Another amazing meal at Perla last night! We couldn't stop talking about how lucky we are to have this amazing restaurant just 10 mins down the road from us. The food is so creative, fresh, and delicious, the service is attentive and knowledgeable and consistent (not the norm in the suburbs), and we love the ambiance. It was a gorgeous night to sit outside, but we opted for our favorite - bar seats to watch the action. It's hard to find this level of consistency and creativity even in NYC, but to have it right here in Maplewood is so wonderful. So many restaurants in the suburbs rely on frozen, pre-made items from large restaurant supply chains that finding innovative cooking completely from scratch is a real challenge. In a sea of mediocre restaurants, Perla lives up to its name: a true gem! We have been so impressed by the daily specials this summer. We started out with a scallop crudo with yuzu, jalapeno, and shallots that is my favorite crudo right now. We followed that with the new shrimp tostada and I'm only sorry we didn't order two. Later in our meal, I spied a couple at the other end of the bar who did it right: the wife took one bite and immediately ordered a second one so that she wouldn't have to share. This is the second time we've had the tomato salad with olives, shiso, and white balsamic and I can't get over the flavor combination - it's so unexpected and addictive. We can't pass up the broiled oysters with garlic butter, Calabrian chili, and crispy shallots - a dish I was obsessed with the moment I tried it at a pop-up event before the restaurant even existed. Then we had the broiled branzino with lemon, capers, and a watercress salad - again, the only mistake was not ordering two! We were actually down the shore yesterday, but came home because we were craving this dish. We finished off our meal with anchovy toast, which our favorite dessert paired with a crisp Txakolina. It's four pieces of toasted baguette with a generous spread of really good butter topped with one piece of salt-cured anchovy and one boqueron (a pickled anchovy). I can't recommend this dish highly enough, it is perfectly balanced! We love a BYOB, but it is such a luxury that we can order right from our phones at the restaurant from a local wine shop (Lum's Cellars). It's a curated list that has some really fantastic options that all go so well with the cuisine. We started with an Alberiño and then ordered the Txakolina. No notes! We can't wait for our next meal at Perla. read more

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Went today for an early Sunday lunch; lobster rolls were excellent (I believe only offered on Sundays), potato and chorizo dish also very good. BYOB, but they are also affiliated with a local liquor store if you forget to bring something that will bring you a bottle after ordering it online (however a very limited selection of wines) Service was attentive, friendly and personable. I'll definitely be back. read more

Perla is a small corner venue on a Main Street in Maplewood. The parking situation is crappy, but it is free when you find it. They are BYOB with high top seating, "bar area" seating, & some regular tables in the back. Service was friendly & knowledgeable. A great experience all around. We had the Oysters Kilpatrick (a current special), Oysters on the 1/2 shell which we upgraded to one of the seasonal specials, the Broiled, & Shrimp Cocktail. Grades: Oysters Kilpatrick: A+ Oysters on the 1/2 shell (Brined & Shine): A Broiled: A+ Shrimp Cocktail: A read more

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We made it to Perla Oyster Bar for the first time last night, and wow -- it was worth the wait. Every item we ordered stood out with its own unique flavors, and we genuinely enjoyed each one. Our waitress was so sweet and welcoming, which added to the great vibe. Since I had requested a regular table when booking, we were seated in the back with a comfortable, semi-private space that made the whole experience even better. We're already talking about our next visit. Absolutely recommend! read more

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We loved the experience and the oysters were great. I'd skip the Crudo next time and get more oysters instead. Also the sausage plate was great. We ate it so fast I neglected to get a picture. Staff was great and we felt like we were in a small intimate restaurant in NYC but only 5 minutes from home. Great addition for the foodies in Maplewood. Be prepared for $$$$ read more

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The food setting and service were amazing. It was my first time going there and it won't be the last. Everything was delicious but the beets shined the most for me. The ladies running around were so sweet. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Small and cozy restaurant which serving some of the freshest and tasty oysters I've had in a very long time. Perla is right next door to corner slice and when I saw the gentleman shucking fresh oysters in the window I immediately had to go try and this place didn't disappoint. Along with oyster a Perla has a menu full of unique and delicious shareable tapas. I tried the smoked trout dip and the tomato anchovy toast. The trout dip is very good and if I hadn't have had it in upper peninsula of Michigan this might've been the best version I've had (2nd place is too bad.) The anchovy toast while simple was executed very well and the brightness of the tomatoes are perfectly married to the briny anchovy filets. I'd def get this again. FYI it's a byob too. My server was both polite and quick to take my order. I'll def be coming back again. read more

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I ate here during a street festival so there was a specialty menu and outdoor seating. The oysters were all very nice, sweet and not too briny. I don't remember exactly what types or where they were from. The grilled oysters were the standout though. We had to order a second round! I could eat these all day for real. The smoked trout dip was a miss for us (weird taste, weird texture, not smoky). I didn't go inside so I can't speak to the ambiance. The tables were packed outside but the service kept up pretty well. I would like to try the deviled eggs and sardine toast and pair it with some wine from the Lum's Cellar pairing they offer. read more

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This spot fills the a long held void in the SOMA food scene. Great raw bar selection accompanied by flavorful and well thought out snacks makes Perla a must visit and mainstay. read more

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My boyfriend and I stopped here one Sunday. The service was warm and friendly and the ambiance was comfortable and low key. We tried three different types of oyster, the chicken liver mousse which was flavorful and the deviled eggs which my boyfriend really enjoyed. Recommend read more

What a find in Maplewood! Owner, Matt, and his team were locked in preparing delicious treats for us. Sitting at the bar (Thanks for the great seating Nellie) gave a bird's eye view of the preparation. "Service by Abby" was on point. We'll be back to try some more of the menu. read more

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Amazing spot for oysters and small bites. Oysters were fresh and perfectly shucked. Dining space is cozy and the service was fantastic. read more

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Perla is a great small location specializing in seafood/shellfish. Service is amazing and the quality of seafood is grade A. Sitting at the bar is a fun experience to watch the chef's cook, create, and serve. BYOB Is a plus and Kara, the sommelier, can give great affordable recommendations-they have a delivery liquor service they are affiliated with. Great date night, but would eat prior or after and use this as a starter to your night-base your outing on your budget. read more

Perla Oyster Bar is a wonderful romantic place for small bites and drinks. A great addition to the neighborhood, but it does have a few deficits. It's cozy - it can seem cramped with a long bar right at the entrance but they have seats and tables in the back. We chose seats in the back because it was a very cold day. We had a dozen oysters, shrimp cocktail, the cheese plate, and the pan con tomate which is basically seasoned tomatoes with splashes of olive oil on French bread. Everything was delicious. Service was quick and friendly. But I had a few complaints: the cheese plate and tomato appetizer are overpriced. And they didn't have take out boxes. The cheese plate is $21 but it was quite small and it only had two pieces of bread and a few pieces of fruit compote. Not nearly enough to enjoy with the meager cheese slices presented to us. The pan con tomate was only two slices of bread, which should have been toasted. The wet tomato was threatening the integrity of the untoasted bread. Basically, it was hard to eat because the bread was getting very soggy because it was not toasted. And it was $8 which seems fairly pricey for two pieces of bread. One other complaint: the back bench in the back room seems a bit flimsy. Overall: a very nice special occasion spot with a few things that need to be tweaked. read more

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Can't wait to go back! I can still taste the oysters they were so delicious and fresh. The staff were lovely and helpful. The place is cute and charming but small so be prepared to feel squished. This didnt bother me at all but it's for those that it may concern. BYOB or order in the restaurant they have local wine & spirit delivery service. No rezzies just walk in. We got there 30 mins after opening for the day and were seated immediately. By the time we left it was more crowded. But I have to say the wait is not long and nobody really seemed to care cause the place is just that GOOD! Only complaint is finding street parking. Perla!! See you again soon! read more

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Owner was very dismissive , razor clams had so much sand , oysters were small . Service was good . Owner was an ass

One of the best restaurants in NJ! A cozy, friendly, and often bustling little spot with an amazing range of handcrafted, flavor packed food inspired by Spain, Italy, and the sea. Everything on the menu is great, but don't miss out on the baked clams. read more

It's outstanding. Oysters -- an ever-changing variety of oysters from different places, delicious, of course if you like oysters. And so much more on the menu even for non-oyster lovers. it's a great place to graze, byob or they'll fetch some for you. Nice friendly ambience and great wait staff. read more

Perla Oyster Bar - Bonito stuffed piquillo peppers - Seafood Near Me - Maplewood, New Jersey

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We had a great experience overall! The oysters were absolutely amazing--super fresh and flavorful--and the other small bites (chorizo oysters, stuffed piquillo, garlic chili clams, clam casino, and pan con tomate) were also really good once they came out. The atmosphere was very nice, making it a great spot to relax and enjoy a meal. The only downsides were that our server wasn't as attentive as the rest of the staff we interacted with, and there was a longer wait than expected for some of the small plates, which didn't make sense why when they are so small. We also had some bottles of wine and were brought an ice bucket but no wine glasses. Had to ask another staff member for glasses once they passed by us. Still, the quality of the food and the vibe made it worth it, and I'd definitely come back. read more

Perla Oyster Bar - Chorizo oysters - Seafood Near Me - Maplewood, New Jersey

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A totally unique neighborhood gem! A cozy spot with a great vibe, amazing oysters and so much more. We're so lucky to have Perla.

Perla is our happy place. If you love love oysters, love seafood, and small plates you won't be disappointed. Terrific food combined with a non-pretentious, warm and relaxed environment all with a welcoming and attentive staff. Oyster selection is perfect if you like NE options, and their crudo selections are always a hit. Usually always something interesting on the specials menu as well. Always a great experience and happy to support such a neighborhood gem. read more

Finally got here and happy we did. Amazing job with this spot, not a lot of space but they have worked it well. Service was excellent and the food was better. We had the oysters, cheese plate, charred oysters and charred clams, everything was delicious. They have a great association with Lum's cellars so you can have wine delivered which is great if you forget to bring your own, which we did. Definitely need to go back and try more of their menu read more

Perla is definitely a splendid restaurant to enjoy. The atmosphere was elegant yet comfortable. The food was delicious. We ordered the raspberry and Irish oysters which were the oysters of the evening. Fresh with great brine. The Irish oysters had more of an ocean brine while the raspberry oysters were more fresh. Both were definitely a delight service was warm and welcoming. Definitely fast and efficient. The reason I'm giving 4 opposed to 5 is due to the pricing. I understand seafood can be slightly more pricey than poultry or steak with that being said 6 oysters for $24 was pretty steep along with bread being priced at $5 where as it's pretty much 'complementary' artisan bread, over all though loved my evening. read more

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I'm very thankful we have Perla in SOMA. You walk in and it feels like you're transported to Spain or Portugal. The staff is incredibly friendly- knowledgeable about the menu/offerings and attentive. If the ambience wasn't enough, the food is great. I've tried too many things to count, but the oysters are always on point. The pan con tomate is so simple but a perfect bite that literally brings me back to my trips to madrid. I could go on, but honestly you need to just go and experience it for yourself. read more

Loved this place for oysters - best mignonette - and small plates with wine. Great for a date or girls night.

I just dined at Perla Oyster House for the 1st time. Service and food were excellent. I had escargot prepared by Jesse and served by Garret. Nice atmosphere, good service, very tasty food. Thanks to owner Matthew for running a wonderful establishment read more

Cozy, simple food, low-key vibe... it's really a perfect escape for a weeknight date. Fantastic raw-bar, great snacks --- very lightly Spanish-focused tastes over all. The trout spread was a major highlight, with a kind of Russian flair to it. Most of all, they succeed by not trying to be something other than what they are: a self-confident oyster bar with fun little bites. read more

Overpriced and the people behind the counter don't seen to have customers service, at different from the waiter she was amazing .