The Fish Peddler at Pacific Oyster — Restaurant in Bay City

The Fish Peddler was the one must go-to stop on the coast. We visit at least once a year and have referred hoards of friends heading to the coast to stop here for oysters. I remember years ago the place processed oysters and you can watch the workers shucking fresh oysters. The highlight of their dining menu has always been their fried oysters which are plump fresh perfectly fried delights. The dozen fried oysters was priced cheaper than the oyster and fries platter. You want oysters? Why fill my belly with potatoes when I want oysters?! We came here just to get the fried oysters: straight to the source and always on point. It was a fair deal for $12.99 for a dozen.

Our recent trip in July 2025 to the Fish Peddler left me wishing for a rewind button. I'm sure the business owners have their justification to raise the dozen fried oysters from $12.99 to $18.99, a near 47% increase this year. Perhaps there are factors such as rising costs of fuel, labor, tariffs, ocean warming or cooling, etc that are out of sight to a mere consumer. I don't pretend to be a oyster peddling expert nor understand the complexities of operating a large $800 million seafood processing business. My smol brain is probably dumber than that of an oyster. I am just a foodie who enjoys a good tasty meal. Just like the big "Creamery" on the cost down the street isn't there to give away their ice cream. I don't expect the Peddler for a handout either.

At $18.99 ($1.60 and oyster) for fresh not frozen fried oysters it is probably the best you will get on the coast. It's no longer the "let's hop in the car drive 90 minutes out" to pick up a couple dozen for $12.99 bargain. BTW if you order two 1/2 dozen @$9.49, you save a penny off of the full dozen price. At larger quantity orders get multiple half dozens instead and keep a few more copper pennies since copper is soaring now and pennies will...

We were there this past Labor Day weekend and to say I was shocked is an understatement. We've been 100xs so we know it's gonna be busy and lines out the door but not sure if management changed but I know for sure the staff has changed. I understand you get slammed while processing a high volume of orders but the manager was having the front clerk do her cleaning duties while ignoring the line out the door. Walking past them, not acknowledging them letting them know what was happening and lack of complete disregard for any type of communication. She was cleaning menus and the timers. Going and getting trash, cleaning trays. The manager with the glasses also ignoring everyone, which she wasn't wearing gloves while she was making the tubs of clam chowder. Customers were getting mad, some we watched leave, some were hem ' hawing from standing for over 15 mins.( no joke, we timed it)The girl shucking the oysters was taking her sweet time which I wouldn't be shocked if people were to get sick. The back line was using the same nasty towel with no cleaner on it and the tingy yellow color over and over. The woman grabbing the trays of food was wiping her face which was sweaty touching everything everything else. I'm disappointed in the service the last couple of times we've been. They need to step their game back up. Train the employees to have better customer service so when the manager doesn't step up they have something to fall back on.

Plus side: The Dungeness Crab and homemade garlic butter...

Just really disappointed from a place I used to like near the coast. Went in on a Saturday at about 1:18pm. Stood in line for 20 minutes to order. Crab cakes and fries ToGo. My receipt stamps 1:38. Wait awkwardly by the bathroom. 20 mins go by. I check in with the person handing out food. Still 6 tickets deep. Ok, keep waiting awkwardly by some shirts. Tick tick. My fave is getting hot and I start getting upset because I am seeing people that ordered after me, larger orders, get their food. I’m on the verge of asking for a refund but trying to keep patient as I am awkwardly staring at the food preparers and secretly dying inside. Finally my buzzer goes off. An hour after I order. I am handed the greasiest box ever, on the outside mind you, with an I’m so sorry. I ask is there condiments, the poor girl is flustered and says she doesn’t know and hands me all the condiments. I have ask for a bag for the grease box. Hands it and apologizes again. I’m not acting super mad or anything, I say it’s alright and quietly walk away fuming. I get in my car and take this photo at 2:41 timestamped. The food was ok. For $20 I expected a little more. It was two 2 inch crab cakes and fries. No slaw or lemon or anything. I ate in my car watching the bay, really happy to be out of there.. 1 hour and 20 mins. I have never waited so long for fried food, not even fancy food at a Michelin star restaurant that was coursed out. It was sad and I think I will find somewhere else to get quicker fried...