Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
✨ Vibe
A lively and rustic-chic seafood haunt in the heart of Logan Circle, blending authentic Cajun spirit with reclaimed wood decor and a warm, neighborhood-focused energy.
🍸 Best For
Oyster aficionados, celebratory date nights, high-energy happy hours, and Southern-inspired weekend brunches.
🔥 Highlights
- Signature Oyster Selection: Features nearly a dozen East and West Coast varieties, including their exclusive, proprietary "Old Black Salt" oysters known for their perfect salinity.
- Cajun-Inspired Classics: Beyond the raw bar, the kitchen excels with New Orleans-style favorites like "Angels on Horseback" (bacon-wrapped oysters), crispy Catfish Po’boys, and house-made jalapeño biscuits.
- Creative Cocktails: The bar program shines with unique offerings like the "Dive Juice"—a refreshing blend of lime, cilantro, and jalapeño—and expertly crafted mocktails.
ℹ️ Need to Know
- A highly-regarded Happy Hour runs on weekdays starting at 4:00 PM, featuring favorites like the crush burger and fresh shucked oysters.
- The venue is part of a multi-concept space; you can head upstairs to sister bars Black Jack or Tilt for post-dinner cocktails and a game of bocce.
📰 In the News
Michelin Awards Two More D.C. Restaurants With Its Coveted Stars
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace was removed from the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand list in November 2023. This change occurred as the total number of D.C. restaurants holding the designation decreased from 35 to 29.
Washingtonian Recommends: the Best Oyster Bars Around DC
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace features nearly a dozen East and West Coast oyster varieties, including their signature salty Old Black Salt oysters. Visitors can pair a mixed dozen with a "dive juice" cocktail spiked with lime, cilantro, and jalapeño.
Jeff Black on Pearl Dive Oyster Palace’s First Year
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace is a Cajun-leaning restaurant in D.C.'s Logan Circle neighborhood known for its gumbo, shrimp and grits, and varied oyster preparations. The venue features authentic reclaimed wood decor and shares its 14th Street location with sister bars Black Jack and Tilt, offering a mix of refined seafood and casual drinking options.
Tom Sietsema Awards Pearl Dive Oyster Palace 2.5 Stars
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace received a 2.5-star review from critic Tom Sietsema, who praised standout dishes like the catfish po’ boy, fresh oysters, and Baltimore-style crab cakes. While the review highlighted the high quality of the fried chicken and cocktails, it noted that the restaurant's noise level can be intensely loud.
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace and Black Jack
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace is a seafood destination on 14th Street featuring nautically weathered woods, a zinc bar, and unique anchor chain sculptures. The space is paired with Black Jack, an upstairs cocktail parlor with a vintage aesthetic and a dedicated bocce court.
Recent Reviews from Google
An excellent neighborhood restaurant specializing in seafood and New Orleans style cuisine. The prices are reasonable, and the service is great. Although it’s mainly a seafood place, their bread is...
Janet and Tevin! Thank you for your amazing services! They were fun, no pressure and answered all the questions we had for our choices. Janet recommendation were all PERFECT! Thank you:) I took my...
The food was incredible! They had a vast variety of delicious oysters, perfectly shucked, and amazing Spanish octopus charred to perfection and tons of flavor. For the mains, we had the crush burger...
Delicious food. I highly recommend the fried oysters, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the potatoes and vegetables were seasoned. The clam chowder was also really good, but it could have used a...
We loved this place! This was my first time having oysters. My favorite was the “Angels on Horseback” mainly because of the bacon, it was crispy and delicious and the oysters were wrapped in the...
