Flex Mussels
Seafood restaurant · Upper East Side
1431 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10028
Highlights
Seafood & desserts plus 20+ mussel preparations
Seafood & desserts plus 20+ mussel preparations
"Beyoglu’s quality hummus and doner kebab have made it a Third Avenue staple. It’s a great spot for a casual weeknight dinner outside when the weather is nice." - Marisa Dunn
"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. RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE Food Rundown Half Dozen Oysters Lots of oysters have been consumed on Infatuation outings recently, and these ones stand out for a few reasons. There are usually four or five types on the menu (varying by the day), but each is described in detail and the staff is knowledgeable. All too often, a server just rattles off a bunch of oyster names at the table and asks you to pick. These guys know what they're talking about, and one person spends most of his night shucking at the bar. All we consumed on our visit were delicious. Maine Mussels This is mussels sitting in what was essentially corn chowder with thick cut smoked bacon. It was like sticking my head in a big bowl of October. Fantastic, and I'm doing that again. Thai Mussels Mussels in curry coconut broth with lemongrass, lime, and garlic - if you are a fan of Thai food this is probably something you will appreciate. An interesting take on mussels, but take note that you need to be very down with lemongrass ... it's kickin'. Lobster Roll Thought about getting a lobster roll, because they're supposedly solid, but market price = thirty bucks. No matter how good that lobster roll is, at thirty dollars I'm going to be mad at it. Hand Cut Fries Decent enough, considering you will be drowning them in mussely goodness, but by themselves, these are nothing special." - Chris Stang
"Friday is National Oyster Day, and there are a lot of special oyster Happy Hours happening this week. We suggest the Happy Hour at Flex Mussels on the UES from 5pm-close for $1.50 oysters and paired drinks." - neha talreja
"On your first date with this person, you went to a French wine bar, ate some charcuterie, and talked about your childhood golden retriever and the importance of REM sleep. For your second (or any early-in-the-game) date, go to Flex Mussels. This UES seafood spot has a long bar and plenty of tables, and the food is all light, shareable, and more interesting than another charcuterie plate. Come during Happy Hour and get discounted wine and $1 oysters, or for a low-commitment dinner when you can share small plates and any of the over 20 dishes that include mussels." - bryan kim, matt tervooren
"After the 2022 fire at Flex Mussels I watched Alexandra Shapiro rehab the original Flex space, and because a larger spot nearby freed up she was able to move Flex Mussels into that new location; remaining responsible for the original Flex storefront led her to reconsider the site, and its nostalgia (the family had run a restaurant at that location for over 20 years, and before Flex it was another family restaurant, Zocalo) helped prompt the decision to reopen Hoexters in the neighborhood." - Melissa McCart
