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Sable's Smoked Fish
Categories: Food Specialty Food Seafood Markets Restaurants Sandwiches Seafood Markets, Sandwiches [Edit]
1489 2nd Ave(between 77th St & 78th St)
New York, NY 10021
Neighborhoods: Yorkville, Upper East Side
(212) 249-6177
- Nearest Transit:
-
77 St (4, 6, 6X)
86 St (4, 5, 6, 6X)
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Jezzie X. said: "Junoon is breathtakingly beautiful. All crystals, hushed alcoves and high ceilings. The lounge, separate from the main room of the restaurant, is a great place to relax with a cocktail. The food is divine, the service impeccable, the…" read more »
64 reviews for Sable's Smoked Fish
Review Highlights
"...almost as good as Russ & Daughters (I've always though R&D..."
(in 4 reviews)
"...chive cream cheese and everything bagel that I had really..."
(in 4 reviews)
"I love their mini bagels with salmon and whitefish."
(in 9 reviews)
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64 reviews in English
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Review from Jason P.
Manhattan, NY
1/15/2012
The best smoked salmon and whitefish salad I've ever had. Their ingredients are bursting with flavor, and the seafood is the freshest that I've ever come across. Plus, the service is wonderful here too; they're very friendly.
I can recommend the Scottish smoked salmon. I'll have to back to try more things.
A little pricey but pretty typical for the UES. -
Review from Wahed K.
Got a groupon deal to come here and try their sandwiches and I'm glad I did. The sable with cream cheese on a plain bagel was really good. . My wife had the lobster salad sandwich which she really liked as well. However, while the sandwiches are great, they are not exactly full meals so if you are hungry you will need to manage your expectations.
I also want to point out that the guy behind the counter was polite and helpful. We didn't have any problems with the service like I some of the other reviewers. However, they need to do something about the heat. It was 20 degrees outside and they had the door wide open. I realize it's only a deli but if you are going to decorate the walls, put tables and convert half of the deli into a cafe type space then you should try and make your customers feel more comfortable. -
Review from HARVEY C.
Queens, NY
1/14/2012 6 photos
Lately I've been eating one of my favorite sandwiches: sliced nova with cream cheese on an everything bagel. However at a cost of about $11 a sandwich, I can't eat it everyday as I would like. So when I saw a Groupon deal for Sable's Smoked Fish, i thought it was a blessing for my smoked fish cravings while supporting a Chinese owned business! But after my visit last week, i found out it was actually a curse...
930 people bought the following Groupon deal: for $14, you get a deli meal for two at Sable's (up to a $33.98 total value):
1. Two seafood salad or deli sandwiches (up to a $14.99 value each)
2. Two cold drinks (up to a $2 value each)
I ordered two sandwiches:
1. sable & cream cheese sandwich for $13.99:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The everything bagel was too dense, too hard, and the toppings were unimpressive.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
However the fish was good with a creamy texture similar to nova
2. sturgeon & cream cheese sandwich for $14.99:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Same bagel problem as it was not a fluke.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The fish was very lean and dry. Not my type of fish i guess...
So the gentleman behind the counter told me the Sturgeon & Cream Cheese was in fact $17. I knew this to be false because before i bought the deal, I had checked the link provided by Groupon to Sable's delivery menu on http://Grubhub.com listing:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
or
http://www.grubhub.com...
I asked him if he was sure and he groaned, "It's $17 and you will have to pay the difference!" I was in no mood to argue with the staff as their demeanor indicated how unreasonable they would be. They rang me up and said I owed them a little under $5 (couldn't remember the exact amount as I was fuming about being taken advantage of and was already late to work). I settle up with them and asked where I could pick up my two drinks. They told me that I was ONLY entitled to two sodas. Again I'm feeling taken advantage of as $2 for a soda in a New York shop like Sable's is ridiculous and their menu offered a lot more:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Basically they were trying to deny me from the more expensive choices and I was stuck with the lowest common denominator of beverages: canned soda. I grabbed my two sodas and then made my exit. As I'm walking by the counter to leave, I see the owner speaking to one of his staff and then I hear him mocking me for using a Groupon. Can you believe that?!? They just inflated the prices on a promotion they agreed upon to lure in customers and now they're insulting the same customers for participating in the promotion....
Summary: I'm Chinese and love a good deal while supporting my people, but i refuse to support Sable's because they are rude, dishonest, and most importantly...THEIR BAGELS SUCK!!! Sure the prices of their smoked fish might be a deal. But will you go there to buy smoked fish, trek to a legit bagel shop to score a bagel, and then make the sandwich yourself? Who has the time for that?!? And consider what i went through last week. Do you really want to subject yourself to rude service and deception? In regards to the latter, I wonder what other ways they have to maximize revenue after baiting customers with low prices and promotions. Let this be a warning for the people holding the other 929 vouchers which were sold and anyone else who dares step through their doors for what they think is a deal...
P.S. - I contacted Groupon and informed them of what happened. They took great care of me, unlike Sable's... -
Review from jay g.
New York, NY
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
The absolute best smoked salmon. I like having fish in the fridge for a quick healthy snack. Every time you visit, they will offer you a lobster salad sample. I always refuse it but they don't seem to get the hint. Oh, well. Hand out samples and 'buffets' skeeve me out.
If you have somebody that loves smoked salmon, this place is a great stop for a gift. Anyone that is a salmon lover (freak) they will recognize in the the very fist nibble that this stuff is outstanding. Earn bonus points with the in-laws, the boss's wife or just somebody special.
I don't get much except for the salmon and maybe some of the chocolatey cookie things they have sitting around the register, impulse buys. I'm always a sucker for chocolate cookie things. Smoked salmon and chocolate cookies? Yea, I got problems.. -
Review from Betty S.
Manhattan, NY
2/5/2012
Just purchased their "lobster" salad which tasted and looked like not much of lobster at all. At $32 per pound to charge for crawfish is scandalous! It is so absolutely obvious when you separate the mayo from the crawfish chunks. Upon calling the establishment, I was told no crawfish is included and only "lobster from Maine." What a scam.
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Review from Stephanie R.
Manhattan, NY
1/19/2012
This is the BEST place in NYC to get your smoked fish. I particularly love the Scottish salmon. The staff is very friendly and hands you lots of fish and salads to try as you decide what to get. (I always come here and get a bunch of stuff to go.) The lobster salad is fantastic (and I don't usually like lobster salad) and you can never go wrong with chopped liver. Grab a babka on the way out :)
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Review from Dr L.
Manhattan, NY
1/22/2012
I know my fish! Not impressed. Why pay almost double price than Citarella, Murray's, Fairway, Barney Greengrass, Agata and Valent and Zabar? egg salad, $ 4.99 a lb. at Citarella is a whopping $17.00 here. They all buy wish from same place except Gravlox which has no sodium nitrite. Here chubbs are twice the money than most places. The Chinese owners here are very enterprising but WHY the tip line on the debit card sign sheet?
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Review from Suzie C.
Manhattan, NY
1/26/2012
Seems like maybe I ordered the wrong thing here! I may have to go back and try some of the smoked salmon. Someone gave me the groupon deal and the way it was had made me thing I had to get a deli meat sandwich or the seafood or lobster salad.. In any case, I had the lobster salad on a bagel, which was pretty good. I also tried the pastrami and corned beef combo sandwich, which was also pretty good, but not that big and I wouldn't want to pay their full price for it (I think I could get better at Katz's or 2nd Avenue deli). Pretty good, but I wouldn't be running back to pay full price for the sandwiches I tried. I may have to back and try some of the fish though..
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Review from Jeff D.
10/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Sable's is around the corner from my normal digs when I visit New York. I count myself very lucky indeed.
So far I've focused on bagels and cream cheese, which they do very well. My last day in town I got a bagel with smoked salmon and absolutely loved it. I think I'm going to have to try some of the other smoked fish on our next trip. -
Review from Jenny L.
New York, NY
11/7/2011
the scottish salmon is insanely delicious, as is the lobster salad.
this is seafood love at its finest! -
Review from Craige M.
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh great. I think I'm sick. What could be worse than that? Calling my doctor and finding out her office has moved from the ever so convenient former location right by an E train stop to the wasteland that is 80th and Park. Who wants to go up there? Especially in the middle of the work day and from the west side? Not me.
Let's see... how could I make up for this unenjoyable trip, especially since yes of course I spent 40 minutes waiting in the doctor's lobby...
I know! Look on Yelp for places nearby to pick up lunch afterward. Sable's it was. And what a great choice. Yelpers did not lead me astray. I nearly went for a bagel with Scottish lox and cream cheese, but it says right on the deli counter "WORLD FAMOUS LOBSTER SALAD." How could I resist that? I changed my order at the last minute and did not regret it at all. I'll just have to get sick again so that I can go back and try the lox.
The lobster salad has big hunks of real lobster in it and has a slight sweetness to it. -
Review from Jaimee A.
4/24/2011
Their lobster and crab salad are delicious, BUT got a major case of food poisoning. So bad my husband had to go to the hospital. I discretely brought the food back to the store and the manager was less than understanding but did give me a refund.
Won't be going back there soon, unless I have 5 lbs I want to lose in a hurry!!Listed in: Food Tour of the UES
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Review from Joseph F.
6/6/2011
We were looking for somewhere to eat that wasn't expensive but that was quintessentially New York, and we stumbled upon Sable's. Evidently, Sable's is pretty well known in New York!
Everyone else in my party got a fish dish, but I saw the brisket on the menu and figured that New York would be a great place for my first brisket experience, so I got that. There were many great items on the menu and it was hard to pick just one! I really enjoyed it! However, I had a bite of Sheila F.'s lobster roll, and it was quite tasty. Had I seen these reviews and known that they were willing to give out samples, I would have asked for a sample of the smoked whitefish.
The best thing about this place, though, was the homemade dill pickles. They were darn near perfect! Many people in my group don't like dill pickles, so I was able to enjoy a few of them, much to my delight. They were probably the best pickles that I've ever had in my life...crispy, fresh, and flavorful!
Prices were reasonable too, especially for the amount of food that we got.
I'd definitely go here again. -
Review from Libby R.
Los Angeles, CA
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Review from Jess L.
3/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I could probably stand in this space for an hour and not get sick of the fishy smell. Well, that's because the smell of smoked fish is divine, of course!
Sable's selection is out of this world, and the free samples really sealed the deal on our buying some sable and lox. I wouldn't say I'm a smoked fish connoisseur, but I would say this is definitely some of the best smoked fish I've ever tasted. But don't take it from me...! -
Review from J C.
Manhattan, NY
5/8/2011
Sable's [self-procalimed?] reputation is hard to beat & I wasn't sure it would hold up. It did.
Picked up breakfast here before going to the park (as it's not the nicest place to stay & eat). The nova lox was perfect... fresh, flavorful, and very thinly sliced... will definitely be back to try the other options. Doubt anyone can say whether the lobster salad is indeed the "world's best," but it definitely elevates the spontaneous weekend picnic to something more memorable. -
Review from Michael R.
Manhattan, NY
8/12/2011
The lobster salad and all of the other salads I've ever had here are excellent, but after reading the Zabar's "Key Ingredient Missing" article in the NYTimes today I called Sable's to ask them what was in their lobster salad. I was surprised to learn that the mix for the lobster salad is 20% lobster 80% crawfish. I will still go to Sable's because they have delicious product, but it loses a quarter star in my book for being part of the great NYC lobster salad crawfish scandal of 2011. However, I respect management for being honest when asked.
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Review from Marissa C.
Jersey City, NJ
2/16/2011
Wow, by far the best egg salad and tuna salad I've had in a really long time. I've never had lobster salad before and theirs is delicious! I would definitely get this again. I've also never had crab salad before until now, and I prefer the lobster over the crab, just my preference. Both are fresh and tasty.
Fresh bagels, nice spread, can't go wrong.
I didn't order so I don't know about their prices.Listed in: What's for Lunch?
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Review from Martha H.
Manhattan, NY
9/3/2011
I had an everything bagel with cream cheese, Scottish smoked salmon, onion, and a small coffee: $12.10.
The fish was amazing--some of the best I've had. Perfect...like buttah! Bagel was smallish, flavorful, not particularly chewy or doughy.
I ate inside, mainly for the people watching. The line was long, and the cashier kept sending me back an forth to the table once he knew I was staying: once for coffee, once for the bagel, and yet again for the bill...a bit odd. The impatient people behind me didn't like it either.
Won't eat there again, but when I'm ready to spring for platter, I'll definitely have it delivered or get it to go. Keep smoking fish, Sable's. MmmmmmmmGOOD. They'll be seeing many more greenbacks from this girl's wallet.
Bottom line: The fish is FIVE STAR; the atmosphere and system is two stars at best; and finally, at one of the more expensive bagel joints around, this place rounds out an above average, perfectly respectable three stars. -
Review from Samantha S.
New York, NY
6/17/2010
The tuna salad is so delicious, and so expensive, that it was probably created by the military as a weapon of mass destruction. There's no other explanation.
The guys who run this place are so nice, and so canny, that they automatically dole out samples of scottish smoked salmon and lobster salad. By the time you realize you're addicted, it's too late.
Sable's is really two shops, one a traditional appetizing store and the other a down-at-the-heels cafe. The cafe part is kind of crappy, but you can get deli sandwiches and amazing hot dogs in addition to all the smoked fish from next door. I find the bagels too gigantic to use as a sandwich base, but you can ask them to slice you a bagel crosswise, yielding lots of manageable little pieces to pile with your topping of choice.
Be sure to check out all the Polaroids of Kenny with local notables towards the back. Watch and learn as the master slices smoked salmon ever so thinly. Eat whatever samples they hand you (whether you think you're too cool for whitefish salad or not). And then leave your wallet at the register. You can always make more money, but you might never have fish this good again. -
Review from natalie d.
Manhattan, NY
7/31/2011
Wow this spot is great for fish! I went here for a quick brunch bagel, upon entering the owner is so friendly, it's deli style, but we sat in a little sit down area. Back to the ordering... the owner Danny asked our names, where we live (we told him we are new to the neighborhood first). He proceeded to give us 2 samples each, one of the smoked whitefish - which I ended up ordering then, tuna salad. Both were so delicious, my boyfriend ordered the typical lox, onion, tomato on whole wheat and I choose the open faced with pate and smoked whitefish dip (2 diff spreads on each side of the bagel) we were both extremely satisfied and decided we are definitely going to this place again.
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Review from Gretchen W.
New York, NY
4/7/2009
I didn't know I liked whitefish salad until trying it at Sables, and guess what? I do. This is an UES staple for the freshest and tastiest smoked fish (salmon, etc) and salads in the area. Another delicious salad to note is the lobster salad and if you are up for more traditional fare, the chopped liver is also killer!
They are nice about giving samples and the salads come with yummy "bagel bites" to slather your salad choice on top. More than just your average bagel place, Sables is really top of the line.Listed in: Best Upper East Side Eateries
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Review from Natasha L.
Washington, DC
1/16/2010 1 photo
Went here with Jim and arrived a little after 7:00 p.m. We went up to the deli style counter and placed our order. I got the sablefish with cream cheese on a plain bagel. He asked if we wanted our orders to go or to stay in, we said stay in. So he gave us our sandwiches, we sat down and not even 3 minutes later, we were informed that they were closing in five minutes. Now literally, within two minutes, the lights were cut off, the TV (while were were watching it) was cut off, the entrance gate was pulled down and locked. And basically we had not even gotten through half our sandwiches.
WTF????
That was the most ghetto move I have ever seen. How terrible can service be? Why did this dude ask if we wanted to stay in and eat and not even give us a chance to decide if we even wanted to bother to eat there again knowing that they would be closing soon. I would have said, no and go some place had I been given that option. And we were quickly rushed out of there like bums and given to go bags. It was just horrid! Jim had to finish his sandwich on the street ( I chose to just wait until I got home to eat the rest of mine). Unbelievable! They will not get any business from us again.
Sablefish was fresh but all in all for $23 for two sandwiches and one soda, for the was not worth the price in my opinion, especially for the unbelievably rude service we received. -
Review from Eva G.
7/23/2009
I tried their lobster salad sandwich on a plain bagel. It was $9.99, which sounds like a lot, but when I think about those lobster rolls I got in Maine, which were $16 and had around the same amount of lobster (ok maybe a tad more) in a hot dog bun, I feel like Sables is not too overwhelmingly priced. This sandwich is Amazering! I shared it with a friend, along with the lobster chowder (which was about $7-8, but it is the watery kind, with all the chunks at the bottom, but still good).
The sandwich was so good I even forgot to take pictures... maybe next time.
The place has about 5 sit-down tables, pretty casual and comfy setting. Nice people too. -
Review from Ellen O.
New York, NY
5/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent smoked fish and salads. Eastern gaspe was almost as good as Russ & Daughters (I've always though R&D to be one of the best). Lobster salad was delicious too! Service very friendly. Before I could even make my first request, the counterman handed me a piece of rye with the lobster salad--very yummy and confirmed that I wanted to buy it. Anything I wanted to taste, the counterman gave me generous samples.
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Review from Jenn L.
10/15/2009 1 Check-in Here
I seriously crave this place about once every two weeks. No lies. I've brought it on a plane all the way to California because I knew I would crave it in the morning for breakfast.
The lox on a bagel is to die for. They always give generous samples of their delicious lobster salad (unless you've already ordered the lobster salad - then it's one of their many other salads). Now that I've mentioned the lobster salad, I should tell you that it's amazing. I usually order it on rye bread with a slice of tomato and it fills me up.
Damn cravings... I think I'll get it for lunch tomorrow. -
Review from Rebecca C.
Miami, FL
1/6/2010
So how did I come to find this place? Yelp of course. After leaving the MOMA's Tim Burton exhibit we were really hungry for something good. I was craving tuna so I yelped it and this placed seemed to have exceptionally good reviews (4 1/2 stars anyone?) and was somewhat local.
So we walked the blocks that seemed countless of miles away in the cold. And it was all worth it. I was amazed at how wonderful everything here was, including the lobster salad, smoked tuna, and the whitefish sandwiches. We decided to sample each others because I couldn't believe how each bite of something else was even better than the first. This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip and we were talking about it days later.
I also loved how the deli next door owned by the same people carried the same items so you could take them home in containers and make it on your own. They also had other Jewish deli specialty items. Next to our table was an article on the owners from Hong Kong that used to work at Zabar's until they opened up this place. When I went looking for tuna this definitely wasn't what I expected, it was a thousand times better! -
Review from Gloria C.
4/12/2010 2 photos
It was pretty ok, though sadly not amazing.
The guy behind the counter was very nice with the order, giving my friend and I a sample of the lobster salad. It was quite good, so we ordered a lobster roll and lobster clam chowder.
The lobster roll was, ok I guess. It doesn't beat Luke's lobster rolls though! The bun was just an ordinary hot dog bun - sad...
The lobster clam chowder was very chock full of lobster bits though, but it was a tad watery. Good taste though! -
Review from Judith G.
New York, NY
6/22/2006
For the best sable and nova and other delicacies, this is a cut above Zabar's or Agata's and even if you pay more, you can really taste the difference.
One of the guys who started it used to work at Zabar's, in fact.
Excellent service...and they always recommend new things.
Meeting people here when shopping is fun, too. -
Review from Molly T.
New York, NY
11/17/2009
We were standing there trying to decide what to get, and the guy behind the counter offered us each a taste of lobster salad on bread. It was incredible.
The smell in this place is amazing, and the smoked fish counter on the deli side is quite extensive and made me drool. We decided to split a BLT so I haven't had the Sable's smoked fish experience yet but the BLT was great and cheap (which is not easy to find in the UES).
They also carry Dr. Brown's soda! -
Review from Karen F.
12/7/2008
OMG - I don't even like this kind of stuff and this place is A-MAZ-ZING! Try the numerous varieties of smoked salmon (so buttery) and the LOBSTER SALAD is to die for.
Worth every blessed dime.
Marc S.'s review is RIGHT ON!!! -
Review from Letty N.
New York, NY
1/19/2007
It is an addiction.
Before now it was a Sunday morning memory.
They're nice, everything I have tried is absolutely wonderful. I think I have a thing for "hole in the walls" with quality. Much better than Zabar's even if more expensive. they are nicer (did I mention this already), fresher, no over-powering mixed foods smell (UGH), and offer samples. I would consider moving to the UES if I could afford to go here every day (but then maybe I'd get sick of it.. hmmm. NO!) -
Review from Susan L.
New York, NY
1/19/2010
MAYO and I are not friends. We do not get along. In fact, we avoid each other. With that said, I was pleasantly surprised by the mayo-ladened lobster salad sandwich which was quite good, slightly sweet but a tad mushy for my taste. I was not impressed with the "roll." While it conformed to the salad well, it was flimsy and balled up, like it just came out of a store bought bag.
The Nova on the other hand was melt-in-your-mouth AMAZING. The day old bagel was not. They need better bread purveyors.
I guess my stomach still belongs to Russ & Daughters. -
Review from Kadeem C.
Manhattan, NY
4/23/2011
Found this place with my friend as we were looking for a new place to try and just chill. So we went here in Sable's Smoked Fish and as we entered the place, I can already smell the aroma of their food, yummy! The service was good. The decors were also good. The place is clean. The staff was very friendly. The food was awesome! Definitely worth to try!
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Review from Serena L.
New York, NY
12/26/2010
Lobster salad so good. Lobster anything is good here. Expensive, but worth it.
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Review from Al A.
Beverly Hills, CA
1/17/2010
EXPENSIVE.
Tasty seafood! Nice counter workers. The eating area is a dump. -
Review from Lorrie M.
4/8/2009
Yeah this is pretty yummy but HOLY CRAP overpriced. I think I spent $47 on lunch here on two sandwiches, a soup and a coke. I kid you not, I have pictures for proof. The fish itself was quite expensive and so some sandwiches tend to get pricey. They do have fantastic chicken noodle soup but I think it gave me a stomach ache later.
I think the lesson learned here is that if you want a great smoked fish, you could come here ... or you could go to the nearest Costco and spend $47 on fish that will last you for weeks. I'm not opposed to this place because the 4 stars indicate that it was actually quite good, but i think it's a little overpriced for me to go back. -
Review from Randy W.
Suffolk, NY
9/16/2009
Who remembers their grandmother eating some bizarre seafood salad or smoked fish? Ever wonder why grandma was eating something as disgusting sounding as "whitefish salad"? Come to Sables and you will find out that it isn't disgusting, it is delightful.
Sables is kind of a "hole in the wall" but their selectoin of the "produce of the sea" is phenomenol. Their willingness to share "free samples" makes this place the ultimate if you are looking to "graze" in Manhattan. (Just be sure to buy something too ... we don't want to be rude and ruin a good thing ....)
Oh, and if you ever find yourself in need of quality caviar, this is the place. -
Review from Forza M.
New York, NY
4/8/2009
I agree with the review about this place being overpriced. But, it is on the Upper East Side, so I've come to expect this, unfortunately.
I also concur with the suggestion to pick up an 'everything bagel' from Ess-a. My added two-cents? Bring a slice of cheese from home. All of these places are a huge rip off when it comes to cheese.
We have ordered the lobster salad and tuna salad. Really good stuff. And samples before we ordered. The staff there is EXTREMELY nice, too. The only thing that could improve are the prices, but it is the best smoked fish place around. -
Review from Jen M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/11/2010
Here, try a bit of Lobster salad. That's how I ended up spending ridiculous amounts of money here on all sorts of yummy fishy foods when hosting an Orphans Xmas. Dangerously delicious. My amex still squeals when I walk in here.
But beware, they often make mistakes with orders. For example, I once ordered a pb & j bagel and pointed, as I ordered, to the sign that said pb & j sandwich. Imagine my disappointment when I got home to find a BUTTER and jelly bagel. Yucks!
