"Across the street from Central Park, Marea specializes in housemade pastas accessorized with lobster, shrimp, and other ingredients that were recently dragged from the sea. The theme here is coastal Italian, and the offerings—from the crudi to the whole langoustines that run around $30 per piece—are almost exclusively oceanic. Get the jumbo lump crab casarecce, and don’t miss out on the fusilli with octopus and bone marrow. This place is perfect for a big night out, but it’s also great for a meal in the daytime when the mood is more relaxed." - bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja