Austin Oyster Co. is now open in a reimagined 1950s craftsman home. The interior features a bar made from the original wood from the home and hand painted tiles. (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
Brendan Yancy, owner of Austin Oyster Co., went from shucking fresh oysters at private events and pop-ups to serving sit-down meals at a mainstay location.
How we got here
Yancy said he always had the "entrepreneurial bug” and a longtime love for cooking. His wife being from Maine, he said, is what really kickstarted his curiosity for oyster farming. Since then, he’s been interested in the farm-to-table pipeline that brings oysters from the East Coast to East Austin.
After building a knowledge base by visiting different raw bars and touring oyster farms, Yancy decided to launch his own concept in 2020. He began shucking oysters at private parties across Austin and educating people about where oysters come from.
Brendan Yancy and Drew Ahumada—formerly of Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, Le Cowboy and Carpenters Hall—partnered to open the restaurant, according to a news release. (Courtesy Matt Conant)
The educational aspect is a through-line that stayed consistent as Austin Oyster Co. evolved from private parties to pop-up events and eventually to its permanent spot in a reimagined 1950s craftsman home.
Austin Oyster Co. officially opened March 31, serving fresh oysters, seafood and an array of East Coast classics, from Rhode Island clam “stuffies” to Boston johnnycakes.
Craving seafood?
The restaurant brings patrons a unique selection of oysters, including ones from Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
In addition to oysters served on the half-shell with a classic selection of lemon, house hot sauce, shallot mignonette or horseradish, customers can also enjoy them with a twist. The dressed oyster is served with tangerine-shoyu granita and trout roe, while the clams “diablo” is served with tomato-Calabrian broth and bloody mary relish.
Patrons can enjoy oysters from Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts for $4 a piece. (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
Outside of the raw menu, visitors can feast on small plates like calamari, tomato salad or corncakes. Larger plates include a Texas wagyu cheeseburger, glazed pork chop and steak frites. Austin Oyster Co. also serves up a Maine lobster roll with brown butter or aioli, grilled brioche bun and fries.
Yancy wishes people knew how intentional the menu, oysters and products offered are, he said.
“I work really closely with the suppliers in Maine and ... in Boston, as well as our suppliers here, to make sure that we have oysters you can't get anywhere else,” Yancy said.
Austin Oyster Co. is the only restaurant in Texas that carries Bombazine oysters from the New Meadows River in Maine, Yancy explained.
Diving in deeper
Yancy’s ideal order starts off with half a dozen oysters and one tom kha clam, a chocolate clam served with coconut-galangal broth, pickled mushrooms and shallot. He would then get two clams diablo and a north end johnnycake, a corn cake with maple-honey butter, trout roe and salmon bacon.
He would finish off with the Maine curry mussels, served with coconut and red chili broth, shrimp, zucchini, peanut, cilantro and toasted sourdough.
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere
The seafood spot also has a cocktail menu stocked with martinis, spritzers, specialty cocktails, zero-proof options, beer and wine.
The restaurant offers three types of martinis: classic, briny and citrus—all of which come with a sidecar.
Austin Oyster Co. serves up fresh cocktails, including the barefoot contessa, made with blanco tequila, strawberry, rhubarb and lime. (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
Check this out
Before opening Austin Oyster Co, Yancy launched his own oyster farm in 2024, called Lone Pine Ranch, in Brunswick, Maine. At its launch, the farm began supplying oysters to 10 restaurants across the country, including three in Austin: Holiday, Este and Hestia.
Maine had a harsh winter this year, Yancy said, and the restaurant is now waiting on Lone Pine Ranch’s first harvest at the end of the month.
What to expect
In addition to the brand’s own oysters coming soon, the Austin Oyster Co. team plans to continue its self-sustaining practices by adding an herb garden to supply the kitchen.
Austin Oyster Co. accepts reservations and walk-ins, as guests are invited to grab seats at the bar, in the dining room or on the outdoor patio for delicious food and an easy-going vibe, Yancy said.
