The 17 best seafood restaurants in NYC right now

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What is it? As the name implies, this “Italian chophouse” is a real surf-and-turf kinda spot. It looks as rich as you have to feel to order a $155 Wagyu striploin cured in Gorgonzola. If you’re feeling more mare than carne, you’ll find grilled oysters, red snapper crudo, salt-baked black sea bass and spicy lobster spaghetti. 

Why we love it: Chef Andrew Carmellini knows how to build a crowd-pleaser. Plush booths, mozzarella sticks with caviar, plenty of easy-drinking cocktails (like the “Yacht Club,” with rum, vermouth, Nardini and apricot) plus its breezy location on Pier 17 have already made it a favorite for occasions and business dinners. 

Time Out tip: On weekdays from 4–6pm, you’ll find a happy hour with $11 “Tiny Mare’tinis” made with London dry gin or olive oil vodka, plus $2 oysters. Or just “Call It a Day”: $75 gets you a dozen oysters and a crispy bottle of vermentino. 

Address: 89 South St (Pier 17, Seaport), New York, NY 10038

Opening hours: Mon noon–3pm, 4–9pm; Tue–Fri noon–3pm, 4–10pm; Sat 11:30am–3pm, 5–10pm; Sun 11:30am–3pm, 5–9pm

What is it? Tommy Bahama’s not just the brand of that folding chair you schlep to Jacob Riis. This half-ironic power lunch spot is home to half-ironic dishes like “World Famous Coconut Shrimp,” crab cakes with “island slaw,” and seared ahi tuna with sushi rice and wasabi-sesame aioli. 

Why we love it: It’s kitschy, it’s fast, it’s got frozen mai tais. It’s a worldwide chain that, in the middle of midtown, somehow manages to make you say “Only in New York…” And the World Famous Coconut Shrimp slaps. 

Time Out tip: Are you looking for a man in finance? 6’5”? Blue eyes? He’ll be here at lunchtime, ordering the blackened mahi-mahi tacos. 

Address: 551 5th Ave, New York, NY 10176

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11am–9pm; Sat, 12–8pm; Sun Closed

What is it? Opened by two Momofuku alums, this love letter to New England features a tight seasonal wine list that plays well with the menu’s focus on coastal treats. Even the anadama bread, a New England classic made with cornmeal and molasses, comes with seaweed butter to spread on top. 

Why we love it: If Ishmael had a TikTok, he’d love Smithereens. Tucked in a dark basement, the moody, romantic tavern vibes and adventurous-ish snack plates are purpose-built for a first date or, like, catching up with an old friend from a doomed whaling ship. 

Time Out tip: The wine list’s handy staff-pick section makes it easy to choose a winning bottle, with handwritten tasting notes and details on their favorite producers. 

Address: 414 E 9th St, New York, NY 10009

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5:30–10pm; Sun noon–3:30pm

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What is it? With four locations in NYC, this local spot is immediately beloved everywhere it lands. Affordable aguachile, shrimp cured in lime and chilies, is available here in red, green, mango and black from toasted chilies; at $20 each, you can come back again and again to find your favorite. 

Why we love it: Almost everything here has seafood in it, from guacamole topped with octopus chicharrones to shrimp tacos smothered with cheese. Pair them with mezcal margs or $10 Micheladas and you’ve got yourself a night. 

Time Out tip: They don’t take reservations, but don’t be alarmed if you see a line forming outside at dinnertime: they turn tables over quickly, so you won’t have to wait too long to get your hands on their signature ceviche, El Submarino. 

Address: 507 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Opening hours: Daily noon–10pm

What is it? This James Beard Award-winning oyster bar has long been beloved for its extensive oyster menu, seafood towers, and inventive cocktail program. 

Why we love it: Maison Premiere has character. It also has an entire absinthe menu, thick slabs of She Wolf sourdough with seaweed butter and caviar service at brunch. 

Time Out tip: The bar’s open until 2am on weekends, but oyster service ends at 12:30am, so make sure to get your fill before the last call for bivalves. 

Address: 298 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Opening hours: Mon–Thu noon–1am; Fri noon–2am; Sat 10am–2am; Sun 10am–1am

What is it? April Bloomfield’s mostly-seafood restaurant is inventive, understated and actually deserving of its hype.

Why we love it: While the half-roasted chicken might be the biggest draw, you might find delights like smoked Arctic char, braised squid and cod with beans on the ever-changing menu. Time Out tip: Ask your server to tell you a little more about the under-described dishes, or just trust the process and order whatever you’d like to learn a little more about. Expect expert sauces, perfect preparations and seafood from a chef at the top of her game.

Address: 228 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Opening hours: Mon–Tue 5–10pm; Wed 11:30am–2pm, 5–10pm; Thu 11:30am–2pm, 5–10:30pm; Fri 11:30am–10:30pm; Sat 10am–10:30pm; Sun 10am–10pm

What is it? This is the rare Grand Central Terminal dining option that’s worth a visit beyond your commute. First opened in 1913, it boasts vaulted ceilings and dozens of oyster varieties to dazzle those just-arrived out-of-town guests or your friend who usually refuses to enter midtown.

Why we love it: Up to 30 varieties of oysters are served here, with a menu that changes daily, inspired by what arrives at the city’s Fulton Fish Market. Expect oysters from Connecticut, New Jersey, Long Island, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts and even Washington State, befitting its location in a commuter hub. 

Time Out tip: They’re only open on weekdays, so you’ll have to find somewhere else to satisfy that Saturday night oyster craving. 

Address: 89 E 42nd St (lower level, Grand Central Terminal), New York, NY 10017

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11:30am–9:30pm; Sat–Sun Closed

What is it? The sister restaurant to East Village-fave Claud, this shoulder-to-shoulder counter is serving up some of the city’s best seafood. 

Why we love it: At the raw bar, silky oysters are $4.95 a piece, and the “Ice Box” serves up oysters, countnecks, shrimp, mussels and crudo to the well-heeled crowd. It’s the perfect spot for an intimate date or to impress an out-of-town friend. Order the lobster, choose a bottle of wine and enjoy a classic (and classy) New York night.

Time Out tip: A gloriously extensive menu of sparkling wine and champagne makes Penny a celebration destination. A big birthday? Graduation? Made it through the workweek? You deserve a bottle of bubbly. 

Address: 90 E 10th St, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10003

Opening hours: Daily 5–10:30pm

What is it? For the best wild-caught seafood with a view, The Fulton wins by a nautical mile. The Seaport restaurant has views of the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge that stun from the ground-floor patio and the upstairs dining room. 

Why we love it: The menu includes caviar and oysters, the ever-popular shrimp cocktail, grilled swordfish and a whole steamed lobster. It’s all served in surroundings that’ll tickle even longtime New Yorkers, especially with a glass of something sparkling. 

Time Out tip: Stop by for “Oyster Hour” on Monday through Thursday from 5–6pm. You’ll get a dozen oysters for $12, plus wine and beer to pair with them. 

Address: Northeast corner of Pier 17, 89 South St, New York, NY 10038

Opening hours: Mon 11:30am–3pm, 5–9pm; Tue–Sun 11:30am–3pm, 5–10pm

What is it? This beloved, longtime Astoria staple is committed to serving the freshest fish, with bronzini, Chilean bass, and other seafood surprises.

Why we love it: Start your meal with dips like tzatziki and garlicky scordalia, veggies like bitter green horta and grilled eggplant and melt-in-your-mouth lemon potatoes. 

Time Out tip: On a hot summer night, go for something grilled. Veggies, calamari, sardines and kebabs all come out perfectly charred so you can cosplay an evening in Mykonos. 

Address: 24-02 31st St, Astoria, NY 11102

Opening hours: Wed–Mon 4–10pm