Marea NYC is not remotely a new restaurant, or a hidden find. Since it opened 15 years ago, it’s been a staple in the Midtown area for work lunches and dinners. At one point, Marea had a Michelin star, which was earned in 2012 and lost in 2022 under Chef Michael White. Normally, when a restaurant hits this milestone era of its existence, it can be ready to put out to pasture. However in the fall of 2023, Marea decided to give itself a nip and tuck with the new Chef PJ Calapa. Nothing drastic – some updated decor and new menu items. However, the bar is virtually unchanged, as are some of the favorite menu items. So it was time to refresh our thoughts with an updated Marea review.
Atmosphere
If you’re a billionaire in New York City, you’ve passed through Marea. And more than one of the titans of the finance universe treats Marea like it’s their everyday canteen. But regardless, Marea continues to be a power lunch and dinner scene. The bar (which is an aspect of the re-decor that was pretty untouched) continues to be the place to meet people. Whether you’re eating alone or with a friend, looking to socialize, this is where at minimum, you’ll meet good contacts. For several of my girlfriends, it’s where I hope they meet their first, second or third husbands. The crowd is always naturally well-curated at Marea.
Food + Beverage
Marea has always been a solid meal and an elevated neighborhood staple, if you’re in for around $200/person. When I didn’t want to carb-load, the crudo, pasta, and scallop never disappointed. During white truffle season, there’s no place that I would rather spend $275 for a plate of pasta. But, under the newest rendition of Marea, they’ve made the menu better. Unfortunately for me, they’ve also found ways for me to up my neighborhood joint dinner bill. First, is a caviar menu that kicks off the night, including a bruschetta bite with burrata and Kaluga. The fluke crudo now has an upgrade too, with caviar on top.
Similar Crudo, but Bigger
In addition to the caviar, I always enjoyed the crudo at Marea. Now though, with the caviar-topped crudo, there’s a selection of seven, versus the previous four. There’s also a langoustine tartare and a seabass tartare with pistachios that is now one of my favorite must-have items on the menu. I didn’t order a raw bar, but saw many more towers moving around the dining room than previously. They did keep the Astice though, which is their signature lobster with burrata. What didn’t make the cut was the fried sun chokes, which I’d like to petition to bring back.
Fancier Food Overall
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but the only pasta I was really in love with was the white truffle tagliatelle. That butter sauce and egg pasta is everything. Under the new menu though, I think the sleeper hit is the spaghetti, which is a more flavorful version of linguine and clams. There’s a king crab pasta and a lobster pasta which are solid as well, but I still go for the clam. At some point, I’ll try the ravioli if I can forgo my standby order.
Nowadays, you’ll also find a tomahawk most nights and my other standby dish – the langoustines. The langoustines in their garlic butter and lemon, along with arugula are part of my top three dishes on the menu.
Service
The one thing that kept Marea in business under all its renditions is its service. Even when it was the newest, hottest restaurant on the block, there wasn’t any attitude. At Marea, they are all about refined hospitality, and this brings in regulars. I, personally, don’t go back to too many restaurants in NYC, but Marea is always one of my staples. Their team under a new chef has, of course, expanded. However, your favorites, like Adrian behind the bar, and Ivan at the maître d’ stand, stay the same. I don’t think I’ve ever had bad service at Marea.
Overall: 8.9/10
I’ve always loved Marea, but this may be its strongest menu and execution in the kitchen yet.
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FAQs
Q: Where is Marea NYC located?
A: Marea NYC is located at 240 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019.
Q: What are Marea’s hours of operation?
A: Marea NYC’s hours of operation 7 days a week are as follows:
Q: Does Marea NYC allow walk-ins?
A: Marea NYC does allow walk-ins, but especially during the week, the restaurant is almost always full.
