The Mussel Pot, New York

The Mussel Pot's warm dining-room color scheme evokes aromatic foodstuffs with a palette of cream, cocoa, and rich brown shades that whet diners' appetites for the feast ahead. Owners and twins Alex and Leo Baskin designed the eatery as an ode to seafood that would offer lobster, oysters, and the house-signature mussels in their traditional incarnations alongside more daring, comfort-fare-inspired preparations. Executive chef Ronnie Esposito, formerly of NYY Steak, crafts nearly two dozen dishes showcasing the eponymous mussels alongside other seafood selections. Aromatic cauldrons of bite-size mussels simmer in traditional broths and sumptuous sauces, highlighting flavor profiles borrowed from cultures around the world. A fresh lemongrass-and-curry broth recalls Thai cuisine, and spiced Cajun smoke channels Louisiana in a deliciously jumbled gumbo of andouille sausage and crawfish.