Best Seafood Restaurants in Midtown East
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Nerai
Modern island-inspired Greek seafood with fine-dining polish and deep wine list.
Notable Picks
#1
Nerai
8.7
Opened in 2013, Nerai delivers refined, seafood-focused Greek cooking in a multi-level townhouse with soft, nautical-inspired design. High-volume, cross-platform reviews highlight precise execution on dishes like grilled octopus and lobster pasta, polished service, and a serious Greek wine program that make it a destination for both business dining and special occasions.
Must-Try Dishes:
Htapodi Sti Skara (grilled octopus with Santorini fava), Astakomakaronada (lobster with squid ink linguine in Metaxa bisque), Orzotto Thalassino (saffron seafood orzotto with octopus, shrimp, mussels)
What makes it special: Modern island-inspired Greek seafood with fine-dining polish and deep wine list.
#2
Caviar Russe
8.7
A long-running Madison Avenue dining room built around top-tier caviar and polished New American seafood. Tasting menus and caviar services are executed with Michelin-level precision in an intimate, jewel-box setting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Osetra caviar service with traditional accompaniments, Seasonal seafood tasting menu, Butter-poached fish course from the prix-fixe
What makes it special: A Michelin-starred caviar house pairing ultra-luxury roe with finely tuned seafood tasting menus.
8.3
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
Hidden Gems Heaven
All-you-can-eat, cook-to-order seafood towers this Midtown East buffet into a destination for crab lovers. Guests tick off snow crab, lobster, shrimp, and fried fish, which arrive hot from the kitchen instead of sitting on steam tables.
Must-Try Dishes:
Snow crab legs (all-you-can-eat), Dungeness crab with garlic butter, Fried sea bass with sweet chili sauce
What makes it special: An all-you-can-eat seafood buffet where every plate is cooked to order.
Operating since 1913, Grand Central Oyster Bar is a cavernous American seafood hall beneath Grand Central’s Guastavino arches, famous for its raw-bar platters and steam-kettle oyster pan roasts. Massive review volume and James Beard recognition make it a culturally important, if occasionally uneven, stop for classic New York seafood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oyster Pan Roast, Raw Oyster Selection, Clam Chowder
What makes it special: Century-old seafood institution under Grand Central’s tiled arches, known for raw-bar towers and steam-kettle pan roasts.