Best Seafood Dining - Midtown Manhattan, NYC

No need to cast a rod into the water. Just make a reservation, sit down and enjoy.

We sometimes forget that Manhattan is an island and it is surrounded by water. Some of the best oyster beds in the region are just a few miles away in the coastal waters past the borough of Queens and Suffolk County. The busy and bustling docks of the West Side have been home to fishmongers for centuries, where they receive the catch of the day from the teeming waters off Connecticut and, of course, Long Island Sound. These industrious and hardy fishmongers greet chefs, both famous and unknown, all in search of that perfect piece of flounder, sea bass, salmon and sole to serve their customers that evening.  Manhattan abounds with some totally amazing seafood restaurants. Dining at these very special establishments is more like an experience rather than merely eating a meal. After all, the secret of great, not just good, food is in the preparation and the surrounding ingredients. Prepare to have your senses dazzled.

Blue Seafood Bar & Eatery  -  Midtown West

The ambiance is elegant and chic. Once you have entered the premises, you know that you are in for an unparalleled night out. And, the absolutely stupendous news is that the food lives up to the surroundings. The delectable cuisine at Blue Seafood Bar has a definite Spanish inclination, although influences from various locales throughout the Mediterranean can be seen and tasted on the menu. Their Happy Hour is quite welcoming, indeed, which takes place every day, from 4 PM until 7 PM, and the bonus happy hour occurs from 10 PM until closing. So, there are lots of opportunities to have fun.  Select Happy Hour oysters are available for the unheard-of price of $2 apiece, while clams go for a buck fifty. You do have to order a minimum of six oysters or half a dozen clams, but it's well worth it. And, yes, available on the menu are those much-coveted Blue Point oysters from Long Island. They are large, meaty and mild with a slightly sweet finish.

Happy Hour wines come in at eight dollars for a glass and a reasonable $29 for a bottle. We are talking about premium Spanish and Italian reds and whites. By the way, during the most joyful of hours, you can enjoy four bucks off select bottles of vino WITH the purchase of a dozen oysters or clams. Well mixed drinks can be purchased for $10, while well cocktails cost only $15.

The menu at Blue Seafood Bar features some really eye-opening dishes, such as the chef's signature Sardinian Paella Mare E Terra. This is paella unlike anything you have ever tasted before. Baked inside of a terracotta casserole dish, this hearty repast includes mussels, clams, prawns, calamari, green peas, mixed peppers, cherry tomatoes, sweet sausage and chunks of tender chicken with rice and saffron. This is a MUST-TRY. You will also enjoy the Pan-Seared Salmon in a divine lemon and caper sauce, served with white beans and escarole. Should you be here on a date, then order the Branzino Al Sale, which is a whole Branzino ( more than two pounds ) baked in sea salt. This magnificent piece of fish comes with your choice of a side like sauteed broccoli rabe, mixed grilled veggies, or roasted fingerling potatoes.  The two of you will also go bananas for the Mixed Grilled Seafood Platter. Come famished because this bounty included scallops, shrimp, a Branzino fillet, salmon, calamari, octopus, clams and mussels. If you're a fan of pasta, you haven't been left out. The menu displays several mouth-watering seafood-centric pasta dishes, such as the Minced Lobster in a creamy bisque sauce with fresh chives over Garganelli pasta. And do NOT sleep on the superb Linguine Alle Vongole ( clams, parsley, a touch of garlic, white wine and EVOO). There's magic in this dish.

Location & Hours:
856 Ninth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10019
(212) 757-7511
blueseafoodbar.com

Hours:
Monday & Tuesday: 4 PM to 10 PM
Wednesday: 4 PM to 11 PM
Thursday: 4 PM to 11:30 PM
Friday: 3 PM to 12 AM
Saturday: 11 AM to 12 AM
Sunday: 11 AM to 10 PM

The Mermaid Inn - Times Square Midtown

With their original location having opened its doors in the East Village in 2003, The Mermaid Inn has, over the decades, cultivated a large and loyal following of seafood-lovers. Starting out as a spot-on rendition of a New England fish shack, The Mermaid Inn has transformed itself into a somewhat sophisticated but never stuffy, seafood brasserie with an emphasis on warm hospitality and innovative cuisine. The ambiance has been designed to evoke the feeling of being on a mini-vacation in a small, quaint seaside village. Their Cocktail Hour is short and sweet, going only from 4 to 5:30 PM daily, but it's worth getting there early to indulge. Happy Hour food options range from Salmon Tartare ($10) and a mini–Mermaid Fish Taco ($4) to an outrageous Grilled Shrimp and Avocado Slider ( $9). Drafts of Montauk Beer are available for just nine dollars, while a glass of wine (sparkling, white, rose, or red ) will set you back a mere twelve bucks.

Cocktail Hour $12 specials include the Pink Flamingo, a libation that's made with luscious strawberry juice, gin and basil and the Hot & Dirty, which certainly lives up to its name with a fiery blend of vodka, olive juice, peppadew and hot sauce. The a la carte drink menu features a Negroni bar. You can go classic with the standard but delicious blend of Campari, gin and sweet vermouth, or take things up a notch with a Sbagliato made with Prosecco, Campari and sweet vermouth. One of the bar's signature elixirs is Foam & Fin, a blend of cucumber-infused vodka, green tea, lemon juice and mint. The sexy satine is a heady mix of mezcal, Valencia orange juice, hibiscus, tajin, and lime juice.

There's a distinct and welcome Asian twist to some of the chef's dishes, while others draw their culinary inspiration from, where else, but old Cape Cod and surroundings. As far as appetizers go, the Snow Crab Hand Rolls feature sushi rice, nori, tobiko, avocado and spicy mayonnaise. One you have gotta try this dish is the Lobster Knuckles served " escargot style", accompanied by parsley, garlic butter and grilled country bread. Chunks of lovely bacon and expertly chopped fingerling potatoes make the New England Clam Chowder hearty and satisfying. The entree section of the menu offers one delight and taste temptation after another. One of their most enduring dishes is the Roasted True North Salmon with saffron hummus, spinach, baby carrots and guanciale. The melt-in-your-mouth Seared Chatham Cod is served with a refreshing tomato panzanella salad and aged sherry vinaigrette. No matter what you order, though, consider adding a side of OLD BAY seasoned Fries or the Roasted Cauliflower & Broccoli dressed with anchovies and fine herbs.

Craving dessert? They have got you covered at The Mermaid Inn with sweet endings like an indulgent Brownie Sundae, authentic Key Lime Pie, Creme Brulee and Vanilla Soft Serve Ice Cream topped with caramel sauce, roasted apple slices and Nilla wafers.

Location & Hours:
127 West 43rd Street
New York, N.Y. 10036
(212) 675-9794
themermaidnyc.com

Hours:
LUNCH:
Monday to Sunday: 12 PM to 3:30 PM
DINNER:
Monday to Sunday: 4 PM to 9 PM

Aqua Boil - Midtown West / Hell's Kitchen

They're all about the seafood at Aqua Boil with more than a touch of Cajun spices, seasonings and fun thrown in for good measure. The owners of this casual, vibrant eatery traveled extensively throughout Louisiana, particularly the Big Easy, and brought that culture and cuisine to New York's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. The menu spotlights an inviting array of seafood boil,s which are part of the Cajun tradition. But there's a lot more going on in the kitchen. The menu is extensive, with something delicious for everyone.

Starters include Lobster Mac and Cheese, Boom Boom Shrimp and a Clam Chowder bread Bowl. Other offerings range from their signature sandwich, the Aqua Roll, which consists of shrimp and lobster, served warm to a Soft-Shell Crab basket. You may also choose from a Catfish Po'Boy or a Shrimp Po'Boy. The pork, shrimp and chicken Gumbo is simply off the charts. Authentic and tasty are the only words to describe this bowl of sheer goodness.

Now, let's get a little messy and look at those Seafood Boils. All boils are served with potatoes and you can place your order in three easy steps. Step one allows you to choose your "catch," which is priced per pound. Options include mussels, clams, crawfish, shrimp, king crab legs and so much more. With step two, you can choose your sauce, be it garlic butter, lemon pepper, or their most popular, the Cajun mix. Then it's time to decide just how hot things are going to get. Do you want it mild, medium hot, spicy, or raging hot? By the way, whole lobsters are available for the boils. And everything is as fresh as can be.

To wash everything down with, you can indulge in one of the best cocktail lists in the city. The barkeeps here have a knack for mixing up a memorable libation or two. The colorful Beach Bum is crafted with Malibu Coconut Rum, Orange Juice, Peach Schnapps, peach puree and blue curacao. The whimsically named Seas The Day is a blend of tequila, Triple Sec, mango puree and spicy Cajun rum. Poseidon's Wrath mixes Hennessy and a delectable raspberry puree with fresh ginger ale and lime juice. However, the cocktail to end them all has to be Siren's Blood. Vodka and tomato juice are blended with a dash of Worcestershire and hot sauce. The garnish, though, is unbelievable: a celery stalk, olives, a grilled shrimp, and one Andouille sausage. That is an absolute wow!

Location & Hours:
750 Ninth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10019
(212) 464-7428
aquaboilnyc.com

Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 12 PM to 10 PM
Friday: 12 PM to 11 PM
Saturday: 1 PM to 11 PM
Sunday: 1 PM to 10 PM

Oceana - Midtown

A true family affair, Oceana is owned and operated by the Livanos Family, siblings Nick, Bill and Corina. They literally grew up in the restaurant business, frequently accompanying their dad, John, to his diner in West Hempstead, N.Y., and later on at the Arch Diner in Brooklyn. The Livanos family's extraordinary legacy began way back in 1957 when a very young John Livanos immigrated from Greece to NYC. John started from the ground up,p working as a dishwasher in his uncle's Manhattan restaurant. Today, John still keeps his hand in the business and you will frequently see one of the siblings, if not all three, on the premises of Oceana. For the Livanos clan, it's not work at all but a labor of love. In addition to Oceana, the family owns Molyvos in the city, Modern Barn in Armonk and City Limits in White Plains.

Oceana is one of the most well-appointed and beautiful restaurants that you will ever dine in. The chic contemporary decor is adroitly blended with Hellenic nautical themes. The owners care deeply about what their customers think and you will see the family, particularly Nick, connecting with people at their table while getting a feel for what they are doing right and in what areas the customer believes that they can improve.

Kick off your meal with an appetizer of Seared Octopus with pine nut butter, harissa and chickpeas or the Lump Crab Cake accompanied by a celery root remoulade. If you dine here during the Summer months, then do yourself a favor and have a bowl of the amazing Honeydew Melon Gazpacho with Jonah crab. Moving on to heartier fare, the Lobster and Linguine Scampi is a genuine taste sensation, as is the Squid Ink Bucatini pasta. The fish entrees are rather on the dear side, price-wise, but you do get what you pay for and then some. The perfectly cooked Striped Bass is accompanied by Spring onions, razor clams, baby fennel and orange zest. The Scottish Salmon is served on a bed of lentils and wild rice with spinach and earthy Shiitake mushrooms. A long-time favorite of Oceana regulars is the Seared Sea Scallops, cooked in espelette oil. The addictive sides are creamy grits and hickory-smoked corn. One cannot do better than that when satisfying one's hunger. Of course, maybe you haven't yet tasted some of Oceana's fabulous side dishes like the Cacio e Pepe Ricotta Gnocchi, the Sauteed Mushrooms in miso butter or the Creamed Spinach with a garlic creme fraiche.

When it comes to dessert, the pastry chef at Oceana goes totally overboard, but, really, who cares? Please save room for a sweet ending to your meal. You will fall in love with the Cherry Chocolate Semifreddo that consists of a gluten-free, no guilt brownie, cherry sauce and Morello cherries. Right up there is the Meyer lemon Parfait. You will spoon into sumptuous layers of olive oil cake, Meyer lemon curd, olive oil gelato and a citrus crumble. The vanilla Cheesecake has a fruit-forward, refreshing feel to it with a peach & balsamic compote, peach sorbet, Graham Cracker streusel and it is topped with fresh raspberries.

Location & Hours:
120 West 49th Street
New York, N.Y. 10020
(212) 759-5941
oceanarestaurant.com

Hours:
Sunday & Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Friday: 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Saturday: 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM