Q&A with Oystermen – the award-winning Covent Garden seafood restaurant

The Oystermen is an award-winning Michelin-guide restaurant in Covent Garden that specialises in fresh oysters, crab, and seafood.

Event Supplies caught up with General Manager Andrea Bertone, who has worked alongside founders Matt Lovell and Rob Hampton since the earliest days of the restaurant.

We gained an insight into its humble beginnings, its prime spot in the heart of London, and all the customer favourites.

1. Tell us how Oystermen first began?

The idea behind The Oystermen was conceived at Matt’s wedding. When the person hired to shuck oysters didn’t show up, Matt and Rob took on the role themselves, shucking a few hundred of their favourites for all the guests. In that right moment they thought – ‘this is what we want to do’, promptly quit their safe and secure restaurant jobs to crack on. Numerous pop ups and street markets later before The Oystermen Seafood bar and Kitchen, Henrietta Street was born.

2. What does Oystermen specialise in?

Oystermen is all about seafood. Of course, as the name says we specialise in oysters, from fresh varieties of raw, dressed and cooked as well as for our whole Dorset crab. Moreover, we have very talented chefs that continue to delight our customers from our tiny kitchen with innovative and seasonal selection of dishes.

3. How do you source the freshest of seafood to your restaurant?

Oyster wise we work directly with the farmers to guarantee the quality and freshness of our products. We know exactly where the produce comes from as we work with people from all around the British Isles, from as local as Essex, all the way up to Scotland and Ireland, down from the west coast of Wales and Cornwall.

4. Tell us about the awards you have won

After only one year, since the opening we managed to achieve multiple awards. We won as the best restaurant in the UK from the OFM (Observer Food Monthly Award). Following this we won The London Lifestyle award as Best restaurant in London for two consecutive years.

5. What are the customer favourites at Oystermen?

Customer favourites are mostly our signature dishes like the Seafood platter, Whole Dorset Crab, cook and dressed oysters like the Tempura, Baked Buffalo and Champozu and Wasabi. Almost everyone who comes in the door has our Anchovy toast – anchovies, garlic, butter, toast… the perfect way to start an evening!

6. How does your prominent location in London's Covent Garden affect business?

The location in the heart of Covent Garden is amazing. There is always a lot of people around, and so much going on. The area has really become a hub for eating and drinking and has been changed for the better by pedestrianisation. At the same time, we get a lot of locals and regular customers who continue to come and dine with us, lots of people who work in the area but also a surprising amount of people who live here.

7. What are your plans for the future?

Early this year we opened a new neighbourhood restaurant down in West Dulwich called Walter’s and just a month ago we also launched a new wine shop/bar on Bedford Street in Covent Garden with the hugely original name of Bedford Street Wines. We are still planning to grow and expand, but the Oystermen is truly special to us, and we want to ensure it maintains its reputation and continues being one of the top restaurants in central London.

Images courtesy: Oystermen.

More about The Oystermen Seafood Bar and Kitchen

Where is it?

The Oystermen Seafood Bar & Kitchen
32 Henrietta St
London
WC2E 8NA

How to book: Call 020 7240 4417

Find out more: Visit the website or follow The Oystermen on Twitter @theoystermen and Instagram @theoystermen.