When Maguy Le Coze and her brother Gilbert opened their restaurant in 1986, it quickly became the city's top seafood destination. Until Madame Le Coze and her chef partner Eric Ripert decided to retire from the city's dining scene, their restaurant was the go-to spot for seafood lovers. If you're looking for a seafood experience like no other, then New York City is the place to be. From classic old world table service to modern takes on seafood dishes, there's something for everyone.
Whether you're looking for a romantic dinner or a casual lunch, these are the best seafood restaurants in New York City. Opt for wine service at Le Coze, which is the best in the city and possibly in the entire United States. Enjoy classic old world table service, which rivals any of the great restaurants for widows in Paris. Indulge in the rainbow of textures and flavors of seafood, which, despite the challenges of maintaining variety, quality and sustainability in the face of increasing difficulties, has preserved its color and range for all these years.
Experience the impeccable technique that emanates from the kitchen in all types of dishes, from baking bread to the work of legions of saucers and the legendary butcher Justo Thomas, who crumbles his fish in the basement for eight hours a day. For a modern take on seafood, visit Jean-Georges Vongerichten's impressive new destination restaurant on pier 17 of South Street Seaport. You can order a plate of fish or crustaceans for every occasion at this excellent waterside establishment, which ranges from a premium crispy fish taco at lunchtime to bowls of “Longevity” noodles in Cantonese style rich in lobster for dinner, plus a perfectly cooked black bass baked to order in a fish-shaped puff pastry. The announcement of a new restaurant by Alex Raij and Eder Montero is always a happy occasion, but when it's a seafood joint it's cause for special celebration.
Inspired by the casual seafood joints found in the British West Indies, at Lolo's you can try everything from conch fritters to coconut shrimp and boiled seafood from shrimp, crabs or snow crab legs, all prepared with sustainably sourced marine animals. It's not exactly Barcelona or a table in a restaurant with umbrellas next to the Bay of Biscay, but in season you can have a good portion of razors in the bar of this José Andrés store, in the excellent Mercado Little Spain restaurant in Hudson Yards, and the garlic prawns are served directly in the classic style and seasoned with plenty of crisp garlic. For 24 years since its debut, Milos has earned praise for its exceptional quality and freshness of seafood brought daily from the Greek Islands. The new chef Thom Chun recently renewed the list of dishes focusing on seafood.
On a good day you can eat a good amount of fresh Long Island cherries, and the most majestic of all New York concoctions, the old fashioned oyster roast is still done by parties with their white paper hats.
