South Street Seaport, which is now known as Pier 17 in the seaport district, is popular for attracting tourists by offering a great variety of food. It is one of Manhattan’s most beautiful and historic neighborhoods.
South Street Seaport extends from Jackson Street nearby to the Williamsburg Bridge to Whitehall Street in Manhattan’s southernmost point. The South Street Viaduct is an extended section of the street that runs the whole length of the Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive.
This place is the home of several classic old trading buildings and is close to the Brooklyn Bridge and famous areas such as Wall Street.
Even though this place is becoming more modern, it has still been able to hold its historic beauty. The meeting of Fulton Street with the East River enhances the beauty of this spot.
So, are you looking for the top restaurants in South Street seaport to visit with your friends or family? There are several sites where you can eat for a reasonable price. I’ve chosen some of the top restaurants in the area for you, whether you want a quick snack or a sit-down meal.
12 Best Restaurants in South Street Seaport
So, are you looking for the top restaurants in South Street seaport to visit with your friends or family? There are several sites where you can eat for a reasonable price. I’ve chosen some of the top restaurants in the area for you, whether you want a quick snack or a sit-down meal.
1. Cowgirl Sea-Horse
The Cowgirl Sea-Horse was opened in July 2009 by Sherry Delamater. He has opened a lot of well-known restaurants. Some of them are Tortilla Flats, Gulf Coast, and the most famous sister restaurant, Cowgirl, located in the West Village.
They serve brunch, lunch, and dinner. Every day, these seafood and Tex-Mex restaurants offer amazing drink and meal deals, as well as interactive game evenings, for example, Trivia nights on Wednesdays.
This stunning, bright, and beautifully decorated restaurant in Lower Manhattan with a friendly atmosphere is ideal for drinks and food with your friends or family.
2. The Fulton
The Fulton restaurant was opened by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the world’s famous chef. There are 240 seats available indoors and out on two distinct levels. The Brooklyn-facing outside seats are the best thing you can experience, with expansive views of the bridges and harbor.
The views you get to enjoy from The Fulton are just amazing. The food from Vongerichten and chef Noah Poses is so good that uptowners gather here almost every day in the seaport.
They are participating in NYC Go’s Restaurant Week. It started on January 11 and will conclude on February 12. Throughout the week, they are providing a two-course lunch or a three-course dinner. Even for dinner, they are offering a la carte as well as special Valentine’s Day meals. So, if you’re looking for a place to go on a date with your partner during Valentine’s Week, this place with a stunning view should be on your list.
3. Momofuku Ssäm Bar
The new Momofuku Ssam Bar is located on the pier’s ground level directly inside the entry from the plaza, renowned by one of Chang’s top chefs, Eunjo Park. The Ssam is a Korean word that means wrapped.
Bo ssam, one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes when it first opened, is no longer available on the menu. The air in this house is constantly infused with the mouthwatering scents of kimchi, kalbi, and gochujang.
The house’s most well-liked meals include Sizzling, Kalbi-Marinated Flank Steak ($36), Smoked Sweet-and-Sour Ribs ($19), and Cacio Pepe rice cakes with truffles ($48). Almost every table in the restaurant orders these as they taste just so delicious. The extensive wine list includes rare selections from the Pacific Northwest, France, Italy, Germany, and Austria.
Momofuku Ssäm Bar is also participating in NYC Go’s Restaurant Week this winter from January 17th to February 12th. In their warmed terrace and bar, they are serving a 3-course dinner menu and a 2-course lunch menu. You can also keep this restaurant on your list for spending quality time with your partner during this Valentine’s week.
4. Fresh Salt
Fresh Salt is an American restaurant and bar that opened in 2004 with a unique history. The restaurant is located in a historic building that was earlier occupied by a smokehouse in 1885.
When this bar and restaurant opened, it was named “Fresh, Salt, and Smoked Fish” in a faded sign that was barely visible. From the opening of the restaurant till today, they are offering wonderful dishes in a local bar setting. As a bar, many of its meals are meant to be enjoyed with a drink in hand.
Fresh Salt’s majority menu is made up of a variety of sandwiches, which includes Grilled Chicken with gruyere, tomatoes, cucumbers & herbed mayo on a seeded roll, hot breaded eggplant with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes & pesto on ciabatta, the SALT, which is prepared with speck, avocado, lettuce, and tomato with chipotle mayo on ciabatta, the ITALIAN-prepared with soppressata, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke, balsamic on ciabatta. All of these sandwiches are served on either whole grain pan bread or fresh ciabatta.
The Fresh Salt bar offers an old-school atmosphere and a special charm that attracts a wide range of customers, from businessmen and women during the day to sailors and musicians at night. They even offer live music, and all of the unique elements have made this restaurant popular.
5. Barbalu Restaurant
Barbalu was established in 2013 by a couple, Stefano Barbagallo and Adriana Luque. Stefano Barbagallo, the restaurant’s manager, has over 30 years of experience in the food business. The couple’s decision to rebuild on the same site as their previous restaurant, Barbarini Alimentari and Mercato, which Superstorm Sandy destroyed, reflects their continuous commitment to this historic area.
A selection of homemade plates of pasta, including fresh, seasonal ingredients and gluten-free options, are available on the typical Italian menu at Barbalu Restaurant.
Pasta dishes on their menu range from Penne al Brucio, made with smoked pancetta, tomato sauce, heavy cream, and chili flakes, to Rigatoni alla Norma, made with fried eggplant and ricotta salata. You can drink the Italian wine they serve while eating pasta. They also provide desserts.
This restaurant aims to impress customers by delivering authentic food that looks fantastic as well, with beautiful lights designed along the ceiling and bar and table seating. Babalu is a perfect place to enjoy a fine meal with friends and family at a reasonable price rate ranging between $20 to $30.
6. The Paris Café
The Paris Café is one of New York City’s oldest pubs, which has been running since 1873. The café is just a perfect combination of nice food and drinks. It is situated in the Historic South Street Seaport, next to the Brooklyn Bridge and just across from the East River.
The four walls of this restaurant preserve a lot of history, which makes it more popular. For example, Theodore Roosevelt used this place while serving as the head of the New York City Police Department, and Thomas Edison used it as his second office. This restaurant is highly recognized for its extensive selection of specialty beers, healthy cooking, and history.
During the Hurricane Sandy devastation, this café was closed for about 51 weeks, and after it opened, it was renovated as the Victorian back has been rebuilt and returned to its original design.
It is a full bar café that offers Winter Cocktail specials and Happy Hour specials and also serves a variety of Craft beer as well as Wines by bottle and glass. While sipping your drink, you can enjoy the beautiful view of the Brooklyn Bridge, watch the cobblestone streets and the ships passing by on the East River, or you can watch the sports events on their 12 Big Screen TVs.
This place is ideal for spending quality time with your friends while enjoying the beautiful views and a nice meal and drink.
7. Industry Kitchen
The Industry Kitchen is a perfect place to go as its atmosphere, beautiful view of the restaurant’s waterfront from any seats you book in the house, and its vintage and eco-friendly design are just marvelous.
Executive Chef Jonathan Haffmans designed the menu that includes modern American cuisine which is based on the market’s seasonal ingredients and simple dishes such as wood-oven grilled meats, seafood, abundant salads, and pizza; for dessert, the chocolate pizza, which New Yorkers love.
The breathtaking 5,000-square-foot venue can host up to 300 guests and features indoor and outdoor seating with spectacular views of the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges and the Brooklyn. This restaurant is well-known among tourists and New Yorkers for its simply superb food and exceptional atmosphere.
8. SUteiShi
Every corner of South Street is filled with American-style bars, but if you look closely, you can find SUteiShi, one of the best-kept treasures that South Street Seaport has to offer. They have seats both inside and outside with a fantastic view of the Brooklyn Bridge. They provide a wide variety of wonderful Japanese dishes on their menu, as well as brunch items at relatively reasonable prices.
Victor C., the company’s owner, dreamed of opening a classy Japanese restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere. “Dining fine” as a concept was introduced. This vision gives them the ability to differentiate themselves from the competition by offering attentive services. It has also given them the strength to reopen the Suteshi after it was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy’s 6 feet of flood water. They have received excellent ratings on Yelp, OpenTable, Zagat, and Trip Advisor since 2007.
SUteiShi’s popular dishes include Tuna Ravioli and Hot and Crispy Shrimp, as well as their “Enjoy” part of the menu, which contains unique fusion sushi pieces such as the Big Eye Tuna with a roasted Garlic Chip. They have devised a special, exquisite brunch menu with hints of Japanese ingredients in typical brunch dishes like the Sake Marinated Salmon Eggs Benedict.
People like SUteiShi because of its delicious food and pleasant atmosphere. It’s a wonderful and lovely place to have lunch with family or friends.
9. Malibu Farm New York
Malibu Farm started small and has always produced its cooking ingredients naturally, which you’ll experience when you try their dishes. Helene Henderson, the founder of Malibu Farm, began with cooking classes and farm dinners in her home and backyard. Helene opened a basic counter service café at the end of the Malibu Pier. She soon built a full-service restaurant and bar. Malibu Farms later opened in Newport Beach, Lido, and Lanai.
In their starter, you will get Butternut Squash Soup, which has toasted pepitas, chives, and pumpkin seed oil in it, to 21 Mile Peekytoe Crab cake with avocado purée, arugula, watermelon radish, and old bay aioli. In the mains, they provide Pink Shrimp Tacos with purple cabbage, mint to Impossible Burger with brioche bun, roasted red pepper hummus, chef’s aioli, tomato, red onion, arugula, and roasted potatoes.
This restaurant is well known for its friendly staff, who are always willing to assist you, and for providing excellent customer service. So, you must not miss this amazing place.
10. MarkJoseph Steakhouse
MarkJoseph Steakhouse was founded in 2000, and since then, they have served the greatest USDA Prime Dry Aged Porterhouse in New York City. They offer a new standard for an authentic bar in New York City and also offer a combination of superb food and sophisticated service in a friendly atmosphere.
When you dine at MarkJoseph Steakhouse, they always prepare your food exactly the way you want it. They always serve you hot and perfectly prepared food on your tables. In 2005 and 2007, it was voted the best steakhouse in Manhattan.
If you’re looking for the best burgers in New York City, Mark Joseph Steakhouse is the place to go. Their excellent meat is a bit pricy, but they are specially handpicked by the owner of the restaurant, making the spending of money worthwhile. Starting as a little restaurant on a cobblestone street, this restaurant has grown into a must-visit at the Seaport.
11. The Fish Market Restaurant
If you’re craving some kinds of seafood, then The Fish Market restaurant is just the best place to go. The Fish Market offers fresh catches from close by, far away, and everywhere in between. They aim to give the finest seafood to their consumers with the goal of freshness.
Their menu includes Seafood, including their popular grilled fish, and they have just added Shucked Oysters, which have been a mainstay of their menu since 1976. They also provide desserts, which range from key lime pie to chocolate mousse.
12. Carne Mare
Carne Mare is a two-story Italian-style chope house that was opened on June 18, 2021, by chef Andrew Carmellini. The main dining room is lavishly furnished and is decorated with glossy terracotta walls and excessive amounts of brass trim, where a curved staircase leads towards the lively horseshoe-shaped bar.
Tuscan leather banquettes are arranged facing one another. Chef Carmellini may be seen handling things in the open kitchen. While there are a few outside tables, the restaurant’s main dining area is indoors, making it the warmest spot on the pier, no matter the weather.
The menu of this house includes delicious salads that range in size from $15 to $17, a variety of carpaccios and tartares that range in price from $18 to $23, and a fantastic Sicilian-style Caesar with sesame.
The highlight of the house is US prime beef, which ranges in price from $36 to $185. A unique technique, the Gorgonzola-cured Wagyu strip loin sirloin has a delicious musky richness that doesn’t overpower the beef for only certain items, such as steamed black sea bass that is peeled and sauced in front of the customers. They also offer traditional tableside service.
Conclusion
South Street Seaport, now known as Pier 17, is well-known for its excellent drinks and food. There are numerous restaurants and bars serving everything from Tex-Mex to Italian cuisine. Many renowned and outstanding places can be found in South Streat Seaport. Thus, the South Street Seaport in New York City is one of the best dining spots that is popular for its variety of cuisines available.
Besides its historical importance, the place is famous for its dining spots that make it popular among tourists across the globe.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology