SEA Bistro
New York, NY 10003-8640
Phone: (212) 228-5505
- Price:
- $
- Cross Street:
- Between 4th Street and 5th Street
- Directions:
- F at 2nd Ave
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 11:30am-10:45pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11:30pm
Editorial Review for SEA Bistro – by Justin Hartung
The Scene
This East Village upstart proved to be so popular, the owners opened a second massive (and massively popular) location in Williamsburg. This original restaurant is miniscule in comparison, but it's designed in the same sleek lounge style. Service is brisk and friendly, and the hip, clubby music is never so loud that you have to shout to be heard.
The Food
Start with the spicy beef salad or the Tup Tim Fritters, fried chicken and shrimp balls served with a delectable sweet-and-sour dipping sauce. Both the tom kah soup and pad thai are merely serviceable. Move on to one of the noodle dishes: Drunk Man noodle tosses together chicken, shrimp, squid, basil and egg. Befitting the restaurant's name, fish dishes are the standout entrees. Try the Spicy Dark Ocean, a chili-powered concoction of red snapper and other seafood tossed with veggies and accented with white pepper.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Save TimeIt has one of the fastest delivery times in the neighborhood. Repeat customers can give their phone numbers, and the restaurant's computer will pull up the address.
User Reviews for SEA Bistro
06/04/2008 Posted by Angela321
RECURRENT TIP FRAUD. BEWARE! We went to dinner at Sea last night and, for the THIRD time, we were tricked and almost paid 40% tip. This happened three times, twice when my boyfriend and I went and last night (we were five guests). Last night the waiter added 20% tip on the bill (ILLEGAL for parties of 6 or less!), when the bill came my boyfriend gave them his credit card without looking at the bill. The waiter came back with ONLY the credit card receipt (NO ORIGINAL BILL CAME BACK - which already included 20% tip), and, in the credit card receipt, they had the TIP line once again. My boyfriend asked to see the original bill (they HAVE TO return it with the credit card receipt as you check it to see how much tip to leave etc.) and they reluctantly gave it back to us. We clearly saw that the they had already added the 20% tip. We asked for an explanation (Illegal + tentative fraud) and the waiter - who spoke perfect English- started to pretend he didn't understand what we were saying. This happened twice in the past and it also happened to other friends of ours. A couple of years ago there was also an article on Time Out about restaurants that try this scam, SEA was one of them. The food is unexpensive and good but they really upset us last night, it was NOT a mistake, it's a recurrent behavior and we were tempted to call 311. If you choose to eat there beware of it, it will certainly happen to you too.
Pros: Unexpensive, okay food
Cons: They ALWAYS try to add the tip and make you pay it twice
08/24/2007 Posted by esteliano82
East Village eaters know that two requirements must be met to satisfy its predominantly student residents: great food at affordable prices. Those with tight budgets and an appetite for Thai food will find that Sea Bistro delivers. Those who get satisfaction from paying the lowest for a full meal will find their low prices an absolute steal; a starter and a solid entree will run you about $10 on off peak hours $15 on. I started off with Steamed Pork Dumplings in Peanut sauce. What the dumplings lacked in size (it is a starter after all) it certainly lacked none in taste.The peanut was not too overwhelming allowing the sweetness of the dark sauce to emphasize itself (although fuller taste would've been delivered had the sauce been allowed to infuse better into the dumpling itself rather than just pouring it on top.) As for the entree (Drunkman Noodle), i find it hard to put into words the actual description of the taste, as it contained various peppers I am not familiar with. But I can say that the spicy did not mask the taste of fresh caramalyzed onions and bell peppers. A must for any first time eater at the Bistro. Enjoy. Only neg is subjective: enourmous quantities of European techno. Although i do enjoy it at parties, dining is a different story.
Pros: the food and the drinks
Cons: techno
