Critic's Review
City Oyster is like an old shoe in a closet full of Louboutins. With Vic & Angelo's colorful and bright venue across the street, the only word I can use to describe the City Oyster is dreary.
I wonder if the owners of the Big Time Restaurant Group who own this place have been here in the past 5 years? I've been to Big City Tavern in Fort Lauderdale many times; this place opened several years before, and from a physical standpoint, this place is just a big disappointment. It looks old, with outdated decor and inadequate lighting. What once was chic and modern is now so very yesterday.
The room is smaller than Big City also, and LOUDer. There are a lot of people at the bar for their happy hour specials; 1/2 price crab dip will get the financially challenged in. The problem is that the people with money are over at Vic & Angelos.
The menu here is better than Big City, minus the pizzas. They have oysters and clams, more fish selections, and a sushi bar. You can even get caviar. But I can't see eating caviar here. Despite the name, you won't see a huge variety of oysters here. There are just a couple of choices.
This is a hangout place for people who've been coming here for years. With so many more elegant choices on the street, you won't find a lot of high-end tourists here. They do have a better happy hour than Big City; 2 for 1 drinks on everything, and $1.50 oysters. Is $9 for 6 oysters really that good a deal?