Esca Restaurant

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402 W 43rd St
New York, NY 10036

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(212) 564-7272
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Esca Restaurant - New York, NY
Esca Restaurant - New York, NY
Esca Restaurant - New York, NY
Esca Restaurant - New York, NY
Esca Restaurant - New York, NY
Esca Restaurant - New York, NY
Esca Restaurant - New York, NY
Esca Restaurant - New York, NY
Esca Restaurant - New York, NY
Esca Restaurant - New York, NY
Reviews
( 37 )
( 47 )
( 20 )
( 16 )
( 34 )

Best

If you go for nothing else have a drink and the crudo tasting. Its delicious and so satisfying. I also enjoyed a pasta with crab and sea urchin wich was great too. Dessert wasn't ...

Worst

I was very disappointed with Esca. The food, while solid, was unspectacular and the pricing was outrageous. As a first course, I had linguine with clams, prosciutto and red pepper...

Just ask Joe 8/25/2005

I totally agree with the previous reviews on service and food. Joe was not only charming, but was a wonderful guide to the menu. It's such a pleasure to have a server be so enthusiastic about the food he is helping people order. The raw fish appetizers were amazing -- all of them....don't miss the snapper.... We were lucky enough to get a table outside on a nice evening with no humidity. Add the service and the food to that and everybody left very happy. Pros: Service, Food more
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Just ask Joe 8/25/2005

I totally agree with the previous reviews on service and food. Joe was not only charming, but was a wonderful guide to the menu. It's such a pleasure to have a server be so enthusiastic about the food he is helping people order. The raw fish appetizers were amazing -- all of them....don't miss the snapper.... We were lucky enough to get a table outside on a nice evening with no humidity. Add the service and the food to that and everybody left very happy. Pros: Service, Food more
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Wonderful Experience 6/29/2005

I went to Esca last night with my parents for dinner. Our server, Joe, was outstanding. He paid particular attention to my father, who is hard of hearing, and made sure he understood everything. The food was outstanding, and Joe was very helpful as he offered excellent suggestions and explanations of the menu. My parents are sophisticated diners, having traveled extensively and lived in various countries, and they were very impressed, as was I. The only drawback was that the room is extremely loud, and we had to raise our voices to have a conversation, not unusual in a NYC restaurant, but unfortunate. We had the crudo tasting, a zucchini blossom stuffed with cheese appetizer, a pasta course which we shared that contained spaghetti, mint, chilis and lobster, and the branzino baked in a salt crust, and the skate. All were outstanding. Definitely an outstanding all-around evening. Pros: food, service, decor Cons: loud dining room more
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Wonderful Experience 6/29/2005

I went to Esca last night with my parents for dinner. Our server, Joe, was outstanding. He paid particular attention to my father, who is hard of hearing, and made sure he understood everything. The food was outstanding, and Joe was very helpful as he offered excellent suggestions and explanations of the menu. My parents are sophisticated diners, having traveled extensively and lived in various countries, and they were very impressed, as was I. The only drawback was that the room is extremely loud, and we had to raise our voices to have a conversation, not unusual in a NYC restaurant, but unfortunate. We had the crudo tasting, a zucchini blossom stuffed with cheese appetizer, a pasta course which we shared that contained spaghetti, mint, chilis and lobster, and the branzino baked in a salt crust, and the skate. All were outstanding. Definitely an outstanding all-around evening. Pros: food, service, decor Cons: loud dining room more
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Unique seafood & fish creations 4/19/2005

We dined at Esca on April 19, 2005. It was our first time there and the four of us loved it. The server was professional and the sommelier was very helpful. Each course, starting with the crudo, through the grilled octopus and squid, to the pastas with lobster and main courses of sauteed skate, pompano, black bass and seared divers scallops, was superb. It does for Italian seafood what Le Bernadin does for French. The prices, for such high quality ingredients and cooking, are quite reasonable. Pros: menu selection, wine list, breads Cons: size of entree more
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Unique seafood & fish creations 4/19/2005

We dined at Esca on April 19, 2005. It was our first time there and the four of us loved it. The server was professional and the sommelier was very helpful. Each course, starting with the crudo, through the grilled octopus and squid, to the pastas with lobster and main courses of sauteed skate, pompano, black bass and seared divers scallops, was superb. It does for Italian seafood what Le Bernadin does for French. The prices, for such high quality ingredients and cooking, are quite reasonable. Pros: menu selection, wine list, breads Cons: size of entree more
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Wow, clams! 1/11/2005

What a lovely meal I had here last night! I am a big Mario Batali fan, and Esca, like Lupa and Babbo, did not disappoint. Service was impeccable and the restaurant itself is beautiful. I had the brodetto as an appetizer - amazing! I have never seen so many types of shellfish in one bowl, all fresh and cooked to perfection in slightly spicy tomato broth. My monkfish entree was also delicious, although my friend's scallops were a bit overdone. Cheese platter for dessert was nothing special (some of the cheeses were a bit dried out). Though I didn't taste any of the crudo, all the raw bar options looked incredible. Another winner for Batali! more
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Wow, clams! 1/11/2005

What a lovely meal I had here last night! I am a big Mario Batali fan, and Esca, like Lupa and Babbo, did not disappoint. Service was impeccable and the restaurant itself is beautiful. I had the brodetto as an appetizer - amazing! I have never seen so many types of shellfish in one bowl, all fresh and cooked to perfection in slightly spicy tomato broth. My monkfish entree was also delicious, although my friend's scallops were a bit overdone. Cheese platter for dessert was nothing special (some of the cheeses were a bit dried out). Though I didn't taste any of the crudo, all the raw bar options looked incredible. Another winner for Batali! more
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sevice without a smile 12/8/2004

Cold, efficient service, without a smile, sadly misses the mark at Esca. The sommolier was just short of ""nasty"". Too expensive for good, but not great fare...there are better places to dine. Pros: varied menu Cons: , expensive more
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sevice without a smile 12/8/2004

Cold, efficient service, without a smile, sadly misses the mark at Esca. The sommolier was just short of ""nasty"". Too expensive for good, but not great fare...there are better places to dine. Pros: varied menu Cons: , expensive more
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Not the fine Italian 12/7/2004

Simply, the service was great but the food was not up to par. Yes, Even the desserts. Not sure why I went... wait my girlfriend dragged me again. Seriously, The food lacked flavor of the Italian cuisine. I felt the dishes had some identity crisis. The ingrdients were asian but poor execution on the dishes' final presentation and coupling of flavors. Pros: Service more
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Not the fine Italian 12/7/2004

Simply, the service was great but the food was not up to par. Yes, Even the desserts. Not sure why I went... wait my girlfriend dragged me again. Seriously, The food lacked flavor of the Italian cuisine. I felt the dishes had some identity crisis. The ingrdients were asian but poor execution on the dishes' final presentation and coupling of flavors. Pros: Service more
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Freshness in the Theater District 10/18/2004

This was my first Batali experience and I must say that it was an exceptional one. The restaurant itself is on the plain side as far as decor goes but the food is anything but plain. Do not come here with non-seafood eaters as the menu is almost entirely seafood. There are many, many excellent choices from the different categories (raw, cooked, pastas, whole fishes, etc.) but the chef's selection is the way to go. For $65, you will get a 5-6 course tasting menu encompassing a variety of raw fish, cooked fish, pastas, dessert, etc. and every single course was spectacular. 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. It is not cheap, but a good NYC dining experience usually isn't.... Pros: Fresh food, Knowledgeable waiters, Wine List more
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Freshness in the Theater District 10/18/2004

This was my first Batali experience and I must say that it was an exceptional one. The restaurant itself is on the plain side as far as decor goes but the food is anything but plain. Do not come here with non-seafood eaters as the menu is almost entirely seafood. There are many, many excellent choices from the different categories (raw, cooked, pastas, whole fishes, etc.) but the chef's selection is the way to go. For $65, you will get a 5-6 course tasting menu encompassing a variety of raw fish, cooked fish, pastas, dessert, etc. and every single course was spectacular. 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. It is not cheap, but a good NYC dining experience usually isn't.... Pros: Fresh food, Knowledgeable waiters, Wine List more
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Catastrofic 7/24/2004

Catastrofic service great food. I 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. Can not recommend Pros: good food Cons: , service, service more
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Catastrofic 7/24/2004

Catastrofic service great food. I 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. Can not recommend Pros: good food Cons: , service, service more
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Exquisite fish 8/31/2003

If you like fish, this is the place to go! This restaurant's specialty is beautiful fish in every style, including crudi (raw fish, Italian style). There is garden seating available, which I highly recommend; the interior has absolutely no ambiance and is very small. Prices are moderate: average main course $28. There is an extensive wine list, and every kind of fish imaginable is prepared here. This is truly the best fish I have ever eaten--tender, flavorful and cooked in an elegant oil. I recommend you stick with their wonderful fish, and skip the side dishes and dessert, which were not so exceptional. 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! Although the atmosphere was lacking, I could definitely recommend a trip to Esca for the fish alone! Pros: the best fish, period Cons: waiters can be rude, poor atmosphere more
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Exquisite fish 8/31/2003

If you like fish, this is the place to go! This restaurant's specialty is beautiful fish in every style, including crudi (raw fish, Italian style). There is garden seating available, which I highly recommend; the interior has absolutely no ambiance and is very small. Prices are moderate: average main course $28. There is an extensive wine list, and every kind of fish imaginable is prepared here. This is truly the best fish I have ever eaten--tender, flavorful and cooked in an elegant oil. I recommend you stick with their wonderful fish, and skip the side dishes and dessert, which were not so exceptional. 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! Although the atmosphere was lacking, I could definitely recommend a trip to Esca for the fish alone! Pros: the best fish, period Cons: waiters can be rude, poor atmosphere more
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AAAmazing Experience! 7/7/2003

Visit Esca if you seek exceptionally fresh fare and creative pastas and side dishes served with a smile. This is a restaurant for people who can appreciate the nuances in using the right herbs and oils to bring out the best qualities of any dish. My fiancee and I took our friends there for their anniversary and received exceptional service. We each ordered different pastas, entrees and deserts and shared the dishes between us. Each dish was excellent. Esca is not for the pedestrian diner. It is also not cheap, but you do get that for which you paid. We will definitely be returning and sending our friends to experience Esca for themselves. Pros: Excellent fare, Great service, Simple atmosphere more
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AAAmazing Experience! 7/7/2003

Visit Esca if you seek exceptionally fresh fare and creative pastas and side dishes served with a smile. This is a restaurant for people who can appreciate the nuances in using the right herbs and oils to bring out the best qualities of any dish. My fiancee and I took our friends there for their anniversary and received exceptional service. We each ordered different pastas, entrees and deserts and shared the dishes between us. Each dish was excellent. Esca is not for the pedestrian diner. It is also not cheap, but you do get that for which you paid. We will definitely be returning and sending our friends to experience Esca for themselves. Pros: Excellent fare, Great service, Simple atmosphere more
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Menu for Esca Restaurant


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Editorial

  • 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...

  • 10/11/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon noon-2:30 pm, 5-10:30 pm, Tues-Sat noon-2:30 pm, 5-11:30 pm, Sun 4:30-10:30 pm
  • Payments: American Express, Diner's Club, Discover, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Clinton, Midtown
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