Oyster House, Owner Sam Mink and Chef Brett Naylor on S. 15th and Sansom Street in Rittenhouse Square -

[jparrott]

My friend Katie Loeb runs the bar program at Oyster House (1516 Sansom Street), so I'm not completely unbiased, but I very much enjoy both raw and cooked options there. One of their specialties is fried oysters with chicken salad, a Philly tradition dating from a time when oysters were cheap and chicken was expensive. Or something like that.

Food's good, drinks are good, there's pretty much always a cask beer on. And Nodding Head brewpub upstairs makes exceptional, moderate alcohol beers for pre- or post-imbibification.

[DonRocks]

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Just up the street from Ludwig's is a pleasent respite from walking around mid-town Philly, Sansom Street Oyster House. With windows that open onto the street and a large handsome bar, the obvious appeal here is anything raw and while the beer isn't special, you can't beat some oysters and Bass to while away the afternoon.

[RWBooneJr]

This place has been a go-to of mine when visiting Philly for over 15 years. It's also right next door to Nodding Head, a fun brewpub with good beers.

[RWBooneJr]

To update the prior posts, Nodding Head is gone (possibly relocating), as is Katie Loeb (the cocktails are still excellent, though), but Oyster House is still going strong. I spent my New Years weekend in Philly and took refuge from the Mummers with some oysters and a bloody.
 

[DonRocks]

To update the prior posts, Nodding Head is gone (possibly relocating), as is Katie Loeb (the cocktails are still excellent, though), but Oyster House is still going strong. I spent my New Years weekend in Philly and took refuge from the Mummers with some oysters and a bloody.

Are those hard, round biscuits, i.e., "oyster crackers?" I don't remember seeing those recently, but I think I've seen them before.

[RWBooneJr]

Are those hard, round biscuits, i.e., "oyster crackers?" I don't remember seeing those recently, but I think I've seen them before.

They're giant oyster crackers, and they're amazingly good.  So much so, I asked the manager who made them and looked them up.

[DonRocks]

They're giant oyster crackers, and they're amazingly good.  So much so, I asked the manager who made them and looked them up.

I don't think I've ever been served them with oysters, but with clam chowder, where I drop them into the bowl and let them soften - but they sound perfect with oysters (hence the name).

[Mark Dedrick]

Had dinner here at the bar by myself and absolutely loved it. Just a great, classic place. Fantastic cocktails, great oysters, and I also enjoyed the grilled octopus. The only thing approaching a complaint would be that the clam chowder was a bit short on clams. But otherwise just a great experience.