Rodney's is perfect if you want the freshest oysters and service that manages to be both laid-back and professional.
Oysters are the main draw here - close to a dozen varieties, all perfectly fresh every time. The excellent staff know their stuff and can tell you which oysters are at their best. Main courses are good and well-prepared. The wine and beer list is small but thoughtfully selected to go with the fresh seafood.
The service is East-coast hospitable - I've been here in jeans and straight from work in a suit and felt comfortable either way. Little touches make a huge difference.Once I was running a little late, and they brought my dinner companion an "amuse-guele" on the house while he waited. I ordered a beer before dinner which I didn't finish before the oysters and wine to match arrived - and our waiter brought over an ice bucket - unasked - to keep my pint cold while I had my glass of wine. We ordered a lot of oysters and weren't sure we were hungry enough to each have a main course; not only was sharing a main absolutely fine, but they brought it on two plates.
Rodney's is good, fresh seafood, simply but expertly prepared, with unpretentious, hospitable service. If you like oysters, this is about as good as it gets.