The Original Oyster House is a real, living piece of Pittsburgh history. It is Pittsburgh's oldest restaurant, designated by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, and it can be found nestled in Market Square in the heart of downtown. When it first opened its doors in 1870 it sold oysters for a penny and beer for 10 cents. Today the menu has not changed much, though of course the prices have been updated. Beer still flows freely. Fish sandwiches - so big they require a special bun - and fried oysters remain a beloved classic, and feature the same coating made famous in the early 20th century.
On a recent weekday evening I stopped by the Oyster House to join some friends for a unique Oyster House offering - a cocktail with its own special history - the "Oyster Shooter". For those of you who have never had one, an Oyster Shooter is made by combining a raw oyster in its own juices, vodka, cocktail sauce, and lemon juice in a chilled martini or shot glass. The idea is to swallow it all down without chewing the oyster. Such an exotic concoction might seem like a modern invention but in fact, it was developed in San Francisco around 1860. Legend has it that a gold miner, spurred by his hunger and a plentiful supply of native mollusks, was the person first inspired to assemble the strange combination of ingredients.
A lot of time has passed since the first oyster was consumed at the Original Oyster House, and even longer has passed since the first Oyster Shooter was downed in San Francisco, but both institutions are still quite beloved, as evidenced by my enthusiastic crowd of friends. On this particular evening almost 20 people showed up to enjoy the friendly ambiance of the restaurant and to try the novel combination of alcohol and mollusk. Obviously, much merriment was had by all. The warm and friendly ambiance of the restaurant combined with the delicious food and tangy shooters made for a great night. If you are looking to experience a bit of Pittsburgh history and to have a great time while you are at it, definitely head on down to the Original Oyster House, and make sure to have an Oyster Shooter while you are there. I promise, it's worth the experience.
Written by Pittsburgh Real Estate Group. Our site provides a search of Pittsburgh PA real estate along with a Pittsburgh Real Estate Blog
On a recent weekday evening I stopped by the Oyster House to join some friends for a unique Oyster House offering - a cocktail with its own special history - the "Oyster Shooter". For those of you who have never had one, an Oyster Shooter is made by combining a raw oyster in its own juices, vodka, cocktail sauce, and lemon juice in a chilled martini or shot glass. The idea is to swallow it all down without chewing the oyster. Such an exotic concoction might seem like a modern invention but in fact, it was developed in San Francisco around 1860. Legend has it that a gold miner, spurred by his hunger and a plentiful supply of native mollusks, was the person first inspired to assemble the strange combination of ingredients.
A lot of time has passed since the first oyster was consumed at the Original Oyster House, and even longer has passed since the first Oyster Shooter was downed in San Francisco, but both institutions are still quite beloved, as evidenced by my enthusiastic crowd of friends. On this particular evening almost 20 people showed up to enjoy the friendly ambiance of the restaurant and to try the novel combination of alcohol and mollusk. Obviously, much merriment was had by all. The warm and friendly ambiance of the restaurant combined with the delicious food and tangy shooters made for a great night. If you are looking to experience a bit of Pittsburgh history and to have a great time while you are at it, definitely head on down to the Original Oyster House, and make sure to have an Oyster Shooter while you are there. I promise, it's worth the experience.
Written by Pittsburgh Real Estate Group. Our site provides a search of Pittsburgh PA real estate along with a Pittsburgh Real Estate Blog
