A lively Spain and Portuguese-inspired restaurant in the LES focused on fresh, bright seafood dishes. Food: For food, we shared some spicy mussels, shrimp heads, sea bream à la planche, bomba rice, cockles, and sourdough bread. Some of my favorites of the night include the shrimp heads, sea bream, and bomba rice with squid and cilantro . The shrimp heads were fried simply with a bit of freshly squeezed lemon. I love the concept of repurposing a typically discarded part, and if you are a true seafood lover, you know the most concentrated flavor is in the head. Crispy to perfection. Sea bream was an outstanding display of flattened sea bream fillets topped with onion and a citrusy, green sauce. The flavor, texture, and ingredients all melded together to create a perfect dish. Additionally, the bomba rice was my personal favorite. Akin to a risotto, the bed of short grain rice lay in a creamy seafood broth and olive oil concoction with herbaciousness from the cilantro, brightness from lemon, and bite from the braised squid. I will be thinking about this one for months. For drinks, I had the Madeira sour and Bamboo. Solid cocktails. If you're a fan of vermouth, the bamboo will not do you wrong. Service: Fast, quick paced, and fun. We got reservations for this place, but it seemed like many people were able to walk-in as well. Ambiance: Cozy, cramped space with mosaic tile and wooden paneling, this new establishment fits right at home with the numerous other culinary giants in the city. Classy but not pretentious. read more

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I have been told this place is very popular (it is in a busy and hip neighborhood, so makes sense) so make a reservation! The space is TIGHT and it's a little too dark (if I'm being honest. I have no clue how the chefs cook in there), but service is good and I do think a busy restaurant means good things are happening. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Everything was well made and served a purpose. The salad although simple, I feel served as a palate cleanser which was much appreciated. Sauce on the beef was fantastic. Crispy shrimp heads... who would've thought! A really great appetizer and I see why it's a favorite. Crunchy with great flavor, I would recommend them tenfold. The fries and the sauce were REALLY good, but I will say I didn't feel like the chicken was adequately seasoned - it was all on the outside of the bird and the meat needed a little more love. Amazing restaurant. Definitely lives up to the hype. read more

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I came here with my husband to celebrate our 6 month anniversary of marriage and had a great time! I was able to get a reservation a few weeks in advance for 7:30pm on a Friday which I highly recommend now that the place was packed and the wait time for 2 was probably around two hours. This is a very small and intimate space but in the summer months they have a large set-up for outdoor seating which is perfect for larger groups on a night with nice weather. The inside space is much smaller and only has a few tiny tables along with the bar. I asked to sit inside since it felt a bit more private while retaining the quintessential lively, young spirit of the Lower East Side. Our waitress was super nice and was attentive of us during the meal without being overbearing. We started off with a mezcal margarita and also a martini. Both drinks were well balanced in terms of flavors and adequately strong in terms of alcohol content. They also have a very large selection of Spanish and Portuguese wines which all seemed very intriguing. Their food menu is small but focuses on foods with Spanish and Portuguese influences. We tried: - Oysters: very good! Briny, refreshing, with the acidity of the lemon bringing out very subtle, sweet undertones. Also comes with hot sauce but I thought that was too overpowering so it's better to stick to the lemon alone. Not super traditionally Spanish or Portuguese but pretty good on a summer day. - Spicy mussels: a very interesting dish. I have never had cold mussels but these were very good. The mussels were generously sized, came over ice, with a paprika-forward, spicy sauce that balanced their sweet and earthy flavors. It was a bit odd to have the meaty, plump mussels that I am so used to eating in hot dishes completely cold but it really worked. Reminded me a bit of a spicy and fishy gazpacho. Would recommend! - Beefsteak tomatoes: completely unassuming but completely blew me away. The tomatoes were fresh, flavorful, and thick. They came tossed with high quality, fragrant olive oil as well as this tangy vinegar that brought all the flavors together. It came topped with a cheese that was semi-hard but not crumbly, a tiny bit salty (felt like a hybrid between feta and mozzarella), with onions that were sweet and added a really nice sharp punch. Ordered some of their delicious sourdough on the side to soak up all the oils! This was one of the most simple yet decadent bites of the night. - Piri piri chicken: absolutely stellar. I think I would come back for this dish alone. As someone who does not eat much red meat, this is probably my new go-to when I'm craving something as hearty as steak frites. The chicken was insanely juicy, with a crispy and flavorful skin. The spicy piri piri sauce had the right amount of punch, and it was beautifully balanced by their delicious aioli (we ordered extra), and the crispy fries soaked in the chicken juices. Hearty, decadent, filling. Truly a work of art. Must order if you come here. Very good portion size to share! - Lamb burger: Smaller portion than I expected, which was good now that we got a lot of food in general, so it was the perfect size. What a unique and delicious burger! The chef who thought of this flavor combination is a genius. The lamb patty was rich and gamey. The celery/fennel topping was bright and fresh, really cutting through the richness of the lamb. It came with a creamy, lemony aioli with the final touch of umami from the anchovies. The bun is soft and buttery. It made for a delicious and complex bite. This may be one of my favorite burgers in the city now. Highly recommend! - Almond cake: moist, buttery, perfectly sweet with hints of lemon zest and balanced by a creamy vanilla sauce and a tangy wine poached plum. We also at this point got two glasses of their orange wine selection which were dry, and refreshing. Perfect end of our meal here. Overall, the food was exceptional and of high quality. I appreciated their unique dishes with bold flavors that will definitely keep me coming back. The ambiance is super fun and it's in an area with plenty to do so it's perfect for a date night. They have a killer wine selection as well. If I had to rate this as a seafood place alone, there are other restaurants which I think do a stronger job with their seafood (for example Tomiño Taverna Gallega, Penny, or Smithereens), but the quality of the whole spread in general was very impressive and the vibe is just really fun here. Definitely give them a try if you ever get a chance! read more

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Another NYC spot where you'll be seated on an uncomfortable stool and get rushed in and out for $100. But this place has good cooking, so I would recommend it, if you don't mind sitting on an uncomfortable stool without a back to it, wedged in between diners, and rushed in and out for $100 a person. And if you don't read their grade by the Health Department. read more

The prawns, tuna, squid with beans and chorizo, fries, and especially the fried skate wing with sungolds were all amazing on our most recent visit. read more

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Walked by Cervo a couple times already and finally got a chance to try their seafood forward menu! For a party of 2, they recommended about 4-6 items between the apps/small plates and entries. Started off with their tuna which was super fresh and tasty - probably my favorite app of the night! It had a great balance of umami and fat from the fish, sweetness and crunch from the onions, and a savory and tart olive oil and vinegar sauce. The fried shrimp heads were crispy and well seasoned. The pea shoots were refreshing with solid cheese and olive oil. Appreciated the ratio of greens to cheese to the light dressing. The Louisiana shrimp were very tender, fresh, and overall well seasoned. I did find the sauce a tad too acidic and tart for me but otherwise make sure to soak it all up with the bread! For mains, the skate wing was delicious! The meat was tender and juicy which contrasted from its outer crunchy fried batter. Each bite paired lovely with the mayo sauce, garlic sauce, and the slightly pickled yellow beans. The seabream was also very tasty! Again the seared fish was fresh and tender, and it paired well with the smashed zucchini at the bottom. They feature a good selection of wine options. My partner enjoyed several white wines while I liked my sparkling. Staff were polite and had great wine recommendations. Food came out quick. Loved the open kitchen concept and the cute decor inside. Indoor seating available at tables, high top tables, and the bar. Outdoor tables available as well. read more

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Coastal Spain and Portugal inspired seafood restaurant in Chinatown. Menu is not big and dishes are for sharing. Our favorite were the prawns The space is cute but very small so was quite loud when fully seated. read more

Cervo's - Sea bass - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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Amazing place! Came at 9:30pm, sat at the bar literally closed it down. Ambiance is incredible, to be honest we didn't even feel like we had other people there. Staff is nice, very helpful. But the star of the show is the food, could not get enough of it. My favorites were the asparagus , the stuffed bell peppers and the prawns. A must when in the city for sure. read more

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Decided to have dinner here with a friend. It's a tiny but lively restaurant that literally spills out on to the street. The service is friendly and on point. The kitchen manages to deliver dishes at a solid pace. You won't feel rushed but you also won't linger too long. Clearly intentional since tables here are one of the most sought after tables in NYC right now. The seafood focused, Portuguese menu is excellent. It made me miss Portugal. Order everything! You can't go wrong. read more

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Cervo's is a great spot on Canal Street serving creative and delicious Basque food. The cocktails are good too. The service is friendly and casual. Good vibe too! read more

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Cervo's is definitely a place that you should make a reservation for, instead of walking by and hoping for a seat. Because that was us the first time and...it didn't work. But we got lucky the 2nd time around (by arriving a lot earlier). It's a tapas style menu and the food is inspired by Spain and Portugal. Definitely a LOT of seafood items. We got the crispy shrimp heads, Louisiana White Prawns and bomba rice. And a glass of the house red. We sat outside as they closed the street, which has it's own pros and cons. The table that we sat at wasn't super big and we worried a bit about how all the food would fit. My friend said the crispy shrimp heads is such a simple dish to make but yet, other places don't bother making it. And not that we would make it ourselves at home either. During the summer, it's easy to see why Cervos is so popular because there isn't anything better than to hang out with friends, watch the sun set, sip some wine and eat some delicious seafood dishes. read more

Made a reservation for a weeknight and ordered: + 50/50 martini + Mezcal martinez + Crispy shrimp heads + Yellowfin tuna + asparagus with Serrano ham + Manila clams + sourdough bread + French fries + Pao de lo layer cake Overall I thought the food was solid, but for the price point you can do much better at Penny or Smithereens. Nothing was super memorable except for the shrimp heads. Service was great. read more

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Food was good. I was surprised that a lot of the menu options were cold. Service good. The restaurant is nicely decorated. It's a solid spot. read more

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Tiny restaurant but cozy and intimate. We sat at the bar which is fun because you get to watch all of the dishes being prepared. Terrific fresh seafood. Each dish allows you to appreciate the natural flavor of the seafood but is also seasoned very well. Manila clams and prawns a la plancha were standouts. read more

Cervo's - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Really fresh seafood done well. Favorites were the mussels and the cockles sautéed in wine were excellent. The space is pretty small so if you walk in just 2 people otherwise have a reservation. read more

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My family came here for my sister's birthday. I'll start with my first impressions when I took a preemptive look at the menu and the pictures online. I was honestly not that impressed with the menu. I thought that the food presentation wasn't great and I thought it was weird that everything was growing in oil. When I got to the restaurant the day of I noticed that they cramped the restaurant to an extreme. I questioned whether it was safe and it was honestly pretty overwhelming. We started off by ordering drinks and they had soda options. I try to stay away from alcohol for the most part. However, they didn't have any diet soda or "coke/sprite/pepsi zero" so I thought it was weird that they only served soda that was high in sugar and calories. They didn't even have seltzer so I stuck with tap water for the first time ever. When it was time to order the food we ordered pretty much everything on the menu. There was a lemony fish with onions, a salad that was almost like Caesar, shishito peppers, oysters, tomato with onion, and a white fish, a second salad with grated cheese on top, crispy shrimp heads, muscles, and the grilled calamari. The flavors were incredible and while the buildup for the dining experience could have been much better, the overall flavor of the food was impressive and changed my outlook on the restaurant as a whole. Thank god the chef is a culinary genius when it comes to flavor because it really made my night. Their hot sauce was also really good and I was delighted to discover that I could purchase a bottle and take it home. It was a pretty good night. read more

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Excellent seafood place in chinatown. The crunchy shrimp heads were addicting to chew on, although I recognize not everyone will like it. The chilled mussels are great and refreshing. The fish dishes were cooked to perfection. Really solidified my 5/5 rating. Good service and ambiance from what I recall. read more

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Overall, our experience was good. Some things I think could have been better but certainly worth having done, especially for a place with such hype. The menu is a bit limited and in looking at the pictures on Yelp, it seems there are some dishes that are much more popular. - Crispy shrimp heads: This was seemingly a "must". Six in total, which was a nice surprise. Beautifully crispy and quite delicious without being overly flavored/salty. However, I think this dish needs a dipping sauce mostly because the texture can be a bit much to chew, i.e. a bit on the dryer side. - Pea shoots w/ watercress & walnuts: Delicious dressing and overall a lovely choice in the midst of some heavier other options. A bit difficult to eat, though, as the leaves are just quite large so any scoop you take ends up taking up a lot of food. And I honestly didn't even notice that there were walnuts present until I got to the bottom. They were great, but really should have been mixed into the salad a bit more. - Louisiana white prawns: It feels like every review included pics of these, so this was a must. And I get why. So plump, so well seasoned. Easy enough to peel the shell off to suck the shrimp out of the tails. I will say, I wish I had requested a new napkin following this dish and it can be a bit messy-especially for a restaurant like this. Best dish of the night. - Cockles w/ vinho verde: I didn't really care about the cockles-they were fine. But the sauce was divine. We ordered sourdough for really no reason and were a bit bummed when it didn't come with butter. Out of all the dishes we got, this was the only one with a sauce that was nice to dip the bread in (we thought the prawn sauce would be, as well, but it really wasn't). - Half chicken piri piri: A really solid portion of chicken. The skin was perfectly crispy in an ever so slight layer. The piri piri sauce was very nice- a surprising spicy kick. Glad that the previous dishware was cleared before this came out- a nice touch. The fries were great: thinly cut and perfectly crispy with a (I think) mayo/aioli dipping sauce flavored in a way I'm not even sure of. Got 2 chilled red wines and we loved them both. Tons of chilled red wine options which you don't see so often and we appreciate. The biggest drawback for the place, though, is the setup. It's incredibly packed with very small tables which is tough when the menu is mostly small plates. When we got there, a table of six within ~1 foot of us was enjoying a very loud birthday celebration and when we left, a new table of 8 maybe 1 foot 2 inches away was starting theirs. Looking around, it seems like all the tables were this way and I constantly felt like we were in someone's way. Definitely not an intimate night but would probably be difficult for a group (as it's a lot of small plates) so I'm not sure really what the ultimate vibe even should be. read more

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Great food and menu selection. Love the small bistro European restaurant feel. Sitting at the counter in front of chefs is a great experience. Only downside and disappointment was the service (maybe because our server was at the end of her shift). We were not high maintenance but would have liked our drinks before dinner and not have to ask the bar tender for our check since the server was done at that point. read more

The vibes at cervo's are top tier. Gorgeous bar and seating area and ambiance, we went on a Monday night and it was still packed and so alive! The shrimp a la plancha was a fave of the night. Order the sourdough bread on the side to soak up all the juices. I think the clams are skippable, wish we went with the shrimp heads as our other small plate as those looked more interesting. The lamb burger with anchovies was such a bomb mix of flavors. There was a fennel and celery slaw on top with some sauce and the pairing with the anchovies was fascinating. The huge arugula on the side was a bit perplexing but still fun. The fried fish with leaks was exactly what it sounds like. It was a bit too much breading for my taste but the leaks were delicious and the fish was flaky. Beware the flan is made out of goat cheese so it is almost savory sweet and a bit tangy in a cheese way. I would not order it again but very interesting experience. The service was great too no complaints! read more

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Incredible dining at Cervo's! My family and I enjoyed a cornucopia of delicious seafood. Our favorites were the spicy muscles and grilled squid! read more

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Get the Manila clams for sure. The mussels were a bit disappointing because I thought the sauce didn't add anything to it - could've been more acidic. The chicken was good but nothing to write home about. This is more a place I'd come to vibe for a drink. read more

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Excellent service, good, atmosphere! Everything we had was AMAZING and the staff and management is top notch! I highly recommend!

This place is VERY popular. It opens at 5:30pm and when we arrived at 5:15, there was already a decent sized line (8 people or so ahead of us, some just trying to out their names down for a table later in the evening). We weren't able to get a 5:30 but got a 6. The food was tasty. I recommend the half chicken, which was surprisingly juicy and came with deliciously crispy fries. The Louisiana prawns were also good, though a little overcooked. The mussels, clams, and peppers were also good. My husband's favorite dish was the crispy shrimp heads, which he found extremely flavorful. For drinks, we got a margarita - fine but unremarkable. So why only 3 stars? Service and ambiance. The service was INCREDIBLY slow. We got 6 dishes total, most of which were just small dishes. They only brought them out one at a time, with very long breaks in between each. This means we were only able to enjoy each dish by itself, not contrast them and eat them together which was what we expected and would've been much better. We only got one entree to share - the chicken - and it took more than an hour to come out. Needless to say, we were starving. And when the chicken was finally ready, we just watched it sit there on the counter waiting to be brought over to us. I think they are understaffed. I was tempted to grab it ourselves it took so long. The ambiance also isn't great. Very loud and cramped inside. We were at a high top and stools, which I found very uncomfortable, but I did like sitting next to the kitchen bc it was fun to watch them cook. They do also have outdoor seating. read more

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I loved this cozy neighborhood spot. The service was excellent, our waiter gave us the best recommendations. The food was so flavorful and unique. I loved the fried sourdough with tuna, shrimps a la plancha, and spicy mussels! read more

Cervo's - Fried sourdough with tuna - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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After visiting this restaurant multiple times, I'd give it solid stars for it being consistently good. Also I noticed that their menu changes which is nice because I can keep coming back without being bored. My standout dish that brought me back was the razor clams and oysters. Sadly they no longer have the razor clams on the menu. So we started off with the beefsteak tomatoes with salted cod. DELICIOUS. The tomatoes were so hearty and the sauce/oil. I was tempted to get the sourdough bread but a girl is trying to get skinty for some upcoming travelssss. Okay so, next we had the cockles sooo good. Like the white wine broth was perfect. Then we had the Louisiana prawns and that was delicious as well. It has a nice subtle spicy kick to it. Then for the main dish which was the standout star of the show, seabeam with squash underneath. If I can cook seafood and veggies like that, honestly.. Because the way they cooked that summer squash was divineeee. Everything was delicious, light and bursting with flavor. The service and ambiance gave very much NY vibes. I loveee this part of NY because it's still old NY and the restaurant gives that feeling as well. This has become one of my rotation of places to eat in NY for sure! read more

A small space for small bites. Is the service a little pretentious? Maybe, but overall didnt affect our time at Cervos where the small bites are really nice and the bigger entrees are even better. The fried skate was fried so perfectly and I dont think i've ever had skate wing that thick where it almost felt like you were eating a chicken cutlet. The roasted chicken was also underrated and the flavors made it one of the best bites of the night. The vermouth and drinks were authentic to the cuisine and the flan for dessert was a nice cheesy ending on top of a nice meal read more

Delicious and fresh small plates to share with the group! Yellowish tuna was a favorite read more

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Very cute little seafood wine bar in the LES. We came on a Saturday night for a lite meal and enjoyed the food and the ambiance very much! Food highlights: - spicy mussels - mandarins with smoked cheese - our waiter strongly recommended this, which seemed a bit odd at first (little orange slices mixed with cheese? lol have not heard of this before), but really quite well done and refreshing - sea bream Service was friendly. Can't wait to come back and try more of their food. read more

They really pack their diners in like sardines at this trendy Lower East Side seafood restaurant. The tables were so small and packed together there was barely enough room for the candle and our wine glasses, let alone the many dishes we ordered to go with said wine. If you squeeze through the entrance and dare elbow your way to a table, the energy in the room is full of knowledgeable gourmands enjoying a little wine and seafood meal, which are my kind of people. Our friendly server guided us through orange and chilled red wines to go along with their seafood menu. We came for the crispy shrimp heads, which are well loved in East Asian cuisine but less so for the Western palate, including mine. I enjoyed the umami richness and the crunch, but it might be an acquired taste for anyone not used to consuming exoskeleton. Ditto for the clams swimming in vinho verde, sopped up with bread bites till the last buttery drop. We also had the tuna conserva and fried skate, but were kind of too full at this point to enjoy them. We definitely over ordered, but its hard to tell how large the dishes would be, and our server barely had any space to be at our table long enough to explain menu items. Wholly unideal, but I know lower Manhattan rents must be insane so you do what you gotta do. I'd recommend anyone wanting to dine here with some room to breathe grab a seat up by the bar, unless you enjoy getting up in your neighbor's business. read more

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I was looking forward to a date night here because I got raving reviews from my coworkers, but I was pretty disappointed. The dim light makes the space intimate. Service is good and food is mid, nothing special. I don't think that I am a seafood snob, but the flavors were bland/salty here. It was cool to sit at the bar and watch them cook though. It's a tight space. read more

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Was going to a date down the block, so stopped in for a quick drink. First impression was that this place has an intimate & romantic feel, quite dark but busy! Actually so busy that at first the host said that they were completely booked for the night (this was at 7:30), even the bar had settings out for people to eat. When I explained that I only wanted to get a drink for 15 mins they were nice to seat me at the window bar & I quickly ordered a drink. Can't review what I didn't have, like any of the food but I definitely want to come back! No place is that booked without being pretty good. read more

Cervo's - Cocktail at the bar - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Moody. Dimly lit. Date night vibes I was looking forward to and enjoyed. The service was fine, no complaints. Might come back if I was in the neighborhood. ***Drinks Ordered*** -Organe wine: not memorable -Daquari: strong and perfect -Some other drink with gin, stiff it was and gone in 5 mins ***Food Ordered*** -Olives -Mussels escabeche: Flavorful with a small hit of spice |Second favorite of the night| -Scallops with fresh horseradish: great flavors in this dish |favorite of the night| -Sourdough bread: okay -Prawns: large butterflied, grilled, bites the sea--well seasoned. |Third favorite of the night| -Sea bream: decent, warm, fine read more

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So delicious!! Very cool vibe, great on one's own or in a group. My favorite items are always the shrimp and clams read more

Cervo's - Manila Clams with Garlic and Vinho Verde - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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I do not normally write negative reviews, but the service here is pretentious, cold, and unwelcoming - I highly recommend taking your patronage elsewhere. I am not surprised to see other reviews echoing this sentiment. It seems as though this has been an issue for years, and management continues to ignore it. To illustrate our experience: we asked our server for recommendations. He said he couldn't recommend anything if he didn't know what we liked. He rolled his eyes, then walked away before we could even say anything. He did not check on us or display any warmth or friendliness throughout the entire evening. It's a shame the service is so rude, because he ruined what would have been a nice evening otherwise. read more

this place was delicious and a really cute cozy spot for a date or catch up with a friend! i liked the made to order kitchen, where you could see chefs preparing the dishes right in front of you. we really enjoyed all the smaller plates and would probably get just tapas instead of a mix of small and big plates next time. my personal favorite was the manila clams and sourdough(!!) read more

Fun, busy little spot on the lower east. Great atmosphere, best to get there early if you don't have a reservation. I arrived solo at 5:30 and got a seat at the bar, which seemed more counter height and geared toward eating. The crispy shrimp heads are really good if you are in the mood to try something a tad exotic. I'd recommend asking for a side of something to dip them in, they are fine by themselves, but for my personal taste, I'd have like to see a creative cocktail sauce, just to make it more interesting. For the main, the sea bream a la plancha was fantastic. Highly recommend, not too heavy, but still plenty to fill you up and the spinach is a great complement. Also had some high quality sourdough bread, recommended by the server/bartender but honestly didn't seem essential for this meal - apparently there are some items on the menu that are more brothy - it was a nice to have and I took the extra home. Will definitely try to get back here in 2025. read more

Cervo's - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

My friend suggested this place for a belated birthday dinner. We came in on a Thursday night, and the host informed us that the wait for an indoor table was over 3 hours. We ended up waiting about an hour and got a table outside. Unfortunately for us the weather had turned quite cold so we were absolutely freezing as we had our dinner. We ordered the crispy shrimp heads, Manila clams, sourdough bread, French fries, and the fried skate wing. All of the food was very good but my absolute favorite was the fried skate wing. The fish was tender and crispy on the outside, I loved the fresh cilantro it just enhanced the flavor of the fish. I would return here just to have the fried skate again. read more

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Excellent second visit! I am so happy I gave this place another chance. We were seated at the bar this time, which is definitely the prime place to sit. Everything we ate was beyond delicious - mackerel, manchego anchovy salad and lamb burger with anchovies. read more

Worst restaurant ever. The food is mediocre and the waitstaff is so incompetent that they will dump an entire plate of chicken grease down your back when clearing the table and not even tell you about it, so you get to come home and see the entire back of your shirt, blazer, and leather jacket covered in crap. read more