A Manhattan Seafood Spot with Scarsdale Roots

On our continuing search for all things Scarsdale, we found our way to Crave Fishbar on Second Avenue in NYC. This informal seafood restaurant is located in east midtown, making it a central location for those who work in the area, people who live on the east side and commuters like us who were looking for an easy spot to meet our son who lives downtown for a birthday dinner.

So what does Crave Fishbar have to do with Scarsdale? Turns out that SHS alumni ('03) Jason Steinthal is a partner and general manager. A Greenacres native, Steinthal comes to Crave Fishbar after tending bar at several restaurants and working as the general manager of South Edison in Montauk. Steinthal stopped by our table to say hello and made recommendations about what to order.

We arrived at 7, just missing Oyster Happy Hour where every oyster from their extensive oyster bar is just $1 and a glass of wine can be had for $7. That didn't stop us from ordering a dozen oysters to share from the list of east and west coast oysters. We stuck with Atlantic varieties and sampled the Ningret Cup from Ningret Pond, Rhode Island, Rocky Nook from Kingston, Massachusetts and Ram Island from Long Island Sound. They all had distinctive textures and flavors and we realized that there is much to learn about oysters --which range from briny, to salty to meaty and are both feared and adored.

That night happened to be "Mussel Monday" so we couldn't resist a steaming bowl of two pounds of mussels in a thai-style broth flavored with lemon grass for just $17. Also delicious was the "Plancha Grilled Octopus" which was served over chopped broccoli and covered in a grainey mustard vinaigrette. If you go, order that dish – it was outstanding. Though I would have preferred to make a meal of the appetizers we did go for two entrees – a lobster curry with Japanese eggplant and handmade squid in spaghetti with chopped shrimp in clam stock. For those who prefer fish to shellfish, the menu featured red snapper, salmon, flounder, yellow fin tuna and merzula – though I am not familiar with that one.

At that point we were beyond full but our waiter insisted we try a few desserts and they were notable – especially the Affogato, with espresso and vanilla ice cream, and the "Mil and Honey", milk chocolate peanut butter cake, honeycomb and honey ice cream.

Steinthal also serves as the beverage director of the restaurant which offers an impressive array of beers, wines and innovative crave cocktails like "The Black Smoke Monster" with Kraken rum, Sombra mezcal, smoked ginger and lime and the "Spring Stone" with sparkling wine, gin, meyer lemon and apricot bitters. We'll have to return on a weekend to sip some of these.

The restaurant is located on two floors, both lined in warm wood, softly lit with high ceilings. Though it bustles it's not loud and we enjoyed a pleasant, leisurely dinner. The vibe was welcoming, relaxed and friendly.

Turns out that Steinthal's older brother Andrew (SHS '98) publishes a leading New York food site called Immaculate Infatuation where he reviewed Crave Fishbar in 2012, saying "Crave is a progressive thinking fish restaurant, refined enough to impress a serious gourmand, while maintaining a laid back atmosphere that takes you out of the misery of Midtown East." Read the entire review and some choice words about his little brother here. 

Crave Fishbar
945 Second Avenue at 50th Street
(646) 895-9585
http://www.cravefishbar.com/
Open Seven Days a Week