Interior of the Darling Oyster Bar in Charleston, South Carolina.

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Long Live Oyster Season at Darling Oyster Bar

By: TLP's Partners

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Thanks to their commitment to serving only the freshest seafood, the renowned Darling Oyster Bar located in a lovingly restored 115+-year-old storefront on Charleston, South Carolina’s King Street, makes oyster season accessible year-round.

Overhead of the Raw Bar at The Darling Oyster Bar in Charleston, South Carolina.

What is this ominous “R rule” for eating oysters, anyway?

Only enjoying oysters in months that contain an “r” is a thing of the past at The Darling Oyster Bar. While executive chef Derick Wade aims to source his seafood selections as locally as possible, during the Lowcountry’s summer months (May-August) The Darling turns to oyster purveyors whose water temperatures do not rise over a certain level. The “r” rule has to do mainly with wild harvesting, but guests can rest assured that restaurants serving oysters year-round are sourcing from areas whose water temperatures are mild, even during the summer months.

There are a number of farms and regions to source oysters, and similarly to The Darling, many seafood restaurants will have a rotating specials board or sheet outlining their current selections of oysters and where these oysters come from. The Darling is able to serve some of the freshest oysters thanks to chef Wade’s relationships with purveyors in New York, Canada, and beyond.

“We have access to get oysters from all sorts of regions to Charleston the next day.”
– Derick Wade, executive chef at The Darling Oyster Bar

If seafood isn’t your thing, don’t worry. The Darling’s daily dinner and Sunday brunch menus are welcoming to all palates. The Darlings succulent salads, crispy half chicken, sandwiches, and more are sure to pique your interest, while your sea-foodie friends can indulge in raw bar favorites like fresh ceviche, sharable dips, and of course, our Instagrammable seafood plateau.

Visit The Darling Oyster Bar

The Darling Oyster Bar is open Monday-Thursday from 4 PM – 10 PM, Friday and Saturday from 4 PM – 11 PM, and Sundays from 11 AM – 10 PM. Grab a stool at the 12-seat raw bar fronting King Street, settle into a table full of deliciousness, or perch beside the full-service bar for happy hour. The Savannah location is forthcoming. Stay tuned to The Darling’s social media for the most up-to-date information.

Reservations at The Oyster Bar in Charleston can be made on OpenTable.