You gotta love an oyster restaurant that closes in months with no "R." Heck of an excuse to beach it all summer. This is how it has been at Casamento's since the restaurant opened in 1919.

The oyster bar is on the left a bit past the entrance. You can have they oysters shucked and brought to your table. I'd rather stand, have one of the shuckers line a dozen up in front of me and down them with a Dixie beer chaser. Gives me a chance to take in the artistry of the shuckers and talk some.

Turns out Mike, shown on the right, is the state oyster shucking champion. It's not just a speed thing, the oysters need to be laid out perfect in the shell. Mike is raking out a pile of oysters to shuck from a refrigerated cabinet.

Along with their raw bar, Casamento's is best known for their oyster loaf. I had half an oyster loaf, dressed, along with a cup of seafood gumbo.



December 2008