A few weeks ago, I managed to get word at the very last second about Island Creek Oyster Bar opening up in he Commonwealth Hotel in Kenmore Sq. The new venture from Garrett Harker of Eastern Standard.
ICOB is nice new oyster bar with fresh daily seafood offerings that will change everyday. I do not envy waiters with an ever changing menu. If they ever fumble, give them a break! However, the waitstaff at ICOB had fantastic attitudes and were all very nice and super chill for a brand new opening and for just having learned the whole menu 2 hours before hand.
This restaurant of course with it's name sake features the fantastic Island Creek Oysters along with many other fresh and local oyster farm offerings.
Please bear with my first generation iPhone pics. I will be upgrading soon. Low quality images, but enough to get the gist of this great new restaurant.
Appetizers
BBQ shrimp and grits, small fried fish sandwich, and a smoked salmon plate. Not pictured were a few Island Creek Oysters. Have to get them whenever hey are offered even if it's just two oysters.
Main
Monk Fish Schnitzel with Spaetzel and Day Boat Scallops.
Sides
Steamed broccoli with a cheese cream, and a large buttermilk biscuit.
House made Baileys.
Me and Tom of Boston Tweets comparing drinks. Mine was pure gasoline so I win. I kid, I kid. I asked for a different cocktail and I usually let the trusted bartenders at Eastern Standard experiment on me. This was a Jackson Cannon creation at ICOB of a gin martini with olive juice and no olives. It wasn't a typical dirty martini I can tell you that. A special floral gin that made it oddly fruity, and savory with the olive juice.
And then we finished our night off with a habenero cocktail with cucumbers at Eastern Standard which is conveniently right next door. Again, let the bartenders their do magic and you cannot go wrong.
So, with a fantastically fresh menu, good cocktails, good wine, knowledgeable and relaxed servers, ICOB is another winner for Harker. The food was a good mix of comfort food and seafood. Also offered were steaks and chicken as well as some daily specials aside from what was brought in fresh for the day. The vibe of the restaurant is modern and cool with oyster crates lining the walls and movable wood panel walls to change the scenery.
The only negative about the place.... They could use a better beer list. Their offerings were pretty weak compared to Eastern Standard. But I have no doubt that they will fall in line and keep a better maintained list.
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