Oysters — the adorable little slime balls of the sea. An aphrodisiac, a shellfish, a bivalve mollusk that sings summer and slurps succulent. But oysters are a delicacy, you fret! It’s more likely that I’d bathe in caviar and get a diamond encrusted thigh tattoo than be able to find an affordable oyster bar in Bushwick! Well, oyster lovers can now rejoice: Mominette has opened up their oyster bar, and they’re offering a selection of oysters for $1 a piece during Happy Hour. At Mominette, Happy Hour runs from 4 to 7 PM on weekdays and from 5 to 7 PM on weekends, following their fantastic brunch.
When I stopped by Mominette, they were discounting three of their six oysters, including some stupendous Blue Point oysters. A glass of Montepulciano and a dozen oysters later, the day seemed to sparkle and shine. And oysters aren’t their only seafood-based offering! The ceviche, served in an empty clam shell, is truly decadent, and the shrimp cocktail can’t be beat.
At any given time, Mominette will carry between six and eight different types of oysters from both coast. And several of them will be discounted during Happy Hour to a dollar a pop. Sold by the half dozen, the oysters will arrive served on a soft bed of ice and accompanied by a housemade cocktail sauce and a mignonette sauce.
On a beautiful summer afternoon, after a trip to the Beach or morning yoga or spending the morning recovering from a serious summer hangover, slip through the backdoor of Mominette and find yourself in a verdant paradise. You’ll feel as if you stepped out of the concrete jungle, and accidentally found yourself in an actual jungle. Passion fruit blossoms from the sky, and your flip flops find the slight, friendly squish of gravel. Settle yourself into one of the antique chairs, and enjoy a half dozen of (my personal favorite) the Katama Bay oysters: they’re silky, smooth, summery.
Mominette is located at 221 Knickerbocker Ave. Happy Hour runs from 4 t o 7 PM on weekdays and from 5 to 7 PM on weekends.