Restaurant Seafood Raw Bar Highlight Homepage 30+ Spots For Raw Bar in Connecticut Amy S. White June 29, 2025 A few of summer’s undeniable pleasures are the briny slurp of a freshly shucked local oyster, the snap of an ice-cold shrimp cocktail, and the velvety richness of a scallop crudo. This is where the raw bar excels. Regardless of what the name implies, at a raw bar, the only steadfast rule is that the seafood be served cold. Plump bivalve mollusks (usually oysters and clams), are served raw, just shucked, unadorned or with a touch of cocktail sauce or mignonette. Shrimp, crab, and lobster are often cooked first then served chilled with a variety of accompanying sauces. Cured fish, such as ceviche, may be on the menu too, along with crudo (from the Italian word for “raw”), often served sliced with simple ingredients like ginger or capers. The ultimate raw bar splurge, however, would be a taste of all of these, found in many raw bar samplers or towers, two- or three-tiered platters impressively displaying Neptune’s bounty over crushed iceHow lucky we are to live in a state which offers all of these and more at its many incredible raw bars. We narrowed down our favorites to thirty-three of the state’s finest raw bars, including one that is a mobile catering operation perfect for your next party. Whether located on Long Island Sound, situated along one of our gorgeous rivers, or tucked away on a city block, Connecticut’s best raw bars are the best way to savor the freshest of the ocean’s ample treasures. Read on, and get ready to slurp your way through these standout spots that bring the sea straight to your plate.Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill- New Haven https://www.shellandbones.com/Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill is located on the waterfront in the historic City Point area of New Haven. It features an award-winning menu that incorporates fresh and sustainable ingredients to present new takes on classic dishes. They are committed to serving seafood that is produced in sustainable ways. The restaurant’s raw bar menu features a daily selection of oysters, ceviche, tuna tartare, caviar, shrimp cocktail and several samplers, including the beloved Classic Tower of Shells. The Happy Hour menu (Monday-Friday 3-5 p.m.) includes specials on littleneck clams and select oysters. Complemented by an extensive wine and beer list and creative cocktail menu, the restaurant offers (seasonal) outdoor dining and bar service, complimentary parking, takeout, and catering and private event space. Open for dining seven days a week. 100 South Water Street.Brasserie St. Germain - Ridgefield https://www.brasseriesaintgermain.com/At Brasserie Saint Germain, French elegance meets raw bar indulgence in the heart of Ridgefield. Under the direction of French Chef Rudy Beltran-Prats, the brasserie’s raw bar features at least four rotating selections of premium East Coast oysters, little neck clams, shrimp cocktail, chilled Maine lobster, and the signature Plateau de Fruits de Mer. Guests may also find seasonal raw fish specials such as tartares or crudo, all prepared with the finesse and attention to detail that define the restaurant’s culinary identity. Every item is served with housemade sauces and plated with classic brasserie style. Brasserie Saint Germain offers an elevated raw bar experience rooted in authentic French tradition. Closed Monday. 470 Main Street. Fresh Salt - Old Saybrook https://www.saybrook.com/dine/fresh-salt/With sweeping views of the Long Island Sound, Fresh Salt at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina elevates the raw bar experience with a refined coastal sensibility. Guests savor the briny richness of oysters, the delicate sweetness of clams, and the clean, vibrant flavor of tuna, all thoughtfully prepared and elegantly presented. Each offering reflects a commitment to sustainability, with MSC-certified seafood that honors the health of our oceans. Whether dining indoors or on the waterfront terrace, every bite is a celebration of freshness and simplicity. This is a raw bar where elegance meets authenticity, anchored in both flavor and place. Open daily. 2 Bridge Street.Precious Oysters - Catering Service https://preciousoysters.com/Precious Oysters Raw Bar Catering provides custom raw bars for private events in Fairfield County, the surrounding tri-state area, and beyond. They create boutique, niche raw bars specializing in oysters, complete with an impressive presentation and knowledgeable and engaging staff who “shuck-to-order.” Their shuckers open oysters and clams in front of guests while they answer questions, share fun facts, and educate people about the delicious food they're enjoying. They also host shucking classes, collaborate with local businesses, and curate personalized, one-of-a-kind events for small groups. Built upon a commitment to sustainability, Precious Oysters supports small farms, is dedicated to being plastic-free, and participates in efforts to restore wild oyster beds; through memorable raw bar experiences, Precious Oysters reconnects people with the planet through the lens of fresh, local, sustainable seafood.The Americano - Stamford https://www.theamericanobar.com/Set in the historic Frank Martin building on Main Street in Downtown Stamford, The Americano pays homage to the Golden Age with both its architecture and its decor. The raw bar offers oysters, shrimp cocktail, hand-cut prime steak tartare, and a gorgeous seafood tower. The “Martini Hour” (daily from 3-6 p.m.) features martinis, specialty cocktails, a half dozen oysters, and other offerings for $10. Open daily. 261 Main Street.The Benjamin - Ridgefieldhttps://thebenjaminrestaurant.com/Tucked away in Ridgefield, The Benjamin is named after America’s founding father Benjamin Franklin, who famously enjoyed sharing the food and wine culture he learned from his travels. The restaurant receives fresh seafood daily from the coast, with raw bar offerings that include local oysters, littleneck clams, and jumbo tiger shrimp. Closed Monday. 20 West Lane.Boca Oyster Bar - Bridgeporthttps://bocaoysterbar.com/Located at Steelpointe Harbor in Bridgeport, Boca Oyster Bar is a go-to destination for stunning water views and upscale New England fare. The raw bar features Atlantic and Pacific oysters, clams, chilled lobster tails, and platters that come in “Big,” “Bigger,” “Biggest,” and “Baller” sizes. Open daily. 10 East Main Street.BRYAC - Bridgeporthttps://www.bryac.biz/BRYAC draws upon Black Rock’s maritime traditions to provide a unique dining experience in a space reminiscent of a yacht club. The raw bar serves oysters, clams, shrimp cocktail, and lobster, and their Raw Bar Happy Hour (weekdays from 3-6 p.m.) features “buck-a-shuck” Bluepoint oysters, and 75-cent wild top neck clams. Open daily, with live music on weekends. 3074 Fairfield Avenue.Close Harbour Seafood - Plantsvillehttps://closeharbourseafoodct.com/Close Harbour is both a restaurant and a seafood market under one roof. As such, the raw bar is extensive, with oysters, clams, shrimp, crab, and seafood towers that come in two sizes. Some raw bar offerings are featured on the Tuesday Happy Hour (3-6 p.m.) menu as well. Closed Monday. 959 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike.Copps Island Oyster Shack - Stratford and Norwalkhttps://www.coppsislandoystershack.com/Copps Island Oysters is a fourth-generation, family-owned-and-operated shellfish farm that provides a high-quality, consistent, and sustainable product locally and nationwide. While there are only oysters, clams, and shrimp on the “Iced Shells” raw bar menu, they don’t come much fresher than this. Open Wednesday-Sunday. 638 Selby's Pond Road (Stratford), 50a Calf Pasture Beach Road (Norwalk)The Dock Restaurant - Waterfordhttps://dockct.com/Located on the Niantic River, The Dock consists of a big white tent and deck, a lower level pub and fish market, and a building that says “order and pick up” on it. Most patrons place their order, then while they’re waiting for their food, they stop by the raw bar for oysters, clams, shrimp, and other fresh offerings to enjoy along with the view. Open daily. 9 First Street.Elm Street Oyster House - Greenwichhttps://www.elmstreetoysterhouse.com/For over 20 years, Elm Street has been serving exceptional seafood dishes in the Greenwich area. In addition to shrimp cocktail, clams on the half shell, and seafood platters, their raw bar features six different oysters daily. Open daily, with Happy Hour weekdays from 4-6 p.m. 11 West Elm Street.Fair Haven Oyster Co. - New Havenhttps://www.fairhavenoysterco.com/Fair Haven Oyster Co. is an elevated seafood bar in an intimate nautical setting that features waterfront views of the Quinnipiac River, a large deck, and an eclectic yet classic menu created by Chef Emily Mingrone. Raw bar offerings include several oyster varieties, clams, and shrimp, as well as tuna and hamachi crudo. There is also a tinned fish menu. Open Tuesday-Saturday. 307 Front Street.Fat Tuna - Waterfordhttps://www.fattunact.com/Located on the Niantic Bay, Fat Tuna dishes up quality, locally sourced seafood and Italian specialties. Clams, shrimp, and of course, Niantic Bay oysters, are on the raw bar menu. Visit by car or by boat (call ahead for docking availability). Closed Monday. 378 Rope Ferry Road.Flander's Fish Market - East Lymehttps://flandersfish.com/This award-winning restaurant and fish market has been family owned and operated since 1983. As Connecticut’s largest full-service fresh fish market, seafood restaurant, bar, and catering operation, it has been named to the CT Restaurant Association Hospitality Hall of Fame. Their raw bar serves oysters individually or in a “Shuck Yeah” platter, clams, and shrimp, with a side of their famous “Tears of Joy” cocktail sauce. Open daily with “Cappy Hour” every day from 3-5 p.m. 22 Chesterfield Road.Founders House - Milfordhttps://www.milfordfoundershouse.com/This Victorian style building dates from the late 1800s and sits on the Milford town green. Their raw bar, also called “Jewels of the Sea,” includes East Coast and local oysters, tuna, clams, crab legs, and a platter known as “Poseidon’s Delight.” Oysters, clams, and shrimp cocktail can be enjoyed for a steal on their “Dayboat Delights” menu (Monday-Thursday from 3-5 p.m.).117 Broad Street.Haring’s - Noank https://www.haringsnoank.comInspired by a classic New England seafood shack, Haring’s is a waterfront restaurant in historic Noank, offering fresh lobster, killer oysters crudos, and clams. Boat on up, or drive, but either way you will love sitting on the dock at this seafood spot from the 85th Day Restaurant Group. Knot Norms - Norwalkhttps://www.knotnorms.com/Knot Norms serves New England seafood with a laid-back vibe. The raw bar menu features Copps Island oysters and clams on the half shell, and these are featured alongside “Knot Rolls and Bowls.” Closed Monday. 10 First Street.La Plage Mystic - Mystichttps://www.laplagemystic.com/Nestled along the picturesque Mystic River, La Plage Mystic blends the finest coastal flavors with innovative cuisine. Six varieties of East Coast oysters, jumbo U-10 shrimp, and littleneck clams are on the raw bar menu, all served with their famous mezcal cocktail sauce. They also partner with CORR "Collective Oyster Recycling and Restauration" for the natural recovery of the Long Island Sound shellfish farming industry. Open daily. 105 Greenmanville Avenue.La Plage Restaurant and Oyster Bar - Westporthttps://www.laplagewestport.com/La Plage is a waterfront casual restaurant and oyster bar focused on locally harvested seafood and shellfish with views of the Saugatuck river and Long Island sound. The raw bar menu includes local and East Coast oysters, jumbo Gulf shrimp, clams, and/or all of the above on their La Plage Seafood Tower. Open daily. 265 Campo Road South.Liv's Oyster Bar - Old Saybrookhttps://www.livsoysterbar.com/Liv’s focuses on the stunning seafood that the area provides. The menu at Liv’s rotates with the seasons, bringing guests a true taste of local culinary options. The shellfish sampler includes a few of every item from the raw bar, and half price clams and oysters are offered during their Happy Hour (Tuesday-Friday 3-4:30 p.m.). Closed Sunday and Monday. 166 Main Street.Max Fish - Glastonburyhttps://www.maxfishct.com/Max Fish has been offering high-quality seafood, drinks, and service in Glastonbury since 2007, with menus inspired by the sea and driven by seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients. The extensive raw bar offerings of oysters, clams, shrimp, crab, lobster, scallop, and calamari, can be ordered individually or in their famous “Sampler,” “Hi-Rise,” and “Skyscraper” seafood towers. Open daily, with raw bar specials included in their daily Happy Hour (3:30-6 p.m.). 110 Glastonbury Boulevard.Max's Oyster Bar - West Hartfordhttps://www.maxsoysterbar.com/Max's Oyster Bar has an extensive raw bar selection featuring eight East Coast and West Coast varieties each day. They offer an array of meticulously prepared seafood dishes, featuring fresh local catches of the day and seasonal delicacies. Raw bar samplers and towers are available, and there is a daily crudo selection. Social Hour (Sunday-Thursday, 3-5:30) includes raw bar specials on oysters, clams, and shrimp. Open daily. 964 Farmington Avenue.Moby Dick's - West Havenhttps://mobydicks203.com/This West Haven gem’s raw bar features oysters from around the world, colossal shrimp cocktail, clams on the half shell, tuna sashimi, crab cocktail, “Moby Dick’s Skyscraper” sampler, a “Tuna Sashimi Oyster,” and more. Happy hour is Monday-Friday from 4-6 p.m. Open daily. 558 Campbell Avenue.Oyster Club - Mystichttps://www.oysterclubct.com/Led by Chef/Partner Renee Touponce, a James Beard Award Finalist for Outstanding Chef 2024, and Best Chef Northeast 2023, Oyster Club strives to provide a beautiful and thoughtful dining experience, while supporting the local food community. The raw bar features oysters and clams from Connecticut and Rhode Island, with $1.50 oysters on the daily Happy Hour menu (4-5 p.m.). Open daily. 13 Water Street.The Pearl Oyster Boat - Norwalkhttps://www.rowaytonseafood.com/pearlOysters, clams, and shrimp are some of the raw bar offerings on this vintage 1946 oyster boat run by Rowayton Seafood. Guests board with a reservation to enjoy beverages and seafood on the boat. Be sure to check the website for hours of operation and to make a reservation for this unique seafood experience. 89 Rowayton Avenue.Prime: An American Kitchen and Bar - Stamfordhttps://stamford.restaurantprime.com/This classic steak house with a curated raw bar has a full view of the water from nearly any seat in the house. Guests enjoy oysters, octopus carpaccio, shrimp cocktail, tuna tartare, or the “Plateau” - a sampling of oysters, lobster, king crab, shrimp, and chef’s choice of ceviche or crudo. Open daily. 78 Southfield Avenue.RAW - Hartfordhttps://likeitraw.com/This edgy Hartford eatery stays true to its name with an extensive raw bar featuring shrimp, clams, oysters, seaweed salad, sashimi, nigiri, rolls, a sampler, and the “Raw Tower.” Happy Hour runs from 3-6 p.m. Open daily. 28 Trumbull Street.Red 36 - Mystichttps://www.red36ct.com/At Red 36, large, wall-length windows lead to an outdoor bar, multiple lounge areas, and dining tables on a waterfront deck that brings stunning views of the Mystic River. The eclectic American menu changes seasonally, always offering fresh seafood and a raw bar of local oysters, clams, shrimp, and ceviche. Happy hour weekdays 4-6 p.m. Open daily in season, closed Monday off season. 2 Washington Street.Rowayton Seafood - Norwalkhttps://www.rowaytonseafood.com/ What started from an old lobster Co-Op turned seafood market in 1978, is now home to the Rowayton Seafood Family of Brands along Long Island Sound: Restaurant, Market, Pearl the Oyster Boat (see above), and the Bait Shop. Littlenecks, cherrystones, shrimp cocktail, daily and specialty oysters, tuna tartare, crab cocktail, seafood ceviche, hamachi crudo, and two sizes (“Minor” and “Major”) of platters make up the raw bar menu. Visit by land or by boat (dock reservation required). Open daily. 89 Rowayton Avenue. S&P Oyster - Mystichttps://www.sp-oyster.com/S&P Oyster has been providing fresh flavorful foods with unforgettable views of the Mystic River and famous drawbridge for over thirty years. Their raw bar features oysters, clams, shrimp, crab, tuna, a sampler, and “The Ultimate Apertif” - a half bottle of Luc Bellaire Sparkling Rosé paired with a dozen oysters on the half shell. Open daily. 1 Holmes Street.Washington Prime - Norwalkhttps://washingtonprimect.com/This award-winning steakhouse sits on SoNo's vibrant corner of Washington Street and Water Street. Their raw bar offers a selection of local oysters, littleneck clams, jumbo tiger shrimp, lump crab cocktail, seasonal stone and king crab, ceviche, sushi and more. Open daily. 141 Washington Street.Water Street Cafe - Stoningtonhttps://www.waterstcafe.com/The Water Street Cafe is a local institution in the center of the seaside village of Stonington Borough. The atmosphere is warm and eclectic, decorated with various whimsical objects. Their raw bar is well-known for its selection of oysters, which includes local classics like Stonington Oysters and Ninigret Nectars as well as varieties from the Pacific Northwest. Littleneck clams, shrimp cocktail, and other offerings round out the raw bar menu. Open Tuesday-Saturday evenings. 143 Water Street.The Whelk - Westporthttps://www.thewhelkwestport.com/Located along the Saugatuck River, The Whelk offers an ever-changing menu featuring sustainable seafood and local produce. The raw bar consists of three categories: crudos, oysters, and clams and shrimp. The Sicilian Crudo Trio (tuna, scallop, hamachi, Meyer lemon, and capers) is a guest favorite. Happy Hour Tuesday-Saturday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Open Tuesday-Sunday. 575 Riverside Avenue.
