Esca 
- Neighborhood: Midtown West
- 402 W. 43rd St.
- New York, NY 10036
- 212-564-7272
- Price range: $$$$ ($26-$30)
This temple of seafood is part of the Batali-Bastianich empire, though everyone would agree that its success is owed mainly to fisherman-chef Dave Pasternack. The chef's knowledge of and dedication to the freshest of fish is legendary; the restaurant is inspired by the cooking of the Mediterranean coast. Esca single-handedly brought the concept of crudo to New York kitchens, making sushi acceptable alongside pasta and steak. The crudo tasting here is one of New York's most sublime piscine pleasures, where a lowly sea urchin, served raw and in its spindly shell, becomes the essence of the ocean in a single swallow.
Getting There
- Cross Streets:
- 9th Ave.
- Public Transportation:
- A,C,E to W. 42nd St-Port Authority
The Basics
- Hours:
-
Mon 12 p.m.-2:30 p.m., 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Tue.-Sat. 12 p.m.-2:30 p.m., 5 p.m.-11:30 p.m.
Sun. 4:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
- Cuisine:
- Italian and Seafood
- Meals Served:
- Business Lunch, Dinner, and Lunch
- Price Range:
- $$$$ ($26-$30)
- Reservations:
- Recommended
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar and Wine
- Restaurant Style:
- Bistro
Features
- Features:
- Celebrity Chef
- Payment Methods:
- Major Credit Cards




