Pearl Oyster Bar

Defunct restaurant in New York City, U.S.

Pearl Oyster Bar

Restaurant information
Street address| 18 Cornelia St
City| New York
State| New York
Postal/ZIP Code| 10014
Country| United States
Coordinates| 40°43′53″N 74°00′07″W﻿ / ﻿40.73141°N 74.001995°W﻿ / 40.73141; -74.001995

Pearl Oyster Bar was a restaurant located on Cornelia Street in the West Village neighborhood of New York City.[1][2]

## History

[edit]

The restaurant opened in 1997 and closed in 2022.[3][1] Pearl Oyster Bar was founded and run by Rebecca Charles.[3] The restaurant was forced to close temporarily due to 9/11 in 2001 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012.[4] The restaurant served takeout and had outdoor dining in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] The restaurant closed temporarily after a server contracted COVID-19 in 2021.[4]

Pearl Oyster Bar's final day in operation was 29 October 2022.[5] Charles attributed the closure to rising expenses.[5] The restaurant Figure Eight now occupies Pearl Oyster Bar's former space.[6]

### Influence and references

[edit]

Pearl Oyster Bar has been credited with re-popularizing oyster bars in New York City.[7][3]

The restaurant was referenced by the character Tony Soprano in "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh", a 2006 episode of the show The Sopranos.[8] James Gandolfini, the actor who portrayed Tony Soprano, ate at Pearl Oyster Bar after the episode aired.[1] Charles referenced the show's mention of the restaurant to Gandolfini, but Gandolfini did not remember the line.[1]

## Reviews and accolades

[edit]

### Reviews

[edit]

In a 1999 review for New York Magazine, Gael Greene praised the restaurant's lobster, but noted that the restaurant's compact size might prevent some from feeling "comfortable".[9]

Helen Rosner, in a review of the restaurant Penny published in 2024, referred to Pearl Oyster Bar as "well-missed".[10]

### Accolades

[edit]

The restaurant was included in the Michelin Guide for New York City.[11] The restaurant was a semi-finalist for the 2014 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant.[12]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d Garbarino, Steve (November 15, 2022). "Good-bye to Pearl, the Oyster Bar That Launched a Million Lobster Rolls". Grub Street. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
2. ^ Forgang, Isabel (August 3, 2003). "Crustacean Break". Daily News. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
3. ^ a b c Anderson, Brett (May 6, 2014). "The New Wave of Oyster Bars". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
4. ^ a b c Hoeffner, Melissa Kravitz (January 29, 2021). "5 Restaurants on Why They're Hibernating This Winter". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
5. ^ a b Saltonstall, Gus (November 7, 2022). "Pearl Oyster Bar Closes After 25 Years In Greenwich Village". West Village, NY Patch. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
6. ^ Stein, Joshua David (August 31, 2023). "The Old Pearl Oyster Bar Will Become Something Completely New". Grub Street. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
7. ^ "Pearl Oyster Bar | New York Magazine | The Thousand Best". New York Magazine. December 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
8. ^ Fine, Jon (April 6, 2006). "Sopranos Product Placement Watch, Season Six, Episode Four". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
9. ^ Greene, Gael (May 31, 1999). "Pearl Oyster Bar - Nymag". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
10. ^ Rosner, Helen (May 19, 2024). "The Glittering Pleasure of a Perfect Raw Bar". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
11. ^ "Pearl Oyster Bar". Michelin Guide. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
12. ^ Canavan, Hillary Dixler (February 19, 2014). "James Beard Awards 2014 Restaurant & Chef Semifinalists". Eater. Retrieved July 8, 2024.