Last Thursday the Livanos family, Food Arts founder Michael Batterberry, Food & Wine editor in chief Dana Cowin, and other guests said bon voyage to Oceana, the 17-year-old restaurant on East 54th Street. After it closes this Saturday, July 25, the seafood house that has consistently earned three stars in The New York Times—from Ruth Riechl in 1996, William Grimes in 2003, and most recently Frank Bruni in July 2008—is moving to a new location adjacent to Rockefeller Center.
Scheduled to open in early September, the new Oceana will be at 49th Street and Sixth Avenue, a block south of Radio City Music Hall. Designer Kim Natheson is planning to deck out the venue with Brazilian cherry flooring, oversize sconces, and marble-topped bars. Naturally, there will be some marine-inspired decor, including blue drapes, jellyfish-like light fixtures, and framed engravings of sea creatures. The restaurant will have 165 seats in the dining room, 20 more at the bar, a 12-seat raw bar, and additional seating in a private room.
