Dining out isn’t cheap these days. Yet every time we stroll past one of Toronto’s best patios, we have the urge to say “Screw it!” to our laundry, meal plans and responsibilities in favour of an afternoon of good food and drink in the sunshine. Oysters in Toronto are a wonderful al fresco accompaniment to the city’s best summer cocktails, and luckily, the city is as obsessed with the shellfish as we are.
It might seem like a luxury food, but Toronto’s oyster game is brimming with great deals, from buck-a-shuck offers (in THIS economy?) to wine and mollusk dining deals that’ll have you shouting “Shell yeah!” We’ve rounded up the best Toronto oyster deals by day of the week, so you can slurp back those briny beauties every single day of the week (although, we wouldn’t exactly recommend it).
From classic seafood spots around the city like Oyster Boy, Island Oysters and Pure Spirits to breweries, bars and secret hideaways in Toronto, we’ve got the buck-a-shuck deal for you.
The best buck-a-shuck and oyster deals in Toronto
1. Island Oysters
1165 Bloor St. W.
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This small oyster bar on Bloor West slings sustainably harvested oysters sourced from Canada’s coasts. Every Thursday from 5–7 p.m., gulp briny beauties for a buck-fifty during their Malpeque Happy Hours; Wednesdays, a rotating selection of oysters are just a toonie apiece. You can order them to-go, for delivery, or dine-in and order a whole tasting platter if you’re in the mood to taste the ocean.
2. Melrose on Adelaide
270 Adelaide St. W.
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Further cementing itself as one of the best date spots in Toronto, Melrose on Adelaide has Buck-a-Shuck Sundays. Time it with their 10 p.m.–2 a.m. happy hour for a romantic evening out, at a fraction of the cost. A drink purchase is necessary with your bivavles — bottles of prosecco are available for just $45, too.
3. Pearl Diver
100 Adelaide St. E.
If you’ve got a hundred-dollar bill handy and a ravenous appetite, head to Pearl Diver, the seafood-themed restaurant near St. Lawrence Market. Every Thursday, they’ve got 100 oysters for $100 — you’ll want to bring some friends to help you with this feast. If that’s a bit too ambitious, you can opt for a dozen oysters for $24 every day.
4. Watson’s
388 Richmond St. W.
This upscale cocktail bar has buck-a-shuck oyster specials every Sunday from 7 p.m. – 2 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 6 p.m.–7 p.m. and 11 p.m.–midnight, and Monday from 6 p.m. – 2 a.m. Bottles of wine are half-price, too, which sounds like the perfect date night to us.
5. La Plume
453 Wellington St. W.
On Monday from 4–6 p.m., and Tuesdays–Sundays from 2–6 p.m., oysters are 50 per off at La Plume in The Well — so, 6 for $13 or 12 for $25. They’re served with classic fixins like red wine mignonette and horseradish.
6. Jump
18 Wellington St. W.
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Oliver and Bonacini’s Wellington Street stalwart has one-dollar oysters every Friday, from 2 p.m to close, when you purchase a bottle of wine (with a maximum of 24 oysters per bottle). Knock them back on their “hidden” courtyard patio, weather permitting.
7. Pure Spirits
17 Tank House Lane
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Whether you’re tucking into their Shucker’s Dozen, or $2 Tuesday (from 12 p.m to 9 p.m) buck-a-shuck special, this no-frills Distillery District restaurant is one of the best spots in the city for fresh seafood. Their oysters are flown in from across Canada, and the world, daily.
8. Nome Izakaya
92 Fort York Blvd.
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Snag a spot in this cozy Fork York izakaya for buck-a-shuck bivavles every Tuesday and Wednesday. If your appetite is as deep as the ocean, grab a plate of succulent Nome fried chicken thigh, or a tray of rib eye sliders.
9. Biff’s Bistro
4 Front St. E.
You know what goes really well with a hot plate of coq au vine or boeuf bourguignon? Oysters — surprise! Biff's is downtown's answer for French faves and $2 oysters from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. every day (with a bottle of wine).
10. Diana’s Oyster Bar & Grill
2105 Lawrence Ave. E.
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This nautical-themed Scarborough gem is the ideal spot to catch up with friends over a dozen oysters. If you’re looking for the best buck a shuck in Toronto, Diana’s Oyster Bar & Grill has you covered. Enjoy Malpeque oysters on the half shell with all the trimmings for $1.50 every day with the purchase of an appetizer or entree. If that’s not enough to fill you up, Diana’s Clam Chowder, with chopped clams, smoked bacon and potatoes, is a delicious addition.
scarborough.dianasoysterbar.com
11. Bar Neon
1226 Bloor St. W.
This Bloordale haunt is the definition of a neighbourhood spot. Its laid-back atmosphere and lived-in retro space are as comforting as their house-made bread. Get your fill of contemporary Mediterranean mezze and half a dozen buck-a-shuck oysters every day from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. (when you order any drink).
12. Oyster Boy
872 Queen St. W.
Oysters for a picnic in Bellwoods? Oyster Boy is just steps away, a.k.a. one of the best spots for pre-shucked oysters in Toronto. Step inside the marine-inspired restaurant where oysters from the East and West coasts arrive each day. Grab a seat and watch the pros shuck bivalves right in front of you, and pair it with a glass of crisp white wine from Ontario, Europe or New Zealand. While Oyster Boy doesn’t do buck a shuck, per se, there are still deals to be had. On weekdays, it’s half-price on the briny beauties and select appetizers from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m., so kick off the weekend a touch early and the world will be your oyster.
13. Rodney’s Oyster House
469 King St. W.
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You can't make a list of the best Toronto oysters without this OG on it. The King West restaurant is well-known for their wide variety of oysters, from B.C.'s Fanny Bay to P.E.I.'s Sweet Blue. Their menu is always changing, but you can usually expect a selection of nine to 26 different types of daily oysters (about $3 a pop).
