Muddy Waters Oyster Bar

Muddy Waters doesn’t play around. That shrimp po’boy? Loaded. Shrimp falling out, still stacked. No skimping—just straight Southern generosity. The Hurricane during happy hour? $6. I added a Gosling’s float on top—smooth, bold, just like it should be. Seafood gumbo was rich and full of flavor, light on rice (so if you’re a rice-heavy type, ask for more). Oysters? Fresh. Service? On point. They serve food like they mean it. If you’re in the mood for real Creole with no shortcuts, this is where you go.

Thank you for the incredible service and amazing food tonight! We ended up here to celebrate my daughter’s 21st birthday after a disappointing experience earlier at Pittsburgh’s new trendy spot, Palm Palm. The quality of food and service there just didn’t meet expectations — so we came back to our favorite place, and it was the best decision. Our waitress, Sasha, was absolutely wonderful, and even the owner came by several times to check on us. She was so kind and down-to-earth. It truly turned into a beautiful and memorable evening for my daughter. Thank you for making her special day so perfect!

Well, I’m the adventurous and spontaneous one in our marriage and I wanted to find a new restaurant for our special evening. I decided to look online for the best seafood In Pittsburgh. We have been to several restaurants over the years, especially the more expensive restaurants for good seafood. However, today I wanted to try something new. The high reviews for Muddy Waters caused me to pause and consider. Now, we normally don’t frequent bars, but for the seafood we thought to give it a try and make an exception. My goodness gracious!!! What a find!!! Now, my husband is a seafood guy. He is accustom to all kinds of seafood. He went right for the gator for his appetizer and I ordered the char-grilled oysters. He was pleased with his dish and my oysters were scrumptious! For our main dish, he had jambalaya and I had the blackened catfish. I made a comment after eating, “Well, that was good.” He corrected me and said, “No, it was OUTSTANDING!” To get that kind of compliment from this man is nothing short of a miracle. He is VERY fastidious!!! Thank you for an outstanding meal.

We stopped here for lunch on a snowy Sunday in January. We were greeted quickly but the bartender and sat at the bar we had one cocktail (screwdriver) and one mocktail (blueberry smash) - both were good. We ordered a shrimp brunch po’ boy and a catfish po’ boy - both with fruit as the side. The bartender wasn’t sure what the fruit would be so I was happy to see it was mixed berries instead of bananas or apples. The po’boys are huge. We really could have shared one between the two of us. I don’t believe in reheating fish but if you do, you probably can take leftovers home if you can’t eat the whole sandwich. The atmosphere was easygoing. I was expecting there to be more customers but it was snowy so that probably kept some people home for lunch: I saw in a couple other reviews that they have live music - that might be nice. The place wasn’t too big though, I don’t know where they would put a band. Overall good experience.

2025 update Food (Seafood Gumbo, Gator bites) used to be better. 2022 update Reduce one star as recent dining experience wasn't as good as it used to be. 2018 review I used to live around this area, but not until recently did my friend and I start to come to this place (strike)almost(through) every week, and it now turns out to be one of my favorite places in Pittsburgh. Sea food is fresh and succulent, and oyster menu updates on daily basis. Staff are very friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere is awesome. Happy hour with selected food and drinks starts at 4:30pm till 6:30pm on weekdays, and live jazz music is given by two gentleman Ronnie Jones and Dr. Nelson Harrison every Tuesday and Friday night. The place is probably kinda hard to find considering its narrow entrance, but just don't miss it out.

If you are even the least bit familiar with Louisiana Cajun and creole cuisine, you’re going to want to skip this place. Let me preface this by saying, our bartender was fantastic. Friendly, down to earth, attentive, and makes delicious drinks! Even grows her own horseradish for the horseradish infused vodka she makes the bloody Marys with. The cocktail menu was on point and did not disappoint. Unfortunately the food was absolutely abhorrent. We ordered fried green tomatoes, lobster eggs Benedict, and the seafood gumbo. The fried green tomatoes were the best out of the 3 dishes we ordered and they were pretty flavorless. We doused them in hot sauce until we couldn’t feel feelings anymore. My lobster eggs Benedict was a little fishy, lacked flavor, and the hollandaise sauce was very thin and liquidy. I hate to say it, but it was probably one of the worst eggs Benedict dishes I’ve ever had. (That’s usually my go-to brunch choice on any given menu.) My friend ordered the seafood gumbo and was immediately turned off by the smell. It looked and tasted like muddy water. (How apropos?) The shrimp (which weren’t many) were rubbery and nearly inedible. She barely made a dent in her food so we had it boxed up for the mere purpose of getting another’s opinion on it who is familiar with gumbo and is quite traversed in southern Cajun style cooking. He too, confirmed how awful it was and could barely stomach even just a few bites. In the trash it went. The atmosphere was lackluster. It’s seemingly a trendy place, cool lighting, a wall of booze…pretty. And then sports on the tv. It’s not a sports bar though so…? It wasn’t very pleasurable having a tv with basketball directly in front of your face while eating a $31 meal and drinking a $14 cocktail. But c’est la vie; that little gripe I can get over. We also overheard another couple complain about the raw oysters but I can’t speak on that since we didn’t have the oysters. We had high hopes and really wanted to like this place (especially because of the price tag) but unfortunately we won’t be back. It’s not even worth giving it another shot. TLDR: great service from the bartender, delicious drinks, horrible food.

At very beginning. , the server is little cold , it gets better after I ordered . Bartender is very kind and sweet , ordered an off menu drink , had to see its really good , tasty , the oyster is fresh , lots of different choices. 60/ person , recommend

Stopped by for Sunday brunch and were seated right away. This place is small so for big parties a reservation would be a good idea. Prices were on the higher end however everything tasted delicious except the burnt ends. Which they were happy to take back. Highly recommend oysters, grits, fried green tomatoes.

MUST TRY: Catfish Etoufee, Fried green tomatos, BEIGNETS Ive been here many times and have had amazing experiences getting drinks and dining in. Ive only sat at the bar when i go, mainly due to their bartenders who are very friendly, outgoing and knowledgable on what they offer. They make great cocktails, have a wide spirits selection, and offer many other beverages(no draft beer though only cans). Their food is also incredible and sticks to the louisiana theme. Great sandwiches, small plates, gumbo, jambalaya, and catfish etoufee. Their desserts are absolutely incredible and recommend saving room for the beignets or banana pudding. Overall a great place that i hope thrives in a competitive area! Love seeing different/niche restaurant concepts like this succeed! *Their restaurant is pretty narrow so it may cause issues for those with mobility impairments, but i am sure the staff will help assist you to the best of their abilities.

Everybody I know seems to love Muddy Waters, so I was excited to finally check it out! I stopped by with a friend for some oysters + martini's, and we had a great time posting up at the bar, sipping our perfectly crafted cocktails and trying the variety of oysters in the chef's sampler. They had a pretty good mix, and with Merchant Oyster now being closed, this will be my go-to oyster spot going forward! The bartenders were very personable as well and did a good job of handling a very busy bar/restaurant!

Wonderful fresh raw oysters. Our waiter/ bartender was very knowledgeable and had great suggestions. It's a nice small restaurant. Worth the U er ride to get there! Would definitely return. Thanks for a great time! The salt water Taffy oysters were great!!

We wanted oysters and since we are driving cross country we were hoping we could find something close to the hotel. This was super close...like 2 blocks! We ordered the large seafood tower (the smallest one) which we felt was an amazing price for a great variety of seafood. Delicious shrimp cocktail with an Old Bay type of sprinkle, oysters (6 East coast, 6 west coast), lobster, crab fingers, and some delicious sauces/dips. We also ordered the grilled oysters (we were having a craving! LOL) and Fried Green Tomatoes, which were delicious and perfectly hot & crunchy. We also got the wedge salad, that was nice and cold and fresh. Our server was fun and friendly, and the decor is great. A really fun casual, yet nice, spot. They also make good martinis! A great and lucky find.

This spot for fresh oysters, house made cocktails, and small bite offerings is delicious. The oysters tasted like I was at the sea. We got the dozen with 1/2 East coast and 1/2 West coast. While every one of them had great flavor, the West coast selection blew it out of the water. I enjoy the briney taste. My friend liked the East coast better because he likes sweet things. We also tried out some very fun drinks. Definetely recommend the Weat coast shot. It comes pickled with an oyster on top and was the highlight of the evening! There is also a half-outside bar area that we sat at that was great for a nice weather night. Bartender was friendly and recommended the corn bread.

The service was top notch, food was phenomenal! We sort of happened in this amazing restaurant by chance and definitely don't regret it! Highly recommend!

I returned with some friends recently and enjoyed the hush puppies, Mac and cheese, corn bread, and Barstool oysters to share, as well as Marigny Monsieur cocktail to sip on. The bartender was knowledgeable and made appreciated recommendations. All around enjoyable experience!

The grilled oysters where my favorite, the food is good, the service is friendly and the ambiance is like Louisiana. They even divide the plate to share.

Muddy Waters remains one of my favorite happy hours in the city! They offer several varieties of oysters & deals on bottles of bubbly as the highlights of the happy hour menu. If you want something a little more substantial, there are some other snack options as well (the boudin balls & pork rinds are two good choices). Service is quick & friendly with multiple hands touching your table, and our waitress was very well informed on the flavor profiles of the various oysters. They don't take reservations, so be sure to come early because the happy hour is popular & all the tables were full by the time we left! The walk-in nature keeps the place feeling like a neighborhood gem, however, so I don't mind it. If you're looking for a new happy hour spot, definitely stop by! Food: A Drinks: A- Service: A- Ambiance: A-

Although on a Sunday brunch service was a bit slow , the grits will make you sing like louis Armstrong! Great shuck nights and excellent Louisiana fare. Would recommend

We met another couple here for brunch on a Sunday morning. It was not crowded but should have been, given the number of tempting items on the menu. This time we skipped the cocktails and oysters and insead shared an order of beignets. For entrees, the country breakfast is large and filling (and a little salty, just the way he likes it). She had the lobster Benedict, which with the ham was too salty for her taste. My husband had the bananas Foster French toast, which is very large and sweet. I opted for the burnt ends and the watermelon-tomato salad, most of which I ended up taking home for breakfast the next day. Servers were all nice, kept the coffee cups full, and let us stay to finish our conversation since they didn't need the booth. Street parking in the area; didn't use the restrooms this time. I plan to come back for the gumbo and the grits.

We've been back to this place since and it's greatly improved since covid so I had to update my review! The food is very good but the oysters are the best in the burgh! The cocktails were fabulous, my shrimp and grits entree was tasty, and our server was very attentive! Great place!

Stopped by for happy hour and had an okay experience. It was Friday so the place was pretty busy and service was slow. We sat outside at the bar - I ordered a whiskey cocktail that was on the happy hour menu which was fine but heavily tasted like ginger beer. I would've gotten something else but the bartender didn't come back for a while. We got 6 oysters which tasted delicious. Would recommend since I didn't expect Pittsburgh to have an oyster bar but not on a weekend

Great service and good food. The chargrilled oysters were almost identical to the ones I had in New Orleans. The banana foster bread pudding is out of this world!

Amazing service, cocktails to die for, Earnest is the bombdiggety, banana bread pudding is out of this world!! Highly recommend!!

I went to Muddy with my sister for the first time. The restaurant was bigger than I expected it to be; I think because it's super thin looking on the outside. We made reservations beforehand and were sat right away. The vibes are very casual and their menu is pretty big! For drinks, we ordered Santeria Seance and a dirty martini. The martini was good! I would order it again. For apps, we got the Maryland Crab Dip and Sweet Potato Cornbread. The cornbread was out of this world. It was so sweet I loved it! The crab dip was definitely my favorite dish. It was seasoned perfectly and had the right ratio of crab to cheese. The bread was great with it too. My sister ordered East coast Oysters and Chargrilled Oysters for her main course. I did not try any of the oysters, but my sister said they were delicious and she orders oysters a lot. So definitely a trusted source! I got the Classic Po Boy for my meal. I thought it was just okay, personally it wasn't my favorite. All the food took forever to come out, but just our food. Like everyone else around us was being sat after we ordered and got their food before us? I think they maybe lost our meal tickets, but they never acknowledged the long wait which I thought was odd. We were waiting for our main dishes for at least 45 mins after our apps came out. The service was just okay as well. I will say they were very busy and seemed to only have like 2-3 servers so they were probably overwhelmed.

This is such a great place for happy hour! I got the hurricane, the only downside is it was mostly filled with ice. The Coronitas were a great deal to me. The raw and baked oysters were both amazing. The different sauces they came with were nice. The seafood gumbo was super flavorful and the staff split it into two bowls for us to share. The bread was good too but I think I would get the corn bread instead. The place is pretty small but when when we went during the week it wasn't crowded at all.

We got the chargrilled oysters. I haven't had cooked oysters in a while. This easy cooking style was nice. The melted butter and garlic matched well with the size of the oysters we had. We used the toasted bread to enjoy every bit of the butter sauce, as it was so delicious you wouldn't want to waste a drop.

We finally got a chance to stop here. We love the New Orleans vibe. Place is small, long and very narrow. We were seated immediately. I recommend reservations if they are available. Parking was on the street around the corner. Happy hour was until 6:30pm. Decent experience as expected. We tried several happy hour appetizers and a few drinks for starters. Crab dip was good. Husband enjoyed oysters. Was not a fan of the strong gamey meat taste in the boudin balls. Biscuits were good. Corn Bread was sweet, thick with a texture of homemade cake. Gumbo was tasty with the rich taste of beef broth. Lobster Roll was just ok. My husband wanted the taste of more lobster than crawfish filling. I had a few pieces of grilled shrimp. The Hurricane was tart and not overly sweet. Ginger beer was good. Thanks to our amazing waiter Adrian for taking great care of us this evening.

Stopped at Muddy Waters for a night cap on a Friday night, such a fun vibe! There was live entertainment (which I understand they have every Friday night), and it wasn't crowded which was nice. I just had a liquid dessert (the Bayou Botanico cocktail) and I kept describing it as sophisticated "margarita" (sort of). I could have had 100 of them, they were that good! Service was super fast and the bartender was really good. My husband got the oysters and loved them, too. Highly recommend!

I had my first oysters here! They are worth the hype, my friends devoured the entire plate! the seafood gumbo was savory and filling & did contain a decent variety of seafood. The spoons for the oysters were the cutest & tiniest spoons i've ever seen! The service was fast and friendly, and checked up on us very often. The ambiance was calming and a nice change to many restaurants I have been to.

This place was awesome!!! We went to Muddy Waters for happy hour and had an amazing time. 4 drinks, 12 oysters, and 2 apps, plus tip all for $80! The Grindstone oysters are grittier than we like, but the West Coast oysters were phenomenal. The Pickering Pass were our favorite. We also enjoyed the Boudin Balls and the mini biscuits! Great place for a date night

Okay, this was our second time visiting... and I will say that we enjoyed our first experience much more. To start, we shared the gator bites and fried green tomatoes (forgot to snag a pic so sorry). Both were bland, and the pimento cheese with the fried green tomatoes was far from traditional. I'm from the south, and whatever they used as the base was criminal in my humble opinion. It tasted like greek yogurt. For our mains, we had the burger and the catfish etouffee. They were muccchhh better than the appetizers, but still slightly underwhelming for what is advertised on the menu. Service was fine, a little slow, but we weren't in any rush and the restaurant itself has a fun theme to tie it all together. This place has great potential, I just feel like something is missing in every dish. Maybe it was an off night, but I hope this place can redeem itself in our books the next time we give it a go.

We were so pleased with our experience at Muddy Waters. This place has been on our list to try for a while now, and we finally made it happen. I can safely say that we won't wait so long to go back as it was amazing. We started with a couple of gin cocktails that set the tone for a great evening. They were perfectly balanced and hit the spot. Next up, we opted for a mix of east and west coast oysters and not one was left when it was all said and done. Hubs got the jambalaya and boy was it spicy! But he loved it!! I ordered the lobster roll which had a generous amount of meat on the bun. My only complaint was there was an excessive amount of butter on the sandwich which I could have done with less. The evening finished off with pillowy beignets covered in powdered sugar. Our server was pleasant and attentive (even giving us great recommendations throughtout).

Food is great and love the variety on their menu. Prices are a little confusing with how many kinds of oysters they have but definitely will be back to try more stuff.

Very nice meal, but the food was ok. Oysters were the smallest I've ever had. I'd like to recommend, but I can't. They were delicious. Zucchini po boy was very bready. Side dishes including the hush puppies were excellent. Some food came out quick, others took forever to come out. Not sure I'd go back soon.

We had a lovely dinner here. Service was great. Food came out hot and with nice flavor. Ambiance is perfect for a cute date night. Not super fancy but could dress up a little bit. Husband loved the gator and sausage gumbo!

Muddy Waters is a seafood lover's haven that I can confidently rate as a 5/5 experience.With an ambiance that effortlessly combines comfort and charm, this restaurant creates an inviting atmosphere perfect for any occasion. The staff at Muddy Waters are exceptional, friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Their warmth adds an extra layer of enjoyment to every visit, making patrons feel like valued guests. Let's talk about their happy hour--it's unmatched. Muddy Waters definitely has one of the city's best happy hours. The tantalizing array of seafood options combined with fantastic deals on drinks make it a must-visit spot for anyone seeking a delightful evening out. As someone who frequents Muddy Waters, I am continually impressed by their dedication to consistently providing high-quality seafood, impeccable service, and an ambiance that keeps drawing me back. Whether it's a casual outing or a special celebration, Muddy Waters never fails to exceed expectations. For seafood enthusiasts in Pittsburgh, Muddy Waters is an absolute must-visit. Their delectable seafood dishes, combined with an inviting atmosphere and a team of friendly staff, make for an unforgettable dining experience.

Nothing a fresh beignet cannot solve. Muddy Waters transports you right to the French Quarter with their beignets and honestly, they had me drooooling. I've had beignets from all over, including NOLA, and I'll say- this is the place to get your fix. #GOUDapproved

Great food / great music/ waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and oysters. We will definitely go back again. We got the tower with lobster tails and such.

So glad to be back here again after awhile! Love their selection of East & West Coast Oysters. Went family style with my friends and ordered a bunch of other things. Staff are so friendly and service was pretty quick. If you have a bigger group, definitely call in for reservations just to be sure.

Came here for my birthday dinner and loved it!! I originally wanted to go somewhere else for oysters but they were closed; I was apprehensive to try somewhere new but I am so glad we ended up here. Our host/server was very personable and helpful, and the food was served quickly. We ordered both the west coast and easter coast oysters to share, which were organized by type. They were all gone within 5 minutes lol. I ordered the chargrilled oysters and creole shrimp & grits for myself. The chargrilled oysters were delicious - buttery & a lil spicy. The shrimp & grits were AMAZING... They were better than the shrimp & grits I had down south! I let my sisters try them and had to tell them to stop eating my food bc they liked it so much & wouldn't stop lol. 10/10 - will definitely be coming back!

The service is absolutely outstanding from the bar to the kitchen! You will feel welcomed and like family. It's a whole vibe! Live jazz on the weekends takes it to another level! Legit the best oysters you will ever taste around here! If you haven't tried Muddy Waters you're missing out!

Their oyster selection was not as I expected. They have both East and West Coast selections. I ordered a dozen Blackberry oysters, and they did not disappoint. My partner ordered Yuengling beer, which I think is local here in Pittsburgh. I also had the blackened catfish with crawfish sauce, and it tasted good, not very salty. And the crawfish sauce had bits and pieces of crawfish in them. Will definitely come back. Sorry, I was not able to take a pic of my order, i was very hungry! I highly recommend this bar and restaurant.

It was my first visit to Muddy Waters and have to say it wasn't the best. I went with some friends and we all decided to order from the raw bar and split some appetizers. They ordered oysters and seemed to really enjoy them, on the flip side I got the crab off the raw bar. If I'm being honest it was expensive for the crab with very little flavor, meat, or value in them. Over all it wasn't my favorite, but I'm willing to give it another shot.

Such a vibe! The oysters were fresh. The hush puff bees were perfect. My snapper was delicious however the broccolini was a little too tough and the grit cake was so-so. The cocktails were nice and the oyster shooter was amazing I had three of those. Overall it was a great time with great customer service and I will be returning!

Closest thing to NOLA cuisine in Pittsburgh! Food was amazing, especially the Louisiana Lobster Roll and Chargrilled Oysters! Espresso Martini was on the drink specials and it was one of the best I've ever had! Service was great, especially for being seemingly understaffed ; our server was very attentive! The space inside is smaller than expected, but very cozy and cute, reminds me of being back in a New Orleans French Quarter restaurant! Will definitely be coming back!

Great food, decent serving sizes, and okay prices. I want to come back to try the oysters, but I just got a few basic items from this place for a dinner. I tried the hush puppies with remoulade and the beignets with chocolate sauce. Both were very good. The hushpuppies were some of the best I've had in a long time. They were better than those I had at a specialty seafood spot on the beach a few years ago. They had little chunks of corn still in there, great texture (crispy outside and soft inside, not too crumbly), and the perfect amount of savory seasoning. The remoulade was also quite good. Thick, creamy, and a tad spicy. I could definitely there is horseradish in there. I thought they gave more than enough for the couple of hushpuppies. The beignets were awesome as well. Great portion size, fluffy on the inside, and a nice dusting of powdered sugar on the top. Delicious. And the chocolate sauce was thick and not too sweet either. The good kind of chocolate sauce. All in all, a nice spot for seafood and sides. Very tasty hushpuppies and beignets as well as side sauces. Somewhat pricey though.

I can't believe I haven't written a review for Muddy Waters yet! We came here once and have been back three more times. Love the drinks, service, and food! We've been here on a weekday and weekend and recommend reservations for both. When in doubt, just book a reservation. On Friday evenings, they have live jazz music. My favorite dish is the shrimp and grits. I get it each time and it remains consistently delicious!

Great food, great service. The oysters were as fresh as you could want and the other menu items we ordered were delicious. The cocktails are poured generously.

I absolutely LOVE this place. My husband and I have been customers for years and have NEVER been disappointed. It is genuine New Orleans from start to finish. I love the seafood gumbo, hushpuppies, and beignets. The oysters on the half shell are varied and well presented. Cocktails are inventive and delicious. We like eating at the bar and talking with the staff. It is a slice of NOLA in the Burgh.

After seeing all the stars this place had couldn't wait to eat but that's what we did. We waited over an hour to get the fried snapper and the broccolini? After waiting over an hour in the loudest atmosphere ever you would think maybe it would taste good? Wrong. Go somewhere else. Lobster tail was "not bad" as it would have been better served with butter. This was a wasted evening.

Service and food is always amazing. The crab dip and gator bites is always a win!! Keep it up guys

Amazing vibes and delicious Louisiana style southern seafood. Everything we had was amazing from cocktails to catfish po boy and even the salad!

Pretty good. Ambiance is nice. Service was ok. Food was ok as well. Hostess was not very friendly.

We loved Muddy Waters! I had previously been here for cocktails, but my friends and I tried it out for dinner during restaurant week recently. The food was incredible (and large portions!) and the oysters were delicious!

When it's great, it's great!! Food is great sometimes but experience is inconsistent. The quality and flavor varies based on who is in the kitchen that day.

While I'm not an oyster person, I was very excited to try Muddy Waters, after hearing many good things about it. Unfortunately, my expectations exceeded reality. We were there for happy hour, and everyone at my table ordered drinks, and I asked if I could have a mock tail. The server told me that the bartenders get annoyed to make mock tails, so no. I thought this was kind of rude, but okay, just stuck to water. Additionally, one person at our table received the wrong drink not once but twice. Our server also didn't check in on us nor refill waters that were empty. The food came pretty quickly and was served piping hot and fresh. While my husband loved the oysters during dinner, he ended up pretty sick about an hour later from them. I had the burger which sounded so good with bacon and a fried green tomato on it. The fried green tomato was excellent, but the burger was so salty and overly seasoned. The fries were good, though, with a nice Cajun seasoning on them. Overall, we weren't impressed and will not be rushing back.

The food was great and the atmosphere is too! The service was also great. I'll definitely be going back! They have the best fried green tomatoes I've ever had!