The Oyster Shack — Restaurant in San Juan

I quite literally had the worst dining experience I’ve ever had here at Oyster Shack. I travel the world eating in many countries and over half the US, as well as bartended and served throughout college. So this comes from a place of having empathy and compassion for food service workers and restaurants. Here we go:

1.) We got to the restaurant and made a reservation for 5 people and were told a certain time. 20 minutes past our time, they seat us, not because they actually contacted us, but because we asked what was going on with the table situation, assuming maybe a large party was still enjoying themselves and hadn’t gotten up yet. But that wasn’t the case. They just didn’t clean the tables off for 20 minutes and didn’t contact us about our table being ready. 2.) They sat 5 grown adults at a 4 top. We are 5 adults with adult bodies that cannot fit at a table for 4. We asked if we could bring a chair around to the outside of the table but they said no. They wanted 3 of us to sit on the booth side with two in chairs on the side opposite. There was absolutely no room for the three of us to sit and eat our food. Why had they not informed us that this was going to be the situation? We would have said no and chosen to have gone to many of the amazing restaurants surrounding them that had far better service. 3.) The ONE restroom they have was out of order… at a restaurant… no bathroom. 4.) It took 21 minutes for a server to come and take our order and only because we had to flag them down. (3 people of our party chose to leave after waiting over an hour due to the table situation). Taking the order of two people shouldn’t take over 20 minutes. The male server was very standoffish and all of them seemed flustered as if they had never served a table a day in their life. Mind you, this is not a big restaurant at all. 5.) My husband ordered oysters: 1.) they were 1/3 of the size of oysters you find literally anywhere else. I wish I had taken a picture of the dime sized oysters. 2.) The person responsible for shucking them did an absolutely terrible job. There were pieces of the shell in the oysters. In 7/12 oysters there were shell remnants. How does an oyster place not know how to shuck oysters? 6.) It took 30 minutes for my husband to get his oysters and they didn’t even bring me my meal. 30 minutes without any food, and when they do bring it, it’s just his oysters. I told the waiter I didn’t want my food at that point and come to find out, they hadn’t even started working on my food. The waiter said, “yours is up next so I need to know if you want it or not.” That would have taken 40 minutes for my food. My husband and I couldn’t even eat the food together.

Overall, the service was absolutely horrendous. Truly the WORST service I’ve ever experienced in any country around the world, in my entire life. I’m mind blown at how poorly trained the staff is and how incompetent they chose to handle these situations. The table next to us were complaining to us that no one took their order for 15 minutes. The table next to them received the wrong drink not once, but TWICE. No apologies from anyone on the staff. No managers handeling the situation. I don’t expect restaurants outside the US to have top tier service as there’s a difference in quality and culture surrounding the serving/bartending scence. But this was so mind boggling. I can’t even believe I’m typing this out. I do NOT recommend wasting your time and energy with a restaurant with such poor service and quality of management, as they were...

We tried The Oyster Shack for dinner during a recent stay in San Juan, PR. Unfortunately, it did not meet the hype. First, the food…. The oyster selection was disappointing… we had the Bluepoints, served room temperature, no hot sauce, just a quarter teaspoon of horseradish in a dollop of cocktail sauce. The oysters were also small, several not much bigger than a nickel, not shucked very well either. The seafood medley was good, malanga chips on the side. The handful of chips served ran out about 1/2 way through the dish, we ordered more, and were charged for more (maybe because we received a full order the second time)… bad form.

We had the mani-mani hot plate next…. We tried to order several crudo plates (sashimi) only to be told they only had about three things on the menu left for the evening… It was about 6:45pm in the evening. The waiter said something about a generator issue in the kitchen, who knows. Perhaps true, since the oysters were served warm, and our bottle of sparkling wine was served slightly chilled and required an ice bath for an hour to be palatable. On the up side, the mojito was great, one of the best ever!

Second, the service… halter skelter at best. From our observations, no real training provided. Multiple servers taking orders, delivering food, apparently no one person responsible for a specific table. Service was generally slow, not “island time” slow, just slow, and periods of 20-30 minutes without anyone stopping by our “seats.”

We had “seats” at a counter because many of the tables in the dining room are so uneven and wobbly that it’s impossible to have a meal at them. It was interesting to watch the host continue to seat people at the same tables, and couple after couple would move themselves to other tables, often moving multiple times to find a stable table. The restaurant was generally in a state of poor upkeep.

We found it very interesting to observe all these things when the owner was present. He came in on his bike, with dog in tow, while we were having dinner. Aside from coming out front and bussing a table every 1/2 hour or so, seemingly oblivious to the issues with the operation of the place. Having been in the business for many years, the owner should be THE most visible employee in the house.

This review is not intended as a slam against the place… it needs work: training, quality, upkeep, etc. Perhaps when you exist at the whim of tourists, the incentive isn’t there to be the best. That said, in today’s connected world, the net will doom your business, even if it’s just a “tourist place.” Improve the product, we may return. As always, we’ll be...

Nestled in the vibrant coastal scene of Puerto Rico, Oyster Shack delivers an exceptional dining experience that celebrates the bounty of the sea. During our recent visit, my family of five was treated to seafood that epitomized the meaning of "fresh" - clearly at the peak of the season and prepared with expert precision.

The culinary highlight was undoubtedly the oysters themselves. Cooked to perfection, each bite revealed the kitchen's understanding of how to enhance rather than overpower the natural flavors of these delicate treasures. The preparation showcased a respect for the ingredients that is increasingly rare in tourist-heavy locations.

Beyond the outstanding food, the atmosphere struck the perfect balance between lively and comfortable. The background music created an energetic yet conversational ambiance, while the overall vibes made us feel both welcomed and excited to be there. The drink selection complemented the menu beautifully, with options that paired wonderfully with our seafood selections.

One pleasant surprise was the minimal wait time despite the restaurant's popularity. Even more impressive was the attentiveness of the staff, who anticipated our needs without hovering - a difficult balance that they managed effortlessly.

A special moment came when the owner stopped by our table for a chat. His passion for sourcing the freshest dock-to-table ingredients was evident not just in his words but in every dish that arrived at our table. This personal touch added depth to the experience, connecting us to the philosophy behind the food.

While the bill reflected the premium quality of the ingredients and preparation, the experience was absolutely worth the price. For a family celebration or special meal in Puerto Rico, Oyster Shack delivers value that extends far beyond the monetary cost.

In a sea of dining options, Oyster Shack stands out as a destination worth seeking out for anyone who appreciates seafood at its finest, served with genuine hospitality...