Whether it’s grilled, smoked or broiled, oysters were aplenty Feb. 22-24 during Tribes Alehouse and Grill’s Oysterfest.
The event was designed to give people a chance to dive into its special seafood offerings.
“Our owner is from the east coast, and he’s into oysters,” Floor Manager Anthony Bartkowiak said. “It’s always been a great event. The turnouts always been nice.”
The Mokena location offers Oysterfest in February, and in Tinley Park, staff holds the event in September.
“People love the oysters,” Bartkowiak said.
Entry into Oysterfest is free, Bartkowiak said. You just come in and order a la carte.
The event featured oysters of the east and west coast varieties. Other items of note included the oyster shooter, lobster and crab cocktail, giant shrimp and New England middleneck clam.
For starters, patrons chose between anything from Andouille and seafood gumbo and Manhattan clam chowder to smoked fish spread and clams casino.
“Everything comes in fresh daily,” Bartkowiak said. “Anything we make here is done fresh daily.”
Bartkowiak said there had to be hundreds upon hundreds of oysters on hand for the patrons.
“We hope to get more people to try oysters and get them to understand they’re not so bad, though sometimes people think otherwise,” Bartkowiak said.
Sue Wolf, of Frankfort, was on hand for Oysterfest.
“It’s really wonderful,” she said. “This is my first time here. The food is great. I’m willing to come back.”
Wolf decided to come after learning of Oysterfest through her friend, Dana Jenner, who liked it so much she returned.
They sat at the bar and had several rounds of oyster shooters.
Joanne Depre, also of Frankfort, was enjoying her night out with Kristina Depre.
“We’ve been coming here for a couple years,” she said.
Joanne said their family comes out to Tribes Alehouse and Grill all the time.
The two enjoyed bits of conversation between bits of crab and oyster.
“The blue point and fannie bay [oysters] were my favorites,” Kristina said.
Joanne said she’s more of a fan of the crabs than the oysters.
“She’s a good sport,” Kristina said of Joanne. “She keeps me company.”
Kristina tends to go out for seafood often.
“I’m a big fan of oysters,” she said.
Joanne said it’s been n awesome night for the two at Tribes Alehouse and Grill’s Oysterfest.
“I’m happy it got a good turnout,” she said.