Original Oyster House - Gulf Shores

The Original Oyster House has been a Gulf Shores institution since 1983, and for good reason. Hand-shucked Gulf oysters served raw, baked, broiled, or fire-grilled. Homemade seafood gumbo made from scratch. A create-your-own seafood platter cooked your way. Homemade key lime pie and chocolate chip peanut butter pie that locals have been ordering for decades.

TL;DR Don't have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
📍Tours
✨What's New in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

Original Oyster House

The Original Oyster House was one of the first Gulf Shores Restaurants we visited on our first trip to Gulf Shores years ago. It has been a Gulf Shores favorite for years and continues to serve amazing food and drinks.

When we ask people what restaurant they visit every time they are in Gulf Shores the Original Oyster House is one of the restaurants mentioned. It is a family tradition for many people.

Indoor Seating

 The Original Oyster House has comfortable indoor seating wtih tables and chairs spread throughout the restaurant. We love sitting by the window and watching the birds and fish in the lagoon.

During our recent lunch, we watched Bald Eagles, Grebes, and Osprey pretty close to the window. We sadly missed the alligator who visited the next day.

Indoor Bar

There is a small indoor bar near the front entrance with tall stools right next to the bar. This is a great place to grab a drink if you have to wait for a table.

Oyster House Menu

 The Original Oyster House has been serving Gulf Coast seafood in Gulf Shores since 1983. The menu is rooted in fresh Gulf seafood with a Southern touch, built around hand-shucked oysters, homemade gumbo, and a create-your-own seafood platter that has kept locals and visitors coming back for decades.

Starters and Appetizers

• Homemade Seafood Gumbo (cup or bowl) - a signature of the Oyster House, made from scratch
• Seafood Chowder (Blockhead Joe's Clam Chowder)
• Crab Claws - served with Cajun barbecue butter and garlic bread
• Oysters on the Half Shell (hand-shucked raw Gulf oysters)
• Alligator - fried with gator sauce, or basket full served with Cajun butter barbecue sauce
• Crawfish Tails - cracker meal breaded with remoulade sauce
• Crab Cake - fresh breaded with Joe and Dave's peppercorn honey mustard dipping sauce
• Fried Shrimp Basket
• Meat Pie - a Cajun tradition with specially seasoned ground beef wrapped in pastry crust with sweet pepper sauce
• Oysters Baked Three Ways: Cajun barbecue butter with garlic bread / Garlic cocktail sauce with applewood bacon crumbles and Parmesan cheese / Garlic butter, parsley, and cheese
• Joe and Dave's Favorite baked oysters
• Fresh Salad Bar - included with entrees or available as a meal

Oysters

• Gulf Oysters served baked, broiled, fried, or fire-grilled over open flames
• Joe and Dave's Baked Oysters - three ways: barbecue butter / garlic cocktail sauce with applewood bacon and Parmesan / garlic butter, parsley, and cheese

Create-Your-Own Seafood Platter

Build your own platter with Gulf seafood cooked baked, broiled, blackened, or grilled. Choices include Gulf shrimp, flounder, crawfish tails, oysters, and more. All platters include two sides.

House Favorites and Specialties

• Cheesy Grits and Blackened Shrimp - a signature combination
• Blackened Mahi Down on the Bayou - blackened Mahi with fried crawfish tails and tasso ham cream sauce (a house favorite)
• Fresh Catch - stuffed with crabmeat dressing and hollandaise sauce, OR blackened with Joe and Dave's Cajun Ya-Ya spice and topped with tasso and Conecuh sausage cream sauce
• Flounder - mild and flaky, broiled and topped with sweet Baldwin County pecan butter
• Baked Stuffed Shrimp - tasty crabmeat stuffed shrimp with hollandaise sauce
• Shrimp Scampi - bay shrimp baked in cheddar and Parmesan cheese sauce with garlic bread
• Stuffed Crab - baked stuffed crab
• Combination Platters - multiple seafood platter combinations available including fried shrimp, fried flounder, oysters, stuffed crabs, crab cake, shrimp scampi, and boiled shrimp
• Boiled Shrimp
• Turnip Greens - perfectly seasoned Southern style, a house specialty
• Grilled or Fried Fish and Shrimp options throughout the menu

Sandwiches

All served with French fries and cole slaw. Options include po-boys and seafood sandwiches.

Salad Bar

Fresh daily salad bar included with entrees or available as a standalone meal.

Kids Menu

The Original Oyster House Kids Menu includes Popcorn shrimp, fried fish fillet, corn dog, popcorn shrimp & fish combo, chicken tenders, burger, pizza, grilled cheese, mac & cheese, and the salad bar.

Desserts

• Homemade Key Lime Pie - a local favorite
• Homemade Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Pie - a decades-long local favorite, big enough to share
• Bread Pudding - homemade, flavored with a touch of Kahlua
• Daily rotating selections may include cheesecake and chocolate desserts

Gluten-Free

A dedicated Gluten-Free menu is available at the Gulf Shores location. The Gluten-free menu included Parmesan garlic oysters, oysters on the half shell, Joe and Dav's Favorite Oysters, Famous cheese grits, a baked potato, cole slad, today's catch, peel and eat shrimp, Josh's blackened shrimp and grits, grilled shrimp, chicken breast, steamed Alaskan crab legs, New York strip, and butter pecan mahi.

Vegan

Limited options outside of the fresh salad bar

Vegetarian

The fresh salad bar and select sides are a great option.

Signature Cocktails

PB Pie Bushwacker, Oyster House Hurricane, Bushwacker, Key Lime Pie Margarita, Mr. Roger's Bloody Mary, Mary Lou's Margarita, Gulf Shores Old Fashioned, Huckleberry Lemonade.

Why you will love Original Oyster House Gulf Shores

1.  One of the longest-running seafood restaurants in South Alabama, open since 1983
2. Hand-shucked Gulf oysters served raw, baked, broiled, fried, or fire-grilled over open flames
3. Homemade seafood gumbo made from scratch is a decades-long signature dish
4. Create-your-own seafood platter lets you mix and match Gulf seafood cooked your way
5. Cheesy grits with blackened shrimp is a must-order house specialty
6. Blackened Mahi Down on the Bayou with fried crawfish tails and tasso cream sauce is a standout entree
7. Fresh daily salad bar included with entrees, one of the only seafood restaurants in the area to offer one
8. Homemade key lime pie and chocolate chip peanut butter pie have been local favorites for over 30 years
9. Seats up to 300 guests making it a great choice for large groups and family reunions
10. Private event rooms available for banquets and group events
11. Dedicated gluten-free menu available
12. First restaurant in Alabama to recycle oyster shells through the Alabama Coastal Foundation
13. The only local restaurant to grow stocker oysters for reef restoration

 

Things to know when planning a visit to Oyster House

Address - 701 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542 (Original Oyster House Boardwalk and OOH Trading Company)

Phone - (251) 948-2445

Hours - Monday through Sunday 11:00am to 9:00pm

Please confirm with the restaurant to ensure that the hours have not changed.

Accessibility - There is accessible parking near a ramp leading up to the restaurant.

Plus Size Seating - the chairs do not have arms and are pretty comfortable.

Dress Code/Suggestions - casual

Pets - pets are not allowed in the restaurant.

Parking  - There is parking in front of the restaurant along with an overflow parking lot just across from the restaurant.

Gulf Shores Restaurants and Attractions nearby

Sweet Cone Alabama Gulf Shores - A bright pink ice cream shop right next door to the Original Oyster House serving hand-scooped ice cream with fun toppings, sundaes, soda floats, and edible glitter. The perfect dessert stop after dinner.

The Tap and Still Gulf Shores - A newer waterfront burger and wings restaurant in Gulf Shores with a chill vibe, great food, and cold drinks right on the water.

Parlor Doughnuts Gulf Shores - Fresh small-batch layered doughnuts, sweet and savory, made all day from 6:30am to 10pm. A great breakfast or dessert stop nearby on Gulf Shores Pkwy.

Scoops Ice Cream Gulf Shores - One of the most popular ice cream shops in Gulf Shores with over 30 flavors, banana splits, floats, and build-your-own sundaes. A local favorite right in the heart of Gulf Shores.

Papa Rocco's Gulf Shores - A beloved local pizza and oyster bar with hand-tossed pizzas, wings, great burgers, and eight big screen TVs. Open until midnight.

Wade Ward Nature Park - A free elevated boardwalk over wetlands right off Highway 59, great for spotting alligators and birds. Located at 500 Gulf Shores Pkwy.

Hog Wild Beach and BBQ Gulf Shores - Locally loved BBQ restaurant in Gulf Shores with pulled pork, chopped ribs, buffalo shrimp, Alabama white BBQ sauce, and a great kids menu.

Shrimp Basket Gulf Shores - A Gulf Coast staple for fried Gulf shrimp with signature shrimp slaw, great sides, and a full bar with Bushwackers and seasonal cocktails.

Additional Gulf Shores Articles

 Things to Do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach with Kids - The best family-friendly activities and adventures for kids of all ages on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Best Ice Cream in Gulf Shores, Alabama - Every ice cream shop worth visiting in Gulf Shores from banana splits to specialty shakes.

Gulf Shores Public Beaches - Every public beach access point in Gulf Shores with parking details, restrooms, and tips for planning your beach day.

Unique Things to Do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach - Beyond the beach, our favorite one-of-a-kind experiences on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

What's New in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach - New restaurants, attractions, and things to do on the Alabama Gulf Coast, updated regularly.