ridiculous hungry: Swan Oyster Depot - Nob Hill, San Francisco

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Swan Oyster Depot - Nob Hill, San Francisco

Our pre-lunch snack on Day 2 in SF.

"Somewhere, somehow, someone has determined that eating some types of fish may be bad, very bad. So watch what you eat because it may be eating you." ~ Swan Oyster Depot

I'll admit it.

We got Bourdained into going to this place, a little HITW oyster bar that was featured in his SF epi of The Layover.

And the oysters - Kumamotos, my faves, among them - were good and fresh, and I can totally see how a place like this might have appeal for a guy like we think Bourdain to be, what with the motley and mostly friendly crew of men behind the counter and fresh Anchor Steam on tap.

Other than that - it's raw oysters in a standing room only environment with about 20 stools max. (Luckily we got there early and didn't have to wait in line.) That is to say that if they're fresh, well shucked (which is to say that the oyster is whole, and the shell isn't in shards on the oyster itself when presented to you), and of the same variety, then it's pretty much the same wherever you go.

As for the "half" Dungeness (i.e., claws and legs only) at $18, well, no further comment from the girl who usually pays $18 AT THE MOST for a whole LIVE one at 99 Ranch and gets the all the body meat and crab tomalley to boot. But such is the relative rip-off that is eating seafood out.