After a fun day sailing on the Hudson, we walked over to the Frying Pan for a bite to eat. This Lightship, built in 1929, is docked at Pier 66 about three blocks north of Chelsea Piers. This ship’s restaurant had always been one of my favorite places to bring friends, as it always pleased.

Their COVID system has QR codes unique to each table for their menu and to order.  When your order is ready, the server brings it right to your table along with the plastic tools and paper napkins.

One friend ordered the large peel ‘n eat shrimp boil with a pound of shrimp in flavorful well-seasoned garlic butter ($25). Another found the Cape Cod lobster roll ($26), oddly with more of a lobster salad than chunks of meat; it came with the Old-Bay seasoned fries — a portion too large to not share.

Another friend had a salad and sandwich. Her Summer Caesar ($12) included artichokes along with the classic romaine with croutons. The oven-roasted chicken breast came with lots of olive tapenade and a little pancetta ($10) on toasted ciabatta with a side of chile-lime tortilla chips.

My seared salmon ($24) was not like I’d had before. The seared hot Atlantic salmon came atop an ice-cold salad of quinoa, farro, Israeli couscous,  edamame and arugula pesto that screamed for seasoning. Flavorless. I wouldn’t recommend or order again. At least my summer drink, the Aperol Spritz ($11) was perfectly priced and mixed.

Those with me each had a sweet tooth, necessitating the ordering of one of each of their “MELT” ice cream sandwiches. There was one red velvet cookies with cream cheese ice cream, one cracklin’ chocolate cookies with malted chocolate rum ice cream and their favorite, cinnamon ice cream with snickerdoodle cookies ($5.50 each).

I always recommend the Frying Pan as it’s a unique New York experience, not dampened too much by COVID restrictions.

Lightship Frying Pan
Pier 66a (West 26th Street & Hudson River Park)
New York, NY 10069
(212) 989-6363

Frying Pan Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato