7 Stellar Seafood Restaurants
While best known for pizza and bagels, New York City is also home to some of the best seafood restaurants in the country. Whether you’re in the mood for fresh oysters, New Orleans-style seafood boils, or sea urchin bucatini, NYC is overflowing with oceanic delights. Below, we share our picks for the very best downtown seafood restaurants, where you’ll find everything from creamy clam chowders to juicy lobster rolls—and where reservations are highly recommended.
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Mermaid Oyster Bar
The perpetually packed Mermaid Oyster Bar is known for its fresh-to-death oysters, of course, which are exclusively sourced from North America and served in a laidback setting that recalls a seafood shack in New England. Things get especially lively during happy hour from 4.30pm to 6.30pm when oysters cost $1.50 each. You’re not necessarily in the wrong place if you’re not an oyster-obsessive: try the fish tacos or the to-die-for lobster roll on a griddled brioche, which comes with a side of Old Bay-seasoned fries. Wash it all down with a cold beer or a signature cocktail, such as the Mermaid Kiss (aged rum, passionfruit puree, amaretto, cherry liqueur). Those with a sweet tooth will appreciate the complimentary cup of rich chocolate pudding that bookends every meal at this Greenwich Village favorite.
89 MacDougal St, New York; (212) 260-0100
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Dame
Looking for a drool-inducing plate of fish and chips? You’ll find this pub food classic on MacDougal Street at the English seafood restaurant Dame, where it will cost you the very Greenwich Village price of $29. Yes, Dame’s fish and chips are absolutely worth it, courtesy of the chef, Ed Szymanski. Go on and pair the crispy sublimeness with a Pimm’s cup. Additional exceptional menu highlights at this buzzy dinner-only restaurant—which started out as a pandemic fish and chips takeout pop-up—include squid and scallion skewers, grilled oysters with hollandaise, and smoked whitefish croquettes. There’s also a head-turning wine list. Be sure to make reservations well in advance because Dame is teeny-tiny, and groups larger than six require a full buyout of the intimate hotspot. Oh, and also be sure to save room for some sticky toffee pudding.
87 MacDougal St, New York; (929) 367-7370
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The Clam
Clams are the main events at this bright, airy, and aptly named elegant eatery, which opened its doors on the corner of Hudson and Leroy in 2014. Choose from a variety of clam-centric fare, from super-fresh littleneck clams with cocktail sauce and New England clam chowder to spaghetti with clams in a spicy tomato sauce and fried clam sliders. But no worries if you’re not cuckoo for clams. All of chef Mike Price’s divine dishes, like the grilled salmon with asparagus risotto and Maine lobster arancini with lemon aioli, will undoubtedly leave you happy as a clam. (Sorry, we had to.)
420 Hudson St, New York; (212) 242-7420
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The Boil
Not into white-tableclothed, candlelit seafood eateries? Head on down to The Boil, a gigantic and often packed cajun seafood restaurant in NoHo, where the tables are covered with sheets of brown paper and the utensils are made of plastic. When it comes to what to order, it’s all in the name. In other words, go for the Lousiana-style seafood boils, in which crawfish, crab, shrimp, lobster, and clams are served by the pound in plastic bags along with corn and potatoes, and everything is seasoned with the sauce and spice intensity of your choice. Things can get messy at this boozy, cash-only dive, but The Boil has got you covered. Literally. Bibs and gloves are provided.
17 Waverly Place, New York; (646) 783-3054
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Mary’s Fish Camp
Lobster rolls and fish tacos and shrimp burgers, oh my! This West Village staple has been offering stellar seafood dishes for the last two decades. Named after owner and chef Mary Redding and nestled on the charming corner of Charles and West 4th Street, locals and in-the-know seafood enthusiasts fill this nautical-themed, low-key joint on any given day. Check out the chalkboard in the front of the restaurant for the daily specials and raw bar selection, then kick things off with some deviled eggs with Faroe Island smoked salmon or monkfish bao buns. As for the entrées? There’s everything from pan-seared Montauk scallops with cold soba noodles, eggplant, and mango to Caribbean red snapper pozole with avocado, tortillas, and cilantro. And then there’s the absolutely killer classic that is Mary’s mayo-slathered lobster roll, served with your choice of greens, coleslaw, or a towering hill of fries. Overwhelmed? Feel free to camp out at this seafood paradise and try everything on the glorious menu.
64 Charles St, New York; (646) 486-2185
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Lure Fishbar
For a swanky SoHo seafood destination frequented by many an A-Lister and the designer-clad type, Lure Fishbar, located on the cobblestoned corner of Mercer and Prince Street, is your tip-top spot. Don’t you dare request outdoor seating! This upscale subterranean restaurant’s Instagrammable interior will make you feel like a well-heeled guest on a retro-posh yacht. Swing by the raw bar for oysters, sushi, and sashimi, or grab a seat in a candlelit booth and get your fine dining on. Dishes include miso salmon with toasted sesame, sea urchin bucatini, and black sea bass with celery root and Asian pear.
142 Mercer St, New York; (212) 431-7676
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Gilligan’s
Soho Grand Hotel’s secret tropical paradise-meets-beach bar AKA Gilligan’s is where you need to be all summer long. Open from May through September, grab a seat under an umbrella at a picnic-style table amongst locals and visitors and slurp on a frozen watermelon margarita (or, better yet, get a pitcher) at this leafy hidden gem. Whether you’re sharing a bottle of chilled rosé with your friends at brunch or living it up at their oyster happy hour, there’s no fun-filled, hip hideaway quite like Gilligan’s. But put down that marg for a moment and be sure to order some food from Gilligan’s seafood-centric menu. It includes a shareable seafood tower and a massive chopped lobster cobb salad, as well as seasonal specials, like a citrusy whole roasted branzino, and all of the seafood is sourced from Long Island.
310 W Broadway, New York; (212) 965-3271
WORDS Alex Catarinella
