On York Boulevard in Eagle Rock, Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill serves Southern-inspired seafood in a charming space filled with vintage finds. A horseshoe-shaped bar anchors the dining room, with oysters on ice, hanging wine shelves, and stained glass above. Antique artworks, trinkets, and photographs line the walls, while a covered patio provides extra seating for the jewel box restaurant. The Last Word Hospitality restaurant opened as Queen St. in 2023 before becoming Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill in 2025. “I think that we were a little ahead of the neighborhood when we first opened,” says chef and co-owner Ari Kolender. “We had to strip it back for a minute, and now we have expanded with a liquor program and a bigger patio, giving the neighborhood everything it wants.”

The menu pays tribute to Kolender’s hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, with dishes like shrimp and grits, hushpuppies, and mini pimento cheese sandwiches. “Shrimp was kind of my gateway drug to shellfish, so every time I sit down as a diner, I have to order the shrimp and grits,” Kolender explains. “My wife won’t eat it anymore, but I don’t care. I’ll just eat it by myself.” Oysters come with a bright, tangy rhubarb mignonette, while savory stuffed clams and a tuna tostada offer other ways to start. Among the entrées, bluefin tuna frites stand out: delicately seared tuna coated in a rich ponzu beurre blanc, served alongside crispy french fries and creamy chili garlic aioli. The Swashbuckler Martini keeps the seafood theme going, combining gin with a house blend of oyster and olive brine.