Crab & Fin

This venerable St. Armands Circle fish house has been a Sarasota staple for years, with its fresh seafood attracting locals and visitors alike. And you can get a variety of raw oysters. Our recommendation: order the grand oyster tasting, which comes with a dozen oysters. $2.95-$3.75 each, $37.60 for the grand tasting

Monk's Steamer Bar

This Gulf Gate spot, which opened in 2001, has been a local favorite since its inception. The oysters "Monkafellers" (a take on the popular oysters Rockefeller) is this spot's signature dish, but we suggest sidling up to the bar and ordering a dozen raw oysters and a beer. $18.95 for a dozen

Owen's Fish Camp

You can't beat Owen's casual, Old Florida atmosphere. We're particularly partial to the backyard, where there's often live music. We like settling into a spot at a picnic table and ordering raw oysters from the outside bar. (And if you're not in the mood for raw, go for the grilled oysters, cooked right in front of you.) Market price

Phillippi Creek Village Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Oysters are in the name of this popular spot, and for good reason. The restaurant serves up a bunch of different oyster options, but the good old oysters on the half shell are always a solid pick. Ask for a table by the window or outside, where you might even catch a manatee or two drifting by. Market price

Sandbar

A paragon of Southwest Florida dining, because it's one of the few spots in our region where you can actually dine on the beach. We recommend starting your meal there with an order of oysters on the half shell, which come with mignonette and horseradish—all you need. Those fresh mollusks, plus the sand between your toes? Pretty much our version of heaven. $19 for a half-dozen, $34 for a dozen

Veronica Fish & Oyster

Like Phillippi Creek, it makes sense that oysters are in the name of this Southside Village spot. Veronica boasts an impressive raw bar that's filled with a rotating variety of oysters from all over the U.S. $20 for a half-dozen, $39 for a dozen