Florida’s Forgotten Coast Stories: The Station Raw Bar Apalachicola, FL
The Station Raw Bar | Image by James Lewis
The City of Apalachicola has a rich maritime history. Many of the original sponge and cotton warehouses, ship’s stores, and homes constructed of cypress and brick between 1830-1930 have been renovated and repurposed into shops and restaurants. Apalachicola is perhaps most famous for its locally harvested seafood and has been dubbed the Oyster Capital of Florida. And prior to the wild oyster harvesting moratorium imposed on Apalachicola Bay by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in December of 2020, that was certainly the case.
The Station Raw Bar | Image by James Lewis
Oysters Tray
As far as estuaries go, Apalachicola Bay is unique because it is an enclosed embayment, meaning it is partially enclosed by three barrier islands (St. Vincent, St. George and Dog islands). It is also fed by three rivers (the Apalachicola, the St. Marks and the East rivers). This ideal combination of salinity, sediment and marsh grass make it the perfect breeding ground for oyster colonies which for decades served as the source for 90% of Florida’s annual oyster harvest. And while the moratorium remains in place until January 1, 2026, aquaculture farming of oysters in leased water plots using commercial seed is still permitted. Hence, you can still get Apalachicola oysters, albeit in much shorter supply.
I stumbled across this hidden gem while vacationing on St. George Island. Long story short, I had to make a pharmacy run which required a trip to the Apalachicola CVS. I consider myself a responsible parent, but lest we forget I am also a New Orleanian and have yet to meet an oyster I didn’t like.
So, when I spied The Station Raw Bar as I drove through this quaint southern town my curiosity piqued (yes, I brought my ailing child her medicine before doubling back).
T.J. & Ethan | Image by James Lewis
The Station was originally opened by the Pendleton family as a full-service filling station in the 1970s and still retains that feel. It is now in its second generation of ownership, run by T.J. and Andrea Pendleton and their two sons Hunter and Jacob who converted the service station into a restaurant in 2017. The rest of the staff is a cast of characters including Linda who will tell you in addition to being a server, she is also a nun. I didn’t question her faith.
The eclectic and casual setting includes indoor/outdoor seating, a full bar, and multiple televisions featuring live sporting events. Pets are also welcome.
If Hunter is working the bar, be prepared to chat. He gave me his unfiltered opinion on the moratorium and debunked the myth of only eating oysters in “R months” while pouring drafts and offering jagerbombs to other customers. He may have missed his calling as a stand-up comic on Jeff Foxworthy’s Blue Collar Comedy Tour. At one point after a patron politely declined a shot, Hunter replied, “Hey, it’s ok. I’m the local Uber driver too. You can leave your car here and I’ll take ya’ back.” Full service.
The Station is open from 11:00AM to 8:00PM Tuesday through Saturday with daily features posted on Facebook. In addition to chilled raw oysters (which are on point), they offer several baked & topped oysters. I ordered James’ Choice which is a full dozen sampler of any three styles. I went with Rockefeller, Parmesan & Garlic Butter and Captain Jack (cheddar, jalapenos, bacon and hot sauce) based on T.J. and Hunter’s recommendations. In addition to oysters, the menu offers seafood, burgers, sandwiches and a salad bar. FYI, the Philly cheesesteak is a crowd favorite.
If you are staying on St. George Island, a visit to Apalachicola is certainly worth the 20-minute ride. You can bring the family and take a self-guided walking tour and then head over to The Station for lunch or dinner. If selling your loved ones on a historical field trip fails, you can always use a CVS run as an excuse. And don’t worry, if you somehow miraculously become overserved that is ok, Hunter can drive you home.