Tom Catherall’s Shucks Oyster & Wine Bar to be a family affair

Here to Serve’s new Brookhaven spot set to open mid-September
1117

Courtesy of Tom Catherall

Here to Serve Restaurants founder Tom Catherall is opening his third restaurant in Town Brookhaven in mid-September. Two doors down from Noche, Shucks Oyster & Wine Bar will be family-run, with Catherall’s sons Ryan and Nick taking the lead in the kitchen, his brother managing, and his daughters waiting tables.

The 1,200-square-foot space will be designed to look a bit like England with “a shanty feel,” says Catherall (who is English). It will include custom-made granite tables, a sailboat wheel, and oyster paintings on the walls. Though the raw bar will be a focal point, the restaurant will have table service and a twenty-eight-seat patio.

“Noche’s been really, really successful in Brookhaven,” Catherall says of the location choice. “It’s a young crowd that doesn’t want to make the drive to Buckhead and wants to eat out.”

Inspired by Catherall’s travels, Shucks will serve oysters from Milan, France, Ireland, England, the Gulf, and Northwest and Northeast. Catherall recently spent time in London where he tried at least 20 different oyster bars. “The oysters were fabulous! That’s why I want to import [some of] them,” he says.

Due to the popularity of the Wednesday oyster special at Coast, another Here to Serve restaurant, Shucks will serve a dozen oysters for $5 every Sunday through Thursday.

Both raw and cooked oysters will be available. Other offerings include clams, crab, shrimp, mussels, soups, salads, and grilled cheese sandwiches—such as one with jalapeno, mascarpone, and sharp cheddar. There will not be a full bar; instead the beverage list focuses on beer, wine, and Champagne. Desserts will be old-fashioned and citrus-y, such as key lime pie, Catherall says.

Another Here to Serve Restaurant, Smash Kitchen & Bar is set to open in Town Brookhaven September 10—and that’s not all! Catherall says he wants to open a barbecue and brew house restaurant in Buckhead. He’s looking for a big space—10,000 to 12,000 square feet—but does not have a timeline yet in mind.

Advertisement