Cooler mornings in Baton Rouge mean one thing for a lot of us: oyster cravings. Downtown, one of the easiest places to answer that craving is Bayes Oyster Bar at 315 North Blvd., a compact spot built around the bivalve and served three different ways.

Raw, baked or off the grill

The raw bar centers on Gulf Coast oysters at $11 for a half dozen or $22 for a dozen. The menu also lists West Coast and East Coast selections, which Bayes says are returning in the fall, so ask your server what's on ice when you sit down.

If you like your oysters cooked, the baked side of the menu runs $14 for six or $28 for twelve. Choices include a classic Rockefeller, a rich brie and bacon version, and a very Louisiana boudin-topped oyster.

The grill list starts a little lower at $12 for six or $24 for twelve for the Classic and the BBQ Nola Style. The Jacked Up grilled oyster matches the baked pricing at $14 and $28.

Not in an oyster mood?

A short list of extras rounds things out: a bacon, turkey and brie po-boy or an alligator sausage po-boy at $16 each, pepper jack boudin balls or red beans and rice balls at $15, and a warm brownie for $5.

The happy hour math

Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., Bayes takes $2 off draft beers, pours seltzers for $4 and cocktails for $8, and cuts glasses of wine in half. Pair a dozen Gulf oysters with a discounted pint and you've got an after-work plan that won't wreck the budget.

When to go

Bayes is open Monday through Thursday from 3 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m. Call (225) 256-2460 with questions, and follow @bayesoysterbar on Instagram to see when those coastal oysters land.

Photo courtesy of Bayes Oyster Bar.