Shaw’s Oyster Bar, River North

Posted by Krista on July 20, 2011

Shaw’s Oyster Bar
21 E Hubbard Street
Chicago

Date of Last Visit: July 7, 2011

The Victim: Brandon

The Background: Yes, I’m on a bit of an oyster kick these days. And yes, I know it’s July and July doesn’t have an R in it. But I don’t care. If someone wants to feed me oysters, I will gladly partake.

Sadly, there’s no one feeding me oysters these days. So I have to feed myself. On occasion, I will also feed others. Like Brandon.

It’s nice dining with a chef because you realize that your obsession with food and restaurants in general is nothing — NOTHING — close to what they feel and how they see things. I follow food and know the big names; chefs follow food and know ALL the names. It’s an odd experience to be confronted with your own lack of knowledge on something you feel fairly knowledgeable about.

I like Shaw’s Oyster Bar. It’s fun. And $24 bucks (ish) for a dozen oysters is a mighty fine deal. But there’s A LOT of stuff behind the bar at Shaw’s. I should have taken photos. So much clutter. The OCD in me wanted to clear it all out. But that probably wouldn’t have gone over well.

$17 for a lobster roll is also a mighty fine deal, especially given the amount of filling. Seriously stuffed. Brandon took issue with the brioche-y roll. He’s a purist, that one. I didn’t mind it because untoasted hot dog buns (and untoasted hamburger buns) are really one of my most unfavorite things ever.

I wanted a lobster roll at Shaw’s because they’ve been all over the press these last 12 months. I’ve had lobster rolls before of course, but never in the midst of such a fervor. They were just there. And I ate them. OK.

So I ate Shaw’s lobster roll and I remembered…lobster and me…meh. Some people die over lobster. I’m not one of them.

I’ll stick with oysters, thanks.

The Verdict: You might remember I wasn’t a big fan of the main restaurant at Shaw’s. But the oyster bar is fun. And for oysters, a surprisingly good value. Ah also, I really liked the service. Really congenial. They’ve got a keeper, there.