Few things make your reviewer happier than sitting in the sun and admiring a stunning view, with a plate of oysters and a glass of dry white wine alongside. Jersey’s Oyster Box provides all the above. It should be a must-visit venue for any discerning diner on the island.
JPRestaurants is the family-run business behind the restaurant. Its history dates to the 1950s. A third generation is now in charge, and the empire extends to a small handful of outlets. In each, a similar formula is successfully repeated: find a great location (looking out over St Brelade’s Bay, in this case), furnish it with timeless fittings and source top-quality local ingredients.
Oyster Box was brimming with atmosphere, even on the midweek lunchtime when we visited. Guests like us were taking advantage of unseasonably warm April weather – the mercury was over 20 degrees – and placing themselves on tables in the sun. There are no bad seats. Each has a panoramic view of the Bay.
Obviously, it was obligatory to begin with a platter of mixed oysters. Jersey has a deserved reputation for its bivalved molluscs. Owing to the cool and unpolluted Atlantic waters, the slower relative growth of the oysters in this region tends to mean they develop a firmer texture with deeper flavour. Our pictured quartet comprised an original – clean, fresh and briny – followed by an oyster flavoured with ginger and chilli, then one prepared in a champagne butter, and a final offering that was grilled and combined with tomato, bacon and cheese. If forced to choose number two in the line-up was your reviewer’s favourite.
Beyond oysters, there is no chance of guests going hungry. Several fish options are listed on the menu as well as there being daily catches (priced at market rates) and specials. For those less keen on fish, a small handful of meat and veggie plates are available too. Stand-out for us was a crab special, enhanced by a divine Hollandaise sauce and a local runny egg.
Throughout, service was professional and efficient, with only the subtlest of pressure placed on the upsell. A single glass of Chablis proved ample on this occasion, although to have the chance to linger over a bottle and even more seafood means that a repeat visit must be in order.