East Village gem serving up New England seafood w/ a sexy submarine vibe. Expect unique preparations, killer cocktails & a killer wine list.
Willa Moore reviews Smithereens, a New England-inspired seafood restaurant in the East Village, praising its innovative dishes and atmosphere.
Smithereens, a New England-inspired seafood haven in the East Village, offers a unique dining experience with its moody, intimate ambiance reminiscent of a "sexy submarine." Chef Nick Tamburo masterfully blends traditional coastal flavors with innovative twists, evident in dishes like the charcoal-grilled amberjack belly and the bright Boston mackerel with seaweed and ginger. The thoughtful wine pairings, focusing on vibrant white wines, and creative cocktails, such as a standout seawater martini, complement the menu perfectly. While some desserts may be polarizing, the overall experience is consistently praised, making it a must-visit for seafood aficionados.
Smithereens offers a New England-inspired seafood menu with creative twists. Highly recommended dishes include the lobster roll, candied seaweed with licorice cream, buckwheat pancake with smoked fish, and grilled mackerel. Some diners found certain dishes to be bland or uninspired, but the cocktails and wine list generally receive positive remarks.
"Standout dishes include the lobster roll, candied seaweed with licorice cream and citron, buckwheat pancake with smoked bluefish, Anadama bread with seaweed butter, and grilled mackerel. The apple cider donut and tropical sundae are also recommended desserts."
Customer feedback is mixed, with many praising the unique cocktails and seafood dishes, particularly the lobster roll. However, some diners have found certain dishes underwhelming or flavorless, and a few have noted issues with service or atmosphere.
Important Note
Some diners have found the food to be underwhelming or flavorless, and certain desserts are noted as polarizing. Service and atmosphere have also been mentioned as potential drawbacks by some.
"Smithereens is listed as a recommendation."
Positive"Smithereens is mentioned as a 'fancier' spot in the East Village where one can dress up, noting the general chill vibe of such places."
Positive"Smithereens is recommended as a potential date night spot."
Positive"Smithereens is recommended if you sit at the kitchen bar counter."
Positive"Smithereens is suggested as a great option for a kitchen view, though it might be a tough reservation to get."
Positive"The commenter had one of their best meals of the previous year at Smithereen's."
Positive"The user mentioned Smithereens as a restaurant that opened in October and was covered by food media almost a year ago, questioning its inclusion on a 'best new restaurant' list due to being 'old news'."
Neutral"The user found Smithereens to be very underwhelming and not worth the high cost."
Negative"The user mentioned Smithereens was fine but did not stand out among other new restaurants they tried."
Neutral"This commenter recommends Smithereens for those seeking a similar vibe to Theodora, noting it has an excellent wine list and good value."
Positive"The user had a delicious experience with a collaboration involving Smithereens and is looking forward to trying the restaurant."
Positive"This user recommended Smithereens."
Neutral"This user recommended Penny and Smithereens."
Neutral"This user recommended Penny, Smithereens, and Dame."
Neutral"This user simply mentioned "smithereens" as a recommendation."
Neutral"The apple cider donut at Smithereens is described as perfection, costing $6 and being very juicy with a dusting of acid."
Positive"Smithereens was listed as one of several restaurant suggestions for a birthday dinner in NYC."
Neutral"This user found the grilled mackerel at Smithereen's to be awesome, noting its jerk-adjacent seasoning."
Positive"The user reviewed Smithereens' menu and found it underwhelming in its "new england" offerings."
Negative"The user considers Smithereens' lobster roll to be the best they've had outside of New England, stating it holds up well compared to their recent trip to Maine."
Positive
