Andrew Carmellini’s South Beach outpost of The Dutch is about to make a lot of people very happy with their new and first-ever rendition of happy hour since the restaurants inception in 2012. On the menu: oysters and champagne at half price. But not just any champagne; they’re pouring the good stuff. Stuff like Veuve Cliquot , Laurent-Perrier, Krug, Ruinart, Jeeper, Delamotte, and Dom Perignon. Yes, Dom Perignon. Half. Off. (AKA $25 a glass).
The classiest happy hour in town can be savored every day from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. right when doors open for dinner, though no one is going to punish you and leave you dry and oyster-less if you get there at 7:45ish. Known for their oyster program (and little oyster sandwiches), expect nothing less than the freshest bivalves on the beach, both East and West Coast and constantly rotating according to what Mother Nature has in store. Some of the usual suspects include Blue Island from New York; Kusshi from British Columbia; Island Creek from Massachusetts; and Pickering Passage (an extremely rare breed) from Washington. The mollusks are pristinely shucked and served in proper form, with house mignonette, cocktail sauce and The Dutch’s hot sauce, for those who like it raw and hot.