‘O’ is for October and oysters at Elizabeth City’s C & H Oyster Bar

Founded in 1967 with a roster of famous people who have visited over the years such as Walter Cronkite, Catfish Hunter, Wolfman Jack, and Chet Atkins, the independently-owned C & H Oyster Bar (1524 N. Road St.; 252-338-3300) is open October through April and draws a crowd who eat the fresh raw oysters on the half shell as fast as the shuckers—who shuck about 90 bushels of the bivalves a week—can plate them. With a relaxed, quaint atmosphere where the staff knows customers by name and vice versa, “The Oyster Bar,” as it is known by locals, has received accolades from national and regional magazines and the seafood speaks for itself.

In addition to the shucked-right-in-front-of-you plump, raw beauties, there's a menu full of family-style cooked options like fried fish, steamed shrimp and lump crab meat with southern fixings and The Oyster Bar's famous chocolate cream pie for dessert. No reservations are necessary—it's first come, first serve—so bring your appetite for "a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck."

Simone Cooper is a publicist and branding specialist who is also a mid-century modern fanatic. When she’s not assisting clients with messaging, you can find her hunting for furniture and housewares from the 1960s.

Check out these related articles...