TLDR
Moody East Village seafood spot w/ creative New England twists. Known for its lobster roll & impressive wine list.
Instagram Posts References
Smithereens is featured for its innovative Seaweed Dulse Martini, which represents a 'Savory Pivot' in the martini market, offering a unique flavor profile for those seeking an alternative to the traditional olive garnish.
Smithereens, an East Village newcomer from last year, specializes in New England-style food. Everything on their menu is highly regarded for being well-executed, with specific praise for their lobster roll and clam chowder.
Willa Moore reviews Smithereens, a New England-inspired seafood restaurant in the East Village, praising its innovative dishes and atmosphere.
Details
Smithereens, a New England-inspired seafood restaurant in the East Village, offers a unique and moody dining experience. Praised for its creative remixes of regional staples like a chowder reimagined as risotto, and a standout lobster roll, it has garnered attention from food critics and diners alike. The establishment also boasts a remarkable wine program curated by a top sommelier, making it a noteworthy spot for both food and drink enthusiasts [1], [2].
Food Overview
Smithereens specializes in New England-inspired seafood, receiving acclaim for its creative approach to classic dishes. Highlights include a notable lobster roll, often cited as one of the best outside of New England, and an innovative chowder reimagined as a soupy risotto [5]. Other praised items include grilled mackerel with jerk-adjacent seasoning and a 'perfect' apple cider donut. While most feedback is positive, one user found the lobster roll lacking in meat for its price and not particularly tasty [6].
Highlights / Recommended
"The lobster roll is frequently highlighted as a must-try, with many praising its preparation and taste. Additionally, specific dishes like the grilled mackerel and the apple cider donut have received strong recommendations for their unique flavors and execution."
Mentioned Dishes:
- •lobster roll(5)
- •beans(2)
- •apple cider donut(2)
- •clam chowder(2)
- •smoky abalone skewers(2)
Customer Sentiment
Customers largely praise the food and service, with many calling it a favorite new spot and highlighting specific dishes like the grilled mackerel and apple cider donut. However, some critics have noted a perceived unfriendliness in service and blandness in certain dishes, alongside criticisms of the writing style and prices [3], [4].
Caveats
While generally well-received, some diners have found the restaurant's writing style to be off-putting, and a few have questioned the value proposition regarding certain dishes like the lobster roll, citing insufficient meat for the price [3], [6]. There are also mentions of the restaurant's wine list and prices drawing some criticism [3].
Reddit Opinions & Reviews
Top Reddit Posts About SMITHEREENS
Recent Reddit Mentions
From post: 11 Days In New York Some Of The Things I Ate And
"This commenter did not find the food to be exceptional, suggesting other places would be better."
NegativeFrom post: 11 Days In New York Some Of The Things I Ate And
"The author had an amazing dinner here on a previous visit and found lunch to be equally amazing."
PositiveFrom post: New York Times Top 100 Restaurants X Michelin
"Smithereens is listed on the NYT top 100 list for 2026 with a Michelin selection."
NeutralFrom post: Best Seafood Dinner Experience In Manhattan With
"Smithereens was suggested as a potential seafood restaurant."
PositiveFrom post: Nytimes The 100 Best Restaurants In Nyc 11100
"This is one of many restaurants listed by the commenter from the NYTimes list."
NeutralFrom post: Cool Anniversary Restaurant
"Smithereens is suggested as having a vibe that is more relaxed and quirky than Bridges, but with similarly great and cool food."
PositiveFrom post: Influencedeinfluence My Seafoodheavy Restaurant
"Smithereens is recommended as a replacement for Crevette and Jeju Noodle Bar."
PositiveFrom post: Influencedeinfluence My Seafoodheavy Restaurant
"Smithereens is highly recommended, though obtaining a table can be difficult. The restaurant is known for its creative seafood dishes."
PositiveFrom post: Influencedeinfluence My Seafoodheavy Restaurant
"Smithereens is mentioned as a restaurant at the forefront of great and creative seafood dishes in NYC. It can be tough to get into, but showing up early or taking a bar seat might work."
PositiveFrom post: Influencedeinfluence My Seafoodheavy Restaurant
"The commenter highly recommends Smithereens, especially if you enjoy good wine, noting Nikita as one of the best sommeliers in the city."
PositiveFrom post: Best Restraunts Really Pretty Ambiance
"Smithereens is listed as a restaurant suggestion."
NeutralFrom post: Any Lobster Rolls Comparable With Maines
"The author felt that Smithereens did not have enough lobster meat for the price and was not particularly tasty."
NegativeFrom post: Any Lobster Rolls Comparable With Maines
"Smithereens is mentioned as being very good, though the author questions if it's a different style than Maine lobster rolls."
PositiveFrom post: Any Lobster Rolls Comparable With Maines
"Smithereens is mentioned as having an excellent lobster roll, and it is on the author's list to try."
PositiveFrom post: Date Night Ideas Near Ukranian Village East
"Smithereens is listed as a recommendation."
PositiveFrom post: Date Night Ideas Near Ukranian Village East
"Smithereens is mentioned as a 'fancier' spot in the East Village where one can dress up, noting the general chill vibe of such places."
PositiveFrom post: Date Night Ideas Near Ukranian Village East
"Smithereens is recommended as a potential date night spot."
PositiveFrom post: Best Kitchen View Restaurants In Nyc
"Smithereens is recommended if you sit at the kitchen bar counter."
PositiveFrom post: Best Kitchen View Restaurants In Nyc
"Smithereens is suggested as a great option for a kitchen view, though it might be a tough reservation to get."
PositiveFrom post: I Plotted Rfoodnycs Most Upvoted Restaurants Of
"The commenter had one of their best meals of the previous year at Smithereen's."
Positive