The John Dory Oyster Bar - Dine Around for Two

Dine Around for Two - Up to 40% Off Dinner & More Buy What We Love Helmed by Michelin-rated chef April Bloomfield, this Flatiron oyster bar draws a discerning crowd with its hip atmosphere and fresh seafood. Grab a friend or date for an evening out at this lively restaurant. You’ll dig into a dozen freshly shucked oysters, plus a cocktail each, before heading over to the Breslin. Main courses at the Breslin range from Berkshire pork chop with pickled peppers and chili verde to poussin with spaetzle, pickled mustard seeds and carrots. End the night on a sweet note with a shared dessert and drinks at The Lobby Bar. Dark chocolate mousse arrives with cocoa nib meringue and black mint ice cream, while a caramel apple date cake is served with preserved apples and hard cider sorbet. “Ms. Bloomfield is cooking well enough to hold her own against any seafood-centric kitchen in the city… Her food can be astonishing,” wrote the New York Times. Adjacent to the hip Ace Hotel is the equally cool John Dory Oyster Bar. Helmed by revered chef April Bloomfield, the spot is as popular for its stylish ambiance as it is for its sea-centric fare. Briny oysters are shipped in daily, while crudos like branzino with basil seeds are made with the finest quality fish. From the raw bar comes modernized favorites, like marinated mussels and cold-poached lobster drizzled with tomalley vinaigrette. For larger appetites, there’s wild striped bass with summer squash, chorizo-stuffed squid and a hearty lobster boil complete with clams, prawns and a beer-corn broth. To complement the simple yet elegant cuisine is a long list of craft cocktails. During the generous happy hour, guests can sidle up to the sleek wooden bar for clams, pours of sparkling wine and oyster shooters. But if people-watching is the priority, windows lining 29th and Broadway offer a vantage point for eyeing the city’s most fashionable residents. With towering ceilings, scallop-shaped sconces, multi-colored subway tiles and tufted chairs, the scene inside John Dory is equally chic. Whether you drop by for dinner, a platter of chilled oysters or something a little stiffer, you’ll quickly see why this Flatiron staple has been praised by The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, The Huffington Post and many more. —Rebekah Stallworth, Gilt City Editor