Oysters and cocktails on a lantern-lit East Village patio

Set on a quiet stretch of Avenue B, Ama Raw Bar keeps its main draw out back. Paper lanterns and string lights hang over a plant-framed patio, and the kitchen leans into raw seafood with an Asian accent. Order oysters by the half dozen, then a chilled tower stacked with shrimp, clams, and bright crudo. The cocktails run herbal and citrus-forward, easy to linger over between courses. On warm nights the lantern-lit back patio feels tucked away from the street, quiet enough to lose an hour. Seating opens at 5:00 PM most evenings, with earlier 4:00 PM weekend starts and later Friday and Saturday closes. Gluten-free eaters and larger groups are looked after, a fit for a group dinner or a quiet two-top. Regulars rate it 4.7 across more than 400 reviews, which tracks once the oysters land.