New York - Oceana: Mussels, wine and G&Ts

It is a special day today... We just got back to work a week ago after a two wonderful weeks "4th Honeymoon" around our beloved Asia. Jacob and I met in Beijing in 2008 and had not been back until now! Since we got married almost a year ago and it is almost 6 years that we met there, we decided to dedicate this year's vacation days to go back. We also take advantage of the trip to go to Tokyo, Japan, a To Do that was in my list for a long long time, given my big love for sushi and all types of fish and seafood. AND, I have finally decided to start one of my passions, which I have been already doing for people informally with my different "city guides": a blog about food, travel and recommended plans to do when visiting a city, in different special occasions, etc. If you have specific questions/requests, do not hesitate to ask me! I hope you like it and find it useful.

Even if the trip was amazing and I am dying to tell you all about it, and I will soon, my first post could not be about a different restaurant than Oceana, in New York City. Moving to a new city is not always easy. It takes some time to know the city, create your group of friends and discover the best spots for each occasion. It is specially difficult to find a great place to eat alone as well that makes you feel like home. This is the case of Oceana for me (and recently for my Mom as well since her last visit this past July) thanks to their lovely staff, their Michelin starred food, an award winning international wine list and an extremely large spirits list both designed and carefully selected by my friend and Oceana's Wine and Beverage Director Pedro Goncalves, amazing Gin&Tonics (one of the best that I have tried outside of Spain! They even have a "Just Gin" Program to introduce more people to this complex and refreshing spirit with more than 38 varieties!!) and cocktails, and great décor and ambiance. The main dining room is pretty formal and typical for business lunches and dinners. However, the bar area is great to go alone (or with one or two other people as well!).

 

Mussels and a glass of Au Bon Climat, a very nice, light California Pinot Noir that pairs very well with seafood

 

The restaurant has one Michelin star and even if you cannot go wrong with any of the food items in the menu, I definitely recommend trying their chilled mussels (6 to 8 per order for $5!!!) with Piquillo pepper's, green curry and cocktail sauces. Their burgers, both the Alaskan Wild Coho Salmon and the Black Angus, are incredible. If you like Octopus, do not miss their Grilled Octopus with eggplant caponata (which is prepared like a puree underneath the octopus). The octopus is perfectly cooked and not chewy, it melts in your mouth. Both the texture and flavor of the caponata make the perfect accompaniment, making it lighter than when the octopus is combined with potatoes. If you are in the mood for something a little more filling, the General Tsao's Lobster is delicious, as good as in any fine Chinese restaurant. For lighter options, opt for one of their whole grilled fishes, full of flavor, healthy and cooked to perfection.

 

I could recommend almost all the dishes in their menu. If you like Sardines, try the marinated sardines, they melt in your mouth. The only dish that I am not particularly a fan of is their Peekytoe Crab Cakes... I love crab cakes and I have tried them in almost every restaurant that has them in the menu... To my taste, the ones in Oceana are too fried and each of them is pretty little. The fried flavor overwhelms the flavor of the crab itself. But... that is just a personal opinion coming from someone who is not a fried food lover..! 

 

Another option is to only go for cocktails or enjoy a glass of wine in the bar and savor their house made crackers, a bit spicy and incredibly addicting!! You can find more information about the restaurant and their full menu on the restaurant's website: http://www.oceanarestaurant.com/

 

Gin & Tonic with house-made tonic water, fresh grapefruit juice and house-made crackers

I hope this review helps you if you decide to go. Please, feel free to leave me your opinions if you try a dish that you particularly like or you disagree with me!
Until the next post! MSP