Elliott's Oyster House

"If you stumble into Elliott’s for a full meal with a pack of visitors hopped up on the promise of omega-3 fatty acids, we cannot possibly guarantee success—just undercooked crab cakes and oil-saturated cod. But it’s not called Elliott’s Crab Cake And Cod House—treat this place like the mignonette-steeped bivalve temple it is. Slurp oysters. Drink Champagne. Repeat "I know, isn't it stunning?" when anyone mentions the swirly Chihuly sculpture you've seen a dozen times. What about chowder? Surely there must be chowder. Fine, get the acceptable spicy crab-corn version and leave us alone." - aimee rizzo, gabe guarente, kayla sager riley

"Yes, Elliott’s Oyster House is touristy (thanks in part to its downtown waterfront location). And yes, the oysters here are on the expensive side, ranging from $4 too $5. But they have the largest selection of oysters in the city and you can taste how fresh everything is. Hang out at the raw bar if you want to watch the shucker work and strike up a conversation, and don’t forget about the frozen mignonette, a fun twist on the classic condiment." - Mark DeJoy

"Capacity: Elliot Bay Room: 40 Elliott’s isn’t just a place to pound oysters on the patio. It’s also where you can host a get-together in their Elliott Bay Room—it’s a big space that has a great view of the water." - aimee rizzo

"So, you greet your long-lost college friends who just arrived after their road trip up the coast and something’s weird. They’re all dressed in Vineyard Vines and speaking like robots. Yep, your friends got fratty. Don’t panic, just head to Elliott’s Oyster House. Yes, it’s a tourist move, but the view of the water is excellent, it crosses oysters off the list, and you can spend a few hours on the patio day-drinking and catching up. If oysters aren’t your thing, the salmon pesto sliders could be your thing." - aimee rizzo

"Elliott’s Oyster House is celebrating the 30th Oyster New Year on November 30, a peak oyster season event with unlimited oysters, wine, and microbrews. Tickets are $250 plus fees, benefiting the Puget Sound Restoration Fund." - Harry Cheadle