Capitol Oyster Bar

Capitol Oyster Bar is a seafood shack far off the beaten path. Its ramshackle appearance, inside and out, combines with a beautiful patio view of the Alabama River to create ambience that will make a scene-sensitive traveler’s heart go pitty-pat.

Of course there are oysters. As you enter, you pass the shuckers on the left, hard at work opening meaty, bracingly salty Gulf beauties to be served on the half shell by the dozens. These are the best things I ate at Capitol Oyster Bar.

The big menu does offer a few regional specialties — fried blue crab claws, po boys, and seafood gumbo — but most of the repertoire is basic seafood-shack fare, available fried or steamed. I went for a fried combo platter that includes shrimp, oysters and scallops along with hushpuppies, cole slaw, and onion rings: all good stuff, if not rapture-inducing.

On Sundays, the restaurant becomes a venue for live blues music. The lineup is available on the restaurant’s website.