Photo: inhabitant.com
Like any self-respecting person, I look for as many ways as possible to be on the water when the weather is beautiful. I am a longtime fan of boats on the Hudson River such as Grand Bank and The Frying Pan. Recently, I had the pleasure of being introduced to the boats at North River Landing.
North River owns two ships, both docked at Pier 81. North River Lobster is a fun, casual boat for raw bar and buckets of beer. The sister boat, North River Fish Bar, is more formal and offers a full sit down dining experience. The brand new 10,000 square foot yacht has a 3-story “seafood lounge” interior and rooftop. The dining room is upscale with large leather banquets and a polished oak bar. Fish Bar sets sail 4-5 times per day and will take you on a 1.5 hour trip around the Hudson with stunning views of both Manhattan and Jersey City.
I’ll be honest, the food didn’t change my life. I don’t think they will be winning a James Beard award anytime soon. However, I’m realistic and know that you don’t have this experience just for the food. What I will say is that the menu is huge, with tons of American, Italian, and Mediterranean options. The pickiest of eaters will find something enjoyable on this menu. The best of the bunch were the seafood options. We started with fried oysters, calamari, and octopus which were seasoned well and presented beautifully. The pasta lacked some salt, but I loved the texture and flavor combinations of both the rigatoni and the linguine.
As for the service, it was incredibly professional and kind. We always had fresh plates, full water glasses, and tons of cocktails. I absolutely recommend this for a romantic date or an option to break up the monotony of going to the same ol’ bar with friends. Here’s what we had:
BLACK TRUFFLE BURRATA Heirloom Tomato, Balsamic Glaze
KALE CAESAR Kale, Shaved Pecorino, Poached Quail Egg
TABBOULEH Bulgar Wheat, Tomato, Mint, Parsley
OCTOPUS Red Pepper, Capers, Red Wine Reduction
PLYMOUTH ROCK OYSTERS Cornmeal Crust, Sriracha Lime Butter
MEDITERRANEAN BRANZINO Capers, Lemon
HALIBUT Zucchini Crust
RU STI C ROA ST E D V E GE TA B L E Eggplant, Zucchini, Brussels Sprouts, Asparagus, Carrots, Pearl Onion
BLACK LINGUINI Clams, Shrimp, Lobster, Cockles, Beurre Blanc
BURGER Lamb Blend, Onions, Tzatziki, served with French Fries
RIGATONI Ground Sausage, Marinara, Fresh Ricotta
YOGURT with mixed berries and nuts
