Eventide Oyster Co

Featuring Delicious, Local Oysters

Who remembers the old saying that we can only eat oysters in months with an “R”? While the saying is more myth than fact, it was once true that oysters were more prone to spoilage in summer due to warmer temperatures. Modern refrigeration, better farming practices, and safety regulations now allow oysters to be enjoyed year-round. Ever since I tried my first raw oyster, surprisingly for a born and bred Maine girl only just a few years ago, they have been my passionate addiction. Recently, I have been really craving them. I know I can purchase the oysters to enjoy at home, but I honestly prefer both someone else to do the shucking for me and the enjoyment being in a place with ambience. So on a recent chilly night, I found myself at Eventide oyster bar. A sweet friend had given me a gift certificate at Christmas time and I had been saving it for just the right time to enjoy, not to mention that it was April … with an “R”, myth or not. The restaurant's bright colors, picnic table seating, and reclaimed nautical lighting were inviting and would encourage a warm and casual experience. 

This was my first visit to Eventide, and it certainly won’t be my last. Eventide Oyster Co. is advertised as a revival of the great American oyster bar, offering pristine oysters and shellfish with its proximity to the Gulf of Maine and our cold coastal waters. The restaurant is also known for its famed Brown Butter Lobster Roll and a James Beard Award-winning take on classic New England fare. Its name is derived from the definition of eventide marking the transition between day and night and a time for refreshment and rejuvenation. 

Sunken into the concrete bar sits an enormous block of Maine granite that serves as the shellfish display, home to an ever-changing array of oysters and shellfish. The oyster offerings that night included 3 choices from Damariscotta, 2 from Bath area waters, 2 from Freeport, 1 each from Brunswick, Casco Bay, and Scarborough. I really should have gotten a full dozen, but my craving was satisfied with the ½ dozen I selected. Along with your selection of oysters you could pick 2 accompaniments from a list that included the typical cocktail sauce and red wine mignonette as well as surprise offerings of Tabasco Ice, Kimchi Ice, Pickled Red Onion Ice, and Horseradish Ice, none of which I had ever seen before. I chose the mignonette and the pickled red onion ice, the latter was mind-blowingly delicious. 

The oyster appetizers were followed by the famed Brown Butter Lobster Roll. The roll was delicious but didn’t compare to an actual Maine cold lobster roll. But that is just my preference. I had saved room for the roll. Next time, a dozen oysters will be my meal. 

The waitstaff were attentive and the food amazing. Most of the seating is available on a first come, first served basis, with limited reservations for parties of 6-10 people. Definitely check out Eventide Oyster Co. before the barrage of summer visitors from away arrive.