Hog Island Oyster

When it comes to good places to escape to Berkeley on the weekend, I must recommend the Ferry Building in San Francisco as the first stop. It is so wonderful to smell the salty sea breeze and enjoy the plump grilled oysters. This popular oyster shop, Hog Island Oyster Co., is in a great location, right next to the pier, and you can overlook the island and the bay on the opposite bank. It is very suitable for going out with a few friends on weekends.Recommended dishes:Chipotle Bourbon Grill Oyster. Their grilled oysters are really big and plump. They burst with juice in one bite. Paired with spicy sauce, they are really delicious.Clam Chowder. Creamy clam soup is very rich and filling. If there are two people dining, the waiter will divide it into two bowls.Mussel. The meat is super big. It would be better if it can be served with pasta.Oyster Po' Boy Sandwich. This fried oyster sandwich is not too amazing because the batter is a bit too thick and greasy, which covers up the umami taste.Oyster Bar Mix oyster sashimi with sweet and sour vinegar sauce is pretty good~ But because these oysters come from different seas, some are a little bit sour and a little small, maybe because of the different seasons

***4.5 stars***Seated outside right away for 2 on a Saturday afternoon. Pretty busy but seemed like outdoor seating for smaller parties generally had no wait. Beautiful view of the bay bridge and would recommend sitting outside if weather is good!We came just to try the oysters so this review is solely for those. The server suggested the Capital oysters if we wanted larger sized oysters, so we went with 6 of those for $24. Service was quick and friendly. Oysters were fresh and delicious! We really enjoyed the lemon + hogwash mignonette sauce. The cilantro in the hogwash mignonette really complimented the oysters well. Would come back for the views, oysters, and to try other dishes!

Okay, so many good reviews but what is with the service ? Food 7/10 service 0/10. Let me say blonde girl that seats us, RUDE. "Your whole party has to be here"understandable 10mins past. "Oh now the wait is 20mins". Okay we wait and I leave to the bathroom. My brother gets lectured" they walked off, the whole party needs to be here I already said that" unnecessary attitude, so I run. Cool we are seated... My waiter was terrible. He had a nose piercing that's all I can remember. First knew nothing about the oysters just said "it's what you like, it depends on you" No recommendations or anything. Second bill comes we had 5 adults and a month old. Gratuity 60$... no it is parties of 6 this is a baby. Attitude "eye roll, ok I'll remove it but you should know 6 chairs counts as party of 6" okay thank you I'll remember that I say nicely. I pay cash and this dude THREW my change on my dirty plate and walked off!!! I was livid and just left. You were rude from the start. The food was good but the service is not welcoming.

Wow wow wow!!Definitely a highlight of our San Francisco trip. The seafood was so fresh and everything was so well seasoned. Their clam chowder is so unique. It had whole pieces of clams with the shell. I loved the grilled oysters too. We got the grilled oysters with the Calabrian Chili- butter, garlic, Calabrian chili & basil. It was so tasty! Service was excellent. Our server constantly checked in on us. Would 100% recommend!

We were craving oysters yesterday and Hog Island did the trick. Reasonable prices for the area, great views, friendly service. We got there at 11:30 am on a Wednesday, just as they were opening, and a short line had already formed. We were seated quickly with a great view of the Bay Bridge. We had two dozen assorted oysters, a couple drinks (one beer and one non-alcoholic cocktail) and Old Bay fries. $130.Our server was friendly and took some time to answer questions and explain how and where the oysters are harvested.Overall, we were happy with the totality of the experience. I plan on coming back again in the future.

TLDR: A popular tourist spot near the pier with a large restaurant and typically a wait, but the quality is solid. Hog Island operates its own oyster farm and serves fresh, well-sourced oysters. While I didn't have any standout favorites this round, the experience of dining by the bay is always enjoyable.The restaurant has a great waterfront location with a lively atmosphere. It's a well-known tourist staple, so expect crowds. The oysters are sourced from various locations, including Hog Island's own farm in Tomales Bay, California.The Oysters (My ranking and my friend Lori-Ann's rankings): -Hog Island Sweetwater (Tomales Bay, CA), 3/5 (LA: 4/5): Strong brine flavor, a bit overpowering for my taste.-Salazar (Hammersley Inlet, WA), 3.5/5 (LA: 3/5): Mild in flavor with a soft chew. The brine is light, making this an easy-to-eat oyster.-Summer Stone (Skunk Island, WA), 3.5/5 (LA: 4/5): Similar to the Salazar but with a slightly stronger brine.-Effingham Inlet (British Columbia, Canada), 3/5 (LA: 3.5/5): Sweet in flavor, but not in a particularly enjoyable way.-Dukes (Topsail Island, NC), 3.5/5 (LA: 3.5/5): Fine, but nothing remarkable.-Butter & Brine (Portsmouth, RI), 3/5 (LA: 3.3/5): Originally, I found this overly salty, but after giving it another try, I'd say the saltiness is more balanced than I first thought. Still not a standout, but not as harsh as my initial impression.The cost for oysters when I visited in 2020 was 6 for $21, 12 for $40, and 24 for $80-- expected for the location but prices have gone up.Would I Return? I've been here many times and generally enjoy it. While there may be lesser-known spots that offer an equally good experience at a better value, Hog Island is a reliable choice that delivers exactly what it promises--no more, no less. I've never had an unhappy visit.-

Absolutely fantastic and worth the wait in line.Service is quick an efficient and if you can sit in the patio even better for a great look at the bay and people watching.We came for the clam chowder which was perfectly portioned but very generous with the in shell clams. Unlike many chowder that are heavy and even goopy, this one is thinner with heavy cream and every bite is a flavor explosion.The bloody Mary... May have been the best I have ever had. Served with a thick straw it is chok full of stuff and garnished with stone in olives instead of a meal hanging out of it... You chew on every sip!Awesome!!!

When we saw the line outside the door we had to stop at Hog Island Oyster to see what the hype was about. The line was kind of long but it went fairly fast. They have seats inside and out side and this place was packed to the rim. We were seated at the bar where we were able to see some of the employees shuck fresh oysters. We ordered oysters and fish and chips. I ordered bread after I read it was good but it wasn't my cup of tea since it wasn't soft.

If you love seafood and watching the ferries come in, this is the place for you.Shucked oysters, or clams in a white wine sauce, or steamed mussels...they have it all. Plus, service is excellent. Indoor and outdoor seating. You can't go wrong at Hog Island.

The bartender was attentive! Pleasant. He explained the menu very well. Food was good. I love oyster personally but it's the first time i tried the baked one really good