VIBE

Chef David Burke has once again set up shop, this time in a two-level townhouse on the Upper East Side from which he serves up a carefully constructed menu of sustainable seafood. Design-wise, Fishtail is a masterpiece, with a slew of gorgeous spaces including two lively dining areas, a sit-down bar, and an outdoor patio with a retractable roof. Actually, make that a masterpiece stuffed with masterpieces: a Warhol print from the chef’s personal collection shines on the second floor, while boldly colored custom-made pieces by other painters, sculptors, and graphic design artists make the walls pop. The menu is equally striking, with page upon page of dishes with whimsical names and flamboyant flavors. Yet, despite his tendency towards the dramatic, Burke’s commitment to the freshness and flavor of his fish pleases even the most stolid of clientele.

CROWD

Local Upper East Siders and Madison Ave./Fifth Ave. shoppers; it tends to be a relatively grown-up (35+) crowd.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

We’d go stylishly elegant with a chic, colorful top, neutral fitted skirt, killer heels, and a statement necklace or bangles.

GO HERE WITH

Small group; clients or colleagues; significant other; a date

WHY WE LIKE IT

The fashionably neutral tones we see at restaurant after restaurant these days can be such a bore–fortunately there’s nothing boring about this dramatic townhouse. We love the personality; it may be showy, but we can’t help but be charmed by the complicated dishes, the vivid colors, and the wacky art installations. Plus, the service and food are both top notch.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

Some of the seafood dishes are a bit over-dressed.

GOOD TO KNOW

This is yet another addition to David Burke’s expanding culinary empire, though the first to focus entirely on seafood. The smaller downstairs dining room tends to be more casual than the one upstairs, though neither as flashy as the fun bar. The raw bar is open all day for anyone looking to pop in on short notice.

CLOSEST COMPS

BLT Fish (New York); Providence (Los Angeles); Gaya Rive Gauche (Paris)

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to New York City.