In The News
Worcester Telegram
Barbara M. Houle - Telegram Correspondent
WORCESTER — Atlantis Oysters & Raw Bar at the Worcester Public Market held a “silent opening” March 26, with an impressive oyster selection that included varieties from West and East coasts.
Owner Domenic D. Mercurio Jr. has partnered with executive chef Jason (Jay) Midwood in the business. General manager of Atlantis, Midwood also owns the popular Pasta Mani at WPM on Green Street in the Canal District.
“Atlantis offers an extensive list of oysters and the freshest seafood available, in addition to an outstanding cocktail and wine menu,” Mercurio said.
Opening day, the restaurant offered oysters from places as far as Washington state and Prince Edward Island. Duxbury and Wellfleet in Massachusetts also were on the list. Market price will dictate what the restaurant charges for oysters.
Geography definitely affects oysters’ flavor, with West Coast varieties sweeter and creamier than East Coast, according to Mercurio, and each oyster has its own unique taste and texture depending on where it’s grown. Oysters from Pacific waters also have deeper shells with rougher edges.
Table Hoppin': Seafood lovers rejoice as Atlantis Oysters & Raw Bar opens at Worcester Public Market
By Barbara M. Houle
(Subscription Required)
(Subscription Required)
Masslive
Michael Bonner - masslive.com
Since opening in February of 2020, the Worcester Public Market has continued to evolve. The ecosystem of local retail vendors, grocers and restaurants grew together through COVID-19 shutdowns and re-openings.
One space remained stagnant though. Sandwiched between Jennifer Lee’s Bakery and Creative Cakes, tarps sectioned off the half-finished space intended at one point to be an oyster bar.
Temporary vendors like a plant-based jeweler filled the immediate location inside the market, but the area with a private entrance on Harding Street remained dark and primarily utilized as storage.
One space remained stagnant though. Sandwiched between Jennifer Lee’s Bakery and Creative Cakes, tarps sectioned off the half-finished space intended at one point to be an oyster bar.
Temporary vendors like a plant-based jeweler filled the immediate location inside the market, but the area with a private entrance on Harding Street remained dark and primarily utilized as storage.
Edible Boston
Robin Hauck - Edible Boston
Jay Midwood, the chef behind Pasta Mani, knows that the key to his success is getting out of the way and letting the food speak. That is the philosophy he brings to his second Worcester Public Market venture, Atlantis Oyster & Raw Bar.
A modern contemporary oyster bar in the tradition of Portland’s Eventide, Hama Hama of Washington, Duxbury’s Island Creek and his former employer, Citizen Oyster House in Boston, Atlantis will keep the quality exceptionally high while keeping the service laid back and friendly. With about 40 seats and a full liquor license, Atlantis will bring a new level of sophistication to the market and a new draw for those looking for a foodie night out in Central MA.
The menu will feature a small raw bar section: jumbo shrimp, crab salad, tuna tartare, cold lobster roll and on-trend dishes featuring canned seafood. Grilled fish, octopus and mussels will round out the main-course menu. Along with others involved in the project, Midwood is working to change the public’s perception of what fine dining is and what it can be. “Amazing meals can happen anywhere,” he says. “It’s the staff and their reverence for their craft that makes those meals happen. I think we do justice to that.”