The Whitstable Oyster Company in Canterbury

The Whitstable Oyster Company is definitely my favourite lunch spot in Whitstable! It’s the perfect place for a family feast on a special occasion or an indulgent Sunday lunch by the sea. While it’s not the most economical spot in town, it’s absolutely worth the money if you’re looking to treat yourself. The seafood here is incredibly fresh, and thanks to their long-standing relationships with local suppliers, you can try unique dishes that are hard to find elsewhere. A standout for me is their buttery ray wing dish, which I’ve ordered countless times—it’s that good! For those looking to enjoy a fantastic meal without breaking the bank, I’d recommend their delicious fish and chips or the mussels. The only reason I’m giving four stars instead of five is because of the portion size of the chips that came with my main course. They were noticeably smaller than if I’d ordered them separately, which made me feel a bit like a second-tier customer. That said, it’s a minor gripe in an otherwise fantastic experience. I’ll definitely be back—this place is a gem!

Went on a Monday night with my gf. We are both chefs and had an amazing time. Service was fantastic attentive without being overbearing . And all the food was great produce, unpretentious, and very well executed. Chapeau to whoever was in the kitchen and on the floor. If u know u know

I brought my family to have lunch there and we enjoyed the rock and the native oysters very much. The oysters were rather pricy but we went for it since we were on vacation. Also tried the crab, mussels, and scallops. Unfortunately the whole family came down with diarrhea within 1 day that lasted for a week!

Well overpriced Service ( lady) made me feel rushed!

What a great place girlfriends family loved it so much that there driving 3 hours with there friends to go again

Brilliant, early dinner at this restaurant. Service was great and food was amazing. Do book in advance as it is worth a visit!

Today we had lunch at the Whitstable Oyster Company, and while the food was good, the overall experience didn’t quite justify the high price tag. The oysters were fresh and enjoyable, but at the prices a little bit higher, I expected something exceptional. The mussels were decent, and the desserts were also pleasant but not particularly memorable. At £220 for a lunch, the cost felt excessive for what we received. Unfortunately, the terrace was closed, which meant we missed out on the seaside views that would have elevated the experience. Additionally, the food arrived late, which was disappointing. On the plus side, I did appreciate the restaurant’s decor, which had a charming and well-thought-out aesthetic. Overall, while the food quality was good, the high prices, service delays, and lack of outdoor seating made it a less-than-ideal experience. I would recommend it for oyster lovers willing to splurge, but if you’re looking for value for money, there are likely better options in the area.

We’ve been to the WOC regularly over the years and most of the time it’s been a positive experience. Our most recent experience was 50:50 between the starter and the main course. The moules mariniere starter was at best insipid and really did lack the flavour notes one would usually expect from this dish; three out of four of us had the moules and we were all rather disappointed. The starter of scallops was deemed very good. On a much more positive note all of us had the Thornback Ray (skate) prepared with butter and capers and was outstandingly good in all respects, including a really substantial portion size. We all thought that the servers were rather disengaged with us, and after we finished our main course it must have been over twenty minutes before our plates were taken away. There’s no doubt that we will return to WOC, but I think they should read and act upon the reviews they receive since it is evident that other reviews also point out a range of outages that need to be actively addressed. Prices are higher than we would have expected on this occasion.

I’ve been visiting Whitstable on and off for 20 years. When a friend suggested lunch here I was really looking forward to it. The location on the beach front is of course great. The building is wonderful. But then I started to look at the menu (and prices) and the plastic water jugs, cheap wine glasses and paper table cloths and said to my friend “well the food had better be great” It wasn’t Starter of fried squid was unseasoned and rubbery. Main of a whole crab was amateur. The dark meat had been dressed in the shell and was riddled with shell pieces. Someone had started to crack the crab legs leaving small pieces of shell embedded in the meat. The meat was very cold. I mean just above freezing cold … ???? You know what we were thinking. We even asked had it been frozen and was told no. I’m not convinced. It was the worst crab dish I’ve had in my memory. And I said so. There was no “Sorry to hear that” instead we got “Well did you say so earlier?” Pardon?! The muscadet wine was good. Will not be returning.

Over priced, disappointing visit

Had a fantastic lunch yesterday. The ray wing was impeccable, delicious home made chips too. Lovely service. A cold, crisp glass of Picpoul and lovely company, perfect!

Brilliant. Will be going again.

I ate grilled oysters, mussels, mackerel, fillet, and flounder. It was fresh and delicious. The staff were also kind. I arrived as soon as it opened, so I was able to get a seat, but after that it was pretty crowded. It's popular, so it's best to make a reservation in advance.

Have been many times to this restaurant bringing friends and family on every occasion but my latest visit on Valentine’s Day was so disappointing! Oysters were overcooked, the 3 cheese crab starter had hardly any crab in it and the sea bass was very oily ( skin was not crispy , as usual . We spent over £215 but left very disappointed! Sadly, I don’t think I’ll be back ….

The Whitstable Oyster Company restaurant is at the end of Whitstable beach in a very nice authentic Victorian warehouse building signed "Royal Native Oyster Stores". I went on a Saturday lunchtime and was greeted by the extremely friendly staff and shown to the bright and airy dining room and my table which had a great view of the sea. I started with hot smoked salmon salad - delicious - followed by battered cod and chips with mushy peas and tartare sauce. The portion was enormous - I couldn't eat it all and I was so full I didn't have room for dessert! Service was super efficient and I will definitely be back. Thank you everyone.

Actually, our first time here and we were very impressed despite it being a foul Monday evening and the restaurant being rather quiet. The char grilled scallops with balsamic vinegar was at least for me, unusual and delicious. It was followed by a gilt head bream,one of my favourite fish. It was a real monster too with a complete bulb of garlic and a massive wedge of herbs stuffed into it with their mingled flavours pervading the fish. A big shout out to for The Crabzilla IPA, slightly less so for the half bottle of Sancerre which was rather bland.

Great food and nice atmosphere!

Best place for oysters, seafood and a good pint

Very rude staff. Asked for table of two to be told "not for three hours later because your not booked" people behind us were allowed to sit down but we were told to sit at the bar. That along with the look of disgust on the woman's face when we said we didn't want a drink (why would we when we were made to feel so unwelcome) was the reason we didn't leave a tip (which we had to get removed from the bill before we paid) this is the UK not US Won't be back.

A restaurant right in front of the beach. We made a reservation for a weekend lunch at 2:30, and even though we arrived about 30 minutes early, they showed us to our seats right away. I was able to enjoy my meal with a nice view, and all the staff were friendly. The order was taken quickly and the food came out quickly. The oysters were really fresh and delicious. It was the best oyster I've ever eaten so far🥹😍 All the other dishes were delicious and even the dessert was perfect!

Been meaning to come here for a while. Finally made it. Oysters were divine, calamari was excellent, the lobster was good and I really enjoyed the panna cotta! Will deffo come here again as I would like to try the fish and the scallops too! The restaurant was basically empty so it was a nice and peaceful dinner. Highlight was the cute cat that was perched outside the restaurant!

Amazing place - oysters are unbelievable

A beautiful restaurant with traditional atmosphere coupled with amazing fresh food.

Great food, lovely people. So accommodating, slightly pricey but enjoyed every bite. Knowledgeable information provided when I couldn’t decide which to choose. Calm, caring, friendly hospitality and really tasty food. Thank you

We had a great lunch of locally caught ray with capers and a buttery sauce, and a massive piece of fried cod with chips. Portions are generous and products are fresh. The setting inside an old warehouse was lovely as well!

Good fish in a wonderful location

Nice place with fresh fish and seafood

Wow, what a fantastic place, from entering, being shown to our table, the service with a smile. The food was perfectly cooked and fresh. Great views looking out over Whitstable Bay. The price was extremely good value for money. All in all an amazing experience, Thank you.

Very fresh and tasty oysters! Excellent selection of wines to pair, and delicious deserts! The chocolate cake is so yum!

...absolutely worth the trip from Bucks...

Nice atmosphere and ambience and food is decent but very overpriced for what it is. A crab for £29 and fish for £25 is extortionate, even compared to London prices. The sides are also a bit suspect- side of potatoes had about 4 potatoes and was the same price as a big bowl of chips.

We very much enjoyed our late lunch here on our first visit to Whitstable for many years. My wife couldn't stop praising the squid and my son and I had the perfectly cooked Cod and Chips.

Used to visit quite frequently but found food started to be very hit and miss. After quite a while decided to give it another try. Oh dear!!! My husband started with mussels which he said were very good. My choice was deep fried squid - skinny, underdone and chewy. We both chose hot smoked salmon salad as our main with a portion of chips to share. Neither were good, salmon was dry and chewy, the chips had seen better days. The small bed of salad was edible but what can you mess up?? Do we give it another couple of years before trying again or just give up altogether. The latter we think.

The cold foggy day, with few tourists, added to the charm of finding this place. The fresh food was excellant. The mussels, grilled oysters and the lobster were all fresh and well seasoned. The mussel broth could stand alone as soup! We grew up in a sea town, and this place brought back those fond memories. We sat by the entry, next to the wood burning stove as we sipped our draft chilled beer watching the action. The tartar sauce was thick and delicious and great to dip the chips in. Not only would I come back, if I could find a way to own this place, I would, and I could be content just greeting the patrons. Don't miss the trick of the eye, lobster on the wall!

Lovely vibe and good food. Only downside is the high end prices.

We love eating at WOC the food is always exemplary and they are building quite the wine list! My usual starter is half-dozen freshly shucked oysters with shallot vinegar followed by the Thornback ray (in season). But we've tried a lot of the dishes over the years and you will not be disappointed by any of them. Goodly sized portions, perfectly cooked. The service is also fantastic. Attentive without being over-intrusive.

Had dinner here last summer. Awesome. Seafood is not the cheapest, but it’s worth it! Tip: the sunset after dinner

Excellent meal at the Whitstable Oyster Company - it can't get fresher than this! Beautiful location right on the beach and loved reading the history of the building which used to be a storage warehouse for oysters before becoming a restaurant. You can still see the stairs down to the beach level for fresh seafood and fish to be delivered directly. Delicious food and perfect ambiance for a romantic meal for two.

1st time visiting this restaurant, lovely atmosphere and staff 👌 it's not cheap but we felt the food was definitely worth it, we had a fantastic evening would highly recommend

Served by a lady who was unhelpful in assisting a dairy free person. Had not heard of cooking in alternative non dairy spread other than butter.

Great fresh fish and lovely atmosphere. Good staff and views from restaurant of the sea and oyster beds. A little pricey but you have to pay for quality. If you like fish I would highly recommend.

Had an absolutely love evening with friends. Going in winter added an extra cosy touch, and the menu was still quite extensive considering we went out of season. Service was friendly and efficient. Especially loved the oysters to start and the whole crab was just devine!

I was there this summer and completely forgor to write my review, The Whitstable Oyster Company restaurant is a true culinary treasure that captures the essence of this charming coastal town. Situated right by the water, the ambiance is serene and picturesque, making it the perfect spot for a memorable dining experience. As you’d expect from a place with "oyster" in its name, the oysters here are absolutely sublime. Freshly harvested and served with precision, they are a must-try for seafood enthusiasts. Whether you prefer them natural, with a hint of lemon, or paired with one of their delicious accompaniments, each oyster is a celebration of Whitstable’s rich maritime heritage. Beyond the oysters, the menu offers a variety of seafood dishes that showcase the freshest local ingredients. From succulent fish to perfectly cooked crab and other seasonal specialties, every dish is crafted with care and attention to detail. Their wine selection pairs beautifully with the menu, enhancing the overall dining experience. The service is outstanding—professional, attentive, and warm. The staff take the time to make you feel welcome, offering recommendations and ensuring everything is perfect throughout your visit. Their passion for what they do is evident, and it adds a personal touch that elevates the entire experience. For anyone visiting Whitstable, the Whitstable Oyster Company restaurant is an absolute must. With its outstanding seafood, impeccable service, and idyllic location, it promises an unforgettable taste of this iconic seaside town.

The oysters, scallops, mussels and lobsters are very fresh and yummy. Very vibrant atmosphere and excellent services. We will definitely visit them again.

Ridiculous overpriced! Arrogant woman at the entry

I had battered fish and chips with mushy peas and tartare sauce. The components were distinctly average and no better or worse than your average chippy. The portion of fish was probably the smallest I have ever been served and, despite the up market location, a rip off at £25. On the plus side, the staff were very pleasant.

Review: Whitstable Oyster Fishery I recently visited the Whitstable Oyster Fishery with friends, and it was a fantastic experience. The decor has a charming New England vibe, setting a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The staff were attentive yet easygoing, making us feel right at home. The menu offered plenty of gluten-free options, and our waitress was knowledgeable about food intolerances, which was a huge plus. We started with oysters, which were fresh and delicious—devoured by all of us! For mains, we each tried something different, and my sea bream was outstanding. Living in the Mediterranean, I eat a lot of fish, but their sea bream was on another level—thick, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. I added a side of spinach for a fresh, green balance. Dessert was a delightful surprise, as they had a gluten- and lactose-free meringue with ice cream and fruit compote. It was the perfect finishing touch to a wonderful evening. Highly recommend for a memorable meal!

Excellent! From tasty and thoroughly prepared food, to a nice and cosy atmosphere with a view on the sea, and excellent service. Starting from the fresh an delicious seafood, very well cooked. What a fantastic experience, must try are of course the oysters, but we also had the sole meunière which is also highly recommended

A worthwhile visit. Really enjoyed the food

Delicious food, all the wait staff were so knowledgeable and helpful in giving recommendations for food and wine. I’d highly recommend the huss fish with capers and the diavolo cooked oysters

Had a really lovely dinner. Well worth a visit.

The service itself was excellent but I just think that the food wasn’t worth it for its price, except for the crab we got. We were quite disappointed by how small the oysters were when the restaurant is known for it!

Was a walk in booking at 4.30 on a sunny October Saturday Perfect food excellent quality and great service Haddock & bream perfectly cooked Bonus was sunset view over sea from our table Will definitely be returning

I recently went here with my wife for an unplanned birthday meal. Although we hadn't booked they were able to accommodate us without any waiting. It's a lovely location, nicely decorated, the staff were professional but not standoffish. Unfortunately they didn't have any raw oysters but the grilled ones with garlic, parmesan were lovely. The scallops were really good as were the fish and chips but I would have preferred a dressed crab to a potted crab. I tried their own brewed beer but it wasn't to my taste, no complaints though. It's good to try different things or you'll never know. A very nice mealwhich left us too full for a dessert. The choices looked very good though and we did try the wait and see approach but we were too well fed.

Lovely restaurant setting. Staff very helpful and engaging. Had the cod and chips, which were delicious and a healthy portion of both too. Thoroughly recommend and we will definitely be back next time we are in town.

Best oysters in town! Sea bass mouth-wateringly good. Went 3 times during 4 night stay at Hotel Continental (also good).

Expensive but really nice - couldn't fault it!

Fantastic service beautiful food lovely vib to the restaurant,well worth a visit

Special place with great food and a lovely team. The best place for oysters x looking forward to coming back. 😋

Delicious and fresh seafood in a very nice and cosy atmosphere. Best oysters I had in the Uk for sure !

Thoroughly enjoyed our meal here. The fattest and tastiest scallops I have ever seen :). The oysters are great too. All that combined with attentive and caring service - highly recommended.

Excellent scallops and ray here with old school mates, today.

Beautiful environment and food, although the oysters are more expensive than other shops, but it is worth a try to dine in an exquisite and unique seaside restaurant.

Top quality sea food and service in a great building. We had a table with sea view that made it even better. Would definitely return.

I booked at least 6 weeks in advance for our special 25th wedding anniversary - making it very clear that it was a special event & requesting a special table, preferably by the window. I was assured we had been allocated a beautiful table - even 24hr before when they called to confirm table - well it wasn’t - we looked at a staircase! When I spoke to manager to explain how disappointed I was - she literally lied to my face & tried to pretend looking at a staircase was a great table. Just admit you made a mistake - or your staff did - don’t BS me! We paid for the food - which I can’t fault! Just.very disappointed - didn’t quite match the evening I had planned.

Greeted by the restaurant's GM who offered me a cool sit at the little bar opposite to the kitchen. Great place for food, drinks and ambience!

Amazing food, wine selection, ambience. Foodie heaven all taking place in the lovely old building. Full of history and a great place to watch the sun go down.

The restaurant is charming inside and we were lucky enough to see the sunset over the oyster beds from our table. The staff were lovely. The scallops and the crab gratin were delicious starters. The Dover sole was perfectly cooked and the new potatoes and tender stem broccoli were perfect sides. We tried a nice local Kent white wine. We had a lovely evening with delicious food but it was expensive.

Had delicious food here before the Whitstable Oyster farm tour. Highly recommend both!

Came here yesterday with my partner. We hadn't booked, but the lady managed to fit us in during a busy lunchtime. I had never had oysters or fresh lobster ever. This was a fantastic first experience. We had the garlic and parmersan oysters to start. Admittedly, there were not what I thought. Really enjoyed them. And I have no words for the lobster that would do it justice. Overall amazing lunch date for us 😋😊

Tried oysters for the first time here. I paid £2.50 to have severe food poisoning. Was a horrific experience.

Very good oysters as well as boiled crab. Great ambience. Overpriced in my opinion (6 oysters, 1 crab, 1 fksh&chips, 1 beer, 1 glass of wine, 1 bottle of water, 1 espresso = 130 pounds)

Took my parents here for an anniversary meal and we had the most incredible time. Food was delicious, staff were attentive and helpful, and we really enjoyed the atmosphere. Highly recommended it for a special occasion.

I’ve never visited Whitstable before, and a lover of seafood and a virgin for oysters my husband decided to surprise me with a trip here. I LOVED it. The staff were so friendly, the interior decor rustic, nautical and comfy. We couldn’t believe how busy it was for a lunchtime on a Tuesday… completely full! Our food was delicious - I had the crab and my husband had the lemon sole - and I’m glad to say that my first experience with oysters was a positive one (YUM). It was made even better that the view in front of me was where the very oysters I was eating came from. Absolutely blown away and I cannot WAIT to come back.

Grilled oysters in garlic are superb

Great seaside setting with tantalisingly fresh oysters, raw and grilled, and delicious accompaniments. Friendly and efficient service. Will definitely return soon.

Was amazing our daughter and her partner took myself and husband there as joint birthday's

Great staff and lovely atmosphere, enjoyed mackerel beautifully cooked and amazing fish and chips,would definitely recommend

Xmas present vouchers for the Oyster Farm Tour on a Saturday morning at 8:30am, what an amazing present and what a fascinating insight into the farming of close to 4 million oysters per annum!! Loved every minute of it even the glass of vino at 10:30am to wash down our fresh rocks!!! Strongly recommend…..(if you like oysters)

Book a meal for a Saturday night, what a lovely place, we sat outside but it was a beautiful evening, we'd had sun all day, the food was delicious, yes expensive but worth it and it was a special occasion, very helpful with allergies, would definitely recommend.

one of the best restaurants on the coast, reservation essential

Did the oyster farming tour with this company it was incredible. Guide funny friendly and very knowledgeable. Tasting was amazing in the grading shed oysters delicious along with a chapel down sparkling highly recommended

Incredible! The sea view is also amazing. The food is great and the service is brilliant

It was very delicious. The service is top-notch. The oysters were incredibly delicious.

Wonderful place. Right next to the sea, so great place for people watching and seeing boats bobbing along. Delicious food. Great service

Amazing food and nice set up, friendly atmosphere

Always a joy to eat here, although make sure you book a table as they are always very busy - a good sign in any restaurant! The food is super fresh, tastes amazing and would always be my first choice for somewhere to eat when we visit Whitstable. The staff are friendly, helpful and have just the right amount of presence without you feeling rushed to finish eating. I love it!

Beautiful place, food and service. Year after year they manage to keep their standards up. Exceptional fish/ seafood quality. Worth every penny.

What a find this place is. Unbelievable food,service and atmosphere. Can't rate it enough. Definitely be back next time we are in town!

Was searching for grilled oysters in whitstable and finally found them here (they have fresh too). The black truffle and champagne butter grilled oysters were out of this world! Mussels unbelievable too. All good food. We were at a side bar as we didn’t book and still had the most attentive service, they really looked after us.

An absolutely wonderful night of exemplary, perfectly-cooked seafood, in a beautiful setting, buzzing with great ambience and watched over by highly-competent staff. Shared oysters (so beautifully fresh it really showed), hot house smoked salmon (amazing), dover sole meuniere (magnificent), roasted hake (also perfect), gelato and cheeses (sublime). Drinks are also to die for. It was a truly faultless and wonderful night - sure, it costs a lot to dine here - but you leave with a memory. It might have been one of my favourite nights out in a decade or more!

Excellent food and service. Lovely atmosphere too. Seafood was as fresh as they come!

Beautiful restaurant, great service, and lovely food. Fish and chips was massive and lots of options on oysters. Great cocktails too

Personally, I am very satisfied and the scenery is picturesque. The people in the town are very nice

Beautiful food. The major fault for me is the incredibly over inflated price for drinks and the 12.5% service charge. I know its discretionary but you're more likely to keep it if you make it 10%

Food delicious. Lovely setting right on the beach

What an awful place, hosts are rude and uninterested in accommodating. Avoid this place.

Met by a very rude host who, before allowing us to even look at the menu, quizzed us on what we were going to eat, stating rudely that “you can’t just come here for drinks”! When we replied that we would get a few starters as it was already late afternoon, we were told that they couldn’t afford to give us a table for so little! The restaurant was more than half empty and we felt very belittled by the host, why should it matter what we wanted to eat? Very disappointing!

The value for money at this restaurant is very disappointing. The meals are too plain and lack creativity. For example, their bream dish is simply a piece of bream served with three small potatoes—nothing else—for £33. There’s no sauce, nothing. The food is significantly inferior to other restaurants in the same price range, where the menus are thoughtfully crafted, and the dishes are rich and complex.

Wonderful meal and the staff we lovely. Highly recommend. Wish we’d ordered more oysters.