Major Food Group originally planned to open The Lobster Club, a sandwich shop, in the space occupied by ZZ's Clam Bar.

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.

[4] Major Food Group later opened a restaurant using the "Lobster Club" name, located in the Seagram Building.

[5] ZZ's Clam Bar opened in 2013,[1] and the inaugural menu included trout crudo, prawn ceviche, and seared fish.

[11] Major Food Group closed ZZ's Clam Bar in 2023,[12] replacing it with a private dining space for Carbone.

[7] 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".