Emmett Watson’s Oyster Bar

Reviews

• Greg W.

  star star star star star 15 June 2026

  Having grown up in the casual and often waterfront Crab Houses and Oyster Bars of Virginia and Maryland, I tend to prefer "no-frills" seafood restaurants. I always joke that either concrete floors or picnic tables are the hallmarks of a good seafood place. That's because the white table cloth restaurants are charging you for the fancy ambiance and dressing the seafood up too much in order to show off their culinary chops. No-frills places usually just want to make and serve fresh, unadulterated seafood.
  
  Most of the seafood joints near Pike Place are of the white table cloth variety. Fortunately, I found this place with an outdoor seating area (with a concrete floor!) and a sufficiently casual interior. It passed my casual (some might say divey) appearances test, for sure.
  
  I was not disappointed. My raw oysters were meatier than others I've had in Seattle and the variety of oysters was great. My waiter was more than happy to give me the oyster names and bring out some horseradish, both upon request. The Northwest Seafood Gumbo was delicious. The flavors were clean and did not overpower the flavor of the seafood, which was one of my worries when I ordered it. I've seen other reviews call it bland, but it was a perfect tasty base for the flavors of the various fish and shellfish in the gumbo. It was so good, I got an extra order of garlic bread to dip in the remaining broth.
  
  All in all, it was great and I'll keep this place in mind the next time I'm in Seattle and want some good oysters.

• Christina C.

  star star star star star_border 4 June 2026

  We found this place accidentally. It wasn't so busy. Interior is really basic and I hated dirty paper bag menu list. Recommend to change it.
  Food is good. Mussels tasted grate. Cup of Shrimp soup wasn't so special. Wouldn't take it anymore. Toasted bread was really good with salty butter.  My husband Gumbo soup he like it.

• Jeanene I.

  star star star star_border star_border 22 May 2026

  It wasn't bad but not especially good either. I had a the fish & chips with a side of coleslaw. The coleslaw was delicious with chopped red onions and radishes. Their fries were also yummy. But the star, the fish, was overcooked, not seasoned well, and a very small portion. I did find my server to be a little cool toward me at first but she warned up and actually started a conversation with me by the time I was ready to head out. As someone else mentioned, it was practically empty at noon. I got there at 12:30 and there were only two other parties there.  But by the time I left, there were only two open tables including the inside and outside. I ate on the outdoor patio which was nice.

• Tara C.

  star star star star_border star_border 21 May 2026

  Recommend by a guy in Pike Place for oysters. First stop in Seattle so not sure how it compares. My husband likes the oysters. I got the clam chowder which was decent.

• Ryan B.

  star star star star star 20 May 2026

  Wow. What a pleasant surprise. I went to the fish market and asked where I could get oysters in the half shell. And he sent me to Emmett Watson's.
  
  So once I found the place it wasn't much to look at, like a dinner style. But I go for food not the ambiance.
  
  The steamed mussels in water were totally on point! Love fresh mussels and these didn't disappoint. And of course had a dozen oysters on the half shell. There were 3 different types and they all were great. Just the right amount of salty and very fresh.
  
  Not sure why some of the reviews are so bad but if you want fresh good seafood then come here.