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Alsatian Oyster Odyssey in Strassbourg and Colmar🌊

When the calendar flips to September, signaling the glorious return of oyster season! And where did I find myself celebrating this auspicious occasion? Alsace, France. A landlocked region famous for Riesling, half-timbered houses, and... absolutely no sea. It's a bit like looking for a decent curry in Antarctica. But where there is great wine, there is usually a desperate need for great food—and a surprising number of places happy to oblige with the fruits of the sea.

After some serious digging, I found two spots that prove you don't need a salty breeze to enjoy a fresh oyster.

Chère Amie: The Unexpected Speed Date

Picture this: my dining buddy and I are aiming for a late dinner, but the pre-dinner hunger pangs were a real issue. So, we thought we'd try to squeeze in a 'quick' seafood hit beforehand. No reservation. No plan. Just sheer, unadulterated gluttony. We waltzed into Chère Amie in Strasbourg and, luckily snagged a spot.
Fresh oyster in a reasonable price
The whole place was buzzing—like a hornet's nest of well-dressed locals who clearly knew something I didn't. The décor was chic, the smells were intoxicating, and the service? Lightning-fast. I'm talking "blink and your oysters are shucked" fast. It was exactly what we needed to fuel our next adventure.
Tasty seafood platter
The seafood selection was surprisingly decent, and everything tasted fresh. I was seriously impressed. It felt like a proper meal, and I had major regrets that I'd only treated it like a starter. Verdict: A stellar spot. Next time, I'm booking a proper hour-long session and taking full advantage.

Estimated Cost Per Person: €40 - €65 per person

Rating:
Food: 4/5 - The seafood was exceptionally fresh.
Service: 4.5/5 - The staff were incredibly quick and attentive
Decor: 4.5/5 - The restaurant had a buzzing, chic, and sophisticated city vibe.
Value: 4/5 - The quality justifies the price, even if it was a bit on the pricier side.
Overall: 4.5/5 - An absolute must-visit spot that left me desperate for a return.

Au Port Du Canal: The Muscle-Bound Mussel Challenge

Nice garlic scallop and escargots
Next up, we found ourselves in the charming town of Colmar at Au Port Du Canal, a lovely little family-run affair.
Again, the seafood was fresh and full of flavour. The portions were generous, and the price was decidedly reasonable. However, a slight, tiny, almost insignificant snag: the mussels were on the small side. I'm not going to lie; I had to really work for my dinner. It was a serious effort-to-reward ratio problem. I felt like a medieval artisan, meticulously chiselling flavour out of a tiny shell. The taste was absolutely spot-on, though, which is why I was committed to the challenge. Just be prepared to put in the gym session on your plate.

Generous portion but small mussles

Estimated Cost Per Person: €30 - €50 per person
Rating:
Food: 4/5 - The seafood was fresh and full of flavour, with generous portions
Service: 4/5 - Friendly service typical of a good family-run establishment.
Decor: 3.5/5 - Pleasant and welcoming, but not as stylish as its Strasbourg counterpart.
Value: 4/5 - A reasonable price point for good quality, fresh seafood.
Overall: 4/5 - A solid option if you find yourself in Colmar craving the ocean. 

Alsace Seafood Sidenotes

If you're an absolute seafood fiend and want the most choice, Strasbourg is where you should stay. The options are far more abundant there. Colmar is delightful, but your seafood adventures will be more limited. All in all, for a landlocked region, Alsace seriously over-delivered on the fruits of the sea.

Restaurant Info 
Chère Amie, Strasbourg:
Address: 5 Av. de la Marseillaise, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Telephone: +33 3 67 68 70 70

Au Port Du Canal, Colmar:
Address: 86 Route de Neuf Brisach, 68000 Colmar, France
Telephone: +33 3 89 24 17 93

Labels:
Location: Strasbourg, France

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