And when she was good she was very very good...

Like the photoshopped cover of the brochure for a college that's pushing diversity, Hanks Oyster Bar is a mixed experience. Some of the food is so freakishly great that you ask the server for your menu back and order more. And some of it…well, Hanks could easily be the Next Big Thing…but first they're going to have to buy fresh seafood.

The location is outrageously cute, with sidewalk tables, simple, happy bistro design, and waitresses you just want to smuggle out with you in a doggy bag. The delicious aromas alone should be bottled; they could charge to deliver that smell of savory hot oil into more elegant, but less tasty restaurants. With the help of a glass of fruity white, I highly suggest the following:

Things that were really good:

Raw oysters - I suspect that whatever they are offering that day will be good, but I tried the Malapeque Oysters - I've been in withdrawal since DC coast stopped serving them in favor of York River ones. Fresh, delicious, briny.

Seafood Ceviche with lime, jalapeno - This stuff is lovely! Scallops, squid, shrimp; if it starts with an S, it's in here.

It's not on the online menu, but a spicy oyster shooter went down perfectly.

Things that looked awesome but I didn't try them:

Lobster roll - Oh man, this thing was bloody beautiful looking

Giant prawns - I will never forget the two delicate ladies next to us who picked each monster out of it's shell like they were doing taxidermy.

Things that you might want to wait on

The garlic steamed muscles were easily the most popular thing on the menu, served with crusty bread and happiness. I was halfway through before I got my first bad one, the next came a moment later. After a while I ran out of napkins to spit them into and gave up. A friend mentioned she had the same experience…C'mon Hanks, we're counting on you to do better.

Hank's Oyster Bar
1624 Q STREET