SEAFOOD
Docks Oyster Bar: Seafood. 2427 Broadway @ 89-90th; 20/17/$50; 724-5588; Casual, fun restaurant; White table-cloth setting with a very popular bar scene; Website has tons of pictures & menu is mouthwatering; While not top in quality, it is spacious, date friendly and solid.
Mermaid Inn: Seafood. 568 Amsterdam @ 87-88th; 22/17/$43; 799-7400; Fresh from the ocean seafood and fish; Laid back, top service and affordable prices make this a top seafood choice. Upscale fish shack; Crazy good lobster rolls.
Neptune Room: Seafood. 511 Amsterdam @ 84-5th; 22/19/$50; 496-4100; Casual setting, great service, and nearly alive seafood; Eclectic menu; Raw bar; Great brunch. Marine cuisine at its freshest.
Ocean Grill: Seafood. 384 Columbus @ 78th-9; 23/20/$53; 579-2300; Fish kingdom of West side; Freshest seafood in neighborhood; Huge bar area too; Truly a classic feel and great service from Steve Hanson’s top notch empire; Fish so fresh it may swim away.
Blue Fin: Seafood. 1567 B-Way @ 47th; 21/22/$56; 918-1400; Seafood palace; Crowded; Noisy; Cavernous, sleek; Great food. Steve Hanson owned; Despite touristy location – great meal will be had.
Francisco’s Centro Vasco: Seafood-Spanish. 159 W 23rd @ 6-7th Av; 22/13/$47; 645-6224; Lobster house, plain and simple. Come for genius crustaceans; Best is a Lobster stuffed with crab meat and swiss cheese; Cheap for the genre with huge portions.
Esca: Seafood. 402 W 43rd @ 9th Av; 25/20/$69; 564-7272; Italian-Seafood; Mario Batali owns; Top of the line fresh fish and amazing pasta dishes; Excellent setting and service. Whole fish. Very pricy.
Mary’s Fish Camp: Seafood. 64 Charles @ W 4th; 25/13/$41; 646-486-2185; Unreal Lobster Rolls; Fish Shack – laid back; Not formal; Always packed as food is that good. Huge menu of all seafood. Small place; Whole fish amazing- tilapia, red snapper.
Pearl Oyster Bar: Seafood. 18 Cornelia @ Bleecker- W 4th; 26/15/$43; 691-8211; Unreal quality; Known for a perfect Lobster Roll; Fresh fish; Long waits to get in… but worth it! Informal – New England seafood; No Rez; Lives up to the reputation.
Fish: Seafood. 280 Bleecker @ Jones; 21/14/$39; 727-2879; Dive Seafood restaurant/ Comfort food; Provides a relaxed Environment but still nice enough for a fun date; New England Seaside shack; Truly quality food.
Aquagrill: Seafood. 210 Spring @ 6th Av; 26/19/$58; 274-0505; Fish heaven; Raw bar- endless oyster selection; Popular and always packed; Seafood still fighting for life on your plate it’s so fresh; Two levels – date friendly; Extremely helpful staff to educate you on fish.
Fresh: Seafood. 105 Reade St @ Church-WB-Way; 25/21/$59; Perfectly prepared seafood; Flopping off your plate fresh; Amazing service; Charred tuna tenderloin; Fancier place- date friendly.
Lure Fishbar: Seafood. 142 Mercer @ Prince; 23/23/$56; 431-7676; Go early to enjoy the hopping bar scene; Ultra fresh seafood including sushi; Cruise ship level service; Sexy patrons; Fish so fresh it will swim to your plate;
Ed’s Lobster House: Seafood. 222 Lafayette @ Spring-Kenmore; 23/16/$42; 343-3236; You might as well be in Maine; Lobster Rolls & other Lobster classics; Very popular; Incredible Chowder. Same owner as Pearl Oyster Bar
Tides: Seafood. 102 Norfolk @ Delancey-Rivington; 24/23/$41; 254-8855; Gorgeous bamboo ceiling; Incredibly affordable fresh seafood; Lobster Rolls stand out; Attentive staff & gorgeous setting; Simply a bargain for what you get; Must try; Soft Shell Crab in season.
Mermaid Inn: Seafood. 96 2nd Av @ 5-6th; 22/17/$43; 674-5870; Fresh from the ocean seafood and fish; Laid back, top service and affordable prices make this a top seafood choice. Upscale fish shack; Crazy good lobster rolls. Blue Water Grill: Seafood. 31 Union Sq @ 16th; 24/22/$54; 675-9500; Perfect date spot at what I consider the best in the Bromberg brothers owned restaurants; Two levels – ideal décor; Incredible fresh fish & shellfish options; Snazzy drinks; Sushi options; Jazz downstairs.
BLT Fish: Seafood; 21 W 17th @ 5th-6th Av; 23/20/$63; 691-8888; Laurent Tourondel owned; Falling off the bone fresh fish; Excellent service and cool made for dates décor; Two levels with a different scene in each. The Whole fish is the best…tuna, snapper.
City Crab & Seafood: Seafood. 235 Park S @ 19th; 21/18/$42; 529-3800; Hugely underrated Seafood house; Huge menu, large portions; Excellent soups, drinks as well as fresh seafood. King crab and seafood pastas stand out, as does salmon and chowder.
Docks Oyster Bar: Seafood. 633 3rd Ave@ 40th; 20/17/$50; 986-8080; Casual, fun restaurant; White table-cloth setting with a very popular bar scene; Website has tons of pictures & menu is mouthwatering; While not top in quality, it is spacious, date friendly and solid.
Atlantic Grill: Seafood. 1341 3rd Av @ 76th; 24/19/$53; 988-9200; Hopping Seafood standout; Stylish; Fresh fish; Bar scene. Dining room has a spacious, clean feel; Elegance & laid-back cool at same time; The winner here is the fresh fish and large menu selections.
Turquoise: Seafood. 240 E 81st @ 2-3rd Av; 22/18/$54; 988-8222; Fish as fresh as the ocean produces; Personal service; Greek- Mediterranean influence in preparations; Whole fish is way to go here.