Esca Restaurant

(212) 564-7272

402 W 43rd St
New York, NY 10036 40.7591 -73.9925

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Neighborhoods: Clinton, Midtown

ESCA-NYC.COM

Years in business

Established in 1977

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 8.07.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Lunch Spot, Business Dining, Notable Wine List

Cuisine:

Seafood, Italian

Notable Chef:

Mario Batali

What People Are Saying About Esca Restaurant

Featured Review

Erin Behan

Contributor

The Scene – In an unassuming urban cul-de-sac barely removed from the Broadway fray, Mario Batali, partner Joe Bastianich and chef David Pasternack work their practiced magic. Inside, a constant parade of sure-footed waiters scurry about the three dining rooms, each lined with wine bottles. Despite the buzz, the experience is a serene pleasure, and one that attracts a loyal, older and discerning crowd. – – The Food – The menu, devoted to Southern Italian seafood, changes according to availability but freshness is its strength. The crudo, described by waiters as Italian…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
In a sea of fish menu items, duck is the only land-leaning entree option.
Look Good:
For a wide-ranging sample, try the tasting menus either for the crudo (six items for $30) or for the entire menu ($65, $95 paired with wine).
The Extras:
In warmer months, ask to sit in the charming outdoor garden. If you're sans reservation, which can be made up to 30 days in advance, request a seat at the small bar.
What to Drink:
Ask for the gracious sommelier to help navigate the lengthy all-Italian wine list. The dessert wines are especially fun: Try the sparkling moscato from Rivetti ($7) for a light finish, or the recioto from Vegali ($16) for a full-bodied rich ending.
ambiance
95.0% positive
  1. The service was good, but I found a sommelier to be a bit much for the casual atmosphere of the place.
  2. Not recommended for a romantic dinner.
  3. Both the food and atmosphere were so good, we soon got over it.
  4. It's an elegant, well-done Mario restaurant where the food is consistently great, and ideas such as "service" and "ambience" are so given that to ask about them is laughable.
  5. Too noisy, not a choice for a romantic evening
  6. At first we appreciated the atmosphere and what seemed at first like attentive service, though we were a little put off by the loud rock music, which seemed at odds with the atmosphere.
  7. Works both as romantic and as a group of friends, they food is excellent and very fresh.
  8. It is not a cozy restaurant--not a good first date place, unless you REALLY have to try hard.
  9. remember eating tasty crudo in a lively location, but that just is not so anymore.
  10. Rude service, so-so food that was too complex for its own good, boring decor.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. The fish entrees come to life and the deserts were delicious.
  2. Desert (chocolate cake) was superb.
  3. recommend you stick with their wonderful fish, and skip the side dishes and dessert, which were not so exceptional.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. Though I didn't taste any of the crudo, all the raw bar options looked incredible.
  2. Service very attentive, and the wine list is still outstanding and fairly priced, especially for Whites.
  3. Throw in an excellent Italian wine list and some delicious cocktails (the pomegranite bellini and pineapple cosmo were terrific) and you have an all-around excellent meal.
  4. Also enjoyed the italian digestiv and Turkish press coffee.
  5. Reservations are essential indoors or out but you can almost always get an early seat at the unique ice-filled raw bar where the greatest bartender dispenses volumes of knowledgable friendly chatter and perfectly matched wines as well as oysters.
  6. Three of the four wines were pleasent, nothing to scream about but the fourth one was rich, robust and a perfect match with the toro.
  7. Great food Great Chef Raw bar at the bar is fantastic
  8. friend and I went to ESCA (without reservations) and sat at the bar where we were greeted by an amiable tender named Victor who promptly presented us with a wonderful and complementary white bean bruschetta.
  9. Wine steward recommended a bottle of wine priced 50% more than the range I gave him (a very valid range because on the second try he picked a perfectly acceptabe bottle within the range).
  10. The food and wine were excellent and the staff were so attentive.
  11. Our waiter last night made terrific wine and food recommendations.
food quality
86.56999588012695% positive
  1. San Pietro fish is wonderful!
  2. Visit Esca if you seek exceptionally fresh fare and creative pastas and side dishes served with a smile.
  3. Chef thinks burned food is good!
  4. Unique seafood & fish creations
  5. best seafood in ny.
  6. His girlfriend had the Seafood soup which was flavorful and had a hint of heat.
  7. recommend you stick with their wonderful fish, and skip the side dishes and dessert, which were not so exceptional.
  8. Throw in an excellent Italian wine list and some delicious cocktails (the pomegranite bellini and pineapple cosmo were terrific) and you have an all-around excellent meal.
  9. The raw fish appetizers were amazing -- all of them.
  10. recommend the black roasted codfish, it was the best dish of the evening.
  11. Works both as romantic and as a group of friends, they food is excellent and very fresh.
  12. The hot food was cold and the chilled food was room temp.
  13. Don't get me wrong - the service was very good, but if I notice things like empty water glasses during a meal that averages several hundred dollar per person and involves many courses, I tend to think there's room for improvement.
  14. Simply, the service was great but the food was not up to par.
  15. a. you want to share a great meal with them and,
  16. Catastrofic service great food.
  17. This is truly the best fish I have ever eaten--tender, flavorful and cooked in an elegant oil.
  18. First off, I was celebrating my girlfriends' father's 60th birthday and since he loves this kind of food and knows the reputation that Mario Batali has, we wanted to make it a memorable experience.
  19. Excellent food and service
  20. Rude service, so-so food that was too complex for its own good, boring decor.
  21. Maybe the chef was away in the Hamptons yesterday, but the food is just unacceptable at this point.
  22. remember eating tasty crudo in a lively location, but that just is not so anymore.
  23. Great food Great Chef Raw bar at the bar is fantastic
  24. If you don't have to wait for your table, it's a delicious experience -- although a bit pricey.
  25. The food that Dave prepared was wonderful as usual however the service left much to be desired.
  26. Esca is not the best seafood the city has to offer.
  27. Both the food and atmosphere were so good, we soon got over it.
  28. Each dish was excellent.
  29. Some places can get away with horrible service if the food is great, but at Esca, the service was thin, hurried and rude.
  30. Does sushi become exponentially more expensive when you poor olive oil on it?
  31. The fish entrees come to life and the deserts were delicious.
  32. Our waiter was very good and he was well versed in the menu and preparations as well as recommending some of his favorite dishes.
  33. The fish is extremely fresh & prepared to perfection.
  34. would like to try Babbo, but I am a little reticent about dropping a ton of money on mediocre food.
  35. We had a dinner for two, and several courses (the tuna appetizer, the sole entree and the baccala) were slightly oversalted this time, although the quality of the fish itself was very good.
  36. fantastic fish
  37. My monkfish entree was also delicious, although my friend's scallops were a bit overdone.
  38. The pasta course was delicious, but we each only had 4 gnocchi.
  39. It's an elegant, well-done Mario restaurant where the food is consistently great, and ideas such as "service" and "ambience" are so given that to ask about them is laughable.
  40. The food was delightful as always but, in a situation where service was really going to shape the experience, the staff really came through and made this a wonderful low-key celebration.
  41. Exquisite fish
  42. The food was outstanding, and Joe was very helpful as he offered excellent suggestions and explanations of the menu.
  43. Service was good and the fish appetizer sequence (starts with a wonderful oyster) was not tbe beaten.
  44. We had a great time, good food and great company.
  45. also enjoyed a pasta with crab and sea urchin wich was great too.
  46. But I got 3 small slices of fish which was WAY overpriced.
  47. Great food, everything is excellent and servings are decent sized.
  48. The food, however, is very fresh.
  49. This restaurant is one of the best fish restaurant in manhattan.
  50. Because that's the only way Citysearch editorial (though we KNOW you're not food critics) could make this the best seafood in Manhattan!
  51. By the way, Esca in Italian means bait--Is Chef Batali suggesting what the food is good for?
  52. best fish
  53. The menu is filled with interesting local ingredients: instead of salmon, line caught salmon from ___ river.
  54. The fish was very fresh and well-prepared but not to a degree to justify any higher prices than at many italian restaurants.
  55. The grilled fish all looked nice, but lacked taste and some were overcooked.
  56. However, I have to evaluate if the food can compensate the horrible service.
  57. Considering that was half my entree it really overshadowed the meal (and I left it untouched after the first bite) Service - while the servers/bussers were attentive, our waiter was hurried and the only time we interacted was when he initially dropped the
  58. The food and wine were excellent and the staff were so attentive.
  59. The food and service are excellent.
  60. This restaurant's specialty is beautiful fish in every style, including crudi (raw fish, Italian style).
  61. Our waiter last night made terrific wine and food recommendations.
  62. have never seen so many types of shellfish in one bowl, all fresh and cooked to perfection in slightly spicy tomato broth.
  63. The pasta with walnut pesto & fresh sea scallops was perfectly al dente.
  64. All food was excellent.
  65. If you're craving crudo - head to The John Dory to dine with the celeb set, eat some tasty seafood and raise your glass and have a good time.
  66. The food is always mediocre, the servers are bitter, the chefs are tired of cooking the same meals day in and day out, the hostess wants to go home so she does not want to seat you and to them you are just one filthy rich New York snob or a dumb tourist w
  67. The waiters were attentive and happy to expound ala Molto Mario about any of the dishes.
menu variety
92.8600025177002% positive
  1. She made excellent recommendations without making us feel intimidated by the menu.
  2. Considering that was half my entree it really overshadowed the meal (and I left it untouched after the first bite) Service - while the servers/bussers were attentive, our waiter was hurried and the only time we interacted was when he initially dropped the
  3. Though I didn't taste any of the crudo, all the raw bar options looked incredible.
  4. Joe was not only charming, but was a wonderful guide to the menu.
  5. The food was outstanding, and Joe was very helpful as he offered excellent suggestions and explanations of the menu.
  6. The menu is filled with interesting local ingredients: instead of salmon, line caught salmon from ___ river.
  7. Our waiter was very good and he was well versed in the menu and preparations as well as recommending some of his favorite dishes.
overall
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. I've had great experiences at both Po and Babbo, so I expected good things from this place.
  2. This restaurant is one of the best fish restaurant in manhattan.
  3. It is not a cozy restaurant--not a good first date place, unless you REALLY have to try hard.
  4. The service was good, but I found a sommelier to be a bit much for the casual atmosphere of the place.
  5. Luckily he was able to leave early one night so we decided to find a great restaurant to enjoy a wonderful night out.
  6. We were planning a lunch for a good friend and wanted to find a place that was nice, relaxed and away from the craziness of our Times Square office building.
return potential
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. have never written a review but Mario- I am truly dissapointed and actually quite sad that I cant go back to one of my NYC favorite restaurants.
  2. Otherwise, this was a memorable, enjoyable dining experience and I would go back without hesitation.
  3. went there once and vowed never to go back due to the careless and downright rude attitudes of the waitstaff.
service
82.2599983215332% positive
  1. The service was impeccable.
  2. We all found bones, and when we complained, the hostess was obnoxious and said well it's not perfect.
  3. Rude service, so-so food that was too complex for its own good, boring decor.
  4. Some places can get away with horrible service if the food is great, but at Esca, the service was thin, hurried and rude.
  5. went there once and vowed never to go back due to the careless and downright rude attitudes of the waitstaff.
  6. Our waiter last night made terrific wine and food recommendations.
  7. The server was professional and the sommelier was very helpful.
  8. The food is always mediocre, the servers are bitter, the chefs are tired of cooking the same meals day in and day out, the hostess wants to go home so she does not want to seat you and to them you are just one filthy rich New York snob or a dumb tourist w
  9. The hostess in Esca is so unpleasant that it really left a bad taste in my mouth.
  10. The food and wine were excellent and the staff were so attentive.
  11. The service was good, but not excellent; however, the waiter was initially huffy with me when my guest was only 5 minutes late, threatening to make me move!
  12. Overall, the service was very good and not intrusive.
  13. Simply, the service was great but the food was not up to par.
  14. Considering that was half my entree it really overshadowed the meal (and I left it untouched after the first bite) Service - while the servers/bussers were attentive, our waiter was hurried and the only time we interacted was when he initially dropped the
  15. Service very attentive, and the wine list is still outstanding and fairly priced, especially for Whites.
  16. At first we appreciated the atmosphere and what seemed at first like attentive service, though we were a little put off by the loud rock music, which seemed at odds with the atmosphere.
  17. The service was good, but I found a sommelier to be a bit much for the casual atmosphere of the place.
  18. It's an elegant, well-done Mario restaurant where the food is consistently great, and ideas such as "service" and "ambience" are so given that to ask about them is laughable.
  19. Excellent food and service
  20. Our server, Joe, was outstanding.
  21. Catastrofic service great food.
  22. On a plus note - the service was great.
  23. The food that Dave prepared was wonderful as usual however the service left much to be desired.
  24. The waiters were attentive and happy to expound ala Molto Mario about any of the dishes.
  25. Our waiter was very good and he was well versed in the menu and preparations as well as recommending some of his favorite dishes.
  26. Don't get me wrong - the service was very good, but if I notice things like empty water glasses during a meal that averages several hundred dollar per person and involves many courses, I tend to think there's room for improvement.
  27. However, I have to evaluate if the food can compensate the horrible service.
  28. The food was delightful as always but, in a situation where service was really going to shape the experience, the staff really came through and made this a wonderful low-key celebration.
  29. have never been treted this poorly at any resturant the manager who took our orders was very condesending and belittled his customers his attitude and lack of professionalism might be good enough to work at DMV.
  30. Reservations are essential indoors or out but you can almost always get an early seat at the unique ice-filled raw bar where the greatest bartender dispenses volumes of knowledgable friendly chatter and perfectly matched wines as well as oysters.
  31. The food and service are excellent.
value
68.17999839782715% positive
  1. The group agreed, though a bit pricey a memorable experience.
  2. Too expensive for good, but not great fare.
  3. It is not cheap, but a good NYC dining experience usually isn't.
  4. There are too many good italian restaurants around to waste your time and money here.
  5. The prices, for such high quality ingredients and cooking, are quite reasonable.
  6. would like to try Babbo, but I am a little reticent about dropping a ton of money on mediocre food.
  7. But I got 3 small slices of fish which was WAY overpriced.
  8. The fish was very fresh and well-prepared but not to a degree to justify any higher prices than at many italian restaurants.
  9. If you don't have to wait for your table, it's a delicious experience -- although a bit pricey.
  10. Don't get me wrong - the service was very good, but if I notice things like empty water glasses during a meal that averages several hundred dollar per person and involves many courses, I tend to think there's room for improvement.
  11. Does sushi become exponentially more expensive when you poor olive oil on it?
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. The service was good, but not excellent; however, the waiter was initially huffy with me when my guest was only 5 minutes late, threatening to make me move!
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/05/12

Gross and way overpriced

by rej314 at Citysearch

The 4 of us left hungry and disappointed. The only thing satisfying were the cocktails. Do not go.

1 Star Rating: Poor

11/16/11

Boycott Mario Batali Restaurants

by Matt Jefferson at Citysearch

Mario Batali's recent comment comparing bankers to Hitler and Stalin are downright disgusting and irresponsible (reference at bottom of review). While there are many views on bankers during these challenging times, his references to such dictators who executed many people for their religion and / or beliefs is hurtful and ignorant. I do not believe it is in this world's best interest to support him or his restaurants given his most recent comments.

google or search for the following article as a reference: "mario-batali-apologizes-for-comments-comparing-bankers-to-hitler-stalin"

1 Star Rating: Poor

11/16/11

Batali's comments are hurtful and insensitive

by Jonathan Stewarts at Citysearch

I can't believe Batali is comparing bankers to Hitler and Stalin. Agree with the previous post that it is completely insensitive. Why can't he just stick to making food? I can only assume that if he is busy attending conferences and media events offering his political views he is definitely not paying attention to his businesses and the quality of his food. Given this, and the insensitivity he recently displayed in comparing bankers to Hitler, I will no longer eat at his restaurants and will encourage others to do the same.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/15/11

Good for foodies but lacking in ambience

by NYCruiser at Citysearch

The food is the standout piece to Esca. I thoroughly enjoyed the squid ink pasta, marinated sardines and fish stew (the crudo tasting was a little bland though). The service was good, with water and wine glasses being refilled and new utensils being laid out in a timely manner.

The main drawback is the actual space itself. When you walk in, you are liable to think you walked in through the wrong entrance. It feels like a back entrance as you immediately face a large table where servers are cracking pepper and preparing plates. The hostess stand is tucked a little bit to the right and the two hostesses on Wednesday night were inattentive to the point where I thought they might just be waiting for a table too and didn't work at the restaurant at all.

The bar at Esca seats maybe five stools and the servers rush between the seated patrons and those standing by the wall to get from the kitchen to get to the main dining room, shouting out “Hot plate, hot plate!” as they scramble past with multiple large dishes in hand. It doesn’t seem safe to rush through a drinking crowd with anything hot or breakable. The bathroom was down a short corridor and for some reason the staff had lined up a row of stacked chairs along one side of the narrow wall so that you had to almost walk sideways to get through.

All in all, the food was great and I would highly recommend it to foodies, but the place is severely lacking in ambience.

1 Star Rating: Poor

02/25/11

Stay Clear- Bad Shrimp - it made me sick : (

by ITL at Citysearch

Menu is excellent but unfortunately I ordered the wrong dish. Don't order the Fritto Misto it has bad shrimp, they smelled like Amonia...they told me the shrimp has iodine. I felt sick and threw up. Manager was unsympathetic and unwilling to look into it. Service is excellent, decor is warm. I don't want other people to get sick so stay clear of their shrimp it's not worth the unpleasant experience !! : But someone should really look into it !!

The Details on Esca Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • good service
  • wonderful nyc dining experience
  • excellent burned food
  • best grilled fish
  • great wonderful restaurants
  • best seafood
  • mediocre hot food
  • delightful crudo
  • great meal
  • very good waiters
  • relaxed first date place
  • favorite dish
  • outstanding joe
  • very fresh works
  • nice saturday evening
  • outstanding server
  • not great fare
  • definitely recommend esca
  • fantastic icefilled raw bar
  • great everything
  • terrific recommendations
  • bad experience
  • pretty bland dessert
  • wonderful white bean bruschetta
  • delicious pasta course
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