Seafood lovers, rejoice! If you’re looking for New York City’s best seafood spot, The Sea Fire Grill is the ultimate destination.
Serving the freshest locally sourced fish, lobster, oysters, scallops, tuna tartare and much more for the past 15 years—this lavish Manhattan restaurant is a true gem not to be missed. The Sea Fire Grill is also a relaxed, fine dining institution where you’ll find all the hallmarks of the white tablecloth experience: impeccable service, utterly delicious high-quality food and an elegant ambiance with a cozy fireplace.
Located at 158 East 48th Street in NYC’s Midtown East neighborhood, The Sea Fire Grill is an exceptional and welcoming establishment thanks to The Benjamin Restaurant Group, the family owned and operated company that is responsible for some of New York’s top culinary eateries such as the beloved Benjamin Steakhouse and the popular Benjamin Prime restaurant. The Sea Fire Grill’s motto: “Contemporary American seafood where consistency in execution and highlighting the fish itself is priority” is delivered on all fronts with their robust menu and outstanding hospitality. No matter what kind of seafood or steak (yes, they serve the most delicious porterhouse!) you’re after, The Sea Fire Grill has it.
Let’s start with The Sea Fire Grill’s classic raw bar. There are no wrong orders at their raw bar. Their Seafood Sampler—consisting of two oysters, two shrimp, two clams and half chilled lobster—is a great value and the opportunity to taste a little bit of all the beloved classics. In addition to an remarkable selection of east coast and west coast oysters that burst with flavor, they have Black River’s Caviar Classic, containing darker brown to black colored eggs and offering a distinctly nutty flavors complimented by a lively, saline lift.
Courtesy of James Song
Their appetizers are also not to be missed. We highly recommend ordering the Oysters Rockefeller, which comes in a half dozen of half-shells that have been topped with a rich sauce of butter, spinach, parmesan and Pernod. It was so good that we could have ordered another serving! Also the yellowfin tuna tartare (top photo) is a must-order. The fish was extremely fresh and melted in your mouth. Their tartare perfectly balances the rich, buttery texture of premium tuna with bright, tangy flavors. A toasted focaccia and citrus Crème fraîche is served with the tuna and perfectly complemented the dish. The pan roasted day boat scallops is another big winner. The dish was incredibly hearty due to the amazing purée.
For the main entrée, each dish was impressive and left a lasting impression. The portion sizes were very generous too. For instance, the roasted Mediterranean branzino with caper sauce was perfectly flakey and moist. It was pleasantly rich without being overwhelmingly fishy and absolutely worth ordering. The massive Alaskan King Crab legs at The Sea Fire Grill are very popular and it’s full of substantial pieces of sweet and delicate meat, making for a satisfying eating experience. Also, a hulking whole 2 lb. Maine lobster (very Instagram worthy) is available. The lobster meat is tender and juicy, with a gratifying firm bite.
If seafood isn’t your favorite, The Sea Fire Grill has all the steakhouse classics—porterhouse, filets, ribeyes, superb creamed spinach, grilled asparagus and truffle mashed potatoes—but they also offer rack of lamb, squid ink spaghetti and trofie pasta with crab meat. We tasted the porterhouse that serves two people and it was perfectly balanced with a tender filet mignon on one side of the T-shaped bone and a flavorful strip steak on the other, providing both tenderness and robust beefy flavor in a single cut. The Sea Fire Grill’s execution of the porterhouse is flawless! To go along with our steak, we had the lobster mac and cheese, which was the best side dish. This comfort food classic had large chunks of lobster and the melted cheese was first-rate.
Courtesy of James Song
Lastly for dessert, you must—I repeat, must try—the tiramisu. It’s to die for! The dessert made of ladyfinger pastries dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks, sugar, and mascarpone, and flavored with cocoa powder is served with coffee ice cream and is simply the best. Just order it. You will thank us later.
Courtesy of James Song
Due to their extensive menu, delectable food and inviting setting, The Sea Fire Grill is a must-try for all occasions. From power-lunch days or fancy weeknight outings when you want to feast on decadent seafood to business dinners with your colleagues in their sprawling private dining room, you will be guaranteed a satisfying experience by visiting this luxury establishment because everything on the menu is worth ordering. Trust us, you won’t regret making a visit to The Sea Fire Grill.
