From shucking good oysters to expertly prepared sushi, the Big Apple has a mighty fine offering of seafood restaurants. Sleeves up, bums down and chow down at one of these top picks.
Polished walnut, brown leather chairs, onyx glow bar, crudo counter, charming staff and impeccable cooking – two-Michelin starred Italian Marea is one fine dame. The elegance of the dining room is reflected in the refined ‘Crudo al Taglio’ tasting menu featuring standouts like Pacific snapper with peach and yellowfin tuna with arugula almond pesto. Booking essential.
If it’s oysters you’re after, there are few places better than the historic wooden schooner Grand Banks. You’ll have to brave the queues to hop aboard in the evenings, but it’s worth the wait for freshly shucked shellfish and rosé while bobbing on the Hudson River. Prefer dry land? The iconic Grand Central Oyster Bar is a countertop perch with a vast range of seafood offerings and yesteryear vibe.
For something a little different head to Alex Stupak’s lively Empellónand feast on octopus and sea urchin tacos. The Mexican-inspired menu (best sampled via sharing plates) is a masterpiece of culinary creativity; along with tacos, there’s a range of wow dishes like king salmon with gooseberries and trout roe salsa and smoked black cod with potato chorizo vinaigrette. Alex is a former pastry chef, so it’s no surprise that the desserts are equally inventive.
West Village haunt Sushi Katsuei’s 9-course omakase is a fraction of the price of those found in Manhattan’s more austere sushi palaces, and while the interior is blah, who cares when the meltingly fresh fatty tuna, mackerel and uni are this good.
A stylish sit-down iteration of NYC’s famed family-run shop and local institution, Russ & Daughters Cafe is the go-to for caviar and smoked fish galore. The menu of old-fashioned kosher comfort food (looking at you, potato latkes) really packs ’em in – geshmak!
Originally produced by LUXE for PenCities.
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