New York's Best Seafood Sandwiches

With the weather getting warmer, we've got one protein on our minds: Seafood! While New York may not be considered a seafood mecca like New England, we can more than hold our own on the fish front. And because almost anything is better in sandwich form, we’re looking forward to creative and regional renditions from some of the city’s best chefs and shops. Sure, you can get a stellar lobster roll at the Red Hook Lobster Pound or The Mermaid Inn, but we’ve discovered seafood sandwiches far beyond lobster, like the fried shrimp po' boy at Cheeky Sandwiches, or even a Montreal-style lox sandwich, served right in Brooklyn.

Cheeky Sandwiches - Fried Shrimp Po'Boy
Address: 35 Orchard St., btwn Hester & Canal Sts.
No phone
Just because you didn’t make it to New Orlenans for Mardi Gras this year doesn’t mean you have to go an entire year without a proper Po’Boy. (We’d go crazy.) We get our fix at Cheeky Sandwiches on the Lower East Side and we almost always order the fried shrimp. These X-plump shellfish are dredged in a cornmeal-flour mixture that's finely spiced with Creole seasoning. And if the batter doesn't give the sandwich enough of a kick, this hefty sandwich is dressed to the nines with veggies, mayo, ketchup and hot sauce.

Lure Fishbar, Grilled Mahi Mahi Sandwich
Address: 142 Mercer St., at Prince St.
Phone: (212) 431-7676
There are two sides to Chef Josh Capon's cooking. Dinner service at Lure Fishbar features elegant, Asian-inspired plates like steamed red snapper in a red curry broth, while his newly opened Burger & Barrel goes the casual, gastropub route. These restaurants seem like polar opposites, but lunch at Lure bridges the gap with seafood sandwiches. Our favorite is the grilled mahi mahi, a club cleverly layered with bacon, tomato and mayo on sourdough with a side of house-made salt and vinegar chips.

Luke’s Lobster - Crab Roll
Phone: (212)877-8800
Address: 426 Amsterdam Ave., btwn 80th & 81Sts.
What started as a tiny fish shack in the East Village has quickly expanded into a small empire (and still growing) with four locations around the city. What makes Luke’s Lobster so unique is his tight relationship with the Maine seafood supplier, who just happens to his father. The menu features a traditional Maine-style lobster roll, but we’re much more excited about the crab roll, served on a buttered, toasted bun with a dab of mayo & seasoning. The crab is incredibly fresh and tender, practically melting into the buttered bun beneath it.

Saltie - Captain's Daughter Sandwich
Address: 378 Metropolitan Ave. (Brooklyn)
Phone: (718) 387-4777
This nautically-themed sandwich shop is yet another reason why it's so difficult to decide where to eat in Williamsburg. With its house-baked bread and unique ingredient combinations, Saltie makes a pretty compelling case for a visit. Our new favorite is called the Captain’s Daughter, which comes with sardines, pickled egg and salsa verde. While the fish isn’t freshly caught, it’s supremely tender and spiced just right. Our only complaint is that there isn’t a Manhattan outpost... yet.
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