The Seahorse Tavern

This location CLOSED a few months ago! We live 1 block away. I had always meant to try it. rats!

I was unimpressed by Seahorse Tavern! I came here to catch up with a friend and was recommended to order their famous lobster roll. I thought the lobster roll was average at best! The waiter said there would be at least about a pound of lobster and I felt that just wasn’t the case. Maybe a pound, with shell and all! The bun was mediocre and even the lobster itself wasn’t dressed well. All in all, I just don’t think I would spend the money for their lobster roll again.

I’ve been here twice and if I didn’t hate the neighborhood I would come again. I first ended up here on St. Patrick’s Day. Hilarity ensued. I think my date and I were the only sober people in there. It was a kind of a mess but I figured they deserved another chance. I ended up here again for happy hour. SIT AT THE BAR. The service is great, everyone is super friendly. The oyster shooters! I don’t know what I ate but thank God I did because the drinks were super strong. I was in there laughing, crying and talking loudly. It was an epic night.
Food rundown:
Fresh oysters ⁴⁄₅
Fried oysters ⁵⁄₅
Fried calamari ⁵⁄₅
Fries ⁵⁄₅
Chowder ⁵⁄₅
Lobster roll ⁵⁄₅ (too small)

I’ve neglected to write a review up until now simply out of selfishness — i want to keep this gem relatively unknown so it doesn’t become an overcrowded hotspot. I guess the holiday spirit is getting the better of me.
My girlfriend and I frequently dine here, and we are rarely disappointed. Of course, my girlfriend orders oysters and the beet & arugula salad every time (but I admit, it is tasty). They usually have three types of oysters (mix of east and west coast), which are always fresh. The daily specials are never a disappointment whether it’s lobster bisque, a perfectly cooked mahi mahi or scallops in a curry sauce (this is a must try!). The burger is very good but don’t pass on the fish dishes unless you’re really not in the mood. The tavern fries (sea salt with a touch of vinegar) are hard to avoid.
The staff is friendly, welcoming and they know the menu well. Ask them for a recommendation. You won’t be disappointed.

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, Jack better not touch those oysters again if he wishes not to be kicked!
Would I walk a thousand miles? Not too sure, but I would definitely walk those 10 so blocks dressed as Pocohontos with Yo Gabba Gabba, Napoleon Dynamite, Ms. Kitty, and a Flapper for some great goodness of seafood.
It’s neighborhood kinda thing, with a proposition of fresh seafood cooked perfectly. I drink a gallon of the brown butter sauce if they would let me. But instead the owner bribes me and friends to a round of shots.
Seahorse offers the right balance of simplicity, freshness, and complimentary sauce for their foods.

$ 15 brunch. Yay.
Fish n chips were amazing. Crispy, not too oily, no fishiness here. Chips were alright; they were just fries.
Comes with mimosa/​bloody mary/​wine.
Crab club sandwich was just okay.
I’m partial to seahorses, so that alone bumped this place up a star.

Left my keys at home the other day and have to wait for my bf to get back uptown, figured I’ll swing by for a drink and appetizer while waiting. It was 7pm on a Tuesday night, there are 4 – 5 other people sitting at the bar, no table seated, I walked up and sat at the bar, figured it’s easier.
Ordered mussel basque and lobster ale. Food come out pretty good, fresh mussels and nice broth. Beer was good, and I also tried the chili margaritas (very spicy!!!), wouldn’t suggest getting that unless you like spicy drinks (at first it was kinda like a bloody mary kick to it, as i take a few more sips, it gets really spicy!). The menu didn’t really appeal to me, i’d only come back for mussels…

We came here for the oysters and good selection of beer after having a really negative experience at nearby Flex Mussels.
The staff could not have been friendlier and there is a great vibe in the whole place. We sat at the bar and had a few beers (they have Delerium) and oysters. The price point was just right and everything tasted great.
The warm, friendly service put them over-​the-​top.

I was honestly expecting a 2-​star experience here, but it was for a large birthday dinner, so I didn’t care. The Seahorse Tavern was actually a nice surprise; they really came through for us on my friend’s birthday, and we had a great time!
The MUSSELS were surprisingly good. Each one was perfectly tender, juicy, fresh, and flavorful. And if you’ve ever had a «funky» mussel, you’ll really appreciate that. The other seafood dishes were solid. Nothing to write home about, but all good.
The ambiance? A typical UES restaurant with a bar, except they play AWESOME HIP HOP (yes, really). I could have sworn they were playing my iTunes playlist, because they played tons of A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Common, The Roots, Black Star, and Nas… love that.

I was here for an early dinner, and it was pretty quite on a friday night, so i’m not sure what the atmosphere is like later on.
The food was all perfect. Had a grilled octopus salad on special to start. Then the lobster roll which was amazing and fresh, with chilled lobster salad (with huge chunks of lobster) and a butter dipping sauce which i used generously — the fries it came with were also great, just what i was craving. My date had a grilled skate which was also amazing — cooked to perfection. I would go back here anytime i wanted seafood. The service was also great but then again it wasn’t busy.

Service was extremely accommodating and attentive, ambiance was perfect — lighting was dim and details reminded me of the seashore. Great open windows at the front and not too crowded.
The food was a big letdown, especially since we were craving some seriously delicious seafood. Ordered the crab dish, the ceviche and the muscles and was progressively more disappointed by each one. The flavors were off to the tune of tasting sour and not fresh. The muscles hadn’t been cleaned that well and the flavor of the sea and salt carried through — many of the muscles were barely opened as well. The sauces of the muscles weren’t really true to form.
If you are in the mood for fresh seafood and fresh muscles, I would recommend Flex Muscles or Petit Abeille by a mile over Seahorse Tavern.

I have been here twice and plan to keep coming back! The food is delicious and the staff is really friendly. The fried oysters were fantastic and I loved the lemon sole! I am getting hungry thinking about them.
The staff definitely gives you a sense that they want you there, which I find rare in a NYC restaurant. I really enjoyed my meal both times and look forward to going back!

I heard about this place on CBS Tony Tantillo’s Dining Deals so I thought I’d try it out with my family since it looked good on TV. Yeah, it’s true what they say, «Don’t believe everything you see on TV.» Well for starters, I had the raw oyster which were good and fresh, and the clam chowder (good but watery and needed more clams/potatoes.I felt like I had to fish for it).
For the main course: I had the house’s crab club. Honestly, it looked and tasted like those flavored mayonnaise sprinkled with a few crab meat on white bread. Something I could have made at home for less than $ 5 and not the $ 14 it was priced for. My mom, on the other hand, had the fish and chips (nothing exciting; I had better), while my sister had the lobster roll. Luke’s lobster roll is way better than this one. Same size but at least we saw and tasted the lobsters. Seafood Tavern just had bread. So disappointing.
So why put a three star? Well, despite the fact that they could have been less stingy on the seafood or charge the food for what it really was worth, overall the place was not that bad. The waitress was friendly and attentive. It was a good size and clean restaurant. Best of all, the fries, which came with all of our meals, was well seasoned and flavorful. Reminded me of Checker’s fries but less greasy. If I were to go back, I would go just for the fries. Yum.

Yes! The Bluepoints!!! Come. Here. For Those.
They were so fresh I could still smell and taste the ocean!
So huge, so clean, juicy, lovely and velvety! Slurp, slurp. Divine. I put my lips around them and down they went. They were orgasmic.
To me, oysters are sexier and best barely dressed. However, they were served with three sauces. Totally superfluous, for me — but a nice touch. A little lingerie, on the side, so to speak!
The red one had a little spicy kick that I enjoyed, ever-​so lightly touched to just a few. A little reminder of how great they are on their own in their own juices, caressed by just a wee squeeze of lemon.
For the main dish we shared a fish special, a Branzini with couscous. The skin was crisp and tasty and the fish was light and flaky melt in your mouth moist.
Desert, for us, was actually a lobster roll. Not just a lobster roll, but A LOBSTER ROLL!
It was a roll, overflowing with huge, chunky pieces of fresh lobster again, just considerately barely dressed, thankfully.
Trust me, I’ve had my share of lobster rolls in New England, and his baby was an incredible edible!
Our handsome waiter was warm and friendly, knowledgeable and caring; without being overbearing or stuffy. Service was so spot on, yet invisible — as it should be. We were very happy.
The restaurant ambiance and décor itself was low key. On the one hand, it reminded me of a cute New England seafood shack. Yet, the nice little touches set it apart from anything as commonplace as your ordinary seafood shack. You knew it was topnotch restaurant. Yet it managed to remain unpretentious for a change from the moment you were seated. I adore that. Its so rare, these days. There was no need for hype. The food spoke volumes.
In addition, for equally relaxed oenophiles, there is a very decent, well-​edited wine-​list. We split a wonderful, Fume Blanc that was not unreasonably priced for an above-​average bottle on the Upper East Side.
Did I mention the scrumptious cone of pommes frites? There was no way to resist these double-​fried goodies!!! Consider it an extra desert!
Oysters, hide from me! I will back back, soon, to eat you all!
Watch out, now!

Great restaurant. You can tell the owners (who were on site and present) really care about their venture. The chef came out to say hello. Our server also served as hostess and was so polite and so accommodating.
We began at the bar for happy hour. The bartender wasn’t the best (distracted-​ish) but we got our $ 2 off beers and tried some new brews. We also ordered the $ 1.50 blue points — which came very fast. And they were really fresh. And cut cleanly. The herbs in oil as a condiment was a nice add.
Our wonderful server (my receipt says Andrew) moved us to a table for dinner. I let him know we had a Scoutmob deal and he didn’t treat us any differently. We ordered drinks (which came faster than when we were seated at the bar) and we both ordered the salmon and it was great. The piece of fish was prepared well but the sauce was the standout. I wouldn’t say it was a wild mushroom ragout as per the menu but it was brown and buttery and just splendid. So good, that once the fish and kale were all gone, I dipped the complimentary bread into it until it was gone.
I rarely go to the UES but if you live up there — please visit this place. And I will keep it on the short list for next time I’m up there. Looks like a great neighborhood joint! And judging by the other diners who came for the happy hour and dinner — I’m not the first to think that.

Just a wonderful, wonderful restaurant and bar.
I’ve been coming here on an almost weekly basis for about five months now and I have yet to experience a disappointing meal. One word to describe this place: FRESH! There’s a wonderfully light, bright flavor that you only get with fish that has recently been caught — and I get that every time I come here. No wonder I am addicted!
Here is my description of the various dishes and how they compare:
Salmon: sooooo good! It comes peachy pink in the middle on a bed of marinated mushrooms and kale in a tarragon ragu. Often I’ll be in my apartment, thinking of cooking myself some supper, and I’ll just think: nah, going down to Seahorse for the salmon and a martini. I have never regretted that decision
Cod: only had this once (as I prefer the salmon), but it was exceptional too. The flesh of the cod is cooked to perfection: white as snow, and moist. Comes with little chunks of chorizo on a bed of buttery potato.
Chicken: unbelievably tender. Probably one of less slimming dishes on the menu, as it comes served with incredibly rich, ultra-​cheesy polenta. But it’s gooooood…
Mussels: fantastic. Very substantial and only $ ¹²⁄₁₄ a portion. Comes with a nice big stick of fresh french bread.
Those are my go-​tos on the regular menu. But in addition to that, everyday they have new specials. All of them — guess what? — FRESH! Since coming to this place I’ve had Arctic Char, Black Bass, Mahi-​Mahi, Grouper… all done to perfection. The specials are slightly pricier, but nothing is more than $ 28. All of the specials come with cauliflower and asparagus.
When you live across the road from a great restaurant — ok — you can get somewhat institutionalized. I know everyone that works at Seahorse and they also have the virtue of being just a thoroughly nice bunch of people too!
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!

FRESH FISH! FRESH FISH! FRESH FISH!
Such was the call at new prisoners entering Shawshank Prison. It’s also what you’ll find every day at Seahorse Tavern.
Scoutmob’s 50% off discount (max discount of $ 25) drew my attention to this still new-​ish spot on the Upper East Side. My first visit certainly won’t be my last.
Seahorse is small enough to feel intimate, but in no way cramped. There’s a nice size bar in the front that features a number of tasty-​sounding specialty cocktails, though I didn’t imbibe this time. The service was great (hi Eliza!) with a staff that truly knows the menu and can make recommendations based on your preferences.
One of their specialties is oysters, and there were several different varieties on the menu. Next time, I really want to try the fried ones. But we opted to go with mussels basquez instead. Chef Laura Sorensen beautifully prepared them with chorizo, roasted peppers, and some crunchy and crispy garlic chips. Yummy.
I couldn’t resist the lobster roll for my main course, and I wasn’t disappointed. For a brief moment, it felt like a New England summer evening. Cool, flavorful, meaty lobster served on a buttery brioche bun. The fries were also awesome — very well seasoned and shoestring cut. My date had the Atlantic salmon, which is pan roasted and served with kale, mushroom, and leeks. It was really good.
The only reason Seahorse misses out on a 5-​star review is that it’s slightly pricey. With our Scoutmob discount, the bill (including tip and a glass of wine for each of us) came to $ 80. I understand that with seafood you have to pay the price for quality, but that kind of bill puts this into the «once-​in-​a-​while-​treat» category, and not an everyday option. It’s the perfect place to take my parents when they come in for a visit and want to pick up the check.
Thanks for swimming into the neighborhood, Seahorse!

I was here last night and had their lobster roll. The amount of lobster was generous, but the bun itself was nothing special.
The place is cute and relaxed, but $ 26 for that is a steep charge… unless you have your scoutmob coupon…
:-)

A welcome addition to the neighborhood, and a great option for a nice dinner — IF you have a coupon (which is still available on the ScoutMob app). It’s good quality seafood in a pleasant atmosphere, but it’s more expensive than it should be, in my opinion.
We got the Spanish-​style mussels app (good portion size, but these babies aren’t nearly as plump as Flex’s), the cod, and the grilled fish of the day (mahi-​mahi). Fresh, not overcooked, with delicious veggies to complement each dish. They seem to really cater to fish lovers; personally, I think their shellfish options are limited — I’d love to see a bouillabaisse, more combination platters and salads, or some grilled squid or octopus.
It’s a nice switch-​up from the surrounding offerings, and service is good. In the winter months, it’s worth noting they don’t have one of those heavy duty plastic outdoor awning things, so there’s a draft at the tables near the front. Kudos to planting an employee at the door to make sure it shuts fully and quickly after each opening!
This place has a lot of potential.

An orgasmic seafood experience. Not sure what else to say. Arrived here quite tipsy from free international wine tasting at Serendipity wines… super excited to try out this cute new place. Our indulgent meal consisted of:
–Fried oysters (we literally licked the sauce out of the shells)
–Mussels meuniere
–Atlantic salmon (we both got this)
Everything was absolutely amazing. I loveee seafood and I am always looking for other seafood spots on the UES besides Atlantic Grill and Luke’s Lobster which, uh, isnt exactly a «seafood spot.»

Newish seafood spot… UES…Please coordinate your phone, Facebook, and in person opening times, otherwise, enjoyed the meal here…
Hankering for just what Seahorse was serving, I meandered in after meeting the Mob Wives at the 3^rd Ave. fair.
Fresh baguette with butter came to the table.
Ordered
North Atlantic Chowder– $ 8
Local fried oysters with remolade– $ 12
Roasted brussel sprouts– $ 6
The mains here range from a Yorkville burger for $ 14 to fish of the day for $ 26. I went with a combo of smaller plates. Chowder was more a refined bisque served with lardons– pieces of potato, carrot, herbs– a fine, baconey soup. Oysters were fresh fried, served in the shell with remolade on the botton of the shell– clever. Brussel sprouts served in a cast iron pan were well carmelized though slightly overcooked. Once the kinks are cleared this looks to be a very promising seafood joint.