- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
10 Downing
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
10 Downing St(between Bedford St & Avenue Of The Americas)
New York, NY 10014
Neighborhood: West Village
(212) 255-0300
- Nearest Transit:
-
Houston St (1, 2)
Spring St (A, C, E)
W 4 St (A, B, C, D, E, F, M)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 12 am
Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
189 reviews for 10 Downing
Review Highlights
-
"For dessert we had the butterscotch pot de creme." In 4 reviews -
"Peanut Butter Gelato, Concord Grape Jelly, and Challah..." In 4 reviews -
"The suckling pig and duck breast were both fantastic." In 6 reviews
Loading...
189 reviews in English
-
Review from dory k.
Manhattan, NY
5/12/2012
Four stars for the happy hour. I haven't yet eaten a meal here, but they have $1 oysters, both malpeques and blue points available, which are an absolute steal. Cheaper by the dozen than at Citarella and you don't have to shuck them! HH is relatively empty on the weekends and you can sit outside as well.
$5 pours of nice wines (you'll have to ask which ones are on happy hour) and all draft beers are $5 as well. -
Review from Dustin K.
4/27/2012
10 Downing was a nice surprise in an area I do not typically frequent. However, based upon a recommendation, we ventured our way to the far west side of NYC and I am glad we did. The food was really interesting and tasted amazing! One complaint would have to be the real slow service, which meant my scotch IV drip was not flowing freely.
Started with the shisihito peppers as an app (although they are advertised as a side) and then went with the bacon-wrapped filet mignon. I am not even a real fan of bacon, but the flavors melded perfectly. The atmosphere was very nice as well and there seemed to be plenty of parking for a weeknight in the area. Can't wait to go back and try more! -
Review from Emma H.
New York, NY
My experience with 10 Downing was the same experience I had with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Let me explain....I convinced myself for months after hearing about the development of the movie, that it was going to be the best cinematic revival. I psyched myself out so hard and talked the movie up to the point where my expectations were so high; that they could only be brought down by the high bar I raised. So yeah, it happened with Planet of the Apes and it sure as heck happened with 10 Downing. I never had enough money to eat here. It's very expensive and I would much rather run to a pizza place than empty my wallet dry. Well the time had come when I finally could afford it (rather my brother) and we chose 10 Downing. Now, at this point I walked past this restaurant everyday for a year (near the 1 train) and every time I pass this restaurant, I wish I could be inside. So after a year of setting the bar so high for this place, I was disappointed by what the outcome was.
Don't get me wrong, 10 Downing has great food. But I am a seafood nut. Without a doubt, I always get seafood wherever I am. Raw or cooked, I just love it. I got the Salt-Butter Poached Sweet Shrimp & Gnocchi and the Tuna Tar Tar. The tuna tar tar tasted about the same as every tuna tar tar I have ever had. The prestation and arrangement lacked though. It was literally a slab of tar tar on one side and not enough chips on the other. The Shrimp and Gnocchi was not at all what I accepted, it was more of a soup with a lot of "stuff' in it, than an actual dish. The flavoring was nice, but it wasn't something to brag about. They also ran out of a certain type of beer that I was drinking, which I found strange being it as a Tuesday during their early dinner hours. I mean, it happens, but usually when you are out of something, it happens more during the night vs the day.
The biggest let down of the day however, was I was sitting outside. There was virtually nobody inside, but outside it was completely packed. There was only one waitress. Only one. Which I found crazy because the dinner rush was about to come in minutes before we left. It took us forever to get our check because our waitress was everyone else's and she was too busy. We had to end up giving our credit card to the hostess.
I should of read the reviews on Yelp before my expectations were shattered, but we live and we learn. Haha, not sure how that really applies to this situation but I will probably never be dining at 10 Downing in the future. -
Review from J. A.
New York, NY
5/19/2012
Ho. Lee. Crap. I went to 10 Downing on Mother's Day for a quick drink with my mom. They charged $15 for an Espresso Martini *plus* $3 for a shot of espresso. This place gets one star because when my mom got her credit card bill, they had added an additional $30 tip on top of the tip she left. They essential stole thirty dollars from her! She called and spoke to a manager, telling him she had the receipt but the manager did not care. So she is dispute the charge with AmEx. Very shady and dishonest. If you go, pay cash or beware.
-
Review from Abbey F.
Brooklyn, NY
5/18/2012
I went last night for dinner with a friend and we were both unimpressed to say the least. The food was very bland. When we could actually get the attention of a server or the manager, we asked no less than 4 times for bread and still, no bread. It was finally brought out with our meal?! We split the roasted chicken. It had no flavor and was served in a watery mess of a soupy sauce. It resembled dirty dishwater. So too were the brussel sprouts tasteless. They were cooked with bacon. How can something cooked in bacon be tasteless??? I guess 10 Downing has figured out the secret. The cheese grits were unremarkable as well.
Service was awful. In addition to having a very hard time getting any of the wait staff or manager's attention, they took about 25 minutes to actually clear our plates from the table after we were finished eating. Perhaps since the food was almost inedible and there was so much still left on our plates, they didn't realize we were done eating? The runners & bus boys/girl were the most attentive, pleasant and friendly of the entire staff. However, I was very disappointed that they sent the very petite bus girl out to pick up our very heavy dishes (everything was served on large skillets). I understand that is her job but show a little bit of chivalry.
If I have to say one nice thing: The location is great. But that is the only good thing I can say about this place. I give it 10 Downing about 10 more days until they can get something better into the space. -
Review from Danny V.
3/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
10 Downing holds the honor of serving the most basic, unimpressive and bland brunch I've had (so far) in 2012.
I also took off another star because it was expensive. -
Review from Evangelia K.
New York, NY
3/24/2012
Nice place with a romantic ambiance.
Can I say that anything stuck out in my mind and made the experience super memorable? No. The food is good, not thrilling.
Super cute decor in a great neighborhood. You won't be disappointed if you come.
Very reasonable pricing. -
Review from Catherine J.
New York, NY
2/10/2012
I write this review tentatively, because I only had lunch, and it was Restaurant Week. However, the goods and less-goods seemed pretty consistent throughout the meal, and the place wasn't busy enough to give them the excuse of an excessive RW crowd to lessen the "typical" experience.
The ambiance, natural light, service quality (both servers and bussers), and kitchen timing were all excellent. (He happily split our check six ways, which is more than I've ever been willing to do.)
But, the food was so thoroughly 3-star food that it brought down the overall experience to that level. It seemed like our food was made inattentively by a skillful cook; everything had promise but didn't quite deliver. And I wonder if the chef was feeling a little sick--the flavor balance was off on almost every dish.
-Market greens with beets and goat cheese - real creative, guys.
-Potato Leek soup - giant chunk of leek confit on the top was the meal's first big imbalance.
-Salmon with arugula, tomatoes, red onions - exactly that. Our table ordered salmon cooked to three different temperatures (house prep was "medium rare"), but all came out well done.
-Fried Chicken with mac 'n' cheese - chicken was juicy, but not crispy. Mac was milky and rich, but bland. Portion was too big.
-Duck fat fries - If I can manage to only eat three french fries, something is wrong.
-Panna cotta with cherry - cream and gelatin, spoonful of sugar, three dried cherries cooked down a bit... deeply disappointing. -
Review from Bryant R.
4/7/2012
Granted I have not been here for several years, but I think the three star consensus on Yelp is pretty accurate. The food is pretty underwhelming. There's nothing particularly great about this place so I have not clamored to go back and doubt that I will.
-
Review from Kris E.
Brooklyn, NY
1/30/2012
The service was excellent. The potato leek soup was great! The lemon panna cotta was delicious and I actually savored every bite. I ordered the buttermilk tobasco fried chicken with mac and cheese. I thought buttermilk and tobasco was an odd flavor combination, but the chicken was so bland that you do not taste any flavor at all. The mac and cheese was...blander... I never had mac and cheese that was runny and bland. I almost reached for the salt.
I will give this place another chance. The service was excellent and the decor was very nice. (Oh, the entrance is on the side street, not 6th ave.) -
Review from Lenny K.
ASTORIA, NY
4/9/2012
Super disappointing! Almost $20 for some of the worst eggs benedict I've ever had. The fries were so dry and stale it seemed that they had been there for a week. No flavor, nothing. The poster who said 'bland' hit it spot on!
-
Review from Peter K.
1/24/2012 1 photo
Came here for restaurant week, but seeing the rosemary chicken for 2 was an obvious choice. The chicken comes out to be presented then returns into the kitchen to be stuck on the spit for a few more minutes and then prepared to be served. It was cooked perfectly and tasted incredible. The subtle rosemary and herbs were aromatic and not overdone complimenting the juicy chicken nicely.
Wait there is more! You get the options of 2 sides. Opting for the grits and brussel sprouts was a winner. The grits were not soupy, but light and fluffy with a consistent cheesy taste and hint of jalapeno. Brussel sprouts were equally as good in their skillet. Grilled and moderately salted. The grilling was done right.
The waiter was slightly pushy with the boos, but we can over look that for him being a nice guy. -
Review from poison i.
Philadelphia, PA
4/8/2012
Had brunch there this weekend. it was delicious, American comfort food de-and-reconstructed. The service couldn't have been better or friendlier, and the atmosphere lovely. The dessert was the highlight, however: something like a reconstructed hostess cupcake with a dollop of ice cream, whipped cream, and caramel sauce. Heavenly. I feel as if I must be reviewing a different restaurant from the rest of you!
-
Review from Kelly S.
12/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Sometimes you make a mistake and go to dinner at a restaurant that was deemed "hawt" 3 years ago. You're hitting up American Apparel across the street because you need shiny lycra for a costume. You spot the awning across the street, forgo Bar Pitti, because you've been a couple of times recently for cocktails and snacks and the bartender has been a delight.
You walk in to a half-empty restaurant. The hostess says she has to move some "things" around to get you seated, and wedges you between two tables that have a ton of crap on banquette. Of course, you have a ton of crap to put on the banquette. They don't bother to pull the table out when you go to sit, so you put your butt in the faces of the table of guys next to you. Unfortunately, they're gay and don't go for a grab.
You peruse the menu. It's odd. Not really "british" (yes, I get that it's at 10 Downing...but), not really "american", not really "italian", but maybe a little bit of all three. Their version of the Zuni Cafe chicken for two beckons, but the "two" is not in the mood for chicken...and do we really think they'll do a serviceable Zuni Cafe roasted chicken, the gold standard?
You're perusing the menu. Still. Finally, the hostess asks if we like to order a cocktail while we look at the menu. It's a little late for that, you've dissected the menu but hells to the yeah you need, want a hot toddy. It's the first day of cold (again) after all. Drinks arrive. Waiter arrives, apologizing that he got all tied up, so sent the hostess over for the drink order. All tied up with those 3 other tables? You think, "what happens when there are other diners"...but you have a feeling that really doesn't happen here anymore.
Orders placed--(1-you) order roasted beet and arugula salad ($14) and mahi-mahi ($27). (2-"two")-orders a side of grits as the app, and the tuna tartare and a side of fries as her dinner.
Food arrives. Salad. Small plate of tuna tartare. Oh yay, two says. I'm having a carb overload as my entree. Why didn't the waiter tell us it was an app or reverse the order? Confusing. Yummy salad, though. Not checked on once. Mahi-mahi good. Cheesy grits also good. Try to order glass of wine. Wait. Wait. Wait. Flag another waiter down, eventually. French fries meh--good skinny fries but nothing particularly special.
At these prices, you expect both excellent food and at least attentive service. What you get is a decent meal (of epically small proportions...which works for me) and disinterested service.
You leave, wondering how long til Gilt City is going to be offering a "special" prix fixe deal or 10 Downing will become 10 "Drowning". -
Review from Clara H.
1/10/2012
I love 10 Downing because it is situated in one of my favorite parts of the city. (In between the East and West Village, next to Father Demo Square). It is simply a great spot for brunching or after work drinks because they have an optimal spot for people watching on their sidewalk terrace seating.
Food wise, I only know their brunch menu and it is generally upscale American comfort food with a bit of flair. They also concoct some great (and potent) cocktails. Our waitress was so funny, she got the bartender to make us some extra special cocktails for us (ie. double shot of alcohol) and then winked at us. Haha.
Anyway, it's a no brainer place to drop into if you like the area and want a hearty brunch and refreshing cocktail. The crowd is starting to thin out recently (which I think is such a plus) but still can get crowded from time to time. -
Review from Jessica R.
Manhattan, NY
3/24/2012
Amazing food and specialty drinks. They also have an amazing happy hour with $1 oysters. The service is phenomenal and the food is amazing. The sliders are so juicy and to die for. I also had the tuna and it was so fresh. Great outdoor area too great for a drink with friends, lunch, dinner, anytime. Def check out this spot!
-
Review from Manuel C.
New York, NY
3/23/2012
We went here while perusing the neighborhood for a busy place with outdoor seating. The place is nicely decorated and furnished, the setup however a bit weird as you can come in from the outside/the 'patio' area but then you have to cross the entire restaurant as they have no host positioned outside. The fact that the host station is positioned in a way where you will always block kitchen traffic just seems counterintuitive. Seeing how all other places with outdoor seating had lines of people waiting for a seat and we had a table as soon as we walked in was - in hindsight - a warning sign. However, blissfully happy and cheery, we sat down, ogled the menu and quickly found our winners: baby beet tart w/ goat cheese for starters and the house-made gnocchi as well as the signature Kobe and short rib burger (request: gruyere, medium, with a fried egg). Alongside, a glass of pinot, one coke and bourbon on the rocks.
We were asked for our water preference twice, opted for tap twice..and several minutes later we were still 'sans aqua' and 'sans bread'. A polite but determined inquiry got our water glasses filled half-way and drinks into our hands. The bread (with hummus which we thought was a nice touch) did not arrive until we were served the appetizer (which was mildly unfortunate as we were seated on a pretty small table). I know this one is always highly subjective but I'd like to think I know what my dinner bourbon of choice (maker's mark) tastes like - and what I had in my hand tastes like makers with a splash of water - which was weird given the assuring presence of 3 ice cubes in my glass, confirming I did indeed order on the rocks...
Now, the tart -was not actually a tart but more of a deconstructed piece of modern art - but it was great. Precise flavors, beautifully arranged components and perfectly measured balsamic truly made this dish stand out. We should have ordered two as our main course did not arrive for almost another 30 minutes - despite the fact that there were several open tables and most other guests were already on their main courses. Our only half-filled water glasses by now were long empty and a refill would be impossible to come by until we requested it when our food finally arrived. The empty soda, wine and bourbon glasses did not trigger any suspicion that we might want another round so we decided to not further push our luck. Those of you familiar with my reviews know that I firmly believe good service goes a long ways with me - and lack thereof only makes a bad thing worse. And while we were only a little annoyed (and very hungry and thirsty) by now - the bad was about to happen:
For gnocchi and a medium burger to take 30 minutes after 9PM on a Thursday in a restaurant that is not fully occupied I would expect great things - spot on cooking, attentive seasoning, perfect temperature, etc. Well...I was wrong. Immediately, it was clear that the cheese was the wrong one - which at the end of the day is not a big deal. What is a big deal is that the medium burger was overcooked and more of a medium well. But what really stood out was the glorious absence of the fried egg. Taking mental note to at least make sure we wouldn't be charged for it (and we weren't), my attention now shifted to the flavor. I prefer a burger (especially if the menu calls for a Kobe and short-rib mix) medium but don't mind it being overdone if it's at least seasoned properly. Well, my suspicion is that the salt which my burger (among other things, like the cheese I had ordered and the egg that wasn't) clearly lacked was all spent on my fries as they were inedible. Having taken full inventory of the letdown that was my dinner, I now went on to try the gnocchi. The menu listed this potato dish as being served in garlic and browned butter but really it was more a 'butter-gravy' with -at best - subtle notes of seasoning. Just like my burger, the gnocchi had been cooked about 2 minutes too long. While nice in consistency, they were a bit too mushy and soggy.
While the staff did take notice of the barely touched fries, nobody asked whether we wanted anything else or offered a fresh serving. Frustrated, we were not volunteered for a fun game of 'get your waiter's attention so he can bring the check'. While we asked repeatedly and he nodded/confirmed repeatedly, it took him a while to bring it as he was aimlessly wandering between tables. Trying to actually pay proved to be equally difficult but after several trials and errors we did at long last succeed and get our credit hard into his hand.
At $100+, this dinner was a bust. From suspiciously watery bourbon over long wait times for overcooked, under-seasoned and incomplete dishes and even poor basics such as water service, putting this place on our 'no go' list was an easy decision. Had it not been for a very delicious baby beet and goat cheese appetizer, this would have been another 1 star review.
Avoid. -
Review from Cher A.
Manhattan, NY
3/18/2012
I am furious with this establishment. First off, the service was so poor. Everyone was nice enough but considering the place was half empty on a gorgeous Saturday morning, service was so unbelievably slow. It took us so long to get our drinks and appetizers. The food was not even sub par and we barely touched our charcuterie because it was that bad.
To top it off- and this is where I get mad- our server- Prashant- charges my card for the full amount of the bill even though the rest of the party (5 total) paid in cash! We paid good tip (at least 20%) albeit the slow service and told this guy to charge my card MY share. This guy was audacious enough to count all the bills in front of us then charges the full amount of the bill to MY card! How sketchy!
Just spoke to the restaurant and they said it was an honest mistake but how can you possibly explain the error when he had $172 in cash?!! Did he really think that was his tip??!! What about the fact that I only signed for a quarter of the amount he charged on my card?!
Beware- service is slow and sketchy. Food is sub par at best. Stay away. My prediction is this place won't last for another year. -
Review from Christina B.
New York, NY
3/30/2012
I went to this place with my girl friends for girls' night out. Not impressed at all. Service was slow, nothing attractive on the menu, I can't even recall what we ate. We try new restaurants regularly and this one definitely did not make our me-likey list. The astomasphere was good though if you like cozy setting.
-
Review from Simon C.
New York, NY
10/7/2011
Service: with a smile.
Drinks: Greek white that made me smile all the way through my entree.
Food: Delish.
These guys make amazeballs gnocchi -- daily, or so they say. It's really nice and soft and chewy, in a good way, like burrata. It's not your typical al dente version but more of the al fresco kind. I was a bit down on the particular mix that I had with the lobster, as I felt the lobster got overcooked a bit and the mix with asparagus and fennel wasn't anything to yelp about.
The tuna tartare app was nice and clean. Mixed with avocado, soy and sesame oil it had a very straight forward asian taste to it, but then they kicked it up another notch by throwing a side of potato chips, and that crispy saltiness was just perfect with the tuna's softness and creamy avocado. Good stuff.
What made me real happy was the fact that they put a lot of veg on their dishes. This place does not skimp and give you three mushrooms on the side of your salmon filet and call it a day. They put a real nice chunk of lentils, hefty pile of greens and plump slices of peach next to their oh so crispy and fatty slab of pork belly. When they wrote veg salad on the menu, they meant it. It had greens, fennel, corn, tomatoes, radishes, broccoli and other things than I cant even recall now. A far cry from your typical sad pile of salad greens drowning in some brown, generic dressing that's as thick as engine oil rather than light as a vinaigrette should be, imho.
Skipped on dessert, so no comment. All in all: 3.8/5 gimblies. -
Review from Emily S.
Manhattan, NY
3/15/2012
Hmm.
We came to this place because one of the party had eaten here the night before and said it was great (not sure how she could afford to come two nights in a row... it was an expensive place!). To be honest, however, it was just okay. Everyone at our table ordered prixe fixe; my salad was okay, but not amazing, though I did like how it was flavored with lemon juice instead of dressing - healthier. My main course was the chicken pot pie, which was supposed to be their specialty, but it was honestly pretty subpar. For dessert I had chocolate brioche, which was also subpar.
On the other hand: the one of us who had eaten here before seemed to have befriended the owner of the restaurant and he sent out samples of the fettuccine with shrimp for all of us before the main course! #1, that was very nice, and #2, the fettuccine was FANTASTIC. I didn't eat much of it because I wanted to save room for what I'd ordered, but I should have just ordered that instead (minus the shrimp, for me). My dad's steak was also fantastic.
All in all, there were just too many subpar items to be worth the price, though the owner was a cool guy... -
Review from Ava E.
9/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It's always good to eat a good dinner with a great view of 6th Ave. Okay, maybe just a view of a man's bald spot and someone parking their bumblebee colored smart car.
The restaurant is beautiful and the food was awesome. I loved everything I had, usually I tend to have issues with a course. Started with the shrimp and cheddar grits with jalapeños. The texture of the grits and the massive amounts of shrimp and spice definitely hit a home run in my mouth. Next, I had the pan seared grouper with corn-potato hash and piquillo peppers. The crispy skin and the meatiness of the fish was a perfect match for the hash. And of course, I had to end with my most infamous dessert....panna cotta.
I am absolutely recommending this restaurant. -
Review from Juliana R.
Clinton, NY
1/1/2012
Went there for NYE Dinner. There was a confusion about the pricing during the reservation process that they were very attentive fixing.
The food was quite good and the atmosphere is very romantic and lovely. Service was pretty outstanding. Two happy diners. I can't say there was much to complain about. -
Review from Amy O.
New York, NY
10/15/2011
I'll preface this review that we had horrible service so my experience was definitely tainted.
We went to 10 Downing on a warm Monday night and sat outside. We were greeted promptly and placed our order - opting to go with their 3-course Prix Fixe and wine pairing. I started off with the Cheddar & Jalapeno grits which were very tasty (just right amount of spice) and more flavorful than my husband's Leek soup. Unfortunately we finished our entire first course without our wine pairing. In fact we had to inform the hostess that we ordered it as our original waiter was no where to be found. Another waiter (perhaps the head waiter) was apologetic and said it was taken care of and would be right out. It did show shortly thereafter and we were able to finish our glass without rushing before dinner arrived.
My medium rare steak was delivered promptly after finishing our first glass of wine but unfortunately it was the Grouper dish instead. We sent back my husband's chicken dish while we waited for what I ordered. Not good.
When the right entrees came I was not impressed. The steak was chewy and not distinctive. My husband said his chicken was 'ok'.
To make up for their blunders we were given the choice of wine for dessert. This helped to correct the 'wrongs' of the night - a little - but they blew it when the check came and we were charged for the wine flight after having been told we would not be.
Almost 2 hours later we left saying we would never come back. -
Review from Mike H.
11/7/2011
Maybe it was dead because the date was Nov 1, the night after Halloween, which was definitely a 3-day weekend for many, and 4 for some. It was the only off-putting part of the experience. Why would it happen to a space that big, also nice, and in that location?
Whatever the reason, the restaurant was surprisingly empty. At least that meant great service for the two of us.
Good salad: tomato and watermelon. That combination has always appealed to me. Can't go wrong with it, and this dish didn't.
For the main course, we split a whole roasted chicken. You'll notice a caveat on the menu/site of a 30-35 minute wait. At one point, the chicken was presented, whole and cooked, to us for some reason....then brought back later in two very hot cast iron servers, most likely because the chicken would have gotten cold otherwise. The net was a very juicy chicken, even after it was cut up.
For our two included sides, we chose the Brussels sprouts with bacon and duck fat - sage fries. Normally we wouldn't order fries with roasted chicken but duck fat fries are tough to turn down. Duck fat...mmm mmm.
Fortunately, Cheese Boy (that would be me) got to pick 3 of the 7 available cheeses for dessert. I liked the selection, especially the soft goat cheese with the edible rind.
Would I go back again? Probably not in the near term because I'm all about trying new places. Maybe in 6-12 months though. -
Review from John-Paul P.
Madison, NJ
11/5/2011 8 photos
What led me here was the pork belly, but eating here wasn't my first choice for the evening. However, my girlfriend and I ended up at 10 Downing last night after the ABC Kitchen had a 1.5 hour wait and we didn't feel like trekking back uptown for The Bar Room @ the Modern.
So, I guess you could say that we settled on this place, but overall it wasn't too bad. The lights were dim and the ambiance was very nice, especially since it was mostly empty at that time. However, there were a few things that detracted. On the plus side, I called around 6:15 and asked if they had any openings and they were able to pen us in at 6:45, despite being pretty fully booked.
Anyways, we arrived and were seated and offered water, drinks, bread, etc. Our server also explained the menu and took our orders. The service was always attentive, especially in the beginning part of the meal, before the place really filled up. After it got busy, the service did wane a bit, but that's to be expected.
We ended up deciding on the tasting menu, which is three courses plus dessert. At $49, it's quite a steal. For our appetizer, I had the Fresh Garden Vegetable salad, which was fresh, crisp and tasty. My gf had another salad, which I can't remember the name of - something with Frisee in the name, which was also very good. In addition to the greens, it had bacon, hard boiled egg and tomatoes, among everything else.
Following that, we both had the tuna tartare, which was again, quite yummy. The tuna was quite seasoned tho, but it was still good. However, it doesn't out do the amazing tuna tartare at Gotham Bar & Grill.
For our main course, I had the Crisp Pennsylvania Pork Belly with grilled peaches (one slice), baby arugula and green lentils, while my gf had the Ottomanelli 21-Day Dry Aged Ribeye with grilled asparagus (one asparagus), squash, basil mashed, red wine reduction.
This is where, in my opinion, the meal took a nosedive. The rib eye was really not flavorful at all and just very bland and average. The squash was good tho, as were the basil mashed potatoes, but the fact that just one asparagus was served had me scratching my head. As for my pork belly, I didn't care for it, but that's my fault for not knowing that pork belly consists of skin, a huge layer of fat and hardly any meat. I will say that the meat that was in there was really good, but the skin and fat I didn't touch. However, the lentils also weren't that great - they were rather mushy and stuck together.
For dessert, she had the PB&J, which is peanut butter mousse, chocolate ganache, grape-jelly sorbet. This was a pretty darn good dessert, tho the grape jelly sorbet tasted a little off. I had pumpkin ice cream, hazelnut ice cream and cantaloupe sorbet. The hazelnut was the best. Really good. The pumpkin ice cream didn't taste much like pumpkin at all and the cantaloupe sorbet tasted like watery cantaloupe, tho the flavors did improve as the ice cream melted.
Up until this point, things were overall, pretty good. Sure, we were disappointed with the entrees and it got rather loud as the people packed in, but what can you do? Everything else was pretty good and for $49 each, the meal was a steal. I guess however, that tipping 15% at a place like 10 Downing just doesn't cut it. After we settled up and were standing by the door, putting on our coats, our server picked up the receipt with tip on it, looked at it and immediately went over to another server, showed it him and pointed over at us.
Well, it's not like we were going to come back to begin with. -
Review from Lucie T.
2/7/2012
another restaurant week dinner, I really do not like giving anything below 3 stars as most restaurants in NYC are pretty capable of doing at least to that I did not hate it platform. If this was rated only on decor I would be up there with a 4 (great corner street level triangular design with photos and a casual yet esthetic feel, low lit and you felt immersed into the city )... but sadly walking in the hostess looked like she's bored, was not friendly and though she placed us in a cute corner area, which was very tight, she did not bother moving the table for us to go in, did offer to check our coats in.. but well in the end i had to as my long legs and bags and coat did not fit.. with that said.. our actual waiter was nice.. and attentive and explained the menu well. sold us on the chicken and veggie curry coconut pot pie. what a mistake. but since my friend is vegetarian.. it was either that or nothing. both pot pies were so watery on the inside more the vegetarian that the chicken one.. the crust on top was good and before you started eating it had a great aroma.. but definitely did not live up to the expectation..
we asked a passing by wait staff to take a photo.. again we sensed attitude and impatience as i tried to turn on my flash..
we had :
Sweet shrimp and grits - this was sweet and filling.. and we both enjoyed it.
Curry chicken coconut pie - see above.. and skip this.
Lemon panna cotta - this was as well made panna cotta is .. light delicious.. and you can eat a ton of it.
is it just me or is every restaurant offering panna cotta for restaurant week? they all agreed that it's the thing to make? -
Review from Andre W.
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I told one of my clients I was going to NY for the weekend and he said hey, you know it restaurant week right? I told him no I didn't know. I immediately went online to check which restaurants were participating and this place had a high ranking. Dinner was $35 a person...awesome!
Reservation was set for 8PM, but we got there at 7:30. It wasn't a problem as they were able to seat us immediately. Nice, attractive crowd in this place as it had a very romantic setting. Artsy portraits on the wall was a good touch as well. The bar area was packed and all the patrons looked as if they were having a good time and enjoying each other's company. Awesome menu by the way! Our very awesome waitress recommended I go with the cheddar grits and shrimp for my appetizer. Great reco as it was good, but not too filling. For my entree, I went with the Braised Montana Beef Shortrib complete with glazed vegatables and potato puree...very tender & delicious and packed with flavor. The wines they paired up with the meals were fantastic.
Our waitress took very good care of us and gave us great recommendations. She made sure our glasses and stomachs were full. I wish i could remember her name so I could recommend everyone to ask for her when they show up. Love the ambience and the mood...great date spot! -
Review from Adi N.
7/18/2011
The reviews of 10 Downing here are spot on: it was fine, perhaps even good, but nothing to write home about or to really go back for. I don't suspect 10 Downing will be around in 5 years. My girlfriend and I came here for restaurant week . The hostess was so overly friendly and talkative that it was a little jarring---better than being aloof I know. We were seated outside. Service was very casual and our server really just left us alone most of the time, which was actually nice. It was sunday night and both of us were exhausted from the weekend so not drinking and ordering from the restaurant week menu--I'm sure he knew that it wasn't going to be his biggest tip of the night yet he didn't try to up-sell us and he was very nice.
The watermelon and heirloom tomato salad was disappointing. The tomatoes were severely under ripened so much so that I could barely cut through them with my knife and they were quite tart tasting. Also, the bread for the table was rather stale and hard. The main course, sea bass with some type of corn-based salad was very good. The fish was cooked well and the accompanying corn side dish was so summery and tasty. The almond panna cotta for dessert was a bit watery and tasted a little store bought. Overall I was satisfied because we paid $35 a person, but had I been paying regular prices (and it is not cheap), I would have sent back the salad and been upset about the dessert. Don't come here on a big date night, etc because you'll probably be disappointed. -
Review from Sara D.
Manhattan, NY
7/7/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Sunday night 4th of July weekend, we didn't expect much. We decided to revisit 10 Downing, a place we haven't dined at in a while
We were pleasantly surprised that we were able to be seated immediately since there's usually a walk in wait. Service was gracious and attentive. Music was fun retro-disco. Love that the menu has evolved since our last visit.
We enjoyed the beets tart with goat cheese to start- a refreshing summer starter. Both the short-rib burger with gruyere and fries and the crispy suckling pig were very good. Highly recommend ordering a side of the shisito peppers. Really surprised by the low rating because we've always had a good meal and dining experience. This particular evening was probably our best experience here to date. We'll definitely be back. -
Review from Karen S.
New York, NY
8/11/2011
Like one of the other reviewers noted, the entrance to 10 Downing isn't on Downing, but around the corner. I made the mistake of entering from the front, and was brusquely informed that I needed to go to the hostess station. Just the first of several service gaffs here.
I found the attitude of the hostess staff condescending and unwelcoming.
The hostess station is crammed in by the front door, and servers and the hostess staff (seemed to be 4 of them on staff that night) are all shoved in there. I felt like I was having to dodge servers while I was standing there.
I had a server almost knock me over pushing by me while I was trying to check in, with no acknowledgment on her part.
The main host, a tall fellow with interesting glasses, was a pompous ass. Yes, I know I have to wait until my whole party is here. You don't have to be snide about it.
Long waits between courses, with little attention except from the water guy (hey, 10 Downing, I would have ordered a second glass of wine, but NO ONE EVER CAME BY OUR TABLE).
Food is decent, but not worth the service blehness.
Disappointing. -
Review from Gary L.
New York, NY
10/6/2011
This was the place where my fiance and I had our first date. At that time, I was too enamored by her to notice the food (even though I do remember having some juicy head-on shrimp). We recently went back for brunch and had really yummy food. I ordered poached eggs with a perfectly oiled toast and a side of insanely fresh greens. What a refreshing dish! Best brunch dish I have ever had, probably due in large part to the greens and bread (eggs were eggs).
Outdoor seating here is fantastic, as the sidewalk is very wide on this street. -
Review from Jazmin A.
New York, NY
7/31/2011
If I could give zero stars I would:
This was probably the most disappointing food I have ever had the displeasure of ingesting. I didn't want to be rude so I made no comments while there but I couldn't even eat the food. Such poor quality. Started with a shaved salad which was dry, bland, and mixed with both over cooked and uncooked veggies. The poached shrimp entree with Gnocchi was so gross. The shrimp wasn't even de-veined and it tasted horrible and was overcooked. The dessert was over processed junk food in the form of a mexican chocolate torte that was SO dense that a fork couldn't go through it. I'm just happy that it wasn't my money paying for this meal. I'll never return. Diners beware! -
Review from Trevor F.
Manhattan, NY
7/19/2011
My wife and I went to 10 Downing the other night for restaurant week and had probably the worst service ever! Waited for everything, were charged for things we didn't order, early in the night they had already 86'ed one of the 3 entree options and to top it off my sea bass was well under-cooked!
Will never go back... -
Review from Jenny L.
Manhattan, NY
11/7/2011
I went here for dinner on a Friday night. It has a great atmosphere and is quite roomy, seems like it could accomodate large groups.
I started off with a cheese plate & it was absolutely delicious. I had some homemade pasta (gnocchi) and a side of cheesy jalapeno grits, once again, delicious! The only thing I was not happy with was the vegetable pot pie. I was expecting a stew like pot pie, but instead it was a very watery cocunut curry tasting dish. Not what I wanted or expected.
Service was excellent. The bar looks really nice too. I would go back but next time I'll stick with a few of the pasta dishes. -
Review from Lorelei D.
Queens, NY
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Really great bartender and fun manager. Great selection of drinks and food.
-
Review from Tudor P.
New York, NY
8/21/2011
Below average brunch, inexperienced waitstaff, poor service.
Aside from good outdoor seating, no real redeeming qualities. We waited 30+ minutes for our drinks. The food order was incorrect. No one checked on us despite nearly empty restaurant. Not coming back. -
Review from Joseph F.
New York, NY
4/27/2011
What a nightmare..!!
I knew from the moment I walked that this restaurant was not the right choice when the waitress with an attitude snapped at us and told us if we wanted a table the hosts section was in the back of the restaurant, but we decided to eat here because the other restaurants we wanted to go to had an hour + wait.
We wait 20 min. by the bar, nice cocktails and good selection of wines. Fine...We are then seated and wait 15 minutes for our menus (We should have left at this point)
We get from the manager "we are so busy, the kitchen is backed up, blah blah, blah"
Another 10 minutes goes by and we finally order our food.
The appetizers arrive along with our bread (why didn't we leave????) anyway.. They tell me as our appetizers arrive that they ran out of the one I had ordered......WTF!!!!! tell me when I order the damn thing, don't make me wait 20 minutes assuming I will have my first course and then say there is no more.. Who the F is running this place...obviously someone who is not a restauranteur...
Whatever there was 3 more starters for me to pick at.....
Now onto the main courses. the 2 fish courses we had ordered were RANCID,,, and I mean you did not have to place your nose in the dish to get a whiff of the god awful fishy smell. (why didn't we leave????)
My dish was like chewing on rubber and I kept going mainly because I was famished and the other components of my dish were actually good.
Never, never again. Very poor choice and I've had better food and hospitality service at fast food and dive joints better than this establishment. -
Review from john s.
New York, NY
3/26/2012
Great room, relaxed atmosphere, not too noisy, good food served well -- rarities in this part of New York ... or anywhere come to think of it.
-
Review from Greg C.
New York, NY
5/7/2011
I've been there twice, brunch and dinner. Was not impressed with either, especially dinner.
For dinner, I had the short ribs with mashed potatoes. Hearty meal, right? WRONG.
I got four small slices of medium-rare short ribs. I generally expect short ribs to be quite tender, cooked for long periods of time and of the "fall off the bone" ilk. These were tough. The mashed potatoes had no real perspective one way or the other. I could've eaten this $20+ meal in approximately 8 bites. I'm not kidding.
Our waitress, a very nice woman, asked us what we thought, and my friend Fiona said "small." We got free dessert on top of the dessert we already ordered, but wow.
Seriously, if I were the waitress, I'd look for another job so you wouldn't have to feel bad or apologetic for the crap that's being run out of the kitchen. You deserve much better, m'dear.
Overpriced, overrated, too expensive. There are tons of better places in the area. Give them your patronage. 10 Downer doesn't deserve it.
