Island Creek Oyster Bar
Duxbury's Island Creek Oysters are a fixture on menus at some of the nation's top restaurants and a household name among area foodies. So it's no surprise that when oyster farmer Skip Bennett teamed up with local chef Jeremy Sewall and restaurateur Garrett Harker—both of Eastern Standard—on a full-scale eatery, the result would be a smash hit. The Kenmore Square spot offers artfully rendered seafood (lobster-roe noodles with chanterelles), New England basics (chowder, fried clams), and, naturally, an epic raw bar. 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2115, islandcreekoysterbar.com.
B&G Oysters
The accompanying paper towel is merely decorative, considering B&G's semolina-dusted Ipswich bellies shed virtually no grease from their crisp nooks and crannies (which justifies double-dunking them in the addictive house tartar sauce). 550 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2116, bandgoysters.com.
B & G Oysters
Anatomy of a Winner: Here in Boston, it's tough to stand out in a veritable ocean of chowdah. Here's how Barbara Lynch's oyster bar shows up the competition. 1. Flaky puff pastry "oyster crackers" are coated with sweet paprika and cayenne pepper for a buttery crunch and a bit of heat. 2. Thick bacon lardons add smokiness and bite. 3. A heavy distribution of meaty top-neck clams give the soup the requisite brine and chew. 4. Clam juice and white wine cut the richness of the butter and heavy cream. 5. A swoosh of black pepper and a sprinkling of chives add additional flavor and make for a beautiful bowl. 550 Tremont St., Boston, MA bandgoysters.com.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
A few of the dishes that have already become legends in the few years since this sophisticated Kenmore Square spot opened: the fried-oyster sliders, which come smeared with chili-lime aioli and topped with pickled onions and arugula; the lobster-roe noodles, tossed with nubs of grilled lobster and braised short rib; and a house-made-saltine-topped casserole packed with scallops, fresh fish, lobster, and shrimp in a sherry-cream sauce. But if all you're really after is a basket of fried Ipswich clams—well, those are great here, too. 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA islandcreekoysterbar.com.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
Chef Jeremy Sewall has a family connection to the best crustaceans around: His cousin Mark is a Maine lobsterman. And the best vehicle for his wares just may be Island Creek's lobster roll. Mixed with créme fraîche, dill pickles, and celery salt, the succulent meat is stuffed into a house-made rosemary-flecked roll and sent out to the table bursting at the seams. Take a moment to savor the stunning visual, because it'll be gone before you can say, "Pass the napkins, please." 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2115, islandcreekoysterbar.com.
Lee and Rick's Oyster Bar
They love the fresh-shucked oysters, and the proprietors keep the autograph hounds at bay. Lake Alfred, FL
Select Oyster Bar
Nineteenth-century urban planning may have transformed an ocean inlet into the Back Bay neighborhood, but about 150 years later, inspired chef Michael Serpa is still filling it with (fabulous) Mediterranean-inspired fish: sea bream, whole-roasted and sauced with parsley, mint, and oregano; swordfish with champagne mango and rose harissa; and salmon crudo augmenting towers of oysters and crab salad. A whip-smart wine list—including a nice pool of reds—pays equal attention to terroir. 50 Gloucester St., Boston, MA selectboston.com.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
For Ethel’s Lobster Roll, named for his beloved grandmother, chef Jeremy Sewall sources delicate, ultra-fresh meat from his Maine fisherman cousin, then classes it up with a rosemary-imbued bun, crème fraîche, and the perfectly calibrated blend of celery salt and pickle. Your favorite seafood shack can’t compare. 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA islandcreekoysterbar.com.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
There are a few ways to enjoy this new Kenmore Square institution: tucked away in the corner of the dining room by the oyster-shell-lined walls; perched at a high-top in the lounge; or sitting at the raw bar. Wherever we wind up, you'll find us throwing back bivalves followed by fried-oyster sliders, bowls of shell-free mussels, and champagne cocktails galore. Catch selections change daily (like the Idaho red trout, pictured above), but look for the halibut. Perfectly seared on the outside and snow-white and flaky on the inside, it's like créme brûlée of the sea. 500 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 2115, islandcreekoysterbar.com.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
Some places are just right for producing certain kinds of edibles—the right soil, the right temperature, the right weather. It turns out Massachusetts' Duxbury Bay has the perfect tides for oyster farming, as Island Creek Oyster Company's fresh and briny shellfish have masterfully shown. They're shucked daily at the company's happening new restaurant, which also showcases seafood dishes created by chef Jeremy Sewall that are as fresh in concept as in ingredients—for example, pan-roasted monkfish in lobster broth with white-bean ragout and fennel. 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2115, islandcreekoysterbar.com.
The Union Oyster House
The touristy trappings, like the gift shop off to the side, are a bit disconcerting. But a stool at the half-circle bar is still the best place in the city to slurp down a dozen fresh bivalves and a nice cold beer. 41 Union St., Boston, MA .
The Union Oyster House
The semi-circular oyster bar has been in continuous operation since 1826, with the likes of Daniel Webster tossing back three dozen Blue Points at one sitting.Yes, it's on the Freedom Trail; yes, it's "America's Oldest Restaurant"; and yes, it's one of "Ye Olde" tourist magnets. But, all the hokum aside, it is simply the best place to get a dozen freshly cracked oysters. 41 Union St., Boston, MA .
The Homeport Restaurant & Oyster Bar
The long-defunct island institution was resurrected last year by Boston restaurateur Seth Woods, who vastly improved on everyone’s favorite spot to watch the sun set while eating dinner. In addition to all of the New England classics, this phoenix from the ashes now has the best tuna niçoise this side of Nice, newly spiffed-up décor, including better sun coverage on the patio, and the Back Door, where you can order everything from a double-patty burger to a full clambake for takeout. 512 N. Rd., Menemsha, MA 02535, thehomeportmv.com.
Row 34
Now a quartet thanks to the 2023 debut of its Cambridge outpost, Row 34 continues to be a quintessential New England seafood spot, equally adept at dressing down (beers and oysters at the bar) or dressing up (splurge-y seafood towers and lobster rolls). The oysters, in particular, are outstanding — especially the namesake Row 34 variety from the restaurant’s friends at Island Creek Oysters in Duxbury, which are plump, crisp, and subtly briny. Looking to show an out-of-towner what’s special about Boston seafood? Take them here. Multiple locations, row34.com.
Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar
Low lights, dark wood, and more than 200 whiskeys. As far as drinking goes, it doesn’t get much better than this. Prefer suds? No problem. The bar staff keeps a rotating line of draft beers and ciders that includes local stars such as Jack’s Abby and Downeast. 1310 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02215, citizenpub.com.