Oysters at Surf
Oysters at Country Tavern
Oysters at Bedford Village Inn
Oysters at Unums
Oysters at Thousand Crane II
Oysters at Surf
Blue Point Oysters with Spinach & Cheese
PRICE: $8.95.
WHERE: Country Tavern, 452 Amherst St., Nashua. 889-5871 or www.countrytavern.org.
For those who can’t stomach raw fish, the Country Tavern’s warm, plump and less healthy version of oysters is a perfect option. The Country Tavern offers the choice of Blue Point Oysters (meaning from Long Island) served in the half-shell or baked Rockefeller with spinach and melted provolone cheese. This comfort food-loving diner went with the Rockefeller dish, which consisted of fresh oysters smothered in warm, gooey cheese and fresh spinach. This dish was a meal in itself, and great for ending a cold winter day.
Only fools fall in love – when food isn’t involved. For centuries, love-lusting diners have scrambled to the closest restaurant that serves one of the most well-known, natural aphrodisiacs: oysters. Whether these little delicacies from the sea help people to fall in love or not, one thing is for sure: They are downright delicious. This Valentine’s Day, whether you’re taken or single, book a reservation at one of these places to indulge in the day devoted to love, and the seafood that helps people fall into it.
Absolut Oysters
PRICE: $3.50 each.
WHERE: Surf Restaurant, 207 Main St., Nashua. 595-9293 or www.surfseafood.com.
Not many things taste bad soaked in vodka, especially not Surf’s oysters. Swimming in Absolut citrus-flavored vodka, these oysters are given even more flavor with freshly ground black pepper, cocktail sauce and some tasty, spicy vegetables on the side. The oysters themselves were pleasantly meaty and tasted like they had just been plucked from the fresh salt water.
Blue Point Oysters with Spinach & Cheese
PRICE: $8.95.
WHERE: Country Tavern, 452 Amherst St., Nashua. 889-5871 or www.countrytavern.org.
For those who can’t stomach raw fish, the Country Tavern’s warm, plump and less healthy version of oysters is a perfect option. The Country Tavern offers the choice of Blue Point Oysters (meaning from Long Island) served in the half-shell or baked Rockefeller with spinach and melted provolone cheese. This comfort food-loving diner went with the Rockefeller dish, which consisted of fresh oysters smothered in warm, gooey cheese and fresh spinach. This dish was a meal in itself, and great for ending a cold winter day with.
3 Oysters, 3 Flavors
PRICE: $7.
WHERE: Corks Wine Bar at The Bedford Village Inn, 2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford. 472-2001 or www.bedfordvillageinn.com.
Served on a bed of sea salt with three different toppings, Corks’ oysters are the most gourmet of the bunch. Flavored with cucumber mignonette (a sauce of vinegar and shallots), preserved lemon and honey compote, and spicy pickle relish, the various toppings helped to add character and unique flavors to the otherwise flavorless seafood. The different flavors of the toppings were also subtle enough that they successfully avoided clashing with one another.
Oysters Rockefeller
PRICE: $16.
WHERE: Unum’s, 47 E. Pearl St., Nashua. 821-6500 or www.unums.com.
Bacon, cheese, creamy Alfredo and garlic spinach make for some decadent oysters at Unum’s. The downtown eatery uses fresh Point Judith oysters for its appetizer, and the balance between the crunchy, salty and comforting toppings made for a surprisingly filling dish. The oysters themselves were not as plump as the others in this bunch, but the cheesy, elegant topping helped to mask the lack of seafood.
Blue Point Oysters
PRICE: $9.95 for a half-dozen.
WHERE: Thousand Crane II, 116 W. Pearl St., Nashua. 579-0888 or www.thousandcranerestaurant.com.
Straight up, simple and natural: That’s the best way to describe Thousand Crane’s oysters. Served as a special on this particular day, Thousand Crane serves its blue point oysters in a boat of crushed ice with spicy cocktail sauce, Tabasco sauce and fresh lemon wedges on the side. All of the accompaniments were necessary to add flavor, but the oysters themselves were huge and full of fresh salt water taste.
