LOVE AT FIRST BITE: LURE FISH BAR

I got another good one for you guys, today! Anyone who knows me, knows seafood is my ultimate favorite food on the planet. Now don’t get me wrong, the options on getting amazing sea food these days are limitless in NYC, and I have a large list for you in future posts. However, to get great seafood in a unique and romantic environment, one of my favorite places has to be Lure Fish Bar, located on 142 Mercer Street. For all my Miami locals, they also have a location in South Beach.

Let me start off by saying it’s another pricy one. It’s the kind of place you save up for date night or a special occasion, but man, is it special! Lure Fish Bar offers the freshest seafood from around the world plus a complete raw bar with rotating oyster and sushi selection.

Lure is just sexy. Forget the great food for a second, I’m just blown away by the rustic and intimate setting. The first thing you notice when you walk in is that the restaurant looks like the inside of a boat which is such a unique touch for a seafood restaurant. And the way they were able to execute the design, they avoided it feeling cliche or gimmicky. With lots of wood detailing, round shaped windows and lighting fixtures just like the ones found on a boat, you almost forget you’re on dry land. Lure doesn’t just feed you, they create an experience for you, reminiscent of a high end yacht taking you out to sea for the day.

I went with a group of five friends for dinner and we ordered almost everything on the menu. Impressed would be an understatement with how our waitress was able to remember our entire order because the list was long!

The food came out quickly and glasses were refilled before I could notice they needed to be. Whenever staff can be like tiny ninjas, bringing in and out plates, retouching the table going unnoticed, I’m super impressed. The staff just flowed well and kept our vibes up.

Now on to the main event: the food and drinks! For drinks I had an espresso martini. This is one of my favorite cocktails, but not every place makes them right! It’s made with vodka, expresso coffee, coffee liqueur and sugar syrup. Less sugar is key or it’s way too sweet. Lure is one of my favorite places to have one and it was so good the entire table ordered one. Their wine also had a plethora of great options.

For appetizers we ordered the combo, 3 of each oysters (east coast/west coast). I don’t know much about oysters except East Coast oysters are usually more salty, a bit bigger, chewier, and have a longer, paisley shape. West Coast oysters have a signature cucumber or melon note, they're mild in salt and tend to be smaller overall. I tend to like West better but at Lure they are so fresh I was obsessed with both!

Next we shared the Kenai roll with spicy wild king salmon, cucumber, scallions and fried shallot that added a crunch, which I love in sushi rolls. We had the Kabpachi Sashimi with wasabi leaf and ponzu. It tasted like it had diced jalapeños on top and I love spicy, so I was sold before I even tried it! We also had the Crispy Calamari with a smoked chili glaze. At first we were wondering why it didn’t come with sauce for dipping like it comes with at many other places. But once we tried it, we realized the sauce was already cooked in, and that was more than enough. So good! Last but never least, for appetizers we shared the Grilled Octopus with chickpea purée, celery, lime-Aleppo pepper vinaigrette. And you know my obsession with grilled octopus! It was a perfect combination of crispy and tender at the same time, and the taste was absolutely exquisite!

For my entree, I ordered the Seared Diver Scallops with young zucchini, cauliflower, pine nut raisin gremolata. It had a smokey charred crust and was cooked to perfection. My friend ordered the Whole Branzino with roasted fennel, carrots and champagne nage that was delicate and delectable. Another friend ordered the Sea Urchin Bucatini with blue crab, garlic and crushed red pepper. I snuck a few bites. A lot heavier being a pasta dish, but I found myself itching for another bite it was sooo good! My other friends were so full they didn’t even make it to their entrees! I was like “just buy something so I can try it”. We were too full for desserts but I was disappointed not to see my favorite dessert (cheesecake) on the menu. However, the Key Lime Pie with graham cracker crust, toasted meringue and chantilly looked yummy!

Want to impress someone or have an excuse to get dressed up and have a night on the town? Lure Fish Bar is the perfect place to splurge a little and reward yourself with the freshest seafood and an ambiance so sexy, you’ll think you just jumped into a Sex and the City episode. It’s a very hip place known for celeb sightings, but with a private feel that is probably the reason they come. Get ready to set sail and drift out to see Lure Fish Bar.

Final scores:

Ambiance: 5

Service: 5

Price: 4

Food: 5

Cocktails: 4