Oyster House: Tale of the Tape


oyster_house_logoThe Oyster House is set to open today where the Sansom Street Oyster House stood for years. And it won’t just be the oysters that are familiar.

The Owners

  • Sam Mink – Father David owned and ran Sansom Street Oyster House from 1976 until he sold the business but not the building to Cary Neff who now runs Coquette.

The Space

  • 1516 Sansom Street
  • 118 seats
  • Interior designed by Brett Webber Architects (Puma store on Walnut St).
  • Open interior, gone is the wall separating the bar and dining area.
  • Both a cocktail bar and raw bar.
  • Exposed steel and whitewashed bricks.
  • “Reclaimed” and “salvaged” are buzz words for the interior.
    • Floors timbers from Academy of Music
    • Lighting fixtures  scored from old ships
    • Reclaimed yellow pine tabletops
    • Oyster plates that adorn the wall are Mink family heirlooms
    • The front bar’s marble comes from paving slabs at Independence Mall

The Menu

  • 8 types of oysters at the Raw Bar
    • From as far north as New Brunswick
    • South as Delaware Bay
    • Far west as British Columbia
  • Other menu highlights:
    • Oysters Rockefeller
    • Clams Casino
    • New England Clam Chowder
    • Snapper Turtle Soup
    • Smoked Trout Salad
    • Sauteed Mussels
    • Lobster Roll
    • Pan fried Soft Shell Crabs
    • Pan Roasted Halibut
    • Grilled Swordfish
    • Whole Grilled Black Bass
  • Prices top out at $26 for the halibut and lobster roll.

The Drinks

  • Innovative bartender Katie Loeb is at the helm.
  • Expect classic cocktails.
  • House gimlet made with homemade lemon or lime cordials.
  • Oyster Shooters – small oysters combined with house-infused spirits.
    • El Chulo – horseradish infused tequila
    • Chihuahua – hot pepper and cilantro infused vodka
  • Homemade ginger beer
  • Six local draughts including:
    • Philadelphia Brewing Co.
    • Sly Fox Brewing
    • Victory Brewing Co.

For more on the Oyster Bar check out the following links.

What’s inside that Oyster House? [The Insider]
Five Questions: Katie Loeb, Head Bartender at Oyster House [Restaurant Club]
Aw shucks: Oyster House opens this week [Meal Ticket]
Oyster House [Thrillist]
Oyster House [Official Site]