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Best Seafood Restaurants In Lower East Side New York
The Lower East Side excels at seafood by ditching stuffy white tablecloths for lively Iberian wine counters, historic smoked fish sanctuaries, and hands-on crab boils.
1
Cervo's
This buzzing Iberian-inspired wine bar is celebrated for pristine coastal Spanish and Portuguese plates. Order the spicy mussels escabeche and whole sea bream a la plancha, mopping up every drop with crusty bread. It is compact and high-energy, so secure reservations right at the two-week drop or grab an opening walk-in bar stool.
2
Russ & Daughters Cafe
This century-old appetizing landmark brings world-class smoked and cured fish into a bright retro diner room. Order The Classic board featuring paper-thin Gaspe Nova smoked salmon with cream cheese and an onion bagel. It runs strictly on walk-ins and draws major daytime crowds, so arrive right at morning opening to skip the queue.
3
Eel Bar
From the Cervo’s team, this Basque-leaning tavern focuses on coastal northern Spanish pintxos and fortified wines. Must-orders include the tender rainbow trout pil pil and spicy baked oysters paired with chilled Basque cider. The moody space fills up quickly, so slide into the horseshoe bar early for walk-in dinner.
4
Grey Lady
Rooted in Nantucket tradition, this maritime tavern serves top-tier cold-water shellfish in a lively neighborhood room. Get the chilled Maine lobster roll alongside a dozen freshly shucked Nantucket oysters. Come between 5 and 7 PM for the discounted oyster happy hour before the room shifts into a packed evening cocktail bar.
5
The Boil
This no-frills, roll-up-your-sleeves favorite specializes in Cajun-Creole seafood boils served steaming in plastic bags. Order the snow crab legs and crawfish smothered in The Boil Special sauce of garlic butter, Old Bay, and lemon pepper. Tables are first-come, first-served, so tie on your plastic bib and arrive near opening to dodge long waits.
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