A beloved part of the Boston scene since the late 1970s, Atlantic Fish sports an updated atmosphere these days – in other words, the original’s galley look was traded in for a more polished scene of stained wood, pendant lights, coffered ceiling and crisp white linens. The menu, though hasn’t changed all that much over the years (Hey, why mess with a good thing!), and Atlantic’s kitchen continues to serve up timeless raw bar classics like shrimp cocktail, iced Littleneck clams and Blue Point oysters. Patio dining is available.

Established in 1826, this casual establishment is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the US and consists of a dark, pub-like dining room, oyster bar, restaurant, and drink bar. John F. Kennedy had a favorite booth here while practicing law in his early days, and you can now reserve it for parties of five or six. The place is said to serve the best clam chowder in New England, along with fresh seafood and excellent Bloody Marys. Oysters are delicious, and diners may choose to sit in cozy booths and order from the menu or find a perch at the popular raw bar.

Intimate and old school cool, Neptune sports a pressed-tin ceiling, floor tiles and marble-topped tables. Located as it is on the North End, the restaurant probably doesn’t shock first-timers with its Italian takes on fresh fish and seafood. That’s not to say they don’t leave impressed by Old Country classics like cioppino and more regionalized endeavors such lobster rolls. It’s the raw bar, though, that truly sets this place apart, thanks to seasonal ditties like Ipswich clams (fried, of course) and a dozen or so varieties of oysters.

Nothing preempts a game at Fenway quite like a stopover at the Back Bay edition of the Summer Shack family, where the mood is proverbially light-hearted and the raw bar case never seems to suffer from a shortage of fresh oysters, clams, shrimp and lobsters (heck, it holds somewhere in the neighborhood of 4-K shellfish!) If seafood isn’t your bag, their versatile menu also lists burgers, corn dogs, fried chicken and even meatloaf. Designed to look like a modern version of a roadside shack, the space gets packed, especially during the summer. Priority seating available.

Stylish Oceana capitalizes on its marina-side location by offering outstanding views of the Harbor. Take away the setting, though, and the place would still enjoy wide popular support based on its robust fish and seafood selection that includes regional-themed delicacies like New England bouillbaisse and crab-crusted Georges Bank cod. Even if a sit-down affair isn’t on the slate, Oceana’s raw bar specialties, like Panama Bay Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail and fresh-shucked oysters, are worth checking into.