Behind The Counter: A Conversation with Rick Allison of King Street Oyster Bar

Rick Allison’s love for food started with his Italian-American grandmother’s restaurant in Pittsburgh and led him to the Culinary Institute of America. After honing his craft at Café Normandie in Annapolis and serving as executive chef at Great American Restaurants and Clyde’s, he saw an opportunity—Loudoun County was missing a great oyster bar.
Enter King Street Oyster Bar, where Rick and his team bring ultra-fresh oysters from both coasts to the DMV. With multiple locations and a commitment to quality, it’s become a go-to for seafood lovers.
We’re delighted to have Rick join us to share his passion and expertise on oysters. Oh, and by the way—did you know you can enter to win a YEAR of oysters at King Street Oyster Bar?  Read on for more: 
Behind the Counter with Rick Allison

At King Street Oyster Bar, we celebrate everything that makes oysters special, from their environmental impact to their incredible flavor and nutrition. We take pride in offering the freshest oysters, sourced within 24 hours from the East Coast and no more than 48 hours from the West Coast. Our rotating selection includes premium varieties like Hog Island from Virginia, Sweet Jesus from Maryland, Wellfleet from Massachusetts, and Kumamoto from the West Coast, among many others. With 10+ varieties available daily, there’s always a perfect oyster for every palate.

Oysters serve many purposes: a delicious appetizer, a satisfying snack, nature’s aphrodisiac, and more than sustainable—they’re a regenerative food source with countless benefits for both nature and health.

Oysters are essential to coastal ecosystems, forming massive reefs that absorb up to 93% of wave energy, protecting shorelines from erosion and storm surges. Their filter-feeding abilities help restore water quality, with a single oyster filtering up to 50 gallons of water daily and a healthy one-acre reef purifying 24 million gallons. These reefs also provide habitat and food for marine life while stabilizing coastal sediments and contributing to carbon sequestration. Despite their importance, Chesapeake Bay’s oyster populations have declined due to overfishing, pollution, and disease. That’s why restoration efforts, like the Shell Recycling Alliance—of which we are a proud member—are crucial. Through the Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program, we return discarded shells to the bay, supporting new oyster reefs and helping sustain this vital ecosystem.

Oysters are also a powerhouse of nutrition. Just a few can fulfill your daily recommended intake of zinc, an essential mineral for immune health. They’re also packed with protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and a variety of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, iron, and selenium. In fact, oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food and provide bioavailable Omega-3s superior to most fish oil supplements.

Aside from the environmental and health benefits, oysters have long been a social food, bringing people together for shared experiences, lively conversations, and unforgettable meals. There’s something about the ritual of eating oysters—the shucking, the selection of condiments, the clinking of shells—that makes them more than just a dish; they become an event. Whether enjoyed at a lively raw bar, a festive dinner party, or a cozy date night, oysters create moments of connection that turn an ordinary meal into a special occasion.

We see firsthand how oysters bring people together. Our guests gather around the bar, swapping stories over a dozen freshly shucked oysters, debating which variety has the best balance of brine and sweetness, or daring each other to try something new. There’s a camaraderie that comes with the experience, whether it’s a first-time oyster eater discovering a new favorite or a seasoned connoisseur guiding a friend through their selections. Our Happy Hour is a perfect example—every day from 3:00 to 6:30 PM, groups of friends, coworkers, and oyster lovers pack the bar to enjoy $1 oysters, creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.

Oysters have also long been celebrated as an aphrodisiac, making them the perfect indulgence for a romantic evening. With Valentine’s Day approaching, there’s no better way to set the mood than with a platter of fresh oysters and a glass of bubbly. Their reputation as a love food isn’t just folklore—oysters are packed with zinc, which is known to boost libido and energy levels. Whether it’s a first date or a longtime couple looking to rekindle the spark, oysters add an element of intimacy and playfulness to the dining experience.

Beyond their reputation as a romantic delicacy, oysters simply make for a fun and interactive dining experience. There’s a sense of adventure in tasting different varieties, learning about their origins, and finding the perfect pairing. At KSOB, we take pride in offering an ever-changing selection, sourced fresh daily from both coasts, ensuring that no two visits are ever the same. From the bold, briny flavors of Chesapeake Bay’s Wild Ass Pony to the delicate sweetness of Raspberry Point from Prince Edward Island, there’s always something new to discover.

And for those who truly love oysters, KSOB is giving guests the chance to indulge all year long. Until February 23rd, we’re running a special promotion—ENTER for a chance to win a year of free oysters. Whether you’re a seasoned oyster enthusiast or just starting to explore the world of bivalves, there’s no better way to enjoy their magic than with friends, family, or that special someone at King Street Oyster Bar. So gather your crew, raise a shell, and join us in celebrating the social, flavorful, and endlessly fascinating world of oysters.