On August 15, 2017, as part of our "San Andreas Adventure," Missy Jenn and I stopped at the Hog Island Oyster Company, mainly to sample some raw oysters. This happened to be a Wednesday, and the place was pretty well full, with people standing in line for "to go' oysters, and "eat in" oysters.  This we could observe from the parking lot as the place is very spread out with oyster tanks, commercial operations and, of course, the eating area. I must confess to some confusion, though, and it would have been most helpful to have a big sign with instructions for how the place works posted at the entry.

As it was, Missy Jenn and I walked all the way back to the outdoor seating and barbecue area, only to be told that it was a "Shuck Your Own" day. I was a little nervous for sure! I have eaten plenty of raw oysters and I love them, but it had been a while since I worked a shucking knife. We went back to the order window and waited in line. Here's the first tip: if it's crowded, expect a wait of at least 15 minutes to get your oysters. There were only two people ahead of me and it took that long! The reason is, when you order the oysters, you have to first indicate what size you want, and then wait as the order taker pulls them from the tank, trays them, and throws a good bit of ice on top. Unless you bring your own heavy rubber glove and a shucking knife, expect to pay $5 per person for the rental. I confess this was a bit off putting and a simple deposit system would have been more welcome for the use of the equipment. 

Missy Jenn is not a raw oyster eater. This being the case I had to make certain she could enjoy the experience too. Hog Island does offer various small artisan cheese wheels and some rather fancy bottled and canned drinks. She ordered a small goat cheese wheel (around 8 oz) and I ordered a dozen of the largest oysters at $17 a dozen. There were three sizes on offer that day, all around the same prices, but the smaller oysters are reputed to be easier to open. I declined the suggestion to order the smalls but asked for a dozen of the largest. Yes, I was bold!

We took the tray of oysters and cheese to the seating area. This is really the "money shot for Hog Island because of the astounding view of Tomales Bay. The place was much busier now and open tables were non-existent. Luckily there was a really pleasant couple from Denver who offered us a table share. We took it but there was a condition attached. Neither had ever shucked an oyster so the deal was, if I showed them how, we could share the table. Okay, I am kind of stretching the truth on this one! We were offered crackers and I was glad to share my rusty shucking skills with them.

The oysters did not disappoint. Each was meaty and flavorful and the briney flavor of Tomales Bay shone through. Simply put, they were outstanding. At $17 a dozen the price now seemed somewhat of a bargain. I encouraged Missy Jenn to try an oyster and she did. This was a "busting her cherry" moment! I opened one up and did my darnedest to make it look attractive before I handed it to her. A fool's errand if there ever was one. No way to pretty up this bad boy! Anyways, she gave it a try, slurped it down and, after a minute or so (with various weird facial expressions) she declared it a so-so taste. Oh well. History shows oysters are an acquired taste anyways!

What really surprised me is that Hog Island would have a shuck your own day. All around me I saw people struggling to open oysters. For a first timer, already facing the daunting challenge of eating raw seafood, the misery of trying to pop the shells on the oysters was probably a turn off. I sat with a couple who would have gladly paid $5 to have their oysters sucked. Others around me no doubt would have considered this a bargain and certainly made the experience more enjoyable. Even a few independent guys could have gone around "free lancing" as shuckers and made $25 to $50 an hour. There were a limited number of barbecue grills available but they were snapped up quickly. I also noticed an employee shucking for a private party. I guess this can be pre-arranged, if the group is large enough.

I rated the experience a 9 star while Missy Jenn rated it 8.0 stars. The location is superb but be warned: parking is difficult and limited.I would definitely return!