We wanted raw oysters as well as fried seafood and the food did not disappoint. We had a great time with the wonderful staff.

Great meal. It’s been over a year since we have been there. Soft shell crabs were delicious. Wife had swordfish prepared to perfection. Our waiter Billy was outstanding!

This is our go to spot whenever we visit Raleigh. We arrived early for our reservation and were seated immediately. Great food, service and atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Service was Excellent like it always has .
Oysters was Excellent as well .

Such a fun place to go! The food is excellent, the service top-notch - we LOVE 42nd Street!

Service was great. We sat at the bar which was sectioned off by party size with plexiglass due to covid which was nice. The bartenders, Blake and Chance, were personable and very attentive. The food was also great.

We had a wonderful dinner. Billy provided great service, made appropriate recommendations and kept us up to date on our orders. We very much enjoyed our first dinner out since the COVID pandemic began and felt very comfortable with the precautions they were taking. The atmosphere was pleasant and I really appreciated the fact that they noted I'd mentioned it was our 25th anniversary when I made the reservation. We will certainly be going back!

Always great seafood. Now that they have put up partitions noise level is great for conversation

The service was good but towards the end of the evening we seemed a little rushed to leave the table, I am guessing was because up coming reservations. We where not there over an hour and half.

Generally good food. People should know they will need
reservations on a Saturday night. I really admire the
patience of the hostess, who in some instances had to
deal with a less than classy clientele.

The apps where awesome! but the entrees where not even close to acceptable. I was really looking forward to lobster tails and they came out like rubber 4 times. The server was very polite but I couldn't believe a seafood place could get lobster wrong 4 times. I hate to be a complainer but the filet and vegetables were nothing to brag about either but we honestly felt awkward sending that back as well. I will be coming back for the atmosphere as well as great apps but I don't think I be ordering a main course again. For the price this place should have nailed the meal easy.

Delicious fresh seafood.
They provide excellent service, great food and fun atmosphere.

Not happy that we had to pay for parking!! There were no spaces available in front of the restaurant or on the street. We were celebrating 2 milestone birthdays and shared this when we made the reservation online. We also took in balloons. Our waitress didn't acknowledge this or ask if we were celebrating a special occasion. Food and drinks were good, but pricey. Not the special occasion I had hoped for.

If you want seafood and want to enjoy a local landmark restaurant, you must go the 42nd Street Oyster bar. If you like shrimp & grits, they have one of the best dishes I've tried.

Food was delicious, service outstanding and love bed the ambiance

Best place for fresh fish, shrimp cocktail, and any other menu items. Favorite place in Raleigh. Friendly staff and managers. Cant go wrong here.

We went to 42nd st for anniversary dinner. everything was perfect. Excellent oysters and cioppino!
waiter was awesome, drinks were great, we were just very pleased with all of it.

Tons of menu choices, great bar and wine selection. Service was prompt and efficient. Oysters prepared multiple ways all delicious.

We were accommodated very quickly when we asked for different seating arrangements. Service was very attentive and food was excellent. Love the atmosphere as well. A Raleigh institution! So grateful to still have 42nd St after all these years.

Great experience!

Family gathering for grandmother’s 85th birthday.

Waiter was great!

42nd is always the most consistent restaurant in Raleigh. Great meals, portions and menu options. Nothing is over complicated and it just works.
I’m hoping as we get away from COVID restrictions, they hire more staff. There wasn’t as many servers, and staff to make the service 5 stars. It’s getting better though.

The food was excellent. Michael was fantastic!

Had the crab legs and they were perfect. Salad dressing was very good.

Excellent!

The blackened chicken was way too spicy. Collards were also spicy. I don't eat seafood so it would be good to have a few more options like pasta without seafood.

We love 42nd St fried oysters. We had reservations for Monday at 5pm which is when they open. The doors were unlocked when we arrived at 4:50. Anither couple walked in ahead of us to the hostess stand where we were asked to wait outside until 5pm. What? Other than that utter silliness, it was an awesome experience as usual. Bartender was superb.

Me and my friend are at the counter for the oysters. Our waiter was amazing and very attentive. The food was great

Excellent, attentive service. Food came out promptly and as ordered. For those worried about Covid dining safety, protocols were well established and in full force. All around lovely meal and would highly recommend!

Delicious food!

It was great to be out and first time back since Covid. Service good overall but we had a particularly great server.

Always very excellent food and service. A Raleigh NC landmark restaurant. Always reminds me of being home in San Francisco. They sort of have a Tadich Grill vibe. If only they could figure out how to serve Sand Dabs from Monterey Bay. The way they do it at Cafe Fina on the wharf in Monterey, CA.

We had a great experience at this restaurant! Tons of fresh options and a very enjoyable dinner.

This was our second visit since we have ventured out after COVID. Both times everything was as expected, the waitress very warm and attentive, the wine was good and our reservations were honored on time. The problem is the shrimp, both times the buffalo fried shrimp have come out mushy, not crisp as we had enjoyed before last year. Oysters were fine and enjoyable.
When mentioned to the manager on the way out, she said, "Ok, I will relay your message" in a rather brusque, I don't really care attitude. There are too many good restaurants in town for us to return.

Overall dinner was excellent, and our server, Meia (sp?) did an excellent job and was very attentive to our needs. Entrees were all very good.

Great service, great food.

Well laid out to give patrons space.

Birthday celebration

Excellent service and felt safe with the social distancing and partitions.

Not like it used to be. The food was nothing special. A little bland, except for their hush puppies which thankfully are still tasty. We had to send a few things back to the kitchen and order something else. Service was excellent at the bar and she was very accommodating when we needed replacements. Not sure I'll be back anytime soon.