Dylan’s Oyster Cellar

I have been keeping an eye out for these guys for a long time. They did not disappoint. And I don’t know how they do it with just a cooler full of oysters and an open flame.
Guest Post written by dear friend, Matt Baker:
Your esteemed editor invited me to write a few words about the «oyster pop up» mentioned in her W.C. Harlan’s post. Now, I love a good meal but I could care less about the china and which fork to use for which course and the protocol for sampling the wine before you drink it. So, when I hear oysters and other goodies on paper plates with plastic utensils in a tent on a sidewalk on an exceedingly random block in Remington, sign me up.
Full disclosure, this was an opportunity for me to redeem myself. When Dylan’s Oyster Cellar was open in The Hatch in Mount Vernon-​literally 30 seconds from my apartment– for much of the last year, I never went. Talked about going all the time but failed to actually go… which is all the more sad now that I’ve had the opportunity to sample Dylan’s fantastic ideas (cue banging head on desk).
Dylan and staff set up outside W.C. Harlan’s for two weekends in December. After setting ourselves up with cocktails inside the bar, we went outside to the tent to get some dinner. You’d expect the oysters to be fantastic-​they were. More on that in a second. But, the small-​plate-​like sides might have been even better.
We started with grilled spring onions; simple enough. Yet, when topped with a spicy vaguely southeast Asian chili sauce… well, damn. I think there might have been peanuts involved; there was definitely something nutty that really pulled the sauce together.
Next, we tried another fantastic, simple, flavorful plate: grilled sardines on toast. A lot of people hear sardine and run. But, these were melt-​in-​your-​mouth good. Not so much salty as sweet.
Lastly, beans. Dear Lord, the beans. Wow, beans. We had a running commentary trying to figure out just what was in these beans. And, we all assumed there had to be some kind of cured pig in there. Turns out, none at all. Chef cooks down onions and garlic and shallots into a base until so concentrated, we mistook it for pig. Maybe we just have untrained palates or maybe he’s just very sneaky and very talented.
As for the oysters. They were offering two varieties that night, a briny, tastes-​like-​ocean from off Cape Cod and a sweeter, more delicate local oyster from the Bay (Sweet Baby Jesus, maybe?). You could get them both raw and grilled. Raw oysters with a spritz of lemon, always one of my favorites. But, grilled oysters, a bit of an unknown quantity for me. No longer. Abby found out the hard way that grilled oysters are hot (be careful!). But, as long as you didn’t scald the roof of your mouth on bubbling oyster liqueur, they’re absolutely amazing.
Dylan’s is planning a new, I hope permanent, location to open sometime in 2015. I, for one, cannot wait.

Came in here a few weeks ago for a special-​occasion-​celebration-​kinda-​night. Without a doubt, the best oysters I’ve ever had. The kind that make you at a loss of words for 20 seconds (transient oyster induced aphasia for any of my fellow science nerds out there). The kind that ruin you forever with the threat of never being able to enjoy the $ 1 buck-​a-​shucks touted elsewhere. I think I may have cried unicorn tears.
My understanding is that they’re closing down their pop-​up right about now with plans to do a real brick-​and-​mortar, and when they do — you must go.
Of note: This isn’t a lets-​grab-​a-​cheap-​quick bite kinda place. The service is on the slower side than other options. But honestly people, the waitstaff is doing it all by hand for you. There’s no slew of dudes in the back room doing behind-​the-​scenes kinda shit. So sit back, relax, and enjoy having a slow food dining experience. Anyone who complains about slow service while they watch their servers working to shuck their oysters on order shouldn’t be invited to this place anyway.

It you’re into oysters then this is a place that you have to stop into.
Friendly down to earth atmosphere, Dylan is always here meeting and greeting with new and old customers.
The drinks are awesome and the staff is amazing.

Do you want oyster? This is like the freakin’ zen kung fu master of oysters. We ordered oysters and cocktails, and both were absolutely excellent in every way. While the food wasn’t nearly enough to fill us up for the night (we ended up eating a heartier meal elsewhere), this place served as a great appetizer for the night.
Definitely try their «mystery» cocktail — it’s worth every dime, whatever it was.
Make sure to get here early and quick — they have a bad tendency to run out of oysters quickly.

I’ve wanted to come here all summer and after finding out it was closing this week, I had to come!
Regarding the oysters, they were awesome! So fresh and a great selection. Totally worth the 5-​star rating this place has.
I really liked the vibe of the place: the décor, the lighting, everything. It’s casual and fun, but perhaps a bit too casual as we were there for about 2 hours for about 15 minutes of actual oyster-​eating time. That plus a grumpy waiter = docking 2 stars.
The bf and I arrived just before 7, but the place was filled, so we waited outside for about 20 minutes. Once seated, we ordered pretty quickly, but waited at least 10 minutes for our order to be picked up. At least another 30 – 40 minutes for our oysters to come out. Dylan apologized for the wait and threw in a few extra clams. He was super approachable and nice, but our other waiter was pretty grumpy, rude, and slow. We ended up just going up to the bar to pay because they weren’t coming around.

We went late last night. Unexpected neighborhood to find any restaurant in. Pleasant surprise.
Clean & simple. Very hipster vibe with lots of 40’s & 50’s music playing.
We are not hipsters. At all. Usually find that «type» seriously off putting. That being said, this spot pulls it off. No pretentiousness here.
Staff is very friendly & helpful. Forgot the name of our shucker but he was terrific. Perfect personality for this setting.
We sampled several types of oyster & let the shucker pick a few recommendations not on the menu. So glad we did. Our hands down favorite was his pick, Island Creek.
The owner came out & was chatting with customers. Very friendly. Very professional. Very engaging. Genuine love of his craft shows in what he, and his team, are creating here.
Unique drinks that were a pleasant surprise.
Bill lower than we expected too. Always a plus!
Sounds like they will be moving out of this starter location into a larger permanent space soon. We can’t wait to see what they do as they grow.
Some people like to keep their «hidden gems», but this place deserves attention.
Nothing but top praise for this spot.

Dylan’s Oyster Cellar is a great little place. The quality of oysters and service is spectacular. We ended up getting the oysters from Cape Cod, MA and they were delicious. The drinks were great as well. Cute place that I highly recommend for an fun date or a chill time with your friends.

This is coolest place to eat Oysters and have drinks. Dylan the owner was behind the bar doing the shucking and mixing great drinks. Try it all and stay awhile. A must when you have foodie time in Charm City!

Came here late night for drinks and oysters. Whoa! Awesome. It’s located underground around the corner from Dooby’s and the Helmand. It’s an incubator spot for small businesses run and owned by Dooby’s. Their business must be good because they are planning to move sometime soon to another downtown location.
Inside is clean, with a hipster/​NYC vibe similar to Dooby’s and thankfully not dive bar/​grunge bar Baltimore style. The staff was welcoming, knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. The oysters were fantastic. We had an assortment of local raised oysters and some from the West coast, in addition to some clams. I didn’t try any of the sauces etc because they were sooo tasty. Perfectly shucked, meaty, sweet and briney.
I don’t know how $ they were because a few of us just split the bill. However, if you appreciate awesome oysters then it is totally worth it. There also seemed to be a nice assortment of beers and liquor for those with discerning taste. Thames St. does great work with oysters but Dylan et al are better.
Good luck to these guys… and I’ll be back.

Oysters and drinks. That’s what Dylan’s Oyster Cellar offers.
There are different oysters on the menu every so often because this place makes sure to acquire and sell the freshest batch they can find. Coming in all shapes and sizes, this is the one place where you’re taste buds will be able to differentiate the slight nuances between the oysters.
It’s great to have an oyster specialty shop in the area. Maybe adding some bar food or appetizers might be worth considering in the future though?

Sweet little spot for tasty oysters and sublime cocktails.
Dylan’s is our new favorite spot for a post– or pre– movie bite and libation. The mood is always friendly and welcoming. Pleasant lighting, attractive art and fresh design make the place feel so sweet! I recommend getting the shucker’s choice… he will set you up with a fine selection of different oysters. Don’t overlook the other offerings. One night they presented us with some lovely boquorones on a baguette with butter… HEAVEN!
Don’t wait! Dylan’s is a pop-​up. They won’t be around forever!

I came here the first night that Dylan’s opened a few weeks ago. Full disclosure, sadly I am not a fan of Oysters, BUT everyone I was with said theirs were great!
The décor is beautiful, and not over the top. Get here early because the limited seating fills up quickly!
I did have a great drink, Molly’s Punch and I also had some sparkling white that was super yummy. Be sure to check out this pop-​up oyster bar while it’s still around. I believe I learned that the location is a pop-​up restaurant space so lots of new things will be here in the future!

Lively, but still intimate oyster cellar in Mount Vernon. Small, but perfect selection of cocktails and brew. Excellent oyster selection and amazing personal service. Great for date night or with friends.

If you are looking for the freshest and tastiest oysters around then you have found the right spot. Dylan is an «oyster encyclopedia» and his knowledge shows up with his constantly changing menu of delectable oysters. I know I can find new oysters on the menu every week/​2 weeks which always leaves me excited to come back and try what just arrived.
If oysters aren’t your thing then definitely at least stop by for a drink! The drinks are high quality, the bartender «slippy» is a great mixologist and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
If you love networking then come in and sit at the «community table» where you can have enough privacy to talk to whom your with but have the option of meeting great new people!
I love the oyster cellar and I’m sure you will too!

Parking is hell so find a parking lot around the corner after 5pm flat rate $ 11.50 (cash only). Inside the cellar is tight, tiny, and limited seating. Limited menu so basically this is just an oyster house and you should eat dinner before you come.
We love it because that’s all were looking for is a fresh oyster spot and we got what we wanted. This is an up & coming spot so be patient w/​the wait staff. It’s pricey since your paying for each oyster which range from $ 2 – 3. Will be back and when they get more space maybe the prices will lower who knows but is nice to have fresh local & new oysters to try.
Minus for us parking, limited seating/​menu, prices

Who doesn’t like fresh oysters?!
I was super excited when I saw that Mt. Vernon was getting a oyster bar.
It helped that it was super close to my apt.
I visited Dylan’s post a evening out at the Walters’.
The staff was helpful and knowledgeable.
I am already quite learned in oysters and knew what flavors I was seeking.
The oysters came out in a timely manner. They were nice and cold. Nothing like going to a spot that sells raw oysters and they’re luke warm :(. None of that here.
Oysters range in price depending on their region. Oysters can run you anywhere from 2 – 3 bucks per. If you are a fan of oysters you can easily put away a few dozen here at Dylan’s. Guard your wallet’s! :)

Dylan’s Oyster Cellar is the best oyster house in Baltimore by far. The oysters are always fresh and tasty, and the house made mignonette is delicious. They also have an extensive, high quality drink menu. I’ve been here over half a dozen times, and each time I’ve been able to try new oysters. I always appreciate a place that offers new options frequently.
I find myself skipping appetizers and coming here instead before meals in Mt. Vernon. The staff is really friendly and knowledgable, so stop by soon!

OMG… right on Madison (well Charles St & Madison) …is the bestv#rawbar to hit Baltimore yet!
I strolled into Dylan’s after an evening at the Walters Art Museum (peep that review & why it’s the perfect date spot) and was amazed to find that the handsome young man shucking was Dylan himself.
Even if you’re not an oyster connoisseur its all good, Dylan’s will make you an expert… you’ll be informed on where the oysters came from and the taste to be expected during your dining experience.
Must haves the #SkinnyDippers #Shagokous with tabasco & with the homemade Mignonette (Dylan’s been perfecting it for years) #JustCuriousLifeEats

Awesome OYSTERS, crew, & cozy décor.
Super pumped to have a quality Mt. Vernon OYSTER spot, thanks Dylan!

Raw oysters and drinks. That’s it, and it’s great.
This spot is in the «Hatch» where Dooby’s started — a space that is now being used as an incubator for other businesses. The oysters are from up and down the East Coast (with many from MD), and Dylan is very knowledgeable about the farmers and the stories behind them all. They are served raw on ice and all the ones we tried were incredibly flavorful, fresh, and interesting. The European Flats were especially unusual with a very strong taste — an «umami» as Dylan called it. Impossible to describe, worth trying.
The layout and décor is sparse, simple, and lovely. We tried two cocktails, and they were both delicious. Played a game of mancala while enjoying our oysters and drinks. Dylan was friendly and the oyster cellar was a great place to stop off before dinner. Can’t wait to see it continue developing.