5 Best Seafood Restaurants in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 9 min read

New York's seafood restaurants span everything from Cajun-style boils to raw bars piled with oysters, and the ones on this page have logged more than 10,000 Google reviews between them. Aqua Boil alone carries over 3,500 of those, more reviews than the next two names combined, which says a lot about how this city eats its seafood right now.

Short answer: Aqua Boil is the most-reviewed seafood restaurant on this page, with 4.7 stars across more than 3,500 Google reviews for its Cajun-style seafood boils. Aquarelle holds the top rating at 4.8 (1,352 reviews) for its raw bar and whole-fish preparations, while Mermaid Oyster Bar and Sea Fire Grill both sit close behind at 4.7 and 4.6. Expect to pay roughly $30 to $80 per person at most of these spots based on what diners report.

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1. Aqua Boil
2. Aquarelle
3. 1803 NYC
4. Sea Fire Grill
5. Mermaid Oyster Bar
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New York's Seafood Shortlist, Side by Side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Aqua Boil	4.7 ★	3,509	Cajun-style seafood boils	View ›
2	Aquarelle	4.8 ★	1,352	Upscale raw bar and whole fish	View ›
3	1803 NYC	4.5 ★	2,108	New Orleans-style seafood and live music	View ›
4	Sea Fire Grill	4.6 ★	1,678	Contemporary American seafood	View ›
5	Mermaid Oyster Bar	4.7 ★	1,422	Oysters and happy hour	View ›

5 Best Seafood Restaurants in New York (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

Aqua Boil

4.73,509 Google reviews

Aqua Boil is a Hell's Kitchen restaurant built around Cajun-style seafood boils, serving crab legs, lobster, shrimp, mussels and clams tossed in customizable sauces and spice levels, alongside a lobster roll and clam chowder. It describes itself as the first Cajun seafood boil restaurant in the neighborhood. It is by far the most-reviewed seafood restaurant on this page.

What people praise

Diners consistently describe the seafood as fresh, with crab and lobster meat that comes cleanly out of the shell
Customizable spice levels for different tastes
Large, filling combo baskets praised for value
Attentive service called out by name in many reviews

Worth knowing

The boil format is messier and more hands-on than a typical sit-down seafood dinner
Can get busy, especially during happy hour

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume3,509 · 98th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown85% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most-reviewed seafood spot in New York on this list by a wide margin, and the reviews back it up with specific praise for freshness rather than just atmosphere. The clear pick if you want a boil, not a plated dinner.

Website Book now +1212-464-7428 Directions

750 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Aquarelle

4.81,352 Google reviews

Aquarelle is an East Village restaurant centered on seafood, though its menu also spans Italian and Mediterranean dishes, including pasta and flatbreads. It is known for its raw bar tower with oysters, clams, lobster and scallops, salt-baked whole fish prepared tableside, and a cheese-finished seafood risotto. It holds the highest rating on this page.

What people praise

Highest rating on this list at 4.8 stars
Raw bar tower and tableside salt-baked whole fish singled out repeatedly by diners
Private event space praised for group celebrations
Reviewers describe consistently fresh seafood across large group orders

Worth knowing

As a broader Mediterranean and Italian restaurant with a strong seafood focus, not every dish on the menu is seafood
At least one reviewer noted a slower kitchen on a smaller crab-cake portion

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume1,352 · 73rd

Confidencevery high

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown93% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The top-rated name on this page, built on a raw bar and whole-fish program diners describe as a genuine event. Worth knowing it runs a wider Italian and Mediterranean menu alongside its seafood specialties.

Website Book now +1212-777-4547 Directions

47 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

1803 NYC

4.52,108 Google reviews

1803 NYC is a Tribeca restaurant built around New Orleans Cajun-Creole cuisine, including seafood gumbo, alongside a broader Creole and soul food menu, live music, and a prohibition-style speakeasy bar. It is a restaurant and bar rather than a dedicated seafood house, though its Creole seafood dishes, including a cornmeal-crusted black sea bass, are frequently mentioned by diners.

What people praise

Diners praise the New Orleans-style seafood dishes like black sea bass and shrimp skewers
Live music and lively atmosphere add to the brunch and dinner experience
Attentive, well-reviewed service across multiple staff members named directly
Large second-floor seating for groups even on busy nights

Worth knowing

This is a broader Creole and soul food restaurant, not a dedicated seafood specialist
One reviewer noted the flavor did not fully capture authentic New Orleans style

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume2,108 · 88th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown68% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong pick if you want seafood as part of a bigger New Orleans-style night out with live music, though it is worth knowing going in that seafood is one part of a wider Creole menu.

Website Book now +1212-267-3000 Directions

82 Reade St, New York, NY 10007

#4🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Sea Fire Grill

4.61,678 Google reviews

Sea Fire Grill is a contemporary American seafood restaurant near Grand Central with a gas fireplace in the dining room, serving dishes like halibut, lobster bisque and a lobster roll alongside non-seafood options like duck and steak. Diners describe it as a quiet, date-friendly spot popular with couples and families on weekend nights.

What people praise

Diners consistently praise the halibut and other cooked seafood mains
Calm, contemporary atmosphere with a fireplace
Sommelier on staff for wine pairings
Complimentary touches noted for special occasions like birthdays

Worth knowing

A few diners found the lobster bisque salty or light on lobster for the price
The menu includes non-seafood mains like duck and filet mignon alongside its seafood focus

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume1,678 · 83rd

Confidencevery high

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown77% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A dependable, quieter seafood option near Grand Central. It ranks a step behind the top names here but earns consistent praise for its cooked seafood mains and calm atmosphere.

Website Book now +1212-935-3785 Directions

The Buchanan, 158 E 48th St Between 3rd and, Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10017

#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Mermaid Oyster Bar

4.71,422 Google reviews

Mermaid Oyster Bar is a Greenwich Village seafood restaurant from the team behind The Mermaid Inn, known for its oysters, clam chowder and a lobster-and-mac-and-cheese dish, alongside a well-reviewed happy hour. It has a Cape Cod-style, casual feel and is one of several locations under the same restaurant group across Manhattan.

What people praise

Oysters and clams consistently praised for freshness across many reviews
Well-liked happy hour with drink and food deals
Friendly, accommodating service noted even for walk-ins without reservations
Owner replies to nearly every review by name

Worth knowing

Smaller dining room can mean a wait during peak happy hour times
Multiple sister locations under the same name can cause confusion when booking

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume1,422 · 78th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown77% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The pick for oysters and a casual happy hour rather than a formal seafood dinner. It ties for the second-highest rating on this page with a review base built on repeat visits.

Website Book now +1646-516-9642 Directions

89 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

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Watch: 5 Best Seafood Restaurants in New York (2026)

How we score

Every number on this page comes from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the restaurant’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many diners have rated them, ranked against other New York seafood restaurants. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.7 from thousands of diners carries more weight than the same score from a few dozen. Recency reflects how recently people are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does a seafood dinner cost in New York? (2026)

Pricing at these New York seafood restaurants varies widely by format, from casual boils to upscale raw bars and tasting-style dinners. Based on what diners report in their reviews, expect roughly the following per person:

Job	Typical price
Casual seafood boil or lunch	$20 - $40 / person
Mid-range dinner (oyster bar, contemporary seafood)	$40 - $70 / person
Upscale seafood or raw bar towers	$70 - $100+ / person

Ranges compiled July 2026 from price-per-person figures reported directly in diner reviews for the restaurants on this page. Actual pricing varies by dish, portion and whether shared platters or towers are ordered.

Serving seafood across New York

The restaurants above span Hell’s Kitchen, the East Village, Tribeca, Midtown near Grand Central, and Greenwich Village. Searching for a seafood restaurant near me? Each listing below shows a live phone number, address and reservation link so you can find the closest option fast.

What to ask before booking a seafood dinner

Do you take reservations, or is it walk-in only during peak hours?
Is the seafood a daily catch, and what is fresh today?
Do you offer a happy hour or prix fixe menu?
Can large groups be accommodated, and is there a private space?
Are there non-seafood options for guests who prefer something else?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these seafood restaurants?

We started from seafood restaurants in New York with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (July 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Are all of these restaurants dedicated seafood specialists?

Most focus primarily on seafood, but 1803 NYC is a broader New Orleans Creole and soul food restaurant with seafood dishes on the menu, and Aquarelle also serves Italian and Mediterranean fare alongside its seafood program. We describe each accurately in its listing above.

Which of these is best for oysters specifically?

Mermaid Oyster Bar and Aquarelle both draw the most consistent praise for their oyster and raw bar offerings.

The bottom line

Aqua Boil is the safe default for anyone who wants a classic New York seafood boil with the deepest review history on this page, while Aquarelle is the pick if you want an upscale raw bar experience. Reserve ahead for weekend dinners, since several of these spots get busy fast.

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