Greetings and happy New Year, oyster loving pals!
If for any reason you find yourself driving on I-95 in the vicinity of Savannah—and you need an oyster fix—get off at exit 109 and make a beeline for Island Grill. (722 Hwy 21, Port Wentworth)
I stumbled in one eve, on my recent drive from Boston to Miami, and was thrilled to find all manner of seafood on the menu: crab soup, crab cakes, steamed shrimp, and grilled shrimp with grits. Settling into a booth with pal Sterling in tow, I asked all kinds of annoying questions for our nice waitron, Gabby, who scurried off to the kitchen for the answers.
When she returned, I had another. “Where are the oysters from?”
“Apalachicola,” she answered without hesitating. She then smiled, adding, “Bet you thought I couldn’t answer that one.”
Got me there.
If for any reason you find yourself driving on I-95 in the vicinity of Savannah—and you need an oyster fix—get off at exit 109 and make a beeline for Island Grill. (722 Hwy 21, Port Wentworth)
I stumbled in one eve, on my recent drive from Boston to Miami, and was thrilled to find all manner of seafood on the menu: crab soup, crab cakes, steamed shrimp, and grilled shrimp with grits. Settling into a booth with pal Sterling in tow, I asked all kinds of annoying questions for our nice waitron, Gabby, who scurried off to the kitchen for the answers.
When she returned, I had another. “Where are the oysters from?”
“Apalachicola,” she answered without hesitating. She then smiled, adding, “Bet you thought I couldn’t answer that one.”
Got me there.
Apalachicolas! I had no choice but to order a half-dozen of these delectable Florida bivalves. They arrived in a flash, accompanied by packages of Saltines and a side of cocktail sauce as they’re served in the Panhandle. (Though friends know I like my oysters nekkid, with just a slight squeeze of lemon.) They were slightly briny and creamy sweet, and an unexpected delight. My only complaint is that they weren’t shucked-to-order, but seemed like they’d been stacked in the fridge, as their round bodies were flattened and all the liquid was gone. Still, they were yummy and an unexpected treat in the otherwise boring dining landscape of the I-95 corridor.
These oysters are inspiring me to do another Florida Panhandle road trip one day: Boss Oysters, Dusty’s, Hunt’s, Hurricane, Acme, High Tide, the Boathouse, Marina and Flora-Bama. Mmmmm-mmmmm good!
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