Pearl Oyster Bar

(212) 691-8211

18 Cornelia St (nr. Bleecker St.)
New York, NY 10014 40.7314 -74.0014

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Neighborhoods: Greenwich Village, Downtown

PEARLOYSTERBAR.COM

Hours:

Mon-Fri 12pm-2:30pm

6pm-11pm

Sat 6pm-11pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

People Watching, Local Favorite, Lunch Spot, Dine At The Bar

Cuisine:

Seafood

What People Are Saying About Pearl Oyster Bar

Featured Review

Allison Austin

Contributor

The Scene – Thanks to an expansion into the storefront next door, the restaurant is twice the size it was when it opened in 1997. No matter--it's still always packed with happy neighbors, casual daters and friends catching up. Proof of the general conviviality of the place: Seats at the bar are most coveted. – – The Food – Seafood lovers will have a hard time ordering the wrong thing--it's all done just right. Start with fried oysters, served atop a spot of homemade tartar sauce inside the oyster shells. Offered as an entree, perfectly caramelized seared scallops make…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
The restaurant doesn't take reservations and lines are often long, so patience is a virtue you'll need during the busiest times.
What to Drink:
A short list of very affordable wines is available, as well as three draft beers: Guinness and a rotating pilsner and amber.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. Almost fast-food-esque in its ambience and service (we sat at a counter which was fun!)
  2. Having heard great things about this restaurant - "charming", "cozy","friendly", "fabulous seafood", imagine our surprise when we were unceremoniously asked to "hurry up, because people are waiting for a table"!
  3. Although the ambience, the service and the decor was great, the food actually was a bit of a letdown.
  4. Mary's Fish Camp has a terrific lobster roll as well, and a really cool atmosphere.
dessert
92.8600025177002% positive
  1. Dessert is good too, but my fiance and I've managed to eat dessert here only once or twice in all the years - we're usually too full for dessert after the meal.
  2. We had a perfect smokey grilled lobster, sweetest scallops I've ever had over these buttery little vegetables, sinful mussels with cream sauce and a Caesar.
  3. The mussels in the cream broth were great for an appetizer.
  4. The sauce in the mussels (cream, scallions, who knows what else) is fantastic and makes you want to order basket after basket of bread to sop it up.
  5. We sat at the bar and were constantly bumped by the waitress flying past; had fabulously fresh raw oysters with pieces of shell in every bite; lobsters rolls were tasty but the large pieces of meat were tough; the apple crumble was excellent but the ice c
  6. Fab, fresh Seafood and amazing desserts
  7. The Callebaut chocolate mousse for dessert was good, but should have been sweeter, in my opinion, as it seemed a bit heavy.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. Definitely start out with their raw bar, the oysters on the half shell are fresh and standout.
  2. Service was good we sat at the bar stools so the waiter was facing us the whole time.
  3. we (2) sit at the bar (as usual) this evening, order a bottle of wine, we only had 2 apps and shared a lobster roll, whatever.
  4. like my wine and there wasn't much to choose from.
  5. We sat at the bar and were constantly bumped by the waitress flying past; had fabulously fresh raw oysters with pieces of shell in every bite; lobsters rolls were tasty but the large pieces of meat were tough; the apple crumble was excellent but the ice c
  6. The fries are quite good, the beer and wine are nice, and I understand the seafood is quite delicious.
food quality
91.02999687194824% positive
  1. Food came out fast - we started with an unbelievably delicious New England clam chowder (served with bacon!)
  2. Mussels are also amazing--ask for bread, though.
  3. eat any meat except for fish) which is why seafood places are always a good dinner option when out with friends.
  4. keep up the good food, just allow us time to eat it.
  5. You're doing no one a favor by serving excellent food with a bad attitude.
  6. We sat at the bar and were constantly bumped by the waitress flying past; had fabulously fresh raw oysters with pieces of shell in every bite; lobsters rolls were tasty but the large pieces of meat were tough; the apple crumble was excellent but the ice c
  7. Pearl is a can't miss for a delicious, casual seafood meal.
  8. Pearl is far and away our favorite restaurant in New York and still a bargain--where else can you get sublime clam chowder under $10?
  9. Possibly the perfect food.
  10. They have the best steamers in town, fresh oysters, and delicious lobster rolls.
  11. Almost fast-food-esque in its ambience and service (we sat at a counter which was fun!)
  12. Great seafood dishes
  13. The lobster roll was to die for full of lobster chunks and a delicious sauce.
  14. The fries are quite good, the beer and wine are nice, and I understand the seafood is quite delicious.
  15. friend was able to tear herself away from the lobster roll for one night (and if you can do this, you are rewarded by the other dishes) to have the most delicious, juicy, sweet scallops I have ever tasted.
  16. Love their food, always the freshest.
  17. Price is also decent for fresh seafood.
  18. ok, the clam chowder is yummy.
  19. The prices are actually pretty low for a great meal in the city and I've made friends while waiting in line at 5pm for this place to open at 6!
  20. We had a perfect smokey grilled lobster, sweetest scallops I've ever had over these buttery little vegetables, sinful mussels with cream sauce and a Caesar.
  21. One bowl of their delicious clam chowder with bacon chunks is not enough for the average person's taste buds, as you'll definitly be craving for more.
  22. The other night we had a whole grilled bass that was simply incredible and pan fried skate, sweet, juicy and delicious.
  23. this is the best meal I can remember having.
  24. Fab, fresh Seafood and amazing desserts
  25. Dessert is good too, but my fiance and I've managed to eat dessert here only once or twice in all the years - we're usually too full for dessert after the meal.
  26. We heard the food was good & decided to stay anyway hoping to be seated earlier.
  27. no frills, a pepperidge farm butter toasted hot dog bun filled with tasty, fresh lobster salad, served alongside yummy frites and the tiniest greensalad ever.
  28. As a lobster lover, I will never complain about having to eat too many tasty chunks of lobster!
  29. the mussels were superb with their creamy creamy sauce the fries that accompanied the lobster roll were delicious super skinny shoe strings and the oyster were pretty gosh darn good too.
  30. My new favorite is a Caesar salad followed by sinfully creamy mussels with a side of fries.
  31. The New England clam chowder and lobster roll are both very authentic and respectable.
  32. had the Caesar salad - excellent - and this salmon tartare appetizer - also great.
  33. The fries were very thin and crisp and were a big hit for a couple that are not big french fry fans!
  34. The waiter actually won't let us order appertizer first ("all food requests must stay within one order").
  35. there is a way to run a busy, popular seafood restaurant where you are able to turn tables without making your guests (the people who pay your pricey rent) feel like dirt.
  36. ve been to Pearl Oyster Bar a few times before and have always had a great meal, but I have a big complaint after my last visit.
  37. Although the ambience, the service and the decor was great, the food actually was a bit of a letdown.
  38. For the best experience I'd recommend going for lunch-- there's no line, the service is relaxed, and the food is just as good.
  39. Definitely start out with their raw bar, the oysters on the half shell are fresh and standout.
  40. Sometimes it's too crowed that you have to wait on line to get a table, but once you are sitting down the service is good and the food is fresh and delicious.
  41. found the Ceaser salad a bit bland, but they were tempered by the totally scrumptious salt-crusted shrimp with the OUTRAGEOUS homemade tarter sauce.
  42. The lobster was not very fresh or tasty.
  43. As long as the food is decent and nothing to write anything negative about, the scene is what makes or breaks the place.
  44. the fries are a little annoying (make sure you use vinegar) but the lobster more than makes up for it.
  45. The clam chowder was , again, good but nothing memorable.
  46. Next time, I'll definitely be getting the fried oysters, fried oysters, clam chowder, and fresh fish (looked great on other tables so I have to try it) :)
  47. The service was always hurried and a bit rude, but the food was fantastic, so we were always able to overlook that.
  48. Very tasty seafood, particularly recommend the lobster rolls.
  49. Fabulously delicious lobster roll
  50. mean - come on - we live in New York City where new, good restaurants sprout up each day - I don't care who they are, they can't treat customers like they should be honored to be allowed to eat their food.
  51. Since they didn't need our business, we went next door the charming Le Gigot- amazing food and lovely service-highly recommended!
  52. The sauce in the mussels (cream, scallions, who knows what else) is fantastic and makes you want to order basket after basket of bread to sop it up.
  53. Pearl used to have great service and great food.
  54. I'll be fair and say the food was very good.
  55. The salt crusted shrimp and Fish were very good too.
  56. The food has been consistently good.
  57. Wish there was more room, but the wait is worth it for all the great food and service.
  58. And the food is delicious.
  59. His personality made good food that much better.
  60. PS-to the sick WVillager, it's too easy to blame a fish joint for your illness.
  61. The lobster rolls are superb, and so is the grilled fish.
  62. the people on line were as nice as the food was succulent!
  63. Nestled on a tiny street is this tiny restaurant with amazing food!
  64. Having heard great things about this restaurant - "charming", "cozy","friendly", "fabulous seafood", imagine our surprise when we were unceremoniously asked to "hurry up, because people are waiting for a table"!
  65. also tasted a good sea bass and had a bowl of a good-tasting clam chowder (disappointingly there weren't any actual clam pieces in it, though).
  66. Everyone there seems so happy and in to the food.
  67. Went a while ago but i loved how they cooked the fish.
  68. allow people to finish their meal in peace and in good time bcause most of them understand and arent camping out (no pun).
  69. The shoe string fries were great, hot and pefect, but I won't go back for this much praised lobster roll.
  70. but for some reason that clam chowder still tastes great!
  71. Great, cute little restaurant, the obvious go-to for a sure-to-please lobster roll, as well as many other excellent seafood dishes.
  72. Highly Recommended for fresh seafood at fair prices.
  73. know, seafood deliveries typically happen 2 times a week and Mondays are supposed to be one of the worst nights to have seafood, but I had to try it and was not patient enough to wait on one of the busier nights.
  74. Everything I've had here is good, but I can't seem to separate myself from their tasty lobster roll.
  75. The seafood is about as good and fresh as you can get it outside of Maine or Cape Cod.
  76. I've been to Pearl's several times, and always had outstanding food, good service, and a terrific time.
  77. This place isnt pricey and has good food, I can't wait to go again!
  78. Everything was tasty and I'm willing to wager that there was more than one lobster worth of meat in my lobster roll.
menu variety
50.0% positive
  1. love everything on the menu.
  2. Disappointing menu selection.
  3. Waitress was nice and friendly--she was knowledgeable & helpful about the menu ingredients & portions.
  4. However, when I went last night it was a series of rude encounters with the staff, kicking my bag out of their way and just walking away when we had apparently taken too long considering their menu.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. The prices are actually pretty low for a great meal in the city and I've made friends while waiting in line at 5pm for this place to open at 6!
  2. Pearl is far and away our favorite restaurant in New York and still a bargain--where else can you get sublime clam chowder under $10?
  3. However, if you are like me, and LOVE lobster, and crave a good lobster roll, then this place is The Best.
  4. Having heard great things about this restaurant - "charming", "cozy","friendly", "fabulous seafood", imagine our surprise when we were unceremoniously asked to "hurry up, because people are waiting for a table"!
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. The shoe string fries were great, hot and pefect, but I won't go back for this much praised lobster roll.
service
74.51000213623047% positive
  1. Although the ambience, the service and the decor was great, the food actually was a bit of a letdown.
  2. tive service.
  3. there is a way to run a busy, popular seafood restaurant where you are able to turn tables without making your guests (the people who pay your pricey rent) feel like dirt.
  4. We were greeted by a super RUDE bartendress/waitress who told us to "Just go next door, there's a table in there!
  5. Wish there was more room, but the wait is worth it for all the great food and service.
  6. Beyond that the waiter was very helpful, particularly in his specials recommendation.
  7. AMAZING fried oysters and creamy mussels, friendly service, good vibe!
  8. We sat at the bar and were constantly bumped by the waitress flying past; had fabulously fresh raw oysters with pieces of shell in every bite; lobsters rolls were tasty but the large pieces of meat were tough; the apple crumble was excellent but the ice c
  9. Once we sat down, the same rude waitress came by, spoke at us like an auctioneer at an auction block, her words tumbling out so quickly I had no idea what she said.
  10. Almost fast-food-esque in its ambience and service (we sat at a counter which was fun!)
  11. However, when I went last night it was a series of rude encounters with the staff, kicking my bag out of their way and just walking away when we had apparently taken too long considering their menu.
  12. the people on line were as nice as the food was succulent!
  13. Considering we were three polite women who just wanted to eat, we were stunned to essentially be told we weren't welcome by a rude and condescending hostess.
  14. Sometimes it's too crowed that you have to wait on line to get a table, but once you are sitting down the service is good and the food is fresh and delicious.
  15. The service was always hurried and a bit rude, but the food was fantastic, so we were always able to overlook that.
  16. before going i read these reviews and was scared by the number of people who said the staff was rude.
  17. The service is bad; the staff is hurried and rude.
  18. I've seen comments about rude service but never experienced it myself.
  19. Pearl used to have great service and great food.
  20. Our server was wonderful, she was sweet and charming.
  21. Service was good we sat at the bar stools so the waiter was facing us the whole time.
  22. The hostess was very nice and entertaining and made it seem like we were her top priority.
  23. Since they didn't need our business, we went next door the charming Le Gigot- amazing food and lovely service-highly recommended!
  24. The hostess came up behind me and said, "Excuse-me, sir, these people would like to sit down and eat.
  25. The scene & staff are very nice as well.
  26. Food was decent but service destroyed the evening.
  27. Having heard great things about this restaurant - "charming", "cozy","friendly", "fabulous seafood", imagine our surprise when we were unceremoniously asked to "hurry up, because people are waiting for a table"!
  28. For the best experience I'd recommend going for lunch-- there's no line, the service is relaxed, and the food is just as good.
  29. Staff was friendly and helpful with suggestions.
  30. Dined here on Saturday, was a bit of a wait, but the staff was incredibly friendly.
  31. Waitress was nice and friendly--she was knowledgeable & helpful about the menu ingredients & portions.
  32. The waiter actually won't let us order appertizer first ("all food requests must stay within one order").
  33. allow people to finish their meal in peace and in good time bcause most of them understand and arent camping out (no pun).
  34. I've been to Pearl's several times, and always had outstanding food, good service, and a terrific time.
value
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. Everything was tasty and I'm willing to wager that there was more than one lobster worth of meat in my lobster roll.
  2. Being a huge fan of the Lobster roll.
  3. (We could have done with one more but it was only $22 with a heaping side of vegetables--where do you get scallops that good that cheap, right?)
  4. Waitress was nice and friendly--she was knowledgeable & helpful about the menu ingredients & portions.
  5. My only complaint is the LONG waits and expensive prices, but its worth it!
  6. Wish there was more room, but the wait is worth it for all the great food and service.
  7. little restaurant with a huge ego
  8. Highly Recommended for fresh seafood at fair prices.
  9. If price is no object you'll get a very good lobster roll.
  10. With all of the fabulous restaurants in New York, it is absolute arrogance to treat a three person, (three hundred dollar) tab so shabbily!
  11. The prices are actually pretty low for a great meal in the city and I've made friends while waiting in line at 5pm for this place to open at 6!
  12. there is a way to run a busy, popular seafood restaurant where you are able to turn tables without making your guests (the people who pay your pricey rent) feel like dirt.
  13. Compared to cheap lobster roll joints up in New England, here, they use a good roll and good quality mayo, so it is quite good.
  14. This place isnt pricey and has good food, I can't wait to go again!
  15. had heard/read glowing reviews of Pearl, but every time I passed by it (I live in the area), there always seemed to be a huge crowd and a long wait.
wait time
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. However, when I went last night it was a series of rude encounters with the staff, kicking my bag out of their way and just walking away when we had apparently taken too long considering their menu.
  2. As long as the food is decent and nothing to write anything negative about, the scene is what makes or breaks the place.
  3. had heard/read glowing reviews of Pearl, but every time I passed by it (I live in the area), there always seemed to be a huge crowd and a long wait.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/22/09

Best Lobster Roll

by InThe Road

Being here few times for dinner and becoming a fan of this restaurant...Sometimes it's too crowed that you have to wait on line to get a table, but once you are sitting down the service is good and the food is fresh and delicious....The waiters are very courteous..and the Lobster Roll and the Fried Oyster are the best..the only thing that I will tell the Manager is to lower to use of salt and mayo...sometimes it gets too salty..but overall..I will come here again and again...

  • Pros: Fesh Seafood - Good and Fast Service
  • Cons: Overprized - Too much Mayo & Salt
3 Star Rating: Average

02/07/09

Pearl Mayo

by Tbonedelux

Being a huge fan of the Lobster roll... the search is always on in NYC to get a taste of summer. After being strongly recommended by fans, we decided to drop in. Promptly at 6 pm we thought we would be able to grab a seat at the bar, but instead took cue on the curb. Mildy warm for February, we waited the ten minutes outside for a seat before they opened their doors. The Sav blanc was your average but not a great selection. Crab cake was good but overpowered by the mayo-slaw which was, well mayo. Being rushed by the almost theatrical staf f was a litle stressful, I get it that the entire restaurant was seated in a matter of seconds and they have to turn it over, but it was a little much.... I recommend not going for the early bird as we did (especially when u get stared down by waiting patrons.).. Then-- the highly anticipated LOBSTER ROLL , was good , but sooo much mayo & salt that I felt like I was at McDonalds. The shoe string fries were great, hot and pefect, but I won't go back for this much praised lobster roll.

There are way to many fish in the sea, I'd rather not soak them in mayo....

  • Pros: Seated fast, but waited on line
  • Cons: MAYO & SALT
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/19/08

Best Fish in NYC and a Bargain

by caylowenstein

I don't know what restaurant the previous reviewer went to but it wasn't Pearl Oyster Bar--they don't have any MEAT! LOL! Idiots! Pearl is far and away our favorite restaurant in New York and still a bargain--where else can you get sublime clam chowder under $10? Addicted to the fried oysters; all others are judged by this standard. Mussels are also amazing--ask for bread, though. The other night we had a whole grilled bass that was simply incredible and pan fried skate, sweet, juicy and delicious.

  • Pros: really the best, freshest seafood , GREAT lunch spot
  • Cons: can be cramped in summer but fine in fall/winter
3 Star Rating: Average

11/12/08

average

by kendrickbreeden

I give this place 3.5 stars..

Although the ambience, the service and the decor was great, the food actually was a bit of a letdown.. not that it was bad, but it was just OK and not very memorable surprisingly..

I would've given it 4 stars, but for the price of the dinner, we expected to be blown away.. My friend had fish, which he thought was pretty dry and I had some kind of meat and to be honest, I don't even remember it and this was only a month ago..

  • Pros: service,decor
  • Cons: food
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/22/08

Oysters on the Half Shell - Oyster Power

by ritzgirl21

This place is as close to Newport, Rhode Island as the West Village can get minus the marinas, boats and water. Definitely start out with their raw bar, the oysters on the half shell are fresh and standout. The New England clam chowder and lobster roll are both very authentic and respectable. My only complaint is with respect to the salt crusted shrimp. I would only advise ordering that small plate if you enjoy eating shrimp shells. At least things ended on a high note - finishing 3 different glasses of Pearl Oyster House's white wines and desserting on their seasonal blackberry and pear pie a la mode - just wow.

  • Pros: Clientele, Oysters on the Half Shell, Chowder, Lobster Roll, Seasonal Pies, Wine List
  • Cons: Tight seating, Salt Crusted Shrimp, I should have ordered the Steamers

The Details on Pearl Oyster Bar

Place Categories:

  • good amazing food
  • good pearl lobster roll
  • fresh tasty seafood
  • very authentic new england clam chowder
  • perfect grilled lobster
  • pricey place
  • rude staff
  • favorite restaurants
  • willing everything
  • amazing creamy mussels
  • great casual seafood meal
  • rude hostess
  • appetizer lobster salad
  • pefect shoe string fries
  • juicy scallops
  • great experience
  • decent price
  • rude waitress
  • nice dining
  • memorable nothing
  • amazing lovely servicehighly
  • sweeter callebaut chocolate mousse
  • great service
  • good fried oyster
  • very good saltcrusted shrimp

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