Eight Great Raw Bars in Boston

04.20.09
Raw bars have long been like windows to Boston’s soul. And the mere sight of New England’s North Atlantic bounty (crab claws, lobster cocktail, oysters, and clams) arrayed on a sparkly bed of crushed ice, is—to the seafood lover’s eye—true beauty. Here are the Hub’s finest raw bars. Or in other words, poetry in motion.
boston
.

1. Jasper White’s Summer Shack

Chef Jasper White claims Boston’s largest raw bar, and in fact, it can hold 4,000 pieces of shelfish. The Shack’s relaxed, spacious dining room and butcher-paper-covered tables are the perfect setting for gargantuan seafood platters and buckets of beers. (summershackrestaurant.com)

2. Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks

The opulent raw bar adds great ambiance to Kenmore Square’s elegant brasserie. Local oysters and clams are perfectly fresh; the Alaskan king crab legs are succulently rich. And while the restaurant’s wine list is vast and well chosen, you’ll have a hard time resisting The Dancing Scotsman at this temple of mixology. (easternstandardboston.com)

3. East Coast Grill & Raw Bar

The vibrant, tropical atmosphere of this Cambridge institution teems with convivial regulars rocking out with tiki drinks at the raw bar. Order the stunning wild Gulf of Mexico shrimp cocktail; fat Jonah crab claws; and Asian oysters on the half shell, served with pickled ginger, aged soy, and wasabi. Good prices (and no extra charge for the party that always takes shape). (eastcoastgrill.net)

4. Neptune Oyster

Part Parisian bistro, part classic oyster bar, this small, stylish place serves pristine shellfish, obscure local delicacies (like Maine sea urchin), and Boston’s most phenomenal shrimp cocktail (the shrimp are poached in Harpoon beer). Go early: stylish bistros tend to draw a crowd. (neptuneoyster.com)

5. Gaslight Brasserie du Coin

Gaslight is a classic brasserie Française in the historic South End. Inside, the atmosphere will put you in the mood for one of their spectacular fruits de mer platters. The extravaganza is piled high with ice-cold, briny oysters and littleneck clams, but a simple blue crab cocktail is the true star. As one patron, who sat at the zinc bar gazing into a cloudy mirror, said the other night: “It’s just perfectly cooked, sweet, buttery nuggets of crab.” (gaslight560.com)

6. B & G Oysters Ltd.

This tiny subterranean South End haunt, owned by chef Barbara Lynch, is always electric. The raw bar is chiefly dominated by an incredible oyster selection including numerous East and West coast varieties. Also, B & G offers a wine list with more than 70 bottles that all go well with things from the sea. A nice glass of Muscadet with your oysters, perhaps? (bandgoysters.com)

7. Grill 23

Push aside the beef and business-talk and you’ll find a great raw bar at this well-respected Boston steakhouse. Local oysters are neatly shucked, and plump Jonah crab claws come with a tangy, herbaceous remoulade. Sit at either the upstairs or the downstairs bar where they serve complimentary housemade potato chips (they’re absolutely addictive). (grill23.com)

8. Locke-Ober

A few years ago, chef Lydia Shire saved this venerable restaurant from extinction. Possibly dating as far back as 1868, this place is old-school Boston, so expect lots of leather, dark wood, and fantastic classics of a bygone era like the Crab Louis Cocktail—an early 20th-century American dish composed of crabmeat, hard boiled egg, lettuce, and a chili-sauce mayonnaise dressing. (lockeober.com)

Subscribe to Gourmet