By the sea or in the city, seafood can be enjoyed in all different ways in NYC!
Nikole Rajgor - Staff Writer Intern•
Some of the most highly-rated restaurants in the world make their home here in NYC, and among those are plenty of fresh seafood destinations. With New England’s famous selection of lobster and oysters just a stone’s throw away, New York offers a wide variety of unique and fresh seafood options that any food lover is bound to enjoy.
Whether you’re looking to splurge on a luxury meal in the heart of Manhattan or are simply craving fresh fish n’ chips after a late night, here are 16 of the best seafood restaurants in NYC!
1. Le Bernardin, Midtown
In a city with seemingly endless dining options, Le Bernardin remains a NYC staple when it comes to excellent seafood. Created in Paris by sibling duo Maguy and Gilbert Le Coze, Le Bernardin was founded with the goal of always keeping freshly prepared fish at the heart of its elaborate menu.
Offering a wide selection of decadent dishes, including the Langoustine and Salmon Classic, Le Bernardin creates a timeless, yet ever-evolving culinary experience that is an indulgent treat for the tastebuds. This luxury restaurant earned a four-star rating only three months after first opening its doors in 1986 and has since maintained its status as a three-star Michelin establishment.
📍 787 7th Ave
2. Seamore’s, Multiple Locations
If you’re looking to enjoy the catch of the day at a more affordable price, Seamore’s merits its position as one of the best seafood restaurants in NYC. The restaurant chain was founded by native New Yorker Michael Chernow and serves all sorts of fish shack classics, bowl-style dining options, and a SoCal-inspired menu with rotating seasonal fish. With plenty of good food and good vibes to go around, Seamore’s is the perfect place to grab a bite for city-dwellers on-the-go.
📍 1278 3rd Ave (Upper East Side)
📍 161 8th Ave (Chelsea)
📍 250 Vesey St (Brookfield Place)
📍 66 Water St (DUMBO)
3. Fish Cheeks, NoHo
Fish Cheeks offers an assortment of Thai seafood dishes that are great for the NYC foodie who isn’t afraid of a little spice. Formed by a group of Thai natives, this vibrant Noho eatery is beloved by average New Yorkers and critics alike for its flavor-packed dishes that push the boundaries of traditional Thai cuisine.
A fan favorite dish at Fish Cheeks is the restaurant’s famous Coconut Crab Curry, a Southern-style dish served with betel leaf, makrut lime leaf, and rice. This dish, along with several others on the menu, features bold flavors that make Fish Cheeks not only one of the best seafood restaurants in NYC, but also one of the city’s best Thai eateries.
📍 55 Bond St
4. The Clam, West Village
The Clam has quickly become a local favorite in the West Village thanks to its seafood menu that specializes in (you guessed it) amazing clams. Whether you’re a clam connoisseur or just getting a taste for these delicious mollusks, this NYC eating house is bound to suit every appetite with its rounded-out menu of shellfish, salads, and local seafood entrees. Mike Price, chef and co-owner, offers a simple and straightforward approach to cooking that lets the ingredients — all seasonal and market-driven — speak for themselves.
The Clam also has an acclaimed beverage program which offers a selection of spirits, co*cktails, and wines that pair perfectly with all the restaurant’s delectable eats.
📍 420 Hudson St
5. Flex Mussels, West Village
From its humble beginnings as a charming seafood shack on Prince Edward Island, Flex Mussels is now a coveted hotspot in NYC’s West Village that takes guests on a tour of the world’s cooking cultures via the mollusk experience. Serving up globally inspired seafood dishes, oysters, and fresh mussels cooked in a range of 23 sauces, the restaurant’s menu is as delicious as it is unexpected.
While you’re bound to find an assortment of classic items on its list, Flex Mussels doesn’t shy away from getting creative in its food preparation with an array of original and exotic dishes that are a shock for the senses. Pair that with a world-class oyster program, excellent beer selection, hand-picked wine list, and inviting desert menu and you have everything you need for the perfect seafood dining experience.
📍 154 W 13th St (West Village)
📍 1431 3rd Ave (Upper East Side)
6. Cull & Pistol, Chelsea
The Cull & Pistol Oyster Bar is a go-to destination in New York’s Chelsea Market. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to slurp back $1 oysters during happy hour or bring a date for a classy meal on a Saturday night, Cull & Pistol offers some of the best seafood in NYC.
This Michelin-acclaimed seafood bar is operated by the same owners of the adjacent market, The Lobster Place — one of the best spots for buying fresh fish. With this selection of seafood located right next door to Cull & Pistol, there’s no question as to the quality of the restaurant’s menu, which features a series of satisfying dishes like the shrimp mole tacos, uni tagliatelle, or new bay fries.
📍 75 9th Ave
7. Estiatorio Milos, Midtown
If you’re looking to splurge on a culturally-infused fine dining experience, Milos offers some of the best Greek-inspired seafood in Midtown. With dishes ranging from the double to triple-digit price range, this high-end restaurant leans on the more expensive side when it comes to seafood options in NYC.
This authentic eatery uses the art of Greek hospitality, coupled with a masterful use of Greek-style cooking in its menu of seafood entrees and appetizers, to create a one-of-a-kind culinary experience that anyone looking to treat themselves (and their taste buds) will surely be impressed with.
📍 125 W 55th St (Midtown)
📍 20 Hudson Yards (Hudson Yards)
8. The Fulton by Jean-Georges, Seaport
Housed on the Pier 17 in Seaport with views overlooking the East River and Brooklyn Bridge, The Fulton is a romantic getaway that will make you fall in love with New York all over again.
This well-known NYC spot founded by French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is extravagant from the outside, with two massive floors, a giant sea monster mural, and a rooftop concert venue to finish it all off. However, once you walk inside its doors, you are met with a casual and welcoming atmosphere that just so happens to house some of the best seafood you will ever try — including fan favorites like the black sea bass, longevity noodles, red snapper ceviche, and crispy calamari herb salad.
📍 89 South St
9. Marea, Columbus Circle
For fans of both pasta and seafood, Marea is an excellent — and often overlooked — NYC spot that embraces the flavors of coastal Italy to create a sophisticated fine dining experience. Located in a chic neighborhood just south of Central Park, this two-Michelin-star restaurant serves up a variety of Italian dishes that feature fresh and quality-sourced seafood as their main course.
Although the price of the food at Marea can be quite high, the restaurant takes great care to ensure that each meal provides a truly elevated culinary experience. Some of the venue’s star dishes include fusilli with red-wine-braised octopus, butter-poached lobster, and a variety of caviars and East Coast oysters.
📍 240 Central Park South
10. Sea Wolf, Williamsburg & Bushwick
Sea Wolf has two locations in Brooklyn: Bushwick and Williamsburg. Though the Williamsburg location has the added benefit of waterfront views of the East River as you dine, Bushwick brings its own charm with large stunning murals and beachy interior.
Not to mention, the deals are great at both places. Every Monday, you can enjoy a lobster dinner with unlimited beer and wine for $49 per person. Weekdays from 4-7 PM, stop by at their happy hour for your choice of $7 beers, $9 wings, or oysters for $1.50. And for the weekend, you can never go wrong with a $35 bottomless brunch, where you can try a unique combination of mimosas and fish and chips.
📍 420 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn (Williamsburg)
📍 19 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn (Bushwick)
11. JP’s, The Bronx
Not everyone is familiar with the hidden gems found within City Island in the Bronx. Yet, if it’s seafood you’re looking for, this neighborhood is home to several of the most acclaimed restaurants in New York City, including the classic JP’s.
On the waterfront of the Long Island Sound, munch on jumbo shrimp with crabmeat stuffing, in a nautical-themed, down to earth atmosphere. Pair your seafood delight with one of the many large margarita or colada options served.
📍703 Minnieford Avenue, The Bronx
12. Sammys Fish Box, The Bronx
Sammys Fish Box is one of several restaurants owned by Sammy Chernin on City Island, and is one of the most frequented establishments in the neighborhood.
What makes the cuisine at the Fish Box stand out is it signature fried and baked seafood dishes, Cajun inspired blackened fish, and wood roasted fish, a technique with Native American origin. Their drink selection is equally extensive, with its unique takes on margaritas, martinis and coladas. If you dare, try their 30 oz. punch bowl full of rums of all shades.
📍 41 City Island Avenue, The Bronx
13. Sea Shore Restaurant, The Bronx
For tropical frozen drinks, fresh fish delights, and other world-class seafood, Sea Shore Restaurant is a place for those traveling by land or sea (free dockage is available to customers who come by boat!) The restaurant specializes in dishes such as fillet of sole, sesame seared tuna, sautéed lobster tail, and other mouthwatering delights.
📍 591 City Island Avenue
14. Johnnys Reef, The Bronx
Seafood doesn’t always need to be expensive, nor complicated.
Johnny’s Reef is located in one of the most ideal locations in City Island, at the very end, otherwise known as Belden Point. Surrounded by the Long Island Sound, customers can enjoy waterfront views and reasonably priced seafood. When getting down to the basics, Johnny’s has it perfected with crunchy fried shrimp, succulent tarter sauce, and perfectly cooked fries.
📍2 City Island Avenue, The Bronx
15. Lamia’s Fish Market, East Village
Last but certainly not least is Lamia’s, a well-priced seafood eatery with a vibrant underwater-themed interior. From a squid-ink linguini to beer battered fish tacos, the cuisine at Lamia’s caters to customers no matter their familiarity with seafood. For $65, you can try their prix-fix menu, which comes with three courses full of succulent seafood and other decadent bites.
📍47 Avenue B
16. Lure Fish Bar, SoHo
What makes Lure Fish Bar so special is their complete raw bar, boasting an incredible rotating oyster selection. But it doesn’t end there! They also offer a world class sushi program using the freshest fish from around the globe.
📍142 Mercer St
Want more recommendations? Check out these 25 Must-Visit Women-Owned Restaurants in NYC
