There’s something about warm weather and sunshine that makes us turn absolutely feral for a good seafood counter, raw bar, and glass of sparkling. It could be the fact that many of those dishes come served atop glistening (and cold) ice, or that we yearn for the sea more during the summer, but whatever it is, we know we can’t be alone. That’s why we’ve gathered up our favorite seafood spots and raw bars just for you. If you need us this summer, make your way down this list — you’ll find us sooner or later.
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Penny East Village
Photo by Teddy Wolff, courtesy of Penny
One of the newest spots on this list is already making a name for itself as an unmissable seafood destination. It probably helps that it comes from the owners of the wine bar Claud, which happens to sit right downstairs. Penny is mostly for walk-ins, but you can score the occasional Resy, and it offers only counter seating (and a few standing rail spots). Make sure you order the ice box, the stuffed squid, and a sesame brioche. We know it’s not why you’re here, but do know that the ice cream sandwich is required eating.
Photo by Teddy Wolff, courtesy of Penny
Flex Mussels – UES Upper East Side
Flex serves what might be the widest variety of mussels in the city. There’s classic white wine and herb, Thai-style with coconut curry broth, and even a tomato-chile broth with lobster. The rest of the menu is designed to complement what should be your main event, so make sure to grab a few orders of their crusty bread and butter and some parmesan truffle fries.
Maison Premiere Williamsburg
Photo courtesy of Maison Premiere
You can’t talk about seafood counters in New York City without mentioning Maison Premiere. It’s a classic through and through, with its New Orleans-style interior and its perfectly shucked oysters. The towers here are worth the price, just based on beauty alone.
Photo courtesy of Maison Premiere
Cervo’s Lower East Side
The seafood-focused sister to Bed-Stuy’s Hart’s and The Fly serves one of our favorite dishes in the city: crispy shrimp heads. Go ahead, don’t be shy, eat it all in one bite. Then, order the fried skate wing, served now with peas and lemon, the spicy mussels escabeche, and the bomba rice with soft shell crab. Swoon.
Grand Central Oyster Bar Grand Central
Don’t mess with the OG. Grand Central Oyster Bar has been around for more than a century. Let that sink in for a second. Once you have, head here and order whatever oysters your servers suggest, some Maryland crab cakes, and a bottle of something bubbly as you watch all the commuters bustle by.
Call (212) 490-6650 for reservations.
Mar’s Astoria
A perfect excuse to make your friends come to Queens comes to you in the form of Mar’s, not only one of our favorite seafood spots in the city, but one of our all-around favorites as well. It’s glamorous and romantic, with raw clams, oysters, moules frites, and spritzes best enjoyed in the sun on their patio or at the wood-paneled bar.
Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co. Greenpoint
There’s something about a combination seafood market and restaurant that just really speaks to us. Maybe it’s the fact that you can see your selection with your own two eyes before it even makes it to the kitchen, or the fact that the fishmongers tend to know what’s best that day, but either way, Greenpoint is a gem. Order the lobster bisque, some fish and chips, and whatever they tell you is good on the raw bar that day.
Siren Oyster Bar & Restaurant South Slope
Park Slope’s Siren has a four-course weekday prix-fixe menu that might be one of the best deals in the neighborhood at just $65 per person. Choose from crab cakes, octopus with squid ink hummus, lobster ravioli, and branzino. Or order à la carte for Osetra caviar service and a lovely clams casino.
Deux Chats Williamsburg
It’s a gorgeous corner spot that we’d come to even if they only served gruel. Luckily for us, their menu is filled with gorgeous seafood towers, brioche buttons (aww), warm crab and artichoke dip, and a very impressive by-the-glass list. Bring a date here — it’ll almost guarantee a second.
Quique Crudo West Village
With the team behind Casa Enrique, the city’s first Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant, behind the counter here, you know you’re in good hands. Obviously, you’re here for the crudo (the shrimp aguachile and the octopus tostada are particularly incredible) but there really isn’t a bad thing on the menu. Whatever you get, pair it with a few margaritas and finish it all with their housemade cheese ice cream.
Walk-ins only.
Randazzo’s Clam Bar Sheepshead Bay
Are you really a New Yorker before you make the trek to Randazzo’s? We’d argue, no, you’re not. It’s an absolute mammoth of an institution, serving Brooklyn since 1932. Now, they’re right near the water in Sheepshead Bay, with perfectly casual paper menus and portions fit for a family. Order the raw little neck clams, a steaming shrimp fra diavolo pasta, and a cup of clam chowder. Plus, grab a few beers from the fridges lining the dining room.
Walk-ins only.
Sea Wolf Bushwick Bushwick
On a sunny, gorgeous day there are few places we’d rather be than Sea Wolf’s location in Bushwick. The magic of this place comes from the enormous window-walls that span the restaurant, opening up completely when the weather allows, and the ample outdoor seating that is perfect for people watching. Plus, they’ve got daily happy hours from 4 until 7 p.m., with $1.50 oysters, $9 painkillers, and $25 bottles of sparkling. Beat that.
Principe SoHo
Photo by Daniel Krieger, courtesy of Principe
Principe’s raw bar selection is very unique in that it’s primarily focused on composed bites, like red prawns with coriander and jalapeño sauce; yuzu-marinated scallops with pistachio and sorrell; and snow crab claws with horseradish and Old Bay. It’s truly something special, and worth seeking out. Don’t overlook the oysters here either, which come dressed with Meyer lemon, black peppercorn, and chives.
Photo by Daniel Krieger, courtesy of Principe
St Mazie Williamsburg
Harken back to the good ol’ days with some nightly live jazz and raw oysters at St. Mazie. Whenever we come here, we feel like we should be wearing a bowler hat or a flapper dress — and we’re not mad about it. You should also grab some shrimp cocktail and smoked mackerel, while you’re at it.
Fandi Mata Williamsburg
Pull up a seat to the long bar at this beautifully revamped industrial space decked out in Moorish tiles, and indulge in their new raw bar section with oysters, razor clams, tuna tartare, and octopus. Pro tip: On Tuesdays through Sundays from 5 to 6:30 p.m., they’ve got happy hour specials that include $1 Wellfleet and Shigoku oysters; a half dozen oysters and a pickled gin martini for $20; and a dozen oysters with a bottle of cava rosé for $45.
Mission Ceviche Upper East Side Upper East Side
What used to be a small, counter-service only spot is now one of the city’s most popular cevicherias. It’s Peruvian style, which means plenty of tiger’s milk, yuca fries, and arroz con mariscos. If it’s your first time here, go for the classic ceviche and the Nikkei style.
Fulton Fish Co. at Tin Building by Jean-Georges Pier 17 / South Street Seaport
Obviously a place called The Seaport knows how to do a good seafood counter, but the Tin Building has the added advantage of being backed by celebrity chef extraordinaire Jean-Georges Vongerichten. At Fulton Fish Co., the bar is decadent and sparkling, and we recommend ordering the raw razor clams, the warm lobster roll, and some pretzel-crusted calamari.
Perle West Village
This new 12-seat seafood-focused wine bar from the folks next door at Marian’s goes big on the raw bar selections like littleneck clams, shrimp cocktails, king crab claws, Santa Barbara uni, and lots of different preparations of crudo. We’re particularly partial to the seafood toasts like the crab with salted cucumber and caviar, and the fact that they serve their fresh oysters with lemon nori sorbet and a grapefruit chile sorbet. Wines, it goes without saying, are a perfect pairing, and they have a few non-seafood related dishes, too. Pro tip: Consider making it a double dip by heading to Perle before your Resy over at Marian’s.
Walk-ins only.
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