Acme Smoked Fish
“Friday morning, from 8 until 1, Acme opens its warehouse to retail customers for Fish Fridays.”
“Baked smoked salmon, whitefish salad, belly lox, and sable make for great pickings for a synagogue kiddush or a bris meal.”
“Highlights are the Royal cut salmon, whole trout, and whitefish salad.”
Acme Smoked Fish
Take-out: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range Moderate
8 reviews
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Oh my God, Hell Yeah!!!! I heard of this place from the TV show Bizarre Food the NYC Overnight episode, Andrew Zimmern said this place was like the Fort Knox of fish, the owner cleverly called it "Fort Lox." So it's a smoked fish warehouse that has been open for over 100 years and they supply smoked fish to a lot of shops in Manhattan like Zabar's and Russ and Daughters. Don't going in expecting Dean & Deluca, it's a warehouse that happens to sell retail one day a week from 8am to 1pm on Fridays only. The quality of the fish was damn near perfect and the prices were super affordable. I asked my uncle and he said you could easily pay $30-$40 a pound in the city and about $18 a pound at Acme.
The entrance is not really marked so look for the big Acme sign out front and then look for a metal door or an open bay, don't go up the stairs, you are going to the back right of the building and then walk through the plastic flaps for the retail section. The place is cash only and the place is like a damn ice box, so bring a sweater. There are samples galore, when it is your turn just ask to try a few items and they will cut you a piece.
The food:
Lemon Pepper- $18lbs The texture of the Salmon was wonderful, the fish was sliced paper thin and basically melted in my mouth. I really enjoyed the Lemon Pepper flavor but the black pepper can be pretty aggressive for some.
Pastrami- $18lbs I really loved the flavor but it does come off salty. I didn't notice it while I was eating it at home, but afterwards, I became super thirsty. Still highly recommend.
Smoked Trout- This was very good, it was not too salty and not too smoky and the texture of the fish was excellent. I never had smoked trout before but I was very impressed.
Smoked Sable- Alaskan Black Cod $25 lbs. This was excellent, it was so silky and really flavorful. The fish is pricier than Salmon but is a must try.
Daily Poke- Hawaiian Salmon Poke $22lbs. It was good, it's a nice little snack to nosh on but not something you go out of your way for. I say it's good not great.
I visited Acme for the first time today. It was a rainy day so the line didn't extend outside and was only 15-20 people long. Even then, we still had to wait about an hour before being served. That said, I am not complaining. When they do get to you, they're just as enthusiastic and friendly as they probably were at the beginning of the day. I told him it was my first time there and I came for sliced smoked salmon, he gestured me towards the far end of the table and generously let me sample the different varieties of the day. I never liked cold baked salmon, but it was actually pretty good. The pastrami was a little too salty for me. The dill had good flavor. I walked away with a pound of the daily special, which was avocado salsa, at $22/lb. It tasted a little sweet, which I really liked and reminded me more of a poke or ceviche. It balances out with the saltiness of smoked salmon and would probably go very well topped with mango. Regular Alaskan smoked salmon was $14/lb, which is a steal compared to the supermarket brands at $36-40/lb. I didn't mind waiting on the line, granted the line was short when I arrived at 12:10pm but extended to the door when I left around 1:30pm. If I only had to wait for an hour, I'd probably visit again for the experience. If I have to wait for more than hour, I probably would just go to the supermarket. It is also a bit of trek to get to. Otherwise, the salmon is delicious and the prices are hard to beat!
If you like smoked salmon at all, this place is heaven! Acme supplies places like Russ & Daughters but here, you pay the same wholesale prices they do – by far the cheapest prices possible. My friend and I arrived at 10:20 and the wait was minimal. I would say 10 min or so, which gave us time to look at the prices and start choosing (which can take well over that time – there are so many things to choose from!). As my friend put it, going to a warehouse in the morning for smoked fish seems like the East coast version of lining up for barbecue in Texas. It's definitely a food experience you can't miss out on and maybe even a rite of passage. I would recommend coming around this time at the latest, however, as the line had extended out the door by the time we left (Maybe 10:45 or so?)
The line first passes by some salmon laid out for sampling. After that are prepackaged smoked fish. (I suggest skipping these – they're just a little pricier and if you're here, then I'm assuming you like a good deal.) Then, somebody comes to help you. If you already know what you want to order, you can just tell them. But, I highly recommend just asking to go to the counter where they cut the salmon. There, you can see what each fish looks like and you can ask to sample anything. My friend and I were extremely indecisive and in a state of wonderment/excitement overload so we ended up sampling almost everything. All through this, however, the woman who helped us was extremely kind and happy to let us try anything. The sizes of the samples themselves were extremely generous, with my friend and I even struggling to finish sample after sample before the next one was handed to us. (Truthfully, I expected a brusque/rude attitude since it's wholesale, but luckily my experience was nothing like that!) Everything I tried was so good that I ended up with a quarter pound of each. I believe I got [cold smoked] pastrami, gravlax, sweet & savory, and the flavor of the day (not sure what this was but it kind of tasted like seaweed to me?), tuna, [hot smoked] salmon, and whitefish.I also got some orange ginger salmon jerky because I was curious and the woman who helped us called it "delectable."
The prices are amazing! There were even some specials for as low as $4/lb and $8/lb. Cold smoked salmon runs from $16/lb (Atlantic Salmon) to $18/lb for flavored and $25/lb for wild caught. Hot smoked salmon is $16/lb. (I posted a photo of the menu if you want prices for everything else). Remember, they're cash only so be sure to hit up an ATM before you arrive. It's hard to resist getting a pound or two when everything tastes this good.
I had been planning to visit this place for weeks now and I'm so glad I finally had the chance to. For anyone who enjoys smoked fish, this place can bring out a child-like excitement and wonderment. As my friend put it, "This is the only time I've been somewhere that smelled like fish and enjoyed it." My only regret is putting this visit off until my last Friday in New York. I could've been eating so much smoked goodness all semester long! Don't make the same mistake I did – get down here this Friday!!
When eating fish, I am Jewish. I truly can't love this store enough. Staff here are always super nice and now they even start the retail service ar 7am on Friday or even earlier. This morning at 7:15am, there is nobody on Gem street in this industrial district in Williamsburg and I secretly opened a door without any sign at a warehouse, entered this cool room looked like a scene in a 1960s French movie, then had some secretive fish transaction with cash. Super fun experience!
It's a great place to go if you are in the know about Acme and fresh fish! Lines are long if you don't beat the rush!
Acme is the supplier for most of the appetizing stores in the city–Zabar's, Russ and Daughters, etc. Unfortunately, I can't afford the salmon at those places, where they are charging $50-60 per lb. That's insane!!!
That is where FISH FRIDAY comes in! Greenpoint is kind of far for me but it's worth the trip. Once you find the warehouse, be prepared to wait for 20-30 minutes in line.
Now, once you step into the cooled room, pretend that all that packaged fish that they stuff at the beginning of the line doesn't exist. You don't want that. You want the fresh stuff!!!!!
Next, you will see boxes of fresh, hot smoked fish. I am not a fan, but as I was buying for my whole family, this was my first stop. I got smoked trout ($3 each) which my Russian mother in law declared to be very cheap (and delicious). They also have hot smoked whitefish, cisco, chubs, etc.
Moving on, you will probably see a pile of containers. The whitefish salad is excellent, as is the wild salmon spread. They are basically the same as what you would get at Zabar's although I think the whitefish salad at Zabar's has a bit more fish in it (it should, considering it's also three times the price). My family is a huge fan of these. Spreads are parve, by the way.
From the smoked salmon, all of the flavors are delicious. If you are a fan of dill like I am, try the gravlax! The lemon pepper, sweet and savory, and pastrami are also amazing. Strangely enough, I have never gotten the plain. But I'm sure it's delicious 🙂
I recommend bringing $30-$40 cash for your first time. You can get a couple half lb packages of fish and some salads with that amount of cash. Ask for samples, try a few things–the workers are friendly, polite, and patient. Even if you live far away, it's worth it to come here once in a while and get some discounted omega-3s. enjoy!
And the clouds part and the heavens open and what will you find…Acme Smoked Fish!!!!
If you have any interested in smoke salmon this place will probably blow your mind!
I met a friend at 10:30 and on a nice day the line was definitely outside the building so I suggest getting hear as early as you can.
Once you make your way through the factory type environment you get to the cold room where they are slinging salmon left and right. There are a ton of types, flavors, and preparations for your to choose from and luckily the staff are willing to basically let you try anything. The prices are very good for such high quality product.
I came home with the Gravlox (1/3 lb), Pastrami Salmon (1/2 lb), and Lemon Pepper (1 lb) along with a piece of Cracked Pepper Salmon all for $36.50 which again, given the quality I was impressed.
Overall, this place is a true gem in the neighborhood and the city. The staff are great and this place just proves that really this city is one of a kind!
This place is the shizz!!!!! My wonderful husband has been bringing me smoked fish from Acme for years. He has more flexible hours than me, so waiting in line on Friday mornings doesn't require taking time off from work. After hearing all about the generous free tastings, the brusque and efficient Polish fishmongers, and the endless array of preserved fish products, ACME has taken on a near mythical quality in my mind – a grand emporium of unctuous, rich smoked fish. Now that's a reputation to live up to…and oh did it…
So after all that anticipation, I finally got to go last Friday since it was Good Friday and I had the day off from work. I showed up around 11:30 and the line was crazy long, like 40 people deep. I waited close to an hour, but have heard that on normal Fridays, the wait is 10-15mins max.
The outside is pretty non-descript – it's a generic warehouse on a industrial block, not yet overrun by hipsters and yuppies. Once you walk past the loading dock and into the refrigerated fish room, you'll find several counter staffed by the aforementioned Polish ladies. There's a little sign behind them with a list of products and prices. Fish here is much much cheaper than Russ and Daughters (and other fine purveyors of smoked fish), e.g. a lb of pastrami salmon here is $16 vs. $35.
Although they do give out free tastings, the myriad of fish products does get a little overwhelming. If you're not a smoked fish connoisseur, I do recommend doing a little research beforehand or asking your bestest Jewish friend. My faves are the pastrami salmon, the gravlax, the sable and BBQ salmon. 4ozs of the stuff is enough for a tasting for two. If you want enough for two for a week, get a couple lbs of the stuff. It's good for ~10 days in the fridge.