"Ed Szymanski's whole-hake fish and chips made Dame a Greenwich Village cult — book it for a fun, low-key first date."
Dame began as a fish-and-chips pop-up in 2020 and took a permanent lease on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village in late 2021. It is run by chef Ed Szymanski and co-owner Patricia Howard, who cook British seafood — the fish-forward style London does well and New York rarely tries. It sits in the Michelin Guide, listed without a star.
Ed Szymanski breaks down whole fish and cooks them simply, the British way. The dish that made Dame's name is the fish and chips: a thick piece of hake in a lacy batter with a scatter of salt flakes, fries and tartar sauce, which runs around $22. The kitchen also turns out a kedgeree with sea urchin and a seafood menu that shifts with the season.
Patricia Howard runs the front of house and the wine list, which leans playful rather than reverent. The format is a la carte, so you can build a light meal or a long one, and the fish and chips anchors the menu the way it has since the room opened in 2021. The address is 87 MacDougal Street, on the Village dining grid — a short walk from Washington Square.
The room is small and lively, with a disco soundtrack, warm light and tables close enough to feel the buzz. It is not a hushed dining room; conversation rides over the music easily and the mood runs fun rather than formal. Dress is smart-casual, and the bar is a fine place to eat solo on a quieter night.
Book this room for a first date because it keeps things easy: it is small and warm, the British seafood menu is built to share, and the disco soundtrack and playful wine list keep the mood light rather than loaded. The a la carte format lets you keep it relaxed. For more, see our New York dining guide and the global best seafood restaurants.
Not for a hushed tasting-menu evening — Dame is small, loud and a la carte, with a disco soundtrack and a wine list that does not take itself seriously.
Yes — Dame is one of the most charming small rooms in Greenwich Village, and the British seafood is the real draw. The fish and chips, a whole hake in lacy batter, is the dish that made its name, and the playful wine list backs it up. It is in the Michelin Guide, though without a star. Book ahead; the room is tiny and popular.
Dame is small and in demand, so reservations on Resy go fast, especially for weekend evenings. Book two to three weeks out and watch for cancellations closer in. The room is at 87 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village, open for dinner Monday to Saturday. Walk-ins are possible early in the week if you are flexible on time.
There is no formal dress code at Dame; smart-casual is the norm. It is a fun, lively Greenwich Village room with a disco soundtrack, not a hushed dining room, so dress for a good night out. Neat denim is fine. The mood is relaxed and the lighting is warm, which makes it an easy place to dress up only as much as you like.
Yes — Dame is a strong first-date room. It is small and warm, the British seafood menu is easy to share, and the disco soundtrack and playful wine list keep the mood light rather than stiff. Prices are a la carte, so you can keep it relaxed. See our best restaurants for a first date for more.
Via Resy · 2-3 weeks ahead
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Dame brought serious British seafood to Greenwich Village. See where it sits among the best fish-forward rooms worldwide.
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