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Upstate
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Seafood Canadian (New), Seafood
95 1st AveNew York, NY 10003
Neighbourhood: East Village
(917) 408-3395
- Nearest Transit:
-
2 Av (F)
Astor Pl (4, 6, 6X)
1 Av (L)
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
About This Business:
The restaurant offers a menu of contemporary American plates with hints of home-style comfort food, developed by Executive Chef Michael "Kiwi" Camplin,… read more »
94 reviews for Upstate
Review Highlights
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"Loved the complimentary whiskey cake too." In 4 reviews -
"comfy relaxedness homeyness in the east village." In 4 reviews -
"...oysters were fresh, plump, and briny (west coast more than..." In 3 reviews
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94 reviews in English
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Review from Charle M.
Updated - 5/25/2012 3 Check-ins Here
"Sure. I will risk mercury poisoning for for a little oyster action."
"You had me at mercury poisoning."
Seriously, everyone with a computer and internet connection, this isnt Mermaid Bar. It's not like that.
If you told me that you got sick from an Upstate oyster I would tell you that the universe obviously hates you and that you deserved and it and have a nice time in hell because that's where you're headed.
I'm here at least once a week. Still my favorite restaurant, and not just because I have an apartment right around the corner. The owner is maybe one of the nicest, most genuine owners I have had the priv to meet. The rest of the staff? Same thing. If I die, this place will be my heaven.
PS- Gets loud sometimes. Not a good "quiet date" place Thursday or Friday or Saturday.Listed in: The Walrus and The Carpenter
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/5/2011 ROTD 2/5/2012
Do you know who should write a review for Upstate?
Ernest Hemingway. Norman Mailer. Truman Capote.… Read more »
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 10/5/2011
wow and thank you! we love the fact you were able to… More » -
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Review from Andrew K.
NY
Updated - 5/23/2012 9 photos
once again, I find myself (with 5 others) at this hidden gem...well, I don't think it's no longer hidden according to my friends, photos, and Facebook! for some reason, each time I return, I multiply! the owner, Shane welcomes us back, like if I were just there yesterday. I was in search for the 21st Amendment Draft, instead - Shane hits me up with this awesome beer sampler! he got us hooked on the new flavors he brought in! my new favorite is the Maple Port, next to the Dark Coffee Beer. I'm starting to think, I have my dedicated table of 6 in the corner by the bar (by the bar....which is bad! in a good way!!)
we were seated, person by person, only because I roll in with a colony...(thanks Shane!) as we settled in, Shane surprised us with a complimentary cheese plate, while still waiting for our other 3 guests... when the 6 were a total, mayhem on the menu it was!
we all studied the menu well, as Shane knew the variety of oysters I wanted. all he needed to know, was "how many?" when the diverse set of oysters arrived at the table, my friends were enlightened by the different flavors each on represented..
then came the food.... as the waitresses served each guest their plate, there was nothing but, "ooooh"s and "ahhhh"s... everyone simply took their time and enjoyed a well complimented dinner/drinks, in a small yet cozy atmosphere...
an hour has passed, as I wondered the neighbourhood for desserts at Veniero's... as we walked back to the car, someone called out my name... it turns out to be an old friend. ironically, he asked me, "where's Upstate? I got hungry looking at your pictures on Facebook!!" I walked him in to Upstate, and the bartender looks at me funny. I told her I was hungry again!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/10/2012
i'm sorry to say...i'm a "repeat offender!"
my taller half and i were in the mood for scallops. Yelp… Read more »
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/18/2012
Oh Andrew, we prefer to think of you (fondly of course) as a… More » -
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Review from Thomas S.
New York, NY
5/21/2012
I'm not a very uppity person. I don't have champagne dreams or caviar wishes, nor do I ever want to. If I ever yelp review a restaurant in the Hamptons, I would like for you to find me and shoot me. The things that bring joy to my life are very simple. Friends. Beer. Good food. Soulful music. Upstate combines all of these in one amazing place.
First, they take pride in their beer. If you ever read their blog or talk to the owner, you get the sense that they take their beer seriously. The beers on tap are are local and the selection changes on a weekly basis. Second, the food is fantastic. The oysters are all fresh, and a large portion of them are local. Try the linguini with clams. It sounds boring, but good food often stems from simplicity. The linguini with clams is hearty, filling, and fantastic. Third, the atmosphere is wonderful. It's very small and intimate. Great music plays in the background. This is a very ideal place for a long dinner with a small group of good friends.
The prices are absolutely reasonable and it's the best service I've ever come across. The dessert is a complimentary whiskey cake, and it's a perfect way to end the meal. If you like seafood and good beer, stop what you're doing and go right now.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/22/2012
Serving great tasting regional beers and freshly, simple… More » -
Review from Anna H.
5/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is fantastic. It is small and cozy with a lively atmosphere. If I lived in NYC, this would be a regular spot for me. The owner, Shane, goes above and beyond great customer service. He is a true gentlemen and super funny as well. He offered my friend and I complimentary glasses of wine (Zinfandel) because he thought we'd enjoy it and we did!
We ordered oysters (super delicious and fresh), the fettuccine with clams (executed to perfection.. fresh clams with garlic and white wine) but the best dish of the night was the brown rice risotto with seared scallops. The scallops were perfectly cooked which I just couldn't stop eating.
At the end of the meal they give complimentary whiskey pound cake!Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/22/2012
Come see us again Anna when you are back in town. Cheers! More » -
Review from merisa t.
5/13/2012
Excellent oysters (insane selection), amazing beer, small, cozy, friendly, fantastic.
This is my perfect place.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/17/2012
The perfect place for our perfect customer (that would be… More » -
Review from Roger K.
Rego Park, NY
5/23/2012
Came to Upstate on a Tuesday night for a get together of six people at 8pm. Three of us arrived early, and we were greeted by an attentive staff and the owner himself. We didn't know which local brew to choose from, so he poured us a flight to try - first time getting a flight of beer!
We expected a wait of about 45 mins for a table of six, and the wait was about right. It was worth the wait.
Menu was just the right size, a good variety of oysters, and the softshell crabs were very lightly battered, with little to no oil or grease. And they were sized very very well!
Service was excellent, and the owner and staff took their time to explain the menu and interact with us.
Upstate is a repeat for sure!Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/24/2012
Glad you enjoyed your time upstate Roger! We hope to see you… More » -
Review from Dorim L.
4/23/2012
Hmmmm, I'm sort of torn. The first time I visited Upstate, the oysters were spectacular, but the second time around, I wasn't as wow'ed by oysters. One tasted like I was French-kissing a guy with really, intense bad breath so that took away some of my joy.
But, overall, I give them 3 stars. The staff are extremely nice and their brown rice risotto with seared scallops is addictive! Plus, the prices are decent and then you get to walk to the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe for poetry slam. Definitely going back and hopefully, they'll have better selections of oysters the third time around.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 4/28/2012
Thanks for the feedback Dorim...here's the deal with our… More » -
Review from Dee C.
Flushing, NY
4/11/2012
We found our new favorite restaurant in the city!
It was a friday night, we didn't have anything planned, and wasn't craving any cuisines in particular, so yelp to the rescue. Upstate popped up when we did a search for scallops. Its pictures looked mouth watering, and the beer selection is a plus. So we headed over and found 2 empty seats at the bar.
I like its beer selection, it has just enough choices, and doesn't take at least half an hour to read. We haven't heard of some of the beer, so our bartender introduced us to all of them and gave us a taste on 2-3 we were interested in before we decided on which one to have.
oh, wait, so this is where I left off from my previous review. So anyways, we ended up at upstate again before I finished my review. One, it was because the food was way too delicious and fresh, it's almost addicting; Two, I do kind of want to keep this little gem to myself.
It was a friday night, again, we invited 1 of our good friend here for dinner, so it was a table of 3, but somehow we became a table of 6. (darn it, we shouldn't have posted any pictures on facebook, nor check in on foursquare) For such a cozy place like upstate, a group of 6 definitely will have a long wait, so we were told it will be around 2 hours. We asked, what if we get rid of 3 people? Then the wait will be around 1 hour (don't worry, we didn't make any one "disappear") Shane, the owner, told us to pay his good friend's bar for a visit while we wait, and it's just right around the corner. So we went, we drank, we waited. Then all of the sudden Shane showed up and told us that our table's ready. How thoughtful of him!
Again, all the food were fresh, tasty, and the portions were just perfect!
I still don't want to finish my review, but it is a bit over due.
So go! But don't bring your friends and hog up the tables like we did!Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 4/20/2012
Well Dee it's probably only fair that if we are your new… More » -
Review from Liz K.
Manhattan, NY
5/16/2012
Yelp, please make an exception and increase your star rating to 10 for this one! My hubby and I have been here 1/2 dozen times. Many dozens of oysters later, I'm still in love. Since the beginning, we've been treated like VIP and the owner continues to outdo himself every time we go back.
We were cheating on Upstate and went to the overrated Butter (by famed Alex Guarnaschelli), where we found the apps to be literally inedible. We immediately cancelled our entrees and ran over to our trusty Upstate where there was an hour long wait. The evening was almost ruined had it not been for the staff there.
You want take out? We've never done that but SURE! Oh, and here is a complimentary glass of wine, the same one you got the last time you were here (cuz of course the owner remembers and brings it to you himself). He's either just THAT nice or I looked THAT miserable. Either way, I toss back the wine, got my take out, and was home before I turned into a pumpkin.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/24/2012
"We were cheating on Upstate" That's ok Liz, we forgive… More » -
Review from Jay Z.
Manhattan, NY
4/20/2012
Why Come Here? Fantastic, roatating selection of microbrews and oysters, casual setting
Upstate is an example of a simple concept executed perfectly. The focus, as the name implies, is on a rotating selection of craft beers and oysters. In fact, they don't even have a freezer which means the oysters selection often changes daily. The beers also change frequently among unusual varieties of brews that will give even the most seasoned connessieurs something new to try each time. Throw in the casual setting and friendly service and I could easily come here once or twice a week.
However, it would be a shame to miss out on the full menu which also varies depending what's fresh from the sea. While I found everything to be enjoyable, if the house cured salmon is on the menu it's an absolute must order (review below). My non-oyster picks are below and I'll add any new dishes I try to my DishEnvy page.
House Cured Salmon: This is the best cured salmon I've had outside of Norway - it literally melts in your mouth and doesn't let the smoke and salt overpower the fish. Get it!
Calamari Salad: This dish has a strong char flavor even though the calamari don't look like they've been grilled. The kale also holds up nicely to the squid.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 4/20/2012
Well Jay Z, we will gladly accept your claim "This is the… More » -
Review from Sary L.
New York, NY
5/4/2012
From the moment I walked into Upstate Oyster Bar, I fell in love. It's a quaint restaurant that serves the highest quality fish. The owner, Shane besides going to the fish market every night at 4AM to pick out the good stuff, he is a true gentleman and treated my table incredibly well. From the Salmon, Shrimp Risotto, to the Soft Shell Crab, to the Oysters - everything was perfect. My girlfriend and I will be back many, many more times...
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/5/2012
Glad to know you all enjoyed your night upstate! Hope to see… More » -
Review from Jason W.
New York, NY
4/1/2012
I've been to Upstate 5 or 6 times now, and have to say it's absolutely fantastic. The oysters of course are amazing, and they have a nice selection from both coasts, although I'm more partial to East as I like them smaller and brinier.
The Fettuccine w/ clams is what I had the first few times, and it's great, but don't sleep on the scallop and fish specials! My girlfriend and I had them last night and it was so so so good. Scallops over a bed of brown rice risotto (so much buttery deliciousness, really hit the spot), and seared Tuna over a bed of sauteed vegetables (huge piece of fish, and so fresh). For $18 each, an amazing deal.
Also got the soft shell crab special. Amazing start to the meal, and served with a tasty corn/tomato salsa. Tasted like the ocean, but in a good way.
Plus an always amazing selection of tristate craft beers, and if you sit at the bar, you might even get a few free tastes ;)
Capped the meal off with the always delicious whiskey cake. It's places like Upstate that make the East Village one of the dopest neighborhoods in the world. You should really check it out.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 4/7/2012
Keeping the bro-mance alive and kicking, many thanks for the… More » -
Review from Brittany H.
New York, NY
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
wow. WHAT?! 4.5 stars? get the f*#@$^#$ out of here. 3 stars at best.
this is NOT the best seafood restaurant in NYC.... I've had plenty of bouillabaisse in my lifetime and this just didn't compare. it didn't even fully satiate my appetite! also was a little under the influence, so everything should taste good right?! yeah, no.
seafood was not as fresh as i'd like...and broth was not as buttery as I had hoped. therefore, I blame the dish on poor execution.
i would come back here to try the oysters....and maybe give this place another chance. we shall see...Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 3/23/2012
It has been scientifically proven that all food does not… More » -
Review from Jacqueline Y.
New York, NY
Updated - 4/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
still good!
quick tip - for those of you with the less voluptuous booty (as myself) the bar stools at the very end will be a bit uncomfortable for you1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/28/2012
4.5 loved loved loved
awesome back ground music
delightful, helpful and friendly staff
oysters are… Read more »
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 2/29/2012
Glad you enjoyed, thanks for the kind words - cheers! More » -
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Review from Raymond P.
New York, NY
5/10/2012
Found this place one Saturday afternoon and they had an oyster and beer special going with 1/2 doz oysters and a beer for like $12. A small place but food and atmosphere was great. I could have stayed here for hours.
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/10/2012
Thanks Raymond, please note that if you stay too long we… More » -
Review from Denise D.
Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
3/25/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This place would have been 5 stars except for two disappointing dishes.
Cons first:
- The octopus and kale salad didn't seem to work - the tough bitter kale and the slightly chewy octopus did not complement one another. Be prepared for a jaw workout if you're planning on getting this salad.
- The scallop ceviche was not awful but certainly not great - the delicate flavor of the scallops was completely lost in the overly spicy toppings/sauce.
Enough of the bad, onto the great:
- Happy hour from open-7pm consisting of 6 oysters and a locally brewed craft beer for $12. We sat at the bar and our bartender was extremely helpful since we're oyster noobs. She patiently helped us pick out a nice spread of east and west coast oysters. It was interesting to be able to compare the difference between the two.
- The fettuccine with clams is an incredibly simple dish but executed to perfection - great balance between white wine, garlic, fresh clams, and al dente pasta. It's large enough to share but you might want to get your own.
Keeping in theme with the name, almost everything here is local, including the wine that we got which was delicious (who would have thought that good sauv blanc can come from New York!). The restaurant doesn't even have freezers - everything is that fresh. Pair that with an ever-changing menu and you've got a winner.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 3/26/2012
Glad you enjoyed the fettuccine with clams as it is the… More » -
Review from Amanda L.
Manhattan, NY
5/19/2012
We've been here several times and have always been very happy. The beers are great, the oysters are fresh and the staff is knowledgeable. It's definitely a popular spot so I think the time to go is early. We like to stop in for an oyster special at the beginning of a night out or on the way home from work. If you do end up waiting it will be worth it though.
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/22/2012
Appreciate the kind words Amanda. Cheers! More » -
Review from Ivette A.
Brooklyn, NY
4/6/2012
What to get: soft shell crab on kale and corn salas was superb. Well balanced, both in terms of flavors and textures. The scallops on the brown rice mushroom risotto was just as good.
The oysters: they were good but not excellent. Definitely go for their easy coast selection which were more complex.
The service: Great! Very friendly and helpful. Very patient with questions and quick to respond.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 4/7/2012
Glad you enjoyed the soft shell crab Ivette as it was the… More » -
Review from Matt V.
East Village, Manhattan, NY
5/9/2012
Pretty much a bad experience overall. The oysters were served in a pie plate and when we asked for salt for the mussels, the waitress brought them to the wrong table and didn't realize it until 10 minutes later when we asked about it again. In addition, the 2nd entree we ordered (the mussels being one) never came. All in all, with drinks, the meal of a few oysters, a few mussels and a few drinks cost us $60 and we weren't even close to satisfied when we left.
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/17/2012
As an owner-operated establishment, we appreciate candid… More » -
Review from Graham W.
New York, NY
3/28/2012
Let me preface this story - one of my best friends, both of us being from upstate NY, were was in town visiting me and we were heading to meet some people in the city for drinks. Neither of us had eaten and I figured I'd just take him over to St. Mark's to some of those little food shops near 1st. That was until we walked by upstate. I told him I had heard of it before - upstate beer and oysters - probably two of our top 5 favorite pastimes together. Then we went in...
It was pretty crowded (a Saturday night, duh) but the wait staff was really friendly and offered us a spot near the beer taps while we waited (they obviously knew the way to our hearts). We waited maybe 5 minutes before a table opened up.
Now, we love oysters. LOVE THEM. Maybe more than beer (let's not get silly). Upstate's selection is incredible. They have oysters from all up and down the East and West Coast, including Canada. We ordered a range of oysters, a couple more brews and dug in. About halfway through our delicious oysters the manager brought us over about a dozen more, on the house. We jumped on some cajun grilled shrimp with what I believe was an andouille sausage rice pilaf. And then after all that, got another half dozen oysters.
Between the oysters, the brew and the incredibly friendly wait staff I will be back here many times. We even made the group we were meeting come to us - and they thanked us all night. For any occasion (even a quick brew and a few oysters after work), this place fits the bill.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 3/28/2012
Props for the upstate allegiance Graham! Cheers More » -
Review from Katie S.
2/22/2012
Just ate here last night! It was a random find but thank goodness I did! Got here around 6:30 PM knowing it was pretty tiny and there would be 5 of us at 7PM. I was kind of surprised at how many people were already there on a Tuesday night. The bar was full and there were about 8 tables total and 60% of them occupied. I think everyone was there for the happy hour which is a pretty good deal btw at $12 for any 6 oysters + beer (unfortunately ends at 7 though).
There's a large selection of oysters from both the East Coast and West Coast that is curated every single day by the owner(?! i think it was the owner...) As they say on the site, there is also not a single freezer so everything is fresh fresh fresh. Also if you don't know anything about oysters (like me), they told us that the oysters are ordered on the list with the top oysters being the ones that go down the easiest and they get progressively more briney as you go down the list. Beer selection also changes frequently with a good variety of craft beers at around $6-7 each. Menu only has about 5 entrees total, but it's about the quality not the quantity.
We got Ceviche to share, fettuccine with clams, squid salad, and a few oysters each. Everything was great but the scallops with mushroom risotto (one of the specials) stole the show. Scallops were perfectly seared and the risotto was the perfect consistency and very flavorful. Hopefully the special is still there by the time I go back! Oysters were also extremely fresh, will have to make sure I'm back again for the HH as well.
Service all around was awesome. At the end they gave us complimentary whiskey pound cake. Just added to how accommodating they were and the place just felt really "local". I don't live in the EV, but I'd be here a whole lot more if I did. Better to come here with just one other person or a small group. Cheers!Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 2/27/2012
Yes we may be new school but with old school style - the… More » -
Review from Shuo L.
TriBeCa, Manhattan, NY
4/26/2012
The happy hour is unbeatable. $12 for 6 oysters and a beer. The menu however is a little limited to seafood... Nice service but the table a little too small and the chair is a little too hard...
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 4/29/2012
We purposely crafted a small menu in order to serve freshly… More » -
Review from Jeffrey S.
Stamford, CT
3/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place wasn't good, it was amazing.
Sincere thanks to fellow yelpers for the great reviews leading us to choose our weekly dinner out this time at Upstate.
Its a small place with maybe 10-12 tables and a bar with seating area. Its generally a comfortable atmosphere with light background music and a great staff from Shane at the bar and his team of servers including the amazing Dara who helped guide our choices.
The menu while small is well thought out. Craft Beers and select wines on the front and then the food choices on the back. Suggest that they put a menu outside as the one in the front window is tiny and does not do Upstate justice.
The entrees were reasonably priced for seafood as under $18 for all including the dinner specials set forth on the chalkboard on the wall. I had a great stout and the wines per my sister were pretty great too especially the Seneca NY Red and the Amazing Barleywine a first (Thanks Shane!).
As to the food, we started with a few of the West Coast Oysters letting Dara make the selections (Komo, Royal Miyagi, Balmoral and the huge Gooseberry) and the Steamed Clams in Beer broth (they let you choose which craft beer and while I considered the Vanilla Porter we were steered to a more tasty brown ale-again thanks Dara).
I had the Kale and Octopus Salad as my entree. It was a decent portion of Grilled Octopus over kale with some pickled cukes and a light spicy dressing that paired well with the craft brew. My sister had the Scallops over Risotto which were tasty and nicely prepared.
To top the meal you get a piece of whiskey cake which really makes this place well balanced and just a great meal. I will return especially for happy hour where you get 1/2 dozen oysters coupled with a draft for $12 how cool is that? This much great seafood and drinks for $75 plus tip is a steal! This place is clean, open kitchen, very well run yet so tiny so prepare to wait or sit at the bar. Be warned that if you wait outside they are surrounded by Indian restaurants with hawkers trying to convince you to go to their restaurants so avoid the temptation for Tandoori and wait as Upstate is worth it.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 3/17/2012
Greatly appreciate the support Jeffrey. And we too think… More » -
Review from Adam G.
Los Angeles, CA
3/18/2012
Loved this place. It was not pretentious at all, and had great beer and sea-food. I am not an oyster expert in the slightest, and that is why I leave it up to the experts: the oysters were wonderful. I also had the Scallop Ceviche, which happened to be the scallop special (but I believe it was priced as an appetizer). My father had the Bouillabaisse, which I definitely preferred over my dish, which was the beer steamed clams.
Although the beer steamed clams didn't strike my liking completely, I have to give the place 5 stars because of the appetizers, beverage selection, atmosphere, pricing, and overall great experience.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 3/21/2012
Many thanks for the five stars Adam, we appreciate you… More » -
Review from Allison h.
New York, NY
1/31/2012
Can't say enough good things. My friend took me here for my birthday. We split the squid salad, I got the fetticine with clams, he got the Bouilabaise (I tasted it, it was amazing, they even included lobster and HUGE shrimp).
Everything was super fresh- and for a Monday that's hard.
The beer list is really well curated, something for everyone.
We were too full for dessert, and my friend was convinced he had carbon monoxide poisoning (not from the restaurant) so we ran out fast, but I will definitely be back for the oysters.
Great service, ambiance and value.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 1/31/2012
Well thanks Allison - flattered that we were your birthday… More » -
Review from Magda I.
ASTORIA, NY
4/12/2012
My boyfriend and I went to Upstate last night for my birthday dinner. And can I say....BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!
When we arrived, all the tables were full and there was a group of 3 waiting ahead of us. We were offered seats at the end of the bar, near the kitchen. At first I was iffy about sitting so close to the kitchen and being stuck at the bar all night, but we decided to sit and see how long it would take for us to get a table.
Lucky us, we arrived just in the nick of time for happy hour -- 6 oysters and craft beer for $12. We started with 2 beers and 12 oysters, of which we had no idea how to order. But no worries! The staff at Upstate is patient, friendly and knowledgeable. We settled on a half east / half west selection, then sat and watched our oysters get shucked. I started to really love our position at the bar -- the kitchen is clean, organized, and absolutely mesmerizing to watch. It was like a choreographed dance! Very smoothly done and every dish was prepared carefully.
Our oysters were delicious and fresh, and our server checked in with us a few times to see how we were doing and if we had any questions. After our oysters, we both ordered the clams and fettuccine (I told my boyfriend that I wouldn't share with him so he decided to get his own), and watching the chef prepare our meals was like waiting to open a present on Christmas. The clams were HUGE but tender and perfectly cooked, and the fettuccine was al dante and deliciously seasoned. A perfect balance of all the ingredients, and a portion that wasn't overwhelming but still enough to stuff me to the brim.
At this point, the owner came over and asked how our meal was going. He brought us over 2 flights of beer to sample, which my boyfriend and I loved. And since the keg from my first beer was tapped, I ordered one of the beers we sampled. Again, incredibly knowledgeable and great staff -- I had no idea what the name of the beer was, but simply saying "light but a little creamy" got me the exact beer I was looking for. After our meals, our server brought us each a flight of their stout to taste, since according to her, we'd tried everything else! It was a perfect compliment to the whiskey cake that I had been looking forward to.
Once, I got up to use the restroom, so my boyfriend had to shuffle over for me. The owner came over and asked if we were leaving...and then seemed genuinely excited that we weren't giving up our seats just yet!
All in all, my experience at Upstate was amazing. Dim lights but it's not too dark, enjoyable music but you don't have to shout, and a small space but not cramped at all. Everyone on staff is friendly and has a great sense of humor, and the food is fantastic. I couldn't have asked for a better meal!Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 4/18/2012
Wow Magda - super honored that your best birthday was… More » -
Review from Nick C.
Brooklyn, NY
1/25/2012
You know what I'm gonna do here? I'm gonna tell you why I love Upstate, and I shall couch that review in an ill-informed diatribe about small business.
Just to get it out of the way, Upstate is wonderful, delicious, and special, and that is because it is run by a sincerely devoted owner and a whipsmart professional manager.
You know that failing restaurant down the street? Where the owner sits in a chair all day, nervously looking out the window? And when you come in, he fumblingly tries to make your visit as pleasant as possible, but everyone just feels sad and lonely afterwards? That isn't Upstate. Shane, the owner, tends his bar with ease and knowledge. When I saw his oyster shucker getting in the weeds, he quietly went over and helped crack a few. He then sliced up some raw diver scallop, put some spicy as hell oil and garlic atop, and gave it to anyone who was still waiting for their order. No fanfare, no "I know how awesome I am" BS that you'd get anywhere else, just a silent delivery of a free plate.
The literal bar is made from north NY white pine (I think?) and the walls are covered in what seems to be wood from a barn. There are always upstate NY beers on tap, the lines are nice and clean, and you can get an IPA in a honkin' big wineglass. It is warm and wooden and kind.
The oysters are shockingly cold and fresh. Sure, that's just nature, but Upstate leaves them alone and gets them to you cold, none of the liquor spilt.
Humility. That's what I'm getting at here. Every day I'm astounded by some of the bars in this town, and their utter lack of humility. It's all back slapping and knowing winks, picking up an empty plate and saying, "Hmm, I guess you liked it, huh? Huh??" while serving the same thing as everyone else and just waiting for the money to pour in. And Upstate is a surprising break from that model.
If you're with someone special and you're walking by, and it's not too crowded, just go in and spend $40 and see what I mean.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 1/27/2012
Holy. Sh*t. Nick. And thank you! More » -
Review from Jane S.
Manhattan, NY
3/30/2012
Awesome oysters & great beer selection. Get here before 7pm and you can get their oyster & beer special for $12. Great spot to grab a bite to eat and catch up with friends.
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 3/31/2012
Thanks for spreading the word Jane...six oysters + one beer… More » -
Review from K C.
Manhattan, NY
4/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
We had raw oysters, a bouillabaisse, and scallops. The oysters were really fresh, the scallops were not overcooked, and the bouillabaisse broth was fabulous! I would definitely come again!
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 4/21/2012
Cheers KC, thanks for all the stars! More » -
Review from Megan D.
New York, NY
2/4/2012
DELICIOUS!
This was hands down one of the greatest dining experiences I've had in New York in some time. And I've been going to a lot of "fancy/must go" places lately, so that's saying something.
The space is small, but definitely intimate and not cramped. Decor is subtle, lighting is perfect, and it's just the right noise level since there didn't seem to be a table in the place larger than a 4-top.
The food was absolutely delicious. My date and I both lover oysters, but found ourselves a little overwhelmed when presented with the laundry list of oyster choices for the evening. But we were silly to fret, as our server kindly and excitedly helped us choose a small smorgasbord of shell fish that varied in taste, texture, origin, and size. What a fantastic experience!
After splitting those, I ordered the beer steamed mussels for an entree, and my date ordered the fettuccine with clams. The mussels were SO meaty and perfectly seasoned. Only ONE remained closed on the bottom of the endless pot (which I devoured anyway since they were so delicious). I didn't try the fettuccine, but my date did make me smell it (yes, smell it) because it was one of the incredible-smelling entrees he'd ever received. Yes, it was really that good. Garlic, clams, parmesan...food orgasm. Only minus that must be mentioned is it did take a while for the food to come out. But it was so good once we got it, we quickly forgot the wait.
The beer selection was also fantastic. We sampled 3 different kinds between the two of us and were not once disappointed.
That alone would be enough to make this a stand-out spot for me, which is why I was absolutely blown away by the service. From the second we walked in to the second we left, we were referred to by name as though we were regulars and our server had known us for years. The laid back, familiar style of service at Upstate made me feel more than welcome. In my eight years dining out in this city, I have never experienced anything else quite like it.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 2/9/2012
Thanks for the great review Megan, glad you enjoyed. We will… More » -
Review from Derkins R.
Brooklyn, NY
5/10/2012
$12 for half a dozen oysters (of your choosing) and craft beer for happy hour special. amazing. i am in love. as long as i can get there before 7pm.
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/10/2012
Thank you for the love Derkins, cheers More » -
Review from Jenn T.
New York, NY
2/22/2012
I love everything about this place. I felt so at home here. It's tiny but not cramped...cozy. .the wood bar is awesome. exposed brick is charming.
Bartender/waitress is my new best friend; she is SO sweet and down to earth.
The cheese plate was DIVINE. not skimpy with small samples like the cheese boards I've encountered at most places. 4 awesome cheeses that complimented each other.
Oyster happy hour is a GREAT deal. such a delicious, fresh variety to choose from.
Great beers, great music. Too bad for me but good for them that it's already been discovered; I got there at 6 and it was empty, by 7:30 not a seat was available.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 2/27/2012
We love that you love us Jenn, please do come back again.… More » -
Review from Johnny C.
New York, NY
4/16/2012
its small bar type hole in the wall kind of restaurant, customer service is excellent. i wouldnt recommend the west coast oysters, they didnt taste very fresh!
the main entrees were good size proportions, not overly huge, and very good, the shrimps and scallops specials were excellent!Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 4/18/2012
Whoa there Johnny C...yes, we are a small place. 28 seats to… More » -
Review from Katie W.
Bronx, NY
4/9/2012
Food was delicious and the atmosphere is great. Staff was very knowledgeable about which oysters we should try and I loved the selection of beers.
I went with a friend and we shared half a dozen oysters and each got a main dish. When I go again, I think I will just stick to oysters and beer. They even give out a complimentary slice of cake at the end which was delicious. The place definitely gets crowded; we went on a Tues night and luckily grabbed a table before there was a wait. Would definitely go back again!Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 4/20/2012
Thank you Katie - we hope you do come back again. Cheers! More » -
Review from Lisa H.
3/7/2012
My boyfriend and I had a date night last night, wishing to participate in their happy hour deal which ends at 7:00pm - 1/2 dozen oysters and a pint of beer for $12. After reading reviews about how busy this place can get, even on a Tuesday evening, we left work earlier in order to try to make it. We got here a bit before 6:30pm and waited a good half an hour for seats. After a serious miscommunication between the staff and continuous shuffling of seats, we were finally seated at a two top at a couple minutes after 7:00pm. The very second we sat down, we asked the waitress right away if we can still do the happy hour deal.. And very quickly denied.
Devastated as we were, we tried to wipe the disappointed expressions off our face and order from their menu. We started off with a glass of wine, a pint of beer and a dozen oysters - 6 different kinds from both the east and west coast. It was a pretty good start of the meal, we extremely enjoyed the VA and BC oysters they offered. As we waited for our entrees - the fish tacos and scallops with mushroom risotto, we realized that our intimate party of two now turned three. We spotted a ROACH climbing across the wall.. Peeking in and out of the crevices. My appetite was now ruined and my experience at Upstate quickly plummeted downhill. Our entrees arrived and all I tasted was bland food. We pointed out the roach to the owner and he killed it with a piece of paper and proceeded to give us two complimentary HALF filled glasses of beer. Gee, thanks for trying to make it up to us by giving us something that cost you next to nothing.
As we unhappily headed our merry way home, I could still hear my palette whining about how unsatisfied they were. We tried extremely hard to like Upstate, but at the end of the night.. I just can't convince myself hard enough to give it any more than 2 stars at most.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 3/9/2012
You know what Lisa? You're right. I should have comped your… More » -
Review from danielle r.
New York, NY
1/14/2012
I went to Upstate for the first time & loved it.
Scallop ceviche (special) - 5 stars
Squid salad - 4 stars
Fettucine with clams - 4.5 stars
I can't vouch for the oysters, but my friend who ordered 6 with a beer (a Happy Hour special) ordered 6 more almost immediately.
I also thought the service was 5 star. The staff were friendly I also got a lesson on oysters. At the end of dinner, two small servings of pound cake were sent to the table. Who doesn't love dessert that's not optional?
Note: The space is small (maybe 24 seats & space at the bar) & reservations are not accepted, so I wouldn't recommend dropping by on a Thursday - Saturday without a backup plan.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 1/14/2012
Thanks for all the stars Danielle, we greatly appreciate the… More » -
Review from Victoria W.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2012
Wow!!! Yummmmmmny! Casual delicious food! Lovely staff and great beer menu.
Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 5/17/2012
Thank you Victoria. Noticed you're from SF - we're big fans… More » -
Review from Tom T.
New York, NY
1/18/2012
I am a little hesitant to write this review... as I simply want to keep this place to myself.
Ambiance:
- Small, cozy restaurant.
This place is fantastic. The menu is limited, but what they lack in quantity, they more than make up for in quality.
Great line up of NY craft brews. Wide selection of oysters, the staff is very knowledgeable. They hand picked a mixed 2 dozens, all spot on to my taste.
The cherry on top of this wonderful meal was the owner stopping by and chatting about our meal and the menu, followed with a complimentary piece of whiskey cake.
So to surmise, this place is awesome, but you should leave it just for me!Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 1/20/2012
Oh now Tom, you have to share...it's not polite to keep… More » -
Review from Courtney M.
Clarksdale, MS
4/12/2012
I can't say enough about our first (but not last) experience at this place!! My hubby and I come to NYC 2-3 a year and love to try new restaurants each time. I was impressed by Upstate's reviews so we decided to give it a try.
We arrived about 8pm on a Sat. night ready to wait, since we knew they didn't take reservations. The decor when you step through the curtained doorway was romantic and rustic at the same time. The exposed brick wall is a great touch. It's cozy without being cramped. When we walked in, we were approached by one of the two waiters and told it would be about an hour wait. He asked if we wanted to go somewhere else to wait and he would call us. We decided to stay there and sample some of their draft beers instead. I think the waiters tried hard to get us seated since we stayed at their place to drink, and as a result, we had a lovely table in about 20 minutes!
The waiters tag team the tables so we really had two waiters, who I loved!! They were so helpful in assisting me with picking out some new oysters to try and they also helped my husband pick out a non-oyster related dish. The charcuterie plate was amazing and my husband loved the shrimp special (shrimp with creamy cajun rice and sausage). Note only that, but we were treated to a complimentary round of beers and the lovely whiskey cake that's made in house. It was sinfully good!!
All and all, this was one of our favorite dining experiences in the city. Period. The waiters deserve awards. Seriously.Comment from Shane C. of Upstate 4/18/2012
"All and all, this was one of our favorite dining… More » -
Review from Thomas M.
1/12/2012
I've been here twice so far. It's actually en route of a favourite restaurant I frequent. If I don't have oysters by the time I pass by Upstate, I usually pop in for a bit.
Oysters, Oysters, Oysters. The oysters are fresh and well shucked.
Beer: Their beer list is awesome. I went one night when one of the brew masters were in town (I forget exactly which brewery), and he came by our table to give us a heads up on the beers to try out. One being a maple, and the other being a 10% ABV stout (amazing).
And to finish the meal off, there's the Jameson Pound Cake that's just so good.
I'm looking forward to more visits hereComment from Shane C. of Upstate 1/14/2012
Glad you enjoyed our manly beers Thomas. We will take you up… More »
