Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

My family and I had the best time this evening. I had been here just a year ago and had such a great dinner and experience and wanted to share it with them this visit.
I had the most amazing entrée Lo Que Los Gatos Sueñan– «What Cats Dream Of». Nothing compares to this wonderful Saffron Milk Bouillabaisse with the freshest seafood ever — stew type of entrée. And let’s not forget the grilled French baguette slices that complimented the fun and experience of the dish.
And there oysters on a half shell were so fresh.
My son had the blacken swordfish and jambalaya and all he did was smile when we asked how it was.
The service was impeccable — And actually they exceeded my expectations from my last visit.
I have not experienced such a delicious experience in a long time. And we are from Chicago.

Fabulous food.
I read some reviews, walked by for a solo dinner and was shocked to see a score of people spilling out on the street. I’m glad I didn’t allow the youthful, boisterous, and hormonal crowd deter me because it turns out they were at the open air bar, looking go hook up, and the restaurant was sparsely populated. I was offered a table that was pretty close to the crowd but I felt the noise level would blur the menu. They offered a seat at the oyster bar and the adventure began.
I sat down in front of oysters and ice and grooved on the clean saline aroma. I looked at the pantry and saw cases of Steen’s cane syrup and a place card advertising a crawfish boil. Other than the funky crowd, it reminded me a lot of South Louisiana. The menu had three varieties of gumbo and etouffe. And a well-​curated champagne list. Cocktails included Sazeracs with Peychouds bitters.
I asked about the crawfish purveyor and met the assistant manager. Who told me they were Louisiana farmed.
Excellent martini along with two each of the three oysters identified as most salty. Served on the half shell Roth choice of sauce– they were perfect. Not too big and not too small and immaculately clean and grit-​free.
I decided on a second appetizer for dinner. Three perfectly seared scallops on braised fennel on ramp aioli with micro greens and a soupçon of salsa verde. Beautiful to the eyes and the palate. My South African unoaked Chard was tainted with the earthy essence of trichloroanisole. I know a lot of people like the Old World mushroomy nose but I sent it back. The French Sauv Blanc, which tasted more like New Zealand than France, was excellent.
I was pleasant full and getting ready to leave when my served brought a sample of a new dessert on the menu. It was a cocoanut cream-​pie trifle with salt and pepper macadamia nuts. Merely one of the best desserts I’ve ever had.
The coffee was up to par as well.
While sitting at the oyster bar, I saw the mignonette made made by one of the shuckers. He tasted (hygienically) and considered and adjusted the acidity, and sweetness over several minutes. It was impressive.
I’d gladly go back. Sure it was loud, but that was the noise of young, pretty people having fun.

Checked out this restaurant with my husband on Friday evening. We made a 6:30 reservations and when we showed up the outside bar area was packed. The finding room, however, was pretty quiet and we were seated promptly. We chose a 6:30 reservation so we could take advantage of happy hour oysters. Unfortunately, we learned after ordering a dozen oysters that happy hour does not extend to the dining room. Normally, I’d be a little annoyed but the oysters were so very good that I really didn’t care that they were $ 2.80 a piece. With about 20 varieties of oysters on the menu, there is something for everyone. Our personal favorite was the Chelsea Gem variety. After our initial 12, we ordered another 6. Seriously. Cocktails were great and perfectly poured. The house made rolls were addictive. Our only disappointment of the night was the pork cheek appetizer which had potential, but was way too salty and overly spiced.
My husband had the Maryland sea scallop summer salad that was divine. The scallops were fresh, delicate and beautifully caramelized. I ordered the Arctic char which was cooked to tender perfection. I just wish chef hadn’t put a chutney atop the crispy skin, making it soggy. The portion was huge and I couldn’t finish my plate. Every dish we ordered was beautifully presented and looked like a magazine cover.
This was not a cheap meal but it was absolute quality. Flavors were brilliant and everything was beautifully prepared. We can’t wait to come back again. Until then, I’ll dream of their oysters!

Pear Dive is one of my boyfriend and my favorite places to eat/​brunch. We love everything about this place — not only do they have deliciously fresh oysters, but they also have AMAZING Cocktails, superb food, and an awesome atmosphere! This is our #1 favorite place to take friends and family. The most recent time, when we took my friend for her birthday, she actually found a PEARL in her oyster! Yes, it was super small, but it WAS a pearl! Their costs are on the pricier side, but oysters are expensive anywhere you go. We would eat here every weekend if we could afford it!

Solid décor. Definitely a fun spot. Oysters were on point. It was expensive, most likely because of all the hype around it. The server was lame and unhappy. Key lime pie stole my heart. I’ll give it a shot again.

Best Friday lunch in the city hands down. I have been multiple times for lunch, happy hour and dinner. I love that it is open Friday for lunch and is not crowded which is very surprising. The C.E.B.L.T. is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had and the Green Chile Cheeseburger may be the best burger in the city. The service is what you would expect from a 5 star restaurant.
Favorite lunch place
1– Pearl Dive
2– Restaurant Eve ($ 15 Lunch is an incredible deal)
3– Kinkead’s (old school– best crab cakes)
Best Burger
1– Beacon Bar and grill (Ground fresh every day, ½ price on Sunday)
2– Pearl Dive
3– Saint-​Ex (great lunch option)

I will say that I have only been here for happy hour. But I have been back 4 times. There aren’t a ton of places that I like returning to in DC but this is one. I should really go back for their other meals.
The mussels for happy hour are amazing. The taste is spectacular and for $ 11 the amount is great. I’m not much on carbs but the sauce and bread are so good that I come back for more.
The oysters are always good here and they have all the standard fixins. The PoBoy was pretty decent though I can’t say that I desired to have it again. Well priced martinis or wine make it my favorite place to grab happy hour. When the weather is nice it fills up quick so I try and get there by 5ish. Friday’s are always packed so be warned.
I’ve been to Hanks for happy hour and can honestly say that it doesn’t compare at all to Pearl Dive.

I met a friend I have not seen for years in this place and it was really really great for drinks! the Pints were cold, the oysters looked fresh and wonderful (i wish i had ordered some before the kitchen closed) and the seating was generous for a busy place on the Thursday night.
The decorations were very nice and not too busy for a bar. It was well lit if you need that sort of thing and to boot there is a totally different bar up the stairs! I will have friends to this place when the time comes thats for sure!

Lucky for us we came during March Madness so there wasn’t a wait or much of a crowd. I noticed other reviews mentioned a long wait time.
We started with the tchoupitoulas, angels on horseback, braised pork cheeks, and Barbeque shrimp. ALL were flavorful and amazing. The seasonings were great and reminiscent of the N.O.
For entrees I had the Penn Amish Chicken dinner which was a win as well and BF had the Blackened Gulf Swordfish. Unfortunately his entrée was extremely salty and we had to send it back. But they did give us a free dessert bc of this so way to go Pearl Dive! The dessert we opted for was a bread pudding that I wasn’t fond of. Didn’t even take a pic of it!
All in all, good to great food depending on what you order and outstanding customer service!

We went here on our last night in DC and it was the perfect end to a great trip. The atmosphere is awesome and the oysters are outstanding! We decided to try the chefs special of Bolognese and it was one of the best meals of our lives! We got one to share for all 3 of us and in the end we wished we each had gotten our own! Wasn’t your typical Bolognese as it had scallions and some greens and big chunks of carrots and melt-​in-​your mouth veal! I’m going to try making mine like this next time. Will be back to the Pearl Dive as soon as my plane lands in DC.

I came here for the happy hour specials. You must sit in the bar area to enjoy the happy hour specials. Wine is $ 5 a glass, oysters are half off — dozen for about $ 18 and po boy special at $ 10. The oysters were very fresh, yet on the small side. The po boy sandwich was shrimp with fries. I couldn’t really taste the flavor of the shrimp, the fries were amazing.
You can choose to sit in the dining area, there is a separate menu. It is a neat little place if you want to enjoy a conversation with someone, not much noise.
Service was good. Decent food at good prices for happy hour.

We came here around 6:30pm on a warm Wednesday evening and, while the dinner service we had was relatively poor (slow and not very attentive), the food made up for it and left us wanting to go back!
The overall ambiance was a little noisy and crowded, since it’s a very popular happy hour spot (definitely want to go back for drinks at the front bar!) and the dining room tables are situated pretty close together. We made a reservation because we always see how packed the front bar but the dining room was pretty empty for dinnertime. Nevertheless, we had a nice experience overall.
We started with the Oysters Rockefeller per our server’s recommendation. Neither of us are big oyster fans but we felt compelled to give some variation a try and they were delicious! They were $ 12 for only three of them and left us wanting more. Following that, they brought out a delicious bread basket with warm rolls and corn bread. Each additional bread basket was $ 3, which we were disappointed by because we were left wanting more, once again (sensing a theme…).
After what was about a 15 – 20 minute wait, our entrees arrived — Shrimp Po Boy with fries and Redfish over Grits. Compared to the appetizer and bread, the entrees seemed lackluster although they were still very good compared to other seafood restaurants. The aioli on the Shrimp Po Boy added some much needed flavor and saved the sandwich from tasting overly bready. The French fries were really good. The Redfish was well-​prepared and juicy but the grits stole the show — very smooth and flavored to perfection. While both of the entrees were good, I will probably try something different on my next visit (or, more likely, order more drinks and appetizers!).
Overall, Pearl Dive certainly offers good quality drinks, oysters, and seafood and is a great place for to enjoy happy hour on a sunny Spring day. Would recommend and will be back!

Pearl Dive served me the most delicious Bahn mi I’ve ever had in my life. It was such a memorable experience because everything was so lovely but the Bahn mi was the shining star. It was pork belly and shrimp tempura. The picked vegetables were so perfect and the bread… oooohhhh the bread! It was soft AND crispy. It was everything!
Almost as nice as the food and drinks (the drinks are wondrous) is the atmosphere. PD is so clean and homey. Their open-​air door really gives the feeling of openness.
Whenever I see a Bolt Bus headed to DC, I want to hijack it «Speed”-style and drive it to PD for a Moscow mule and that perfect, delectable Bahn mi.

First stop for dinner in DC, and Pearl Dive was the perfect way to kick off my week!
Place was bustling on a weekend, but we managed to grab some seats by the bar. The space is cozy and warm, with a nautical theme (obviously). We ordered a half dozen of fresh oysters, mussels, and wood grilled oysters, along with a Pearl Cup to wash it all down.
Everything was fantastic. The oysters are incredibly fresh, and the grilled oysters came with chili oil and gremolata. The mussels were cooked in a delicious sauce, and the Pearl Cup is nice and refreshing. Service was very attentive despite how packed the place was, and prices are reasonable. Definitely a must-​try!

You can feel the energy when you walk in the door at the Logan Circle gem. On a weekend visit, my girlfriend and our friends stopped in for dinner. As no surprise to anyone, one of the main offerings is oysters and they were perfectly awesome. We tries a few types of raw but I enjoyed the cornmeal crusted oysters with andouille sausage and sweet potato hash. Smoky and savory with the brininess of the oysters cutting through at the end.
For my main course, I opted for the seafood gumbo. Not the best I’ve ever had, I give them credit for packing it full of oyster, shrimp, and crab. A tasty dish.
Pearl Dive gets busy quick so making reservations would be a good idea (especially for large groups_

I like it here, I think the food is pretty good, if a little on the pricey side. I had the Crawfish étouffée which for a one plate dish was pretty tasty, it looks big but I ate it in about 10 bites. Fortunately, the free bread was filling and also pretty good, I’m not usually a fan of cornbread unless it’s done right. I ended up getting the cranberry sorbet as well which was just on the enjoyable side of tart-​in a good way. I was forewarned by the server that it would be and it was exactly what I wanted.
I was there for their happy hour deal which was actually pretty good. Half off beers and two for 1 oysters. The oysters are a little on the pricey side anyway so if you can get there for HH it makes it worth it.

Great place to try oysters. Went here with a group, it was a bit cozy, but I would still recommend it for a small group. My friend and I shared Addie’s Mussels as recommended by our server and a Hot Oyster Plate which was just the right amount since we also got the Mariscos de Campechana and some raw oysters for appetizers. The Hot Oyster plate we got Tchoupitoulas was too salty and had too much sauce, I think it may have been better if it wasn’t overwhelmed by the sauce. Overall, I would say the Mariscos de Campechana is a must –try — it’s basically a ceviche with oysters, crab, and avocado served as a huge tower. This is also a good spot to try a variety of raw oysters from all over.

The food here is a bit pricey in my opinion but actually pretty good! I liked the wedge salad and the seafood gumbo that I ordered. Had a bite of the crawfish étouffée and it was very similar to the gumbo. I also tried the oyster dinner and the oysters were too fried for me buttt still yummy :) And finally I had a piece of the grass fed hanger steak and THAT was GOOD! I liked the pureed potatoes and the grilled vegetables on top. Very flavorful. Oh yea, I also had some raw oysters which tasted exactly like raw oysters.
Warning: The buttery bread and corn muffins they bring out as appetizers are simply amazing. Except, they charge $ 3 if you want extra. They bring a decent amount out so don’t get full off of that!

I really wanted to like Pearl Dive Oyster Palace — it’s gotten rave reviews in several different forums and by many different people. I also love oysters, so I figured it would be a winning experience. Sadly, I was disappointed by the overall experience. I visited with two friends for brunch last week, and though we enjoyed the atmosphere and the service was great, I felt the food was really lacking. I ordered the Oyster Po’ Boy sandwich, which was supposed to come with an aioli sauce. It ended up coming with no sauce or garnish. It was literally just some overly — fried oysters wrapped by bread that tasted too dry. The sandwich was really bland and I was not a happy camper, especially since everything is overpriced.
What I did enjoy was the mimosa I ordered (orange juice based). Very delicious and refreshing! My friends ordered a sangria and and bloody mary and they seemed to enjoy their drinks as well.
As I mentioned above, the service and atmosphere were nice and we didn’t need a reservation (in fact, they don’t take reservations for weekend brunch), but we had tried visiting another time a few months ago and the restaurant was completely CLOSED with no notice for a private event during prime DC brunch time… very annoying.
Bottom line: I think this place is overhyped. The food was bland and boring. Service and atmosphere are nice and the brunch drinks are good too, but I would skip this place for your meal. I’d recommend Hank’s Oyster Bar instead.

My sister has been dying to check this place out for the longest. Luckily, it was located right next to our hotel downtown (The Westin), so we were able to check it out yesterday for brunch.
Super cute décor! Loved the bricks detailed on the wall and the super cute light fixtures above the bar. The place isn’t huge, but when we arrived around noon, there were plenty of tables available.
Service was pretty good — nothing spectacular, but still pleasant.
My sister and I started off with a dozen mixed oysters to share. ($ 2.50/oyster)
All of them tasted delicious! Perfectly shucked — no lingering shells, no sand, no grime. Super fresh and you could really taste the difference between each oyster depending on the region it came from.
Now on to the dishes…
Pontchartrain — An eggs benedict with ham (cubed), blue crab, crawfish, and a cayenne hollandaise sauce. This is what I ordered and it was amazinggg. Seriously one of the best eggs benedict I’ve ever had. The eggs were poached perfectly where the yolk came oozing out all over the plate as soon as your fork punctured the egg. There were bits of corn in the sauce which added a nice texture and sweet taste. The ham, crawfish, and crab went well together. Although I did find myself having a hard time distinguishing the crab flavor. It got a bit hidden under it all. The potatoes that came with the dish were delicious. You could smell the difference herbs and spices as soon as the plate hit the table.
The salad dressing for the mixed greens were salty, so I actually didn’t eat any of it.
Huevos Rancheros — My sister’s meal. The pork belly that comes with this was amazingly tender and tasty! The outside of it had a nice crisp, but the meat itself fell apart and basically melted in your mouth. The dish came with tostada chips, so you can make your own little tostada concoctions.
We were not disappointed at all with our experience at Pearl Dive. Can’t wait to come back for dinner!