A few years ago, I discovered the North River Lobster boat where you could cruise whether or not you purchased one of their plentiful lobster rolls. The more elegant sister-restaurant — Fish Bar — began 2-hour sails 
this summer, also without a charge for the journey. According to their publicist, the Fish Bar will sail year-round.
I was invited to sample the fare on the 160-foot yacht; it has three decks and some indoor dining space. The night I sailed was one of those perfect evenings to be on the water. No humidity, no chill in the air, with the skyline sparkling brighter than the stars, making me scream — as I often do — “I love New York.”
Inside the restaurant, we began with a two-tone beet salad with lots of walnuts and a smidgen of whipped goat cheese ($24).
Neither appetizer arrived hot. It didn’t matter much for the charred octopus ($24), as with the 
red peppers and abundance of chick peas was more like a salad. But room temperature doesn’t work for cornmeal-fried oysters. We replaced that with fried calamari. I’d recommend that lightly battered tender squid with warm marinara sauce. Good bar food.
I also recommend the buttery black linguini topped with shrimp, lobster and in-shell cockles and clams ($36), over the overcooked salmon, atop a lackluster Mediterranean lentil salad.
But don’t miss this delightful 1 1/2 to 2 hour cruise. Instead of “dining,” I’d recommend a shared plate or two and a libation while soaking in the skyline.
– bonnie
BonnieBOTB
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Fish Bar at North River Landing
Pier 81
West 41st Street at Hudson River
New York, NY 10036
212-630-8840
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