Shells First for an Upper West Side Seafood Week

Start at Dark Bullet for a solo oyster-and-drink opening, not a polished tasting room. Ask which East and West Coast oysters are available before committing to a plate. I favor a shell-by-shell comparison over a bigger order. Photograph the oysters before the extras crowd the table.

Build a weekday lunch at Uptown Poké before tackling the week's fuller seafood meals. Choose rice or quinoa first, then ask about the bowl options rather than chasing an unverified special. I prefer bowls with one focused combination; the photograph can wait. Take the meal to go if the tight seating feels distracting.

Head farther north on Amsterdam Avenue for Hula Poke's bowls and sushi burritos. Pick the protein before the toppings, then request the sauce separately if that suits the order. For contrast, I value crisp lotus chips here. Keep the bowl photo simple; skip piling on additions just for the feed.

Give The Mermaid Inn a comfort-food turn after two bowl days. Ask about the oyster selection, then consider lobster mac and cheese rather than automatically ordering a full raw spread. For this stop, my vote goes to the smoked Gouda richness. Frame one plate, and skip treating every oyster special as a discovery.

Trade the bar scene for Halal Cajun Platters on Broadway, and ask about crab or shrimp before placing a seafood order. Leave room for a slower handoff when delivery orders stack up. A sprawling sampler loses me; a focused seafood choice has more appeal. Capture the plate, not another storefront sign.

Cross to the Upper East Side for Mission Ceviche, then Sushi Ren. Order ceviche first, and take a short walk north along Second Avenue before considering nigiri. That acid-to-classic contrast is what I want from a two-stop detour. Photograph Mission's presentation; skip expecting experimental sushi at the second stop.

Finish at Crave Fishbar back on Amsterdam Avenue, with the rotating raw bar as the week's comparison point. Ask about today's oyster varieties before adding crab crispy rice or another dish. For my money, variety beats a giant order here. Check the current menu before joining any line; skip assuming yesterday's selection will repeat.