Rodney’s is a pop of white amongst the rows of converted warehouses built on rail platforms that define Vancouver’s Yaletown. Step inside and the first thing you notice won’t be the exposed brick, the fresh, whitewashed wood, or the crab traps hanging from the ceiling. It will be the good-looking fella in a t-shirt that says “suck me off.” He, like all of the staff at Rodney’s, loves to flirt shamelessly, blurring the line between raw fact and sexual innuendo when it comes to slinging their mainstay, fresh oysters. Classic.

To get closer to the action, grab a seat at the bar, near the oyster shucking station and vast array of oysters from all over the world, stacked on ice. Tell the bartender “it’s my first time” eating an oyster and they’ll ring a brass bell – cue loud announcement of “Oyster Virgin!!” from the staff – before steering you towards a nice selection served with an assortment of tasty condiments. If raw shellfish isn’t your thing, they also dish out freshly caught fish and a mean chowder.

There is a good selection of local and global wines as well as good local draught, however BarChick recommends ordering (at least) one of Rodney’s famous Caesar cocktails. Like their men, the Caesars are delicious, big and strong and come with an enormous fresh prawn and freshly grated horseradish.

The lunch rush brings in professionals with their clients – from there, Rodney’s is packed with foodies, yuppies, high rollers, and divorcees (at the bar, nursing a Chardonnay and eyeing the bar staff). Shucks.