11 oyster specials to check out at Wilmington-area restaurants

North Carolina grown and harvested oysters have been gaining in popularity and acclaim for the delicious brininess contained within those hard shells. As a result, they’re often priced accordingly on local restaurant menus, maybe for more than $3 or $4 a piece. But there are places where you can enjoy these local (or regional) delicacies for a more reasonable price.

Here are a few of them. Let us know if there are others we should add to the list by emailing aballard@gannett.com.

PinPoint Restaurant

One of the area’s most popular and well-known oyster specials is at this downtown Wilmington restaurant at 5035 Market St. You can start the week right with half-priced raw oysters, as well as wine at half price, on Mondays.

Seabird

Another popular oyster special is from chef Dean Neff and the folks at this downtown restaurant at the corner of Front and Market streets. Their Oyster Happy Hour is usually $1 shucked oysters 5-6 p.m. Mondays at the bar. Depending on the season, they might be wild oysters, which can be harvested locally from October to March, or locally farmed varieties which can be enjoyed year-round.

More: Where to find the best oysters in the Wilmington area and how to taste the difference

Seaview Crab Company Kitchen

This market with several locations also has a market/restaurant at 1515 Marstellar St. in Wilmington. They are currently offering a unique special that isn’t limited to oysters, but can include them. The Free Steam Sunday allows customers to pick out their favorite seafood and the staff will season and steam it at no cost. It’s available 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Perla Raw Bar

One of the newer oyster specials on the local food scene is at this recently opened restaurant from Ash Aziz at 1039 Ashes Drive in Renaissance Park in Wilmington. During their Local Oyster Hour, you can enjoy $1 raw local oysters 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Catch

At 6623 Market St. in Odgen chef Keith Rhodes and his family and crew have been offering four varieties of locally sourced oysters for half price on Tuesdays. They’re typically served raw on the half shell with house-made mignonette, or you can get them in a signature baked style and/or add a $10 serving of crab dip.

Tidewater Oyster Bar

In the Porters Neck area at 8211 Market St., this restaurant is popular with locals and has a few weekly specials that can involve local oysters. On Tuesdays, raw or steamed oysters are $1.50 each. Look for a special price on Bloody Mary Oyster Shooters on Saturdays and $20 steamed oyster buckets on Sundays.

Shuckin’ Shack

The individual locations of this local seafood chain can offer their own specials. Two of them – 1175 Turlington Ave. in Leland and 101 N. Lake Park Blvd. in Carolina Beach offer happy hour appetizer specials from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday that includes $1.25 raw oysters, or $1.50 chargrilled. (Wings are also on special.) Plus, they have “You Shuck” steamed oysters for 75 cents each on Mondays. Check out the Pleasure Island location for additional late night and Sunday oyster specials.

Coquina Fishbar

Because it can sometimes be difficult to find good specials during the weekends, here’s one at this restaurant in Mayfaire (890 Town Center Drive, Wilmington). Get half-priced appetizers, including loaded baked oysters, at the bar or on the patio from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays. Usually there’s live music, too.

More: 20 romantic restaurants for date nights in the Wilmington area

Shark Bar and Kitchen

The weekly specials at this spot in Wrightsville Beach at 13 E. Salisbury St. include burger night (on Monday) and Taco Tuesday. On Thursdays, check out the all-day oyster happy hour with 25% off all oysters and seafood towers.

Hieronymus Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar

This classic seafood restaurant at 5035 Market St., Wilmington, has been offering a selection of winter-time specials that includes $25 buckets of steamed oysters, as well as crab leg and peel-and-eat shrimp specials. They are available at least through the end of February, for dine in from 3-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Michael’s Seafood

A Carolina Beach landmark at 1206 N. Lake Park Blvd., offers a few great specials for locals during the slower season. On Sundays, that includes an oyster roast with half-priced Stump Sound oysters available steamed or raw, as well as drink, wings and brunch specials. It takes place through the end of February.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Oyster specials to check out at Wilmington, NC, restaurants