Reviews for: Greg Garrett's Forbidden Oysters

This oysters were great if you want to eat some good oysters . I say try.m you will definitely be satisfied. We eat a few raw then we attacked them after we started steaming them . Will definitely order again thanks G

After hearing about the struggles which a successful realtor that I knew growing up was having, I became interested in sampling these forbidden oysters. Well I must say his persistence has paid off. These wonderful gems were eagerly enjoyed by our friends here in North Carolina, and all agreed these were the tastiest oysters they had ever had. One who said she did not eat oysters after having them once before kept coming back for more saying these were delicious. I have had fresh oysters from Down East, the Low Country and the Panhandle. Chesapeake Bay oysters were my absolute favorites until these York River delicacies. They were sweet, salty and succulent to say the very least. Greg, thanks for your persistence in harvesting these beauties and I look forward to having them at our next oyster roast. Cheers

I saw a story in Garden and Gun magazine about your oysters. We started ordering oysters from the Chesapeake 5 years ago for pre-Christmas gathering of kids home from school. The quality from the area is always excellent. Your "Forbidden" oysters were top-of-the-line.; clean, meaty and salty. Opening them from the side was new for me, but once you found the sweet spot, they just popped open..

We'll be back.

Derick Brundick Jacksonville, FL

We wanted to have an oyster roast for my brother-in-law this weekend. He frequently has oysters and oyster roasts back in Charleston and only buys when he doesn't have time to pick them personally. He was skeptical when I told him these might be as good as his.

To say he and our guests enjoyed Greg's oysters would be an understatement. Compared to the Low Country, he said these were cleaner, nearly as salty and had more flavor. The packaging was superior and not a single throw away. Just perfect. Can’t say enough.

Tom Walker Chesapeake, VA

As a good Marylander, I have eaten oysters as far back as I can remember. My first oyster came at age 3 when my dad introduced me to the sea's most wonderful delicacy. Since that time I have had them from all over the world and have loved every second of it.

When my dad told me recently that he had found an oyster that would absolutely shoot to the top of my favorites list I was more than a little skeptical. Ready to temper my dad's excitement and put him back a notch, I ordered 100 FORBIDDEN's for our annual 'Pre-Thanksgiving' feast (a running tradition amongst my close friends).

They came the next day and of course I ripped into them the first second I could. I cracked about 6 of them and sat down to, what turned out to be, some of the most delightful oysters I can ever remember. They truly do live up to the hype; they are sweet, clean, and perfectly meaty. The resulting phone call to my father can be summarized this way 'dad, you were right; those are some mighty fine oysters!'

My wife and I have never been disappointed when it comes to Forbidden Oysters. We ordered them for our Wedding and they were shipped fresh Next Day Air. They were so salty and savory that even people who had never had raw oysters before were hooked! We loved them so much that we continue to get Forbidden Oysters for special occasions and the Holidays. The customer service is five star. Greg is so personable and is truly cares about customer satisfaction. MUST TRY!

We ordered Forbidden Oysters for a company cocktail party and they exceeded all expectations. Guests were pleased with how fresh and flavorful the oysters were and all 200 were eaten throughout the night. We would definitely order them again.

The cleanest and sweetest oysters I've ever had. We had a delightful evening savoring each sampling. You'll be hearing from us again!

A casual gathering of seven friends exceeded all expectations. There are now 7 Forbidden Oyster devotees in North West Pennsylvania

Most were consumed raw, some grilled for 3 minutes with a mixture of butter, fennel and shallots, some as classic Oysters Tokyo and a small quantity as deep fried.

With unanimous acclaim all were judged as excellent for flavour and texture.

The raw oysters of course are #1. Closely followed by the oysters grilled in the butter, fennel and shallot mixture

It is hard to describe in words how happy and fortunate I was to have found FORBIDDEN Oysters. Greg, Scott and everyone at FORBIDDEN Oysters. I grew up in Maryland and have been eating oysters since I was a kid. I met my wife at college in Ohio and we were married in a historic mansion outside of our college town (Granville, OH) this past weekend. We wanted to have a little "Chesapeake Bay heritage" involved with our wedding, so I stumbled upon FORBIDDEN after doing an extensive amount of online research.

Well, let's skip to the actual review. The oysters were absolutely delicious. Every time a tray was dropped at the Raw Bar, they would be devoured in seconds. I saw numerous people trying oysters for the first time and even they commented on their taste. In the end, our Raw Bar was a massive hit, definitely one of the highlights of our Reception... our guests were all raving about the oysters and everyone was asking, "Where and how did you get these from?" (knowing that we were in land-locked Ohio, known for their beef and not seafood). Now, that is a whole other story, but it just goes to prove why you should choose FORBIDDEN Oysters...

I was eagerly awaiting our UPS delivery the Friday before the wedding, however as the sun started to drop, I got nervous and called UPS. It turns out, UPS dropped the ball and they were lost. 400 precious oysters lost somewhere in Ohio and was informed that they would not be delivered until Monday. I frantically called Greg late on Friday afternoon and said, "Greg, is there any possible way we can get another shipment of 400 oysters here by tomorrow morning??" At first, the chances were looking slim and everyone, including Greg, was pessimistic.

However, about an hour later I received a call from Greg who said, "We got you covered." At 9am the next morning, I received a call from our caterer saying that our oysters had arrived.

FORBIDDEN Oysters was hands-down the best vendor that we worked with throughout our wedding. I could tell that Greg actually cared about the success of our wedding and he was confident in the experience that his oysters would create. Thank you for making our wedding day even more special, it honestly would not have been the same without those oysters.

My husband and I have eaten sweet, coppery and metallic Olympia oysters in San Francisco; European flats with their sharp mineral taste in Paris as well as green tinged Marennes; cold salty Louisiana oysters in New Orleans; and Atlantic oysters from Bluepoints to Lynnhaven. We both agree that none of these delicacies can hold a candle to the palatial pleasure of York River Forbidden Oysters!!! They arrived on our doorstep less than 20 hours after they were shipped, packed in ice, still at a temperature of 40* They were as clean as though they had been power washed, not a grain of sand or grit, oyster liquor dripping as they were opened. And such a gastronomic delight!!! Plump sweet flesh with just the right amount of salt. Forbidden Oysters are our new favorites.

Although we are in a summer month, we decided to have an oyster roast last Saturday here in Charlotte, NC. After doing some online research, we purchased 300 Oysters from Greg. All I can say is YUM! There was about 15 of us eating oysters, both raw and roasted. There were even a few who have never tried an oyster and loved them. Greg, if you are reading this, we will be back!!!

I grew up on the East Coast eating fresh seafood my entire life. Five years ago I moved to West Virginia and never thought I would have fresh oysters again! I'm so happy I found Greg Garrett's Forbidden Oysters! They are the best tasting oysters I ever had. Thank you so much for delivering such a great feast, my mouth is watering just thinking of them! I definitely will be a repeat, highly satisfied customer!

Sweet, buttery ... just the right amount of saltiness.

We were first-timers with oysters. Ordered them a few days in advance of a small dinner party. Arrived as promised, nicely packed. We picked up 60 for about 8 people ... Rockefellered about 25 and ate the rest raw (some with lemon, some with mignonette). Looking forward to ordering more over the summer!

Greg's oysters were sent promptly with great communication. Oysters were plump and buttery with a splash of salt. I will be a return customer. Thanks so much. Your Forbidden's are heavenly. Kansas City gal.

Greg suggested i get some of his oysters to celebrate my 50th and i agreed. his team made it easy to order with a very reasonable delivery fee. customer service was way above average. the oysters were fabulous. nice size and very favorful. good texture and not to saltly.

Well my bravery paid off eating these oysters in the raw. And those that I have encouraged agree that cooking them is paramount to boiling a fine wine. These oysters are simply the best I have ever had. Eating them straight out of the shell is the way to go. I have encouraged the non-oyster eater to do the same, as I am generally, and they had the same experience. Oyster "lovers" would only be happier, Oysters , "I do not eat those" people- well they are surprised and ask for more. So have plenty when you order these, otherwise you may have a mutiny.

Greg The Forbiddens were AWESOME! We introduced some neighbors to Oysters for the first time and everyone loved them. We roasted all of them. Some were served natural (ungarnished). Others were served with fresh spinach, bacon and goat cheese; the rest were served with Roasted Red Pepper slivers and fresh Parmigian Reggianno. The oyster newbies seemed to like the garnished oysters the best. Later in the evening; we went to another neighbor's place and he also served your FORBIDDENS at his home. Some were steamed and some were done Rockefeller style. Our progressive dinner Christmas party was a FORBIDDEN OysterPaLooza! Thanks again and we will hope to buy some FORBIDDENs from you again sometime soon. All the best, Chas

 Greg First let me say being from Long Island home of the Blue point oyster and now living in Palm Beach county Florida I  don't have the luxury any longer of going to our local fish monger and buying such quality oysters all I can say is Wow absolutely Fantastic oysters ! I am hooked sweet body salty sea brine no condiments required! Nothing needed just naked Even friends and family who aren't oyster purests agree !! who could ask for anything more from an oyster, there is no going back to my tried and true blue points from L.I, thanks so much for the excellent service and the most delicious oyster I have consumed in my 55 years I almost feel like I'm sinning eating them now there's another reason to be called forbidden oysters Regards  Tom Casella A customer for life.

This December a new oyster splashed into the mollusk scene down on the Embarcadero. The chic Waterbar lounge on San Francisco's waterfront introduced Forbidden Oysters to the delight of many local gourmets, myself included. If you're in the SF Bay Area I strongly advise you stop by during happy hour (before 6) and check out these oysters on the half shell.

The shell is medium sized yet the tender meat is larger than your average oyster. They have a nice buttery flavor and texture with a delicate hint of brine.

Moreover, when you buy from this farm you're supporting a family that isn't afraid to stand up for freedom against misguided legislation(hence the name 'Forbidden').

Thanks to everyone at the Garrett farm and keep up the good work,

Rory H. San Francisco, California

The first time I tried Greg Garrett's forbidden oysters, my taste buds were amazed. I am a culinary professional working in the restaurant industry in Los Angeles, CA. I have tried many oysters from all over. I understand that each oyster is different and the terroir, just like in a fine wine, plays a large part in the greatness in flavor. Forbidden oysters are magical in the sense that they are well-balenced: just the right amount of salty and sweet, with a great creamy texture. I have not found a comparable oyster to these. I had a great opportunity to visit Mr. Garrett's oyster farm. This beautiful farm is well-maintained and truly handled with love and care. Scott, the oyster farmer, is extremely knowledgable about the art and understanding of harvesting oysters, and he works so hard! I did not get to meet Mr. Garrett, as he is a hard-working and busy individual, but his wife Libby was so sweet and hospitable as I toured their family farm. As a culinarian, it is always a major concern that our ingredients, especially seafood are maintained in a clean and well-maintained environment. After visiting the farm, I am confident in saying that forbidden oysters are truly a culinary gem. They are some of the most flavorful oysters, I have ever tasted, and the farm is cleanly maintained with love and respect for the oysters. So don't forbid your tastebuds from trying Greg Garret's family oysters! Don't just take my word for it, shuck some and find out!

Jane and I have appreciated oysters in a lot of places in the US, moving around in the Air Force. No kidding, Greg's oysters are right there at the top of the pile! Plump, sweet, and just the right amount of salinity. We knocked down a whole lot on the shell, then shucked the rest for an awesome oyster stew. Greg, we'll be back for more many times. Uhhhh, do we need to sneak in at night to avoid being arrested??? Don Streater, Brig Gen, USAF (ret.)

I ordered 120 oysters and I was pleasantly surprised that Greg included oysters of all different sizes. It is rare that farmers will do this and it was fantastic for the holiday. We had some raw, others we grilled and I even did an oyster stuffing with the last bit. The oysters were very fresh, incredibly firm with a nice bite. I really enjoyed the sweetness at the end and there was a lot of the briny liquid that I love in the shells. (But the oysters are pleasantly mild) This will be one of my go-to companies for fresh oysters.

Also to note, Greg was incredibly friendly and prompt in answering all my questions. I order oysters direct from farmers on both the east and west coasts and I will definitely be recommending Forbidden Oysters.

That's what I'm talking about. These are the bomb. Want a watery,tastless oyster then look elsewhere. Ordered 10 doz for Thanksgiving. Arrived in Central Pa next day in great shape, shipping costs reasonable. Meaty,brineyjuicey,deep cupped perfection. Be careful shucking as shells can be soft, as some Chesapeake oysters tend to be. Thanks for these gems, I'll be back soon.

Best oysters ever! These are the juicest, most perfectly salty, yummy oysters I have ever eaten. They were as clean as a whistle and I could not stop eating them. I lost count and waddled away from the table as happy as could be!

Can't wait for more!!!!

As part of our 40th wedding anniversary celebration, we had brunch yesterday in the Regency Room at the Williamsburg Inn. New to oyster-tasting, I was delighted by the tenderness and clean, mildly-salty taste of these oysters -- and especially that York River oysters are served at our favorite, very special five-star restaurant. Thank you, Greg, for pressing through to provide this wonderful food, and your significant contribution to cleaning our bay!

I sampled Greg's oysters, both raw on the half shell and steamed, and they were awesome. I am an oyster lover from way back and have tasted oysters from several different parts of the country, and I must say these oysters rank right up there with the best!

Looking for a nice bar to have a drink and snack in Norfolk, we ended up at Big Easy Grill and Oyster bar, an elegant and more quiet address right off the hustle and bustle of Granby st. Being oyster lovers, we were intrigued by the Forbidden Oyster flyer we found on the bar, the newcomer not yet on the official menu. My partner and I were visiting from France and we are very picky because we are used to eating oysters in Paris and Normandy. Always raw, never steamed. We were really amazed by the taste and texture of these oysters. Delicate yet flavorful, refreshing and not too salty. A perfect way to end the evening with a glass of Sauvignon. We were so thrilled we wanted to drive to Yorkville the next day and check if Greg organized tasting events. They don't have a venue and you can't puchase them by the dozen, but if you want to buy them in bulk or if you have a chance to taste these oysters in a bar or restaurant, don't think twice, they're a delight! A bientot, V and G

I must say these forbidden Garrett oysters are some of the fattest and saltiest that I have had. It must be all that good clean salt water that runs down the York River that gives these bi-valves such a good flavor. Not only is Garrett's oyster farm producing great table fare, it is also purifying the water of the bay and river....really what more can you ask for??

I'm a bit biased because I love oysters but these are truly delicious. You don't have to go all the way across the bay to get great tasting salty oysters. Roasted, fried, smoked or even raw, these are among the best I've tasted. In my opinion they're the perfect size to eat on the half shell and every one I've eaten has been virtually grit free. No wonder they're forbidden.

I have been eating oysters all of my life, and l am 82 years old. I have NEVER had oysters that tasted this good! So fresh and tasty. I will never eat another oyster that is grown in the mud when these are available. I was told that you grow these off the bottom, and maybe that is why they are so clean and sweet !! Your spot on the York River must be really special.

I've had Greg's Forbidden Oysters several times...very tasty! No grit, plump--very "clean" taste with a perfect salty finish. We actually did a side by side taste test with Greg's oysters and some Rappannock oysters. The Forbidden Oysters won hands down! Keep 'em coming...

I was at an event in December in which "I won" a bag 0f Greg Garrett's Forbidden Oysters (50 count) It was close to Christmas and we traditionally would have a Prime Rib Dinner for our Christmas Eve meal. I decided to add the Oysters as an appetizer. All I can say is that they were the freshest, tastiest Oysters that I have eaten in the Hampton Roads area---and that includes some of the finest restaurants---. While writing this review I find myself thinking about how good those Oysters were-- I'm sure that I will be contacting Greg soon......

Greg recently helped out with one of our employee events and brought his oysters. I have been a big fan of the salted gem for quite some time now, traveling weekly with the job and ordering them in DC, New England and through local restaurants. I have to say that Greg's oysters were the best I have had in a very long time. Little to no grit, and when eaten raw, are very plump and tasty. If you are used to getting these smaller raw oysters at your regular places or restaurants, you need to at least try Greg's. I have not had a better oyster in the past year, than his forbidden ones.

I have been buying these wonderful tasting oysters from a produce stand in Williamburg, off Rt. 5, they are so fantastic. At first I was reluctant to try them raw , but now that I have I can't go back. Wow , fresh just isn't a good enough word. Completely grit free, delicately sweet with a perfect salty finish ,we will buy no other.

We tried Greg Garrett's "Forbidden Oyster" brand oysters as a snack the first time. We went back for more. Dinner that evening was cheese, bread, oysters and wine. They are lusciously sweet with a slight saltiness and out of this world. Forbidden or not we'll keep coming back for more.

I expected them to be fresh, but these plump, meaty oysters are also remarkably grit-free. You're missing it if you pass on trying these oysters, but then again, that's OK - more for me to enjoy. Trust me. These top the zinc, iron, calcium, & selenium tablets from the health food store.

Finally! The York River and the Chesapeake Bay are being recognized for quality seafood beyond the cherished Blue Crab! Although the Chesapeake Blue Crab can not be beat - it is encouraging to note the return of the much needed, under recognized -oyster!- Thank you Greg Garrett for putting us back on the map for a project that not only feeds our people, but at the same time -cleans our waters!- You have lead the way and others are following! Growing and harvesting oysters is a win-win operation. And -oh by the way- they taste pretty good too!!

We started selling Greg Garrett's "Forbidden Oysters" this year. Living in Okinawa Japan and Gulf of Mexico, I have literally tasted Oysters all over the world. I love the fact that they are out of the water a few short hours before I pick them up. I eat them raw so I can taste the wonderful oyster liquor, the perfect blend of salty and sweet! They are grit free and a real treat, and available year round!. Zina's Produce just started an aquiculture "Ocean to Palate" seafood share. I was inspired to do so because of the taste of these oysters! Thanks for all of the hard work and persistence on bringing these oysters to our community! Now that I have had these oysters, I want no other! "Zina's Produce" on Face book is a great way to get information on how to get some of these babies! We deliver!