Best Neighborhood Raw Bar Awards 2025 "High Five Awards!"

When it comes to community dining experiences that bring people together over the freshest catch, neighborhood raw bars hold a special place in our hearts. These intimate seafood havens transform simple meals into memorable gatherings, where the sound of shucking oysters mingles with laughter and conversation. The 2025 Click360 Best Neighborhood Raw Bar Awards celebrate establishments that go beyond serving exceptional seafood and create spaces where neighbors become friends and every visit feels like a homecoming.

This year, we are thrilled to honor raw bars that stand out for their commitment to quality, community, and the art of hospitality. Leading the way is Mac's Raw Bar & Market in Marietta, Georgia, named Best Neighborhood Raw Bar of 2025. This award also recognizes four other outstanding establishments for their exceptional service and dedication to bringing the ocean's bounty to their local communities. We are proud to name all five restaurants as 2025 High Five Winners!

Mac's Raw Bar & Market has mastered the art of bringing coastal cuisine to landlocked Atlanta, creating a vibrant neighborhood gathering place that celebrates the bounty of the seas. Located on historic Marietta Square, this exceptional establishment pays careful attention to sourcing the freshest seafood while maintaining strong connections to local ingredients and the community they serve.

What sets Mac's apart is their unwavering commitment to quality and sustainability. Their rotating selection of oysters features the very best specimens sourced directly from hand-picked oyster farmers who harvest, pack, and ship them daily to their kitchen. Under Chef Michael Fuller's expert guidance, classic preparations blend seamlessly with exciting new flavors, creating a menu that honors tradition while embracing innovation.

Here are our runner-ups that also provide amazing neighborhood raw bar experiences:

Tucked inside a historic Ballard brick building, The Walrus & The Carpenter represents the gold standard for neighborhood raw bars in the Pacific Northwest. This iconic establishment serves nine to twelve varieties of the freshest oysters sourced from Hood Canal to Hammersley Inlet, all beautifully displayed on ice and shucked to order. The restaurant's commitment to local sourcing means its oysters are pulled from Puget Sound waters less than an hour's drive away, ensuring exceptional freshness that defines the Seattle seafood experience. Their no-reservations policy and the resulting lines are a testament to their quality—regulars know to arrive at 4 p.m. or embrace the wait at neighboring Barnacle Bar. The lively atmosphere and dedication to showcasing the Pacific Northwest's finest shellfish have made The Walrus & The Carpenter a neighborhood institution that continues to set the bar for raw bar excellence.

For over 101 years, Grand Central Oyster Bar has served as New York City's most iconic neighborhood raw bar, transforming a busy transit hub into a destination for exceptional seafood. Located within Grand Central Terminal, this legendary establishment features distinctive U-shaped counters where generations of New Yorkers have gathered to enjoy the city's finest bivalves. The restaurant's commitment to tradition and quality has remained unwavering throughout its century-plus history, with countless oysters shucked and served in its distinctive vaulted dining rooms. What makes Grand Central Oyster Bar special is how it maintains its neighborhood feel despite its grand scale—regulars still prefer the counter seats where they can watch the skilled shuckers at work and feel connected to the restaurant's living history. The class and tradition found here represent the very best of what neighborhood raw bars can achieve when they become integral parts of their community's identity.

This old-school, family-run establishment has been serving super-fresh Louisiana oysters for 90 years, embodying the neighborhood raw bar tradition that makes dining feel like visiting family. Casamento's breaks conventional raw bar rules in the best possible way—while most establishments serve oysters exclusively on ice, this New Orleans gem excels at showcasing local bivalves prepared multiple ways, from charbroiled and stewed to their legendary oyster loaf featuring fried oysters packed between freshly baked and buttered pan bread. At just $12 for a dozen fresh oysters, Casamento's proves that exceptional quality doesn't require premium pricing. The restaurant's no-questions-asked approach to hospitality and their deep roots in the community create an atmosphere where every guest feels like a longtime regular. Their commitment to Louisiana's oyster traditions while maintaining approachable prices makes Casamento's a perfect example of how neighborhood raw bars serve as cultural anchors within their communities.

Located in Portland's historic Old Port district, Eventide Oyster Co. represents the modern evolution of the neighborhood raw bar concept while maintaining deep respect for Maine's seafood traditions. The restaurant's innovative approach shines through their extensive selection categorized as oysters "From Maine" and "From Away," all displayed atop the bar in a massive trough of Maine granite that serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. Their commitment to showcasing the best of Maine's waters extends beyond raw preparations—their roasted jumbo Winter Points demonstrate how neighborhood raw bars can elevate familiar ingredients through careful technique and local expertise. The bright, spare dining room creates an inviting atmosphere where both seafood novices and connoisseurs feel equally welcome. Eventide's success lies in balancing innovation with tradition, ensuring that each visit offers both familiar comforts and exciting discoveries that reflect Maine's proud seafood heritage.