Made a reservation here for a birthday on a Friday at 7:15pm, table was not ready until 7:25 however aside from that service at the table was great, consistently checking in our us to refill our waters and clean our table between "courses". They recommended 5 dishes for a party of 2 (3 smaller plates, 1 pasta, 1 large plate). We ended up ordering 4 of the smaller shareable plates and 1 large plate, as well as dessert afterward, and were absolutely stuffed. We would have been more than satisfied probably with just 3 smaller plates and the large plate. Drinks were good, not necessarily standout. Our favorite dish we ordered was definitely the smoked and cured shareable plate and would recommend this to anyone who visits. The monkfish large plate was well cooked but we weren't a huge fan of the sauce, which tasted like sweet and sour and kept you from actually tasting the fish itself. Seaweed sourdough I would skip next time, just tasted like regular bread. Seaweed taste was faint and if you put any butter on the bread wouldn't be noticeable at all. Chickpea pancake reminded me of a big fancier latke but regardless tasted good. Loligo squid was a dressed up version of calamari, no complaints there as we always love a good calamari. For dessert we had the baked Alaska which had a nice tang from the passionfruit jam, and came with a birthday candle for the occasion. Overall this is a nice restaurant for a special occasion. Reservations came be made online up to two weeks in advance. read more

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Really quite disappointed in this place. Service and food were disappointing. Came here for my birthday and there no mention of the occasion at all from staff. That might be a small thing but the details really matter and if it's on the reservation it's for a reason. First waiter came and brought water and explained menus and said he would be back. He did not ever come back. Another them saw us waiting a round for a while and took our orders, I believe she was GM or AGM not a waiter. The place was not packed initially but at no point were we checked on. Would've preferred new cutlery before the pasta dish but none were provided. The people who brought the meals were not our server and did not check on us. We only saw her again when our drinks were right before the final course. The oysters with strawberry hot sauce were delicious but the presentation was terrible. The bluefin tuna was seared which I wish I knew because I prefer a truly raw crudo. It was fine. The smoked and cured wowed my partner but I didn't like it at all. The mussels were very large and the spread tasted like mashed potatoes, it could've used some sort of sauce. The lobster gnocchi was very good though. The biggest disappointment was the swordfish schnitzel. To be blunt, it tasted like a McDonald's filet-o-fish but less flavorful somehow. Heavy on breading and not the fish. There was really no fish flavor and the dish overall lacked any depth. The sauce on top was essentially tartar sauce, I wish it had an actual yoghurt flavor. I wish the breading was darker and cooked longer, felt a little light colored for a schnitzel. The greens were very bitter but did not work very well, would've loved a stronger dressing on them possibly. Overall, service and food left a lot to be desired. Flavors were very muted and not a lot of depth or any acid in anything. read more

We had a reservation at Moeca but ended up sitting at the bar instead, which honestly made the night even better. The bartender was so friendly and super helpful when it came to picking out drinks, we felt taken care of right away. For food, we started with the Trout Belly Tartar special, which was incredibly fresh and flavorful. The Smoked & Cured small plate was another standout with the perfect mix of salty, smoky, and bright. But the star of the night was the Buttermilk Fried Monkfish. Truly the best dish we tried and it was crispy, tender, and packed with flavor. An absolute must-order. All dishes were timed perfectly so that there was only a short wait in between each dish. Moeca recently got Michelin recommended, and after this meal, I totally understand why. Cannot wait to come back! read more

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We came here for a mom & daughter's dinner on a Saturday night. My older sister made the reservation and our table was ready when we arrived. Very quickly I picked up from the atmosphere that I would enjoy this meal based on prior experiences at similar restaurants. The artificial candle and coziness of neighboring tables added to this sense of comfort. We shared a bottle of white wine that was delicious, coming from someone who doesn't know wines & doesn't usually have a glass with dinner. I'm more of a cocktail girl, but some occasions require a more elevated beverage. We started off with the tuna nduja & bluefin crudo. Our second "course" was the chickpea pancake (my entry), delicata squash, and lobster pasta. Our third "course" was the squid tempura. We ended with two desserts, the peanut butter brownie and corn custard cake. Below are my rankings: 1. chickpea pancake 2. bluefin crudo 3. lobster pasta 4. corn custard cake (cake was great, lemon ice cream bit too sour) 5. tuna nduja 6. squid tempura 7. peanut butter brownie (cake was richer than expected) 8. delicata squash read more

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Fresh seafood with a unique twist. They have interesting dishes that I enjoyed trying. For example, raw fish (including salmon), sashimi style, served with pine nuts and olives. Oysters with strawberry hot sauce (I wouldn't have it again but was an interesting take and glad I tried). I think they have another dish with "matcha salsa". It could be weird - many dishes aren't your traditional seafood options, but that makes it unique and worthwhile trying. Octopus fish was really nice with a good spice kick. I tried some white chocolate drizzled pastry with passion fruit ice cream sandwiched in - it was a bit weird for me. Interior and service is nice, good for a special dinner. read more

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Food and drink orgasm!! sat at the bar. such a great value for the quality of cuisine. Matthew the bartender recommended the best items. highly recommend. read more

OUTSTANDING dessert, I would give them a standing ovation!! As someone who struggles with dessert sometimes because of a sensitivity to sweetness, Moeca's desserts knocked it out of the park. Complex flavors that SING together in a harmonious melody Their drinks are also inventive and refreshing. This was my first time here and I know I have found a new favorite spot in the neighborhood. Beautiful space that despite being lively doesn't feel crowded and every table feels intimate. Every dish we had was scrumptious and we have to go back to try the whole menu read more

Moeca - Seafood Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Delicious food, friendly staff, inventive cocktails, relaxed aesthetic and ambiance. The seafood was fresh and perfectly prepared. Price is a little steep, so not a place to go to regularly, but perfect for a special occasion. read more

We had a great time! Very seafood focused menu. The scallops are out of this world we ordered two! The surprise was the drinks menu- interesting drinks. Service is great. Desserts could be better read more

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My friend and I both happened to be in Boston at the same time but we didn't know what was hip, so he asked his younger colleagues, who recommended Moeca. I instantly like it. Chic vibe, friendly service, and delicious food! My only note is that the server suggested we order way too many things. She suggested 3-5 share plates/pasta plus 2-3 mains. That would have been an insane amount of food. For two (hungry) people we had: charred beet eggplant flatbread spaghetti w/ maine lobster buttermilk fried monkfish ... and left with almost the entire monkfish to go. We were definitely full by the time it arrived, but managed a couple bites each. Everything was great, but the standout was the lobster pasta. Perhaps the best lobster pasta I've ever had. Perfect consistency, flavorful but not overpowering sauce, a decent amount of lobster for the price. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu, but the lobster pasta is a can't miss! read more

I've visited Moeca a couple of times, each time I've left a bit underwhelmed. Its a nicely designed restaurant close to the law school, which is convenient for me. They are known for their seafood which is always fresh. The menu changes a lot. I've just never had something here that has wowed me. But most recently I've enjoyed the branzino and unicorn oysters. read more

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The ambiance is modern and aesthetic- came here with a group of four yesterday and the food didn't disappoint. We tried several things including the yellowfin, asparagus, squid, Parker rolls, smoked trout, croquettes, lobster spaghetti, and clam gnocchi. I think my favorite dishes were the yellowfin, asparagus, Parker rolls, cod croquettes, and lobster spaghetti. We finished the meal with a delicious chocolate gelato and carrot dessert. The cocktails were awesome, I had tried two different mezcal ones and both were top notch. The reason for 4/5 is our server was a little odd/off. We definitely ordered a main to share (the monkfish) and when we inquired about its whereabouts he casually said it was not ordered and didn't try to rectify that or apologize or anything. By that point, we moved straight to dessert but the food was light so it was a little annoying he didn't put in our main course or inquire about a main course. When asked if he could give us a side of a spice chili sauce, he also said that the restaurant can't do that and simply puts the chili in dishes (mostly every restaurant will accommodate the request to have a sauce on the side if it's on the menu). Overall great food and drink! Average service. May come back to enjoy the bar next time! read more

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We walked in on a Saturday evening and were able to get two seats at the bar without waiting. The bar had a nice, open feel and the restaurant overall had great ambiance for a date night or dinner out with friends. We ordered the fairytale eggplant, MV shiitake, cavatelli, and one of the specials of the night which was a whole mackerel. Every dish was packed with unique flavors. We especially loved the eggplant and the mackerel, which was grilled to perfection. The cavatelli had a bit of a fishy aftertaste (probably from the shrimp heads) which we didn't mind but were a bit surprised by. We'll definitely be stopping by to try more of the menu items soon! read more

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I don't know how to start describing the ebbs and flows of our experience at Moeca. Not being familiar with the traditional Korean cuisine, we obviously needed a bit of a hand to navigate the menu and the styles of the food. Luckily for us, the servers are well versed in the menu and able to assist you through your meal and evening. The first MUST is the namesake drink - the moeca (rice liquor in beer, or Korean version of a boilermaker). The fun part of this is slamming a heavy spoon into the mixture to stir the drink without losing all the carbonation of the beer. While it can taste and seem very strong, you can add as much or little of the liquor as you want. It pairs perfectly with all the acid and tang of the menu and I feel is the only way to start your meal. From there, you can go a variety of ways. We opted for the popular dishes per the server and started with the oysters (fantastic, as we've grown to expect from Chef Biss) and flagged the bulgogi as a must. From there we grabbed a bunch of different pickled items and the squid 2 ways. We rounded out the bulk of our meal with the black bass crudo and swordfish, which felt like too much food when ordering but was just the right amount when we had cleared all of the plates. I was surprised by the value proposition of the restaurant, if I'm being honest. I expected to pay 1.5x the actual price paid once we received the bill, but I won't complain... I will simply implore that you must make your way to this cozy, fantastic spot off the BCommon. It's beyond accessible both by public transit and also through the assistance of the staff to help you navigate the food if you are not comfortable with Korean cuisine. I've added it to the rotational restaurants. No more of the cliche Korean BBQ places, Moeca is where you can get TRUE cuisine at a reasonable cost in Boston. read more

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Excellent cocktails and interesting seafood. The service is very good and the restaurant has lovely ambiance. The bar is definitely one of the better bars around. read more

This is the best place I've tried in a long time. For someone who loves creative dishes that are primarily vegetables and seafood, particular raw seafood, there were so many options I wanted to try. We sat at the bar for the Tuesday-Wednesday dollar oysters. The bartender was super friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Both the cocktail and food menu had such unique flavor pairings. We had the caravan pursuit, mantero (mezcal but not too smoky), basil rathbone (cucumber was primary flavor), and Castello ricetto for cocktails and all four were interesting and well balanced. The smoked beets and radicchio salad were fresh and thoughtfully plated. Portion sizes were larger than I expected. The decor was a blend off eclectic and modern with a European feel. Great spot for dates or groups. I really can't wait to go back to try more of the menu. read more

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Remarkably unremarkable. We had dinner here to celebrate a friend's birthday, were seated at a nice table, and the dining room is pretty. Things went downhill from there. Our server was friendly at first, but it became clear pretty quickly she didn't want us to linger over a cocktail (that took 15 mins to make!) before ordering food. She also told us we had to order everything at once, even though it's a small-plate sharing restaurant. Once the food started arriving, things didn't get better. Our server was either forgetful, busy, or neglectful as we had to ask for water refills, a wine chiller 3 separate times, and were left with dirty plates on our table. She had no problem, however, informing us that we wouldn't have time for dessert because the table was needed. As for the food, we ordered 7 dishes, and each was bland and uninspiring. Moeca is not an inexpensive restaurant. We expected service and cuisine to reflect that, and were quite disappointed. Would not recommend! read more

All small plates. Perfect for sharing! My fav: - cauliflower - beets - The mushroom pasta (forgot the name) - calamari - tiramisu (definitely top 2 I've ever had in BOSTON!!!) read more

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Interesting menu, opportunity to try some things you don't always get. Pasta and morels was awesome. Smaller plates to share so plenty of room for lots of different tastes. Staff friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend! read more

went here for a celebratory dinner and it was extraordinary! the food was amazing, the service was attentive and kind, and the drinks/dessert were chef's kiss the lobster spaghetti might be the best bite i've had in the boston area. i'd love to come back someday, maybe for another special occasion. i agree with the other reviews that mentioned a fishy smell outside haha -- but what do you expect? haha read more

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The food was mediocre at best and it was all overdone. Meaning too much and too many elements to each dish. They even ruined a perfectly good oyster by smothering it in a very tasty sauce. Overall a little less on all levels will go a long way for this place. I would not of here again and I would not recommend it. read more

Pretty interesting, seafood-centered dishes - and a reservation here is easier to come by than Giulia's. Even on a busy weekday night, I could still hear the people across from and sitting next to me (not a fan of places where you come out of dinner with a sore throat from having to yell to be heard). However, the food was not as good as I hoped, particularly given the price point. We ordered 5 dishes from the main menu, which turned out to be a perfect amount of food (our waitress recommended 6-8 for three people), and a dessert. My favorites were the tuna d'nuja, or minced tuna with Calabrian chili (the bread on the side, however, was way too burnt), the bucatini, and the dark chocolate bread pudding. The bucatini in particular was cooked perfectly. That said, a few of the other dishes were too heavy on the salt for my preference, including the chickpea pancake and the sprouting cauliflower. Our waitress was wonderful and patient in going over the various dishes on the menu. Overall, though, it was about $180 for three people, so not a cheap dinner, and I was still hungry after we left. I'd give it another try, though, if I'm in the neighborhood. read more

Moeca - Tuna n'duja, chickpea fritter, loglio squid - Seafood Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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How I yearn for classic seafood dishes, grilled Dover sole with buttered potatoes etc. I don't think their combinations work though they seem clever. The cocktails and service make up for the food. read more

Service is good. Food is ok. Sometimes was cold. Not much flavor. incredibly overpriced given the average quality of food.

Service was great and super friendly, the food was amazing, and I really appreciated that the tables weren't packed super tightly together. The standouts for me (if they stay on Moëca's ever-changing menu) were probably the smoked black cod (super soft) and the brussel sprouts (didn't really expect how it was presented inside of the pancake, but it was great). Definitely leave room for dessert, and I say that as a typically non-dessert person. Can't wait to go back and try their other offerings and see what they do next! read more

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This is the best dining experience we've had in the greater Boston area in quite a long while. The food was glorious; there weren't _that_ many items for vegetarians on the menu, but what was there was delicious, and we left with full bellies. The cocktails were funky and delicious, too. The décor is just beautiful, too; see attached. And the staff were so helpful and patient and sweet. As parents of two young children, it takes effort and time and money to go out to eat these days; we have to hire a babysitter whenever we want to do anything on our own. So the threshold for going out is relatively high. Our level of disappointment when a meal is only mediocre is correspondingly high: we went through all that effort and all that expense, and for _this_? We've found ourselves disappointed in recent months by our dining-out experiences. So it was really a pleasant surprise that the whole experience at Moëca, from start to finish, was a delight. We will _definitely_ be back. read more

Moeca - The bar at Moëca. - Seafood Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Got to have a beautiful dinner here to celebrate the end of the year with my boyfriend last night. We loved the elegant and tasteful vibes, and the service from our waitress, Olivia, was excellent. She was warm, attentive, and gave thoughtful recommendations around wines to pick and how to approach the extensive, ever-changing menu. Definitely try some of the orange wines if you are feeling adventurous! In terms of the dishes, each of the seafood dishes dazzled with their freshness and lovingly blended flavors. I felt that there were interesting aspects to each of them that catered well to the inherent flavors of the seafood. The scallop crudo (bright, sweet, tangy) was a highlight, and the smoked trout (very smoky!!) was also a surprise hit. Another reviewer had stated that the pastas felt a bit one-dimensional and disappointing, considering this was Giulia's sister restaurant and I do have to agree. I found myself wishing the spaghetti, which advertised fermented chili, had more of a funky kick to it. The gnocchi, while interesting, was a bit salty for my palate. In the future, I would likely opt for more of the shared plates or try one of the large seafood plates. The desserts were both delicious without being too rich, and the espresso martini my boyfriend ordered was deemed by the both of us to be the best espresso martini we've ever had! Not sure what they put in this one but major props to the bartender. Overall, this is a great spot to try delicious seafood with some new flavors. The prices are definitely steep though, and the serving portions don't reliably reflect the price point. I would give moeca a 4.5 out of 5, and would definitely come back to sample more of their menu. read more

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The food is spectacular, the deserts are delicious, and the drinks are top tier. My favorite dish is the monkfish. The service is great and the bar tenders are the best in the business. The ambiance is perfect and is a great place to enjoy a meal or a drink with friends. read more

This restaurant came into my radar after it made it onto Bon Appetit's list of Best New Restaurants 2023. They specialize in seafood-based dishes and their charred cod collar over deviled butter was probably my favorite dish of 2023 (sadly this was a special -- I really hope they make this a regular menu item)! The crispy monkfish with tamarind hot sauce and sesame was also a great combination of flavors and textures, with the crispy outside pairing well with the fish's more suave texture. The atmosphere was great, even on a Thursday night, and their decor was super fun. Why the four stars then? There were several dishes that fell flat, especially their pasta dishes. I might have been expecting more of their pasta given they are the sister restaurant of Giulia, but their maine lobster spaghetti (with fermented chili and shiso) was a bit one-dimensional and the noodles were overcooked, while their mafalde (wild mushrooms, arugula, onion butter) was undercooked. Their cape cod scallop (with green crab americaine, corn, maine uni) and charbroiled squid were also fine, but I wouldn't necessarily order them again. For dessert, I tried the maple bombe, which was advertised to have a berry compote and a maple ice cream, but surprisingly was slightly savory from other herbs included in the dish. Service was also a bit disorganized as several waiters came by to tell us the exact same menu wand they also brought us our check twice within the span of 5 minutes (no change in the check between the two times), but friendly. I would come back as their flavor combinations are quite unique for Boston and their menu changes quite often. read more

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I was happy to see that a new restaurant would be taking over the former Luce/Chez Henri space, and thrilled when I learned it was a sister restaurant to Giulia. I tried it last weekend and think it's a great addition to the neighborhood. The food is seafood-focused with global influences. A couple of the dishes were a touch too acidic for me and I did not love our dessert selection, but overall, everything was flavorful and inventive. The absolute highlight of the meal was the mezcal cocktail - one of the best, if not the best, I've ever had. My guess is that it probably won't stay on the menu too long since they showcase what's in season (mmm watermelon), but I really hope this one gets a permanent spot! The service was wonderful and I'm glad I got to experience the soft opening. Excited to see what they do next! read more

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What a treat! This was on Boston Magazine's top 50 list, so we had to go. We were extremely impressed! The inside was very cute and welcoming. Our waitress was patient and knowledgeable. The drinks were amazing. But of course the best part was the food. They specialize in fish, but have a few other options as well. Every dish that we got was so flavorful and unique. We left smiling from ear to ear! My favorites were probably the beet barbecued mussels (never tasted anything like it before!) and the swordfish, simply grilled with veg and lemon, but so so so good. They were great with allergies and even had a dairy free dessert. The dessert was very unique as well (it has peas in it!). We loved every moment at Moeca and are really happy we chose to have dinner here! read more

Food, service, ambiance was all excellent. Had multiple dishes and drinks and really enjoyed everything. Would come back here again.

My partner and I had a fantastic meal. Every single dish down to the bread was beyond. On top of that, the service was so attentive. There was a small issue in one of our dishes and without even asking they took the dish away, got us a new one and got us a round of drinks! We will be back read more

had an awesome experience here. Large spaces restaurant, but I say at bar. Bartender was very knowledgeable about the dishes as well.  It took me four plates and a dessert to be full, so portoes are small but great quality  The only slight complaint I have is the pacing .all four of my dishes came out in rapid succession. Three at a time. And then the other before I finished my last dish . I had plates everywhere and felt rushed. That wasn't their intention at all, but it is something to note. I was eating solo so maybe they are used to bringing everything out at one time for large parties? I ordered two specials and two menu items  Special:  Sardine raviolis with a clam broth:  this was  awesome. Raviolis were more like dumpling and were nice and crispy on outside and nice and pillowing on inside. Dish has a very clean fishy profile and the clam sauce added a savory taste. Interesting and delicious 5/5 Black bass belly with crispy fish skin: This was amazing!  The bass belly was rich with flavor and melt in your mouth fattiness. The crispy fish skin added some salt and there was a little kick too.  Very original and yummy 5/5 Regular menu:   Smoked trout on potato roll: Awesome! Trout was like a pate spread on the soft and delicious potato roll. Trout had a prominent bbq smokiness to it. Very savory and natural. Not that liquid smoke flavor. 5/5 semolina gnocchi Delicious. This was a scallop with the the innards they usually removed included. It was all very tender and delicious and came with a very nice tomato broth.  5/5  Surfer clams:  Very pretty dish with edible flowers. Clams were fresh and clean tasing and came with a nice buttermilk sauce 5/5. Zucchini cake; Good dessert. Didn't blow me away, but had good presentation and did taste good. Id prob not order this again, but this was.my first zucchini cake so I didn't not know what to expect 4/5  Will be coming back for the amazing food, a different dessert and the friendly service 5/5 read more

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What a nice find! We will be back. All appetizers and entrees were cooked differently than experienced elsewhere. Thrilled to get some different spices, sauces, and one-of-a-kind cooking. If they have it when you go, suggest the calimari, monkfish, packed oysters, and white wines. Not a huge wine list but all seemed to be picked with care and were fairly prices. Manager very knowledgable regarding what wines go with the many diverse dishes. read more

Enjoyed the oyster with ramp aioli. Crab ravioli dough was too thick. Smoked trout turned out to be hot smoked rather than cold smoked, which was not what I was looking for. Bartender was kind enough to take a drink off my bill which I didn't like. When I asked him to make a 1919, showing him the recipe from Cocktail Virgin, he instead made something different, without checking with me first, adding ingredients which were not in the recipe and which totally changed the character of the drink. Not very good at taking direction, I guess. He didn't seem to understand, or care, that he was changing the flavor profile of the drink from what I had requested. Usually when a customer asks for say a gin martini with perfect vermouth, you make them a gin martini with perfect vermouth, not a vodka martini with olive brine. If I had wanted a Rob Roy cocktail, I would have asked for one. Frustrating experience overall. read more

Nice restaurant with plenty of seafood options. Beautiful interior, with moody black zellige tiles on the back wall framing the kitchen service area, and arched displays at the bar. The food was good and our server was very pleasant. Best dishes I think were the Unicorn Oysters, served raw with a sweet and zesty grape granita, and Barbecued Mussels with mild hazelnut satay sauce (not flavors I would have expected together but they worked well). The branzino, squid, and cauliflower dishes were fine. I wanted to like the scallop more but it was not quite what I expecting - one large scallop sliced like tuna crudo served with a leek topping- a bit gritty. Desserts were good too- we were a little taken aback by the Ras El Hanout treatment of the chocolate pudding but I quite liked the middle eastern twist and there was a nice mix of textures with some crunchy bits. The strawberry rhubarb tart was good, albeit a little sweet. Serving portions were fairly small, even the dishes listed in the "Sharing" and "Large" sections of the menu. All in all, a nice dinner out with friends. Hard to get reservations so book early. read more

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I'm not sure how relevant this review will be since I went here a month ago and I heard that the menu changes every ~4 weeks. Moeca is certainly not a cheap option for food, but there were some real winners amongst the many (many) dishes we tried. Also, looks like it's booked out for a while, so try to plan early for a reservation! This might be our new go-to place for celebration meals -- what other place can you say changes their menu every time you go? We had two drinks -- Gold vibrations and Tropea (both $14). We asked for the sweetest drinks and Gold vibrations was recommended as the sweetest. It was very tasty. Tropea sounded like it would be sweet from the menu, but it was more mild, with a smoky taste and a nice watermelon juice ice cube. The drinks were quite strong, so I think they are pretty worth it. I'll break down the food into three categories: love, like, and gripe. Things I loved: - Swordfish with mussels ($38): This was my favorite. I thought the fish was quite perfectly cooked (though the thicker part was nicer since it was less cooked), the mussels were perfectly cleaned and cooked, and the sauce was delicious. A perfect dish, I would definitely recommend. - Sturgeon saltimboca ($24): Very delicious and the mushroom sauce was to die for. - Grilled oysters with XO sauce ($12): Very tasty as well, perfectly cooked, perfect flavors. - Raspberry guava sorbet with almond macaron and cheesecake ($9): 100% worth getting. I thought it would just be sorbet, but it was an artfully created dessert with 3 components and everything went wonderfully together. Things I liked a lot: - Octopus ($28): Perfectly cooked -- crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. It came with baked beans though, which I thought was an odd pairing (I skipped the beans). - Ricotta gnocchi with chanterelles ($22): Amazing in terms of textures and got me hooked on ricotta for the following week. I thought the sauce was too acidic though, and it was a bit lacking on sauce amount. Things I had some gripes with - Caviar ($28) with crispy potato: Tasty, but I would say the money would be better spent on more substantial seafood than caviar. - Green crab custard ($16): Decent and smooth (I think it's made from the tomalley of the crab) but I wouldn't get it again. - Focaccia ($10): Very delicious, but the accompanying sauce was a bit too tart for me. The chili crunch definitely had a kick. - Shishito peppers ($12): Not it for me. It seemed like there were non-shishito peppers, and many of them were sweet and/or too burnt to eat. The sauce was nothing special. - Strawberry gelato panino ($13): Decent but the bun was lukewarm so it was lacking the contrast in temperatures and it felt unnecessary. Overall had a great time trying everything, and excited for my next visit! read more

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Had this seafood restaurant on my list to check out for a few months and finally got the opportunity to go there and once you enter you're greeted with a comfortably not-too-dimly-lit interior with darker but contrasting lighter hues. Your eyes will make one of two decisions: looking at the bar, which is simple but attractive with back-lit arches, or the window into the kitchen with a gigantic brass-like plate overhead and displaying dried fish and doubles also as a seating area. We were seated comfortably in one of the booths and received professional, courteous service with some humor as well (which is nice when you can joke around with the waitstaff). Saw the Bodega Door in the drink menu, ordered it and it's definitely one to sip and savor as it involves sherry, which shines through nicely. Everything on the menu looked enticing from their simple descriptions but interesting combination of ingredients, making your eyes water and mouth salivate simultaneously. For the raw section, the dishes that really spoke to us were Lubina, Longest Acres Beef, and Hiramasa. The Lubina, which is a sea bass, was encased in a hollowed-out mandarin with mandarin cubes, basil and a type of chile - very enjoyable with clean flavors. The Longest Acres Beef was a very nice treat wrapped in shiso leaf with smoked oyster and the buckwheat added a nice crunch to the tender textures of the surf and turf. Definitely a complex dish with layers of flavor. For the Hiramasa (yellowtail kingfish), the way to eat it is to stack everything together onto a spoon before inviting your mouth to receive it - nice contrast of textures, from the softness of the Hiramasa to the crispness of the hearts of palm, with the green curry and a small parsley leaf to round out the flavors. If you enjoy octopus when cooked right and perfectly as much as we do, read on. The octopus was one large tentacle, perfectly tender and charred (not burnt) with a flavor deserving your eyes closed while chewing and savoring its texture. The accompanying bok choy was grilled nicely with a pretty good crunch in the center. By far the best small plates dish was the Steamed Green Crab Custard. Covered with freshly grated black truffle, a spoonful of the custard which has green crab (certainly with the roe) incorporated within sent us melting back into our booth, ogling and smiling at its execution. Just an absolutely fantastic blast of decadent and intense crab flavor and delicate texture. It's a no-brainer to order again and again. The brussels sprouts didn't stand out too much for us. Even though it was a pancake, the brussels sprouts flavor didn't come through but was instead off-balanced by chickpea. If the ratio of chickpea flour were to be reduced and the brussels sprouts increased, it could work better, kind of like the seafood pancakes in Korean restaurants. One of the large dishes we needed to try was the dry aged duck cassoulet. The duck was perfectly cooked and both my wife and I realized that the way they executed it in terms of the skin which was super duper crispy and crunchy just more so resembled flavors of Chinese roast pork. Certainly was a surprise to me and definitely worked! The espresso martini to round out the night was one of the best since any time there's real coffee, it's that much better. There were dishes we didn't get a chance to try so we will be returning with more people. Definitely a solid place. read more

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My wife and I are big fans of Giulia and wanted to try Moeca. We had an amazing anniversary dinner here last month. Everything was exceptional, but the yuzu posset dessert was the sleeper hit of the night. Seriously outstanding all the way around, but be sure to save room for dessert. We grabbed the next reservation we could and we're bringing friends. read more

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