Seafood

Back to Table of Contents

Atlantic Grill [1341 Third Ave. (bet. 76th and 77th Sts.) 212-988-9200]
Consistently high-quality food at consistently high prices. Some of the better and fresher fish in the city is available here and they offer both traditional and sushi-style fish. In addition, it is a nice place to go for Thanksgiving dinner if you don't like eating at home.

Dalga [401 E. 62nd St. (bet. 1st and York Aves.) 212-813-1790]
A nice setting and a great rotating variety of fresh fish make this Turkish restaurant a great choice for dinner. Prices are reasonable for fish, and because of the location you won't be bothered by too many other diners. A nice date spot.

Grand Central Oyster Bar [Grand Central Terminal (42nd to 44th Sts. bet. Lexington and Vanderbilt Aves.) 212-490-6650]
This place has a lot of hype, but I was not overly impressed. There was an extensive oyster menu, but the soups were very disappointing. Maybe it was because we went late at night, so I would give this place one more chance before dismissing it. Either way, the oysters are good.

The Lobster Place [436 W. 16th St. (inside Chelsea Market) 212-255-5672]
I absolutely love this place. I used to go here for lunch at least twice a week when I worked at Chelsea Market. Offering the best of everything fishy, The Lobster Place serves excellent soup and sushi, along with extremely fresh and inexpensive fish. It is not a sit-down restaurant, but I wanted to include it because whenever you eat fish at home, you should order it from here. Check www.lobsterplace.com for ordering and delivery information.

Turquoise Seafood [240 E. 81st St. (bet. 2nd and 3rd Aves.) 212-988-8222]
Owned and run by a friendly Israeli man, this seafood restaurant offers fresh fish from around the Mediterranean. The setting is beautifully designed and there is excellent food to go along with it. Good appetizers include the Homemade Tzaziki, the Grilled Vegetables, and I would think the Zucchini Medallions as well. As for main courses, you must have fish, either whole, or prepared in one of a variety of ways. The Chilean Sea Bass, the Red St. Peter's (Tilapia), and the Salmon Fillet en Papillote (cooked in parchment paper) were all especially good. Then, if you're not too full, top your meal off with an exquisite molten chocolate cake.