EscaI love this placeThe food is consistently excellent; the service is friendly and professional. Can't say enough good things about it - if you love seafood you must try Esca.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways memorableThe crudo and pastas can't be beat. Oh and the bread and wine list are winners too.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Pasta in New YorkThe pasta was perfectly cooked in inventive and flavorful sauces. The wait staff was very attentive, helpful, and friendly. Atmosphere was quite good. Taste in music was a little too pop for our tastes but OK.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMCrudo HeavenThe razor clam martini is a house specialty and a delicious way to start dinner. Spicy and cold, it had a tender clam in the bottom or the glass. We began with the crudo sampler, two flights of three pieces of fish each, and there was just enough for two of us to have a taste of every sample. Small but wonderful. Zuppa de pesche was rich and flavorful. Whole flounder was a bit overcooked but well presented. The service was attentive but not overdone. We didn't feel rushed and the place was very busy. Had a great time and look forward to returning soon.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious mealThe food at Esca is fresh, delicious, interesting. One of my favorite restaurants in New York City.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAll around perfectWe eat there multiple times a year...lunch, dinner, post theater. It never disappoints.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved it!Had a quick delicious meal, service spectacular. Right on time for the theater.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a great time. FabulousWe had a great time. Fabulous pasta ... Caring service.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat dining in NYCWhat a wonderful meal. We met family for dinner before our show. The staff was attentive and made sure we were out on time but we never felt rushed. The food was outstanding-from our appetizer to our dessert.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellentEsca was excellent in every way. Food, service, ambiance. One thing really impressed. When the waiter brought our dessert, they had written Happy Anniversary in chocolate on the plate. We had not mentioned that it was our anniversary -- they just overheard us talking about it. Really impressive.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMTheater District Fish and SeafoodEsca is THE place, either pre- or post- theater for fine, simply prepared fish and seafood.
A bit noisy and cramped and rather pricey, but worth every penny.
Crudo is wonderful, so are the specials. Menu a bit complicated and precious, but worth it.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecial place pre theaterI'd never been to Esca and after I had I couldn't understand why.
It's the best place for pre-theater. Everyone is conscious about curtain time without making you feel rushed. Service was impeccable and now to the food which was truly unforgettable. The ceviches are out of this world, the salads and mains were all beautiful and even the desserts were just terrific - original and special. I would go back not just for pre theater but for a special occasion like a holiday lunch. Truly a New York gem.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMEscaEsca is a great place to dine if you like italian cuisine and seafood. Given its location in mid-town Manhattan, it is a good choice to dine before or after a Broadway show.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Food was great. ServiceThe Food was great. Service is phenominal. The fish is fresh and delicious.
Mario's "Hey- let's create a sense of energy by playing a really out-of-place music set including multiple Guns N Roses tracks (At a fine dining establishment?? Seriously? Mario & Joe--EPIC FAIL. Contrast with flavors, textures, and temperatures with food is phenominal. Contrast in the atmosphere of a fine dining experience- not so much.
Also, and maybe this is a New York thing, but the wine list was VASTLY overpriced. I saw a bottle of wine that I can buy locally for $20 on the menu for $120. 100% markup I get. 200%--MAYBE... but seriously?6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWowGreat food, great service. Had a fabulous experience.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMParadoxComing from CA, we looked forward to dining here n our two days. Second time to enjoy Esca but noise is really a problem for us.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food/Excellent ServiceThis was our second visit to Esca, and once again we enjoyed it very much. The food and service here are outstanding, and if you like creatively prepared seafood, you'll love this menu! This time, we did the tasting menu, and we enjoyed it very much. We had five courses, plus dessert, and it was more than enough. The soft shell crab and monk fish cheeks were our favorites. When we return to New York City, we'll definitely go back to Esca.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMPre Theater dining at its bestThe best Pre Theater dining option in NYC. The chef is a wizard with seafood of any type.....Esca is a true gem5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMNot as good as I remembered itThere was nothing exceptional on this visit. I have been to Esca a few times before this . On those other occasions I raved about the delicious fish and excellent preparations.
I can not say the same this time.
This was pre-theater and I feel like they should have some kind of lunch special.
The lunch was very expensive. I had a salad, soup, and a quartina of white wine and the bill came out to about $75 with tip.
This was without a regular entree.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous food but super pricey.Fabulous food but super pricey. Husband still smarting over a $21 glass of wine.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMCrudo!!!King of crudo! Although you wind up spending a small fortune-this place is not to be missed if you enjoy crudo and seafood in general. Also the pasta alla guitara (spelling?) was certainly a highlight. Thank you!!!5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMexcellent sea food. great menu!The menu is great. I really liked the setup. Great wine list and excellent preparation. The interior was properly lit (i.e. not too bright) and the feeling was warm. I liked it a lot and will go back.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our second visitThis was our second visit to Esca, both times the food and service were outstanding. The server was very friendly and willing to offer recommendations. The crudo tasting was outstanding as was the lobster in a "pool" of asparagus. I was a little disappointed that they were not offering the salt crusted branzino (which I consider a must have), instead we had whole roasted black cod for two which was excellent.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMawsome !!!This place will never disappoint me !! Sashimi were soo fresh. It was much better than sashimi that I had at expensive sushi restaurant. I am glad to see that ESCA keeps every aspect of quality. One thing that I was not sure about is a sommelier. She had an attitude after we decided not to order wine that she recommended. Except sommelier, we had wonderful time,5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFit for Fish FoodiesOur meal at Esca was wonderful. I counted and with apps, pasta course and main dish we tried at least five different fish, prepared five different, delicious ways. The gnocchi is not to be missed. It is like fluffy little pillows that melt in your mouth. The Italian wine selection is very nice as well. The service was excellent.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFun EveningWe wanted a restaurant close to the theater so we wouldn't be rushed. Our table was ready at our reservation time. Service at Esca was very good! Three different servers plus the Sommelier who was very helpful. Linguini with Clam Sauce was delicious and the scallops were done perfectly...and no sand in them!
We thoroughly enjoyed dinner!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMlittle gem in theatre districtlittle gem in theatre district hidden by construction tables little to tight so can have mishaps will always return5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFish heavenIf you are a fish aficionado, Esca is a must experience.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Service and Great SeafoodWe thoroughly enjoyed this amazing seafood restaurant! The service was amazing as one would expect here - they did not disappoint! The wine was great too! Each of us tried something unique and different and all of us enjoyed EVERY BITE we took! We loved the freshness of every item and the willingness of the staff to make recommendations and explain unusual choices! We only regret that we did not get to try dessert as we were running for a show! It looked great too!5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMA great mealWe're not used to eating at fancy restaurants so we were a bit nervous about ordering. Our waiter was excellent. He explained everything and was able to make great suggestions. I had never tried "crudo" either, which means raw. Our waiter suggested a salmon plate and it was excellent! The whole meal, right down to the dessert, was perfect.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing FoodWould highly recommend this restaurant, it is a 10+. Food is amazing, great location if you are seeing a play, great ambiance.
Amazing service.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMNo surprises.Fantastic fish and wine as you would expect from Batali/Bastianch & Company. Interesting and expertly prepared. Service typically impeccable, courteous and professional.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMInteresting seafood dining!We were hesitant to try Esca after reading mixed reviews, but overall found it to be a good choice. We were greeted at the door courteously and seated promptly. Our waiter was helpful with suggestions, and even when he was not around, our water, wine and bread were refilled by staff. I noticed that a manager-type was always combing the dining area to assist and make sure that every table was attended to at every moment! The menu selections were vast and interesting. We went with several of the crudo (appetizers), a pasta to share (which the chef adjusted for me), several vegetables and the sea bass for two. It was all fantastic and very enjoyable. The only negative (typical for NY) is the noise level -- but overall a great experience.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary CelebrationExcellent first experience at Esca thanks to the professional staff, well-timed service, and delicious food. Arrived for an early dinner following a theatre matinee. Atmosphere was quiet at first then became more lively as the crowd grew, although never too loud. Enjoyed first course of grilled Portuguese anchovies and spaghetti with clams, followed by salmon and swordfish entrees. Request for the salmon and swordfish to be well done was honored; they were cooked perfectly to our liking. Plates were beautifully presented. Our bottle of Prosecco was kept chilled to the last drop. We were celebrating a special occasion. It was thoughtfully acknowledged at the end of the meal with a plate of cookies and good wishes written in chocolate.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMIst visit there from Michigan,Ist visit there from Michigan, found them via Zagat. Great neighborhood restaurant, a little out of the way from tourist hotels which is good.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat fishif you love fish this is the place best baked clams5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of our favorite restaurantsWe eat at Esca every visit to NYC. Fantastic fish (don't miss the crudo raw fish selection). Beautiful pastas. Great desserts. Wait staff is fantastic. Never once been disappointed.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Special Occasion restaurantESCA is one of our favorite restaurants in NYC. I took my wife there for Mother's Day and had a great time. Our son who graduated from Johnson and Wales University (culinary) introduced us to it and love going there. While it is a bit on the pricey side, it is worth every cent. And compared to restaurants in NJ where you could spend just as much - there is no comparison. The food coupled with the pleasant and knowledgable wait staff, make it an excellent choice especially for special occasions.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMy dinner at Esca....I took my fiance to dinner for her birthday and could not be more satisfied.. we had a great meal,great appetizers and while we were there Tony Bennett came in and sat next to us. What a wonderful surprise that was ..I wish I could have got him to sing Happy Birthday to my girl..lol. highly recommend Esca to anyone..5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGastronomic experienceI have never been dissapointed at this restaurant. Food is marvel for the mouth. Service could improve a bit. Music tourmented our ears, however for half of the dinner.... The wine list is balanced and includes a few gems from S. Italy5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMLosing a step?The restaurant is one of my favourites, and the food remains excellent. However, on my latest visit, service was slow, and my waiter left for the evening without telling me. I had to wave a random waiter down to order the dessert. Also, the restaurant still employs the most unhelpful, arrogant sommelier in New York City.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMDoesn't get better than this...Great food, fresh, creative and exquisitely prepared. Crudo dishes the best, seafood (branzino superb), seafood pastas a must.
Too good to rush before theatre. This is food worth savoring.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMJust amazing!My second time at Esca, did not think it could get better . . . but it was! I live on the North Coast of Florida, great availability of sea food, but I have never experienced the quality and preparation of seafood that Esca provides. Bravo Orange Crocks!5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMEsca-ndalous noise!The food at esca is excellent, but tables are really small and packed and the noise level does not allow conversation.the service was very slow between courses, but the food was great.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMtop notch seafood, expertlytop notch seafood, expertly prepared and presented. like a trip to a seaside town on the back side of the boot. excellent wine selection. very highly recommended.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMMario Batali's fish: the BEST ever!Flinty fresh oysters, wild fresh Mahi Mahi perfectly prepared, Arugula salad, great wine list AND perfect service!
Well done, as always!
Fred and Johnna Kleisner5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMBEST SEA FOOD & SERVICE WORLDWIDEThe best sea food you will find anywhere in the world. Prepared phenomenally. Fantastic, attentive service. Great value for the great meal you savor. Excellent wine list too.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful Saturday afternoonWonderful Saturday afternoon lunch at Esca. Got bigeye tuna crudo, fritti which was mixed fried seafood, and the maccheroni chitarra with sea urchin and crabmeat. All was delicious and the service was great as well. Only knock is that the prices are a bit steep for this type of restaurant. Overall, a great experience.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for Italian seafoodIncredible food ....great wine....they made sure we were done in time to make our show. Just know they don't open doors until 5 pm. We had 5:15 reservations and arrived eArly to have drinks first but ended up waiting outside for doors to open. Bar is too small anyways....the banana pudding for dessert was also awesome!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThis place is fantastic. It'sThis place is fantastic. It's small, so when we were dining at 5:30pm it got pretty busy with the pre-show dinner crowd, but it was a great ambience. The service was on point. My water and wine glasses were never even close to empty. As for the food, amazing! I had the linguine which they say is their only dish that gets complaints for being too briny--I am the pickiest of eaters you'll ever meet and I thought it was the best linguine I've ever had. Definitely save room for dessert, too. The price was a lot more reasonable than I expected, especially considering we went with a recommended bottle of wine without asking the price of it.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AM