Impudent Oyster

such a fun place to eat! really enjoyed the atmosphere, food & service. put our name in for lunch & waited about 15 minutes - it is a small waiting area & it does get crowded, i’d recommend putting your name in & pop into some shops around the corner to pass the time! the lobster roll was one of the best we’ve had & the onion rings are thin cut, crispy & delicious. cocktail menu is fun and fresh as well - we would absolutely be back!

This is like, my favorite place in Cape Cod 😁 I may be biased because of nostalgia, but it was a great place for my husband and I to have a romantic dinner date the last time we came, and this time it was just as we remembered. The unique flavor of this place, from the name to the charming interior decor with former church vibes, just feels special to walk into. Also, I’m pretty sure I got the Pesca Fra Diablo both times, it’s a surefire winner for flavorful pasta dish with copious seafood which is what I always want when I visit the cape🦞

Amazing food specials and good wine options. We ate at the bar because it can get quite busy during summer so make reservations early. Wonderful meal highly recommended

Finally, after striking out twice in Chatham, we found a real winner. Terrific service, incredible selections, delicious food. Thank you, Inprudent Oyster!

We had a wonderful dinner. The food was delicious and a very fun atmosphere. Only complaint is that we were rushed through our dinner. Food came very quickly after our appetizers. And after our meals and not wanting dessert, the bill arrived very promptly. Soon after placing the bill at at our table, our waitress grabbed it and asked if it was all set, even though it was obvious we hadn’t placed a credit card down. Her subtle way of telling us to pay. We had been sitting for less than an hour. Too expensive to be rushed.

Got here just before they closed for lunch on a Friday. Not many people there in the off season but glad they were open. The butternut squash soup was so good I think I inhaled it. I got the special rice noodle salad as my entree and it was good but huge. I also had to try the truffle fries because they sounded so good. They were piping hot and delicious. I also have to throw it out there that they had my favorite brand of fever tree ginger beer to drink as well.

My favorite place for lunch in Chatham! We always sit at the bar (expect a wait to get a seat as it's first come/first serve) and love the atmosphere, bartender (Erica is amazing!), cocktails and food. Everything is really yummy but the Nantucket Scallop roll is a must try. Whether for lunch or dinner be sure to make a reservation. You're welcome. 😃

Always great food and our staple restaurant when staying on the Cape. The Seafood Atlantis presentation was great. Could of used some more seasoning but overall a great meal and highly recommended. I’d put this on my menu any day!

Highly reccomended if you're staying in Chatham. Seems like reservations go pretty quick so if you're planning ahead (or have more than two people) definitely try to make a reservation. We walked in (bar seating only for walk ins) and put our name down. We were told about 45 minutes. By the time we parked the car at our hotel and walked back we waited about 15 minutes. So worth the wait. We shared an app from the specials - Thai crab cake. It combined interesting elements (crab cake, coleslaw, thai curry, and shoestring fries) that went so well together. I got the lobster ravioli from the specials. One of the best seafood pasta dishes I've ever had. The vodka sauce was creamy and they don't skimp on the scallops, shrimp, and big pieces of juicy lobster. Husband had the first dish on the main entree menu (something Diablo) he loved it. The drinks (husband got a dirty martini and an espresso martini) and mocktail (not too sweet - refreshing) were also spot on. The ambiance of the restaurant is very nice. I actually really liked the vibe at the bar. Again would definitely recommend.

We stopped in here after searching, high and low for the best clam chowder in the Cape. This place was highly recommended, and it did not disappoint. The clam chowder was some of the best we had while visiting the Cape. All the staff was friendly enough, the restaurant could definitely use some updates. It's extremely old with creaky old chairs and booths. I got the scallop sandwich and the daily side dish. The sandwich was fantastic! I ended up eating the inside and leaving the bread because I felt like it was too much. The pasta side dish was average and I probably wouldn't get it again. We will definitely come back for the chowder!

One fine night on the cape my friend and I drifted along the coast like dreary travelers looking for a comforting meal and ambiance. A quick yelp search brought us to Impudent Oyster - a classy, mahogany themed restaurant nestled to the side of main street Chatham. We walked in to a buzzing scene. Dimly lit, classy decor and busy. This is a great place for a classy dinner with friends or a date. We promptly seated ourselves at the bar after a small 15 min wait. The bartender quickly served us drinks. The oysters Rockefeller were calling my name and I immediately ordered those, and am I glad that I did. These are some of the best charbroiled oysters I've ever had. The filling was generous, buttery and delicious with chunks of seafood. They are served on a bed of hot rock salt which I believe only helps their savoriness. An absolute dream. I was on the fence about what to get for my entree and on the bartender's recommendation went for the braised short rib. This dish was ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. The beef was braised so beautifully, in a red wine reduction on a bed of potatoes with perfectly charred winter vegetables like carrots and parsnip, but the real magical element were the onion rings adding sweetness and crunch to the whole dish. We also met some old timers and learned this restaurant is nothing short of a Chatham institution. If you are in the cape, please come here and have some wonderful food!

So wanted to like this place--super cute inside. On the plus, service was excellent. On the minus, the food and drink. The oysters were poorly shucked with pieces of shell and some cut in half or mangled. (One was also rotten.) For the fish and chips, the fish was fresh but the batter was so heavy that it completely covered the taste of the fish. Coleslaw needed more seasoning. Tartar sauce was all onion. Cocktail pours were very small. So much potential but there are much better places to eat in the area. Won't be back.

Very nice upscale dining experience in the heart of Chatham. Pre game at the Squire and head over to this restaurant for an excellent meal. The clam chowder is probably the best in Chatham, having tried many places in town. Also had a striped bass and lobster dish over rice that was sublime.

I would definitely come back! Had a reservation for Thursday evening. Service was kind and accommodating so special requests / modifying dishes slightly. Nice ambiance inside. Lighting is quite dim, but that was fine for us. My filet, lobster tail, asparagus and Parmesan risotto were delicious. Was also craving oysters from the raw bar and they were such a treat. Definitely a must go nice dinner option on the Cape!

Happy to finally try this restaurant right next to the park. We had drinks, apps and entrees but no room for dessert. The apps were fine but not memorable. The star of the night was the special shrimp, scallop on lobster ravioli. Nice atmosphere and service. I would definitely come back.

Walked in Friday nite at 7 was seated right away w no reservations. It was off season may 17th. Beautiful live edge wood bar. Simply amazing mocktail With alcohol free gin. Yay. I had the arancini so yummy n gooey and delicious risotto at its best --2 to a serving. and the special roasted oysters stuffed w crab meat. 4 per portion. super delicious. we both agreed this was the best meal of the trip so far.

SERIOUSLY wonderful lunch. The food is FANTASTIC! My husband had the scallop sandwich and it was perfect in every way! I had the bang bang shrimp lettuce wraps - SO GOOD! And the lunch prices, given its Chatham are not scary (well not too scary) with decent portions and lovely service!

Lovely dinner here for my friends bachelorette. For apps we had oysters and the brussell sprouts. Their bread is DIVINE. I am not a seafood person so I had the NY strip meal. One of the best steaks I've ever eaten. Cooked to perfection, so much flavor. The carrot on the dish was one of the best things I've ever eaten, and the sauce on it was indescribably good. The bride had the sole dish which she loved. Others had salads, soups - everyone was happy. The cocktails weee yummy! Would definitely go back. Our waitress was wonderful. Need a reservation, very small- intimate feel. Thanks for a wonderful meal!

My wife and I revisited Impudent Oyster last night - we had not been there is perhaps a year. As usual it is a pleasant place for dinner, especially off-season. But, in a few respects our dinner was a bit disappointing as compared to previous visits. 1). Noise level was a bit high. Perhaps, because we were seated on the upper part of the restaurant near the steps to the lower level. 2). Service was very slow. It took perhaps 20+ minutes for us to place an order. Main courses only arrived about an hour after we arrived. 3). We ordered Richi's sprouts, my wife had blacked fish and I had Cod Savannah. The very large portion of sprouts was very good, though a tad oily. My wife's fish was a bit dry. My cod was very well prepared, but the bed of succotash was cold. It was very flavorful. It also had a lobster shell that should have been removed. Still it was a pleasant dinner and we will probably go back. But we have had better dinners there in the past.

This place is an old school classic American restaurant. The drinks and food were delicious. My son ate every bite of fish and chips. I ordered the rice noodle fruitti di Mar dish and it was so huge. All the seafood was fresh and succlent. My father loved the blackened scallops and asparagus so much he went twice during our vacation week. Service was fast and friendly.

Fine dining in a casual atmosphere. Eclectic and standard New England food. Always a must do when in town

Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Grateful that kitchen is very accommodating to food allergies/preferences. The food is delicious. You can't find a lousy item on this menu, which is varied, and specials are based on locally caught fresh fish. Tables rather close together but very convivial crowd - you feel like you are helping the table next to you celebrate a happy occasion. Because it's so packed and has high ceilings (with well looked after live greenery) it isn't a 'quiet' dining experience but you can absolutely have a conversation with dining partners. (I suppose the imbibing of adult beverages by fellow diners contributes to decibel level at any given moment). Parking can be tough. There is a lot next to the venue but it's not huge and not exclusive to the restaurant. Give yourself extra time to find parking because you are in town, though at the edge of commercial district, which helps somewhat. Note: avoid Friday nights in summer when the bandstand in adjacent public park has free local band performance. All the musicians as well as the visitors have to park. No reservations at lunch time. Can usually get seated pretty easily on a good beach day. We love eating here and try to make it at least twice during our annual Cape vacation. Never disappoints. Relaxed, dressy, if that makes sense re dress code. Bring a sweater, air conditioning can feel extreme at times. Enjoy! Impudent Ouster team, we love you!!

This is an old-school institution in Chatham! My mom and I came here since Mary Higgins Clark wrote about it in some of her novels. It is small, quaint, and full of charm! Even though the vibe is classic, the menu is full of lots of different types of food and interesting choices. To start, we shared the queso burrata. I have never had burrata warmed, but it was incredible. I loved the addition of the different veggies, especially the eggplant, and the balsamic. The textures were great and I loved the crispy crostini served with it. For my entree, I had the cod that comes on a salad. It was so light, but full of flavor! It is just what you need on a summer night. I would ask for extra blue cheese next time because I loved it so much! My mom had the surf and turf and raved about it. She even said it was the best fillet she has ever had! Our server was fantastic and we had such a lovely dinner here. I look forward to coming back next time I'm in Chatham! Maybe I'll save room for dessert next time :)

Absolutely incredible. My husband and I came here for dinner and got very lucky snagging seats at the bar. We had the most delicious meal and best experience from start to finish. The staff are all very friendly and knowledgeable. Mussels were some of the best I have ever had and HUGE ! My meal was the prosciutto wrapped cod. My husband had the swordfish. Both were just insanely good!! We cannot wait to go back we've been dreaming about it ever since !!

The food is inventive and very, very good. Great service and a very stylish interior. Good value for the quality

My daughters and daughter in law and I were looking for a place for Mother's Day lunch in Chatham and decided to try the Impudent Oyster . So glad we made that decision! A really cool place - cozy and seems very friendly. Our waitress Linda was a gem . She steered us right at every turn - was pleasant and knowledgeable. We started with a bottle of Rose that was very good. I got a cocktail that was lovely. My daughter got an order of clam chowder that was really delicious. I got butternut squash bisque which was lovely ;perfectly smooth. , hot and tasty . From there , I ordered the Nantucket scallop roll - omg - it was awesome! Lightly fried scallops packed in a roll topped with bacon and cheese. I was one happy camper. Daughter in law got the Pork Ban Mi which she loved . They even provided us with extra pickles!! One daughter got a Caesar and another chicken noodle soup. If I ever return to this area I will definitely go back!!

We've had lunch here several times now over the past few years, and we enjoy this somewhat odd restaurant in downtown Chatham. First, the decor, very old school and perhaps this building used to be a church. Stained glass in places, and some seating that looks like old pews! The vibe is very old New England. While not dirty, there is nothing polished about the interior. Service here has always been friendly and very efficient, and the menu serves up all the classics you might expect, along with some eclectic options as well. Whether you are looking for fried fish, to more refined dishes, or raw bar, I' m sure you will fins something you and your party will enjoy. Cocktails are also a hit here with some specialty offerings, as well as a full bar. The fried calamari plate was a hit at our table, with perfectly fried calamari that also included fried peppers and artichoke hearts. A nice surprise was a big heaping of greens that made us feel like we made a healthy choice. This place is usually packed, so plan accordingly.

Visiting from the South. This restaurant recommended by concierge at Chatham Bars Inn. It's in institution in Chatham. Decor and sound system not been updated. Must want heavy food. Entree portions could feed 2-3. Classic Cape food with French, Asian and other influences. Could not get reservation probably there's only 1 other decent restaurant in town. Waited over one hour for walk in availability at bar. Hostesses was short lady with hair in bun- she was extremely rude. Morgan, bartender, was great. Just a really stressed out environment overall with decent food and mediocre wine list. Best place we found is the Beach House at Chatham Bar Inn.

The food here is outstanding, as the service! It's a huge cut above most Cape Cod establishments and the prices are comparable to any Sysco truck food you'll get elsewhere. It's a treat and a half and a must do while in Chatham. A+++

Impudent continues to impress. First timers may be worried because their menu items are very busy with lots of ingredients, but they always taste great and there are lots of menu choices, something for everyone, including a long list of daily specials. The place is packed, as always, so reservations are highly recommended.

Loved this restaurant! Food is spectacular and service was excellent. A Chatham institution that has stood the test of time

outstanding meal! went late on a February Saturday night, party of 5. Food & service were Great. Excellent wine list and strong pour on cocktails. Cozy place with a great vibe

The IO is a quirky location that serves out a lot of well done food. It appears to be a church or some previously relevant building that is now a fusion of seafood and English pub. It may not be what I expected, but it exceeded my first impression when I walked out the door. The decor is very unique and quirky as I mentioned before. It has stained-glass windows throughout the building along with a coat of arms. It has a lot of old, sturdy, stained wood to accompany that vibe which makes me think of a church or the pubs I visited in Ireland and England when I traveled abroad. The service was amazing as well. Prompt attention, able to handle a group of 8 (including 2 children), and pleasant throughout some of the ridiculous requests that my family inevitably had. The menu offers a variety of styles and cuisines. As I said, my family is not the easiest to please and everyone was able to find something they were happy with having for dinner. I think the highlights of the menu were the seafood pasta (see my photos) and the daily/fresh catch specials. The kids menu is your typical offerings but a little fancier in terms of how the items are done. They tend to be a bit picky, but gobbled up everything they were served. My parents are more meat-and-potatoes kinda people and they even ventured out of their comfort zone because of the poetic descriptions on the menu. It's a very thoughtful and passionate menu that weaves typical types of fare with local, seasonal ingredients. There was not a single dish (app, salad, main, or dessert) that inadequately executed, and most of them were visually spectacular. If I had one complaint, it's the price point or the value for the experience. It's Cape Cod, Boston, etc... I get it, things are expensive. But, honestly for the price point I didn't feel cheated or ripped off but I also didn't walk out thinking I got the full dollar's worth. Even my wife made a comment that the food was good, but not price point kind of value. However, that's not enough to really knock more than a star off, because if you want seafood that isn't from a shack on the water or fried this is the price point you will pay in the area (or Boston). They have to make rent and keep the lights on, which I totally understand and why I'm not making more of a stink about. The Impudent Oyster was a bit of a roller-coaster experience from the surprise of the first impression to the excellent service to the good food to the paying the check. It's a great local place to experience and like I said there isn't anything wrong with any of the food, but if you're a value-based diner (like my wife) this may leave you a little underwhelmed. However, if you are okay with the price point and what you expect to pay at the end of the night then it's a really neat local joint that really proves first impressions aren't everything.

Delicious classic New England seafood. The chowder was my favorite in all of Chatham.

Never a bad meal here. I never used to think of Impudent Oyster for Lunch, but their sandwiches are out of this world, we definitely added it to our lunch rotation.

Food beyond fantastic, have been coming for years. Lately though, apps and entrees have not hot. Particularly, oysters Rockefeller and main course veggies. Plates hot, food not

Best restaurant I've been to on the cape!!! For a more casual ambiance, go sit at the bar. The food was just incredible, I came here with my boyfriend and we ordered the white fish with crab and surf and turf (forget the exact names). I will never forget this meal, it was that good.

Always delicious. Best bet is to sit at the bar before reservations are difficult to book. Nice atmosphere.

Ok meal this weekend - appetizer was wonderful but they ran out of entree fish special early and had basic salmon recommendation to replace. Preparation included gloppy mayonnaise-y sauce that was a real detraction. Too bad for us our reservation wasn't before 7pm (and so odd they would have run out before that) Service was not that attentive although 6 tables did appear all at once.

Stopped in last night and had delicious oysters Rockefeller and a local haddock preparation that was spectacular. Service staff A-1 ! And ambiance comfortable and friendly. Conversation with other diners enjoyable.

Celebrating a birthday with family , all five of us got something different. My striped sea bass special was tasty but not very filling. The dish was mostly vegetable with a small portion of fish and a little rice. My wife loved her seafood medley special . She knows good food and said we could return another time. I just got the wrong item. The server, a local, was terrific. Attentive, efficient and friendly. The dining area is small . The hard surface ceiling makes for a noisy room and was difficult to converse in a normal talking voice.

A terrific recommendation in Chatham. Our reservation was for 5 - the only reservations available two weeks out. No problem. We had a nice table in the interesting restaurant. This is an old building with interesting interior. Service was great. Prompt, attentive, and very friendly. We started with the vegetable egg rolls which were great. A good starter for four people. Our party had the lobster (awesome!) And scallops, shrimp, and lobster with lobster ravioli, also awesome. The food was so fresh and well prepared. The Impudent Oyster is a great choice for a nice dining experience. A resort casual dress code is recommended.

Had dinner last night, a lovely evening; highly recommend it. We all had difficulty choosing from the menu items; they all looked good. Food was delicious; we had the bouillabaisse, seafood arrabbiata special, a chicken and shrimp scampi special, and the halibut Savannah special. The cervice in tomatillo and cilantro sauce app was excellent. Service was friendly and efficient, and the wine list was reasonably priced. If you are calling for a reservation, call sooner than later, at least in season. We called about 3 or 4 weeks before, they had limited time slots available.

I had heard good things and had high hopes but was fearful it would be a "tourist trap" with overpriced dishes and weak drinks. But I could not have been more wrong. One of the best meals ever in Cape Cod... but also ever in my whole life! We made a reservation (about 10 days in advance and there was already limited seating, so DEFINITELY call well in advance of your trip). The inside is quaint and cozy feeling but spacious without being overwhelming. I went with my mom, sister and aunt and we were all raving. I started with a fig vodka cocktail special which was made with champagne, too, and it was incredible. I would drink that every night if it wasn't frowned upon. I had the garlic shrimp appetizer (Gambas Al Ajillo) which would've been more than enough to share, but I ate it all myself gladly. And then I had the Swordfish Etouffee, which was served with a corn/crab salad on top with cheesy grits. I now know what my last meal on earth could and should be. My mom got the surf and turf, my sister got the piccata and my aunt got a Cajun fish that's escaping me... and we all could not have been more pleased. Service was great, too; good pace, attentive but not pushy. Already counting down the days until I can go back.

Been coming here for years. Amazing food, wonderful staff, great cocktails. Always a good choice!

One of the best restaurants EVER. I travel frequently and widely and few places compare. Everything on the menu is excellent, the service is attentive but not pushy. If I intend to be anywhere in the area I make a reservation well in advance. Don't miss this GEM

Read so many great reviews that I had very high expectations - considering you had to call to make a res a month in advance. I was extremely disappointed with the food - 3 of 4 dishes were drenched in sauce. We ordered Halibut and Swordfish and couldn't even taste the main dish - such strong, creamy sauce with tons of flavor. Sides - a potato patty - with tons of strong flavors completely taking away from the fish. Veggies soaked in sauce. Extremely heavy and un-appetizing. Ambiance was just okay, nothing fancy in my opinion, dark, bar in your face, tables on top of one another.

One of the best meals I've ever had on Cape Cod. Amazing service and ambiance. Highly recommend

The winner of the best lobster roll on both value and quality! $29 for what looks like a pound of lobster dwarfing the roll. The mussels were perfectly cooked and get tasty. Again, a very generous portion!

The Impudent Oyster is a classy (and more high-end) seafood / French / Italian restaurant in downtown Chatham. They have a cozy and old timey interior with many tables clustered inside an expanded one-room restaurant with historic wood paneling, an old wooden bar, and even a stained glass window. Our waitress was friendly and very helpful. For food, the fare is all seafood and also quite saucy and heavy. Our favorites were the Seafood Atlantis (succulent scallops and shrimp and lobster, served over lobster ravioli and topped with a lot of cream sauce) and the haddock special (fresh and hearty fish with lots of veggies, served over rice and lobster bisque). The sole and crab dish was tasty but a bit dry, and the seafood carbonara was also delicious but quite heavy with all the saucy pasta. We took home lots of leftovers. If you visit, come hungry! The food is tasty but not for the faint of heart! The price tags are also high (about $40 per entree), so come prepared to make the most of the experience.

The ambiance may be from another decade but it's okay - relax and peruse the extensive menu. The wait staff is professional and can answer your all questions and they will make recommendations. I have ordered mussels my last three times there. The pasta is good and very plentiful. Fish tacos also good. I think the Martinis are okay. Served in a rather small glass. I've never had dessert there . Parking is tough. Park in the public parking and walk .

Love this place. I've patronized it for 40+ years. Never a bad meal or service. Best lunch in Chatham

Food was delicious! Swordfish and sole and crab dishes were superb! Linda is a hoot, so much personality and extremely helpful with decision making! We shall return! Great date night, thank you!

On a side street near easy parking, the Oyster was a perfect place for lunch. I do wish there was outdoor seating, as the inside was more like a tavern with dark wood and dim lighting. This is probably the only reason people were choosing to flock to the Goose, despite their three star rating (and they had sangrias!). The food you order here will be much more than you planned on, which was echoed by a neighboring table. For comparison, the Goose served food in cheesy baskets, and we both had LARGE servings of beautifully plated food. We both had cod (I had the Naimh with the beets and parmesan crusted potato patty he had the tacos). The cod was certainly fresh, and the chef did a perfect job lightly searing the fish. There was a family here as well, and it looked like everyone had something good to eat for young children. Despite being inside as a minus, this place had a fabulous specials list, and acceptable wine and cocktail list that will keep it at five starts for us.

Great menu. The restaurant was very busy, but our server was attentive and never appeared hassled. Would return any time I'm in Chatham and recommend to anyone visiting the town.

Meh. Place was super busy which is a good indicator on a Sunday. We had reservations at 5:30, the only time available when we called on Friday. Seated right away. Service was prompt if perfunctory. Maybe it was the slightly cramped quarters but nothing to detract from dinner. Great lemon drop cocktail. Nasty whiskey sour - all sour, no bourbon. Special appetizer was great! Entree special of seafood was fine but lacked any real flavor depth. Bouillabaisse was hot but bland. Nice that it had oysters I guess but nothing had any flavor. Would not go back.

4 of us ate here on a Sunday around 1:00. Around back, outside, it was full and a 15-20 minute wait. We were seated immediately inside, plenty of tables. FOOD: Just OK. The turkey sandwich was moist, but could have used a little more flavor. It was nothing special. Fries were good, I got truffle ones. The Fish tacos were also just OK. We did see reviews and pictures of food in Yelp and Opentable that did not appear on the menu. Not sure if the menu is limited due to the times we are now in, or if they change it up, so if there is something specific you have in mind, might be worth checking out the current menu before committing to eat there. BAR: The wine glasses were filled jut above the average mark on the glass, so that gets points! A few selections of both red and white, as well as many beer and specialty cocktails. SERVICE: Very good. Our server was prompt and friendly. They are not able to provide separate checks for one table, but in the end, they were able to split the bill between two credit cards. ATMOSPHERE: Inside was nice. It has a bit of a church like feel, with stained glass and ceiling rafters. It was kinda neat. The table does have the barcode accessible menu, but also paper ones to share if you don't like using your phone. When the check arrived, with a pen, there is no mention of the items being sanitized. I always bring and use my own pen, but if they do sanitize people would probably appreciate knowing that. I've seen some places where they have a sign on the table or somewhere easily seen where they post their cleaning process.