this is a great place for oysters and cocktails.   the bad thing is that everyone else has the same idea.  they open up at 4 and there is a line already at the door.  if you miss the first seating, you're in for a wait.   you can't be seated unless everyone is there, either.  

during the winter, it's small inside and not much seating.   during the summer, there is an  outside seating area that opens up.   not many more seats, but it's more. 

the oysters go up 50 cents every half hour, so order your spread early.   you can get them fried too and i adore the fried brussel sprouts.   they used to have anna, the master cocktail maker, but she has moved on several times times over.   this place is goodness.

  I learned more about oysters in one sitting at this place than in the rest of the six years I've been eating oysters. This place blows away Legal Seafood and Acme Oyster House. One thing to note about this restaurant, and I've found this to be a common problem with UrbanSpoon/Zomato, is that it is actually a tapas restaurant, so it is probably closer to a $$$ cost.

  Recent visit to the walrus and the carpenter was a rewarding trip.
Started off with fresh, sweet, briny, raw oysters, followed by king salmon tartare which had a lovely chewy bite and summery flavor of cucumber and lime.
I always enjoyed their fried oysters, and my eating party promptly ordered one after all the raw ones. There was something about the very coarse, gritty, cornmeal batter housing plum oysters that was addictive.
Another delicious surprise was the fried whole herring. It sat upright in the plate with some very fermented mushroom kimchi and tasty broth.
The herring flesh was super tender, even the bones were "edibly" soft.
The steamed clams were very fresh, but the curry sauce was too overpowering. The dish came with a very burnt piece of toast that I sent back; unfortunately I received another piece of burnt toast in place of it. I was a little at awe that they consistently delivered good food, but failed on a piece of toast!

doofniks.com

  Amazing amazing amazing. The service, the food. All of it. The oysters were to die for and I got a Teton cider. Sitting at the bar is a fun experience as well

  The best food in Seattle, and the best service. The plates are small, so get several things and share. Don't skip dessert. I've never had better bread pudding in my life.

Fried Oysters. Tasty

Sometimes service to customer counts more than the food served to your table... this is what i got when i went in this place.
hope they can improve in this area.

A True Taste of the Northwest. Wonderful oysters and a great assortment of small plates. I loved the steak tartare, black cod and the sauteed mustard greens, but I could easily eat here two or three times a week, closing my eyes and pointing at the menu. I just wish it were closer to where I live.

Racist hostess ruined our evening. My cousin and I (we're Asian) arrived for dinner and told the hostess we would like a table for 3 and was waiting for my husband who would arrive in 10 minutes. She told us they have a policy of sitting parties that are complete and we would have to wait until everyone arrives. Okay fine--so we waited. Then, a white guy came in and told the hostess he's waiting for someone who would arrive in 10 min; the hostess promptly seated him...a few minutes later, a white woman came in with a similar story and was promptly seated as well. So we left.

I don't care how good their food is...not worth the discrimination