saying is that the restaurant (outside of the bar area) was not super busy. Perhaps, the kitchen was having a staff meeting or something that occupied the attention of restaurant staff besides the two bartenders. When we asked for a table of two, the hostess seemed to hesitate for a bit, which at first made me think that we needed a reservation or that the restaurant was shutting down for table dining until dinner. However, she told us that the restaurant was serving its light fare menu from 3 to 5 pm. Then, she highly recommended that we check out the bar upstairs for happy hour. It was weird because she showed us the menu for the bar upstairs before the showing us the menu for Pearl Dive Oyster Place. Perhaps, this hostess was being helpful...maybe too helpful. She was not being mean or aloof about it; I just thought it was a bit weird that she would promote (or highlight) another place. I get that the Pearl Dive and the upstairs bar probably are owned by the same folks. However, I guess it did not really bother me until my partner and I started chatting at the table. I guess it was one of those situations when two people are thinking the same thing, but perhaps they don't say anything to each other about the situation because both people feel like they are over thinking the situation. read more

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It was a terrible experience. The hostess did not give us a table even when it was empty. Please go somewhere else

Wow! Good find! The bar and outdoor 'patio' were PACKED on a Thursday evening (6:30ish), hostess gave me options of seating- happy hour is at the downstairs or upstairs bar. I liked what i saw on the HH menu so went upstairs to see the vibe but it was a bit too 'bar-like' (dark, loud music) and i just wanted a quaint after-work dinner. So forfeited HH and opted to sit in outdoor dining. Nice atmosphere, friendly waitress, polite food runners. I ordered the Oysters Rockefeller (3 for $12), the Angels on Horseback (bacon-wrapped cooked oysters with balsamic glaze over a smear of aioli -4 for $12) which were both delicious - i would order both again, just wish there were more of them. Best Oysters Rockefeller I've had, definitely. I read good things about the burger so ordered that and was NOT disappointed. It was huge so i cut it in half.. and ended up eating the other half PLUS the fries ... just GREAT eats. Fleur 75 cocktail was refreshing. I'll certainly be back for other offerings, they have a good menu. read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Oysters Rockefeller, Angels on Horseback - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Woowww what a hidden gem. We were. Raving oysters and opted to check out this place on U street. I would recommend making a reservation since the restaurant is quite small. We ordered oysters (obviously) we ordered 1 of each of their raw oyster options. We also got 2 of their hot options: the tchopitoulous oysters and the Rockefeller oysters. All the oysters were delicious! In addition, we also got the burger to share. It was MUCH MUCH better than expected. Meat was cooked perfectly, loaded with toppings and huge. Will be back for sure read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Rockefeller - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Pearl Dive has quickly become my favorite spot in DC. I highly recommend stopping by for happy hour for the oyster, queso, and mussels deals. They also make some of the best cocktails in the city. My fiancé book a reservation here for our anniversary this year and it was perfect. Top not service and vibes. read more

First off Anna at the host stand is amazing. So nice and just makes you feel welcome. Our server was also great! The food was amazing - my favorite were the wood grilled oysters and the key lime pie. It's a chill spot with a cozy vibe- perfect for a wet and cold Saturday evening. read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Florida Key Lime Pie - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Pearl Dive has been on my happy hour list and it did not disappoint! Happy hour is only available at the bar and the main bar downstairs was full so my friend and I sat on the second floor level (which I think is a different bar possibly?) I am more of an eater than a drinker so the mussels off the happy hour menu caught my eye more than anything else. It made for an excellent early dinner! The baguette was lightly toasted and the sauce was garlicky and light. We also ordered the grilled oysters but those were just ok. They lacked flavor to me and was just greasy and not anything special, I wouldn't order again. The real miss of the night though was the HH burger that my friend ordered. I would say come for the HH drinks and mussels (and fresh oysters if that's your thing!). read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Wood grilled east coast oysters - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Top tier happy hour!!! My main tip: arrive early (starts at 4). Cailyn gave such great service despite how busy it was (she's so sweet). Pearl Dive probably has the BEST mussels I've ever tasted -- I loved the bits of tomato. So briny and flavorful. The oysters were nicely seasoned, I like taking off a bit of the oil though. I also had a $6 wine, very cold and refreshing. HAPPY HR: Mon-Thu 4-7pm * Fri 3-7pm $5 beer, $6 wine, $8 cocktails $2 oysters $12 for 1 pound of mussels read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This review is for happy hour: Got the oysters- decent but not super flavorful Fried andouille- really good with a nice side of mustard Fish bites- loved these! If I had more time I would have gotten a few more orders of these. Prices are pretty good for a happy hour! I do wish there was maybe one more of the andouille and the fish bites just because splitting 3 pieces is tricky for sharing. Would also want to come back for dinner to get the full menu experience. read more

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Great service, really good cocktails, helpful and kind staff, great oysters. One oyster came out with a bit of pink on it, so I avoided it, but otherwise the $2 per oyster happy hour and happy hour drinks were great. The upstairs is really nice and comfortable. read more

My husband, parents and I came here on a Thursday night and we collectively agreed this place was a wonderful pick! Our server, Roxy, was absolutely amazing, attentive, kind, and had wonderful recommendations for us, as we are first timers at this restaurant. I got the Jambalaya and my whole family was jealous! It was soo good! Full of chicken, rich broth, sausage, mussels, shrimp. The Lobster Rangoons were an appetizers for us and were excellent! I did have a bite of the catfish and it was also really good.... But the jambalaya was better! The indoor seating area looked suitable to fit parties of 2-6, comfortably. Parking isn't great, so take public transport, walk, Uber, etc. It was lively when we went, but not too loud at all! They had an outdoor bar area that looked like a nice after work happy hour place. Overall, we really enjoyed this place recommend it! read more

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decent spot, food is ok, location is great, drinks are ok. burger is the best thing we've tried, food/service is quick

I'm an oyster fanatic so this place is right up my alley. I have absolutely no complaints.

Met a friend here for dinner while I was in town. Had a spicy mezcal margarita at the bar while I was waiting. Had another one with dinner - really good. When I walked in around 5:50 the bar was half full. By 6:30 it was busy. The restaurant itself became busy closer to 7:30. Both bar and table were very friendly. We split a few small plates. If you're wondering if you should get the lobster rangoons when you can get them at any standard Thai place, I say go for it. They're definitely an elevated take on the probably imitation version. Heads up, you only get three. The wood fired grill oysters were good as were the mussels. You can probably skip the burrata. Sleeper hit, one of the breads they give you in the complementary basket is exceptional. Didn't take any photos, sorry! read more

I went to Pearl Dive Oyster Palace last Sunday for Brunch and was surprisingly IMPRESSED with this place (because I am not the biggest fan of Oysters). I ordered the Beignets for the table and everyone LOVED them. For my main plate, I ordered the Pontchartrain which might have been the best eggs benedict I have ever had. The rest of the table liked their dishes too (see pictures attached). When we were debating on what to order, we were conflicted on whether we should order the french toast since we already had the beignets. The waitress later gave us the french toast FOR FREE since she saw that we were bummed we couldn't try it. Needless to say, the service was above and beyond. The general atmosphere of the place was great as well. read more

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Go during their happy hour. You may have to wait for a bit because happy hour is only at the bar but it's worth it. There were some people standing out in the patio area that were able to order food so if you dont mind not sitting, this could be an option. The Oysters were fresh tasting and cleaned pretty well. The Sweet Jesus ones were byfar my favorite. The pre-detach the meat so you dont need to do it yourself. The mussels came in a huge serving with lots of crispy bread. Eat the mussels first as they do get cold if theyre not directly in the broth. The broth was flavorful with a little bit of heat. Lastly, we got the house spiced chips which were alright, they were decent kettle chips but I thought they didnt go well with the tarter sauce. read more

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4.5 stars for Pearl Dive Oyster Palace! I came here for their happy hour oyster special during with their Tangier Island Oyster are half off bring the price down from $3.40 to $1.70 each. Minimum 1 dozen per order. The deal was great and the oysters were a decent size, but they were slightly fishy so maybe not the freshest. I also got the mussels from their happy hour and those came in a delicious butter broth and toasted bread. Highly recommend. Great deal for 1lb of mussels. I would come back for happy hour, the fish sticks also looked and smelled good from the group sitting next to us. Note that happy hour is only at the bar and seating fills up fast! read more

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One of the best shrimp and grits I've had in years. Plus the beignets have an amazing chicory sauce read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - beignets - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Do I have an obsession with their espresso martinis? Maybe. It can get pretty crowded on the weekends, but would still recommend coming here. It's fun, their drinks are amazing, and it's just a fun vibe in DC read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very fun vibe and decently friendly service. The portions are big, and the food is flavorful. Seems like a good spot for locals (based on the crowd), but I also enjoyed it as a visitor to DC. read more

I would come here just for the mini corn muffins and "Addie's" bread. They are that good. That being said, we took another couple for their first time, and it did not disappoint. Oysters were delish, and our server knew the difference in the various varieties. I had the black bass served with their fabulous grits and perfectly done green beans. We enjoyed everything we ordered. Highly recommended! read more

Out in DC for a conference, and I googled "best oyster bar." Pearl Dive popped up. Walked over and had some great oysters. I got a sampler dozen. Loved the Belle du Jour oysters, so I got another half dozen of those. Clam chowder was great. Bacon and poblano chili peppers. Really good. read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Belle du jour oysters. Fantastic! - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We had so much fun at Pearl dive! I visited Pearl dive for a belated Mother's Day brunch, and they did not disappoint. Our server was awesome with giving us recommendations and helping my mother steer clear of anything spicy. She was very helpful with our oyster order as well. We started with a couple orders of latkes. One latke had a dead mosquito baked in, which they promptly replaced, but otherwise they were delicious. I don't usually like latkes, but these ones were very well balanced and not oily at all. The oysters were served perfectly chilled as well. For mains, I got the wood grilled fish, which was cooked perfectly. The grits were delicious, and the pecans were a really nice touch of crunch. The rest of the table was equally please with their selections. I also had a delicious Bloody Mary, and finished my meal with a seasonal sorbet. The sorbet was lychee mezcal and it was probably the best sorbet I've ever had. Overall, I'd definitely visit Pearl dive again. It was such a fun brunch, we I loved the vibe and decor. It was good for Mother's Day, but I think it would also be a great spot to go with friends. read more

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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