A Review of Little Em’s Oyster Bar

By Sara Branstetter | November 19, 2024

It has been a banner week for Little Em’s Oyster Bar. First a recommendation from the Michelin Guide and then a move to a brand new location. And all within the span of about 48 hours.

But such is life for busy restaurateurs Houston and Emily Carpenter. With the recent closure of their restaurant Upscale, the Carpenters now oversee four of San Antonio’s most popular restaurants – Little Em’s, Restaurant Claudine, Nineteen Hyaku, and the Go Fish Wine Bar – and are a culinary force to be reckoned with.

I made a trip to Little Em’s on their first day in their new location to get a feel for their new digs and see if their food lives up to the Michelin hype. Spoiler: I wasn’t disappointed.

ABOUT US

We’re Kelsey and Sara, two local foodies with a combined 29 years of eating in San Antonio, two travel books, and millions of blog readers. We adore local spots, rarely visit chain restaurants, and we aren't afraid to tell you the truth. After spending thousands of our own $$$ at hundreds of local hot spots, we're sharing the best with you.

Location

Since opening in December of 2020, Little Em’s has been a Southtown staple. Their original building was a super cute white, and light pink affair right next door to Bar Loretta. With blush pink and blue umbrellas, and clean white lines, Little Em’s was among the most instagrammable restaurants in San Antonio.

But with the closure of Up Scale, the Carpenter’s had an empty building and a plan. They renovated the space, made sure it still felt true to the Little Em’s Oyster Bar vibe, and relocated the restaurant just around the corner.

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Parking

Little Em’s move does not affect the parking situation in any way as neither the original building nor the new one have a dedicated parking lot. In either case, you are stuck looking for available street parking on S. Alamo or down one of the side streets. While it isn’t ideal, it is the reality for the vast majority of restaurants in Southtown.

And a little walking never hurt anybody. Especially when there is delicious food to be had at the end of the walk.

Exterior

Thanks to some remodeling and a good coat of paint, Little Em’s Oyster Bar has managed to maintain the ultra-cute outdoor space of its previous home. The restaurant is now white, with accents of pale pink, and a beautiful outdoor dining area that wraps around the front and side of the restaurant.

This outdoor space may just be one of Little Em’s greatest charms. New decking is adorned with white tables and chairs and is surrounded by gorgeous flower planters and pops of pale pink.

And the space is actually huge with seating for a lot of people. On nice days, this will be the IT place to be in Southtown.

Interior

The chic interior is no less alluring with its white lines and blush pink accents. A large wrap-around bar sits in the middle of the indoor dining space next to the oyster bar with Little Em’s star features sitting front and center for guests to admire.

The Carpenters seem to have cracked the code on design and Little Em’s Oyster Bar is a shining example of elegant and chic, without being overdone and uninviting. Little Em’s adorable aesthetic makes it one of San Antonio’s most romantic restaurants and a great place for a date night.

Service

All four Carpenter restaurants are models of service with knowledgeable servers who know their food and are quick with a solid suggestion. Service is quick while managing to avoid rushing guests, and overall is very friendly.

Food

When it comes to seafood in San Antonio, Little Em’s Oyster Bar is at the top of the list. With their recent move, they have expanded their menu and now have an exceptional selection of fish and shellfish appetizers and entrees. This was perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the visit as there were so many options, I struggled to choose and will definitely need to return.

On the flip side, their menu was also the only disappointment of the meal as the print was so absolutely tiny that it was difficult to see. Couple that with the fact that they used pale pink ink which looked pretty but was super light, and anyone who is over the age of 40 will want to bring along their reading glasses so that they can actually decipher the menu.

My poor eyesight aside, once the food came and my sense of taste took over, sight no longer mattered. We ordered some oysters (no-brainer at an oyster bar), shrimp cocktail, the Connecticut lobster roll, and a fried oyster sandwich that is akin to a BLT. Everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, was delicious.

High marks go to the oysters and the accompanying mignonette sauce, as well as the lobster roll which was the best lobster roll that I have ever had (and I’ve had them in Maine where they should have been the best).

Overall

Southtown continues to rank high in SA restaurant choices and Little Em’s Oyster Bar is among the top options in what is already a foodie paradise. Beautiful space, options for indoor/outdoor seating, a sizable menu, and yummy food make Little Em’s a must visit for anyone who counts themself a seafood connoisseur or lover of oysters. And bring a date – everything about this place will win him/her over.

WEBSITE | 1024 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78210