Overall: This was a last minute place that I went to on a friday night with my girlfriend. There were plenty of reservations available - it seems like this place gets most packed for their happy hour deals. Most of the food was great except for one bad experience with the mussels. The waiter made it right, and overall we had a good time. We'll be back to try happy hour. Food: 4 Drinks: 5 Service: 5 Value: 4 Atmosphere: 3 Food: We got several different types of oysters, the crab cake appetizer, and the mussel and squid ink pasta entrees. Everything was fantastic except the mussels. We actually sent the mussels back. They were grainy, tasted like they weren't fresh, and were overall terrible. Unfortunately this offset the other food that we really enjoyed. In particular, we enjoyed the Acadia oysters and the Squid Ink Pasta. Our waiter made it right and took the mussels off our bill, but they were unfortunate at best. Drinks: We got a couple rounds of their beers. The draught menu isn't that extensive, but theres a little bit of everything and beers are $7. Service: Our waiter saved our experience. He was prompt, helpful, and very understanding about the issue with the mussels. Value: For a seafood / raw bar, this place was definitely on the cheaper side. We've heard good things about the happy hour and will definitely be back for that. Atmosphere: This was a fun place to go but it was very loud. At points we had to shout to hear each other. It wasn't particularly crammed full of tables, but noise seemed to reverberate.

We me up a friend that lives in NYC and we had a hankering for some seafood after drinking some tropical drinks in the neighborhood. The alfresco seating was the perfect setting we were looking for that night. I had the squid ink pasta and loved every bite. It was perfectly cooked, with a rich uni flavor that I couldn't get enough of. We also tried the West Coast oysters, and they were out of this world--fresh, perfectly shucked, and incredibly flavorful. The staff's recommendations for craft beer pairings were spot on, and the rotating taps had an impressive mix craft brews and unique finds, making it a beer lover's paradise. Service was awesome. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable, and it was clear they had a genuine passion for the menu. I was amazed at how he was able to navigate the busy bike path between our table and the restaurant without getting run over. All in all, Upstate Craft Beer and Oyster Bar went above and beyond my expectations. It's a fantastic spot for a casual night out, a special occasion, or just to enjoy some of the best oysters and craft beer in the city. Can't wait to come back!

I absolutely loved coming here for happy hour! I got one glass of wine + 6 oysters for $16 which is an incredible deal, wondering a lot of restaurants charge that much for wine alone. My friend and I also split the squid ink/uni pasta which was quite buttery and tasty, with a nice pop from the trout roe. The only issue I had was the slow service, I think there was only one guy shucking oysters for the whole restaurant so it took about 45 min for our oysters to come out. I did want to order another round but decided it wasn't worth the wait. Hopefully the restaurant can staff more during happy hour.

For more details on why I love this place so much, please read my previous reviews. I'm just popping in here because incredibly after so many years, Upstate still delivers the exact same experience. Still the best oyster happy hour in town! Still with the fantastic whiskey cake that comes at the end. Shane, if you read this, please please, may I have the recipe to that cake??

One would not expect such upscale food to be served in a casual bar atmosphere, but there you have it! Every dish tasted acutely reminded me of Michelin starred restaurants that I've tried, from the amuse-bouche proffered, to the crab cake appetizer, to the surf and turf entree, through to the unique whisky pound cake dessert served. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and my wallet was quite happy at the affordable price point. Additionally, the service was outstanding. We were graciously attended to multiple times by the owner/manager himself. Always a telling sign of high quality. Do note that this is a small space so surrounding conversations can get a bit loud, so focus on your food and drink and you'll be thoroughly content. Lastly, bring cash to avoid the 2.9% credit card fee.

We came here for HH oysters but were actually pretty impressed by the food too! They have deals to do the oysters with wine instead of beer for those who prefer wine. My friend and I shared the Tuna Tartare and Squid Ink Pasta with Uni. Both were actually delicious. My only complaint was that the bread that came with the Tuna Tartare was a little hard/stale. Other than that, great spot :)

Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar is the perfect place to enjoy a dozen oysters and grab a cozy seat at their bar. The staff are so personable and make you feel right at home. The ambiance is warm and welcoming making it such a wonderful neighborhood favorite in the East Village. They have a great oyster happy hour and we cannot wait to visit this gem again!

This place truly got better with time. It's been a long time since we've visted, but I'm glad to see they're thriving. My husband and I came here on a Friday night. Thank God we made a reservation, because at 6pm, it was packed! We made it in time for the oyster happy hour, which is one of the city's best deals. But the star of our meal was the squid ink and uni pasta! We've been to some of the top pasta spots in the city and this dish rivals them! The pasta was perfect cooked and the sauce was rich and tasty. The uni gave it enough umami to keep you wanting more. Next time, I'm getting my own and not sharing with my husband lol. We sat at the bar and Shane was so attentive to us. He made sure our glasses were never empty and we had a great conversation. It's great to see an owner take pride in their business and it really shows that Shane cares about this place. I will make sure come back often!