Raw Bar Catering NYC

The Premium Wow Factor That Signals Event Quality Before Guests Take a Bite

What Is Raw Bar Catering?

Raw bar catering is a chef-attended shellfish service where clams and oysters are shucked fresh to order on an ice display, accompanied by steamed shrimp, mussels, crab claws, and cucumber salad. The raw bar is the most visually striking station format in event catering — a sculptural ice presentation decorated with seaweed that guests see the moment they walk into the room.

Raw Bar / Seafood Station Menu

Our chef-attended Raw Bar / Seafood Station features premium shellfish and chilled seafood beautifully presented on ice for weddings, corporate events, cocktail parties, and private celebrations across NYC.

Raw Bar Menu

Oysters on the Half Shell — East & West Coast oysters, shucked fresh to order and served on ice
Little Neck Clams — Chilled and freshly opened for service
Cocktail Shrimp — Chilled jumbo shrimp served with classic cocktail sauce
Steamed Mussels on the Half Shell — Served chilled with roasted peppers and aioli
Cocktail Crab Claws — Pre-cracked and ready to enjoy
Lobster Tail & Claw Meat — Available as a premium enhancement
Cucumber Salad with Dill Vinaigrette — Fresh palate-cleansing accompaniment

Condiments & Accompaniments

• Mignonette Sauce
• Cocktail Sauce
• Fresh Lemons
• Tabasco
• Sauce Gribiche
• Seaweed Garnish
• Sculpted Ice Display

Recommended Portions

For cocktail hours with other food being served, we recommend 4–6 pieces per guest. If the raw bar is the focal point, we recommend 8–12 pieces per gues

Raw Bar Station Packages

Raw Bar Station – Classic

The Classic package is our core raw bar presentation, ideal when the seafood station is part of a larger cocktail hour or multi-station menu.

Includes: Fresh-shucked oysters, little neck clams, chilled cocktail shrimp, steamed mussels on the half shell, cucumber salad with dill vinaigrette, cocktail sauce, mignonette, lemons, Tabasco, and sculpted ice display with seaweed garnish.

Starting at $36.95 per guest — 25 guest minimum

Raw Bar Station – Deluxe

The Deluxe package is a more abundant and luxurious raw bar designed for clients who want the seafood station to serve as the focal point of the event.

Includes: Everything in the Classic package, plus cocktail crab claws, expanded oyster selection, premium shellfish presentation, and the option to feature lobster tail and claw meat.

Starting at $54.95 per guest — 25 guest minimum

Premium Enhancements

• Lobster Tail & Claw Meat — Add $15 per guest
• Expanded Shrimp Selection — Add $15–$18 per guest
• Caviar Service — Add $75 per guest
• Seasonal Oyster Upgrades — Market price

Chef Attendant / Shucker

A chef attendant or shucking staff member is required for all raw bar stations — $200 per 2 hours.

All seafood selections are subject to seasonal availability and market pricing.

If you’re serious about making a first impression at a corporate gala or client reception, the raw bar is the station that does it. Before anyone tastes anything, the ice display commands the room. It signals investment, attention to detail, and a level of event planning that stainless steel chafing dishes will never communicate. Your guests register “this is a serious event” within three seconds of seeing the raw bar. And for the person who organized the event, that perception is worth every dollar.

Here’s what most caterers won’t tell you: raw bar service requires stricter food safety protocols than any other station type. Shellfish must maintain cold chain temperatures from delivery to service. DOHMH regulations on shellfish handling in New York City are among the most stringent in the country. The caterer needs documented sourcing, temperature logs, and trained personnel who understand bivalve handling — not a line cook who normally works the grill.

Urban Affairs has handled action stations catering across all five boroughs since 1995.

What’s on the Ice Display

Our raw bar presentation is served on a sculpted ice tray decorated with seaweed and includes:

• Clams and Oysters — opened fresh to order with mignonette sauce
• Steamed Shrimp — chilled, served with classic cocktail sauce
• Steamed Mussels on the Half Shell — with roasted peppers and aioli sauce
• Cocktail Crab Claws — pre-cracked for easy eating
• Cucumber Salad — with dill vinaigrette, a clean palate refresher

The shucking is part of the show. A skilled shucker opening oysters tableside creates the same theater effect as a carving station — guests gather, watch, and engage. But where carving is dramatic and bold, shucking is precise and quiet. It’s a different energy, and pairing a raw bar with a carving stations catering setup creates complementary experiences on opposite ends of the flavor and presentation spectrum.

Oyster variety rotates by season and sourcing availability. Fall and winter events typically feature Blue Points and Wellfleets from Long Island Sound, while spring brings lighter, brinier West Coast varieties. We confirm the specific shellfish lineup with you two weeks before the event so the selection matches both the season and your guest profile.

Food Safety and Cold Chain Management

Anyone who has served shellfish at a large event without proper cold chain controls knows the liability exposure. One temperature violation and you’re looking at a health department issue — and a reputation problem that no amount of good food recovers from. Raw bars are not a station you hand to an inexperienced caterer.

Our shellfish protocols include documented sourcing from licensed distributors, continuous temperature monitoring on the ice display, and trained personnel who rotate product throughout the event. The ice bed is maintained at 32 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit from setup to breakdown. Every batch of clams and oysters carries harvest tags that we retain per NYC Department of Health requirements. That compliance infrastructure exists because we run raw bar service regularly — not because we scrambled to figure it out for your event.

For event catering NYC galas and upscale receptions, the raw bar positions your event alongside the caliber of food service that guests experience at top-tier New York restaurants — except it’s in your venue, at your event, under your brand.

Get a Custom Catering Quote for Your Event

Tell us your guest count, venue, and preferred shellfish selection. Our catering sales managers will design a raw bar package with ice display, shucking service, and all accompaniments. Call 212-704-4098 or request a quote online.

Frequently Asked Questions