Located in MidCoast Maine, the Damariscotta River is well-known for being home to some of the best oysters in the US. Whether you’re an oyster connoisseur, or want to try them for the first time, you won’t find a better spot than Glidden Point Oyster Farm in Edgecomb, Maine.
Serving oysters grown on their own farm, as well as a variety from other local oyster farms along the Damariscotta River, Glidden Point Oyster Farm provides incredibly fresh, plump, delicious oysters and clams. All oysters are shuck-your-own, so get ready to get your hands dirty and dig in!
When you pick up your oysters from the service window, you’re provided with a shucking knife and shucking glove. If you let them know you’re new, a staff member will come over to your table and give you step-by-step instructions on how to open the oysters.
Beer and wine, all selected to pair well with oysters, is available at the register, as well as lemon juice and cocktail sauce.
There were five varieties of oysters the day we went, so we ordered four of each – twenty total. By the time we’d each had our ten, that was plenty. Everyone is different, but I wouldn’t recommend getting more than a dozen per person or you’ll be feeling very oystered-out.
Currently all seating is outside, out in the sun or shaded under a tent, with peeks of the working dock through the woods. Check the Glidden Point events page for any upcoming events and future food trucks.
QUICK SHUCKING TUTORIAL
Hold oyster with the round, cup-side down, flat side up, with smallest point (hinge) facing you
Insert shucking knife into hinge and wiggle it in. May have to hold oyster down on table for tough ones. Once in, give it a twist and oyster will pop open.
Slide knife through the oyster away from you, keeping along the top shell to cut through the connecting muscle.
Remove top shell and slide knife along bottom shell to completely disconnect oyster from shell.
And voila! Oyster is ready to eat!
Enjoy!
Want to bring the fun home? Glidden Point offers pickup and delivery of fresh oysters as well as shucking kits and swag. Check out their shop here.
There is definitely a skill to shucking oysters that must take hundreds of oysters to master, but as newbies I think we did pretty well! We spilled brine all over ourselves and poked ourselves a bit in the beginning…. but at least we weren’t munching on chunks of shell which can totally ruin the oyster eating experience. I’m so happy we found this gem on our trip to Damariscotta – we had such a great time trying something new.
Is there an activity in New England you enjoy and think we should try next? Comment below – we love trying something new!