Wilmington brewery expands with new oyster bar

Flying Machine Oyster Bar in Wrightsville Beach specializes in the briny bivalve, with plenty of local options alongside other varieties. (Photo courtesy of Flying Machine)

September 23rd marked the opening day for Flying Machine Brewing Company’s newest endeavor – the Flying Machine Oyster Bar. Flying Machine co-founders Grant Steadman and David Sweigart manage all parts of the business daily and are excited to share this new offering with the surrounding community.
 
“We have always been passionate about local products and seafood,” Steadman said. “All of our beer is brewed in town, and we do not contract brew in other areas of the country. Local has always been one of our key focuses as a company. We felt that a restaurant location should share this focus.” 
 
“Oyster farming in North Carolina is growing in presence and we have an abundance of great farmers and options to choose from. We were excited about the idea of showcasing these local oysters alongside oysters from other regions in the state and country,” he said.
 
In addition to treating locals with fresh oysters, Flying Machine Oyster Bar will also serve as a treat for tourists visiting the area.
 
“The idea is that locals and tourists can come into our location and walk away with an idea of what our own waterways have to offer,” said Steadman.
 
“Plus, oysters are delicious and can be prepared in so many unique ways. Our shuckers are knowledgeable about all of the oysters we offer and are eager to talk to guests at the raw bar or tables. Aside from serving oysters – raw, baked, fried, you name it – we feature casual fare like smash burgers and seafood tacos, as well as coastal-inspired entrees which our Chefs Dylan Killane and Drew Stanley work hard on to regularly feature local seafood. We also offer our seasonally inspired cocktail list with unique cocktails created by beverage manager Brian Pratt.”
 
Oysters are more than just delicious; they are also a fun and unique experience, according to Steadman.
 
“One of the cool things about showcasing oysters is they are a great food to enjoy casually while catching up with friends or family,” he said. “So, we have started doing featured $1 raw oysters on Monday evenings to pair with half-priced bottles of wine. On Tuesday evenings, we will feature $3 seafood tacos (fish, buffalo shrimp or fired oysters).”
 
Starting now, Flying Machine is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
 
“Raw oysters are now available at all times, and we generally will have at least six different oysters on our menu. Most will be local, but we are also bringing in oysters from as far away as Canada and Washington state to showcase how they compare to our area’s oysters.”
 
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.