Emerge from Your Shell and Meet the Oysters at Drift Oyster 101 Workshop April 14

Crack open the world of oyster connoisseurs and collect pearls of wisdom at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar in Marietta. Chef/owner Doug Turbush and sous chef Will Puryear pry open a bed of bivalve knowledge at their Oyster 101 Workshop at the restaurant on Saturday, April 14. Soak up how-tos: shuck like a pro; prepare oysters at home; appreciate oyster flavor profiles; oyster history and sustainability; and oyster etiquette. Employ tasting sheets and a tasting wheel to stimulate oyster “merroir” discussion when enjoying a selection of six raw oyster varieties along with a glass of sparkling wine for workshop “students” ages 21 and over. Class begins at 3 p.m. on the dot and concludes by 4:30 p.m. so attendees can dive right into an exclusive Oyster 101 Happy Hour marked by half-price oysters. Class size caps at 24 participants. Buy tickets now or you’ll be saying “Awe, shucks, missed that boat.” $45 per person plus small online service fee. Know before you go: Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar is the first restaurant in Georgia to be an official partner of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program. Drift’s ship-shape crew is committed to procuring the highest quality, sustainable seafood available, encouraging healthy oceans for generations to come.

“Shorely” Don’t Miss Sips & Shells Oysters and Sparkling Wines at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails Sept. 14

Top 10 reasons to anchor at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails on Thursday, Sept. 14: eight oysters and two full glasses of sparkling wine at Sips & Shells. Enjoy these precious indulgences from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the bar area of beautiful Milton’s in historic Crabapple for only $35 per person (plus small online service fee). Buy tickets here.

Come on, Get Happy with Weekly Hours of Buck-a-Shuck and Half-Price Oysters at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar

The more mollusks the merrier during East Cobb’s newest tradition, oyster happy hours at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar. Slurp away Monday-Friday from 5-7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 3-5 p.m. No need to dive deep into the wallet for these specials: buck-a-shuck ($1) oysters of the day, half-shell oysters at half price and oceans of house punch at $5 a glass. Oysters and punch smooth over a crabby day faster than you can crack into a briny bivalve. But then you won’t even have to do that because Drift does the handiwork for you. Aah, pearly perfection.

Ray’s on the River Cracks Open Oysterfest 2015 September 12. “R” You With Us?

September has an “R” in it, and Ray’s on the River has three. Know what that means? According to folk wisdom, prime oyster feasting season is here. Come aboard Oysterfest 2015 at the Chattahoochee riverside restaurant the afternoon of Saturday, September 12 from noon-3 p.m. Pile fresh Gulf, East Coast and pilsner-roasted oysters on the plate, being sure to save room for buffet sides of jalapeño coleslaw, fingerling potato salad, roasted andouille sausage, corn on the cob, homemade sauces, rolls plus Key lime pie cups for dessert. Includes iced tea and sodas to wash everything down; buy more spirited adult beverages at the cash bar. $40 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations, with credit card, required: 770-955-1187. Ray’s at Killer Creek is hosting their Oysterfest on Saturday, September 19 from noon-3 p.m. Good to know in case you can’t dive in this weekend or if you live to slurp oysters! 

Pry Yourself Away for a Day of Half-Off Raw Oysters at The Big Ketch on National Oyster Day August 5

The steamy love affair began when the mythological Greek goddess Aphrodite rose from the sea on an oyster shell. Now oyster lovers slurp down nearly two billion pounds of the briny bivalves each year. Many of these slippery guys come out of their shells during oyster happy hour at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill. Every Monday through Friday from 4-6:30 p.m., Buckhead’s local beach house shaves half off the price of a dozen raw oysters on the half shell. On National Oyster Day, Wednesday, August 5, the half-price deal extends from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., and chef-crafted oyster specials spread mollusk mania across the day’s menu.

Ray’s in the City Hosts Duckhorn Wine Reception May 28

The duck’s handsome, the wine winsome as all get out.Duckhorn Vineyards, founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn 40 years ago, has established itself as one of North America’s premium Napa Valley wine producers. Ray’s in the City validates the winery’s reputation at a Duckhorn wine and hors d’oeuvre reception on Thursday, May 28 from 5-7 p.m. Savor fine Duckhorn varietals along with hickory bacon-wrapped oysters with pepper cheese, braised short rib and crab Wellington and pan-roasted sea scallop with Parma ham and melon. $35 per person (excludes tax and gratuity). Call 404-524-9224 for reservations. 

Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails Throws a Farmyard Chowdown on June 7

Oysters, fried chicken, Low Country boil, garden-fresh veggies and all the accoutrements befitting a Farmyard Chowdown are in store for dinner guests at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails on Sunday, June 7 from 5-8 p.m. The “farm” is a lot closer to town than you’d think. Executive chef Derek Dollar gleans his goodies right off Milton’s Acre in the backyard of the historic Crabapple restaurant. Live music and lawn games entertain farm hands of all ages. There’ll be no “cussin’,” but finger licking is allowed! $35 per person (excluding tax, gratuity and alcoholic beverages); buy tickets online. Those beach bound and out of town on June 7 can look ahead to upcoming Farmyard Chowdowns on August 16 and September 13. More info: 770-817-0161.

Come Out of Your Shell for $1 Oysters at Aqua blue

Leave the shuckin’ to Aqua blue. The Roswell restaurant known for its global cuisine, deliciously prepared seafood and sushi is sliding an oyster promotion onto the menu.  Through May 31, diners can purchase raw oysters for just $1 each – all day, every day.  Shell out for the oysters and stay on for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner beginning at 4 p.m. seven nights a week. 

#Foodgram: @atlantafoodie

If you can’t stand the heat of a hot kitchen in summer, do the digital thing and look at the hot food photos from @atlantafoodie. This Atlanta-based foodie also posts chill-factor shots of cold beers and oysters on ice.

The Optimist Sets Sail for 6th Annual Oyster Cook-Off in Gulf Shores on November 9

Summers at the beach? Amateur hour. We're all about fall excursions with cool breezes and no crowds. For example, while we're here raking up seemingly endless waves of fallen leaves, the folks in Gulf Shores, Alabama, are hauling in bushels of fresh oysters. Thankfully, The Hangout cracked open a way to share all of these good things with the rest of us, creating its first Oyster Cook-Off six years ago. This year's eat-fest, presented by Alabama Gulf Seafood and hosted by The Hangout on Saturday, November 9, shows how far the popularity has spread with celebrity chefs coming in from as far afield as Hawaii. The Optimist joins more than 70 notable chefs and restaurants from the Southeast and beyond participating in the event. Chefs will create their own "Rockefeller," "Cajun" or "raw" oyster dishes as they compete for more than $10,000 in prizes. Beginning at 11 a.m., oyster connoisseurs can ante up tasting tickets ($2 each or $30 for a book of 20) to sample the fixins. An Absolut bloody mary buffet, live music, cooking demos, football viewing, oyster-shucking contests, games and prizes keep the party flowing. Friday, November 8 pre-party runs from 7:30-11 p.m. for early comers.

Seven Lamps Rolls Out $1 Oysters, $3 "Champagne" Beer-Tails and Sunday Chicken & Waffles Specials

New food and drink specials at Seven Lamps in Buckhead are here to help you get the most out of your week. Keep spirits up during the work week and visit the Buckhead restaurant for $1 oysters and $3 “champagne” (Miller High Life beer-tails). The oysters and “champagne” are available Monday through Friday from 5-7 p.m. For a seriously satisfying and finger-lickin' end to the weekend, try the the new chicken and waffles dinner special. Available only on Sunday evenings from 5-10 p.m., executive chef Drew Van Leuvan whips up  juicy fried chicken, cheddar waffles plus a side, which will change each week. A half chicken portion is $16 and a whole chicken is $28. 

Stay Up Late on Sundays at Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna and Come Early for Oyster Specials

      

When Sunday night rolls around, sometimes it's difficult to accept the fact that the weekend is coming to a close. For those of you not ready to succumb to the work week blues, Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna stays open late on Sundays with live music from 9:30 p.m. until 4 a.m., $3 well drinks and $2 and $3 shot specials. Also on Sundays and Wednesdays, the restaurant is serving up New Orleans charred oysters and oysters on the half shell starting at 5 p.m. Make sure to come early as these are available on a first-come, first-serve basis!

The Optimist Opens May 21, Bringing Sustainable Seafood To West Midtown

Photo by Andrew Thomas Lee

Fishermen embrace each day on the water as an opportunity to catch the next big one. As owner of The Optimist, West Midtown's soon-to-open sustainable seafood restaurant, Ford Fry finds the positive word appealing. The name "Optimist" was actually suggested by Fry's father, referring to a small sailing dinghy for children. Look for The Optimist and Oyster Bar at The Optimist to open Monday, May 21 at 914 Howell Mill Road. 

The restaurant will offer high-quality seafood, classically prepared in a wood-burning grill and oven and served in environs that evoke a vintage Savannah fishery feel. Weekdays, The Optimist lunch menu offers a selection of fish entrées, salads and sandwiches ($12-$19). Lunch might be crispy day-boat flounder with ricotta gnocchi, ale-battered haddock fish and chips or a chopped salad with wood-roasted organic chicken and local feta. 

Open nightly, the restaurant divvies up its dinner menu ($2.50-$26) into categories of On Ice, Start, Fish, Farm, Sides and Such, and Pies, Cakes and Frozen Stuff. Start salivating for East Coast oysters with fresh horseradish mignonette; Florida grouper with smoked Vidalia onion and horseradish broth; roasted Heritage pork with farm spinach and sherry onions; duck fat-poached swordfish with pickled sweet peppers and crispy pancetta; and buttermilk doughnuts, sweet corn ice cream and red pepper jam. 

For liquid refreshment, look for seafood-friendly wines from global coastal regions, American port-city microbrews and creative cocktails with a seaside twist ("The Truth As We Know It" martini has a smoked salmon garnish). Lunch is served Monday - Friday 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; dinner Sunday - Thursday 5 - 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 5 - 11 p.m.

Oyster Bar at The Optimist, is a casual "fish camp" style place with an outdoor patio and of course, an oyster bar. Venice Beach in the 1970s? You're there now. Raw bar and small plate prices run $2.50-$14 for tempters such as peel-and-eat Georgia shrimp, smoked haddock chowder and Maine lobster roll with shoestring fries. An ice-display station features a daily punch and "oyster backs," mini-cocktails that pair with the day's raw bar specials. 

Doors open at 5 p.m. weekdays and 3 p.m. weekends. Closing? When the fish stop running for the night. Add the phone number to your contacts now to get ready: 404-477-6260.