How to Eat an Oyster in Bluffton, S.C.

We lusted after oysters. Here’s how we found them on a family trip to the Low Country of South Carolina.

1. Find Pepper’s Porch

Start on the main street of Bluffton on a farmer’s market day, for the exotic bounties of the region. Then walk the quintessential southern town’s May River Road to the 100-year-old barn that houses a transplanted New York Greek chef’s restaurant, and his eclectic take on southern food.

2. Take a Swing

Get on that tire and swing for a while above the humpy floorboards of the outdoor dance floor, which vibrates at night with line dancing. At noon, it’s deserted, shaded and a gift to remember for its authentic Low Country vibe.

3. Look Up

Gaze at the 300-year-old live oaks, strung with Spanish Moss. Absorb the thick, sweet, humid air that seeps in through that massive canopy.

4. Take a deep breath

Enjoy the sharp, elemental smell of freshly harvested oysters in the bucket you’ve been served. Brimming with juice when opened, they’re from the May River a short walk away. The heel of the oyster, in the deep part of the shell, is exactly the right cream color and the flesh is plump.

5. Appreciate the history

In a while, walk down to the Bluffton Oyster Company’s historic premises, where recycling programs barely keep up with the mounds of shells. The Toomers family has fished these waters for a century and operates one of the last hand-shucking oyster houses in the Carolinas. (They also do shrimp, crab, clams and mussels).

6. Dive in

It takes time, muscle and good wrist action to open these sharp-edged shells, which come still attached to the stalks that anchor the oyster to the river bottom against the power of salt water tides. We share the shucking as a family, nibbling fried green tomatoes and other specialties as we go. When the leisurely afternoon is over, we agree it’s a Top 10 memorable meal.