Best of Boston

2011 Best Seafood Restaurant, Upscale

Island Creek Oyster Bar

Duxbury’s Island Creek Oysters are a fixture on menus at some of the nation’s top restaurants and a household name among area foodies. So it’s no surprise that when oyster farmer Skip Bennett teamed up with local chef Jeremy Sewall and restaurateur Garrett Harker—both of Eastern Standard—on a full-scale eatery, the result would be a smash hit. The Kenmore Square spot offers artfully rendered seafood (lobster-roe noodles with chanterelles), New England basics (chowder, fried clams), and, naturally, an epic raw bar.

500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-532-5300, islandcreekoysterbar.com