Shore Up On Seafood, With Our Guide to the Best Shellfish Destinations in NYC
We’d never dream of knocking on ice cream, but what we really scream for in the summer is seafood. You shuck it, grill it, deep-fry it or steam it, and you can bet your life that we’ll eat it, from the East Coast Oysters at Cull & Pistol, to the Fritto Misto at Sabbia, and the Squid Tacos at Michael Chernow’s Seamore’s!
Seamore’s
You wouldn’t know it from his successful debut franchise, The Meatball Shop, but co-owner Michael Chernow has been a skilled fisherman since childhood. And last summer, he parlayed that passion into the ocean-to-table spot, Seamore’s, which serves daily-changing, sustainably caught fish teamed with a choice of sauces and sides, along with Grilled Squid Tacos, Poke and Ceviche, Blackened Catfish Sandwiches, and Crispy Skate Po Boys slicked with pepper relish.
Read MoreSabbia
Having been transformed into an Italian seaside escape for the summer, Eataly’s rooftop restaurant is currently serving breezy coastal fare such as Calabrian Seared Shrimp speckled with oregano, Assorted, Ligurian-style Fritto Misto, Grilled Octopus with cannellini beans, red onions and balsamic, and Sicilian Pesce Spada alla Beccafico; grilled local swordfish stuffed with green olives, breadcrumbs and raisins.
Read MoreSauvage
While Maison Premiere’s little sister puts decidedly less emphasis on oysters, there’s no shortage of seafood to be found on Lisa Giffen’s menu; from Uni in the shell strewn with tiny flecks of rhubarb to ice cold Jonah Crab Claws for starters, followed by entrees like Pike over mountain vegetables in a sour beer sabayon, Hake wrapped in kombu and paired with assorted shellfish, and Squid Ink Garganelli, tossed in a sepia ragu.
Read MoreCrave Fishbar
The new Upper West Side outpost of Todd Mitgang’s Crave Fishbar is a total ode to under-the-sea delicacies; including a crudo of chopped local Spicy Scallops, Grilled Prawns moistened with shrimp jus, Seared Yellowfin Tuna topped with Mexican corn and queso fresco, and a Thai-style Lobster Curry, supplemented with bamboo shoots, charred red onion and two kinds of eggplant.
Read MoreGreenpoint Fish & Lobster Co.
The menu changes daily at this slim Greenpoint shellfish spot to reflect the freshly-caught options sold in the sustainable seafood market up front. But you should expect to find tissue-thin ribbons of Crudo dressed with olive oil, Maldon salt and citrus, as well as Baja Fish Tacos and Market Fish Sandwiches, bowls of gluten-free Kelp Noodle Pad Thai, Fried Whole Belly Clams and a Lobster Roll brimming with hand-picked meat, lightly tossed with mayo, celery, lemon and tarragon, and served with slaw, fries and a housemade pickle.
Read MoreCull & Pistol
Being that this Chelsea Market eatery and oyster bar gets its provisions from its estimable next door neighbor (the quality fishmonger, Lobster Place), you can bet that menu offerings are reliably pristine. Think a daily raw bar flush with crudos, cocktails, clams, caviar and a wide range of oysters (try the melon-scented Wild Cat Cove from Washington, or the sweet and saline Fishers Island from Block Island Sound, NY), and a wealth of cooked options; from Baked Mussels, Shrimp Toast and creamy New England Chowder, to Fish & Chips, Lobster Ramen and a Clambake Dinner for Two.
Read MoreSea Wolf
“Surf, Skate, Eat, Repeat!” is the catchphrase at this sunny Bushwick bistro, which celebrates seafaring creatures in all forms — as part of a raw bar (Oysters and Clams are served with medicine droppers of sauce) showcased in small plates (such as Smoked Bluefish Dip and Shrimp Skillets), squished into sandwiches (i.e. Lobster Rolls and Mahi Mahi Clubs) and offered as entrees, including Old Bay-dusted Mussels, a Lobster Bake, and tartar sauced Fish & Chips.
Read MoreBarano
While this Williamsburg newcomer is directly inspired by Barano D’Ischia, the township in southern Italy where Chef Al Di Meglio’s grandmother was born, it also pays homage to that beloved New Haven classic, the Clam Pie; sporting both whole and shucked bivalves atop a whole grain, garlic, breadcrumb, and housemade mozzarella paved crust.
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