Little Em's Oyster Bar is one of the newest, coolest hotspots to enter the Southtown Arts District and King William area.
It's the first authentic boutique oyster bar in San Antonio, something a lot like what you might find in cities like Miami or L.A.
Emily and Houston Carpenter, a husband and wife team, are the creators of Little Em's. After seeing the world and trying oysters from around the globe, they brought these experiences home and thus was the genesis of this beautiful establishment.
Although small in size, this little gem of a place packs a mighty big punch.
The ambiance
It's a good thing that San Antonio is sunny most of the year because while it has a super small indoor area, it also features a cozy patio and bar seating outside. It's complete with umbrellas for sunny days and heaters for those rare nights and evenings that it's cool in the Alamo City.
By the time you are seated at your table or at the bar like we did (and we love to sit at the bar), you'll have already noticed the thoughtfulness and detail put into Little Em's branding.
From the caps that the cooking staff wears to the shirts and all the way to the pens that the waitstaff carries in their pockets, the meticulous attention to detail is pretty cool.
That detail cascades into the floors, wall decor, and even the logos on each and every serving plate. While this may not seem like such a big deal to some, for others, it's precisely this kind of attention that many other types of eateries miss altogether.
The menu
Oysters are the star of the show; I'm sure you realize this by now.
The distinction here at Little Em's is that they don't focus on Gulf Coast fare. They bring forth a menu of oysters from other places that you don't usually find in San Antonio.
When we visited, the oyster menu featured several from the east coast, and the descriptions of the flavors, brininess, etc., were spot on.
We ordered several types of oysters, which are all shucked to order. The presentation was enough to make even Gordon Ramsey proud. The oyster menu rotates fairly often, and is the oysters are selected based on quality and flavor with options such as Raspberry Point, Standish Shore, Fiddler's Cove, and Thatch Island oysters.
In addition to oysters, we also ordered the lobster roll, salmon sashimi, and a wedge salad.
I realize I may be chastised for this, but the lobster roll was the very first one I have EVER had. Foodie blasphemy for sure, but holy guacamole, was it divine!
My wife and I split the sashimi, and the citrus with oil dressing was excellent. Next was the wedge, and it was the prettiest salad I may have ever seen. Needless to say, my wife and I ate every last bite.
But back to the menu, because Little Em's offers or an authentic taste of the ocean with other seafaring items as well, including Salmon Ceviche, Crab Cakes, Crudo Plate, and succulent Crab Claws!
"Everything was extremely delicious, and there was so much attention to detail. The Shiny Beach oysters were my favorite, but the lobster roll was absolutely divine. Will definitely be going back!" Alyson M., Open Table
The drinks
There's no full bar here. Let me be clear: if you're seeking a margarita or martini, you won't find that here.
What you will find is a decent selection of local beers on tap and a few different types of bottled beers as well. Perfect for nearly any meal.
And the wines and bubbles?
Plenty.
We had both a beer and some Rose, of which we enjoyed both. They went well with what we ate. If I'm being honest, you won't miss the usual margarita or Mexican martini NOT being on the menu.
Besides, there's plenty of other places in San Antonio to find those pretty standard drinks.
The final bite
The biggest question we all have to answer after any meal is..."would you go back again." Our answer, in short, is yes!
From the moment we arrived to the service and all the way up to paying our tab, the energy and experience were delightful. We plan to make Little Em's a regular stop whenever we're in Southtown and wholeheartedly recommend this place.
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