Oysters at Highland Pacific

For the last few months I have been hearing about a new seafood restaurant in the Highland area by the name of Highland Pacific. Hearing about is not the best description, a few buddies of mine have been RAVING about this new spot in their neighborhood. They go there, throw back oysters and drink beer to their hearts content. I had to check it out.

So this past Saturday we went. After hearing how awesome it was supposed to be we called ahead for a reservation and then headed on over.

First impression, great little place. It’s warm, it’s cozy. The small bar is set up to easily serve a few people their shellfish in comfort with a few tables around for casual dining, plus another small dining room. It wasn’t very crowded, just a steady flow of folk when we got there and throughout our meal. We didn’t need our reservation to have a table, but one never knows so I still recommend it.

We started with, of course, Martinis. My own preference is a dirty martini so you can pair the salty taste of certain oysters with the brine in the Martini. YUM, and when we asked what Vodka’s they carried the response was “we have so many it might be easier if you ask if we have the one you want..”. Good answer.

I recommend getting the Oyster tour, which lets you try a variety. Oysters come in so many flavors, some with hints of melon, others more salty. One we tried made you feel like you just swallowed salt water, probably someone’s favorite but not mine. And I love strong tastes. But without ordering the tour you might miss the subtle differences in the various types from various locations, so give it a try. As Oysters go, I give HIghland Pacific an A+.

We then had the goat cheese appetizer. WONDERFUL!! It had been a chilly night and the warm goat cheese spread over the toasted bread chips wonderfully, paired with marinated tomatos and a great olive spread. It melts in your mouth, and the perfect second course.

For dinner I selected the slow roasted Salmon with lentils. The salmon was cooked perfectly and just floated flavor in my mouth. The lentil pairing went well with the fish, and some greens thrown in with a touch of balsamic. YUM!!

Overall, go check it out. We spent a bit more than we expected, about $140 for two with two martini’s each. But worth it! Next time the fried oyster po boy is on the agenda. If you have been, let us know what you think.

Since I had trouble finding a list of all the types of Oysters Online, if you know of a good web site reference please post it.

If you just want to learn more about Oysters and oyster type you should check out these links…

Oyster types and locations
Wikipedia on Oysters
Oyster Recipes
Kumamoto Oysters
Types of Oysters

Or for a GREAT book on the history of Oysters in New York, and I mean from thousands of years back to today, check out the best seller The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell

Happy Shelling!!