Oyster expert Dylan Salmon (yes, that’s his real name) originally tested his concept in a Mt. Vernon basement and it worked so well that he opened his own brick and mortar on a corner in Hampden. Dylan’s features an expanded menu beyond just oysters and cocktails—though you shouldn’t leave without sampling both—and shows what its team can do with an entire kitchen. Try traditional Maryland coddies (fish cakes served with yellow mustard and Saltines), seasonal salads, a fried oyster sandwich, or even a could-have-fooled-us green chili cheeseburger that tastes just like the Southwest.

The best place to eat oysters in Baltimore is at Dylan’s, where you can watch the shucker work behind the bar or take a seat in one of their snug booths and admire the tiny restaurant’s controlled chaos from afar. The menu usually has at least one Maryland option, like wellfleets, but you can also try some briny and sweet bivalves from Virginia and New Brunswick. They also do great seasonal hits like the mayo-slathered soft shell crab sandwich.

This neighborhood spot features riffs on seafood-shack classics, terrific oysters, and classic coddies—a salty cod potato cake that’s deep fried and served with a smear of Dijon mustard sauce with a side of saltines—plus the best soft-shell crab sandwich in the city. It’s basically an intimate oyster bar, but one with phenomenal food that goes way beyond the namesake shellfish. Still, hailing from coast to coast and with every flavor profile represented (briny and bright, crisp and clean, sweet and salty), they’re a mandatory starter.

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. Taking from its namesake, Dylan’s Oyster Cellar is a rustic restaurant with a Belle Époque ambiance and offers a wide variety of oysters and clams, from bites of roasted oysters to fried oyster sandwiches. But it’s not all just oysters and clams on the menu, the restaurant also has a plethora of other seafood like fried calamari, house-cured sardines, fisherman’s stew, and butterflied rainbow trout.

As a resident of Baltimore, skipping seafood just isn't done, and Dylan's Oyster Cellar in Hampden provides an accessible option for Homewood's student population. The moment you walk into this speakeasy, graced with hand-drawn chalkboards and nautical decor, you're greeted by a relaxing vibe. Among their selection of raw oysters, which capture the essence of the Eastern coast, we sampled the Rocky Tops from Virginia and the Wellfleet from Massachusetts.

Tucked away on a quiet corner of The Avenue in Hampden, Dylan’s Oyster Cellar is beloved by locals for its cozy atmosphere and rotating selection of fresh, regional oysters. Also on the menu are Maryland specialties like coddies and soft-crab sandwiches. Along with True Chesapeake and The Urban Oyster, the restaurant recycles their shells through the Oyster Recovery Partnership, making it an equally sustainable and tasty choice for dinner.

Dylan’s Oyster Cellar is one of the best restaurants in Baltimore who started small and later expanded into a full-fledged restaurant as it gained popularity and success. The great success story of Oyster expert Dylan Salmon inspires all aspiring restaurateurs of Baltimore. He started with a pop-up in a basement in Vernon with his unique concept and later opened a fine restaurant in a prime and corner location in Hampden.

Dylan’s Oyster Cellar is an exclusive reserve-only seafood restaurant that serves fresh raw oysters and other seafood options. The menu is filled with items like fried oysters with the iceberg, tomato, chips, and shore sauce and the whole sea bass with salsa verde, espelette, and herbs. Keep in mind that the menu is subject to change without notice; ensure to call in advance to ask any query during your reservation.

If you are looking for a place offering a great setting for casual get togethers and family dinners, I think Dylan’s Oyster Cellar is the best option. In addition, this oyster bar celebrates the seafood history of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, Washington, and England, dedicated to bringing locally sourced food on the table. For all oyster lovers, Dylan’s Oyster Cellar is a must-try and I bet you won’t regret it.

3601Chestnut Ave, Baltimore, MD 21211(443) 759-6595 Visit Website. Whether you’re a Baltimore native or appreciate change, Dylan’s Oyster Cellar prides itself in offering a full oyster bar with a rotating menu. That means you’ll get to enjoy nothing but the freshest oysters as you dine in the historic quarter near Johns Hopkins University.

After you’ve tracked down Baltimore’s best crab cake and gotten tired of picking through bushels of steamed crabs, it’s time to duck into Dylan’s Oyster Cellar in Hampden to explore Baltimore’s other bounties of the sea. SEE ALSO:A Guide to the Best Rooftop Bars in Washington, DC. Of course Dylan’s has oysters.

The traditional coddie is a poor man’s crabcake: potato and salt cod mixed together with spices and fried to golden brown. Try one at this popular romantic corner spot in Hampden, where they’re served old-school-style with a saltine cracker and mustard. 3601 Chestnut Ave., Hampden.

Duck Duck Goose, The Helmand, Dylan’s Oyster Cellar, Gunther & Co., Hersh’s, La Scala, Magdalena, Restaurante Tio Pepe, Alma Cocina Latina, The Food Market, Cindy Lou’s Fish House, True Chesapeake Oyster Co., Hersh’s

As the name suggests, oysters dominate the seafood-centered menu at Dylan’s Oyster Cellar. While a little pricey, the large portions coupled with the happy hour drinks make for an enjoyable dining experience.

- Rating: 4.3/5 (180 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 3601 Chestnut Ave. Baltimore, Maryland - Categories: seafood, cocktail bars- Read more on Yelp

Oysters, coddies, whole fish, burgers and potato skins – oh my. If you ask us, it’s the best burger and some of the friendliest waitstaff in town.