Posts Tagged ‘Seafood’

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Dylan Prime: A Summer Seafood Feast

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Dylan Prime clam bake

A couple of weeks ago I wrote up some of our favorite lobster deals in the city. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of sampling Dylan Prime’s decadent weekend offering. As I mentioned in the original post, for a mere $39.95, you get two 1.25-pound lobsters, plus clams, mussels, corn on the cob, and potatoes. As you can see from the photo above, that’s quite the feast. Even with my massive marathon-training appetite, I wasn’t able to get through the whole thing, and the more modest eaters at the table strategically saved the claw meat for later lobster rolls.

I realized mid-meal that I’d never had steamed clams before, and I think those were the most pleasant surprise of the meal. The lobster was fresh and flavorful of course, and I wasn’t stingy with the drawn butter. Dylan Prime also offers a wonderfully creative cocktail menu. I opted to get a white peppercorn caiparinha, and was not disappointed.

Surprisingly, the restaurant was relatively empty when we wandered in at 7pm, but was filling up as we left as 9pm, so be sure to book your reservations. The clam bake is every Friday through Sunday, through the end of the summer.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: clam bake
Price: $$$$
Location: 62 Laight St. (at Greenwich St.)
Type of Food: American, Seafood
Veggie Friendly? N
www.dylanprime.com


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Summer Seafood Deals: Lobster Fever Hits New York

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

I’m always in the mood for seafood, but this summer’s glut of lobster deals has really kicked my appetite into high gear. I feel like I’m constantly reading about seafood deals every day, so I’ve started keeping track of some of my favorites. And I’m not just talking about good bargains like Luke’s Lobsters “Taste of Maine.” I’m talking legit seasonal discounts and short-term specials. Read on for the catch of the day.

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Luke’s Lobster: I Tasted Maine … And It Was Delicious

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Luke's Lobster

I’ve been on a bit of a lobster kick this summer and, having sampled the delicious specimens from Montauk’s Lobster Roll Restaurant, Red Hook Lobster Pound, and even Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough (an excellent little seaside shack in Noank, CT that’s worth the drive), I certainly haven’t been at a loss for good meals. But when my friend suggested we seek out lobster rolls for dinner last week, my mind immediately jumped to Luke’s Lobster in the East Village.

Though I’ve seen some buzz around Luke’s in the blogosphere, I was truly intrigued when I read about the place in New York Mag’s excellent lobster roundup in the summer issue. With fresh lobster shipped down from Maine, some light seasoning, and a nice price, Luke’s roll certainly seemed enticing. But what I was most excited about was the “Taste of Maine” menu option. For $20, you get three mini rolls (filled with lobster, shrimp, and crab), plus a pair of Empress claws, chips, and a soda, including offerings from Maine Root (with flavors like sarsaparilla, blueberry, and Mandarin orange). I’m always a fan of options that let you try as many items as possible, so this offering was right up my alley.

And I’m thrilled that I got to try all the varieties of sandwich in miniature, because (and I know this is heresy) I might have enjoyed the crab sandwich most of all. As a caveat, I’m a sucker for crab, but this particular roll was moist, flavorful, and decadent. The lobster roll tasted wonderfully salty and fresh, true to Luke’s fresh-from-the-ocean pledge. To my palate, the lobster roll was a bit on the dry side, but that is easily remedied. Luke’s offers extra butter or mayo, so you can dress your roll to your heart’s desire. Though I thought Red Hook Lobster Pound’s offering did a little better at getting the ratio of mayo to claw meat right, Luke’s will certainly be a favorite for those who prefer little to no noticable mayo on the sandwich. And Red Hook certainly doesn’t boast any sort of tasting package nor is it offered in a convenient location, so Luke’s has the edge there. I’ll happily take a quick trip downtown for another sampling of Luke’s fantastic (and fantastically priced) seafood.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: Taste of Maine
Price: $$
Location: 93 E. 7th St (between 1st Ave. and Ave. A) and 242 E. 81st St. (at 2nd Ave.)
Type of Food: Seafood
Veggie Friendly? N
www.lukeslobster.com


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Okeanos: Lunch for Less

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Okeanos soft-shell crab sandwich

Park Slope is certainly not short on good restaurants, so it takes a little something extra to stand out. Like, say, an excellent lunch special. And it’s hard to beat the deal at Park Slope Greek eatery Okeanos. For a mere $8 you can select the brunch/lunch item of your choice ranging from the Greek burger (served with feta, of course) to a crab cake sandwich, with plenty of seafood options in between, and all are served with deliciously cripsy fries, aioli for dipping, and a side salad. I tried the special of the day — the grilled soft-shell crab sandwich — a delightfully summery dish (and certainly worth an extra $4, seeing as it was the special). Wonderful food aside, Okeanos is a fantastic restaurant for warm weather. The floor-to-ceiling windows open wide, allowing plenty of fresh light and air into the dining space, and letting out right onto a scenic part of 7th Ave. We stopped in during the street fair last month, and it felt like the party extended right into the restaurant. If you’re strolling through Park Slope on a lovely summer day, don’t overlook the seafood-heavy menu at Okeanos.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: soft-shell crab sandwich
Price: $-$$
Location: 314 7th Ave. (at 8th St.), Brooklyn
Type of Food: Greek, seafood
Veggie Friendly? N


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Summer Restaurant Week: It’s That Time of Year Again!

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Just 10 days from now one of New York’s (OK, one of OUR) favorite semi-annual traditions begins again - those magical two weeks, which generally turn into three or four, when usually out-of-reach dining experiences can be had for a relatively paltry $24.07 for lunch or $35 for dinner. This is inevitably preceded by another time-honored tradition: obsessively perusing the menus available online for this year’s chosen meals. And finally after an intense period of research and resultant lip-licking, we’ve narrowed it down to our top four choices for this summer. (Drumroll please…)

Kim’s picks:

Adour Alain Ducasse — OK, I’ll be honest: this one was on the list before I even clicked to view the menu. How often do you get to eat at a three-star Michelin chef’s eatery for Restaurant Week prices? But if the menu is anything to go by, there’s more reason to go here than just the chef’s reputation. I’ll take the fluke ceviche to start…hmm, and then maybe some prime beef tournedos with glazed short ribs, and end it with a dark chocolate sorbet with brioche croutons? Yeah, that ought to just about do it!

Industria Argentina — If you love Latin flavors but can appreciate a twist on the traditional, this may just be the restaurant week meal for you. We’re talking octopus salad with toasted corn, pork roasted with Valencia oranges served up with grilled yams and plum chutney, and how about a flan with salted caramel nougat?

Zengo — This haven of Asian-Mexican fusion is usually not a place to fill your belly at a reasonable price, so restaurant week is a great opportunity to sample some of their deliciously creative fare without breaking the bank. I can personally vouch for the Thai chicken empanadas, chicken pibil, and braised beef short ribs, all of which are available on the restaurant week menu.

Nicole’s picks:

City Crab - I spend my summer daydreaming of relaxing by the coast at a quaint little seafood shack, with a lemonade in one hand and a lobster roll in the other. While seafood shacks are few and far between in the city, seafood restaurants are not. I’m particularly jazzed about City Crab’s lunch menu, which includes a Maine lobster and clam bake (complete with all the fixin’s), but I would be just as happy with twin steamed lobsters for dinner.

Maya - Looking for a break from the usual chicken or fish options? Maya offers exotic entrees galore. From adobo-marinated soft-shell crabs to huitlacoche-mushroom-requeson stuffed crepes, there are plenty of options to satisfy your favorite adventurous eater.

Spice Market - If you want to get a little extra mileage out of your RW experience, look no further than Spice Market. This Meatpacking mainstay offers an extra course for your money and features options ranging from salmon tartar with soy-ginger dressing to charred, chili-rubbed beef skewers with Thai-basil dipping sauce.

Victor’s Cafe - To be honest, I wasn’t familiar with Victor’s until seeing it on the RW-list, but this Latin-inspired menu had me at roast suckling pig marinated in sour orange juice, olive oil, garlic and herbs. Though the pig is undeniably the star attraction, every dish on offer shines.

We hope you enjoy all that Restaurant Week has to offer. For more tips, check out our previous summer restaurant week post.

Posted by: Kim Partrick and Nicole Price Fasig


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Catch of the Day: Ballpark Food on Steroids

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

As we’re sure you’re aware, the new Mets stadium, Citi Field, is bursting with tempting food options. But, dear foodie, allow me to direct your attention to one specific vendor that may just capture your heart for the rest of baseball season. In stark contrast to the mediocre meats and soggy french fries most often associated with baseball games, Catch of the Day offers delicious, fresh seafood served up in style (and on some great bread, I might add). On a recent visit, I sampled the blackened shrimp po’boy ($12.75) which was even more intriguing than its name might suggest. The abundant mustard sauce on the sandwich was so phenomenal I hardly minded the runny nose its heat created! The hefty shrimps on the sandwich didn’t hurt the situation, either. My companion tried the fried flounder sandwich ($8.50), which again offered more than a healthy dose of tasty, juicy fish. All in all, we enjoyed our food so much, we almost forgot there was a game going on!

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Order: Blackened shrimp po’boy
Price: $$
Location: Citi Field
Type of Food: Seafood
Veggie Friendly? N


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Ed’s Lobster Bar Cart: Way to Cut to the Chase

Monday, May 24th, 2010

One of my personal summer rules: Eat outside whenever possible. The restaurant experience is always lovely, but give me a food cart and a nice water view, and I’m happy as a clam. Enter the newest venture from the owner of Ed’s Lobster Bar. Ed’s Lobster Bar Cart will be debuting outside the World Financial Center downtown this Saturday. Apart from the usual pricey lobster roll ($27! ouch!) the cart will be offering an economy version for $15, as well as sauteed soft shell crab on ciabatta bread a host of other sandwich offerings. Options start at a mere $6. According to Grub Street, the kiosk will be open daily from 11:30am until dusk. We can’t wait to get our lobster on.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Price: $-$$$
Location: World Financial Center, 1 Liberty St.
Type of Food: Seafood
Veggie Friendly? N
www.lobsterbarnyc.com


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Sea Grill: Soft Shell Crabs Take Center Stage

Friday, May 14th, 2010

My first exposure to soft shell crabs was on the side of 10 Downing’s excellent summer seafood feast and later I sampled some along with other goodies at Joe’s Shanghai. Well, starting next week, it’ll be all soft shell crabs all the time with Sea Grill’s soft shell crab festival.

Sea Grill’s special menu includes beer-battered, tempura, and Po’ Boy varieties, along with soft shell crabs “a la plancha” and crabs dusted in corn meal-chipotle chili. And for those who can steal away for a sit-down lunch, Sea Grill is offering a sushi variation in the form of a crispy soft shell crab spiced aioli roll. And the best part? The price is nice too. One crab starts at $14 while an extra crab is only a mere $4 more. The deal lasts from May 17-28, so be sure to make your reservation now!

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Price: $$
Location: 19 W. 49th St. (at 5th Ave., Rockefeller Center)
Type of Food: American, Seafood
Veggie Friendly? N
www.patinagroup.com/restaurant.php?restaurants_id=31


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Ditch Plains: Lobster Season Is Back

Friday, May 7th, 2010

Looking for somewhere special to take Mom this Sunday without spending too much money on her? You’re in luck! Ditch Plains has just kicked off lobster season with Surfer Sundays. This is not in fact a gathering of dudes in board shorts and flip flops, but rather an opportunity for seafood enthusiasts to enjoy a generous lobster bake for the relative bargain price of $30. This is no ordinary lobster on a plate, either. You’ll be served a cast-iron pot filled with a 1.5-pound lobster, corn on the cob, andouille sausage, and boiled potatoes, accompanied by a butter dipping sauce and a serving of cole slaw. They’ll even be serving $4 drafts to wash it all down. So go ahead and ditch any fancy tasting menus–a good old-fashioned dressed down lobster feast will serve mama just fine!

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Price: $$$
Location: 29 Bedford Street (at Downing St.)
Type of Food: American, Seafood
Veggie Friendly? N
www.ditch-plains.com


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Grand Central Oyster Bar: A Taste of Old New York

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Grand Central Oyster Bar

Whether you’re hoping to follow in the steps of Don Draper and Roger Sterling or you just want a taste of old New York, the lunch counter at Grand Central Oyster Bar will take you back to a bygone era of three-martini lunches. OK, maybe minus the martinis.

When you wander into the Oyster Bar, make a beeline for the lunch counters on the right, where you’ll see dapper midtowners sampling seafood and downing sandwiches while working their way through the day’s New York Times or Wall Street Journal. My dining companion and I found seats at the main bar, and watched the Oyster Bar cooks preparing soups and arranging clams and oysters on ice while we waited to place our order.

The Oyster Bar has gotten some press recently for its reasonably priced sandwich menu and the offerings didn’t disappoint. We ordered the crab cake and Cajun popcorn shrimp sandwiches, both served on light and fluffy rolls. The latter was served with shredded lettuce and a creole sauce, but it was still a bit dry (and messy), if nicely spiced. The crab cake sandwich was a hit, even despite the meager crab-to-roll ratio. It was served with a marinara dipping sauce, an unorthodox but delicious choice. I’ll have to remember that combination next time I make crab cakes at home!

We couldn’t get away without trying the dessert. Our affable waiter pushed the key lime pie, and it certainly was a delicious selection, if almost as expensive as each of our sandwiches. I’m dying to try the basil creme brulee on the menu as well. I’ll leave that for next time, because there most certainly will be one.

Images from my lunch, after the jump.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: Cajun fried popcorn shrimp sandwich with creole mayo, key lime pie
Price: $
Location: Grand Central Terminal, 89 E. 42nd St. (at Park Ave.)
Type of Food: Seafood
Veggie Friendly? N
www.oysterbarny.com

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