nyc summer 2025: wise words for new herring festival

“A wise word is not a substitute for a piece of herring,” Sholem (Sholom) Aleichem claimed.

However, the wise word today is that the new herring is here! The new herring is here! After being sampled by Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the Hollandse Nieuwe Haring from Scheveningen has been air-expressed to New York City, where it is available at several prime locations for a limited time.

For years I’ve been singing the praises of the new herring at the Grand Central Oyster Bar, which serves the Silver of the Sea from its special cart (marked De Haringkoning — the Herring King) in a cozy nook by the bar, accompanied by chopped egg, diced raw onion and scallions, and seeded flatbread or oyster crackers, along with genever (Dutch gin) as desired.

Each bite is a delectable taste sensation that should be slowly savored, never rushed; this year’s catch ($11.95 per filet, Monday–Friday) is particularly plump and flavorful.

Meanwhile, Russ & Daughters will be hosting two special herring pairings, on July 22 at their 34th St. restaurant by Hudson Yards and on July 29 at their Orchard St. cafe on the Lower East Side; tickets are $125 and going fast.

And the herring festival is back at Aquavit, where from July 14 to 25 you can partake of a herring lunch, dinner, or happy hour, featuring such dishes as Salted Herring Schnitzel, Glassblower Herring, Rosehip Herring, Gazpacho Herring, Horseradish Herring Tartlet, Matjes Herring Cake, and Matjes Herring Ice Cream Sandwich.

That’s a whole lot of herring, a genuine culinary celebration that takes the Dutch summer street delicacy to new levels. Just be on the lookout for the Knights Who Until Recently Said “Ni,” who just might ask you to “cut down the mightiest tree in the forest . . . with a herring!” That would be such a waste, of the herring and the tree.



[All photos and top video © 2025 by twi-ny/mdr, taken at the Grand Central Oyster Bar. You can follow Mark Rifkin and This Week in New York every day here.]