ZZ's Clam Bar

File:ZZ's Clam Bar 5.29.22.jpg

Major Food Group originally planned to open The Lobster Club, a sandwich shop, in the space occupied by ZZ's Clam Bar.{{cite news |last1=Morabito |first1=Greg |title=Torrisi Spinoff The Lobster Club to Open in November |url=https://ny.eater.com/2012/9/5/6548499/torrisi-spinoff-the-lobster-club-to-open-in-november |access-date=February 18, 2022 |work=Eater NY |date=September 5, 2012 |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218010923/https://ny.eater.com/2012/9/5/6548499/torrisi-spinoff-the-lobster-club-to-open-in-november |url-status=live }} The Lobster Club menu would have included "triple-decker sandwiches" and would have incorporated a take-out counter. Jeff Zalaznick, a partner in Major Food Group, claimed the change to the more formal seafood menu of ZZ's Clam Bar was in part due to the founding team consuming "so many lobster club sandwiches we didn't even want to look at one anymore" during the process of planning the restaurant.{{cite news |title=Team Torrisi Opening ZZ's Clam Bar on Thompson Street |url=https://www.grubstreet.com/2013/06/first-look-at-zz-clam-bar.html |access-date=February 18, 2022 |work=Grub Street |date=June 9, 2013 |language=en-us |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218011325/https://www.grubstreet.com/2013/06/first-look-at-zz-clam-bar.html |url-status=live }} Major Food Group later opened a restaurant using the "Lobster Club" name, located in the Seagram Building.{{cite news |last1=Fabricant |first1=Florence |title=The Lobster Club, From Major Food Group, Opens in Midtown |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/07/dining/lobster-club-nyc-restaurant-openings.html |access-date=February 18, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=November 7, 2017 |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218164155/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/07/dining/lobster-club-nyc-restaurant-openings.html |url-status=live }} The Lobster Club does not resemble the restaurant originally planned for ZZ's Clam Bar's space; the organization refers to the restaurant as a "Japanese brasserie".

ZZ's Clam Bar opened in 2013, and the inaugural menu included trout crudo, prawn ceviche, and seared fish. Thomas Waugh, a "barman" at Carbone and Death & Co. known for creating elaborate cocktails,{{cite news |last1=Sutton |first1=Ryan |title=ZZ's Clam Bar Serves $105 Carpaccio, $1.50 Clams: Food |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-25/zz-s-clam-shack-serves-105-carpaccio-1-50-clams-food?sref=CIpmV6x8 |access-date=February 18, 2022 |work=Bloomberg |date=September 25, 2013 |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218143213/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-25/zz-s-clam-shack-serves-105-carpaccio-1-50-clams-food?sref=CIpmV6x8 |url-status=live }} also initially operated the bar at ZZ's Clam Bar. Major Food Group leased the spaces for ZZ's Clam Bar and Carbone from the same landlord, and was able to obtain a favorable lease as no one could previously find a use for the small space.{{cite news |last1=Richman |first1=Alan |title=Alan Richman Reviews ZZ's Clam Bar |url=https://www.gq.com/story/zzs-clam-bar-nyc |access-date=February 18, 2022 |work=GQ |date=August 5, 2013 |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218163852/https://www.gq.com/story/zzs-clam-bar-nyc |url-status=live }} The 200 square foot space seats twelve people.{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Glenn |title=At ZZ's Clam Bar, Seafood Shares the Stage With Cocktails |url=https://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/at-zzs-clam-bar-seafood-shares-the-stage-with-cocktails/ |access-date=February 18, 2022 |work=Diner's Journal Blog |publisher=The New York Times |date=June 18, 2013 |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218005534/https://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/at-zzs-clam-bar-seafood-shares-the-stage-with-cocktails/ |url-status=live }} The restaurant's founders have said it "celebrates" Umbertos Clam House, another Manhattan seafood restaurant founded in 1972 and located in Little Italy. In 2014, The New York Times referred to ZZ's Clam Bar as a "raw-bar-and-haute-cocktail-saloon", along with New York City establishments the Leadbelly and Maison Premiere.{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Brett |title=The New Wave of Oyster Bars |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/dining/the-new-wave-of-oyster-bars.html |access-date=February 18, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=May 6, 2014 |archive-date=February 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227010035/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/dining/the-new-wave-of-oyster-bars.html |url-status=live }}

Early in the restaurant's history, critic Adam Platt was ejected while eating by "a very large bouncer".{{cite news |last1=Sytsma |first1=Alan |title='You Guys Are Done': Adam Platt Gets 86'd from ZZ's |url=https://www.grubstreet.com/2013/10/adam-platt-on-being-kicked-out-of-zz-clam-bar.html |access-date=February 18, 2022 |work=Grub Street |date=October 17, 2013 |language=en-us |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218143535/https://www.grubstreet.com/2013/10/adam-platt-on-being-kicked-out-of-zz-clam-bar.html |url-status=live }} Platt had previously given Carbone a one-star review, and assumed the ejection was "retribution" for doing so. Platt has contrasted Major Food Group's apparently retaliatory reaction with a softer one from Danny Meyer after Platt wrote a negative review of Meyer's restaurant Blue Smoke. Meyer approached Platt after the review was published and informed him the negative review was "very helpful". Major Food Group's senior staff has not commented on Platt's removal.{{cite news |last1=Gordinier |first1=Jeff |title=The Red Sauce Juggernaut |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/dining/the-red-sauce-juggernaut.html |access-date=February 18, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=March 18, 2014 |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218144130/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/dining/the-red-sauce-juggernaut.html |url-status=live }}

In 2022, Major Food Group opened a Miami restaurant, ZZ's Sushi Bar, which has been referred to as "a hybrid version of [...] ZZ's Clam Bar and a sushi and private members club."{{cite news |last1=Fowler |first1=Olee |title=Inside ZZ's Sushi Bar, the Latest Stunner from Major Food Group |url=https://miami.eater.com/2021/4/22/22397350/zz-sushi-bar-miami-photo-inside |access-date=February 18, 2022 |work=Eater Miami |date=April 22, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218010001/https://miami.eater.com/2021/4/22/22397350/zz-sushi-bar-miami-photo-inside |url-status=live }} In 2023, Major Food Group opened a private member's club, ZZ's Club, in Hudson Yards.{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Joshua David |title=Here Comes Carbone Privato |url=https://www.grubstreet.com/2023/11/zzs-club-carbone-privato-nyc.html |access-date=December 15, 2023 |work=Grub Street |date=November 15, 2023 |language=en}} Major Food Group closed ZZ's Clam Bar in 2023,{{cite news |last1=Orlow |first1=Emma |title=ZZ’s Clam Bar From Major Food Group Has Closed |url=https://ny.eater.com/2023/12/13/23998951/zzs-clam-bar-closing-restaurant-major-food-group |access-date=December 15, 2023 |work=Eater NY |date=December 13, 2023 |language=en}} replacing it with a private dining space for Carbone. In comments provided to Eater, Major Food Group positioned the new ZZ's Club as a continuation and evolution of ZZ's Clam Bar.

Critics have noted the restaurant's high prices. Ryan Sutton, in a review for Bloomberg, praised the food and the cocktails by Waugh, but stressed the costs of both. As a counterpoint to the higher-cost items, Sutton highlighted the market-price clams as "one way to enjoy a Champagne setting on a beer budget". Despite an overall positive review, Sutton did fault the restaurant for not replacing utensils between courses given the costs. Alan Richman, writing for GQ, echoed this concern, writing the restaurant needed to "upgrade the experience" given the expensive offerings.

The restaurant earned a Michelin star for the first time in 2014, which it retained until 2022.{{cite news |last1=Fabricant |first1=Florence |title=New Michelin Guide Has New York Star-Studded |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/dining/michelin-guide-upgrades-aquavit-blanca-and-ichimura-to-two-stars-daniel-loses-third-star.html |access-date=February 15, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=September 30, 2014 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215231654/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/dining/michelin-guide-upgrades-aquavit-blanca-and-ichimura-to-two-stars-daniel-loses-third-star.html |url-status=live }}

• List of Michelin starred restaurants in New York City

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{{Restaurants in Manhattan|state=collapsed}}

Category:2013 establishments in New York City

Category:Restaurants in Manhattan

Category:Restaurants established in 2013

Category:Drinking establishments in Greenwich Village

Category:Seafood restaurants in New York City

Category:Clam bars

Category:2023 disestablishments in New York City

Category:Defunct restaurants in New York City