NYC Restaurants

Essex Pearl got its start selling fish to some of the city's top restaurants for 30 years near the Fulton Fish Market. Now the family run business is bringing that market-to-table approach to its new restaurant at The Market Line. Here fresh oysters, bay & diver scallops, sea urchin, giant crab claws, lobster and more are offered in a fine dining experience. Aside from the raw bar, two types of lobster rolls can also be found; The Maine with kewpie mayo and The Spicy Essex Bao with Sriracha, garlic and brown butter. Fisherman's Pie, fresh fluke, Mahi Mahi and shrimp fritters are among the offerings that change with the catch. We tried the excellent monkfish tail; thick pieces of monkfish with a cilantro drizzle atop acorn squash purée in an earthy mushroom broth with pickled onions. It's exceptional. For those wishing to go big, there's a whole grilled snapper.

- Thomas Rafael