Catch of the Day: The Best Seafood Spots in Every Borough of NYC
New York City offers a seemingly endless variety of incredible cuisine, and some of the freshest seafood spots in the world can be found within its five boroughs. From City Island to Staten Island, here’s our tried-and-true insider’s guide to NYC’s best seafood spots.
Brooklyn
1. Take a trek over to trendy Park Slope in Brooklyn and dine at Al Seabu, a Malaysian fusion restaurant that specializes in seafood. Classic dishes such as nasi lemak (which translates roughly to greasy rice, but is far more delicious than its name implies) and Pulut Panggang come highly recommended by loyal diners and neighbors in the know. 2. With its flagship location in industrial Gowanus and an outpost in Greenpoint, Littleneck is a classic New England-style seafood shack which boasts robust lobster rolls and bi-coastal oyster selections, as the New York Times explains. A word to the wise: the quaint eatery doesn’t accept credit cards, so make sure to come prepared to pay in cash.
The Bronx
3. Serving up classic seafood and a rotating catch of the day, City Island Lobster House is a can’t-miss dinner destination for visitors to the Bronx. The island establishment, located at the western end of the Long Island Sound, offers picturesque water views. It’s certainly worth the trip across the bridge from the mainland, and perhaps warrants an even longer trek Khloe Kardashian notably made a trip all the way from California to taste City Island’s famous fare, according to New York Daily News.
Manhattan
4. There’s no better way to start a weekend than oysters and rose at Grand Banks, wrote Bon Appetit and we’re not arguing. Grand Banks is an oyster bar with a selection that changes daily, but what makes it unique is its location aboard a historic schooner, the Sherman Zwicker, at Hudson River Park’s Pier 25. If you grab dinner at sunset, the views may be as impressive as the food. 5. With locations on the Lower East Side and in Greenwich Village, The Boil is an unpretentious place to enjoy great seafood. At this bayou-style crab and crayfish joint, digging into snow crab legs with your hands is encouraged, garlic butter flows like water, and for adventurous eaters, spice levels can be ignited to the fire level. Come with cash, and leave with satisfied taste buds (and a great story).
Staten Island
6. The Pan-Mediterranean fare at Blue pairs perfectly with the views at this waterside restaurant. Go for the grilled octopus, the Greek-inspired mussels, or for the three-course clam bake on Sunday. Don’t forget to make a reservation — the dining room is bustling most nights during dinnertime.
Queens
7. Legendary Taverna Kyclades in Astoria serves seafood with a traditional Greek spin and an emphasis on fresh ingredients. This restaurant, which is open daily for lunch and dinner, also has a location in the East Village. Entrees are grilled or fried (New York Magazine recommends the grilled scallops), and the swordfish kebabs taste as good as they smell. If the prospect of a delicious seafood meal doesn’t entice you, then take note of this: classic Greek custard is on the house for dessert. (Image credit: Paula Borowska/Unsplash)
