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| FEATURES | BLOGS | DAILY DIG | GEAR |
Some like it raw
Like a fish (and friends) out of water
By CHRISTINE LIU
del.ico.us
reddit!
Eastern Standard
Alaskan king crab legs, $7
Tucked at the very rear of the restaurant lies the bounty of the sea, stacked upon ice at the raw bar. Tucked among the bivalves are massive crab legs cooked, then chilled, for maximum shell-cracking and -sucking action. We're all friends here—tuck that napkin into your shirt and let the ocean-juice squirting begin.
[528 Comm. Ave., Kenmore Sq., Boston. 617.532.9110. easternstandardboston.com]
B&G Oysters
Island Creek oysters from Duxbury, $2.55
As one of more than a dozen rotating selection of oysters available, Island Creek's are characteristically medium-sized, clean and "always very fresh and impeccable," explains raw bar assistant general manager Jennifer Pieters. Mix and match shells for comparative slurpage among the varieties.
[550 Tremont St., Boston. 617.423.0550. bandgoysters.com]
Central Kitchen
Jumbo shrimp, $3
In this dim, cozy dining room, sometimes the best seat is at the bar, with direct viewing access to gracious pours and overhead chalkboard specials. Bide the time with crusty bread and addictive olives; the shrimp and "bar back cure" will be on their merry way.
[567 Mass. Ave., Central Sq., Cambridge. 617.491.5599. enormous.tv/central]
East Coast Grill
Cracked local Jonah crab claws, $3
Ostensibly sporting one of the most fresh—if not colorful—bars in Inman Square, ECG turns it up a notch with daily handwritten specials and inventive turns on classic raw bar offerings. If you're not too distracted by the spread, humor a tiki cocktail like the Zombie, Planter's Punch or (literally) Flaming Volcano.
[1271 Cambridge St., Inman Sq., Cambridge. 617.491.6568. eastcoastgrill.net]
Neptune Oyster
Clams, $1.40 (littlenecks), $1.60 (cherrystones)
Available both raw and cooked, these two types of clams—harvested by Andrew Morgan in Wellfleet—are members of the quahog family. Taste-wise, the smaller littlenecks tend to be salty and pretty briney, while "the cherrystones tend to be less briney, but sweeter," according to owner Jeff Nace. We'll take 'em all.
[63 Salem St., North End, Boston. 617.742.3474. neptuneoyster.com]
