where jess ate

If you’re a big fan of oysters, Oyster Boy is a must visit! The small restaurant is located on Queen street, just west of Trinity Bellwoods park. The interior has a cozy feel and doesn’t have that touristy feel like Rodney’s.

As you’d expect from a place named Oyster Boy, they have a really great oyster offering. To make it easy, their price list breaks it down by region (PEI, New Brunswick, BC, Nova Scotia, Pacific US) and oyster sizes. Make sure you check out their blackboards too, for their daily specials. In addition to oysters, they also have other seafood favourites like fish cakes, ceviche, fish tacos and fish and chips.

My favourite oysters are of the Kusshi variety but unfortunately Oyster Boy didn’t carry them. So, I opted for some Kumamoto Oysters ($3.50 each) from the Pacific US instead. They’re quite similar to Kusshi oysters in size and texture. These “extra small” oysters have a smooth, pillowy texture to them and have a very clean flavour.

For variety, we also ordered some Black Point Oysters ($2.75 each) from Nova Scotia. We ordered the medium Black Points but you can also order the large ones for a slightly higher price. These oysters didn’t have the tenderness of the smaller oysters but they were still quite tasty.

The raw oysters are accompanied by a plate of 3 sauces – spicy ginger & hot pepper, shallots & red wine vinaigrette and cocktail sauce. My personal preference is the shallots & red wine vinaigrette.

In addition to the oysters, we ordered a few other items, one of them being the Sustainable Seafood Chowder – shell and fin-fish, New England style ($10). It had just the right amount of creaminess and overall it was a decent chowder but probably not something I’d order again.

We also ordered a small bowl of Steamed Clams – garlic, white wine and parsley ($13 small/$17 large). The clams were well cooked – not too chewy, and while the broth was a touch saltier than I would’ve liked, it was a classic clam dish done well.

To soak up the broth from the clams, we also ordered a side of Oyster Boy Fries ($4.50). I was surprised by how large the portion was. It came in a large bowl which was overflowing with addictive thin-cut fries. The fries here come with a choice of chipotle, lime jalapeno aioli or curry sauce. We went with the chipotle dip which came in a half oyster shell.

Overall, a great spot to satisfy your oyster craving. I’ll definitely be back!

At a glance:
• A great spot to get your oyster fix
• Menu also includes a large selection of seafood favourites
• Small restaurant located just west of Trinity Bellwoods Park

Ratings (out of 5):
• Food: 4 stars
• Service: 4 stars
• Atmosphere: 4 stars