Oysters On The Half Shell

I love raw oysters, but lately they seem to run small and are fairly expensive. Well Monday, my wife took me out for oysters for my Birthday, with some friends. We went to Cobalts who happened to have a special during "happy hour".

The atmosphere was wonderful and casual jeans were the common attire.

The oysters were decen sized, ice cold, clean and very tasty. The special was $ .60. Or only $ 7.20 dozen.. Some of the cheapest around. Along with their firecracker shrimp and a few cold Yuenlings at only a buck each, I thought it was awesome and satisfied my oyster craving and yes, the beer was ice cold too.

Im not a big fan on hot stuff but the firecracker shrimp appetizer were plentiful and quite tasty withou being too hot. Just perfect with the cold beer!

if you like oysters, this would be a place to try.

It's only 5:30AM here in Gardendale this Wednesday morning and raw oysters and cold beer sounds good to me.

About the only things that I have found that doesn't go very well with cold beer is chocolate ice cream or a chocolate candy bar. They will go, but you have to have a lot of beer to wash the chocolate down. The oysters are awesome. Fshntime, will you adopt me next year at this time of the year??????

Nothing better than fresh Gulf Oysters, a bowl of seafood gumbo and a couple of cold brews.

I remember when raw oysters were $2.50/dzn!
Best ones I ever had: we picked them off a shallow reef one March, when the water was cold, clear and salty, shucked them with a leatherman tool and ate them while standing in the water. Amazing.

First of all HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY ,Todd ! As for the oysters that sounds great ! I will diffidently try Cobalts . So far the best I have found have been at Wintzells . I do eat them at Sea & Suds on occasion ,but have sent them back several times because they were to warm. I like mine ice cold and preferably served on a bed of ice and there is nothing like an frosted mug of cold beer to wash them down .

We used to go diving out of Apalachicola ad on the way back in we would harvest a bushel of oysters and after we got cleaned up feasted on beer and oysters. Good times

about 4 decades ago I located a reef near where the Fort Morgan ferry boat lands now. You could bend down in the water until the water came up to your nose and you could just reach the oysters on a low tide. You could coon up a bushel of big ones, and I mean big! Many were the 6 to 8 inch long ones that are about the size of a ladys foot. They were so big some people couldn't eat them unless they cut them up. This lasted several years untill I told too many others about it and other people started going. Soon they were all picked and all you can find now is some spats.

We tried Acme last summer and they were great. Little expensive but dang good.

Yes, I've heard we sells were good to. Cobalts were on a bed of ice and I me no expert but, I'd go back. Plus side also was I got a pearl. Small, but a pearl just the same.. Now the wife wants some jewelry made. Go figure...

Sounds like that platter of oysters keeps getting more expensive Todd (LOL)

Luv me some raw ones this time of year!
When bro & I were but wee tykes we'd bundle up and follow daddy as he walked along a bit off the shore from the bay house. Our job was to tote and float a Number 3 washtub that he put the oysters in (kindof like what TopPop described).
Later, bro & I would flank him as he shucked.
It'd be one for me- one for the pot, one for bro- and one for the pot ,one for daddy- and one for the pot to take to mom to cook later. We were 'stuffed' by the time all the oysters were shucked ;-)

Never found a pearl, but sure made some great memories!

Thanks for the info on Cobalts. Never tried it. I had image of expensive trendy place. Is happy hour every day and what hours? I could go for a Yuengling beer and some reasonably priced oysters or shrimp.. I am almost ashamed to bring up the fact that I used to eat oysters at Felix's in New Orleans for a nickel apiece accompanied by Jax or Falstaff beer fo 20 cents or Budweiser for a quarter. Now you know I am old.

Yep, know the feeling. Oysters keep going up. Just last year they were only $ .35 each at Shrimp Basket. Used to get them for $.25 each at the old State Park Pavilion. Even though they're getting pricey, can't stay away.

happy hour at Cobalts was 3-6pm daily. It is trendy and pricey but a good spot and affordable for happy hour!

Cobalt also has a killer Sunday Brunch Buffet, a bit pricey, but worth it once in a while.
I will be hittin' the Oyster Happy Hour soon!

oldfisherman, I remember Felix's in New Orleans well. I ate my first raw oysters there when I just was a little kid. Me, my little brother, and my Dad were in there and the guy shucking them got the biggest kick out of watching me and my brother eat them. Dad told us later he was slipping oysters in the empty shells when we weren't looking just to watch us. Good times!