Oyster Riot: The Old Ebbitt Grill Tradition is Back for 2023
Washington D.C. is not known as a particularly sexy town. But once a year, this city throws a party to celebrate one of the world’s sexiest foods. And this party has a reputation as an event not to be missed!
The Old Ebbitt Grill Oyster Riot is on for 2023
Although the annual Oyster Riot is an event anticipated every year by D.C.’s food and wine lovers, the event was forced to go on pause in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the event made its triumphant return in November 2022 with two sold-out dates. And now it’s back for 2023.
Oyster Riot 2023 will take place on November 17 and 18, with evening celebrations on both days from 7-10pm with live music from the Yacht Lobsters. There will also be an Oyster Riot matinee on November 18 from 1-4pm with live music by Bad Influence. Tickets for all three events are $200 per person and guests must be over 21.
What is the Oyster Riot?
What happens at an oyster riot? The cost of admission includes three hours of all-you-can-eat oysters paired with award-winning wines. (If you ever wondered whether or not oysters are an aphrodisiac, this is the perfect chance to find out for yourself.)
The event was designed to promote the Old Ebbitt Grill’s oyster bar, which features over 15 varieties of delicious, briny oysters. But in addition to supping on oysters and sipping the wines, the party includes live music and dancing is all but required. (If the aphrodisiac effects work, think of it as a sultry prelude to the horizontal chacha.)
I feel a particular affinity for this event, not because of the chance for all-you-can-eat oysters, although I do like the sound of it. But my bond to this event is the fact that the inspiration for the Oyster Riot was the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition created in Seattle by the late Jon Rowley, a competition for which I served as a judge for many years.
Ticket information
Unfortunately for anyone who didn’t get the news early that this year’s event is on, tickets are already sold out for both days. But to enquire about a waiting list or request information on the Oyster Riot, you can contact the restaurant at 202-347-4800.
For more information on the restaurant visit the Old Ebbitt Grill Website.
This article was written in 2019 and updated in 2023 with new event information.
Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.
Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.
Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.
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Sorry for any confusion. They just released more tickets but the previous information sent out was that they were totally sold out for this year.
Tickets aren’t sold out though, I just got my email notification and bought my tickets tonight. It was sent directly from Old Ebbitts