Cull & Pistol Oyster Bar

I came here last week for Happy Hour and boy, was I impressed! $ 1 oysters is always good, but $ 1 for ALL oysters on the menu is even better. I got 26 oysters, a cup of Clam Chowder, and sangria for $ 37. That was definitely a steal. I’m definitely coming back here and not just for the deal, but for service as well! Stop by and try it out. You won’t regret.

Tiny restaurant located in Chelsea Market. Excellent seafood at reasonable prices. The Connecticut lobster roll is sublime. Wine list is good albeit overpriced. Service friendly. Be sure to make reservations.

Wow! The weekday happy hour is an exceptional deal! It’s really unbelievable that you can get top quality, good-​sized, freshly shucked oysters and delicious clams for $ 1 each. Cull & Pistol is a semi-​fancy sit-​down spot owned by the Lobster Place market next door. These two places are really the best of Chelsea Market. Do expect a wait for the popular happy hour. Not to worry, though. You can have a lobster roll at the Lobster Place, and you’ll get a call when a spot opens up at the Cull & Pistol raw bar. Tables are only for dinner. All of the oysters on the raw bar menu, a total of 10 varieties, are a dollar each. The Happy Hour menu also includes very reasonably priced New England Clam Chowder, fries, steamed mussels, fried oysters, fish tacos, and lobster sliders. You will get a menu with a great description: first, where the oyster is from — New Brunswick, Prince Edward Isle, Maine, Maryland, Washington, etc., and a description of taste and texture. They describe the salinity as low, low medium, medium, medium high, and high. Some oysters are described as having a meaty texture. They also describe the finish, for example, clean, sweet, crisp, or vegetal. For me, the Mystic, Noank were my favorite. You can watch the cute chef shucking the oysters, and the bartenders are nice enough. Oysters are served with house-​made cocktail sauce & mignonette. Yum!

Fresh live seafood, friendly staffs.
They were running low on Uni when we were there early for dinner.
only down side it the way they prepare the seafood.
Uni was probably pre-​soaked in water with radish, so the original flavor is totally lost, it was fresh, but with not uni taste, that’s a no no.
The live scallop was prepare with heavy yuzu dressing and chive topping, these two aromas are too strong and also took away the freshness and its original flavor.
I really hope that they can see this review and have the chefs reconsider on going light when preparing live seafood.

Very impressed! For someone having lobster for the first time, I would definitely recommend this place. The servers were very friendly and helpful, as well as attentive.
I ordered the 1 and ½ lb lobster grilled, which the server suggested. It was cracked open for us so we didn’t have to dig through it like complete savages. We also shared the Connecticut Lobster roll, which was smaller than expected for close to $ 30 but still very satisfying. It also came with a heaping pile of fries that were super skinny and Delish.
Would definitely come back!

Summary of my experience:
Holy crap, $ 1 oysters during happy hour? Hell yes, sign me up.
Holy crap, the wait is 1.5 hours?
Holy crap, we actually got a seat before the end of happy hour? Let’s take a look at the menu…
Holy crap, there are different kinds of oysters? Hell yes, let me try all 10 of them.
Holy crap, these oysters taste so fresh. I was expecting dirt because they’re dirt cheap.
Holy crap, these oysters actually taste different!
Holy crap, we’re done? But I want more…
Holy crap, I’m coming back here again.

To this day, I still think the Scallop sashimi from Cull and Pistol, tastes the best. Never had I had scallop so Sweet and fresh. I cannot fully describe how good it tasted but I remember my impression of this place.
Ever since I returned home to the Bay in CA, I have been going to many sushi joints to try their scallops but have yet to find a place that serves or sells it as sweet as this place. It tastes as if I just dipped my hands into the ocean, scooped, cracked, cleaned, and popped into my mouth. I wish it wasn’t so pricey though. $ 9 for one scallop is a huge luxury haha. I had to stop myself from ordered a few more on the spot.
Also got the Fish and Chips. This I was not as much of a fan of. The fish was deep fried, personally prefer beer battered since it is lighter. The fish on the inside was also a bit dry. Tarter sauce was also kind of meh. There was also a mountain of fries.
They have a pretty young staff and they are all very chirpy and helpful, which is great. One of them even lent me her portable charger since my phone was 50%. I wanted an outlet but she lent me her charger :‘O so nice! The interior seems to be very tightly packed and dimmed to offer more intimacy but I wouldn’t say it was classy enough to be a super formal date/​dinner place. It teeters between casual and semi formal?
Def would be back one day for the scallops!!! BTW does anyone know where I can have delicious scallops that taste as fresh as Cull and Pistol… in the bay area, ca? Please? lol

*ATMOSPHERE*
Probably the only negative thing I’ll bring up in this entire review is the setting of this restaurant.
Firsr off, I hate, HATE the smell of raw seafood. It makes me sick. And the very first thing you see/​smell as you walk in is the display of raw seafood. You get used to the smell quickly though. The booths are a bit crammed together and don’t look like they provide a lot of moving space. We sat at the bar where the stools are stuck to the ground, which bothered me because I like scooting close to the bar. The decoration is very simple, but that’s good considering how small and cozy the restaurant is.
The restaurant itself is very clean.
*SERVICE*
The bartenders and servers are very helpful, friendly and quick to provide A+ service. They were very kind and got all the orders/​drinks right.
*FOOD*
I ordered the salmon burger. I expected that it would come with fries, but it did not. So I took some of my dad’s fries. I’m sure if you asked for fries with your salmon burger they’ll throw some in for you. It was delicious. I didn’t see a warning in the menu though that it would be as spicy as it was. Lucky for them I LOVE spicy food so I enjoyed it, but many people do not like spicy foods.
I also had the clam chowder which was delicious.
My dad ordered the oyster sampler with 4 Mayflower Point, 4 Warren’s cave, and 4 Widow’s hole oysters. I personally can’t bring myself to try oysters, but my dad was obsessing over how delicious they were to him.
He also had the lobster roll which he also liked.
*PRICES*
Pretty pricey, but well worth the money.
*RESTROOMS*
There was no toilet paper! It was also quite dark.
On the plus side, the restroom didn’t smell funky and was overall clean.

These tightly packed quarters offer very little wiggle room to comfortably enjoy a meal.
I’ve walked by C&P for many years, however it has always been so packed like a can of sardines that I never bothered to see it for myself. The one thing that made me decide to have dinner here was the: Sourdough with uni butter ($ 6). As a big fan of uni, that was music to my ears.
My friend and I were able to get seating as soon as we asked, around 5 pm on a Saturday night, however it was a high table next to the window seating. We decided to take it because the waitress had told another couple that the decision of their seating would be based on if we would take it or not.
We ordered the 12 oyster chef sampler ($ 29), the sourdough and uni butter ($ 6) and shared a cioppino ($ 19) and a hard cider ($ 6). I would suggest if you’re looking to have some oysters and don’t need the frills of a sit down restaurant, go next door and stand at the oyster bar. The cost of these oysters were certainly increased for the ambiance of the restaurant, the service and seating accommodations. The uni butter left a lot to be desired. the flavor of the uni was very subtle, almost too subtle and could have had a bit more salt. The cioppino was good, I appreciated the fresh herbs that were suspended within the soup. I thought they would just bring a bowl out and have us eat from it, however they nicely prepared the broth within two separate bowls for us.
This restaurant is definitely not for the claustrophobic.

Located inside Chelsea market, it is a little pricy, but nice seafood restaurant. We ordered a fresh, grilled lobster with cauliflower
side. four oysters from oyster bar menu, and kale salad and shared. We did not order any drinks or dessert. The total was $ 63 w/​o tips. The real sea pfood marker next door offers more affordable choices of seafood menu. Nice atmosphere, staff is friendly. Inbetween tables, there isn’t much space so it is hard to get in and out.
It is a good location to visit after going through the High Line from uptown to downtown.

L accueil s est avéré déplorable au point qu à peine installés nous sommes repartis.

Crowded and a bit tight especially if they seat you at the high top tables near the entrance. Thankfully the tables have hooks at the bottom to hang your bags and coats. Take advantage of the happy hour to get $ 1 oysters. They are pretty much what you would get at the Lobster Place, which is good considering they’re the same establishment. Go for the Pacific ones. Smaller, but sweeter. I wasn’t hungry so I got the Mussel Chowder. It was chock full of mussels but somewhat sandy. The mussels could have been cleaned a little better. I liked the corn, purple potatoes, and celery root but would have liked them in bigger chunks instead of tiny diced pieces. Best part was the puff pastry floating on top to dip in the creamy soup. My boyfriend enjoyed the Lobster Roll Connecticut style. They weren’t skimpy on the meat and the shoe string fries that came with it were crispy and seasoned with old bay seasoning. Addicting.

Es increíblemente buenoooooo, me encantó vale la pena pagar por comer aquí es excelente

I don’t know about you, but I sat at the bar. The oyster bar.
No words are needed here. Grab a dozen, and kiss the ocean. Repeat. Affordable, fresh, delicious!

They say you never forget your first. I’m so thankful to my friends for taking me to Cull & Pistol and forcing me to try my first oyster (my future wallet on the other hand will not be happy with this new hobby).
Right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Chelsea Market, this was an experience to remember. We came here immediately following brunch plus a short walk on The High Line.
The space itself has a rustic, hip vibe. There are approximately 8 tables and the bar can seat approximately 15. I imagine it can get super packed, but luckily we were immediately seated at the bar. Service was excellent, and the staff was incredibly patient, especially great for a first-​timer like myself! Jess was super attentive throughout our post-​brunch treat (Thanks Jess!!).
They have 10 different oysters and 2 different clams from different regions. We were recommended the Wiley Point (ME), Watch Hill (RI), and Fisher’s Island (NY) aka the ones with stars next to them. They were all super fresh and very smooth. With a pea-​sized drop of their house-​made cocktail, these oysters were so much better than I could have ever imagined. They paired wonderfully with the Vouvray sparkling wine we ordered.
We didn’t try anything else on the lunch menu today because we just came from brunch, but the lunch menu is also rather extensive and includes lobster which looked yummy. Will definitely have to check that out next time!
A+ location, Fantastic service, fresh oysters, truly a gem. A must for avid oyster lovers and first-​timers!

Came here last night for the first time with my boyfriend & We were not disappointed.
The décor is beautiful. Tables are a little too close to each other but whatever.
Ok the food. The oysters were delicious & fresh ! We did some sort of sampler tray — 3 types of oysters that are already chosen for you. All three were delicious but I don’t remember which ones we had (all 3 had a stat next to there name on the menu). We started with the stuffed squid– it was very good but I don’t know that I would get it again. My boyfriend had the swordfish entrée and I had the market fish which was a nice white fish.
Both dishes were f****n deliciousssss omg ! We were practically licking our plates !!!
Managed to find a little room for a chocolate moose with some whipped cream & almonds — soo good
I cannot wait to go back to this place!

If you get anything in this place, get the Pistols on Horseback appetizer. It was probably the best thing I’ve eaten in my entire stay in NYC. I would order 5 of these and be set.
The raw plates are amazing! The Thai whole fish is delicious.
The service was a little lacking but the food made up for that completely.

If you love oysters, make sure to come here for happy hour $ 1 oysters from 4 – 6 on the weekdays!!! You can watch the oysters be shucked away right in front of you in the bar area.
They have 10 different oysters from different regions, so each one will have its own unique flavor. It was a neat experience for such a good price!

The happiest of hours is from 4 – 6, Monday — Friday. Get here a little early though because this place gets packed. It’s not hard to understand why since ALL their oysters go for $ 1, yes including the west coast ones. Alcohol during happy hour is limited to a white wine for $ 7, a lager for $ 4, and two mixed drinks. Hey also have some food that I’ve never tried on the happy hour menu, like lobster sliders. I would come back again to try!
Service is quick for drinks, but shucking takes time, especially when everyone else is ordering them too, so be patient for your oysters.

So I finally made a trip here since I have heard so much about their Oyster Happy Hour, it was one of the more extensive Oyster Happy Hours I have been to and the oyster were a dollar each. The Happy Hour is from 4 – 7, they give you a checklist and you mark what you want and how many. The restaurant is located inside the Chelsea Market, right next to the Lobster Place. The restaurant is a decent size, mostly bar seats, and the Happy Hour is really popular so go early, the day I went they let us sit at 6:45pm which was really cool. I also like how they arrange the oysters from top to bottom on the list in the order they put it on the ice, very convenient.
The food:
Oysters– Like I said, the selection in itself is very impressive, I was able to try most of the oysters on the list but I thought most of the oysters were rather small and/​or bland. All the oysters were super fresh and super cold, general rule, the oysters that had high salinity had better flavor. My favorite was the Broadwater Oyster from VA, the shell and flavor reminded me of a Kumamoto Oyster. They are a medium-​high salinity with a full finish. My second was the Coupe Des Agnes from PEI, they had a high salinity with a soft, sweet finish.

Typically my husband and I try to avoid «tourist traps» — so naturally, we’ve passed right by this restaurant on a number of occasions. I mean an always-​busy restaurant smack dab in the middle of Chelsea Market? Could only be a «less than quality» restaurant with sub-​par food that only attracts those easily swayed by tourist marketing techniques, right?
Boy were we wrong. I mean, sure — it’s smack dab in the middle of a very tourist-​heavy location. HOWEVER, the food here is unbelievably fresh and delicious. After passing by the storefront one afternoon, I noticed the seafood platter one of the dinners was enjoying. The prawn cocktail looked SO fresh, I couldn’t help but put our name on the list to at least give it a whirl.
My husband and I decided to try 5 prawns and ½ of a lobster to enjoy alongside some bubbles (for me) and rose (for him). We could not BELIEVE how fresh and delicious the food was. The prawn cocktail was cooked to perfection — the perfect «crisp crunch» we look for. The lobster was steamed to perfection as well — so sweet, suck perfect texture. Both were incredibly fresh and clean tasting — no «fishiness» or chalk-​like texture you sometimes find with less than ideal seafood.
We loved it SO much, that we literally changed our dinner plans for the following night to try it out once again. We opted to once again try the prawns/​lobster, and then also added on the fish and chips. The fish — spectacular. Flaky, piping hot, with fried batter that was crisp and did not overwhelm the fish (just enough thickness to the batter).
We will DEFINITELY be back, and highly recommend trying this place. The food is delicious, the service is very attentive, and the ambiance is great. While small with tables packed in — it still offers an intimate setting that’s perfect for a party of 2 – 4 people.

We were on a mission to have some really good oysters at The Lobster Place, but we were pretty much stymied by the crowd in there. The Raw Bar counter was full of people and not one of them looked like they were leaving anytime soon.
So what to do? Go next door to Cull & Pistol Oyster Bar. It’s owned by the same owners of The Lobster Place anyway and you can enjoy your food in a more comfortable and less hectic setting. It wasn’t full when we passed by and they have lots of tables and chairs. We went in there and got seated by the hostess right away. Nice place. Like the modern and minimalist décor.
We ordered a dozen oysters (prices range for each oyster and my sister did the choosing from the menu), 4 jumbo prawns ($ 3.50 each), new bay fries, and the brussels sprouts with caramelized shallots and aged Gouda.
We really enjoyed everything. The oysters were so tasty. They’re not the kind of tasteless oysters you often get for a dollar during HH at other places. These were really fresh and flavorful. I really liked the ones I had from BC. The prawns were huge and very tasty as well. The New Bay Fries were surprisingly good too. The were skinny fries and were nicely seasoned and crispy. That was gone very quickly.
You wouldn’t expect a stellar vegetable dish from an oyster bar, but C&P’s Brussels sprouts were pretty amazing. They were like candy to me. So good. No bitterness and the shallots and aged Gouda made great additions to perfectly cooked Brussels sprouts.
Service was great. Our server was very prompt and attentive. We just had a great time here. Our goal that day was to graze, to try different restaurants, hence the oyster focus here. Next time I’d like to try other things in the menu and order more of those yummy Brussels sprouts!