Mary's Fish Camp
64 Charles St
(between 4th St & Bleecker St)
New York, NY 10014 (646) 486-2185
- Nearest Transit:
Christopher St (1)
9th Street (PATH)
W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
114 Reviews for Mary's Fish Camp
So I didn't order the $36 lobster roll, and thus, can't be annoyed by that. What I did order was a spectacular piece of fish, best piece of fish I've devoured in the Big Apple. T'was a pan seared trout over a grilled creamed corn concoction. PERFECTION. Paired with a fruity white win -- my taste buds were partying! Yes, my girlfriend and I waited an hour on a Wednesday at 8:30 to get in, which kinda crazy. BUT the hostess kept my friend's cell phone number on hand and called us when our table was ready. That was way cool and why this place gets an extra star from me.
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good food, really good seafood. a bit too crowded for such a small place and the wait can get crazy on a good night so best advice would be to go on an "off" hour
BIG disappointment!
seriously people!!
Do you think it is worth? tiny mayo lobster roll for 36 bucks??
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Do not order the lobster roll unless you're rolling in doe!
But all in all, I love it here. I ate an entire fish there. Go early because they do not take reservations. We waited about 45 mins. It's a cozy place. But fun!
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I've been wanting to come here for the longest time since I am obsessed with lobster and of course lobster roll. I want to find the best place for lobster roll.
A lot of people have suggested this place to me and so it peaked my interest to try this place out.
I got on their website to see if I can make a reservation but they don't take any!
BOO HOO!
I checked out their entire website and watch HOW TO CRACK LOBSTER KNUCKLE video and left me wanting lobster knuckle.
The way the lobster knuckles looked on the video looked so delicious and I too wanted to crack some knuckles. But I didn't see lobster knuckles on the online menu.
My friend E ended bailing on me last Friday, so we decided to come here for lunch instead. Luckily, lunch crowd is not as busy since this place can only seat about 30 people max.
Now I know why they don't take reservations or large party.
We decided to sit at the table next to Aerin Lauder - her and her companion had the lobster roll.
When I looked at the menu, I felt like I wanted to try everything. But unfortunately, I just can't do that so I was in between choosing the fried oyster and clams or the crab lump cake. But I misread the menu it's actually crab lump dip and so I decided to go for the fried lobster and clams.
As the waitress came over to take our order she brought our attention to the chalk board and there I saw it....
LOBSTER KNUCKLE!
I was like I am getting that for my appetizer and the lobster roll.
When the lobster knuckles came, E kept on asking me why was I using the fork backwards, I told E that this is how they did it in the video. But the shell of the knuckles were so flimsy that when I tried to crack it with the back end of the fork...it was unachievable.
E advised that I should just use the fork the right way and it actually was easier.
*sigh*
The video lied - it's not as easy as what they showed.
It was hard to eat but it was so yummy when my lobster meat was dunk into the pool of melted butter!
Finally our lobster roll came and I was a bit disappointed because I like big fat fries, and these fries were paper thin. I usually eat fries with my fork, but these skinny fries were hard to pierce through.
*sigh*
I had to eat my fries with my hands!
The lobster was overflowing out of the bread and I just couldn't wait to taste it.
It's good but I don't think it's as good as Blue Smokes or Mermaid Inn. It just has too much mayonnaise and I also didn't care for the large chunks of celery either. I am just not a fan of celery!
I like mayonnaise, but the amount in this sandwich was just ridiculous and so heavy.
I like it but I wasn't in love with it. I wish it had less mayo and I think they shouldn't add the rubbery lobster claw into filling.
But I do like the fact that they used large chunks of lobster meat.
I would want to come back here again to try other things but I am not sure if the food would be worth the long wait.
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is the lobster roll really $36 now? i remember it being ~$28 the last time i ordered it.
not to be inflammatory, but i don't even have the option of getting a lobster roll here in houston much less pay almost $40 for it. and oh how i miss it! everything else that i've had on mary's menu has been fantastic too. my advise is to split a lobster roll and something more substantial with a friend b/c the other yelpers are right. it is a small meal.
and i am definitely from the school that mary's lobster roll is better than pearl's.
i actually even liked putting up with the 45 min to 1 hour wait by spending it at the cubby hole. a great bar that only proves that lesbians have a great sense of humor.
I thought I had left my review here before but found I haven't yet. Today I had lunch here again.
Lobster Roll - soft and shinny skin bread with mayo with fresh lobster meat in my mouth was delicious!
Spicy fried sardine sandwich - It's like Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich. Sweet and sour Vietnamese slaw (julienned carrot and Daikon?) with cumber on rusty French bread gave me a big simile. It had a nice kick from Jalapeno. It came with arugula salad but it was bland.
Grilled Octopus - each bite gave many layers of smoky, salty and buttery flavors and was delicious. It laid on green beans (lima, fava, edamame) salad with citrus (lemon?) dressing that was amazing. Octopus and salad worked beautifully.
Fried Oyster Po Boy - unfortunately the oysters were not best quality (not fresh) that this wasn't my favorite. The slaw came with it was good.
The sandwich was cut half and easily I could share. Then, I could end with good-looking sweets. I couldn't have any dessert but I saw one that next table had and looked really good. I think it was fudge sandae.
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I don't normally review restaus after just one visit, but I'm craving the trout BLT sandwich, so I'm going to write about it. My order came with no bacon, which is what I wanted but didn't ask for. If this was intentional, methinks it should be called a TLT. I was initially ehh about it coming on toasted focaccia (as opposed to, say, brown bread) but it was very good. Toasted to perfection, which is to say, how I like it, which is to say, well(-toasted). Side of thin onion rings = wow. I finished everything on my plate. So, that merits 4 stars.
Down side: the three people I lunched with each ordered a different kind of grilled fish, and all three fishes arrived overcooked. Also, although the restau and service are appropriately casual, I can understand why some people would complain about the prices. Because, yes, those two things are linked.
$12 sundae. I shared it. Solidified chocolate = good. The ice cream is supposedly special but apparently not enough for me to not focus on the solidified chocolate.
This quaint restaurant on the corner has a lobster roll to die for. The bread is drenched in butter with a creamy sauce to hold the overflowing pieces of lobster together. The appetizers were scrumptious including the octocpus, oysters, and fried oysters.
This restaurant was awesome. Last year, my boyfriend and I had heard such great things about Pearl's Oyster bar and were dying to try it but it turned out to be horrible and we were so disappointed. Fast forward one year and my boyfriend actually ate at Mary's Fish Camp with a couple of friends. He came home RAVING about the place and said "this is what you would have hoped Pearl's Oyster Bar would have been " and "it was the best seafood meal I have had."
My boyfriend couldn't stop raving about the cockles in the white bean and garlic sauce and was craving them for about two weeks.
Well, last Friday, we decided to head over to Mary's Fish Camp. They don't take reservations and as previous reviews have suggested, they are quite cramped for space, so there was definitely a wait. We had about a 45 minute wait, but it was great weather and there were seats/benches outside.
We were also able to order beer/wine and drink it outside the restaurant, which made waiting fun and much more tolerable. The hostess was very friendly and was cracking jokes with my boyfriend and I, which also led to an enjoyable dinner.
We finally sat down at the counter, which unlike at Pearl's Oyster Bar (see my review for that debacle) was nice and comfy. I didn't feel squished and I didn't feel like I was eating at a counter. I was able to watch the chef and it was actually fun. Also, unlike Pearl's, the service at MARY's Fish Camp was awesome. Our waitress was very helpful and answered all of our questions.
So, what did we order? We started with the cockles in the white bean and garlic sauce. they were delicious. The clams were succulent and in the best garlic broth I have tasted in a very long time. The dish also had delicious cannoli beans, which melted and gave a nice texture to the broth and the cockles. I couldn't stop lapping my bread in the dish and sopping up every last bit!
We also ordered the fried calamari with jalapenos and cilantro sour cream. These were also delicious -- crunchy, melted away. . the flavors were definitely spicy and intense, but unlike a lot of calamaris, it was not rubbery. .just delicious.
I had Thai Style Crispy Black Sea Bass for my entree. It was a whole fillet, fried. Definitely not the healthiest fish choice, but the meat was succulent and perfectly cooked. The one part I didn't like about the meal, was that it was a whole fish and picking out the bones while you are eating is not always so much fun. For this reason alone, I don't know if I would order the dish again. . . I wish they made it in a fillet. There wasn't really a sauce but rather a fresh mango type slaw with cashews that covered the entire fish. It was light, refreshing and delicious. If you don't mind eating an entire fillet of fish bones and all, definitely order it!
My boyfriend had the lobster risotto with sweet peas. It was creamy and delicious and had a really nice flavor. There were huge chunks of lobster throughout the dish.
We also ordered a side of shoe-string french fries, which were to die for. I love shoe-string fries and these were perfectly seasoned with the right amount of salt and rosemary leaves. Delicious!
We were so happy with our meal and can't wait to go back and try more dishes off the menu. Definitely try here!
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I grew up on the coast of Maine, eating only the freshest seafood and world-famous lobsters, often by the shore with a salty breeze and the sound of surf on the rocks. It was always fresh and simply prepared. That being said, some skepticism was inevitable when going to my first seafood restaurant in Manhattan. Before Mary's, my attitude was, "Who cares? I can get good seafood when I go visit home." But Mary's won me over. They really did.
Does that mean I shelled out (oooh bad pun) market price for a lobster roll? Certainly not! This Mainer would not even consider it. I have to wonder about all the people complaining that a lobster roll is just bread, lobster and mayonnaise, and how absurd the price is. I mean. What did you think a lobster roll was when you ordered it?
Lobster knuckles were delicious and a fun way to start the meal. Yes, they are a lot of work and I always manage to cut myself on the shells. But that's part of the fun of eating lobster for me. I can really savor those little bites of tender meat after cracking and poking around in the shells. By the time I've dipped them in the drawn butter, I feel I've earned it. This do-it-yourself style of dining gives Mary's that relaxed, down-home vibe. Crab gratin was also magnificent, a very comforting little dish. Order this if you want something easy to eat.
For the entree I got seared scallops over polenta(I cannot resist polenta... ever!). Boy, were they perfectly cooked. Seriously, the caramelization was flawless. I can remember one particular bite where the brown bits from one of the scallops had made a smudge mark on the polenta, adding a salty, briny flavor that was to die for. There was some sort of sliced bell pepper saute thing that came on the side of the plate, which I initially ignored because I'm not a huge pepper fan, but I ended up eating them all and liking it. They were so well prepared and the flavors went well together; I couldn't help but clean my plate.
My companion had a whole fish, snapper if I remember correctly, deep friend*. Not my style, but he liked it!
Also had a side of sugar snap peas. They were plain, probably cooked with just butter, salt and pepper and they were also perfect. Just like everything else about this meal.
*typo but I'm keeping it, because he named it Fred before devouring the poor bastard.
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Soft Shell Crab!!
You know what I am talking about, but not really, not if you haven't had Mary's soft shell crab. You are imagining a puny soft shell crab fried in a overcooked and overhard batter.
You aren't imagining the very large soft shell crab fried in a lightly crisp batter with the large chunks of crab melting on the tongue.
This has changed my life.
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Yes! Take your girl friend to this place and buy her a lobster roll!
Take your date to place if you like her.. buy her clam or mussel for appetizer, a lobster roll and a glass of wine.
well, make sure you like this girl before taking her, because it's a large bill.... if you don't like her, make her pay!
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Yum! Mary's Fish Camp is great! I had the mussels for an appetizer, and the lobster roll. Mary's has good, classic seafood, but it has a slight gourmet twist - something different.
The mussels were cooked in this broth that was just different. I think it was topped with something that tasted like sauerkraut, but not as pungent. Served with sourdough bread that was great for dipping.
The lobster roll was $33 - kind of expensive. But oh well. It had a little more mayonnaise than I would have liked, but the lobster bits were thick, hearty, tender, and delicious with a squeeze of lemon juice. I didn't think the lobster roll was small - it was just right. Its more filling than you think. And just overflowing with juicy lobster chunks! More than enough for moi! The fries were very slender and crispy. I splashed them with a bit of vinegar and they were just perfect!
On a Friday night, we got there at 8 and had to wait about an hour, but the servers and hostess were so friendly and apologetic about the wait. Which is nice, because at some places the hostess is super snobby about it. Mary's is a wonderfully unpretentious, homey restaurant... a rarity in the West Village if you ask me.
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Wonderful!! Super fresh and very delicious. Lobster knuckles melt in your mouth, better than stone crab claws for those of you familiar with them. Amazing lobster rolls! Soft shell crab was also some of the best I've had. The table next to us raved about the salted crusted shrimp. There's a long wait for a reason! Yum!!!!!! I was ok with the prices given the quality of the food and Manhattan prices in general.
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DAMMIT!!!! There was no soft shell crab when I went! Only the "famous" lobster roll, which to me looks like mayonnaise on a hot dog bun!!!
Apparently everyone loves it though. Skip the lobster knuckles - too much work!
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Love, love, love Mary's!
The food at Mary's is always able to cheer me up and when it starts getting into that spring mode each year, all I want is a lobster roll and a lemonade. They are also kind enough to indulge me in a side of old bay with my fries - MD girl here!
I am a huge fan of nice quality food that's simply well-executed and Mary's is right on the mark. The salt crusted shrimp, whole fish, knuckles, scallops, lemonade, and of course - the amazing lobster roll - are all favorites.
The staff is friendly, despite the cramped space both in and out of the kitchen. They were even quite accommodating when my mother wanted a tiny bite of a fudge sundae and they created a tiny one just for her.
The waits are long. It's never a simple "oh let's grab a quick bite" to go there, but they are kind enough to call you when you're table's ready, so go early and plan to take a walk around the 'hood or get a drink somewhere else while you wait.
In fact, now that's it's springy out again, I'm getting that lobster roll craving...
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I'm a little hesitant to post this, because one of you stinkin' Yelpers might end up being one of the people I have to wait for as I queue up in the 40 minute Friday night dinner line. That's right, you'll be downing fresh-out -of-the-sea Malpeque oysters, Portuguese octopus seared over a bed of edamame & 2 other beans in some amazing light oil concoction. As you watch Mary, with hand on her hip, orchestrate the preparation like a finely-tuned machine in the tiny open kitchen, you'll knock down some shredded fries with just the right amount of seasoning; add a little vinegar, who needs ketchup on these pommes frites? And then you'll move on to the perfectly crisped skin of the succulent Arctic Char fish entree over a radish, red onion, and bean salad. And naturally, you'll have to try your friend's whole pan seared Bronzini (watch those bones, but make sure you lick 'em clean of all that Camp flavor). I'll probably have to wait even longer, because the cheerful team of waitresses that work in unison will deliver another Anchor Steam as you eye those massive steamers. Seeing as how Mary is from Florida, I suppose you'll want to polish off your meal with the mouth-watering Key Lime Bar with a dollop of fresh cream on top. If I were you, I'd prefer graham cracker crust, but I guess you can't get everything.
So yeah, maybe I won't post this review. Because I'm going back for the softshell crab and lobster roll, and don't want to wait in line behind yet another Yelper...
Tip: If you give them your cell, they'll call you while you take a stroll and grab a pint at one of the local bars in the WV.
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now riddle me this...how does nyc have better lobster rolls then the new england states? mary's fish camp thats how. take that! lobster rolls and superbowls. whaaaat? heh heh. ok maybe not fair since i havn't been to all of the lobster roll places up north. but i came here with a bostonian and a seattle-ite and they both said 'hands down the best'
the fried oysters and clams are a good pre-game to the lobster rolls
oh i like their fries too! good stuff
NYC #1
if you asked me what type of foodie i enjoy, seafood is definitely one of the tops ... after yelping "seafood" i quickly glanced at the top 5.
blue water = too fancy for the night, and some oyster place, eh~* coming from SF, i can easily go to hogs, so why waste a trip over to the east coast for oysters... *shrugs* we just wanted something very low key and chill and mary's was perfect for that.
the min i walked in, i felt like i was kinda at sf's bar crudo. the small space, and the layout ... super small, yet a cozy joint. around 9ish, there was a long 45 min wait.
after skimming through a few reviews, i picked up on getting their lobster roll. was it truly and worthy in paying $37 for a damn lobster roll? shiet, i will pay $100 for a teeny weeny size of japanese kobe beef it was truly worth it ... well, given that $37 was the market price ... and not to mention, it was limited, so of course i had to give it a try. despite the price, the lobster roll was perfectly seasoned with a slight paste of mayo and seasoned perfectly. it's usually the mayo that kills any taste to any mix but it was actually perfect but it's not like i literally died and was taken to Heaven.
yes, u guessed it, both of us got it, so make that $74 on 2 teeny weeny looking lobster rolls, which were the size of my baby hands. sry i couldn't take a pix, it came out super fuzzy on my camera fone. we also shared a plate of brussel sprouts w/bacon... and that was also $6, which was quite tasty. it was some veggie dish which was chopped into a salad looking dish... quite healthy and yummy (peek foto), and oh, a plate of some anchovie thing ($6) which was not good, i personally didn't like it, but my friend did. perhaps, cuz i'm just not the anchovie person to be. if you like anchovies, you can't go wrong, basically, it was fried, and battered in oil. bleh.
service was quite helpful. very friendly and easy going.
it just wasn't worth $37 for the lobster roll. perhaps $25? fine, since it's the market price, but for that size? lemme marinate for a bit.
if you honestly ask me, getting a lobster roll for dinner was kinda dumb on my part. yes, call me the korean blonde, but shiet, i dont live in NYC so gimme a break!
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Always on the NY visit list. I always go straight for the clam roll. I know the Lobster roll is fancy but I get so much more enjoyment out to the clam roll. How about some fries to go with it! Tasty, delicious and the perfect environment for an afternoon stop. Place is small. I want the fish picture on the wall in my house! Nice apps to start. It's worth the wait to get in.
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I ended up here on a cold winter night there was no wait to get in so i thought i check it out.
I was blown away with the lobster roll. It was perfect. Tons of lobster a perfect bun the right amount of mayo. I will wait in line come summer after a long day at the beach. This place is great.Good music good service and fresh fish.I will be back for sure.
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This place really should be 3.5 stars because we had such amazing service, but I was not as happy with the food so 3 stars it is. We arrived early, beating the crowd and having most of the bar space to ourselves. The hostess was super attentive, and she allowed us to take our time with the menu and even have a couple of beers first. So far so good.
We decided to start off with the lobster knuckles and then lobster rolls. The knuckles are some of the sweetest, most succulent (albeit the least amount) meat of the lobster, and I quite enjoyed it. The drawn butter had a little too much precipitate in it, but not so bad that it wasn't complimentary. The roll was fresh, but way too much mayo. Fortunately, the mayo wasn't too creamy nor tangy so I didn't mind it as much, and there was a subtle buttery undertone that I quite enjoyed. The shoestring fries were excellent.
Service was great throughout the meal. Our glasses were always full with Anchor Steam, and we enjoyed the fact that we came early enough not to dine like sardines in a can. I opted out of dessert, but my friends enjoyed their sundaes. I really wish they had the strawberry shortcake, but apparently, it was not meant to be. All in all, the quality of the lobster was pretty good, the roll not too bad despite the somewhat heavy mayo, but still makes me move on to the next destination for the perfect lobster roll.
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The lobster roll is delicious.
The wait is long.
I've never been disappointed by the food here. I don't love the vibe though. The waitress we had was a little snooty but she may have been having a bad night. Either way, it's worth going just for the lobster roll...but it can't be Pearl!
HELLA FRESH lobster. DAAAAAMN, GINA! That thing was hella good. And hella $pendy. *cringe* Twenty eight dollah for a lobster roll???? FTW?!
Man, I hella miss the West Coast, land of the hella awesome $3.99/lb crab extravaganza. :(
Today's review: Brought to you by the word "hella." (Not to be confused with "holla.") That being said...holllllllllla to the West Coast peeps out there!
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I love the food here, but the prices keep going up and up and the service is TERRIBLE. Lil' miss sunshine rosy cheeks who is always there nad the most passive aggressive "cheery" person I've ever met , had the audacity to tell us we couldn't be joined by a fourth when there was plenty of room! "Mary's rules!" she said. She was unapologetic and just let my boyfriend stand there by the bar looking at us longingly. I asked her "are you really not going to let him sit?" and she just briskly walked away. We then ordered a get this TWELVE DOLLAR ICE CREAM SUNDAE. Insane. Anyhow, if those stupid women didn't work there and there wasn't always a wait I'd give this place 5 stars, but I'm so annoyed by the waitstaff and "mary's rules" that I have to say it's a 3 star place. Go to Ed's Lobster bar or Pearl Oyster for kinder service and food just as good.
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apparently i am the great debunker.
once again, a long-awaited pleasure cruise is derailed. how many raving, gushing 5-star reviews does mary's fish camp have? how many stories of orgasmic lobster roll experiences?
wtf? $110 and no orgasm???
1 - it's a $$ story. between the two of us we had one appetizer, two entrees and one dessert. no drinks, just water. the bill: $89!! YOWZA!! add in the tip and it's $110!! for what? fried anchovies, lobster roll, risotto and a sundae. we could have had dinner at applewood for that! and if we'd had wine and drinks, a second app and one dessert each, we'd be at $200. that's practically chanterelle territory. so i repeat: wtf???
2 - but of course, you say, it's worth it because it's sooo good. BEEP! WRONG! it's ok, just ok. don't get me wrong, it's not bad, it's good, very workmanlike, but it's not all that great, and far from special. not a delicacy. ever have really good fried clams on cape cod? it's like that. you know, you can polish up a nickel until it shines brighter than the sun, but it's still a nickel.
3 - the decor is funky and crowded and small, a lot like a bar n grill cafe on cape cod or any sea town anywhere, a place with salty rough men with red leathery faces and wool earflap hats, rubber yellow raincoats and big black rubber boots. there should have been sawdust on the floor and white paper tablecloths. but mary's fish camp in the west village is filled with midscale and upscale white collar workers looking to spend their money on buzz and be in the happening place.
4 - the lobster roll. this most highly touted lobster roll cost us $36 and is basically 4 big bites (6 small ones?). it's made of about half an average lobster tail, in chunks, in a mayonaise-based cream sauce, on a sweet bun. it fits in the palm of your hand. when i saw, it, the mathematician in me got right to work:
"so if half a lobster tail is $36, that would mean the whole lobster would cost about $100?? better wrap that lobster up in mink and set diamonds in its claws."
give me a break. seems to me you're paying for the reputation, for all the 5-star reviews.
summary: if the bill was cut in half, and the lobster roll cost about $15 or $20, mary's would be considered a good mid-level seafood place. a 4-star destination offering good value, a decent meal of solid food, and unpretentious atmosphere.
but the surreality of charging twice its worth, with a smile of course - the service was truly wonderful, all the waitstaff share all the tables, and they are irrepressible and helpful and patient - leaves one with the feeling of somehow being exploited, like a rube in the big city.
it's a simple formula: no food orgasms, no top dollar. 3 stars and i won't be back.
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This petite West Village seafood "shack" gets to be a long wait unless you time it right. I've only come here as a party of 2, so can't imagine the wait for 4-6. Don't bother if you're a party of 8, try the Brooklyn location for that.
The fried clams and oysters are crisp and fresh. A perfect prelude to the bouillabaise or lobster roll. The lobster is moist and delicious with a discreet amount of mayo and buttered roll. The staff is always nice enough to let me switch the standard fries to a green salad. Homemade peanut brittle comes with the fudge sundae. If there's pie, have it a la mode.
I think it's important for us to remember that this restaurant is called "Mary's Fish Camp", not "Mary's Lobster Camp" because I think maybe too much attention is focused on the lobster rolls; the other fish looked delicious, and and more reasonably priced. My lobster roll contained some really delicious bites and a few ok bites only because there was too much sauce. Let the lobster speak for itself! Or claw for itself. Also the shoestring fries that came with it were good, but no way I could eat them all, and I'm not sure the roll itself was the best bread for lobster. I think I prefer a softer roll that sucks up those delicious lobster juices.
Now, the fried oysters and clams I got to set the stage for the lobster actually turned out to be the main attraction. Cooked just right so they were soft and yummy in delicious batter. What a treat! Best fried clams I've ever had, but I'm used to the Howard Johnson's variety.:-) Next time I'm trying something else because some of the dishes I saw next to me at the bar looked really good.
P.S. stay away from their Barberra wine. Wasn't into it! 3.5 up to 4 for now, but those clams were so good I plan to try it again.
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Coming from Minnesota, truly fresh and tasty seafood can be difficult to find, which is why I enjoyed Mary's so much. My two companions and I ordered two items off of the special menu (crab knuckles and fried Los Angeles anchovies) and two items off of the regular menu (new zealand cockles and the whole fresh market fish).
All of the food was delicious. The service was quick and helpful.
And that's all I have to say about that.
The only controversial thing that I could see about this place is how small it is. The tables are pushed very close together and sometimes when many dishes were on the table at once, my dishes would literally be half on my table half on the table next to us. And every tables was full. To me, this gave the restaurant a real lively environment which I very much enjoyed. I doubt everyone would agree with me.
Nearly 7 months after Pearl Oyster Bar introduced me to the crustaceous pleasures of the lobster roll, I finally made it out to its acclaimed peer (and half-sister) restaurant - Mary's Fish Camp.
Might as well start off with the main draw - the lobster roll. It lived up to the hype. A little more mayo than Pearl's (from what I recall) but the mayo was nicely flavored and excellently complemented the lobster meat and buttery hot dog roll. The lobster was plentiful and rewarded each bite with a nice meaty chunk. While you'll be tempted to wolf it down, resist the temptation and pace yourself. And at $28, you owe it to your wallet to savor each bite. The heap of shoestring fries - identical to those served at Pearl - are a nice counterpoint and I recommend using the malt vinegar vs the ketchup.
I prepped myself for the lobster roll with 6 Malpeque oysters ($12). Very tasty. Liked the provided chopped garlic and cocktail sauces. Was less impressed by the New Zealand Cockle I tried off my friend's plate.
The desserts all sounded good. I went with the Blueberry Cobbler with Fresh Cream. The pie was served in a cup so it was less like a pie slice and more like a pot pie. I liked it but wish I went with the Hot Fudge Sundae that used il laboratorio de gelato's ice cream.
The place is laid out different than Pearl's and carbon copy Ed's in that there isn't a massively long bar. A curved bar that sits about 10 splits the kitchen area from the dining area that seats maybe 20 more. The colors and fish pictures paint an informal sea-side feel - a little less WASPy than both Pearl's and Ed's.
I was surprised to not have a wait on a Thursday night around 6:30PM. It got a little busier as the night went on but it didn't seem like there was ever too big of a wait. I'd still plan on getting here before 7PM and come with no more than a party of 4. There aren't reservation so disobey those tips at your own peril.
Great stuff. I liked Mary's better than Ed's (by about a star) and the lobster rolls I've had in Cape Cod and, recently, Rhode Island. I'd give Pearl's a very slight advantage but that might be b/c it was my first. If Pearl and Mary want a definitive ruling, I'm more than happy to block off some meals for them to make their case....
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This place is why I drool when I think of New York.
No other Lobster roll can compare! Believe me, I've tried.
Forget about trying to get into this place on the weekend.
It's so good. I try to come right around opening which i think is six o'clock to get a seat. (not as hard for lunch).
I've tried just about everything on the menu, but of course, the lobster roll kicks the most ass.
Mary and her staff are so cool and relaxed, it's difficult to have a bad time.
Everyone is attentive but not overly present.
It's bustling but no one tries to kick you out once your plate is clean...And it will be clean.
Like i said before it can be tough to get a table on friday at 8, but there is cause for the line up.
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Consider this post the coronation of Mary's Fish Camp for Queen of the NYC Lobster Roll spots. You might want to ask for them to go light on the mayo, which they can sort of accommodate despite the fact that its all pre-mixed. The sandwich is meatier than Mermaid Inn's and less mayo-drenched than its counterpart at Pearl Oyster Bar.
I think it was Mary who tended to us, but whoever she was, she was super nice.
I have been to Mary's many times and I like it. However, I do not understand the extraordinary hype about this restaurant. I would never wait for a table to eat, it just is not THAT great. The food is good, but not cheap for the casualness of it. Sides of veggies are $6.... that is what I would expect to pay in a more upscale restaurant. But I keep returning...must be some intangible there.
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4.5 stars. Super lobster rolls - the lobster was fresh, naturally sweet, and tasted great with all the other seasonings and mayo on a toasted buttered roll. And the long shoestring fries were pretty tasty. Nice cozy neighborhood place on the corner of two residential streets.
Only reason for not 5 stars: $30 for a lobster roll. I was first shocked when I finally saw the price after I gave the guy my credit card but then I said what the hell. I'm from Boston and have had lobster all my life and have never had to pay $30 for lobster. Luckily the dang thing was so good.
Bottom line: When you eat Mary's, close your eyes twice: (1) close your eyes on your first bite of the lobster roll to savor the taste and (2) close your eyes when the bill comes for the $30 lobster roll.
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This place is teeny! Literally, a convex shaped booth and tables pushed against benches along 2 walls had room to seat 20 diners. Walked in around 8pm on a Monday night, and waited about 20min. for a table. And we were lucky! We heard that a half hour earlier, there was no wait, but while we were waiting, many others piled in behind us to join the queue.
Modest wine list and selection of beers, but what they had was quality. Meaning: Guinness on tap bribed me into not minding the wait at all :)
The menu changes, so although we were disappointed that Mexican corn was no longer on the menu, the fried smelt and calamari made up for it. Portions were solid, and prices befitting. When the meals came out, I thought they looked a little small, considering the price. Like, maybe a 4 oz. portion of grilled fish ranging from $16-25. BUT, those dishes ended up being the perfect serving size! Nothing to get full over, but everything was well put together and delicately seasoned to highlight the natural taste of the fish. We bypassed the lobster roll on a matter of principle: $30?! no way. I'll eat my fill of those delights when I go up to New England, or I'll pay $17 at Chelsea Market if that craving really hits.
Summary: good meal, left satisfied, but probably won't make any return trips unless I happen to be in the area and have tried all the other seafood places in the hood on my list.
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You've got to go early or be prepared to wait. It is really, really worth it though. I love the space - it is my three year old daughter's favorite place. Nice views of West Fourth Street - the place is really integrated into the neighborhood. I love the lobster rolls, the sides, the desserts. I am not always that crazy about the grilled whole fish. I think that the Greek fish places do that better. &