Seafood, as I’ve mentioned before is by far my favorite cuisine as it is the most accommodating for gluten allergies. Perfectly prepared fish (both grilled and raw), vegetable and potato sides, and select meat options fill the menus of these restaurants and make for a great nobread dining experience. All of this holds true at Marea; a sophisticated and elegant Midtown West hotspot that I am comfortable saying serves New York City’s best seafood…
The best part about Marea is that the majority of the menu is naturally gluten free! To start, my table took the New York Times’ advice and ordered the sea urchin with lardo… Yes, I actually ate a sea urchin. The urchin is served on top of bread, so be sure to ask for this nobread. Grilled octopus with smoked potatoes, oysters, and the lobster burata are all nobread approved and must-order appetizers. My favorite starter were the tuna and langostine crudos. Unlike other crudos that are served on top of a cracker or some form of bread, crudo at Marea is served on top of a thinly cut cucumber slice. For mains, I highly recommend the seared sea scallops, new zealand john dory, and grilled mediterranean cuttlefish.
To my surprise, Marea also serves gluten free bread and pasta! This takes the small fraction of the menu that ISN’T gluten free and makes it gluten free. Lastly, I can’t forget about the sides. Roasted brussels sprouts, carrots, and cauliflower; my three favorites. All were exceptional and if Marea wasn’t so famous for their incredible seafood dishes and specialties, I could easily have ordered just these three sides and have been satisfied. Excellent food, elegant décor, and a nobread friendly menu; I look forward to going back to Marea soon!