We had an amazing meal at Smithereens and are not surprised it made the NYTimes list of best restaurants. The skewers were superb and we ordered them twice because of how much we loved them after finishing the first plate. The space itself is in the basement and can imagine it would be a great first date spot. I also thought the counter seating looked interesting and would be perfect for a solo or duo diner party. Their take on a martini was also fun. read more

Highly coveted table seating here which means it's time to make reservations at 10am two weeks in advance! One of my friends have been dying to eat here and on busy times were turned away even for 1 person. When we sat down we did see on a Thursday night two walk in seatings at the bar. Even though we had a table the seats were very low and it is underground so you do feel like you're sort of eating in a chic industrial cave which is a cool vibe. All the dishes are almost seafood tapas style, they're known for fish. The prices are quite pricey for the size of the dishes and the waitress does warn you about the sizing and she was actually kind of spot on with the dishes so I recommend taking her word if you need to eat a regular amount. I also recommend taking her opinion highly into consideration as we discovered a dish we wouldn't have ordered normally! We ordered a few things from the anadame bread to the famous lobster roll, bluefin tuna, abalone skewers and the black cod. All were very delicious. The bread was absolutely FIRE it was so soft and the butter is seaweed but so light it added a perfect touch. The bluefin tuna was next and it was good but didn't wow me that much but it was a good share dish. We had the abalone skewers and this was the absolute gem that the waitress recommended us and I do think about these the next day as they were very tasty from how they cooked it and the partially cooked egg yolk was perfect spread on the abalone. Very inventive and I loved this one the most. The famous lobster roll was great! But it tasted like any great lobster roll from Maine! The flavors were slightly lighter and more fresh so I enjoyed it with the pickle. The black cod was great as well and I really wanted it since it had maitake mushrooms which I love! I highly recommend! Would I come here on a date? Definitely. The vibes are so good and perfect for being close to each other. In terms of sharing food with friends it is quite hard to share and almost feel like very small plates so I would actually get more than what I ordered amongst three people. We ordered these five dishes and two rounds of drinks (one wine and one cocktail) and it came out to around $300 total. It was a splurge but very tasteful kind of splurge. I definitely will be back for those abalone skewers but I definitely want to try what the waitress recommended us next time (rice, Neptune style buckwheat pancake and the fried whiting!) read more

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Food: 4.2/5 Service: 4.0/5 Ambiance: 3.7/5 Value: 3.2/5 I am from New England and enjoy seafood so I thought I would check out Smithereens because I read that's what they're about. I wondered why they named the restaurant that. AI says "The restaurant's name comes from a 1982 movie of the same title, a coming-of-age story set in the punk scene of the East Village at that time. "We're finding that the name has a lot more relevance to what we're doing than [just the location]," [chef/owner Nick] Tamburo says." I also wondered where the word originated. AI says "Smithereens came to the English language around 1810 as "smiddereens," from the Irish word "smidirin," which is the diminutive form of "smiodar," which means "fragment."" I was afraid the food would be too salty because a Google reviewer complained about that in her review and her pull quote is very prominent when one does a Google search about this restaurant. But it turned out that it wasn't too salty for me. It was fine. The sidecar made with Okinawan black sugar was not it for me. I had two sips and left it untouched the remainder of my meal. They didn't notice and gave no offer to comp. The server was pretty good about suggesting to put the bread dish last with the black cod so I could use it to soak up sauce/juices. And he was very informative when I asked about what type of mushrooms are in the black cod dish (maitake and wood ear). The lobster roll was pretty good. They used interesting spices. But not awesome. It was maybe 85% of the size I expected. read more

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I rarely have cocktails but was intrigued by the evil Negroni which was so good that I may have cocktails more often Four of us shared Anadama Bread, Buckwheat pancake, fried whiting, rice with quahog clam chowder, lobster roll, black cod and scallops with citrus. The lobster roll was better than any LR I had in the northeast. Everything was delicious and the service provided by Harlan was fabulous. The setting was cozy and warm which made it extra special since we where there during the polar snowstorm (early February read more

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Stellar meal and great vibes from the staff and the space. I don't think there was any dish we didn't like. Every dish had something that I hadn't ever tried before. We got the buckwheat pancake with bluefin tuna, bread with seaweed butter, peas with mussels, amberjack, rice clam chowder, and the apple cider donut for dessert. You can really taste the sour tartness of the apple in the donut. Also the rice dish was my favorite. No matter what you pick, you can't go wrong! read more

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Overall lovely. Drinks are quite adventurous either you like it or not. Hay Smoked Amberjack - fresh, great texture, smoky but didn't really taste the persimmon. Razor Clam - very fresh but overall little dry. Buckwheat Pancake - little disappointed as was hoping to get buckwheat flavor more but it's more like a thin crepe with whitefish salad, very whitefish heavy. Abalone Skewer - it's good but more like 1/4 abalone and 3/4 mushroom... The egg yolk was very tasty we were guessing they reconstructed the egg yolk but not sure. Monkfish - protein is okay but the 3 accoutrement came with it was interesting pairing. Apple Cider Donut was very good! Fluffy and warm. The $8 scoop of vanilla ice cream was unnecessary. Celery Float was very worth trying. It's a big too celery but we love the celery root ice cream. Pinenut Tart was unfortunately mid, pinenut layer was quite thin. The tart was loose not structured. The sugar layer was dominant. Enjoy!!! read more

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Smithereens is delicious. Reservations aren't too hard to get for 2 as long as you're willing to eat around 5 or 9, though when you get there the wait can be a bit long even with a reservation. Everyone seems to love the Anadama bread but I don't think it was too much more special than bread you can get at a bakery. I would pass on this one personally. Loved the buckwheat pancake, it has smoked fish below it and gives a nice creamy crepe like taste and texture. The tuna was really good too, they smear this chili sauce below it giving it a nice acidic taste with a kick. Lobster roll was good but not that crazy amazing. Standard fare but with a touch more of old bay like spice on top, and a little more flavor in the lobster and mayo. The grilled mackerel was delicious though, with a Thai inspired taste of tamarind and a slaw on top that added just the right level of acidity. The candied seaweed with cream is unique but really good. Rather than the crunch for a hard shell pastry you get the crispiness and crunch of the candied nori. read more

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I snagged a reservation here after I saw in the NYT it was best 50 places in the world. The food is good, but I do agree with the critic - It does seem like a lot of appetizers looking for a home. Anadama bread was hearty, but fluffly at the same time. Amberjack was light with a nice kick. Lobster roll, yes it was just a lobster roll, but it was a solid one. I do miss Pearl Oyster Bar, it was a huge roll for $35. The one here was tiny tiny for $38. The abalone skewers were definitely tasty. The japanese sanma was a surprise - it came with its head on. It tasted a little pickled and very delicate. The black cod was cooked well, but very mild. We ended with the apple cider donut that was very very fried. Overall solid food, but felt more like a tapas place with no encore. read more

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Had a lovely dinner here thanks to our server Mel and the neat dishes and the overall vibes. It was a bit tough securing a reservation, but I ended up being able to make one since someone cancelled theirs. When I arrived, I was able to be seated first without my whole party being there which was a plus. Mel was with us throughout our meal and very nice. We settled on these dishes for a party of two: Anadama Bread (4.5/5) This would have been even better with just a bit more salt in the butter. The bread was warm and fluffy and the butter had a great consistency to it. Buckwheat Pancake (4/5) This was an interesting combo of flavors, I can see why lots of people recommend it. Lobster Roll (3/5) The lobster was sooo fresh and tasty, but I really wasn't a fan of the paprika on the bread. It was too much! Black Cod (5/5) My favorite dish by far!!!!!!! I would order this again and again. Everything in this dish tasted incredible from the buttery cod to the flavorful spinach. Apple Cider Donut (2/5) I had such high hopes for this, and while it was good, what ruined it for me was the salt -- the combo of flavors was very off-putting to me. The donut is big though and nice to share. It comes warm as well. read more

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Hype!!! This place is great. I've never had elevated Northeast America-style food before...so Smithereens is on my most-inventive list. And yeah, as just another Northeastern coastal elite...IT IS SO GOOD!!! The cocktails were honestly some of the best moments of the meal, extremely inventive with notes you don't often find. And of course the food........so yummy! I can't wait to go back. read more

One of my favorite new restaurants!! So good I came twice in a month. The first time, I made a reservation two weeks ahead for dinner. My friend and I ordered: + Rhubarb Collins + Seaweed martini + Barnacle boy + Buckwheat Pancake with smoked bluefish + beans with red shrimp, squid & sea urchin + Blue crab rice + Cured fluke + Andama bread + Maple & pinenut tart + Candied seaweed Seaweed martini was perfect, and the other two drinks were really fantastic too. As for the food, top highlights were the beans, cured fluke and andama bread. (Beans are off the menu now but hopefully they bring them back one day!) Buckwheat pancake was also fab. They asked for feedback on the crab rice because it was a new menu item (loved that they did that). We were honest - we thought it was a bit salty / letdown compared to everything else - and they comped it which was a really nice touch. For my second visit, I booked about a week ahead and went with my boyfriend. We ordered: + Tuna with rhubarb and kelp + Lentils + Lobster roll + Celery ice cream float + Apple cider donut The lentils were my fave this time (honestly a worthy replacement for the beans), followed by the tuna and donut. Lobster roll was also so good... ok basically everything here is great lol. Celery ice cream float was super unique though not as unique as the candied seaweed if you can only choose one. They also comped us some amaro!! Vibes are great and not pretentious. I'm obsessed with this place. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal spot. I came here for dinner with my fiancé to celebrate his birthday and it was the perfect place. Getting a reservation is tough but I lucked out with the resy notify feature and got a reservation for a Friday around 9:30PM. The ambiance is really cool-- it gives this very deep sea+ noir+ mysterious vibe mixed with a simple yet elegant decor. The dimly lit space feels very open but cozy at the same time. We sat at the bar which was really fun since we got to see how some of the dishes were prepared in front of our eyes and got to experience all the different delicious scents from dishes that we did not even order. The bartender who helped us was very personable and gave us some wonderful recommendations for drinks and also food. Their cocktails and wine list are a 10/10. I was actually very impressed by their drinks. I got a green swizzle cocktail which was light, refreshing, but packed with a depth of flavor and acidity. My fiancé got a negroni which he loved. We also tried one of their white wines which was a riesling and was absolutely delicious, pairing super well with all the dishes. For food, we were also completely blown away. We tried: - Buckwheat pancake: I get the hype now. Thin pancake with crispy edges, and subtle sweet hints from the maple, contrasted by the punch of green onion. All of this is paired with this deliciously rich and creamy smoked fish. Absolute perfection. Very generous portion size! Must order. - Bluefin tuna: super thin, lean tuna. Even if lean, somehow it still melted in our mouths. This dish is bright, with a citrusy/sweet vinaigrette, tomatoes, and gooseberries. Delicious app. - Abalone skewers: umami and smoky combination of grilled abalone and shiitake mushrooms. The presentation is gorgeous, including a giant shell with egg yolk jam in it to add more richness to each bite of the skewer. Truly very unique and well executed dish. - Lobster roll: perfectly crispy exterior of the bun with a soft and pillowy inside. Generous chunks of delicious lobster. Nice touch of Old Bay seasoning. Portion is on the smaller side but very solid overall. - Whole BBQ mackerel: Before you even ask, yes this is 100% worth the $62 price tag. We initially debated ordered two other of the mains but opted for just this BBQ mackerel and it was truly mind-blowing. This is probably the best grilled fish I have had all year. The meat was unbelievably tender and the seasoning was a little sweet and sour with hints of tamarind, ginger, and spice. It came topped with this tangy/pickled coleslaw that really complimented and brought out the flavors of the fish seasoning. Perfectly de-boned and generously sized. Ideal to share. - Maple and pine nut tart: Nutty, with hints of maple that are not too overpowering, buttery. Perfect fall dessert if you are a fan of tarts and nutty flavor profiles. Comes with a side of salted whipped cream that gives the perfect contrast. Made me feel warm and happy inside. - Apple cider donut: I am not a huge fan of donuts but this was actually the best donut I have had in my life. The exterior was perfectly crispy, with a nice even layer of cinnamon and sugar. The inside was pillowy, moist, and had a lovely apple cider flavor. This was such a simple dish but it was executed so well that it was truly a showstopper. We got it with the pawpaw ice cream which created a beautiful contrast by adding subtle hints of vanilla and a nice temperature gradient. We were actually so close to ordering a second round of donut but somehow had enough self control :) Overall, every bite was perfection and the ambiance was divine. This may be one of my new favorite restaurants in NYC. The dishes are all so rich and intentional. The portion sizes are surprisingly generous and allow you to leave pretty full and satisfied. The ambiance is super cute and perfect for a date night. I will be dreaming about the mackerel and the apple cider donut for a long time. I doubt I will be able to stay away for long... Highly recommend this place. Check it out at the earliest opportunity. read more

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Smithereens is worth the hype. My friend and I snagged a bar seat reservation for a Friday night at 6:30p. We were seated right away and looked over the menu. They have a small cocktail, wine by the glass, and beer menu, as well as bottles of wine if you're looking to split. For food, our waiter recommended 4-6 per person. We did the bread, buckwheat pancake, bluefin tuna, abalone skewers, and the lobster roll. Food was incredible. Flavors were complimentary and well balanced. All the seafood was also fresh and flavorful. Ambiance is fun. It's dimly lit and vibey inside. The bar seat was fun because we could watch the action, but they have plenty of little tables around if you'd prefer that setting. Service was great, our waiter was awesome. So friendly, great recommendations, and attentive. Overall, Smithereens is a must visit. The food is exceptional, well paced, and unique. With great service and a cool ambiance to match, you're in for a great night. read more

The highlight for me was the apple cider donut. Hot and fluffy on the inside. The other was the seafood rice, really ch and tasty. read more

Smithereens - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Service and the space were incredible. The service was super attentive, friendly, and very helpful. The space was bigger than we expected, very moody, and our seats in front of the kitchen had an awesome view. The food itself was awesome. Tons of very inventive flavors/bites. Our favorites were the lobster roll and the red shrimp but everything on the menu was great. For dessert the apple cider donut is a must get, truly the best donut I've ever had read more

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Great food with a cozy ambiance. Sat at the chefs counter and really felt the cohesiveness in team behind the kitchen. They were all moving with grace and was not loud as every chef was perfecting their part of the overall menu. All the food here was great and the dessert made of seaweed was extremely unique and would recommend saving room for one. Great service and extensive wine menu read more

Smithereens - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

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Incredible pancake, bread/butter, whiting, tuna, and mackerel -- it would be hard to sub out any of these next time around, although there's still more I'd want to try. The rice was also excellent but heavy and probably overkill. read more

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Delicious New England seafood dishes with a modern flare! As a seafood fan, I was impressed by the flavors and the execution! My table of 2 started off with the buckwheat pancake, which was crunchy and chewy. Compared to the one at Neptune Oyster in Boston, the Smithereens' version was more crispy (less doughy), but had less smoked bluefish flavors and definitely more savory focused. Loved the generous serving of green onions on top! While I was craving a crudo, the amberjack was a little too "spicy" with the horseradish for me and didn't have as much sauce as I would have liked. The green beans nevertheless gave it a nice crunch and textural contrast. The abalone skewers was probably my *favorite* dish this entire meal! The abalone slices were cooked nicely with a fragrant smoky aroma and well seasoned. The shiitake mushrooms were tasty and juicy. The egg yolk jam was a delightful extra touch with creamy flavors. For mains, I was initially nervous about the lentils but it was an umami heaven. The lentils helped balance the fattiness from the foie gras. The eel pieces gave it an additional yummy fishy, savory profile. The bass was very tender and paired well with the shrimp-stuffed morel mushrooms. The sauce reminded me of a sweet miso flavor that was well-balanced. For desserts, the candied seaweed was the second highlight of my meal!! I'm not a licorice person but the licorice taste wasn't too strong. The flavor combination was very novel and it worked!! The sweet, savory, tangy, and slightly bitter flavors came from mixing candied seaweed with citrus jam and licorice white chocolate cream. For drinks, the coconut gimlet featured a coconut cream flavor (rather than coconut syrup or pulp) which I very much enjoyed! It wasn't too strong nor too sweet. My partner's wine pairings were also amazing! The umeshu green tea that came with dessert was my favorite. The prominent tea flavors (almost had this hojicha flavor profile) complemented the complex flavors of the dessert dish. Tucked in a baseline in the East Village, the restaurant had a decent amount of seating. The dark, minimalistic decor with dim lighting made it perfect for date night. Staff were friendly. Can't wait to come back for my next special meal! read more

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The service is excellent and the ambiance cozy, but the overall experience was decidedly mediocre. We ordered the bread -- which was really just bread, everyday bread, nothing special, with some whipped herb butter that was nice but in no way exceptional (a few slices for $10?). The buckwheat pancake was the stand-out and really quite tasty. The lobster roll was just average, and the mackerel (half of a small fish for $68) was all spices, little mackerel flavor. And the table were so close together that I could hear the people at the table next to me more clearly than the person sitting across from me. But again, it's a lovely place, and the service excellent, so if that matters to you most of all, Smithereens is worth a visit. read more

Fish-lovers only! Very cute spot that was cozy and dim as soon as you walked in, while very casual. In terms of food, there were lots of surprising bites so definitely ask for recommendations on what to get (and also how much to get). The standout to me was the abalone skewers and the bean dish. Note that everything has seafood in it too. I also recommend the leeks and the buckwheat pancake. I wasn't super impressed by the larger fish dishes, the monkfish and sea bass. Both were tasty but less exciting after all the smaller bites. I would go again and think it's worth a try! read more

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Sat at the bar. I enjoyed the space and the bar seating. Service was decent. Night started out shaky as our reservation at the bar was given out to another couple even though we were on time (10 minutes early actually) and it was assumed we would take a table even though we noted that we wanted the bar as it was our anniversary. Our reservation was made for the bar and it listed as an anniversary so unsure why that would have been assumed. Also, the person who gave our seats away ironically asked us an hour later if we were celebrating anything which was hilarious as we had pointed out how it was our anniversary and would wait for the bar seats that were originally reserved. read more

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If this review was solely on the apple cider donut, it would be the easiest 5-star review of my life...but alas, there is more to say. First off, the vibe of this place is great. It's a surprisingly expansive restaurant that feels intimate and cozy, with dim lighting. The wait staff is cool, and I appreciate that they actually did the opposite of up-selling us (on dessert we almost got two of those fantastic donuts, but truthfully it would have been too much and I appreciate our waiter suggesting one instead). I liked that their drinks menu had a staff favorites section in a way that didn't feel like a TGIFriday's employee forced to wear flair. The thing that brought this rating down was the pacing and the fact that the dishes we got were solid, but not mind blowing like the donut. We started with the anadama bread with seaweed butter. If I'm being honest, the seaweed butter didn't really taste much of seaweed to me. It was just a really solid bread and butter: 4 stars Shortly after, the scallops with hazelnut & white asparagus came out. This was probably my favorite dish of the night outside of the dessert and if I went back I would 100% get this again if it was still on the menu: 5 stars Then...we experienced a bit of a lull to the point we wondered if they'd forgotten about us. When our food came out, the grilled swiss chard with mushroom broth and tilefish with yuba & brassicas appeared at the same time. As I was sharing everything with a friend, I found the best part of the swiss chard was the broth it comes in, and I wish this had been presented differently - perhaps with a small bowl and spoon for us to serve ourselves with. I've seen some people really love this dish, but for me it was fine - 3.5 stars. The tilefish was good, but I know in a few weeks or a month it will be another delicious thing I've eaten and forgotten: 4 stars. Like I've said, the donut is spectacular. My friend and I were blown away by how much flavor they managed to pack into that treat. It was a mix of apple, acid, with a touch of salt, coating a perfectly (and freshly) fried ring. I will likely return just to eat this donut again as I'm both impressed and angry that an impossible bar has been set for all other the other apple cider donuts I may cross paths with in my lifetime. Finally, for the price this was worth every penny. While Smithereens may not capture 5 stars for me, I would go back and encourage you to give it a try. read more

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Great lovely 10 pm reservation! Super cute cozy spot right off Tompkins, almost forgot I was in the city! We had the: Bluefin tuna Fried whiting Lobster roll Halibut Buckwheat pancake Blueberry donut Delicious... but pricey. But that's a given at these nice places! read more

Excellent service, buckwheat pancake is a must get. Walked in at 6:45 and was able to get a bar seat. Cozy and intimate ambiance.

Took my oldest daughter out for her birthday A unique menu... and everything was delicious. The service was excellent. read more

As much as I have been virtually conditioned to loathe all things Boston due to certain professional sports allegiances, I had to put aside these feelings when I heard about Smithereens, a refined New England serving an all-star lineup of seafood. Smithereens had only been open for a week when we dined here, and it was clear some of the kinks (read: service inefficiency) still needed to be worked out, but our experience here was overall pleasant and memorable. Though our table was given away because we were six minutes late (for context, I am usually between 5-10 minutes late for every dinner reservation and this has never happened to me before because there is always a 15-minute grace period), we were eventually seated at the bar and were given a free round due to the mixup, so most of the night was enjoyable. We came here for an 8:15 reservation on a Saturday night. We missed it at first, as it's somewhat hidden and subtly marked. Like a subterranean hideout, though given the menu theme perhaps it's more appropriate to term it a submarine hideout. A little cramped in the entrance area which made waiting for seats challenging, but we managed okay once I got over my initiatial irritation. Bar seating ended up being fun because we were able to chat with the bartender the entire time, who had conceived of the entire cocktail menu and had incredible insight into all of the amazing small producers out there. I have become very skills at spotting the martini on a restaurant drink menu, even if it is not labeled as such. I didn't need to do any digging here, because clear as day was a drink called a Dirty Martini. Don't be fooled, though, because this is unlike any dirty martini you've had before. Its ingredients are seawater gin, pu-ehr tea, and seaweed eau de vie. Didn't know there was such a thing as essence of seaweed? Think it could potentially be a joke? Indeed it does exist and I was lucky enough to try some on its own at the end of the night because of my intrigue and the bartender's generosity. Anyway, if you want the briniest drink you can think of, this is for you. The tea gives it an earthy vibe and as you'd expect the seawater gin adds some necessary salinity. This would be next to impossible to make at home so make sure to order this here. After having my world rocked by the martini, not much else could compare, but I had a great off-dry riesling that came by the glass. As a seafood restaurant, I appreciate that the wine menu is divided into white wine and "not white wine". To finish, I had the Negroni (buttered gin, amaro, buckwheat, strawberry), which again was unlike any negroni I'd had before and I'll probably have nothing like it since. Strawberries and negronis are a great match, but what I did not know was that butter-washed gin could actually work in a negroni. It's roasty and toasty and great as a nightcap. Food-wise, we obviously stuck mostly with seafood. The smaller plates were less exciting and creative than the larger ones, which were pretty majestic. Nothing was bad and we didn't regret any of our choices, but it's worth saying. If the drink menu was any indication, Smithereens takes food you've had before and completely reinvents it through truly unique preparations. They definitely get points for innovation. Eats, below: Beets w/ seaweed and rose oil: A- I love beets and these were solid but probably the least exciting of what we ordered. I felt like the beet flavor itself dominated such that it overpowered some of the subtler flavors. But still enjoyable, a nice complement to the richer dishes. Hay-smoked amberjack w/ perilla: A- Light, citrusy, delicate. Very good but not super memorable. Halibut w/ bread sauce: A I had never heard of bread sauce prior to our meal here, and it's not so different from what you'd expect. It's apparently a British thing, a sauce made with milk and breadcrumbs, which sounds like it could be heavy but the sauce itself was thin and surprisingly a natural complement to the halibut. BBQ monkfish tail w/ sweet potato: A+ Absolutely the star of the night. I wish I wrote down how this was prepared, because they explained it in impressive detail. Definitely something about pork fat, prepared in the style of something that is quite different from seafood. Few fish could hold up to this preparation, but the meatiness of monkfish really works. Just as amazing if not more amazing was the sweet potato which was possibly the best sweet potato I've ever had. Honestly, who needs dessert when you can have this? Grilled swiss chard and salted radish: A So for some reason this came at the very end of the meal long after we had finished both fish dishes, so not only did we need to wait, but the order was strange. Luckily, the dish itself was fun and creative and tasty, almost like swiss chard sushi or lettuce wraps, minus any meat, just earthy, warming veggies. read more

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I'll be honest - I was a little skeptical coming in to Smithereens as a newer restaurant with what seemed like quite an eclectic menu. Although their vibe/cuisine leans British their use of uni and the higher price of some of their items (e.g. $36 for beans) had me a little apprehensive. Still, once my fiancée and I sat down I was pleasantly surprised in all the best ways and ended up having a delicious and unique meal. Don't let the names of their dishes fool you, the vast majority of them are crafted with an impressive mix of technical and culinary skill elevating what should be simple dishes into something much more delicious than you'd initially expect. Our favorites were the pancake (with some type of white fish pate underneath), the lobster roll (absolutely delicious and impressive the way they incorporate each element of it) and the beans (chock full of flavor and topped with delicious pieces of uni). I'd recommend using the bread (which you have to shell out an additional $9 for) to mop up the sauce from the beans. We were bummed that the apple cider donut ($5) was sold out but settled for the ice cream which had a really interesting and tart celery foam to it. I personally wasn't the biggest fan (though the ice cream itself was delicious) but my partner really enjoyed it so your taste buds might vary! Overall, for a sub $200 meal (with drinks/tip included) I was pretty satisfied with my experience here. You can sit at one of the two bars for a cooler experience, with the one facing the open-faced kitchen an interesting show with your dinner! read more

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Absolutely the best restaurant in New York. They are truly on a different level. Best lobster roll in the city, get it as an appetizer one per person. This is a restaurant you can take friends to and tell them order anything at all and you'll love it. The service here is truly unmatched. Every server knows they are working at the best restaurant in New York and you can tell. Special kudos to Nathan, Jacob, Miko and Jenny. These people care about what they do and it shines. read more

A new addition to the East Village with New England-inspired food. Fun bites, but not amazing. Food: We got the buckwheat pancakes, scallops, tuna, and lobster roll. The buckwheat pancakes were my favorite. The scallops would've been my favorite if it weren't for the over seasoning, just a touch too heavy on the salt. Would've loved to see the natural flavor of the scallop shine. The tuna was sliced poorly and the bite was slightly falling apart when you picked it up. But I really liked the lovage oil, it's a nice touch. The lobster roll was fun, fresh and flavorful. What brought it down was the roll that was burnt. A shame! Wine: The wine selection is mostly whites (understandably) and mostly riesling. There could be more variety but it makes sense! Service: They're new so I would cut them some slack. We asked, what would you recommend and it was interesting that the server's first recommendation was the most expensive and largest thing on the menu. It felt forced and we definitely did not order the whole fish between 2 people, it wouldn't have given us a chance to try anything else on the menu! I would recommend starting with the number of dishes based on people, then going in order of small to large dishes to highlight. She also didn't seem particularly happy to be there, nor did she sound excited by the menu. First impressions matter a lot when it comes to a new restaurant. Interior: The ambiance was dark, vibey, like a cool basement with low ceilings. A little small and crammed but nothing new for EV. read more

Beautiful blend of food, wine and service. Although the menu is small, it packs a serious punch of flavor. The visualization of the presentation demonstrates that we eat with our eyes first. From the bread on (which was so good we had to order two) to the final dessert, the journey was both exciting and fulfilling. Well deserving of the Michelin recommend. read more

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Smithereens was first brought to my attention by my brother - he was browsing social media and saw someone hype it up and wanted to check it out. Seeing that this is a relatively new restaurant, we thought it would be a good idea to check it out - so I booked a table and made my way over to the East Village after work. Smithereens sits on the ground level of a building on E 9th St. The exterior is modest, with a small neon sign with the name of the restaurant illuminated. The aesthetics somewhat extend inside with low lighting and a cool color scheme - lots of greys and blues with minimal decor. I heard someone say the interior looks like a submarine which I don't agree with but it did give off nautical vibes. The dining room is decently sized and separated into two sections; the bar in the middle of the space serves as a nice focal point. The menu is inspired by New England fare, hence the majority of the dishes are seafood. It's not a large menu, however they have a decent selection that's separated by dish size (going small to large as you read from top to bottom). Our server explained that the dishes are meant to be shared - so we decided to order several. Before food, we got drinks; I had the Cape Codder which was a cranberry and vodka-based cocktail - it was very tasty and quite refreshing. We started with the buckwheat pancake with smoked bluefish and the charred leeks. The pancake was great - it wasn't too thick and the bluefish sitting underneath had great flavor; this was one of favorite dishes we ordered. The charred leeks were pretty much a salad - they sat atop some arugula, cheddar crumbs, and hazelnuts all in a tasty dressing. I appreciated the relative lightness of this dish, especially when compared to the pancake and other things we ordered. We then each got a lobster roll; overall this was solid - not the best lobster roll I've had, but it was quality and contained a generous amount of lobster. To round out the mains, we got the beans dish and amberjack special; the beans were excellent - along with the pancakes they were my favorite of what we ordered. It had calamari, mussels, and white beans in a tasty broth. The amberjack was fine - good flavor but the dish just wasn't my taste. We couldn't leave without dessert and decided to get the tropical fruit sundae and celery ice cream float. The former had a good mix of pureed fruits that complemented the creamy vanilla ice cream well. The celery float was super interesting - there was definitely celery flavor and was pared with cherries that added a hint of sweetness. Service was good, we were consistently taken care of throughout the evening and the food came out at a good pace. Overall, I appreciate what Smithereens is doing here, but I don't think this is really my taste; the dishes are innovative, it just didn't fully land for me. That being said, I'm glad I had this experience but it's more of a one-and-done place for me. read more

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4.5* I ate at Smithereens about a month ago. The restaurant, food and vibes, definitely reminds me of Claud. They are both on a lower level, however, Smithereens is more subterranean and dark inside. I had a reservation but even so, there was already a line to get in at 5:30PM. I assume many had a reservation but some were walk-ins. I was sat at the chef's table, which is 5 bar seats that overlooks the kitchen. It was pretty cool watching how the proverbial sausage gets made. Everything I ate was fantastic with the exception of the candied seaweed dessert [$12], which was still really good but mostly one note with a lot of cream filling. There wasn't a lot of candied seaweed flavors even though it made up three layers of what is essentially a mille-feuille. It was also a massive portion, especially for one person. I also ordered the apple cider doughnut [$6] which was everything. It's sprinkled with dehydrated apples and spices and gave the doughnut a real exciting zip of flavor. It's really the perfect size for a little PS of dessert at the end. The anadama bread [$9] with seaweed butter was out of this world. It's a nice dark bread with a little sweetness. It was delicious with the butter. I'm glad I had a whole loaf to myself. It was still warm, having just come out of the oven. I also had the beets [$17] and tuna [$24]. The beet dish was delicious and refreshing, there were a lot of beets - I would only get this only if you are a lover of beets. The seaweed reminded me of cabbage, it was crunchy and was a nice flavor contrast to the beets. The tuna dish was also really refreshing with the pear. There are only four pieces of tuna so ...you can do the math. Lastly, I had Green Apple Highball [$18] which is a tequila-based drink. This is probably not a drink I would order again, it wasn't not tasty, but I think I just don't really like fenugreek that is in it. I paid $92.54 after tax and tip. read more

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Smithereens has a great team and they have created an incredible modern recreation of a New England seafood restaurant. The food and service are first rate in a beautiful space. The seafood is as delicious as it is innovative. Go now, while you still have a chance to get a reservation. read more

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This is a hard one to write given that there were only two dishes that they could make given my dietary restrictions and of the two I only wanted one. What I had was good though, and the service was excellent. The restaurant did have a weird smell though. read more

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What a fun evening. Truly interesting dishes - the buckwheat pancake, monkfish, fish belly special were incredible. Especially that pancake, just wow, what a wonderful starter that I'd never have thought of. All the fish was cooked to perfection. The seaweed butter was nice too. I'd pass on the beans though as they're a little stodgy and eclipse their more thoughtful broth. Definitely a great addition to the East Village. However, of the desserts I'd only repeat the donut, which is truly an event - wonderfully cake-y and sour. The others (celery float and seaweed) were just too weird, and the cocktails were either too weird as well or too basic. Very nice staff too. read more

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Smithereens has a short but nice wine list. Food wise, the buckwheat crepe + smoked blue fish and the lobster roll stood out to be the best. The apple cider donut and candied seaweed desserts were excellent. I thought the crudos were meh, and the entres we got (hake and halibut) were just okay. Uncooked mushroom is really spicy and bitter, it shouldn't be on top of sweet, delicate scallop or on top of anything really. The space is dark/low ceiling, typical of LES but lively. Service was good. Would go back just for the lobster rolls and a nice bottle of white. read more

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awesome meal at smithereens. very fun and interesting menu, seafood focused, all dishes tried were good to great. the cocktails were solid, they have an interesting wine list, the space is a bit cramped in spots and service was luke warm overall. the bread was good but not something I'd get on future trips. same with abalone skewers (sliced thinly and you lose a little of the texture, but the shiitakes were awesome). citrus salad was awesome, super fresh and bright. the hot fried fish collar was delicious, and the grilled swiss chard may have been the favorite of the night. cod and clams is a great main, not too heavy but still rich and delicious. the beans and seafood was solid but mostly beans/single note. skipped dessert this time around read more

Wow. I am into innovative cuisine & unexpected flavor combinations. Most Michelin places tried do not impress me as this one does Very impressed by the celery ice cream. Celery, coffee and ice cream. Who would have thought those would go together? Buckwheat pancake is another unexpected combination of fish & pancake. Overall, would def come again read more

The spot presents a somewhat cool ambiance, though it somewhat haphazardly misses the chance to fully conjure the feeling of a cozy cabin or an old New England tavern, perhaps with some more rustic décor and warmer lighting, the atmosphere could be further enhanced. The service was very friendly and quite knowledgeable concerning the various offerings on the menu, and also prompt, with a commendable job rotating out the delivery of plates, ensuring a smooth and well-paced dining experience. The bread was notably good, exhibiting a delightfully spongy and soft interior which was nicely contrasted by a crispy and slightly charred exterior, yet the seaweed butter served alongside was rather bland, unfortunately failing to impart any discernible briny or herbaceous seaweed flavor, instead tasting like a somewhat milky and homogenous butter, lacking any real depth. Progressing to the seafood selections, the amberjack crudo was a fairly standard and uninspired preparation and did not particularly impress, presenting a rather lackluster flavor profile, and similarly, the Spanish mackerel sashimi was also quite ordinary and lackluster, accompanied by a beet sauce that unfortunately lacked any complexity or intrigue, tasting somewhat flat and earthy. However, in stark contrast to these more mundane items, the leeks preparation was exceptionally flavorful and complex; the remarkably tender texture of the leeks harmonized surprisingly well with the pleasingly crispy and nutty hazelnuts and a lively, lemony vinaigrette, creating a truly surprising and herbaceous flavor combination. The buckwheat pancake also registered as a positive item, presenting fish with an almost chewy, jerky-like texture yet remaining surprisingly flavorful and quite tasty, offering a unique and satisfyingly dense bite. The beans with seafood and uni were another highlight, demonstrating a well-balanced and homogenous item with notably tender and creamy beans, creating a rich and flavorful, almost buttery, experience. However, the monkfish entree was a considerable letdown and felt over-executed, appearing remarkably small and lean for an entree and certainly not justifying its price, especially considering the menu's purported ordering by size, and its texture was unremarkable and somewhat dry, with a preference for a buttery and flaky black cod being strongly indicated, even though the accompanying squash on the plate was properly and homogeneously cooked, exhibiting a tender yet slightly firm texture. The puntaril was merely acceptable and somewhat forgettable, essentially a bitter and leafy greens salad that proved somewhat haphazardly chopped and difficult to consume, lacking a cohesive flavor profile. Conversely, the Nashville fried fish collar was excellent, presenting an interesting and delightfully crispy and charred texture with a flavorful and complex paprika sugar and cayenne seasoning blend that was certainly lively and garlicky. To conclude the meal, the seaweed dessert proved to be awesome and ethereal; the combination of seaweed and licorice crafted an intriguing and complex flavor profile that was both fresh and herbaceous, and the donut was equally awesome and cakey, providing a satisfyingly sweet and fluffy finish. read more

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We were seated right outside of the kitchen and had a full view of where the magic was happening! Service was friendly and attentive. We got the scallops, buckwheat pancake, lobster roll and beans. The beans was truly the star of the show with mussels and uni - I've never tasted such flavourful beans in my life until I had them at Smithereens! read more

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