Dan & Louis Oyster Bar
Dan & Louis Oyster Bar is a must-visit Old Town Portland institution - family owned and operated since 1907! The history is palpable before you even walk through the door, where the first thing you see is oysters being shucked to your left and their cozy bar with the most amazing bartender, Michelle, to the right.
I had previously mostly visited Dan & Louis in the summer months, typically after an afternoon at the Portland Saturday Market, for a quick cocktail (or three!) and fresh oysters in the bar.
I finally took the time and made a reservation for their dining room to enjoy a full dinner before a show on a Saturday night. The menu is plentiful and there is absolutely something for everyone to eat - even those who don't like fish! I loved having so many options here as well - all of their chowders and their battered and fried options are gluten-free!
I had the smoked salmon chowder, which was out of this world delicious! Absolutely one of the best chowders I've had ever. Also ordered the fish tacos which had such light, non-greasy, crisp pieces of fried cod, topped with cabbage and a lovely creamy sauce, but also came with a side of a wonderfully spicy habanero based sauce. Taste it first before you decide how much to douse your taco with! I love heat, but just a light drizzle is plenty!
When you visit in the summertime, I highly recommend their ginger lemon drop for a wonderfully refreshing cocktail. It comes with a generous hunk of candied ginger to cleanse your palate for whatever else you decide to indulge in.
For wintertime, you can’t go wrong with a proper Spanish Coffee here. Don’t ask how I end up with 3 on a recent evening, but I think the amount is certainly reflected in the Monet like photo I took of them above.
It also deserves special mention that Dan & Louis is one of several Portland restaurants that have committed to feeding those with SNAP benefits that have not been paid due to the government shutdown. Just show your SNAP card and you get free chowder.
Like many restaurants across the country, they've struggled a bit since the pandemic, so please get out and support them when you can! They've always done their part in supporting the community in return and we need to keep places like this around!
