Rosella focuses its menu around local and sustainable fish (and vegetables), making this one of the most ethical places to eat in the city. In fact, it tries to only serve fish that’s either been farmed or caught through methods that have minimal environmental impact; it also introduces diners to a number of domestic species that are overlooked by other chefs. But if doing good sounds dull, think again. Local means super, super fresh, like striped bass raised on a farm just one borough over in Bushwick, Brooklyn! Yes, that was on the menu the last time I was here, as were Gulf shrimp, Long Island oysters, and North Carolina blue fin tuna, among other delicacies. Sometimes these are topped by unusual but evocative ingredients, like ground-up corn nuts, pickled strawberry, or garlic chips. Though the restaurant’s decor is not super-fancy—it consists of a large rectangular counter, inside which the chefs toil, crammed into a not-very-large room off Tompkins Square Park—it has a superb tasting menu ($150). Choose that and you’ll be coddled for a good three hours with taste
New York City
Travel Guide
New York City› Restaurant
Rosella
137 Avenue A (btw 8th and 9th sts)

Our Rating
Neighborhood
East Village
Hours
Wed–Sun 5:45–10pm
Transportation
Subway: L to First Ave.
Phone
646/422-7729
Prices
Sushi $7–$10 per piece, rolls 8–$19, rice bowls $18–$36
Cuisine Type
Japanese
Web site
Rosella

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.