New Orleans Approved! As New Orleanians and self-proclaimed foodies, my wife and I have pretty discerning palates when it comes to seafood. While visiting Little Rock, the technician who was doing my wife's pedicure recommended her brother's restaurant, The Oyster Bar. We already had reservations elsewhere, but after looking at The Oyster Bar's menu, we canceled our original plans--and we're glad we did. Food (10/10) Hush Puppies (10/10): Quite possibly the best hush puppies I've ever had. Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, with jalapeños that added just the right amount of heat without overpowering the flavor. Crab Claws (10/10): Outstanding. They reminded me of a favorite dish from Copeland's back home in New Orleans--hot, buttery, flavorful and served in a generous portion. Seafood Combo (10/10): Fried Oysters (10/10): Perfectly fried with a crisp exterior and a creamy interior. Well seasoned and absolutely delicious. Cheese Grits (9/10): Rich, creamy and cheesy. We paired them with the shrimp scampi and essentially created our own version of shrimp and grits. Shrimp Scampi (8/10): The shrimp were plump, juicy and cooked well, though I would've enjoyed a bit more seasoning. Crab Cake (10/10): The standout of the meal. This crab cake was towering, packed with what seemed like 99% crab meat and full of flavor. The seafood combo is a great value. Chocolate Cheesecake (9/10): Smooth, creamy and chocolatey. Cheesecake isn't usually our first dessert choice, but we're chocolate lovers, and this one definitely delivered. Piña Colada Mocktail (9/10): Sweet, smooth, refreshing and loaded with pineapple flavor. Exactly what I look for in a tropical mocktail. Service (9/10) Our server, Tallon, was friendly, attentive and genuinely hospitable. She was efficient, checked on us regularly and made sure we had everything we needed without being intrusive. It's always refreshing to have a server who doesn't disappear after the food arrives. Ambiance (8/10) The atmosphere is casual, bright and airy with a comfortable noise level that makes conversation easy. If a couple from New Orleans--where great seafood is practically a birthright--can enthusiastically recommend The Oyster Bar, that's saying something. We'd happily return the next time we're in Little Rock. read more

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This is a well established (1975) and beloved Arkansas restaurant. The crab cakes were delicious. I don't like them if they have too much breading and found these absolutely delightful! The fried okra appeared to be whole baby okra. I have never had it prepared that way and found it to be very pleasing to the palate. The mustard greens were equally delicious. The service was slightly disappointing, which led to a four star rather than five star rating from me. The restroom is on one corner of the restaurant. Unfortunately, we were seated in the farthest corner from that restroom. It's a fairly large building with multiple rooms. Going forward, I will ask to be seated closer to the restroom. My mother has dementia and the distance to the restroom made things a little difficult for us. It might be also be difficult with small children. read more

The Oyster Bar - Crab cakes, fried okra, and mustard greens. - Seafood Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

This place is a treasure for central Arkansas. Nice to be able to dine of fresh oysters of different varieties in this state with no salt water. I do have to say that the remodel kind of killed the vibe of this restaurant, as well as jacked up the prices. It used to be more of a dark and dingy dive kind of place. Now it is all bright and polished and I feel out of place when I go here. The service is great though. read more

Stopped in to the Oyster Bar for a break from shopping and Xmas leftovers while in Little Rock for the holidays. Located a short drive from downtown Little Rock, the oyster bar is in a cool strip of bars and restaurant on west Markham street. My dad has raved both their Rockefeller oysters, so we had to make a pit stop. Lively, two open dining areas, central bar area, and a well lit patio makes for a good sized restaurant for any occasion. We just missed the oyster happy hour, but that's more reason to come back for more! Our oysters were good sized and stuffed full of spinach, cheese and breadcrumbs. Drinks were great as well. We walked in at 5:30 and by 7:30, there was a waitlist, live music and some big groups dining in. Definitely worth a stop in if you're in the mood for oysters, the Oyster Bar didn't disappoint! read more

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Great place to eat, good entertainment, lots of energy, it was a little loud but wasn't bad, probably wouldn't recommend a full family to set and enjoy on a Friday evening. But it didn't really bother us any. The oysters were the best I have ever had! read more

Been coming here for years. The renovation has transformed a small venue to a class space. The oyster bar itself is entertaining watching the guys shuck fresh gulf oysters. The rest of menu is equally great. The crab cakes are lump blue crab no filler. Service always attentive! Happy Hour Dozen Special! read more

All around delicious ! Crab claws and friend oysters. Friend shrimp . I love the oyster bar read more

The Oyster Bar - Pomegranate lemon drop - Seafood Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

Stopped in for dinner and started with a dozen oysters (very good) and ended up choosing the hickory smoked prime rib, which was spectacular! The sides were perfect and very tasty. Great service, great food, and good prices. read more

The Oyster Bar - Hickory smoked Prime Rib - Seafood Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

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If you haven't been to this long-lived Little Rock institution, stop whatever you are doing and go eat there now. The location's former dark and somewhat sketchy glory is gone, replaced by a much more open and well-lit space, with a wonderful full service bar that's staffed by extremely experienced and erudite bar staff. Dine at the bar if you wish; we did and had a fantastic time. We had the catfish and shrimp, with phenomenal black eyed peas (sadly the fried okra was out of season) and a serviceably tasty corn-with-a-funny-name, and the renowned shrimp and grits. I might have them lighten the bacon load on the next order; it was slightly salty for my tastes, but sweet fancy Moses, those grits, tho! The original "Could Change Your Life Cheese Grits!" Cocktails are creative and delicious, or order your classic old school fave -- I was introduced to an Improved Japanese Cocktail that I adored. This place is a beloved favorite any night of the week (on Saturday nights they had live acoustic guitar music that was perfect). read more

The Oyster Bar - The Empress Cocktail: so good it should come with its own crown. - Seafood Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

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For a Sat night, the wait was not too long, 20 mins at about 6PM, but the place was packed! Reputation on good food & service has spread. Drinks were a little pricey, but it was a great place to take out of town visitors to eat. read more

I rarely write reviews but I had AMAZING service today thanks to my server Chloe who was a literal angel and just had to share. She made my birthday dinner so special and was very vigilant at making sure we always had water, plates, or anything else we needed without ever having to ask even while the restaurant was very busy. The food was all delicious, best raw oysters in all of Arkansas. The lobster roll was phenomenal and has me wanting to go back already and the drinks were some of the best I have ever had. Such an amazing place with a fantastic vibe. read more

The Oyster Bar - Seafood Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

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Great food, great service, great atmosphere. Never had a bad thing from here! What you HAVE TO GET: start with the fish dip, make sure you get a side of grits! read more

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Best oysters seafood and music in town! Service is quick and friendly. Atmosphere is energetic.

I was in Little Rock for bus8ness and looking for something different for lunch. Just started scrolling Yelp for lunch options and came across the Oyster Bar. You now have my attention. I love oysters and was somewhat surprised that this place existed this far away from the coast but read the reviews and then drove immediately to the restaurant. Sat at the bar and the service was very good. The bartender had good banter and that makes the experience that much better. I always ask questions about oysters before I order them and was pleasantly surprised that the oysters were from where I grew up in Florida. Also that area just came off a restricted area so I knew that they would be good sized. So I ordered a dozen raw. They did not disappoint. Even though I could sit there and eat oysters all day, the Po Boy grabbed my attention. And once again I was very happy with my selection. Generous sized Po Boy that was really good. This was a great find and considering the crowd it is well known. I would recommend this restaurant and would come back often if I am back in the area. read more

The Oyster Bar - Seafood Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

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Everything was great and I loved the menu on the screen above the bar. It got me hungry without reading the menu and I got to enjoy the ambiance more before dinner. read more

Y'all... this place is one of the best date night spots in the city. A variety of oysters from around North America that will have something in season no matter the time of year(Pink Moons are a favorite). Staff is helpful and knowledgeable of the menu options. On a nice day it's a perfect spot for patio dining. From outdoor dining to bar/live music to a cool open kitchen dining hall, this place has it all. read more

Went to The Oyster Bar bar tonight for the first time since the redo. Man...if you want to go to a restaurant that has the most amount of energy this is the spot. Music on one side, bright lights on the other and a really great patio. Parking is rough but it is what it is...I do like a really good Lobster roll and AR has its place here. The shrimp was huge and plenty of spice. I gotta say also...their horseradish is true ACME style horseradish. It would be 5 stars if they offered more Cajun food choices instead of only 3. Like Add jambalaya to the menu . Also would love a salmon option too. read more

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Amazing oysters! Delicious fried catfish and fried oysters! Even the coleslaw and hush puppies were exceptional! Cannot wait to come back to this place ! read more

I've been to this establishment two times now. I enjoy the Oyster Bar. My first visit, I had the wood-grilled oysters and the fried softshell crab meuniere. Excellent!!! The second time I visited, my daughter and I tried the oyster po boy and it was not as excellent. The sandwich lacked flavor. I would suggest a different roll and a bit more seasoning on the oyster or offer a sauce for the sandwich. Not everything will be of everyone's liking all of the time. The staff are wonderful, and service is great! The ambiance is delightful. I met a gentleman at the bar who grew up in the neighborhood and told me "That the place has been there for a long time but has been upgraded by the new owner. He lives in southern Arkansas but drives to town often and eats there." I do know that it is difficult to find great places in Little Rock to eat, having been here for almost two years but I will go back to the Oyster Bar, over and over again. Truly enjoyable.... read more

Ive given a 4 star before but last night was not good. I woukd have given a 1 but my wife did enjoy the crabs legs. The fried oysters were very muddy tasting and not fully cooked. Unfortunately I ordered the Ten Napkin Smoked Prime Rib Po Boy sandwich and it was nasty. I took one bite and was done. It was just a goopy glob of gravy with fatty roast beef on bread. I very politely shared my thoughts with the waitress. I didnt ask for it to be, and it was not removed from the bill. Ill be back for the shrimp and crab legs but that sandwich needs to be swapped out with something else. read more

We loved this place! We went at 5:30 on a Saturday night and were told it would be a 45 minute wait, so we sat at the bar for a few drinks. We didn't even finish our first round before our table was ready. We sat at the actual oyster bar, which was a cool experience. Very roomy for two people. Everything we ordered was delicious. Literally no complaints. We started with calamari and gumbo, then shared two entrees. I had the combo with shrimp scampi, one crab cake, and fried oysters with a side of the cheesy grits (get the grits!!!!!). My husband had the fried catfish and shrimp entree with black eyed peas and red beans and rice. Everything was to die for. Finally, we wrapped up with the key lime pie, which honestly wasn't the best I'd ever had but still worth trying. The place was PACKED but our server Daysha (I think) was great, and our experience was perfect. read more

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My husband and I happened in the Oyster Bar because it was close to our hotel. Wow! Was it a treat! The service was great as we sat at the oyster bar due to being there Friday night at 6pm with no reservations. The oysters were fresh and delicious! The salmon Caesar was also a treat. The salmon was cooked to perfection and the Caesar salad was top notch. The atmosphere was fun and lively. Don't miss this gem! read more

My husband and I stopped here shortly after they opened for lunch. We viewed the menu online so knew we'd be ordering half dozen each of fresh raw oysters, oysters Rockefeller and Bacon & Leek oysters and a lobster roll. Daysha our waitress was friendly and super efficient bringing food, drinks, condiments and clearing plates. The dining area is large and open yet inviting with a view of the kitchen area. It wasn't overly noisy even with a good size lunch crowd. We didn't have to wait long for our food, which was delicious. Plump raw oysters on ice with lemons, cocktail sauce, horseradish, hot sauce and saltine crackers came first, then Rockefeller and Bacon & Leek oysters. We split the lobster roll, which is on the small side, but for us to get a taste it was plenty. The buttery roll (brioche?) was a little too dense for the lobster which was plentiful, but lacked flavor. All in all it was a great meal and we plan to return to try other seafood offerings. We left by way of the back door which offers a large deck with umbrella tables and is enclosed for fur babies safety. The walkway to the parking lot is edged with oyster shells making it a perfect reminder of why it's so popular. read more

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Food is very delicious and consistently delicious! The service is fantastic and the ambience clean and classy chic! read more

The Oyster Bar - Seafood Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

We had great food, amazing drinks, and great service. Usually I forget the pictures but I have them this time, not because we weren't dying to dig in. I did forget the name of the cocktails. We got there right as a great jazz act Ted Ludwig was playing. He is amazing to hear. Amazing food and killer jazz on guitar. read more

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Food is wonderful service is good. A little loud. Cocktails are really good. Oyster selection is my favorite. read more

Food was great. The fried okra wasn't the best I've ever had but it was good. My friend got the raw oysters and they were tasty. The drinks were delicious. I had the coconut margarita. The staff was all very friendly and attentive. Went for little new years pregame and the live band made for a good and fun atmosphere. Not a quite intimate dinner place read more

The Oyster Bar - Shrimp plate with fried okra and black eyed peas - Seafood Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

The best key lime pie ever. Even better than all the ones I tried in Key West. I seriously come here just for the pie. My moms favorite drink is the Rita in red and it's great too! They also have some local beers. The food is great. There's really not a bad thing on the menu. My absolute favorite is the steamed mussels with an extra bread basket. They are to die for. Some of my other favorites are the grilled shrimp tacos, the hummus, grilled or fried catfish, the prime rib po boy and the onion rings!!!! Really I could recommend everything. Sometimes the service can be challenging because it's usually packed. I have had great service and I've had awful service. But honestly nothing can keep me away from the key lime pie so that's why I kept 5 stars. read more

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My husband and I have eaten here many times and it never disappoints! We especilly enjoy the fried shrimp, onion rings and catfish. Food is hot, seasoned just right! We love the atmosphere and the servers are the best! We will definitely visit often! read more

I enjoy eating the fried oysters and raw oysters. The catfish is ok. The lobster roll is decent. The lobster roll has a little too much butter and not enough lobster. I have had better. It is a bit pricey but worth the money. read more

Such a cute restaurant! Perfect for date night, transported me back to Florida. Both indoor and outdoor seating. Came here for the lobster roll, I hate when they put mayo in it so I was on the hunt for a buttered lobster roll here and this was the only place I could find one and it was delicious. Paired it with the cheese grits as my side, ate every bite of both. Very, very good. Wish it was more, kinda small for the price but still so good. Husband had the fried catfish with fries and liked it as well. His was a bigger portion. Would definitely come back here. Service was good as well and fast. read more

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Excellent food and service. Servers were very friendly and efficient. The place was very clean

Don't know how we've lived in LR this long without ever eating here!! Love the place, great atmosphere - a bit on the louder side, not sure if it's because of the big groups or if it's how it usually is. So if you're looking for a quieter dinner, not the place for it. Great service. Food was fantastic! Everything was just perfect. Platter for 2 could've easily been for 3 people! Will definitely come back. Btw if you like fresh oyster - happy hour price for a dozen oyster is unbeatable! read more

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I really like the ambiance in this restaurant food was great! Always get the fried oysters! They have a pomegranate lemon drop it's worth every penny. read more

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Always busy, for good reason! Food menu is full of great options but the best part of this place is the live performances. 10/10 all around!

Great for casual dining or date night or taking clients out. Food and drinks were quickly served and delicious. Staff made recommendations which proved to be excellent! read more

Food is great, staff is excellent. Sat inside and on patio. Couldn't have asked for a better experience!

All three of their establishments are great! Samantha's has great Chilean Sea Bass, Oyster Bar great Gumbo and Ousters while the soups are Devine at Cheers! read more

The oysters are the best in Little Rock. Hands-down. The service is hit and miss, I had to go see myself at the bar, although the servers were kind, but not very attentive. The ambience is really cool, especially at the bar where they have a glass cupboard that washes over the salt water over the live oysters. It is really neat to see. read more

The renovation at The Oyster Bar was done very well. So much brighter & clean & added Sports Bar- we thought we had left Little Rock and we're on vacation. (I'm glad they left the old check-in bar with worn Formica for old times sake.) Food was still as good as ever with me having a Shrimp Po-Boy & beer while she had a delicious salad! Little surprised at some of the wine bottle prices, but overall a delight & we will be back soon. read more

The Oyster Bar - Shrimp Po' Boy - Seafood Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas