8 Must-Eat Raw Bar Dishes in NYC
Summer is synonymous with shuckin’ and slurping seafood. If that’s your vibe, you’re in luck, because the raw bar selections at NYC restaurants are better now than ever. NYC native Ol’Dirty Bastard said it best, “Ohhh baby I like it raw!” Check out these 8 must-eat raw bar dishes, throw on some Wu-Tang and lock in your dinner plans.
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East Coast Oysters
Ama Raw Bar // East Village, West Village
📸: @amarawbar
Ama has some of the freshest oysters in NYC. Their east coasters are briny, meaty, long and highly slurpable. Right now, they’re sourcing them from the Chesapeake Bay, where the flavor profile typically possesses a dulcet sweetness. They’re served with a gochujang-based cocktail sauce, mignonette laced with lemongrass and scallion-infused ponzu, all of which are tasty and unique. But the natural flavor of these oysters is so beautifully subtle that they’re best-consumed naked.
This dish is recommended by: 8it NY
Oysters
Mother Shuckers // Chelsea, UWS, Midtown East, Sunset Park
📸: @therealmothershuckers
Mother Shuckers has a brick-and-mortar open every day at Pier 57 and regular pop-ups throughout the city. Right now, you can find them at Lincoln Center Wednesday through Sunday, Luke’s Lobster on Thursday afternoons and Sahadi’s at Industry City on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. They source both East and West Coast oysters and their menu features three creative toppings: classic with parsley, shallots, cocktail sauce and mignonette; sushi with cucumber, seaweed, ponzu and wasabi; and candy apple with apple, yuzu, horseradish, hot sauce and mirin.
This dish is recommended by: Eater, 8it NY
Oysters
Lula Mae // Clinton Hill
📸: @lulamaenyc
Lula Mae’s co-owner Dan San imparts his knowledge of Cambodian flavors learned from his grandma to the menu. Their oysters are splashed with Koh Kong, a sweet, sour, salty, spicy fish sauce-based Cambodian condiment, then garnished with fried shallots for a pleasant crunch. If you’re craving raw bar, but also tongue tingling Southeast Asian flair, then look no further. Bring your friends to this hidden gem and you’ll be revered for your raw bar discovering prowess.
This dish is recommended by: Brooklyn Magazine
Seafood Tower
Gage & Tollner // Brooklyn
📸: @gage.and.tollner
At this storied tavern that has fed Brooklyn since 1879, you’ll find one of NYC’s most regal seafood towers. Maine lobster, oysters, clams, shrimp cocktail, fluke crudo and caviar are all available for inclusion in this oceanic ensemble. Park at the bar or in a booth here, order the seafood tower, and you’ll be thoroughly convinced by your surroundings that you’re living in the gilded age.
This dish is recommended by: Ben Hundreds
Hamachi Escovitch
Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi // UWS
📸: @tatianabychefkwame
Escovitch fish is a popular Caribbean dish that incorporates a relish (escovitch) made of pickled onions, carrots, bell peppers and scotch bonnets, the peppers partially responsible for jerk seasoning. At Tatiana, escovitch fish is deconstructed then reconstructed into a hamachi crudo with an escovitch emulsion that blends that kick into a florescent orange sauce to coat tender medallions of hamachi. So if you’re looking for a refreshing crudo that doesn’t omit bold flavors, this is the raw bar item for you.
This dish is recommended by: The Infatuation
Clams
Randazzo’s Clam Bar // Sheepshead Bay
📸: @randazzos_clambar
Yet another NYC throwback slinging outstanding raw bar that’s stood the test of time through the appeal of delicious simplicity, Randazzo’s has held down Sheepshead Bay since 1932, when farmland and dirt roads occupied the southern tip of Brooklyn. When Anthony Bourdain visited in 2012 for the last episode of No Reservations, he remarked that although clams have taken a backseat to oysters in modern times, they remain the main event at Randazzo’s. “Served in all its naked glory,” as he put it, these clams are plump, briny, and fresh as could be. Order a plate of these and epitomize eating like a native New Yorker.
This dish is recommended by: No Reservations
East Coast Oysters
Casino // Lower East Side
📸: @gothamkenny
These bad boys on the half shell have a briny kick that'll make your taste buds do a backflip. And to take it to the next level, they serve 'em up with a white balsamic mignonette that'll have you sippin' like a true gourmet boss. Don't forget about the perfect sidekick to these oceanic delights – an ice-cold dirty martini. That combo will have you feelin' like the king or queen of the raw bar scene. Warning: brace yourself for chaos of 169 Bar next door. You might run into someone's 21st birthday disaster, but hey, sometimes you just gotta embrace the madness and join the party.
This dish is recommended by: NY 8it
Soy Marinated Tuna Tostada
Oxomoco // Greenpoint
📸: @_oxomoco_
If you're in the mood for a dish that's both refreshing and packed with flavor, let us introduce you to the Soya Marinated Tuna Tostada. This culinary banger starts with a crispy tostada base, topped with succulent, soya-marinated tuna that'll transport you straight to the ocean's depths. This masterpiece is then crowned with creamy avocado, tangy salsa macha, and a sprinkle of refreshing radish. It's like a flavor fiesta in your mouth, with each bite bringing together the perfect balance of textures and tastes. If you're ready to dance the salsa with your taste buds, head on over to Greenpoint and get down with this.
This dish is recommended by: NY 8it
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