Welcome to 42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill
42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill, a longstanding Raleigh gem since 1934, offers a classic dining experience. Known for its fresh seafood selections and cozy atmosphere, this establishment caters to a diverse clientele. From succulent shrimp cocktail to indulgent crab cakes, every dish exudes quality and flavor. The attentive service and historical charm create a memorable dining experience. Whether enjoying oysters at the bar or savoring a seafood entree, 42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill delivers a consistently exceptional dining experience that keeps patrons coming back for more.
- 508 W Jones St Raleigh, NC 27603508 W Jones St Raleigh, NC 27603 Hotline: (919) 831-2811
Welcome to the delightful world of 42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill, a cherished gem in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina. Located at 508 W Jones St, this establishment has long been a beloved destination for seafood enthusiasts and casual diners alike. When you step inside, you are welcomed by a warm, inviting atmosphere that feels both classic and timeless, making it the perfect backdrop for a memorable meal.
As a reviewer, I strive to delve into the essence of every dining experience, and 42nd Street never fails to impress. Their menu, which fuses traditional American seafood dishes with a modern twist, features an impressive array of culinary delights. From the renowned New England Clam Chowder to the indulgent Shrimp & Crabmeat Fettuccine, each dish is crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients that reflect the chef's dedication to the art of seafood cookery.
One of the highlights of my recent visit was the blackened bacon-wrapped scallops—a tantalizing dish that combines bold flavors with a luxurious texture. Paired with roasted tomato cream and complemented by a medley of spinach and parmesan, it was nothing short of extraordinary. Additionally, the option to savor fresh oysters by the single is a rarity that makes this spot stand out. Whether you prefer them raw or cooked, the sheer variety is sure to excite any seafood lover.
Beyond the food, the service at 42nd Street Oyster Bar is exemplary. Friendly staff attend to your every need, effortlessly enhancing your experience. Many patrons, like Ruby S. and Tricia G., share glowing testimonials about the attentive service and flavorful dishes. And it’s not uncommon to finish your meal with their decadent house-made chocolate silk pie or a slice of creamy cheesecake, leaving a sweet impression that lingers long after you leave.
The combination of a vibrant atmosphere, consistently high-quality dishes, and genuine hospitality makes 42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill a staple for both locals and visitors. Whether you're enjoying a casual dinner before a soccer game, celebrating a special occasion, or simply seeking a fresh seafood experience, this restaurant promises to delight your palate and warm your heart.
For those seeking an unforgettable journey into the world of seafood, make your way to 42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill. A truly enriching dining experience awaits you!

Wonderful dinner experience. We came before the dinner rush started. Split a bottle of white wine, enjoyed steamed shrimp in buttery spices with baked sweet potato, side salad and hushpuppies. Expert service person, who somehow talked me into a made in house chocolate silk pie for dessert. Voila!

The food here is usually pretty good. This time was not up to the usual. It's pretty expensive to be just ok. Still giving it 4* as I have been here when it was exceptional. Hopefully this is not a trend.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal here for my birthday; 3 varieties of fresh oysters and seafood entrees. Service was top notch. We ended our.meal with a delicious slice of cheesecake. Yum!

Always, Always my favorite place in Raleigh. I'm a creature of habit and this habit has never disappointed. Bull City to drink, and 3 appetizers made my meal this trip; seafood bisque, blackened bacon wrapped scallops, and fried green tomatoes ( pimento cheese and Cajun shrimp) Needed a quick meal before the MC vs. Celtic FC soccer game and everything came out back to back to back. No issues. Great meal, great service and quiet relaxing atmosphere. Cheers!

Cool restaurant that has been around for a long time! We didn't know what to expect when we walked in but we were greeted right away and the service was super friendly. We sat at the bar for a drink and tried a couple oysters and they were really great. You can buy single oysters which is hard to find. The vibe inside was very neat and old school. If I am ever in the area I would go back to try some food!

Walking into the restaurant it was very clean and a lot fancy than I expected for an oyster bar. The service from our waiter 'Price' was absolutely fantastic. He was consistently on top of everything and made sure we were taken care of. All of the food tasted amazing and the crab cakes had great flavor. The reason I put a 4 star instead of a 5 is the crab cakes were super small. When you order $36 'jumbo' crab cakes I feel like they should be larger than the palm of your hand. But these were so small it was disappointing. Now the flavor was great but there needed to be more. Also, the raw oysters were incredible!!

I will be honest, I was not sure what to expect from 42nd Street. Many reviews are great, but there were a few that were average. I decided to give it a try when my family was in town for a visit and I'm glad I did! The history of the restaurant is very cool! It has been open since 1934 and have some older pictures and history around. It is a darker place, white tablecloths but not fancy by any means. Frank Sinatra was playing for part of our dinner. Huge bar and you can see into the kitchen which I thought was neat as well. They start with giving you hushpuppies and butter instead of bread which we enjoyed, they are a bit addicting. We started with a few oysters which were super fresh and delicious! They came with cocktail and a mignonette, which I appreciated (must have the mignonette)! I decided to get one of the fresh fish options - blackened local mahi mahi with the 42nd street potato on the side. Delicious! The fish was fresh, flavorful and cooked perfectly, the blackened seasoning gave it just enough spice. Do not skip the 4nd street potato - very cheesy, creamy and good! Appreciated the salad that came with it as well. The rest of my family also enjoyed their meals thoroughly. My dad is still talking about it! Prices are on the expensive side but between the high puppies, salad and side I thought they were justified. In terms of cocktails, I thought they were decent, not the best I've had my any means. I think there is some room for improvement there, but I may be what you call a "cocktail snob." Good selection of drinks though. Our server was attentive for the most part, however, she did take awhile to come back to take our order. But our food came out relatively quickly after that so no complaints there. Definitely recommend!

To be honest, this isn't my typical type of place to dine but I needed to set up a business meal for my peers and this was the top choice among them. Let me start off with the service. As soon as I walked in, half my compadres were already there (at the bar) and I was greeted by three ladies who each seem eager to serve me. I told them who I was and they immediately knew where my party was and told me as soon as we wanted to be seated to just let them know. A great start! After being seated, our waitress came along and she was absolutely wonderful. She never missed a thing and was on top of from the get go. Every appetizer, entree, and dessert was right on time and given to the right person without question. So why 4 stars? In all honesty, everyone said the same thing. The food was good but nothing special. I mean, if I'm going to pay $40 for a NY Strip, it should dissolve in my mouth, taste brilliant and make me want to come back. If it's going to be no different than a $20 steak at a steakhouse I'll just go there. So it's not that the food wasn't good, it was just over priced for the quality. I do recommend them overall if you've got extra money to spend.

Thankfully this establishment met my high expectations of it! We had 3 types of raw oysters along with Rockefeller and 42nd st oysters(baked), mussels, and later split the shrimp & grits entree. Everything was amazing! From the food to the service to the drinks, 5 stars all around! The restaurant is massive yet still manages to get so crowded that we had to make a reservation a day in advance. I highly recommend you check this place out while in Raleigh.