The name of this Sonoma County restaurant is a play on words befitting its laid-back take on oysters — meaning sure, you can get a plate of raw oysters no problem, but there are other versions to try as well. There’s the team’s riff on classic oysters Rockfeller, a version with arugula, bacon, cream cheese, and a cornbread crust, and a Louisiana oyster with hot sauce and garlic butter.

There are plenty of promising oyster spots in West Marin — heck, there’s a whole map for that, if you’re in the mood for oyster-hopping — but it’s worth highlighting a few favorites here. Marshall Store is one of those favorites, serving a selection of oysters from its farm, Tomales Bay Oyster Company. But rather than just saddle everyone with raw oysters, Marshall Store also does a barbecue sauced version, as well as Rockefeller oysters filled with bubbling garlic butter, cheese, and breadcrumbs; a Kilpatrick oyster with Worcestershire sauce and bacon; and a smoked version, all set to a beautiful outdoor dining patio.

Rocky Island Oyster Co. is one of the newer options on this list, opening October 2021 in the Crane Pavilion in Richmond. The restaurant is meant to be a “casual, family-friendly spot” reminiscent of the East Coast, as KQED reports, and features a rotating mix of oysters and specials alongside a unique view for those who rarely venture out to this side of the Bay.

Hog Island Oyster Co. has expanded quite a bit in the Bay Area thanks to its successes in oyster farming. There are locations in Larkspur, Napa, and Marshall, but it’s still worth mentioning the Ferry Building outpost for those in the back who’ve never been. It’s one of the best oyster spots in town with great views, despite the wait at peak times. The raw oysters are always excellent and often combine options from Hog Island as well as other purveyors. If you’re looking for something different, the chipotle bourbon grilled oyster is worth the extra splurge if you can swing it.

There are plenty of reasons to head to Leo Oyster Bar: the Instagram-worthy decor (if that’s your thing), the well-mixed cocktails, and a wine list perfectly made for pairing to seafood or snacks. And then there is the raw bar, with different varieties of oysters spanning West and East coasts, as well as a tempting — if not pricy — seafood tower of sorts. The “plateaus” are showstoppers, and come with requisite oysters and other seafood items, such as picked blue crab, and shrimp cocktail, while the pricier “Grand Plateau” also comes with oysters topped with caviar, as well as crudo.

Bar Crudo has been around since 2005 and has become the neighborhood spot for enjoying, yes, crudo but also a mix of oysters — offered for an affordable $2 a piece during the restaurant’s popular happy hour. A pandemic menu update brought the addition of tacos into the mix and admittedly doesn’t feel truly crudo-esque, but who can hate on a taco — especially one with fried cod on it?

Anchor Oyster Bar is another of San Francisco’s oyster titans. The oyster options at this long-standing restaurant rotate and aren’t as extensive as other part of the menu — though there are two styles of oyster shooters — the rest of the seafood menu is more than willing to make up for it, including the restaurant’s cioppino, which received a glowing write-up in the New York Times earlier this year. The restaurant’s website indicates Anchor is temporarily closed until July 21, so check ahead.

Billingsgate is both a seafood market and cafe from Four Star Seafood and Provisions, meaning there are plenty of fresh offerings to partake in, both for bringing home and dining on-site. There’s the raw bar, of course, with a selection of oysters to choose from, as well as a nice selection of companion dishes, such as seafood salads, a build-your-own poke bowl, and cioppino.