Well worth the trip, South Street Seaport has some of the best outdoor restaurants in Manhattan.

Industry Kitchen - South Street Seaport

The decor plays off the venerable South Street Seaport's history and vintage industrial setting. Reclaimed plank wood, black tiles and raw concrete blend with some very cool nautical as well as modern touches to provide a very unique ambiance.

Inside, you can dine at the counter of an open kitchen and watch the chef at work. There's a nice lounge area that would not be out of place in one of Chelsea's trendier clubs. In the al fresco dining area, there are some very comfy, plush couches, sofas and communal tables. The Seaport's tall, majestic 19th-century sailing ships are moored just a few yards from the restaurant.

The bar has a full line-up of beer, wine and spirits. Creative cocktail choices include the East Side garden (Brooklyn Gin, St. Germain, hibiscus syrup, lavender bitters, rose water and lemon juice. The Mina Murray is a whimsical drink comprised of Tito's vodka, Tanqueray gin, grenadine, lemon juice, lavender bitters and a maraschino cherry. If you ask politely, we're sure that the bartender will give you an extra cherry. One is never enough.

One of the bar's most requested options is the Formula 70, a mix of tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and muddled blueberries. The menu contains an eclectic and tasty mix of small plates and heartier entrees. The chilled berry soup with grapes, mixed berries and avocado is a Summer time favorite. The savory grilled cauliflower steak with pecorino romano cheese, capers and lemon relish will float your boat all year round. A popular dish with the after work and happy hour crowd is a pot of mussels with shallots, butter and white wine. You'll need that side of focaccia bread to sop up the broth. Absolutely delicious.

The grilled, free-range lemon chicken with salad and potato curls is a dish without peer. Even Greek tourists and business travelers rave about the quality and seasonings on Industry Kitchen's lemon chicken. The grilled hanger steak is above average, but, when you come here, besides the aforementioned chicken, what you really, really want to order is the San Gennaro lasagna.
Sandwiched between layers of pasta are slices of succulent eggplant, sausages and roasted peppers.

The kitchen's Hellenic influence can be found in their unforgettable Greek style cheesecake. Other notable desserts include a not too sweet Panacotta Brulee' and the chocolate river. Chocolate lava cake is paired up with coconut sorbet, berry coulis and house made whipped cream for a dessert that will satisfy the sweetest of a tooth.

Location and Hours

70 South Street
New York, NY 10005
(212) 487-9600
www.freshsalt.com

Hours

Monday to Sunday 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Fresh Salt - South Street Seaport

Fresh Salt is an old-school bar with a very cool, contemporary attitude. Locals and office workers gravitate to Fresh Salt for their fabulous drinks and comfort food. But more than anything else, it is a sense of community that attracts people to this bar, which has been a neighborhood mainstay for generations. Fresh Start is, indeed, the bar where everybody knows your name. There's a great deal of history here. The bar is housed in a building that dates back to 1885. For decades, the building was a smokehouse. The name Fresh Salt is taken from one of the original business' signs, Fresh, salted or Smoked Fish. Located near the old Fulton Fish Market, the bar, in various incarnations, was the neighborhood local for the fishermen and workers at the market. The present ownership took over in 2004 and achieved rousing success. But years later, Fresh Salt was nearly destroyed by the floods caused by Hurricane Sandy.

It took awhile, but, eventually, the bar and building were restored to their original state through the generosity of friends, family and many regular customers. Fresh Salt was back in business and better than ever. The decor calls forth a turn of the century saloon with updated touches. Grab one of the booths or banquette seating. You will just sink right in. The banquettes are most likely, more comfy than the furniture in your own living room.

During the warmer months, you can spot Fresh Salt from afar thanks to the sidewalk cafe, whose tables hold bright red umbrellas. It makes a striking visual statement. The outdoor seating area is great for relaxing and catching a break from life's daily stress. It's also a nice spot for people watching. At Fresh Salt, Brunch is kind of a big deal. Local couples, groups of friends and families all gather at the sidewalk cafe area and inside the bars cozy environs. Doing brunch here has become something of a tradition. You can get the usual brunch suspects like eggs any style, omelets with a variety of fillings, Challah French Toast or pancakes with home made apple compote. Many brunch-goers, though, opt for the Quiche of the day or the kitchen's famous macaroni and cheese. A huge favorite is the SALT brunch sandwich, which consists of speck, avocado, lettuce, tomato and chipotle mayo on ciabatta bread.

The bar mixes up some very intriguing cocktails that are only available for brunch. The Weekender consists of Bourbon, Triple Sec, sweet vermouth and lime juice. A shot of vodka, a generous pour of blackberry liqueur, dry vermouth and lemon juice all blend together to make the Salt Miner a modern cocktail classic. During the week, though, fear not, the bar has a happy hour selection of cocktails that you will enjoy. You can go with the Peck's Slip Paloma with Mezcal, lime juice, grapefruit and orange juice along with a splash of soda water. The Seaport Pimm's Cup features a blend of Gin, Pimm's #1, ginger ale, soda water and cucumber juice.

Wines range from a very tasty Malbec and a refreshing Rose' to Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. We are NOT talking the cheap stuff here. This is premium refreshment. Fresh Salt carries a long list of craft beers, available by the draft, bottled or in cans. Brand names include Blue Point toasted lager, Lagunitas IPA and Montauk Driftwood Ale.

Location and Hours

146 Beekman Street
New York, NY 10038
(212) 962-0053
www.freshsalt.com

Hours

Monday to Friday 11:00 AM to 4:00 AM
Saturday 10:30 AM to 4:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM to 2:00 AM

Acqua at Peck Slip - South Street Seaport

Executive chef and owner Giuseppe Marrone's promise to his valued customers is that All of our food is made fresh daily with care and lots of love. In Chef Giuseppe's kitchen they certainly won't short change you on either the tender loving care or farm to table ingredients that evolve with the seasons. Having earned his culinary chops at Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland and the Ritz in London, this world traveler has found a home in downtown Manhattan. Giuseppe's passion is to share with you the delicious recipes that he learned from his Nonna.

Located in one of the oldest buildings in the Seaport neighborhood, Acqua has a wine bar ambiance, along with a hip, rustic vibe. The interior, comprised of exposed brick and solid wood, is decorated with hand-drawn sayings like Wine is the most civilized thing in the world and Life is much too short to drink bad wine. How very true. Acqua has a relatively small, but charming, sidewalk cafe. You can smell the salty ocean air while sipping a glass of white or red. The South Street Seaport's famous waterfront is only a short stroll away. Chef Giuseppe has a bountiful selection of appetizers, which are all good. But two standout selections are the Zucchini vermicelli with creamy avocado, pesto and cherry tomatoes and the crab cake with artichokes and micro-greens. Entrees run more to meat and fish dishes along with his signature pastas.

The linguine with clams and white wine is simply world class cuisine. Right up there in the culinary heavens is chef's chicken with mushrooms and polenta. If red meat is your go-to meal or I've had a bad day pick-me-up, then try the pan roasted sirloin with rosemary in a red wine sauce.

Acqua serves brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 12 until 4 PM. They offer specially priced brunch cocktails like Mimosas, Bloody Marys and one of the better Bellinis you'll ever have. The chef's signature brunch dish is the Italian baked eggs which is comprised of a duo of poached eggs in a tomato basil sauce with melted mozzarella and a side of house-baked, toasted Focaccia bread.

Location and hours

21 Peck Slip
at the South Street Seaport
New York, NY 10038
( 212) 349-4433
www.acquarestaurantnyc.com