Oceans

Oceans is a globally inspired seafood restaurant that just opened up Gramercy at the end of 2019. After being quarantined during the pandemic, I finally got to check this restaurant off my list. And despite outdooring dining on these nasty New York City streets, the ambiance was still everything.

Hawaiian Walu at Oceans New York

The Deets

Oceans is a seafood restaurant located in Gramercy, at 233 Park Avenue South by 19th Street. Because this seafood spot is so close to Union Square, it’s easy to get to via the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, and W trains. The venue style is pretty elegant but slightly casual, so their dress code is “smart casual.” Chef Andy Kitko is the executive chef leading the kitchen over at Oceans. Pro tip… Check out the menus and make a reservation on OpenTable, so you don’t have to wait for a table.

Pandemic Precautions

Like many NYC restaurants, Oceans provided digital menus. Physical menus were also made available but required a wait because they needed to be sanitized between patron usage. So, as I’ve been saying, post and post again, ensure your phone is charged, or look at the menu ahead of time. There is also a contactless payment option available. All of the staff were wearing masks, whether they were outdoors or in the kitchen, and diners were also required to wear a mask when not sitting at their table. As for the venue’s social distancing guidelines, there are a limited number of seated diners and extra space between tables. From what I observed, the wait staff were doing a great job of sanitizing tables and chairs in between parties. This is what I’ve been seeing while dining out all Summer.

Food

The cuisines are generally seafood and a standard selection of sushi, but there are “Land” options for anyone not crazy about the “Sea” and vegan options for the non-meat eaters. Haven’t tried it myself, but I heard good things about the Cauliflower Steak. From the “Small Plates” section of the menu, we ordered the Shrimp Scampi served in lemon garlic butter with grilled bread. I absolutely loved the Charred Spanish Octopus served with marinated gigante beans and wild oregano. And because you can always use just one more dish for the table, we ordered the Brussels Sprouts from the “Sides for the Table” section of the menu. It was a pretty big portion for a side dish of veggies, so we could’ve gone without after all.

Shrimp Scampi

Charred Octopus

Brussels Sprouts

We ordered items under the “From the Ocean” section of the menu, of course. I kinda feel strongly that if you’re at a seafood restaurant, you should order seafood. And the same goes for a steakhouse. However, you’d be surprised that some steakhouses have really good chicken and fish dishes. The Chilean Sea Bass was topped with an edamame salsa and served over some romanesco cauliflower and a grainy mustard sauce. The Hawaiian Walu was decorated in ‘moules frites’ and served with madras curry and apple-fennel emulsion.

Chilean Sea Bass at Oceans New York

Drinks

I had the perfect Autumn cocktail! The Fall In has 400 Conejos mezcal, Lillet rose, prickly pear, thyme, lime, and Peychaud’s bitters. When it comes to cocktails, I’m a sucker for anything “pear.” Jacob’s Ladder is a citrusy cocktail with a kick of ginger. Here are the exact ingredients: ginger-infused Tanqueray Rangpur, green chartreuse, orgeat, lime, and basil. I’ll have to try the Pacific Rim during my next visit for sushi. This Instagram-able cocktail seems to be the most popular on social media and OpenTable reviews. It’s got kombu-infused Arette Blanco tequila, togarashi agave, lime, and yuzu. Cocktails ranged from $14 to $18, which is standard for NYC restaurants, especially this location.

Fall In

Jacob’s Ladder

The Check

The bill came to about $200 before the tip. We were pretty full, the service was excellent, and the live jazz music was perfect. So, I’d say the dining experience was well worth it. I’ve been asked by readers to give shout-outs to restaurant workers, so here it is — Our server, Daniel, was great!

The Tea

Oceans is a large upscale international seafood restaurant that I believe was supposed to open in 2019, but the opening was delayed, and then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. So don’t quote me on this one, but this is just what I assumed after walking by and seeing the restaurant closed all the time. Then, one night, when I was out to dinner with my boyfriend at Union Square Cafe, just across the street, I saw that they were finally open with outdoor seating and everything. This globally inspired seafood restaurant is brought to NYC by a top Vancouver restaurant group, according to Eater. Apparently, the executive chef learned cooking at a very early age from his grandmother, according to Cook.

#DineWithOceans

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