Eating at a Raw Bar for the First Time? Here’s What You Can Expect

The world of raw bars might seem intimidating at first, but here at Mac’s Raw Bar, a Marietta seafood restaurant, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to help you become a raw bar connoisseur. 

What is a raw bar?

A raw bar is a menu offered by restaurants that primarily serve select raw seafood with a variety of dressings and sauces tailored to every diner. These establishments offer guests a hands-on oyster-eating experience with different shellfish options to supplement. In recent years raw bars have seen a boost in popularity, but they also have a storied culinary history that dates as far back as the 8th century BCE due to seafood’s abundance and accessibility. So when you eat at a raw bar, you’re continuing a seafood tradition that predates the Greek and Roman empires.

Oysters, Oysters, and More Oysters!

Oysters are a must-have for any raw bar menu. In fact, the unique regional differences between oysters offer a variety of flavors and experiences. The main factor in oyster choosing is the briny quality. A typical comprehensive oyster menu consists of East Coast, West Coast, Gulf, and Japanese oysters- all with different brininess. Here’s a small breakdown of which oyster might be the best for you.

East Coast oysters are chewy with a high salinity including mineral and seaweed flavor notes. If you like your shellfish to taste like the ocean, this is the pick. Most East Coast oysters on the market are medium in size (about three inches long) and always have a shallow cup.

On the other hand, West Coast oysters are creamy and predominantly known for their sweetness and pared-down briny notes. Additional flavors usually fall into the ‘crisp’ family with melon and cucumber. West Coast oysters tend to have a larger size variety ranging from small to medium and are characterized by their deeply cupped shell.

Gulf oysters are native to the American South and are defined by their large size, tender and meaty texture, and mild taste due to the freshwater influence of the Mississippi River.

Lastly, Japanese oysters are often enjoyed due to their similarities with West Coast oysters with their fruity, sweet, melon-scented flavor and light brininess.

The team at Mac’s Raw Bar recommends ordering different varieties of oysters per serving to make it easier to compare and contrast the taste and find your favorite!

Other Types of Shellfish and Seafood

Variety is essential to raw bars in order to appeal to different seafood palettes. Common pairings include crab, shrimp, and lobster which all serve to enhance your meal and add variety to your plate!

A Variety of Different Drinks to Pair With Every Dish

A crucial part of the raw bar experience is deciding which beverage to choose. Mac’s Raw Bar menu comes with an atomic champagne cocktail, but it's important to not restrict your flavor combination potential! The ideal pairing is a crisp, dry, white wine to complement the oysters without overpowering their natural flavor. But if you prefer beers, any crisp effervescent with a slight sweetness balanced by bitterness will pair perfectly.