Nothing says summer like sun, sand and seafood. Get your bibs on and have your crab mallets ready to try these delicious NYC favorites.
See Also: Treat Yourself To The Most Decadent Sea Towers In NYC
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Multiple locations / Website
Don’t we all wish to be transported to the beautiful Greek islands? At Avra, you get just that and more, as dining here is more than a meal; it’s an experience. Their menu features authentic Greek foods like Fasolakia, Horta, and Spankorizo. At Avra, they source their olive oil from a small family farm in the Peloponnese and only use the first harvest of the season, giving the oil a distinct freshness and robust taste.
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240 Central Park S. / 212.582.5100 / Website
Marea might be temporarily closed for renovations, but that doesn't mean it's relinquished its spot as one of the best seafood spots in the city, and you better believe we'll be first in line for the reopening slated for September. Marea's genuine, bold flavors of coastal Italy shine in dishes such as oysters, risotto and entire fish. Francesco Grosso, the restaurant’s beverage director, has a unique collection of wines from all around the world in his wine cellar, which pairs perfectly with the menu items.
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89 S St. / 212.838.1200 / Website
The Fulton is Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's first seafood restaurant. In a continuing endeavor to design restaurants that are both current and enduring, Jean-Georges is involved in all aspects of his restaurants, including the idea, cuisine, architectural design, staff selection and training programs. The restaurant provides a distinctive New York dining experience with its riverfront location, patio seating, and some of the best-unimpeded views of the Brooklyn Bridge. After enjoying the outstanding house chowder at the Fulton, one local chowder connoisseur made the statement, “This is the only Manhattan clam chowder I’ve ever eaten that didn’t taste like the inside of a rusty tomato can.”
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Multiple locations / Website
Priding itself on providing guests with sustainable seafood, Seamore’s got something for everybody. As they state on their website, “All of our seafood is caught and farmed in a sustainable manner - from stable stocks, innovative farms, and in methods that minimize habitat and ecosystem damage.” Enjoy their twist on a Mexican favorite: the taco. Whether you delight in the grilled shrimp or the seared Baja fish tacos, your stomach will thank you.
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Multiple locations / Website
Estiatorio Milos knows a thing or two about delicious Mediterranean seafood, as this spot has long been a staple of NYC's restaurant scene. Not only do they bring Greek cuisine to America, but Greek traditions as well. Milos believes in philoxenia, the art of Greek hospitality, and gathering at a table to share a meal. Each dish harmoniously marries local and international ingredients for an unmatched culinary experience. If you visit their Hudson Yards location with a view of the renowned Vessel, enjoy dinner with a view.
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Multiple locations / Website
Sea Wolf, founded in April 2016, was inspired by a passion for fishing and surf culture and a sense of duty to sustainably produce and fish locally. With a daily happy hour at their Bushwick location, enjoy $1.50 oysters among $9 for 6 wings or buffalo cauliflower, $7 draft beers and $9 wines. Get your feast on by indulging in their raw bar that has an array of seafood from clams to shrimp to chilled lobster.
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Multiple locations / Website
Louisiana-style seafood has made its way to the city. Seafood enthusiasts can indulge in seafood combo packages sold by the pound, a variety of crab, and authentic po' boy sandwiches from Louisiana. For our true seafood lovers, all of the NY locations, except for the Hell’s Kitchen location, are offering an all-you-can-eat special! All other specials vary by location, so be sure to check their menu.
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153 W 51st St. / 212.554.1119 / Website
This elegant restaurant offers an astonishing selection of dishes on Ripert's menu, a meandering trip through foreign flavors and traditional cooking methods. Siblings Maguy and Gilbert Le Coze, owners of Le Bernardin, were born in Paris, France, and grew up working in their parents’ hotel, Hotel de Rhuys, in the dining room. Maguy now focuses on the NYC location and works closely with celebrated French chef Eric Ripert. The Emmy-winning chef has been named the “Top Chef in New York City” and “Outstanding Chef in the United States.” Le Bernardin received its four-star review from The New York Times only three months after opening and is the only New York four-star restaurant that has maintained its status of excellence for more than three decades.
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Multiple locations / Website
This Black-owned restaurant combines seafood with soul food. Their shrimp Rasta Pasta is a fan favorite as it illustrates the intertwining of Italian and Jamaican cuisines—penne pasta is tossed with a jerk-infused cream sauce and colorful bell peppers. Their lobster and seafood mac and cheese dishes are also sure to leave you with a smile on your face.
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420 Hudson St. / 212.242.7420 / Website
Overlooking the corner of Hudson and Leroy in the West Village, The Clam has delectably paired its menu with its craft cocktail and curated wine list. In addition to classics like the clam chowder, lobster salad, and fried clam strips, the always-changing menu showcases the freshest seafood and market-driven ingredients. Their fried clam and lobster sliders served are beyond compare, and other dishes like their Faroe Island salmon tartare and sautéed Nova Scotia halibut will introduce you to flavors from distant lands.
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120 W 49th St. / 212.759.5941 / Website
Just steps from Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, and Broadway’s famed theaters is the esteemed Oceana. In addition to their main space designed by New York-based New World Design Builders, the newly remodeled dining rooms and café at Oceana are ready to host visitors. A six-seat chef's counter is now available, giving customers a front-row seat to the action in the kitchen and the chance to interact with the chefs. Exclusive dishes like their sheep milk ravioli and squid ink pasta offer a notable taste.
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303 W 116th St. / 646.649.3356 / Website
This Black-owned seafood shack is loved by the Harlem community. From Caribbean street food like Johnny Cakes to Cape Cod coastal comfort food, Chef Raymond Mohan has produced a variety of nostalgic dishes. Their uniqueness is seen in their twist on sandwiches that are served on Johnny Cakes & their homemade bread. If you’re looking to feed a larger group, they have both the crab lovers tray and the jerk ribs + glazed wings tray that feeds between four and six people.
Whether you're hoping for a high-end dining experience or some old-fashioned comfort food, these NYC restaurants are sure to provide the best seafood that the city has to offer.
Photography by: courtesy of Marea
