The first time I tried an oyster, I didn’t like it. The texture was difficult to get around — slimy and chewy, it didn’t seem like something people should be eating. But my family never misses a “buck a shuck” oyster night, so I kept trying them. 

The more I did, the more I started to like them. They’re briny, salty and the perfect vessel for interesting accoutrements — think peppery mignonette, sharp and tangy cocktail sauce, and a good squeeze of lemon. 

Maine has some of the best oysters on the East Coast, and while oyster sommelier Virginia “Lady Oyster” Shaffer’s favorites are mainly concentrated in the Midcoast, there are still plenty of delicious oysters to be eaten in southern Maine. 

We asked readers what their favorite spots to get oysters are in Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach. Here’s what they said. 

The Local OOB

23 Washington Ave, Old Orchard Beach. the-localoob.com

Oysters from Cape Cod at The Local in Old Orchard Beach. (Sydney Richelieu/Staff Writer)

The No. 1 most recommended spot by locals was, well, The Local in Old Orchard Beach. 

Although oysters aren’t featured on their daily menu, The Local hosts “buck a shuck” afternoon every Monday from noon to 6 p.m., shelling out fresh oysters from across New England. 

On a gloomy Monday afternoon this week, The Local was packed both inside and outside. Every few minutes, a server would come rushing through the kitchen door carrying another tray of small, briny oysters from Cape Cod. 

Paired with a peppery, shallot-forward mignonette, classic cocktail sauce and a lemon wedge, the oysters were salty and delicious. 

Sea Salt Lobster

660 Main St., Saco. seasaltlobsterrestaurant.com

Oysters from Blue Hill at Sea Salt Lobster in Saco. (Sydney Richelieu/Staff Writer)

It makes sense that Sea Salt Lobster has some of the best fresh seafood in Saco. As soon as you walk into the bright red restaurant, you’re greeted by the smell of fried clams, seafood chowder and baked haddock. 

Immediately, your eye goes to the lobster tank against the wall — that’s where your dinner is coming from. 

But while the word “lobster” is in the restaurant’s name, don’t sleep on the oysters. 

The selection rotates daily, with oysters coming from farmers across Maine. When I visited last week, Sea Salt Lobster featured oysters from Blue Hill. 

Small, salty and creamy, the oysters came with an array of classic accoutrements: lemon wedges, red wine vinegar mignonette, cocktail sauce and a small dish of fresh horseradish, which was a nice touch. 

All four of my oysters were fantastic — I could have ordered 12 more. 

Fish and Whistle

299 Main St., Biddeford. fishandwhistlemaine.com

Roasted Norumbega oysters at Fish and Whistle in Biddeford. (Courtesy of Fish and Whistle)

Known for its Maine-caught fish and chips, Fish and Whistle also serves up oysters in a nontraditional fashion every Thursday night.

Instead of being served raw and on ice, Fish and Whistle’s oysters are roasted in garlic butter and topped with herby breadcrumbs. 

“They are unreal,” Old Orchard Beach resident Maddie Eisenhart wrote on Facebook. “And I normally hate baked oysters.” 

Kennebunkport resident Brian Fairfield agreed, calling them “incredible.” And at only $2 each, they’re basically free. Right?