Top Raw Bars - Near And Far

There's something essentially soothing about sharing an iced plate of plump, succulent oysters and sipping cold beers with friends or lovers while gazing across a scenic waterway. It's one of my favorite getaway activities. It's not so bad even without the blue view, right here at home. So, let's revisit some favorite raw bar go-to spots that have been my magnets in recent years - near and far. - Jay Lloyd

HARBOR VIEW
954 Ocean Drive
Cape May, NJ 08204
http://www.harborviewcapemay.com/

The sprawling outdoor deck at Harbor View directly across the water from the landmark Coast Guard base at Cape May offers a unique twist on raw bar nibbles. It combines the ultimate in raw treats from the briny depths - freshly shucked oysters and clams alongside a very impressive sushi menu. Local craft beers plus the usual favorite brews, pour from the taps. With sushi served up by the piece, you just mix and match while taking in the passing harbor traffic and the occasional excitement of a Coast Guard cutter racing from the base to a summer rescue.

RUSTY SCUPPER
402 Key Highway
Baltimore, MD 21230
http://www.rusty-scupper.com/

The Rusty Scupper is nested in a quiet corner of Baltimore's popular Inner Harbor. It shares space with a major marina, so if you come by boat, you can dock and dine. The seafood here lives up to the location. With a couple of sailing friends, a recent lunch turned into a raw bar feast with a side trip through some legendary Maryland crab soup. Within minutes of tying up at the Inner Harbor Marina, we were sipping the first cold local brew at a windowside table with a dynamic harbor view that takes in historic ships, the National Aquarium and a parade of fascinating boats. Lunch included 3 varieties of oyster, crab fingers, shrimp and a crab cocktail. Perfect summer fare.

OYSTER HOUSE
1516 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
http://www.oysterhousephilly.com/home.html

It's not often you find a bivalve bargain, but drop by the Oyster House on Sansom Street any weekday evening during happy hour and slurp oysters for a buck-a-shuck. This venerable fin food eatery has been around as long as I can remember. It's a comfortable spot when weekending in the city, to get fingers a little messy while plucking sweet meat from a chilled lobster claw or squeezing that tart lemon over shimmering oysters and clams. For a little warmth, I can't resist the Manhattan clam chowder. Mary prefers the New England.

LEGAL SEAFOOD (Long Wharf)
255 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
http://www.legalseafoods.com/restaurants/boston-long-wharf

This New England based chain has spread it's influence to King of Prussia. So, you don't have to go far for a regal raw bar experience. Their "Treasure of the Reef" is sheer indulgence. My favorite Legal Seafood eatery is at Boston's Long Wharf, within a sea shell toss of the aquarium and the water taxi docks. The "Treasure" which can also be sampled at the King of Prussia Mall outpost combines shrimp, chilled lobsters, half-shell oysters and clams. Pricy but outstanding. To get there in Boston, a water taxi ride also provides an eye-opening tour of the historic harbor.

GRAND CENTRAL OYSTER BAR
89 E. 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
http://www.oysterbarny.com/

On the lower level of storied Grand Central Station, the Oyster Bar is the grand daddy of American raw bars. This cavernous, now upscale gathering spot has topped it's 100th birthday. It's grown in style and reputation from a bland commuter bar with oysters on the side to a destination eatery. You will never see as many varieties of oyster on a raw bar menu. It appears endless. Not all will be in the house at any given time, but there will be enough to satisfy even those finely tuned palates that can actually identify the waterway that spawned a given oyster. Manhattan clam chowder here is among the best I've tasted. After all, it is the heart of Manhattan. Then dig into a combo of oysters from different waters. A great place to order by the piece to fine tune your own mollusk memories. But toss in a few half-shell clams for a real shore feeling.

If you're taking along friends who might be a bit squirmish about slurping raw anything off a shell, remind them that all of these raw bars also offer a full range of cooked versions including robust clams casino, clam strips and fried oysters. The shrimp, crabs and lobster have also been steamed, boiled or broiled before hitting the ice.

Enjoy!