My husband and I spent a few days over the Christmas break back in NYC, where we used to live when we were single. We still love the city. Once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker.
One of the things that excites me about returning is the chance to explore restaurants and eat great food. We dined at Crave Fishbar in Midtown East one night and were impressed. The place was packed when we arrived, so I strongly recommend reservations. There’s an oyster happy hour every weekday from 5 to 7 p.m. The oysters come from different locations, and it’s worth sampling some even if you arrive after happy hour.
In addition to an oyster platter, we ordered the plancha grilled octopus as an appetizer, which had the right balance between tender and firm. For the main, I had the grilled Block Island swordfish, which was cooked perfectly; like the octopus, it was tender, with just the right amount of firmness. It was served with eggplant caponata, which had a nice umami element to it. The portion was generous, which I didn’t expect. I ordered a side of brussels sprouts thinking I’d still be hungry, but there was no need. My husband had the seared rare yellowfin tuna; from the bit I tasted, it was well executed. For dessert, we had the delicious milk chocolate peanut butter cake, which was served with milk and honey ice cream; the effect was lovely and light. The taste of honey was intense, in a good way. You can’t go wrong with sweet and strong.
Illustration by Aileen Torres-Bennett
ATB 