Best Seasonal Restaurants in Theater District

One of the best experiences I’ve had in New York. Had to book pretty early in advance due to the Valentines Day weekend rush, but got a lovely early afternoon spot. The atmosphere was so elegant & classy. Our waitress Mary Alice was so kind, accommodating, and overall such a pleasure to interact with. Yes it is pricey, but the experience and the quality of the food/tea was well worth it.

The waiters & waitresses are very attentive and knowledgeable about the food served here. They patiently answer your questions about the dishes and give valuable recommendations. We ordered Veal Shank (Osso Buco alla Becco) with a side of three pastas of the day and Chicken Parmigiana (Parmigiana di Pollo). To be honest, pasta tasted decent, nothing spectacular about it. The veal shank is beautifully cooked for several hours. The meat leaves the bone without any effort, it is very juicy, soft and rich in terms of flavor due to the fat content. Chicken Parmigiana is also very tasty and crisp! We also ordered drinks, the spritzer resembles aperol spiritz and it is very good however I cannot provide a positive comment if you order wine by the glass. The wine tasted like it is diluted when you order by the glass so if your party is a good wine drinker you better go for the bottle.

Loved Oceana and will definitely return, easily the best restaurant near(ish) the theater district. I booked for Valentine's Day based on the menu online, when they called me to confirm a few days before they made a point of letting me know there was a four-course prix fixe for V-Day. Considerate! Although I must say: there were 5-6 choices for each of the courses so it was hardly a skimpy menu. My wife got the wine pairing with her meal and the sommelier was really informative, explaining not just the wine but why he paired it (we love that kind of stuff). Not all the dishes were homeruns, but all were above average. My appetizer of scallop crudo topped with caviar was one of the homeruns, I'd return for that dish; and for the "smores budino" dessert (which was served in big bowl, I expected it in a glass) -- it was a huge portion, very much shareable. My wife's beet salad was very good. The chef seems to really prioritize contrasting textures in all the dishes, which I love. My cocktail was also good (a Penicillin but with tequila instead of whiskey), tasty, not too sweet -- and not too strong. Space is great, high ceilings, not jammed in next to everyone (but close enough that we did eavesdrop on some hilarious conversations). Wait staff was there when you wanted them, absent when you wanted space. Excellent all around.

By far one of the very best meals and experiences I have had! We went to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary and everyone went over and beyond to make us feel special and celebrated. The food was amazing, the staff was wonderful from the greater, the bartender, to our waiters and the manager. Perfect night in the city and such a beautiful view from our perfect booth! Cannot thank you enough and can’t wait to go back!

I picked this restaurant by looking at online reviews. I could not have made a better choice. Our reservation was on time. We walked in, sat down and were immediately greeted by our server. Emily was her name. She was without a doubt, one of the best servers I have ever had the pleasure of working with she treated my wife and me as if we were her only customer and we were the most important people in the restaurant. It was truly a special occasion for us. The food was everything that she had said it would be and everything that I read online. It was fabulous. We took her suggestions for some of the dishes we got and every suggestion she made was fantastic. I will go back to Carmines anytime I’m in New York City.