Hank’s Oyster Bar $$

1624 Q St. NW
202/462-4265
www.hanksdc.com [1]

HOURS: Sun.-Tues. 5:30-10 p.m., Wed.-Thurs. 5:30-11 p.m.,
Fri.-Sat. 5:30 p.m.-midnight, brunch Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

COST: Most entrées between $10–20

Hank’s Oyster Bar is the place Washingtonians go to get their fill of briny bivalves without breaking the bank. The joint’s blackboards always have at least five kinds of oysters advertised, and the menu also contains a number of Northern coast dishes—lobster rolls and fried clams—in addition to some Southern recipes such as collards and fried chicken on some days.

Among the choice items here are sake oyster shooters, fried shrimp and calamari, and an oyster po’boy. Hank’s sponsors a particularly budget-friendly happy hour Sunday through Friday with raw oysters on the half shell for $1 each.

Reservations are more like a waiting list; you can call ahead to let them know you are coming, but you’ll still have to wait.