Sunnyside Oyster Bar

Sunnyside Oyster Bar is a little like stepping back in time, with a large eating room that has an ample amount of counter space dedicated to shucking oysters and providing food to patrons. There is also a large bar area adjacent to the shucking room, where reasonably priced beers are available along with friendly service. When a lot of people are there, I can imagine that the interactions of the crowd and constant shucking in the eating room by the restaurant staff would be energizing and entertaining.
POSITIVES: The Oysters are good and appear to be fresh. The beer is reasonably priced, especially PBR for $ 1.16 per 12 oz. bottle.
NEGATIVES: Where Sunnyside Oyster Bar goes horribly wrong is in the quality of their Scallops and Shrimp. When I was first served their Scallops, I wondered why the Scallops were all very large and uniform in size (this doesn’t happen in nature, where harvested Scallops of all sizes have different size adductor muscles… the thing you eat).
I was also put off by the fact that they were all a stark white. Real Scallops have some level of translucency, but the ones I received were opaque… and that either indicates massive over cooking or materials that isn’t actually made up of Scallops.
Lastly, I couldn’t cut their Scallops with a metal fork and when I tried, the spongy white mass just bounced back… which is very different from my experience with real Scallops that sever between the vertical striations of muscle.
In the end, the taste test proved to me that Sunnyside Oyster Bar was selling customers fake Scallops because what they put in front of me did not taste like Scallops at all.
As for the Shrimp, which they claimed to be fresh… it was already peeled. All the places where I get fresh shrimp in any type of quantity (½ lb. or 1 lb.) provide peel and eat Shrimp, yet Sunnyside Oyster Bar peeled every one of the small shrimp that they steamed for us?
I don’t think that’s realistic, especially when customers are completely willing to peel the shrimp themselves.
CONCLUSION:

SCALLOPS — Uniform size and shape /​No detectable muscle fibers /​Incapable of being cut by a fork /​No Scallop taste = FAKE SCALLOPS
SHRIMP — Small, completely peeled shrimp sold as fresh is actually frozen.
SUNNYSIDE OYSTER BAR offers customers fake Scallops and frozen Shrimp. Because they present both of these items as being freshly sourced locally, I think the restaurant is a scam and that they are ripping off customers. In the end, I would not recommend Sunnyside Oyster Bar to anyone… at least until they go back to providing real Scallops and fresh Shrimp to their patrons.

OH MY GOD, WHAT A FIND!!! We lucked into the restaurant when driving home from OB. Old time oyster bar. Very casual. Our «shuckers» name was Griff, slightly gruff at first, but he warmed up. He has worked there for 47 years. HUGE oysters, done simple. Perfect! We will never pass by without stopping in again.

This place is a classic! We had heard about it for years and finally made our way out here from the Raleigh area. It was so good the first time we made a 2^nd trip back with our daughter when she was home from college. The oysters are large, fresh, and delicious! The horseshoe shaped bar encourages friendly conversations with everyone around you making a meal here feel more like a family get together than a restaurant. The shuckers are always fast, and polite and work with a smile. I can’t wait for my next trip out here.

Fantastic seafood!!! We stopped here last Tuesday just passing through. Atmosphere is classic and fun. The boiled shrimp and scallops were the very best I have ever tasted. If you want to eat right away, get there right at opening. We went at 6 thinking we would be the only people in the place at 5:30. It was crowded when we got there, but the wait was fun. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable.

Classic oyster bar known throughout the East coast. If you’ve never been, then what are you waiting for?

I have done raw bars on all coasts in all English speaking countries… this place is absolutely the best total experience.

Oysters oysters and more oysters. You come here to eat them not to enjoy the décor. All you can eat the shuckers stay very busy. Just let them work. Place gets crazy busy so you may need to wait. Sometimes big busses of people show up this is for serious eaters only. They do offer shrimp too. Open during oyster season not a place to dress up Flip flop kind of place

Atmosphere energetic and happy
Service is friendly and good
Food is fresh and tasty, mainly seafood !
Unique experience !!!
Recommended !

Sunnyside is the experience other reviewers discuss. Sit down and enjoy the excellent oysters and atmosphere. Within moments of sitting down, I had met my neighbors. One offered me a scallop and it was so delicious I had to have more along with the oysters. Folks are friendly and gracious in the rural South! I wish I had taken all my oysters in Red Rooster form. Lots of hot sauce and horseradish. If you’re in Williamston and like seafood, I cannot imagine a better place for a meal.

We enjoyed our visit to Sunnyside and we will definitely recommend them and go again. My wife had the snow crab clusters and she said it was as good as she’s had. I had steamed scallops and they were very high quality and very good. I would have preferred them pan fried but they only steam them there. The service was as good as it gets, talkative, attentive and skilled. I had a peck of steamed oysters and my shucker kept them coming. He fixed me a couple of Red Roosters and I had the experience. The hot sauce and peppers were not an issue but the horseradish really cleared out my sinuses. A couple of swallows of beer fixed the situation. I was a bit disappointed with the size of the oysters though — about half of the oysters in my peck were very small — ½ to ¾ inch in length. I was told that they were getting these oysters from Texas. I guess I caught them on a bad day but I enjoyed the experience.

Great. 1935. Go.

I implore you to go to Sunnyside.

This place is unique and amazing! Serves locals and tourists. This place provides great oysters, scallops and shrimp in a rustic setting. Prices are cheap if you are use to city prices. You sit around a horseshoe shaped bar in the back while the staff shuck your steamed oysters for you. Wish they had a better craft beer selection but the food is great!

When traveling to the Greenville area, my hosts highly, and I will repeat, highly recommended this place. Who am I to say no to going to an authentic oyster restaurant?
Anyway, the interior is very basic. You have white wood walls, a plain wood floor, and green trim. However, you have everything you need! They have food, beer, tables, counters, and bathrooms. They even have shuckers for you!
Of course you can eat oysters. If you want something else, they also have shrimp and crab. For the brave, or those egged on by the peer pressure of everyone else in the group getting one, there are the red roosters. The rooster is a raw oyster with horseradish and Tabasco sauce. The Rooster comes in two flavors, hot or extra hot or maybe regular or mild, I forget. The non standard heat level is a special request. Because of the horseradish it has the kind of fresh kick that is very different than the heat of Tabasco, be prepared.
This place is great because it is authentic, a great value, and fun. The shuckers (and servers) are more than happy to talk to people, you are probably here with some friends, and it will be a great night.

This place is the real deal. One of the last old school oyster places, and as noted only open seasonally. The oysters are the star– of course and even if you haven’t tried them before or aren’t sure, you need to go here to get a real experience. Especially after a day in the sun.
The place is pretty small and old– and you get a seat at the bar with service from your own shucker. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and recommendations. Try the red rooster– it has vinegar peppers, hot sauce, horseradish, and black pepper. Pretty much covers every layer of ‘hot’. The veggies (broccoli only if i remember correctly) are fine, but you might as well focus on the briny goodness of the oyster. That’s what it’s all about.

This place is one of a kind. We ate there on our first night of vacation and didn’t realize what a good deal it really is. The food was outstanding and so reasonable considering what other North Carolina restaurants are charging for much less quality and not as much atmosphere. I wouldn’t hesitate to refer anybody to this wonderful spot. Try the scallops and be so happy!

Not better place to get some Os and a PBR served by the best shuckers in the state. Be sure and get yourself a red rooster!

This place is open only seasonally, so don’t be put out if it isn’t open when you want to go. Best to call ahead to make sure.
I highly recommend this place for the food, the atmosphere, and the service. It may take you a while to get seated at the seafood bar, so get yourself some beer from the real bar.
You’ll be seated around a U shaped bar, with a personal server for your group. They’ll prepare all the food, shuck the oysters, what have you. Get yourself a rooster if you dare: raw oyster, horseradish, Tabasco sauce and deliciousness!
Williamston is a small town and this is a small town restaurant, so you NYC and West Coast snobs can pass this place by. Leave it to the Southerners to appreciate!

Best Oysters I’ve Ever Had! No lie. Really good atmosphere. They only serve steamed oysters, crab legs, shrimp, and scallops. If you don’t like seafood come out after dinner and enjoy a drink and they sometimes have live music. One of the few places to grab a drink in Williamston. Definitely check it out, i’ve never met someone who didn’t love it. Last time I was in there the guy sitting next to me had driven 3 hours just to eat there.
Whatever you do make sure you ask your oyster shucker to fix you a red rooster. if like hot and spicy food you will not be sorry. even if you don’t give it a try anyway!