The Verdict
The Pistols on Horseback land first: six fried oysters wrapped in jamón ibérico, $15 a plate. They set the tone at Cull & Pistol, the sit-down oyster bar built inside Chelsea Market by the team behind The Lobster Place, the fishmonger whose stall sits a few steps away at 75 Ninth Avenue.
The Kitchen
David Seigal opened Cull & Pistol as executive chef in April 2013 and now directs the kitchens of LP Hospitality Group (led by Ian MacGregor), the family-run group that also runs the adjoining Lobster Place seafood hall. The short menu leans on that sourcing. The lobster roll comes hot with knuckle and claw in lobster butter or cold as a lightly dressed salad, priced $40 for four ounces and $59 for six.
Beyond the namesake Pistols on Horseback, the kitchen sends out whole grilled lobster, lobster poutine and a daily raw bar where East and West Coast oysters start at $3.75 each. The room took four stars from the New York Daily News when it opened in 2013. It is not listed in the Michelin Guide, despite some second-hand claims.
The Room
Cull & Pistol reads as what it is: a seafood counter inside a converted Nabisco factory. Exposed brick, a marble raw-bar rail and the foot-traffic hum of Chelsea Market set a casual, conversational volume rather than a hushed one. Seating runs to a long bar plus a tight cluster of tables, and dress is whatever you wore to walk the High Line above. It is built for elbows-on-the-counter eating, not for a candlelit table.
Best for Solo Dining
Book this counter for solo dining because the raw bar is designed for one: a half-dozen oysters, a glass of Muscadet, the fishmonger in view. The half-price oyster happy hour, Monday to Friday from 4 to 6pm, makes a solo stop cheap, and the staff are used to single diners working through a dozen and a chowder. Examples: an after-gallery lunch, a pre-train dinner before Penn Station, a Tuesday treat that needs no reservation.
Not For
Not for a quiet, lingering dinner. The room carries Chelsea Market's foot traffic and the counter turns over briskly, so skip it for a date that needs hush and book a table-service room instead.
Common Questions
Where is Cull & Pistol?
Cull & Pistol is inside Chelsea Market at 75 Ninth Avenue, in the Chelsea district of Manhattan near the Meatpacking District. It shares the building with The Lobster Place seafood hall, the fishmonger that supplies its kitchen, a few steps from the restaurant's own counter.
What is Cull & Pistol known for?
It is known for Pistols on Horseback — fried oysters wrapped in jamón ibérico — alongside hot and cold lobster rolls, whole grilled lobster and a daily raw bar. The kitchen draws on The Lobster Place's sourcing, so the oyster and shellfish selection rotates with the catch.
How much does a lobster roll cost at Cull & Pistol?
As of 2026 the lobster roll is $40 for a four-ounce portion and $59 for six ounces, served hot in lobster butter or cold as a salad. Pistols on Horseback are $15, and raw-bar oysters start at $3.75 each, with whole lobster at market price.
Does Cull & Pistol take reservations?
Cull & Pistol takes reservations through Resy and also seats walk-ins at the counter, which suits solo diners. It is open daily, roughly 11:30am to 9pm, with a half-price oyster happy hour Monday to Friday from 4 to 6pm.
Is Cull & Pistol Michelin-starred?
No. Cull & Pistol is not listed in the Michelin Guide, despite some second-hand 'Michelin recommended' claims online. Its strongest dated recognition is a four-star review from the New York Daily News when it opened in 2013.
Also in New York City
Explore the full New York City restaurant guide, or compare it with Grand Central Oyster Bar and Pearl Oyster Bar.