The Alexander is a refined Mediterranean seafood restaurant at 905 1st Avenue and 51st Street in Midtown East, minutes from the UN. It serves fresh whole fish, a full raw bar, handcrafted Italian pasta, prime steaks and signature cocktail drinks. It is open daily from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am and hosts private dining for celebrations and corporate events.
Ask ten New Yorkers to name the best restaurant in Midtown and you will hear ten different answers. Most of them come back to the same few things: food that tastes like someone cared, a room with real energy, and service that knows when to step in.
That is the standard The Alexander sets for itself on the corner of 1st Avenue and 51st Street. It is a Mediterranean seafood restaurant built around the day’s catch, with Greek influences, Italian pastas, prime steaks and a bar that takes its cocktails seriously.
Here is what to expect, what to order and how to plan your evening.
What Makes The Alexander the Best Restaurant in Midtown East
It starts in the morning, long before the first guest walks in. The kitchen selects the day’s finest fish and shellfish, flown in daily from the Mediterranean and beyond.
The cooking stays honest. Bright citrus, good olive oil and fresh herbs do the work, so the quality of the catch speaks for itself.
A Room That Fits the Occasion
The dining room is lively and polished without feeling stiff. It works just as well for a date night as it does for a pre-theater dinner or a client meeting over wine.
Service is attentive and unhurried, and the wine list leans on Greek, Italian and international labels chosen to match the menu.
Seafood First: Good Food in NYC Starts at the Raw Bar
If good food in NYC means anything, it means freshness you can taste. At The Alexander, the raw bar is the natural place to begin.
- Deluxe Tower: six oysters, six clams, three shrimp, half a lobster and a ceviche
- Royal Tower: twelve oysters, twelve clams, six shrimp, a whole lobster and a ceviche trio
- Smaller bites: shrimp cocktail, lobster tostada, caviar, steamed mussels and steamed clams
Crudo, Ceviche and Carpaccio
The crudo plates show the kitchen’s lighter touch. Think hamachi with Nardello peppers and chili oil, sashimi-grade tuna with tamari and jalapeño, or scallops carpaccio with preserved lemon and Aleppo pepper.
A practical tip: order two or three crudos for the table instead of one big starter. You taste more, and the meal builds naturally.
Dinner Highlights for the Best Food in New York
The main menu is where the range shows. It is the kind of menu that keeps a table happy when one person wants fish and another wants steak.
Ocean-Grilled Whole Fish
Branzino, dorade and snapper come grilled whole with roasted lemon potatoes and lemon caper sauce. There is also a salt-baked option at market price.
Beyond whole fish, look for Faroe Island salmon, miso black cod with pickled ginger, and scallops over creamy risotto with garlicky chili oil.
Handcrafted Pasta
- Linguini alle vongole with clams, cherry tomatoes and parsley
- Squid ink linguini with crabmeat in a creamy sauce
- Ocean linguini with shrimp, calamari and mussels
- Lobster pasta made with a whole lobster
From the Land
Prime steaks hold their own here: filet mignon, New York strip, rib eye, lamb chops, surf and turf, and a 40 oz tomahawk built for sharing.
Plant-based guests are not an afterthought either. The zoodle mushroom pasta, eggplant steak and oven-roasted vegetables give everyone a real choice. That balance is a big part of why diners searching for the best food in New York end up here.
Signature Cocktail Drinks Worth Arriving Early For
The bar deserves its own visit. The 2026 list of signature cocktail drinks is Mediterranean-inspired, built on fresh citrus, herbs and a few bold surprises.
- Aquarelle: tequila blanco, raspberry cordial and fresh jalapeño, served with a Tajín rim
- Dejavu: rum, lychee, yuzu and pineapple, served over a large ice cube
- White Room: vodka, lychee and elderflower, silky and refined in a coupe
- Forbidden Mezcal: smoky mezcal with yuzu, grapefruit and a touch of plum salt
- Le Souk: bourbon, peach liqueur and Amaro Nonino, finished with a flamed dehydrated orange
- Andrew Steak: a silky espresso martini with Irish cream and coffee liqueur
Pairing advice from experience: bright, citrus-led drinks like Dejavu or Forbidden Mezcal suit the raw bar. Save Le Souk for the steak course, and let the espresso martini stand in for dessert.
Private Dining and Events in Midtown
Alexander also handles the moments that need more planning. The events team tailors the menu and the space to the group.
- Birthdays and celebrations: milestone birthdays, anniversaries and engagements
- Corporate events: client dinners and team celebrations, with private or semi-private seating
- Holiday parties: festive seasonal menus for company or family gatherings
- Full buyouts: the entire restaurant, with custom menus and a dedicated events team
Planning Your Visit
- Address: 905 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10022 (corner of 51st Street)
- Hours: open daily, 5:00 pm to 1:00 am
- Reservations: +1-212-777-5161, reservations@alexanderny.com, or online
Going before a show? Book early and mention your curtain time so the kitchen can pace the meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Alexander located?
At 905 1st Avenue, on the corner of 51st Street in Midtown East, New York, NY 10022. It is just minutes from the UN.
What are Alexander’s hours?
The restaurant is open daily from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am.
What is Alexander known for?
Fresh Mediterranean seafood. Highlights include the raw bar towers, crudo plates, ocean-grilled whole fish, handcrafted pasta and prime steaks.
Does The Alexander serve signature cocktail drinks?
Yes. The 2026 cocktail list includes Aquarelle, Dejavu, White Room, Forbidden Mezcal, Le Souk and an espresso martini called Andrew Steak.
Are there vegetarian or vegan options?
Yes. The menu offers zoodle mushroom pasta, eggplant steak, oven-roasted vegetables, zucchini chips and crispy cauliflower.
Can I host a private event at The Alexander?
Yes. The restaurant hosts birthdays, corporate dinners, holiday parties and full buyouts, with tailored menus and a dedicated events team.
How do I make a reservation?
Book online through the website or call +1-212-777-5161. You can also email reservations@alexanderny.com.
The Final Word on the Best Restaurant in Midtown
Great restaurants rarely depend on one thing. At The Alexander, it is the daily catch, the care in the pasta, the steaks that hold their ground and signature cocktail drinks that give you a reason to linger.
If you are looking for good food in NYC that feels both polished and personal, this corner of 1st Avenue is worth the trip. Start with the raw bar, trust the whole fish and leave room for one more round at the bar.