Guests who frequent the oyster bar are well-acquainted with Wellfleet oysters- they are featured regularly on our raw bar menu and for good reason. Although this species of oyster is the same one found up and down the east coast, local environmental conditions and generations of careful harvesting have contributed to its unique shape and flavor profile. The locally harvested long-shaped, hard shelled variety of crassostrea virginica deliver a plump, clean oyster striking the perfect balance between cream and brine flavor. The cold waters off the cape make these oysters sweeter than some of their southern cousins. Strong steady tides bring plenty of nutrients for Wellfleet oysters, allowing them to grow plump in a relatively short period of time. The high salinity content in these waters also lends to the oyster’s clean, salty flavor. And finally, as vacationers to the area can attest, Wellfleet waters are some of the cleanest and clearest off Massachusetts shores, which lends itself to the thriving, toxic-free oyster beds that define Wellfleet harbor.
If you have some free time left this summer, it is truly worth the time to make a trip down to the idealistic little Cape town of Wellfleet, which is just a few hours drive from Boston. The town offers a quaint downtown with lots of shopping, pristine beaches for every personality and of course- some of the very best oysters around featured at just about every restaurant. Later, in October, the town celebrates its most famous export with a local festival called Oysterfest. You can read more about this tradition by clicking here.
Or, if you’re all booked up through the fall, you can always make a quick stop at Turner’s instead to pick up your Wellfleet oysters instead. You can always call ahead to see what our daily varieties of oytsers are- and we hope to see you at the oyster bar soon!
