So.cial at Le Magasin - Review for Oyster Bar

Restaurant: So.cial at Le Magasin - Review for Oyster Bar
Cuisine: Oysters/Seafood
Last visited: October 18, 09

Area: Vancouver, BC (Gastown)
332 Water Street, Gastown - In the 1911 Le Magasin building
Price Range: $20-30

1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very good 5: Excellent 6: Tres Excellent!!

Oyster Bar: 2.5
Service: 3
Ambiance: 4
Overall: 3.5
Additional comments:

• Daily Oyster happy hour 4-8pm (website says 4-8pm, but menu said 3-8pm)
  
• Local oysters $1.25 (during happy hour)
  
• Premium oysters $2.50 (during happy hour)
• Freshly shucked
• Served with Sherry vinaigrette

**Recommendation: Kusshi, Chef's Creek

To see my review on dinner at So.cial at Le Magasin

It's not because the oyster bar at So.cial at Le Magasin was outstanding that I'm creating a separate post. It was actually quite average or even slightly below. It's because I want to go into detail about the oysters we ordered and it was too much to include under one post. We also ordered about 60 oysters between 2 people so I am now quite familiar with my oysters.

Personally, I like the oyster bar at Joe Fortes, but you do pay more for it. I think they do a great job because the oyster shucker is a professional. Whereas at So.cial the shucker was the server so every so often I would get a sandy oyster becuase it wasn't shucked properly or with the right technique.

They're also inconsistent in the presentation - it was either served on ice, salt, or wood chips - which was the worst! Why wood chips?!?! I literally got a taste of nature at times when I got a sandy oyster with some wood chips stuck to the bottom of the shell...yuck!

A mix of Fanny Bay's, Chef's Creek & Kuushi oysters...served on wood chips...ew wood chips!

An excellent oyster bar should always come with all the fixings: lemons, cocktail sauce, Tobasco and always some housemade vinaigrette...at So.cial it's served with their housemade vinaigrette but everything else is upon request.

Somewhat on the bright side the oysters are fresh and they get batches in every couple days, but not daily...

The Oyster Bar

• A mix of Chef's Creek and Kusshi oysters.

• Fanny Bay's 3/6 - Local
  
• Medium sized, firm, plump, smooth, cucumber finish
  
• These are the standard oysters you see everywhere.
  
• Chef's Creek 4.5/6 - Local
• Medium sized, firm flesh
  
• These were very plump and very creamy.
  
• Very rich and hearty in texture and flavour.
  
• Malpeque 2.5/6 - Premium
• Salty and almost crisp because it was salty.
  
• Has a bite to the end, sharper flavour.
  
• 
• Chef's Creek on the top row.
  
• Kusshi on the bottom row.
  
• Kusshi 6/6 - Premium
  
• These are my favourites!
  
• There small, but good things come in little packages...sometimes
• Small size, ultra-clean flavour, buttery texture, fruity finish
  
• Buttery texture but not creamy, not as rich as Chef's Creek for sure.
  
• Refreshing and smooth... I love these!
  

To see my review on dinner at So.cial at Le Magasin