Eat This Blog

The Oyster Saloon

Address: 12446 Moorpark St., Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 761-8686

I really came in with an open mind and excited to have some oysters and good seafood but instead came out with an empty wallet and an unsatisfied stomach

When I first came in I was honestly excited because I love shitty dive places. It really shows time and history into the place and I’m sure at one point it was the best place, but times change.

I sat in the bar area and we had to wait a few minutes for the bartender to take our drink order. We got a couple of New Castles from the tap, and honestly, I know how New Castle is supposed to taste and I don’t think that they clean their taps at all. It tasted bitterer and almost rusty.

Our normal waitress took our order and I think she might have had throat cancer at on point because she spoke in a wheezy whisper. When we ask if she had any suggestions the waitress muttered something totally inaudible and made no sense.  We ordered half dozen of raw oysters which weren’t spectacular. If anything, they were a bit dry, which makes me question the freshness. We also got the fried calamari and Oysters Rock Arthur. The fried calamari was bland and the batter was total crap and the menu boasts about 2 different sauces (Wow, BFD, tartar and cocktail. Damn, aiolis are SO easy to make and come in so many different combinations)

Their Oysters Rock Arthur was at least moist–too moist. It was a soggy mess because of all the shellacked spinach. I mostly tasted bacon and the oysters were yet again dry. I think the only thing that was remotely good was the bread and the weird sauce that came with it. The sauce was probably Restaurant Depot Balsamic Viniagrette (it’s what I’m guessing)

The meal was so blah that right after we ate at Arclights caf and had a WAY better dinner there and paid half of the price. What a waste of time and money. I honestly don’t know what kind of masochistic people out there are to say the bad service is part of their schtick because, if it was schtick, I would have had decent service and a good time, but we didn’t even get any water and left with such mixed feelings.

Go to King’s in Calabassas instead.