Market Street Grill

He said:

I’m not fond of seafood, but Kathy loves it, so I decided to take her to the Market Street Grill. I figured she would appreciate a good clam chowder on a cold, snowy day. (However, she ended up ordering something else instead). We visited the eponymous location in the historic New York Hotel building on Market Street. (And yes, one of the reasons I chose that location was precisely so I could use the word “eponymous” in my review. I’m pretty sure I even used it correctly).

When we arrived at the Market Street Oyster Bar, I wondered if we were in the right place. I walked a bit farther up the sidewalk and saw that the next entrance was a mortgage company, so I retreated and we entered the Oyster Bar. I didn’t discover until later that the mortgage company was upstairs, so its entrance led only to a stairwell. Had I continued up the sidewalk, I would have encountered the restaurant side of the Market Street Grill. At any rate, the host said the bar and the restaurant had the same menu, so we accepted a table.

The waitress brought our drinks (they had both Coke and Pepsi products) and a generous plate of thick-cut sourdough bread. The bread had a thick and chewy crust that covered a soft, fluffy interior. It had a strong flavor, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

As I anticipated, the menu favored seafood in abundance. I did find a selection of terrestrial options, but I had hoped for more. I chose the Classic Burger with Cheddar cheese and French fries. The satisfyingly hearty, half-pound burger came on a toasted brioche bun, accompanied by lettuce, tomato, and red onion.

While we didn’t order any Market Price items, I was happy to see the prices listed on a wall board. I’m always a bit embarrassed to ask for the prices, afraid to encounter the dreaded “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.” Still, while transparency is a virtue, I’m not sure that the prices were. A pair of Alaskan King Crab legs for $106 makes me glad I don’t like seafood.

She said:

Seafood. How can anyone dislike seafood? It’s light, flaky, delectable. Shrimp. Salmon. Clams. Scallops. Can I just say, “yum”? Who needs steak?

This disagreement between my tastebuds and Brian’s doesn’t just stop there. Brian liked the sourdough bread, but I was not so enamored. They really emphasized the “sour” in “sourdough.” It also lacked the density and chewiness I prefer. Plus, it wasn’t served warm. Warm with softened butter would have been better.

Although I was tempted to order the “famous” clam chowder, I opted for the seafood salad sandwich. The shrimp, crab, and halibut mixed in with celery and mayo made me salivate. It was served on wheat bread with lettuce and tomato, with olives, a dill pickle, and crispy, golden fries on the side.

My biggest complaint would be that the service was slower than I would have preferred.

Conclusion:

We enjoyed a good lunch at a reasonable price. However, many of the menu selections carried a much higher price tag. The restaurant had a curious mix of unpretentious atmosphere combined with elevated menu options. For seafood lovers, this could be good place to catch up with old friends or to have a power business lunch.