Esca

Esca is part of the Mario Batali/Joe Bastianich empire, but it owes its special identity to chef David Pasternak and his special relationship with fish, with fishermen, and with local farmers. The menu is in constant flux, depending on what’s available, but it’s always on mission, and that is presenting the seafood culture of the Italian coast. Eat courses at Esca, in the Italian style: a bite or two of delicate crudo, an extraordinary pasta, a just-caught whole fish for two, and a selection from an unrivaled list of Italian regional wines.