Tag: al fresco dining

Grand Banks is a Manhattan Hidden Gem for dining

A New York City Hidden Gem – Grand Banks, NYC

Grand Banks is a New York City Hidden Gem for dining! I am always looking for great dining in New York City and this is my new favorite. Grand Banks is a seasonal oyster bar on the deck of a historic fishing boat. Located on Pier 25 Hudson River in Tribeca, right around the corner from Battery Park, the location is ideal. Combine a great meal with a stroll through a beautiful, waterfront neighborhood with views of the Statue of Liberty makes for a wonderful excursion. This beautiful restaurant shows you a side of Manhattan that tourists don’t usually think of as New York City.

We were in New York celebrating my daughters graduation from her Master’s program at the Fashion Institute of Technology. It was a night graduation, so a nice walk and fabulous meal at Grand Banks made for a perfect day celebrating all of her achievements. We went midweek around noon and did not have have a reservation but I would highly recommend getting one for this hidden gem in New York City. It filled up fast. We were very lucky to get a table when we did.

“Smell the sea, and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.”

-Van Morrison

The four of us knew that we would be having a heavy meal later that night, so we decided to get some cocktails (there was time for a nap before the ceremony) and a little bit of everything. At the recommendation of the waitress, we decided on the Sailor Baby Oysters (Grand Banks very own!) and the Montauk Pearl oysters. Both were wonderful, but the Sailor Baby Oysters were the hands on favorite with this table. We added the crab dib, shrimp cocktail, french fries, and some lobster rolls. My daughter’s friend from Madrid had never had a lobster roll, so we were happy to introduce her. In addition, we ordered the Bread, Butter and Radish which I had never tried before. Now that I have, I will never be the same. It was wonderful!

The menu has so much to choose from which makes it so hard to decide. My daughter knows I always want to try out of the way places and hidden gems in New York City, not the tourist spots. She did not disappoint this weekend. Every choice was a winner, with Grand Banks standing out not only for the food, but for the atmosphere.

Being rated one of the World’s Best Waterfront Restaurants by CNN Travel and the Best Waterfront Restaurant in NYC by New York Magazine would give you the impression that it is stuffy and expensive. But in reality, it is comfortable and casual with amazing views. I highly recommend Grand Banks in New York City.

If you would like to see some of my other recommendations, check out the Restaurant Review section of my blog Sunday Chefs. Happy Dining!

Fishermen’s View, Sandwich Ma

This week we were driving home from Cape Cod and got stuck in a massive traffic jam. One of the Cape Cod Canal bridges was closed and all the traffic was diverted to the other one. After two hours of following Waze all over the place, we decided to stop for something to eat. After consulting Google to see what was close by we were very lucky to be around the corner from Fishermen’s View Seafood Market and Restaurant in Sandwich, MA.

“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its nets of wonder forever”

– Jacques Cousteau

Located directly on the Cape Cod Canal in beautiful Sandwich, Ma., Fishermen’s View Seafood Market and Restaurant was a very pleasant surprise and my favorite new find. The amazing outdoor deck was full, so we were welcomed in to their beautiful dining room. With walls of windows overlooking the canal you felt like you were outside. Since this was our first experience with indoor dining since the pandemic, we were watching things very carefully. The staff all work masks, the place was spotless and the tables were spread far apart. We felt very safe with the procedures they had in place.

We started the meal with a perfectly portioned order of steamers and some of their piping hot, homemade cornbread. It was a great start. My daughter ordered the children’s chicken and french fries. It was a huge order and we were all picking at it because it was so good. Above and beyond the normal chicken and french fries for kids at most restaurants. My husband got the Double Decker burger and it was huge and wonderful.

I got the crab cake appetizer as my meal. Now let me explain that I am crab cake snob. I order them whenever they are on the menu. The crab cakes at Fishermen’s View were without a doubt the best crab cakes I have ever had. As we were leaving, the staff let us know that the bridge had been cleared and gave us some tips on avoiding the traffic. The owner also came by and thanked us for stopping by. All in all it was a wonderful experience.

If you are looking for great food, reasonable prices, good service and a fabulous view, stop by Fishermen’s View Seafood Market and Restaurant in Sandwich, Ma. It is my new favorite.