Il Pesce at Eataly
Contact Info:
Address: 200 5th Ave
City: New York, NY
Zip: 10011
map: View the Map
Phone: (212) 229-2560
Website: http://www.eataly.com/il-pesce/
Hours:
Monday - Saturday
Lunch 11am - 10pm
Sunday
11am - 9:30pm
Food Info:
Menu: View the Menu
Cuisine:
Seafood
2nd Cuisine:
Italian
Takeout:
Yes
Payment:
Accepts Credit Cards
Cititour Review:
Eataly is home to a number of Italian cuisines. Whether you are craving pizza, pasta, steak, even Italian sausage, you will find it here. At the center of this sprawling food emporium is Il Pesce, Eataly's restaurant dedicated solely to seafood and where you will find some of the freshest fish in the city.
On this particular visit specials ranged from fried local clams and rock shrimp to salmon carpaccio. I was craving brook trout. Il Pesce serves it fileted on a bed of fresh baby spinach. The fish is fabulous. The meat, which is barely cooked through, maintains a pinkish hue and is wonderfully moist. The skin is crisp around the edges with just a drizzle of butter and shavings of fresh horseradish. It is a very simple dish, yet one that is executed perfectly.
Also on the menu, steamed mussels and clams in a spicy pumpkin broth ($18), grilled octopus with fennel and citrus, and mixed seafood with Venetian black rice ($24). You also have your pick of a variety of whole fish, pan seared or oven roasted.
My only complaint involved the staff. It was just before closing time. The workers were busy cleaning up when one accidentally tipped over my glass of water which proceeded to pour onto the counter and down my leg. I really wasn't that upset. Mishaps happen. What I didn't appreciate was the guy behind the counter, not the spiller, who seemed very amused by all of this as I was trying to get another napkin to dry off my now drenched pant leg. The manager did the right thing by apologizing and offering a complimentary glass of wine. When I said it wasn't necessary he returned with a bottle of Italian spring water which I proceed to drink as I finished my fantastic trout.
Review By: Thomas Rafael