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...

Horrible Service - so so food 9/4/2002

I can't understand the hype about this place. I went there once and vowed never to go back due to the careless and downright rude attitudes of the waitstaff. The vow never to return was broken when friends invited us to dinner and chose to go to Esca. Alas, our experience was no better than the 1st time and our friends have likewise vowed never to return. It's a promise we'll all keep this time. Why pay through the nose for a bad experience? Pros: can't think of any... Cons: rude waiters, cold food, inattentive service more
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Horrible Service - so so food 9/4/2002

I can't understand the hype about this place. I went there once and vowed never to go back due to the careless and downright rude attitudes of the waitstaff. The vow never to return was broken when friends invited us to dinner and chose to go to Esca. Alas, our experience was no better than the 1st time and our friends have likewise vowed never to return. It's a promise we'll all keep this time. Why pay through the nose for a bad experience? Pros: can't think of any... Cons: rude waiters, cold food, inattentive service more
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Trying to Kiss Up to Mario? 8/28/2002

Because that's the only way Citysearch editorial (though we KNOW you're not food critics) could make this the best seafood in Manhattan!!! Now, Mario is a terrific guy but as a chef he has really faltered with Esca. The prepaprations are fussy, with too much going on...except good cooking. The fish gets lost in the stuff around it and apparently this is supposed to cover the fact that the fish is never cooked properly. A sad state of affairs for a fine chef. Pros: Mario Cons: horrible food, location more
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Trying to Kiss Up to Mario? 8/28/2002

Because that's the only way Citysearch editorial (though we KNOW you're not food critics) could make this the best seafood in Manhattan!!! Now, Mario is a terrific guy but as a chef he has really faltered with Esca. The prepaprations are fussy, with too much going on...except good cooking. The fish gets lost in the stuff around it and apparently this is supposed to cover the fact that the fish is never cooked properly. A sad state of affairs for a fine chef. Pros: Mario Cons: horrible food, location more
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Overrated and way overpriced 8/24/2002

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 (for $22!). The dish was basically linguine in oil with a few clams on it. The only flavor present was the oil. I can have better linguine at almost any neighborhood italian restaurant for half the price. The fish was very fresh and well-prepared but not to a degree to justify any higher prices than at many italian restaurants. There are too many good italian restaurants around to waste your time and money here. Cons: Ordinary food, Ridiculous pricing more
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Overrated and way overpriced 8/24/2002

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 (for $22!). The dish was basically linguine in oil with a few clams on it. The only flavor present was the oil. I can have better linguine at almost any neighborhood italian restaurant for half the price. The fish was very fresh and well-prepared but not to a degree to justify any higher prices than at many italian restaurants. There are too many good italian restaurants around to waste your time and money here. Cons: Ordinary food, Ridiculous pricing more
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Three out of four got sick 8/24/2002

Esca always seemed a wee bit pretentious, but a friend insisted that we give it a go, so four of us went there for dinner. Since he was going to pick up the tab, I figured what the hell. What a mistake. Three of us got ill after that meal, and we all got different things. While dining, none of us were impressed with the food. I'd never go there again. It's overrated. Pros: Outside Cons: Sickness, Expensive, Limited menu more
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Three out of four got sick 8/24/2002

Esca always seemed a wee bit pretentious, but a friend insisted that we give it a go, so four of us went there for dinner. Since he was going to pick up the tab, I figured what the hell. What a mistake. Three of us got ill after that meal, and we all got different things. While dining, none of us were impressed with the food. I'd never go there again. It's overrated. Pros: Outside Cons: Sickness, Expensive, Limited menu more
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superior 8/19/2002

Great food Great Chef Raw bar at the bar is fantastic Pros: food, decor, ambiance more
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superior 8/19/2002

Great food Great Chef Raw bar at the bar is fantastic Pros: food, decor, ambiance more
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Will return many times 8/12/2002

The crudo is delightful. Gnocchi competes on par nona's best. San Pietro fish is wonderful! Service is top-notch. Easily one of the best places for pre- or post-theater dining. Pros: Crudo, Service, Wine list more
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Will return many times 8/12/2002

The crudo is delightful. Gnocchi competes on par nona's best. San Pietro fish is wonderful! Service is top-notch. Easily one of the best places for pre- or post-theater dining. Pros: Crudo, Service, Wine list more
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dreaming of Crudo 7/24/2002

Crudo, an appetizer with 3 pieces of exotic raw fish covered in citrus infused olive oil, will stay with me for a long time. The menu is filled with interesting local ingredients: instead of salmon, line caught salmon from ___ river. The fish entrees come to life and the deserts were delicious. The waiters were attentive and happy to expound ala Molto Mario about any of the dishes... I'll definitley go back. more
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dreaming of Crudo 7/24/2002

Crudo, an appetizer with 3 pieces of exotic raw fish covered in citrus infused olive oil, will stay with me for a long time. The menu is filled with interesting local ingredients: instead of salmon, line caught salmon from ___ river. The fish entrees come to life and the deserts were delicious. The waiters were attentive and happy to expound ala Molto Mario about any of the dishes... I'll definitley go back. more
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Excellent food and service 6/15/2002

We recently went for dinner with two kids and the staff were very accomodating even without reservations. The food and wine were excellent and the staff were so attentive. It was one of the best meals we've had in the city. I loved the mushroom salad and the cerviche was extaraordinary. Will definitely go back to try the tasting menu. more
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Excellent food and service 6/15/2002

We recently went for dinner with two kids and the staff were very accomodating even without reservations. The food and wine were excellent and the staff were so attentive. It was one of the best meals we've had in the city. I loved the mushroom salad and the cerviche was extaraordinary. Will definitely go back to try the tasting menu. more
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if it is on TV it has to be good, right? 5/23/2002

The food at Esca is an accomplishment and the kitchen staff can be proud. Previous patrons remarked that they were seated buy the noisy bar. Surprise, we were seated beside the bar. Thankfully, our corpulent host rectified the situation. Esca should not use advance reservations as an opportunity to fill up their worst tables. The interior was uninteresting. The heavily up sold $30 per person Crudo tasters plate is laughable. Does sushi become exponentially more expensive when you poor olive oil on it? We enjoyed the sea bass in salt crust. Thankfully, the whole fish survived the mangling it underwent by the wait staff. They de-boned the creature in the restaurant for our viewing pleasure. It was comical; three people hacked away for several minutes in a futile effort to display dining panache. Curly & Moe would have been proud. more
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if it is on TV it has to be good, right? 5/23/2002

The food at Esca is an accomplishment and the kitchen staff can be proud. Previous patrons remarked that they were seated buy the noisy bar. Surprise, we were seated beside the bar. Thankfully, our corpulent host rectified the situation. Esca should not use advance reservations as an opportunity to fill up their worst tables. The interior was uninteresting. The heavily up sold $30 per person Crudo tasters plate is laughable. Does sushi become exponentially more expensive when you poor olive oil on it? We enjoyed the sea bass in salt crust. Thankfully, the whole fish survived the mangling it underwent by the wait staff. They de-boned the creature in the restaurant for our viewing pleasure. It was comical; three people hacked away for several minutes in a futile effort to display dining panache. Curly & Moe would have been proud. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Escape from Times Square 5/21/2002

We were planning a lunch for a good friend and wanted to find a place that was nice, relaxed and away from the craziness of our Times Square office building. Esca turned out to be the perfect answer! They accepted our reservation a month in advance and then accommodated our group of 11, then 14, then finally 12, with a smile. The food was delightful as always but, in a situation where service was really going to shape the experience, the staff really came through and made this a wonderful low-key celebration. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Escape from Times Square 5/21/2002

We were planning a lunch for a good friend and wanted to find a place that was nice, relaxed and away from the craziness of our Times Square office building. Esca turned out to be the perfect answer! They accepted our reservation a month in advance and then accommodated our group of 11, then 14, then finally 12, with a smile. The food was delightful as always but, in a situation where service was really going to shape the experience, the staff really came through and made this a wonderful low-key celebration. more
Reply | Report abuse |
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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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