Editors’ Choice
Island Creek Oyster Bar, Burlington
Standout Qualities: With deep ties to Skip Bennett, who pretty much started the modern oyster craze, ICOB has access to the best from their own farms, as well as unique small-allocation bivalves from far-flung parts of the world.
Fun Fact: The Burlington location sells about 2,000 oysters a day.
Insider Tip: Vannaluck Hongthon, late of the Baldwin Bar, recently joined the staff as bar manager, bringing a slew of new cocktails including the Black Pearl, an oyster-inspired rum tiki drink decorated with an oyster shell and a maraschino cherry.
300 District Ave., Burlington, 781-761-6500, islandcreekoysterbar.com
Reader’ Choice
Brine, Newburyport
Insider Tip: Until Columbus Day, the restaurant offers buck-a-shuck oysters on Thursdays from 9 to 11 p.m.
25 State St., Newburyport, 978-358-8479, brineoyster.com
Runner Up
Elm Square Oyster Co., Andover
What’s Unique: $1.49 oysters daily from 5 to 7 p.m.
2 Elm Square, Andover, 978-470-2228, elmsquareoysterco.com