Oceana

1221 6th Ave., Midtown, NY

7.4

map & more

Neighborhood
Midtown
Times Square

Cuisine
Seafood

Nearby
MoMa
Nokia Theater
Radio City Music Hall
Roseland

212-759-5941

Official Website

By Andrew Steinthal
October 22, 2009

They say the Ocean occupies 71% of our planet’s surface, right? Well, it feels like Oceana occupies 71% of 49th street. This tribute to the sea is massive – probably the biggest seafood restaurant in NYC. Whole fish on ice, crab legs, clams, mussels, oysters and the rest of their impressive raw bar greet you at the door and set the tone. Light blues, sea greens, and different shades of white give the room a tasteful, aquatic feel. Everything in Oceana, from their comfy booths to amicable service, makes you feel at ease. Overall, the food is fine – it’s simple and straight forward. It’s an ideal place for lunch during the week, dinner before a trip to the theatre with mom, or to cure a king crab craving, which I get often. Oceana is a welcome addition to Midtown’s clusterf*ck of expansive dining halls, and is especially enjoyable if you’re not the one paying.

Food Rundown:

Oysters
This is an impressive oyster spread. We sampled some huge Oyster Bay’s that were fantastic. The perfectly salty Kumamoto’s were a hit, as were fruity Otter Cove’s. I’d still spring for oysters at Blue Ribbon Brasserie, Marlow & Sons, or Aqua Grill, but this is our new midtown Oyster spot. On the negative, the homemade sauces (piquillo pepper, some kind of green mayo) that they served with the raw bar were way too overwhelming.

King Crab Leg
For $8, this is one meaty crab leg. Broken into three pieces and served cold, this claw was fresh and all kinds of tasty.

Manhattan Clam Chowder
Although the tableside preparation is cute, it doesn’t take away from the fact that the soup itself leaves much to be desired. Sadly, I’ll stick with my Dean & Deluca Manhattan Clam down the block.

Snapper Ceviche
Served with roasted corn, hearts of palm, and cilantro, this raw fish salad of sorts looks like a fancy crab cake. We thoroughly enjoyed this dish.

Crispy Fried Calamari
Round, tender pieces of octopus sprinkled with crispy crumbs on the outside, this was definitely a fancy take on a classic dish. We really enjoyed the house made tartar sauce it was served with.

Sea Scallops a la Plancha
All good seafood restaurants should have a “Simply Prepared” section of their menu like Oceana does. Flaunt your fresh fish if you’ve got it and serve it naked. That’s pretty much exactly how these scallops come. Minimally seasoned, perfectly cooked, and lightly browned around the edges, these arrive at your table with no gimmicks, just excellent flavor.

Lobster Sandwich
At $19, the lobster sandwich is actually one of the cheapest things on the menu. Served with bacon, avocado, tarragon, and pain au lait, this small but filling sandwich is served on a focaccia roll. We wish it came with chips or slaw, or really anything else besides a lonely white plate. Oceana needs to do a six oyster + lobster sandwich lunch deal for $25; the Immaculate Infatuation special. Do it! We’ll pack this place everyday for you. We know you’ve got the space.