Emmett Watson’s Oyster Bar

Emmett Watson opened Seattle’s first oyster bar, Emmett Watson’s Oyster Bar, in 1978. The bar quickly set the standard for shellfish service in the region. Its fresh take on oysters quickly became a template for countless other oyster bars in the Pacific Northwest. Brian Trask (Oglala Lakota) took over the historic spot in 2024 and began sourcing clams, salmon, and most oysters from Indigenous suppliers, with a long-term goal of sourcing all food products locally.