Best of the Day: The Best Places for $1 Oysters in Boston

Welcome to Best of the Day, our daily recommendation for what to check out around town. If you do one thing in Boston today, consider this.

Oyster photo by Farrukh on Flickr

“O Oysters,” said the Carpenter,
“You’ve had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?”
But answer came there none—
And this was scarcely odd, because
They’d eaten every one.

— “The Walrus and The Carpenter,” Lewis Carroll

Here we are, in the golden age of the oyster: According to Island Creek Oysters founder and owner Skip Bennett, we have entered “America’s oyster renaissance,” a time when bivalves are bountiful and demand is high.

August 5 marks National Oyster Day—which might be a curious thing to celebrate in the month of August, considering that it’s not a month with “R” in its name. Traditionally, that was considered a time for oyster seekers to steer clear. But you can rest easy: That old chestnut only applies to wild-caught oysters, not the farmed (and rigorously tested) oysters that appear in restaurants.

So let’s celebrate with some $1 oysters. Where can you find yours? Here are some of the best dollar-oyster deals in town (and beyond), from 25 of our favorite restaurants.

BOSTON

Boston Chops
Sundays, 3-5 p.m.

Les Zygomates
Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.

Tavern Road
Mondays, 5-7 p.m.

Terramia Ristorante
Sunday-Thursday, 5-7 p.m.

Towne Stove and Spirits
Mondays, 4-8 p.m.

Umbria Prime
Wednesdays-Fridays, 4-6 p.m.

BROOKLINE

Lineage
Daily, 5-7 p.m. (4-7 p.m. on Sundays).

CAMBRIDGE

Commonwealth
Sundays, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Dante
Daily, 4-6 p.m.

Grafton Street
Daily, After 11 p.m.

Puritan & Co.
Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. until oysters run out.

Rialto
Mondays, 5:30 p.m. until oysters run out.

Russell House Tavern
Daily, 11 p.m.-12 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday.

Ten Tables, Cambridge
Monday-Friday, 5:30-7 p.m.

Viale
Monday-Friday, 5-7 p.m.

DORCHESTER

Ashmont Grill
Thursdays.

JAMAICA PLAIN

Ten Tables, J.P.
Sundays, 3-5 p.m.

SOMERVILLE

Bergamot
Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-11 p.m.

La Brasa
Daily (closed Tuesdays), 5-6 p.m.

BEYOND BOSTON

51 Lincoln
Tuesdays.

Brine Oyster Bar
Thursdays, 9-11:45 p.m.

5 Corners Kitchen
Daily, 5-6 p.m.

Oro
Wednesdays.

Scarlet Oak Tavern
Monday-Wednesday, 5-9 p.m.

The Grog
Daily.

Zebra’s Bistro and Wine Bar
Mondays, 4:30 p.m.-close.

To find more oysters, consult Pearl, an app that helps you find oysters at local restaurants.