Ironside Fish & Oyster

Ironside Fish & Oyster offers at least a half-dozen varieties daily, leaning towards West Coast faves from Baja and the Pacific Northwest, like kumiais and Pickering Passages, plus a Rockefeller-style option. Oysters on the half-shell run $3.55 each, half-dozen for $21 and $38 a dozen, but they’re just a buck each for Ironside selects at happy hour, weekdays from 2-5 pm. Considering it’s, that’s a real bargain.
How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available.

This maritime-themed restaurant pays tribute to the history of Little Italy—where Italian and Portuguese immigrants once settled to earn a living from the city’s thriving tuna industry. Naturally, seafood takes center stage, so you’ll find a menu of lobster rolls, crab cakes, and clam chowder, in addition to locally caught fish served with either green garlic beurre blanc or almond romesco sauce. Get a seafood tower for a little taste of everything from the raw bar—which includes a robust oyster program that’s as well-curated as the restaurant’s wine selection. The seafaring theme is carried into the interior design too; located in a former warehouse, Ironside’s been completely refurbished with vintage nautical decor, brass portholes lining the walls, and anchor-shaped purse hooks. With the garage doors flung open to welcome a breeze and a plate of briny Washington Sequim Bay Jades on your table, you’ll feel as if you’re dining on a 19th-century ocean liner—which is a very good thing.
How to book: Make reservations online.