Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Rappahannock Oyster Bar

    3.5 (399 reviews)
    Open • 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Rappahannock Oyster Bar Photos

    Business Info

    RAPPAHANNOCK OYSTER BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Upscale

    You might also consider

    More like Rappahannock Oyster Bar

    Recommended Reviews - Rappahannock Oyster Bar

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Jenni G.

    Drink was 10/10. Food was pretty good. Happy hour didn't have too much options. Service was good. The ambiance was nice but smaller than I expected.

    Tuna tartare
    Shawn H.

    Stopped into Rappahannock Oyster Bar with a girlfriend before an event. We wanted something light, so I went with the tuna tartare. Fresh, flavorful, and exactly what I needed to hold me over without feeling heavy. We chose to sit at the bar, and while the food impressed, the service didn't quite match. The bartenders spent most of their time chatting with a regular, which meant we were waiting longer than I'd like for refills or attention. Still, the quality of the dish makes it worth another visit. Next time I'll probably grab a table instead of bar seating to get the full experience.

    Every dish was phenomenal! Korey was spot-on with his recommendations and extremely attentive to our allergy concerns.

    Every dish was phenomenal! Korey was spot-on with his recommendations and extremely attentive to our allergy concerns, even double-checking about anchovies in a sauce. He truly knows his stuff and made our experience exceptional. We'll definitely be back!

    Sauvignon Blanc
    Wendy K.

    Great server. Excellent experience. Beautiful space and views. Food was ok. Very disappointed with the crab cake. Wine and menu selection was broad.

    Forbidden Zone
    Erica W.

    Really good birthday dinner! I'm pretty good with a vibe next to the water while enjoying seafood. Our bartender/server was very accommodating and made sure I was happy during our visit. We started with the grilled octopus, 6 raw oysters & 6 rockefeller - atleast an 8 across the board - everything was pretty standard. The crabcakes, thai lettuce wraps, combo baskets and Branzino get two thumbs up for flavor and portions. For cocktails, I wasn't a huge fan of the Forbidden Zone and Summer in Dogtown because the mezcal was overpowering but the Seasonal Sangria (Peach) was perfect! Although the weather was terrible, we had a few minutes of calm to enjoy the scene and our food without chaos. I would definitely consider this a top choice for a view and vibes.

    Jumbo Lump Crabcake 7/30/25
    Jim P.

    I went through all the one star reviews before stopping in here. I thought they were all pretty petty. Most of the people that left reviews with one star only had one to very few reviews and it just seemed like it was a case or Red Ass! So glad I came in. I brought my wife and adult son. We had a dozen oysters (4 of each) , they were all fantastic. We the shared the Tuna Tartare and Lump Crabcake. Both were bomb! Check out my pics. Also, I had the Branzino. No lie, best I ever had. It's a full fish with just the right amount of add ons (sno peas, mushrooms, lemon, Red Fresno peppers, and some micro greens) in my opinion (also the bartender) the best entree on the wharf. Get it, you won't be disappointed. The inside seating is good for small groups at the bar, but there is no room for large groups. Fortunately, there is an outside patio , but when it's HAF outside and humid, it's a no go for me. Side note the Sauvignon Blanc was top tier and paired well with all the above. I will be definitely be back! Cheers

    Oysters & Martinis
    Matt H.

    One of my absolute favorite restaurants in DC. As I come to DC from NYC frequently , there's one place that my trip to DC r is not complete without and that's Rappahanock Oyster Bar. During the summer and warmer months, sitting at the bar and sipping a dirty martini while noshing on some oysters is the absolute perfect afternoon experience. We've come for dinner, we've come for lunch and we've come for just oysters and cocktails and we've never been disappointed. The food is always great and there is never a complaint. The service is always super friendly and casual and the ambience couldn't be better. Whether you want to come and sit for a longer dinner, just want to grab some oysters at the oyster bar or are just looking for a casual place to hang out for some drinks. This place is the place to go. I can't wait for my next trip to Rappahanock.

    Scallop Carpaccio ~ 20 Pickled Red & White Grapes, Purple Ninja Radish Crispy Shallots, Red Yuzo Kosho Vinaigrette
    Gloria M.

    This is an interesting dish... I don't think the grapes and onions and radishes all pair that well together, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend this dish. Also tried the oysters, they were on the large side and good, no complaints. Service was good for it being a busy afternoon. The bathrooms were a disaster: beware!

    Seasonal sangria - white peach
    Karina E.

    My sister and I visited for lunch during a weekday and were immediately seated under the covered patio. It was a hot day but the space was breezy and shaded. Our server, Barry, was friendly, attentive, and very knowledgeable about the menu. I ordered the seasonal sangria which was so refreshing on the hot day; I loved it! I especially loved the butter garlic sauce that came with the mussels that I ordered. My sister's tuna tartare was also really good, but I think they should offer a different type of vehicle to eat the tartare with. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. Barry also created a tequila lemon drop for my sister with elderflower(?) that she really enjoyed. Overall we had great service and good food.

    Victoria L.

    Really great fresh seafood. Great ambiance outside. Great service. If you're in the area and have time to stop for lunch or dinner it's probably one of the best options on The Warf.

    Ceasar salad
    Ashley S.

    A solid oysters experience on The Wharf. Happy hour is the place to be here, as they do $2 oysters and $1.50 clams. They also have a nice selection of fresh salads and other seafood dishes. I haven't had it, but the whole branding looks delicious. The one drawback for me: I prefer West Coast oysters, and you'll only find East Coast / Virginia oysters here.

    Pauline D.

    So I spent the end of the summer visiting here and enjoyed it. We would air in the bar area which is open area when warm. Get some drinks and oysters, plus oyster shooters. Definitely recommend visiting for that experience alone. We've been around looking for ones we like better.

    Mocha Crème Brûlée
    Rich S.

    You get what you pay for Food I have been here three times now with my parents, son and daughter. We have gotten the shrimp poboy twice, the burger twice, oysters each time and the shrimp salad once. We have also always gotten whatever flavor of Crème Brûlée was on the menu. The burger was one of the best I have ever had. They have recently changed it and it isn't quite as good as before but the quality and flavor of the meat is top notch. The sauce they put on it is also excellent. The oysters are some of the best if not the best I've ever had very fresh tasing not fishy or too salty like many I have had on the gulf coast. The shrimp poboy was dressed differently than I am use to in Louisiana but it was a great change up. The shrimp are huge and flavorful. Overall one of the best shrimp poboys I've had and I've had a lot of great ones. The Crème Brûlée was one of the best restaurant deserts I have had anywhere. I prefer the Mocha over the Matcha but for someone who normally despises Matcha I was shocked how much I liked it (my daughter loves matcha and she couldn't get enough). The salad and charred oysters my parents got were also very good. Overall everything we have had has always been top quality. Service The wait staff are always friendly, quick and helpful. Never had a bad experience here. Ambiance We have always sat under the covered porch. It is right on the water and has a beautiful view. You feel the breeze come through (they also have fans in the summer and heaters in the winter). There is also indoor seating if you prefer. Overall very pleasant place to eat. Price This is my only knock on the restaurant. Last time I was there we ordered 1 burger, 1 dessert, 2 oysters and water and the bill was $50. The burger alone is $24. I knew that it was expensive after the frost trip and I still have gone back twice but this is definitely a special occasion kind of place for us but since we aren't in DC often that is fine. I'm not going to say something is or is not worth it for you just know this is high end not a midrange place to eat. With all of that said it is 5* for me. We love the food and I would go back whenever I am here so long as it is a small party. I would not however bring the whole family of 5 simply because of the price tag.

    Crème broule

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Una D.
    290
    1363
    146

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenni G.
    30
    16
    31

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mia J.
    187
    22
    17

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Iris J.
    293
    674
    2828

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 3
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sue C.
    205
    705
    2228

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tara L.
    3765
    1240
    3964

    3 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Rappahannock Oyster Bar

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Seafood 8,233 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden - Gyoza ($15) - they are smaller than you can imagine

    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden

    3.7(113 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    We had such a fun night at ZOOZ for their comedy night, and it was such a great addition to The…read moreWharf! The host, Uncle Ant, did a great job keeping the energy up. There was a great lineup of comedians, Myss Brown Sugga went last and was outrageous and hysterical! I love that they are taking the comedy night to the next level. Starting with the next show (August 26) it's becoming Comedy Competition, with a different lineup for each show. Guests will vote for their favorite comedians, with cash prizes for the winners, plus half-off wine (yassssss). ZOOZ has a really sexy, cool cocktail-garden atmosphere that makes it a great place for a night out. Our server was very good, the food was good, and the cocktails were excellent. And the location at The Wharf is perfect--you can make a whole evening of it by grabbing dinner and drinks, catching the comedy show, then walking along the river, enjoying the swings on the pier, and taking in everything else the Wharf has to offer. We're definitely looking forward to coming back for the next show!!

    When I heard that this was the after party for the event ceremony I was a part of, I was pretty…read moreexcited. But upon arrival, I realized that they changed a few things. They had a late night happy hour that was really the allure for random weeknights, and I thought it it made them stand out among others in the area. Unless it's some secret menu item now (I don't think it is), the late night happy hours gone. But this was the most full I had seen ZOOZ, and I was so happy for them. But it didn't seem like they were :/. All the times I have been here, I had always said to myself that I wish they were more crowded because people are missing out. But something was up with the staff that night, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on! Between the lack of happy hour and the staff, the vibe was off, completely. Maybe I would stop in during when they're happy hour actually is now, but otherwise I wouldn't be back.

    Photos
    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden
    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden
    ZOOZ Cocktail Garden - Poisonous Kiss

    See all

    Poisonous Kiss

    Free State - Hazy IPA

    Free State

    4.3(150 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    •$$

    Not to be confused with Free State Distillery in Upper Marlboro (though many also call it Arthur…read moreWheeler Spirits haha), this place is located just off of the main street in chinatown, and it's surprisingly lowkey. It's a basement bar with a bit of a dive vibe, but it's hard to ignore the nautical, blue crab theme throughout. Turns out that one of the owners is a Marylander, which is cool to see reflected in the decor in a place in dc, even though it is next door. They have a happy hour and they have a great variety of drinks in general. It's bring-your-own-food (BYOF) and there are a bunch of delicious looking Asian spots nearby, including upstairs. It didn't start getting crowded until closer to 10, which, as I said, is surprising for this part of town to me. Everywhere in Chinatown is not going to be packed and busy, and this place is here to remind you of that. Stop by if you're looking for a more chill vibe. Staff are pretty cool.

    Free State is perfect for a chill bar in the Downtown area. It's exactly the kind of place you want…read moreto share a few drinks and be able to hear the person in front of you. I had a delicious orange crush drink and my friend had a sangria. The bartenders are extremely chill and nice; they only come up when you need it which is nice for good conversation. I'll easily be back when I want to catch up with friends without a speaker blaring in our ears. Great place to introduce to more people!

    Photos
    Free State - Spiked chocolate

    Spiked chocolate

    Free State - Bar

    Bar

    Free State - Small glasses

    See all

    Small glasses

    Amelie - Mussels

    Amelie

    4.1(102 reviews)
    1.8 mi•Logan Circle, Downtown

    What a delightful brunch! I met coworkers here and was able to share some appetizers and more. We…read moreagreed to share escargot and this goat cheese ball. We received two lovely bags of bread... I will say, I thought there was more in the bags than there actually was, but I loved that presentation haha. I decided to branch out from brunch norms and get this Manhattan ... The Ba'Nanhattan. The notes were very nutty and it had dried bananas in it, I loved it! I tried my coworker's cucumber drink, and as someone who does not like cucumbers, I couldn't deny how refreshing and summery that was. I was on the fence about a couple of entrees, but I decide to get the BECC... Bacon egg & cheese croissant. WHEW! That thing was so flaky and every ingredient was simply delicious. I was the only one at the table that didn't get potatoes with my entree... I went for the fruit instead. Little did I know that it was going to be all melons. I only started liking watermelon last year, and that was fine, but the cantaloupe?? I still don't like it. I could have asked to swap out but I didn't want to be difficult. And I didn't ask what kind of fruit it was, so that is on me. After this brunch experience, I'll be curious to come on other occasions. Happy hour, dinner.... I usually don't go for French food, but I liked what I had and I would definitely return.

    It's an ambiance kind of place. Oddly, I ended up here with a bunch of vegetarians (besides…read moremyself). The menu had a couple of things, but clearly wasn't meant for us. I ended up taking the strategy of ordering a salad and getting dessert, figuring that would be the best part at a French restaurant. The salad delivered on crispness, but the dressing was ultra-salty in away that was hard not to notice. I ended up overordering on dessert and getting this ludicrous hazelnut ice cream sandwich, which was good but would have been better off split. It isn't quite my kind of place, but also as a meeting spot was on the louder side, and the quality wasn't quite what I'd hoped.

    Photos
    Amelie
    Amelie - Goat cheese ball and baguette.

    Goat cheese ball and baguette.

    Amelie - Old fashioned

    See all

    Old fashioned

    Rappahannock Oyster Bar - seafood - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...