Fishtail

Posted by Carolyn

on January 26, 2009

Shortly after David Burke launched his new restaurant Fishtail, my old roommate and I went for dinner. Both of us love good food and based off of the reviews, decided to try out the new restaurant.

My first impression of Fishtail is that it’s a beautiful space. Located in a town house on the Upper East Side, Fishtail strikes a nice balance between opulent and intimate. The duo level space houses a bustling raw (and regular) bar downstairs and a quieter, formal dining area upstairs. The walls are painted a gorgeous shade of burgundy that adds warmth and contrast to the white and beige furniture. I felt like I was at a private dinner party rather than a new restaurant.

Having lived in the Pacific Northwest for many years, I’m always on the lookout for good seafood restaurants in New York – a difficult feat after I’ve been spoiled by what I really think is the freshest and most delicious seafood one could hope to taste in the U.S. Fishtail didn’t disappoint, and it’s very extensive menu provides options for all sorts of palettes. The food is fresh and flavorful, and the menu leaves it up to the diner to choose his own flavors, toppings and sides. Of course, one should take advantage of New York’s proximity to Maine and try the lobster, but if you just want a simple fish, Fishtail offers a wide variety including white fishes and wild salmon.

Two items on the menu particularly stood out to me: the fish taquito appetizers and the cheesecake lollipops for dessert. We both ordered the fish taquitos as they came with such high recommendations and we were both obsessed! I got the “One of Each” taquito to taste them all and seriously thought about ordering more for the table. The fish tacos are prepared with pineapples and macadamia, or avocado and caviar. Delicious! For dessert, the cheesecake lollipop tree is one of the most innovative options I’ve seen on any menu. The lollipops are raspberry or bubble gum cheesecake covered in chocolate and served on a stick. This was my first time having anything bubble gum flavored at a restaurant. The taste is definately unique, but the bubble gum flavor is light enough as not to be overwhelming.

In addition to being an all around good seafood restaurant, Fishtail is special in that 85% of its food is sourced through sustainable methods. In fact, David Burke has removed items from his menu that cannot be fished sustainably. This means that the dinner you will enjoy at his restaurant won’t put that species of fish in danger of extinction.

Fishtail is located at 135 East 62nd Street (Park & Lexington Avenues).

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