This past week I had the opportunity to try out a local new restaurant I have been absolutely dying to go to, Out East. I stumbled upon this little haven a few weeks back when I was wandering around the East Village. Tons of new restaurants are opening up here and in Alphabet City, so there are always new places to try. But for some reason this place immediately caught my eye - maybe it was the white brick wall, or maybe it was the neon sign that drew me in.

This spot is a cute seafood restaurant inspired by coastal New York. The menu is light but flavorful, and everything about the space makes me feel like I'm in a beautiful getaway outside the city, not the center of the Village. I had a fantastic experience; everything from the service to the food was perfect, and the restaurant makes for a great date spot! I highly recommend to anyone wanting to try a new place in the city, or to someone visiting who wants something outside the box.

Check out my review of Out East below, and try not to drool over the food pics. I'll be sure to return here soon!

the space

The decor at Out East is simply stunning. It's a beautiful mix of industrial elements and vintage New York style. Lush blue velvet chairs contrast so nicely with the concrete walls in the outdoor dining space, and the bar on the lower floor is surrounded by warm wood bookcases, bouncing off the dim light from the bar shelves. The colors of the space are so my personal vibe - blues, golds, warm dark walnut browns, cold grey concrete. I honestly want to redecorate my whole home with only this palette. It really works to give you that city-meets-country vibe. I felt simultaneously as if I was in the city, but also visiting a spot along the water in the Hamptons. Such an amazing combination!

the drinks

I love a good cocktail, that goes without saying, and the cocktail list at Out East does not disappoint. The bartender was kind enough to listen to our favorite flavors and suggest two drinks he made in front of us - the Pink Pooch and the Sideroad Sumac. Being a tequila fan, I went for the latter, which was a delicious mix of tequila, blood orange, and sumac (a tart and lemony spice). Honestly I could have had about 5 of them, but wanting to try more variety we also sampled the Pink Pooch. For those who love drinks on the sweeter side, this mix of gin, grapefruit, and hibiscus is perfect!

the food

Let's not forget the most important part of the visit - the food. Absolutely everything we sampled was terrific - for real. I love seafood, so this menu was perfect, but they also have plenty of choices for those who are a little less inclined to shellfish or seafood.

To start we tried the Diver Scallops, Tuna Tartare, Fluke Ceviche, and the Heirloom Tomato Salad. Each dish was better than the last. My personal favorite had to be the Diver Scallops from the raw bar. Light, buttery scallops topped with salmon roe, shiso, and ponzu for that kick of tart saltiness to compliment the fish was a perfect start to the meal. The Fluke was similarly delicious and flavorful, with a hint of citrus that felt like a palate cleanser.

For our main course we paired a dry rosé with Seared Scallops (ok, so I'm a scallop fan), Striped Bass, and Rohan Duck Breast. Everything was plated so beautifully we didn't want to touch it, but our appetites took over and we had to dig in. The duck was exceptional, and a nice contrast to the lighter fish fare we enjoyed. Of our choices, the Striped Bass was tasty but not my favorite, and would be a good choice for someone who enjoys white fish.

All in all the food was spectacular, and to be honest I'm dreaming of those raw bar scallops as I finish writing this...

My visit to Out East was perfect from top to bottom - and I'd like to give a special shoutout to the team at Becca PR, and the staff at Out East for their exceptional service. I'll be sure to return, so if you happen to see me be sure to give a shout!

What are some of your favorite restaurants lately? Let me know in the comments!