Upper East Side
Get directions | 174 E 82nd St, New York, NY 10028
Hours | Sunday 11:30am-10pm, Monday 5:30pm-10pm, Tuesday 5:30pm-10pm, Wednesday 5:30pm-10pm, Thursday 5:30pm-10pm, Friday 5:30pm-11pm, Saturday 11:30am-11pm
Flex Mussels? Oh right…I get it. Between the cute name and the Upper East Side location, I half expected to learn that the place is owned by Justin Timberlake Inc. Luckily, that’s not the case. Flex is a restaurant import from Prince Edward Island, which immediately gives it some credibility – “P.E.I” as they call it, is the source of some of the best mussels the world has to offer. Flex NYC’s menu sports twenty plus treatments to the bivalve, ranging from $16-20 for a huge steamy pot. Each variation is a clever combination of flavors named for and taken from regions and cultures around the world. The Southern comes in a broth with bourbon, roasted corn, country ham; The Geisha Girl has both sake and pickled ginger; The Spaniard sits in a pool of spicy chorizo, Spanish olives, and red wine. It’s a unique and exciting approach, and it works. We sat at the bar on my most recent visit, a crowded Friday night, and the service was great. So much so, that we ended up hanging late at our bar seat and polishing off more than the bottle of wine from dinner and moving into “sure I’ll try that drink you’re making” on to “you guys should totally come to my birthday party” territory. It’s a lively atmosphere and there is something amazingly satisfying about digging into a pot of mussels and a decent bottle of wine. We’ll be making more Infatuation trips as soon as they finish that Second Avenue subway.
(212) 717-7772
info@flexmussels.com
http://instagram.com/flexmussels
APPETIZERS
ROASTED OYSTERS garlic breadcrumbs, herb butter, parmesan 24
BABAGANOUSH pickled red onion, garlic chips, portugese sardines, parsley, pita 16
BURNT FINGERS crispy fried calamari, shrimp, oysters, spicy aioli 19
BACON MAC cavatappi, roasted garlic bechamel, bacon 15
SEAFOOD FRITTERS salt cod, potato, cream, smoked paprika aioli, parsley 14
FISH DIP smoked trout, pickled onion, jalapeno, cucumber, crunchy bread 16
WHIPPED RICOTTA truffle, caramelized onion marmalade, chives, charred sourdough 14
MUSSELS
CLASSIC white wine, herbs, garlic, butter 26
DIJON dijon mustard, white wine, creme fraiche, parsley 27.5
FRA DIAVOLO San Marzano tomato, olive oil, basil, red pepper, garlic 27
GUMBO dark roux, chicken stock, andouille sausage, rice, creole spices, scallions, pickled okra 30
THAI curry coconut broth, lemongrass, kafir lime, coriander, lime, ginger 29.5
PARMA parmesan cream, lemon, scallions, toasted garlic, crispy shallots 30
FUNGI wild mushrooms, double smoked bacon, porcini cream 29.5
BISQUE lobster, brandy, tomato, cream 31
POTATO LEEK leeks, Yukon golds, buttermilk, sour cream, chives, crispy shallots 29
OAXACAN chorizo, roasted chile, tomato, lime, cilantro, hominy 29.5
SAN DANIELE prosciutto, caramelized onions, cream 30
AUTUMN roasted sweet potatoes, fall spices, brown butter, sage 28
RAW BAR
OYSTERS ask your server about tonight’s oyster selection MP
AGUACHILE halibut, jalapeno, lime, serrano, cilantro, pickled onions, cucumber, avocado 18
PERUVIAN CEVICHE aji rojo, lime, sweet potato, red onion, cilantro, fresno chile 17
SWAN SALMON SASHIMI king salmon, capers, red onion, lemon, parsley, olive oil 18
SALADS
THAI CABBAGE charred calamari, peanuts, mint, tomato, thai lime dressing 18
ROASTED HEIRLOOM CARROTS cumin labneh, orange supremes, chive 18
THE BIG GREEN manchego, piquillo pepper, roasted red onion, sherry vinaigrette 15
CHICORY CAESAR mixed chicories, sourdough croutons, parmesan 17
SANDWICHES
LOBSTER ROLL citrus aioli, celery, lemon, fries MP
FILET O FISH panko crusted hake, tartar sauce, American cheese, iceberg, fries 24
SHRIMP ROLL crispy, braised mustard greens, mapo tofu emulsion, sesame seed roll, fries 26
BIG PLATES
BOUILLABAISSE hake, shrimp, mussels, clams, saffron rouille, toasted bread 34
SPICY ALLA VODKA mezze rigatoni, tomato, cream, parmesan, torn basil, chile oil 26
LOBSTER FRITTES roasted 1.5# lobster, garlic herb butter, fries MP
SALMON wild king salmon, smoked tomato, black lentils, charred green beans 29.5
CHICKEN white wine, lemon herb butter, fries, braised greens 28
