Delray Beach certainly does not have a shortage of restaurants, especially when it comes to Atlantic Avenue, but there is one restaurant that consistently stands apart for serving up fresh seafood in a lively atmosphere.
If you haven’t yet met City Oyster & Sushi Bar, consider this your formal introduction.
For nearly 25 years, Big Time Restaurant Group’s hot spot has been a popular staple along bustling Atlantic Avenue, best known for its impressive collection of fresh oysters and sushi specialties.
The seafood-centric menu here offers everything from rock shrimp tempura, Maryland lump crab cake, and smoked fish dip to organic Atlantic salmon, pan roasted grouper, and frutti di mare.
If your taste buds lend themselves more toward land loving classics, Chef Jordan Stilley has a butcher block offering that boasts a dry-aged strip, filet mignon, surf and turf, and cast-iron half chicken. The bustling restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor patio seating for alfresco dining.
Get started with one of their signature cocktails like a Peach Lemonade, Fiery Fresno, or Guava 75. City Oyster also has a nice selection of reasonably priced wines available by the glass, on tap, or by the bottle.
For New Englanders like us visiting Delray, we were happy to see familiar favorites like New England clam chowder, Rhode Island-style calamari, fish and chips made with Boston cod, and Maine lobster on the menu.
Despite the restaurant being filled to capacity, our friendly server was extremely attentive and very willing to answer any questions about the menu while offering recommendations for popular dishes.
The freshly baked focaccia bread with olive oil for dipping is so good you may want to overindulge but be sure to save some room for their specialty dishes. If you enjoy larger size oysters as much as we do, be sure to try some briny Blue Point oysters from Connecticut.
Sushi chefs can be seen preparing specialty rolls like their signature Delray Beach Roll, the East Coast version of a California roll topped with shrimp, Maine lobster, mango, avocado, and mango miso sauce. A Lobster Tempura Roll is filled with Maine lobster tail that is deep fried with panko, sesame seed, asparagus, avocado, spicy mayo, and eel sauce.
The standout Kamikaze roll is chock full of spicy fresh tuna, cucumber, jalapenos, tempura flakes for crunch, and sesame seeds. When it comes to main events, there is plenty to choose from. The signature sweet potato crusted mahi with Brussels sprouts topped with a hazelnut chimichurri sauce was even better than it sounds.
Other seafood dishes that sounded appealing include shrimp and scallops “boke,” miso glazed sea bass, and twin Maine lobster tails.
If you can save room for dessert, Key lime pie topped with fresh whipped cream is the perfect ending.
Be sure to keep an eye out for daily happy hour with half-priced cocktails, wine, and beer, and brunch served up on the weekends.
City Oyster & Sushi Bar is located at 213 E. Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, Florida.
