On Tuesday 4 July, seafood specialists The Oystermen will officially open their first permanent mooring, The Oystermen Seafood Bar & Kitchen, on Henrietta Street in Covent Garden.
The cosy 26-cover restaurant will focus on freshly-sourced produce, brought in and cooked up daily – not only oysters, but crabs, clams, cockles, razor clams, mussels, and a seasonal selection of fish. Highlights from the menu will include crab beignets with parsley and lemon, crispy cayenne mussels with zesty aioli, scorched mackerel with pickled cucumber and the team’s signature spicy curried clam chowder.
Visitors will also be able to choose from a cut-above collection of oysters from all around the UK – from Cornwall to Scotland, via Dorset, Kent, Essex and North Wales - served either raw from the bar or grilled with toppings such as pancetta and fennel or The Oystermen’s famous buffalo barbecue sauce.
The new venue’s wine list has been carefully-curated to provide excellent food pairings at great value, and will focus on grower champagnes with many available to order by the glass. The drinks menu will also feature a small lineup of handpicked craft beers, including The Oystermen & Canopy Beer Co’s special collaboration ‘Everyday Oyster Stout’, a smooth dark beer with a hint of brine and lingering notes of dark chocolate.
Located just moments away from London’s West End, The Oystermen Seafood Bar & Kitchen will offer a lunch and pre-theatre menu daily, and the oyster bar will remain open until late for post-theatre platters, snacks and drinks. Those looking for an early evening treat can take advantage of the team’s renowned ‘Bubbles ’n’ Oysters Happy Hour’, which will run every day from 3pm to 5pm with its exceptional package of six freshly-shucked oysters accompanied by a glass of fine Crémant du Bourgogne fizz for just £10.
As with their successful extended residency at The Sampler in South Kensington and previous popups, The Oystermen co-founders Matt Lovell and Rob Hampton will continue to focus on delivering their vision of hospitality at their new permanent restaurant: a relaxed, affordable and fun dining experience, with second-to-none service. Weymouth-born chef Alex Povall (Merchants Tavern, Café Murano) will join the duo in Henrietta Street to take charge in the kitchen, while Andrea Bertone will lead the front of house team.
Co-founder Matt Lovell said, “Since its inception, The Oystermen has always been committed to finding a permanent home from which to bring our friendly and fresh seafood concept to the wider London audience. We are incredibly excited to be making that home Covent Garden, the heart of the West End and an increasingly vibrant foodie location.”