The restaurant:
If you’re driving along York Boulevard toward Eagle Rock, you’ll see a variety of Mediterranean, Mexican and pizza spots.
Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill stands out as a seafood spot with a menu that offers oysters, fish-centric entrees and desserts like their derby pie. The restaurant has been around since 2023, brought to life by business partners Ari Kolender, who’s executive chef, and Joe Laraja, who serves as managing director.
The food:
Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill takes inspiration from South Carolina’s seafood scene, where Kolender grew up. Unlike the New England feel of their other restaurant, Found Oyster, Queen’s focuses on southern classics and refreshing raw bar food.
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The interior of Queen’s Raw Bar and Grill, including the signature oyster bar.
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Courtesy Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill
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What we tried: tuna tostada, mackerel tartare and pimento cheese sliders.
The verdict:
“The flavor is so incredible [and] intense,” said AirTalk Friday host Austin Cross about the tuna tostada. “Everything comes together perfectly.”
“It’s got the acids down pat,” Austin said of the mackerel tartare. “The capers are doing their part, and then the dill does give it that finish you get traditionally in some Jewish foods.”
Listen:
Talking seafood with the minds behind Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill