where jess ate

Mike and I walked by Rodney’s Oyster House (@RodneysToronto) one afternoon while walking along King Street and decided to drop in for lunch as some of their specials caught our eye.

The interior has a very casual and touristy feel to it. Since it was gorgeous out, we opted to sit in the “garden” (aka the patio). I’m not sure if it was just an off day but throughout our entire meal, there were aphids everywhere – all over the table and landing on our clothes and hair. Even after leaving, I still kept finding little aphids in my hair. So, I don’t recommend sitting on the patio if you can’t tolerate bugs.

The sign by the entrance advertised some lunch specials which we wanted to try. I decided to go with the Maritime Lobster Roll – fresh lobster meat tossed in a tarragon mayo on a soft roll with skinny fries ($9.95). I’m a sucker for lobster rolls!

When the dish was placed in front of me, I was surprised by how small the roll was. I finished it in a few bites so if you have a hearty appetite, you’ll be left feeling a little unsatisfied. Size aside, it was a decent roll but I found it a little too creamy. Given how small the roll was, I’m glad it came with a generous portion of skinny fries. They tasted great paired with the jalapeno lime tartar which came with Mike’s dish.

Mike went with the Soft Shell Crab (Maryland) – cornmeal crusted and fried with salad and a jalapeno lime tartar ($14). It was a pretty simple and light dish. We both really enjoyed the crispy crab, especially when complimented by the tartar sauce. While I enjoyed the crab, the greens weren’t anything to write home about. Overall, the price point was a little high for what it was.

We couldn’t leave Rodney’s without getting some oysters! After taking a quick look at their offerings, I decided on a few Kusshi Oysters ($2.01 each) from Vancouver Island. I’m not an oyster connoisseur but Kusshi’s are my favourite…but perhaps I’m biased since I’m from the west coast. Anyway, these oysters didn’t disappoint. Don’t let the size of them fool you. They have a very clean and sweet flavour.  Highly recommended!

Rodney’s has a wide selection of sauces to go with the oysters including the typical seafood sauce to more exotic options such as “Johnny Reb’s Espanola Hot Sauce” and spicier options like the “Back from Hell”. Something for everyone!

So, what’s the verdict? While nothing was bad, there wasn’t anything particularly memorable either. Maybe I’ll just be back for the oysters.

At a glance:
• Famous for their oysters
• I’d only be back for the oysters
• Daily lunch specials available
• Large patio in the “garden”… but watch out for all the bugs!

Ratings (out of 5):
• Food: 3 stars
• Service: 2 stars
• Atmosphere: 3 stars