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21 Club
Categories: Restaurants American (Traditional) Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces American (Traditional), Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
21 W 52nd St(between 5th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas)
New York, NY 10019
Neighborhood: Midtown West
(212) 582-7200
- Nearest Transit:
-
5 Av/53 St (E, M)
47 - 50 Sts - Rockefeller Ctr (B, D, F, M)
57 St (F)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Formal (Jacket Required)
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
209 reviews for 21 Club
Review Highlights
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"Dessert included pie, cake, cheesecake, creme brulee." In 25 reviews -
"Old school charm and elegance." In 21 reviews -
"We rented out the wine cellar and had the 7 course wine..." In 12 reviews
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209 reviews in English
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Review from Jocelyn H.
Updated - 5/11/2012
Forgot to mention Reverend Lorenzo Robinson, the bathroom attendant (yes, there are still some of those in posh establishments like this). Here is a link to a newspaper article about him:
http://www.nysun.com/o...
I think it was my first fascinating conversation in a bathroom... ever.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/29/2012
21 Club was a highlight of our New York City experience!
We were with a group of customers and were… Read more »
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Review from William P.
Henrico, VA
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
As seen by my spat of NYC reviews my wife and I took my daughter to the city for her birthday. The evening at 21 Club was our diversion away from teenage shopping and sight-seeing.
It is an institution as we read and lived up to its reputation. Very attentive staff and very old school. My daughter giggled at all the different waiters we had:
- Maitre d'
- First head waiter
- Head waiter
- Commis de sommelier
- Busboy
They all waited on us. The fact that it was her birthday made them turn on the charm a bit more than usual I think.
Then menu was very nice. We each had the Flax-seed encrusted salmon on the Prix Fixe Menu. All the courses were memorable.
Worth every dime. All Virginia tourists like me should bookmark this place and give it a go the next time in the city. Make sure you tell them if you are having dinner before a show and tip the doorman well when he hails you a cab.
Men, wear a coat and tie. -
Review from Ro C.
New York, NY
4/25/2012
I came for lunch and it was just okay. To be totally fair, I don't even remember what I ate and I had three courses and three glasses of wine. Actually, that's probably why I don't remember.
It was dark and intimate, and I can only describe the decor as curious.
It seemed like most of the waiters were over 60 and I felt like this contributed to giving the place a stuffy, mature, and serious vibe despite all the toys hanging everywhere. Having a late lunch by myself here made me feel like a little kid who had snuck into a gathering of grownups in her grandparents' basement.
Will update if I go again and actually remember my meal. -
Review from Megan C.
Manhattan, NY
4/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Do you know why they are so exclusive, have been around forever and are an institution? Because they ARE New York and are great at it.
The food is wonderful (veal, fish, duck... everything is cooked to perfection). The service is what you would expect of a place of this caliber (attentive, helpful and your water glass is never half full). And they are always up to give you a tour of the infamous hidden cellar (you have to go... its one of the classic hidden gems in this city). Of course, that means prices are gong to be extravagant. But, just make sure you know that going into it.
Honestly, I can't think of somewhere that represents this city better than 21. GO! -
Review from Dan C.
Updated - 3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
These guys just keep hitting it out of the park.
The 21 Club made a big gamble by renovating the lounge and putting in a bar. This is an "institution" kind of place, don't rock the boat. Heck, this is where they filmed a legendary scene in the 80's movie, Wall Street. You don't mess with perfection, right?
I popped in to the 21 Club for some drinks recently and instead of sinking into a comfy club chair, I took a seat at the new bar. The booze was reasonably priced, the service was great, and they did a great job of adding a bar to a relatively small space and it all sort of works.... and works really well, too.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/25/2010
I went back here on Friday night with the wife and we had another stellar dining experience. We had… Read more »
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Review from Tricia K.
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place knows how to do restaurant week! Everyone from the doorman to the bartender to the bathroom attendants was friendly and helpful. Even though they were extremely busy, everyone had the time to smile and make jokes and they seemed genuinely happy to be working there.
The menu offering for restaurant week offered a wide range of samplings and the food was excellent. I started with the veal terrine salad, then the fish (best fish dish I have ever had) and chocolate torte with peanut butter rum sauce. I am not a foodie, so I don't remember the intricacies of the food, but what I did remember was that the food tasted great, I felt comfortable and not rushed or pressured at all, and our server and table attendants were attentive, extremely helpful and friendly.
This menu was also quite fair - there were minimal "add ons" - you could actually get a great value and true taste of the kitchen for 35 dollars.
This place was a true restaurant week success - I've sampled, and I'll be back and will definitely recommend. -
Review from Valerie G.
4/11/2012
Another perfect NY moment, well where to begin...ok first off let me say this will be the first of many visits. We were welcomed and seated at the bar where we were instantly introduced to some of the regulars, the first being Gill, he was a charming gentleman with an twinkle of mischief in his eye, my kinda man. Then we asked about the history of this establishment and quickly realized this was an amazing place with a rich new york stories vibe, that is adapting to the nowaday trends while keeping the spirit alive. The place is filled with traditions, take a tour of the main room and you can see the great trickets left behind as momentos. On my first tour Eddie showed me the model planes left by the likes of Howard Hughes, Clinton and other memorablilia from JFK and even some published books by Said Gill. Ok I'll admit that after a few cocktails the tour may require a repeat visit to remember details...especially Eddie's all in cocktails....lord can he pour, god bless him!
But the bottom line is that I like places where you can hear stories both past and present, about why everyone likes hanging out there.
The place looks like it might be a private, members only place but as they say "while they do have a dress code anyone is welcomed" and they take this theme to the next level and make you feel both welcomed and happy. Do yourself a favor and plan a vist and you too will fall to the charm of the 21 Club,
See you there on my futur visites to NY.....
p.s. I had the chance to meet a lot of the people working there, everyone from the hostess, the maitre d, waiters, managers, ladies room attendant, and doorman and each and everyone was charming and authentically friendly and loving what they do, real pros all around. -
Review from Tom K.
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's only appropriate that I begin my review of 21 Club with a notorious quote from the indomitable Groucho Marx:
"I don't want to belong to any club that will accept people like me as a member."
Ok, it's not really a club but it's a landmark that has been frequented by legends of the screen, captains of industry and just about everyone in between.
And for three glorious hours I felt like a member of a private club, receiving white glove service (Literally. The white gloved bathroom attendant joked that fellow yelper in crime Benson Y and I were taking the spots belonging to Warren Buffet and Bill Gates.)
While 21 earned notoriety during the roaring 20's when Prohibition reigned supreme (Such an uncivilized time when vices were illegal...) , the repeal of the 18th amendment means you can legally drink here again. 23 skidoo!
The complimentary bar munchables were quite good, roasted nuts and such. There's a fireplace! With real fire! The 1% and restaurant week 99% never had it so good.
Led into the dining room, turn your head upwards. No, it's not rude and you'll be treated to a panoply of toys and memorabilia. A Cincinnati Reds hat from Pete Rose, a walmart truck donated by Sam Walton, and plenty of other corporate swag. Apparently this tradition dates back to when British Airways donated a toy, it was mounted and the rest is history. (Perhaps bars that feature womens' undergarments in similar positions share a spiritual bond with 21?)
Anyway, our waiter was all too happy to explain ,with ease, the menu and the historical importance of our table.
I like places that have such cachet but I also like places that deliver the goods, food-wise.
No problems here as the regular menu offering of a mixed grilled wild game platter was expertly explained and carved by our waiter. He even name dropped where 21 purchases such exotic cuts as antelope. At $46, it cost more than a regular prix fixe resto week for one but here's what it contained:
antelope chop, Millbrook venison loin, homemade rabbit sausage, bacon-wrapped Mangalitsa pork loin, carrot purée, ginger chutney, huckleberry sauce .
How could one possibly refuse? 8 people were able to amply share a bit of each piece. I'd return just for this plate alone.
Regaining fiscal sanity, I ordered from the restaurant week menu and started with the salmon tartare, served with taro chips. And as a stand alone appetizer this was quiet good but I must be brutally honest. It didn't have a chance next to the mixed grilled wild game platter (MGWGP). The taro chips were crunchy and were a fine complement to the salmon tartare, serving as a reminder of what healthy eating could be as I gorged upon rabbit sausage, feeling the blood lust du lapin.
Time for a breather and a glass of malbec, recommended by ever helpful waiter.
Resume feasting.
Up next, Coffee-Chili Rubbed Pork Loin with sweet potato purée, chestnuts, roasted Brussels sprouts and Oaxaca chocolate sauce.
This was easily one of the juiciest pork loins I've ever had in my loin consuming career, the kind of loin that should make pig eaters across the world unite and realize that pork is so much more than the other white meat.
And hats off to brussels sprouts for these veggie orbs were also flavorful, especially when dipped into oaxaca chocolate sauce.
The chocolate sauce was more savory than sweet, serving as a transition to dessert, the flourless chocolate torte with peanut rum sauce and chantilly cream.
It's as if Captain Morgan put a little captain in a bottle of Skippy.
The peanut rum sauce was by far the distinguishing characteristic of an otherwise par for the course flourless chocolate torte. The peanut rum sauce pushes the rank over the edge of four stars and into five star heaven.
So our crew of intrepid eaters, occupying a table that has seated the incumbent president, Hilary Clinton and Dag Hammerskjold back in the day (Daaag!) staggered out well fed and ready for a return trip.
Gents, wear a jacket please. No jeans or sneakers. Ladies, bring a sugar daddy, or so my keen eye observed surveying other tables in the crowd. Everyone, bring your appetite, appreciation of old new york, and a tip for the bathroom attendant. -
Review from Michael W.
Manhattan, NY
2/24/2012
Great place to go for drinks. I had a martini ($14) and my girlfriend had a Manhattan ($15) (yep, she's a keeper). Both drinks were perfect. For the martini, they asked whether I wanted gin or vodka, and which type of vodka I preferred. Our server came back quite frequently (but very unobtrusively) to spruce up the table, and asked each of us how we liked our drinks.
They had a fire burning in the fireplace, and at one point my girlfriend took a sip of her Manhattan, and the server took away her cocktail napkin and slid a new one in its place.
As others have said, the bathroom attendants are all great conversationalists.
More than worth it for the prices. I loved it, and look forward to my next visit.Listed in: Manhattan's Best
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Review from Phil L.
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
So I was meeting my girlfriend up for a Broadway show and we didn't really make any dinner plans. Being that it was restaurant week a quick search of menus we finally settled on 21 club. When we arrived the first thing the host asked us which name we had our reservations under. We didn't have reservations so we ended up getting a table at the bar. The restaurant is definitely geared towards the WASPs in the city and has that kind of smoking room old boy's club feel. Apparently plenty of famous people have eaten here as the bathroom attendant informed me.
Service at this restaurant is on par with what I would expect with a place of this caliber. It was however not as good as my standard bearer at Gordon Ramsey's restaurant. The food was delicious, well portioned, and definitely not the small plates you would see at some of the fine dining establishments. I would definitely come back to this restaurant again as everything was delicious. Word of warning, men do have to wear jackets. -
Review from Jason N.
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Restaurant Week provided the perfect excuse to drop in to 21 Club. The atmosphere and bar was great and the food was below average. Because my ratings ultimately are weighted by food quality, I cannot give a glowing overall rating.
The positives, however, are:
1) the bar-- offering $3.50 six-ounce pours of beer, $7 French Sauvignon Blanc, spacious seating and complimentary bar nibbles, provides a great clubby backdrop for a relatively (an unexpected) inexpensive drink or two. If I was a "cocktail hour" guy, which I am not, this would be a good go-to spot.
2) the dining room aesthetic- the toy collection dangling from the ceiling is neat, whimsical and kitschy, and much better than the standard and tired caricature murals of famous patrons at similar NYC institutions.
3) the servers were attentive and pleasant. Except for the bumbling attendant who kept trolling the bar calling out whose reservation had come due. He asked us at least four times if we were with four different parties.
The food is almost not even worth mentioning. The pasta with shrimp, red-pepper sauce and calamari was bland and terrible. Bottled Prego would have been a step up. The salmon tartare was indistinguishable and oily. The creamed cauliflower soup was average at best. The spiced (coffee-chili rubbed) pork loin with brussels sprouts and sweet potato was good- particularly the pork; however its accoutrements failed in terms of execution and were essentially tasteless.
The desserts were the highlight. The key lime tart was actually quite good and the mint-chocolate sundae was not bad. -
Review from Zeynep E.
New York, NY
2/24/2012
Definite disappointment. I went with my parents and fiance last night to celebrate my birthday. No restaurant week or special theater menu, we went for the real deal.
I used the restroom right before being seated and the bathroom attendant was probably the best part of the entire evening. She was so sweet, kind and the type of person you just want to hug.
The rest is downhill.
Whilst I can appreciate the fact that 21 Club is a NY institution, I don't think that it warrants the poor service or mediocre cuisine that we experienced. We waited quite a while after receiving our menus to have someone come by to take our order or ask if we had any questions (which only happened after my father had to signal someone to come over). His drink was empty well before then and no one had even noticed (serious party foul). No one mentioned any specials and our waiter simply kept saying how everything was "amazing" and "the best." Errrr...not so much buddy.
I had the carpaccio to start, my mother the beet salad and my father the crab appetizer. None were anything special or particularly tasty. For entrees my father had the burger, my mother the salmon trout, my fiance the chicken hash and myself the filet mignon. All quite sub-par and disappointing, particularly the chicken hash which is supposed to be a "signature" dish. Just a matter of cutting up some chicken pieces, pouring over them a creamy sauce and melting some Gruyere cheese on top. We shared the apple crumb pie for dessert which was decent.
All in all, the lack of attention to our table and the less-than-average food served to contribute to an average evening which cost us way more than it was worth.
Kudos on the $5 parking and the bathroom attendant. That's unfortunately all I can really say stood out.
Note: We did eat downstairs, not sure if much is different in the upstairs dining room but, this experience didn't exactly make me want to come back to try it out. -
Review from John-Paul P.
Madison, NJ
2/6/2012 12 photos
The 21 Club is a New York institution. With all the modern day speakeasy crazes that are going on around the city, to which I won't deny attending a few, this place is one of the originals dating back to the Prohibition era that still retains its class to this day.
I've eaten here on two occasions. The first was was with my girlfriend on December 31, 2009. We dined upstairs and it was quite elegant. The menu was an extremely reasonable $70-something per person, which was a great deal for NYE in NYC and at the 21 Club. The host of upstairs and his staff were extremely attentive and accommodating. When my gf was cold, he got her a shawl and when he saw me looking around the room, he came over and asked what my I was trying to figure out, which was the seating capacity of the room. He even escorted my girlfriend to that bathroom at one point.
The food itself was quite delicious as well. Since the dinner was a while ago, I can't remember our appetizers at all. I have a picture of my gf's main course, but can't remember what it was, other than a seafood dish. For my main course, I had the Mixed Grill of Game, prepared rare. This dish was an antelope chop, Millbrook venison loin, homemade rabbit sausage, bacon-wrapped Mangalitsa pork loin, carrot purée, ginger chutney, huckleberry sauce. Yum, yum and yum. For dessert, I had the Pain Perdu, which was also delicious. Can't remember my gf's dessert at this point... I know it's not helpful for the review, sorry.
All in all tho, the food was very well prepared and served. High marks for presentation and taste.
The second time I was here was for Restaurant Week, Summer 2011. I brought some of my friends along and there were eight of us in all. Upon arriving, we sat in the lounge first, as we waited for #8 to arrive. Service in the bar is very professional and respectful, tho don't be surprised by the cost of drinks. One of my friends who can't have alcohol drank a Cranberry & Seltzer for around $6 or $7. I had a Remy Sidecar which ran $18.
After friend #8 arrived, we were escorted to our table. As it was Restaurant Week, we ate in the Bar Room, which is a completely different atmosphere than upstairs. Since the reservation was in my name, I walked to the matire'd and asked to be seated. Before showing us in, he insisted on taking my drink from me and bringing it to the table for me. Nice touch. After being seated, the wait staff was equally as friendly, polite and professional. We were all addressed as Mister, Sir, or Gentleman.
Anyways, on to the food, which I'm sorry to say wasn't as good as when I dined upstairs. For my appetizer, I had the Grilled Calamari, which came with a fava bean purée, marinated cherry tomatoes, lemon and oba leaf roasted bell pepper emulsion. I had expected the calamari to be fried as usual, but they were not fried at all... of course, since the menu did say grilled. The calamari were a pleasant surprise and not bad at all. For my main course, I had the Seafood Pasta, which was decent... nothing special. The seafood wasn't chewy or dry, but the dish overall lacked a good flavor. It also wasn't presented very neatly and looked thrown together. Between the whole table, we ordered everything on the menu and everyone else really seemed to enjoy their food.
For dessert, I had the Peach and Apricot Streusel Tart with sour cream ice cream. The peaches used in this dessert were donut peaches. The dessert sounded very promising, but was a bit of a letdown. The ice cream, peaches and top of the streusel were quite good, but the sides and bottom of the streusel were sort of rock hard.
Would I come back here? Probably. I'd like to try their burger at some point, tho I have made the recipe at home (yes, I got the proper amounts of kinds of meat, including short ribs). Before trying to make the 21 Burger at home, I was doing a little online research and noted that someone who ate the 21 Burger made in-house said it tasted a bit like meatloaf. Having made the burger at home, I can second that.
This place is a cool to check out during Restaurant Week. The staff is very friendly and professional and you can tell a lot of the waiters have been there for a long time. The Bar Room has a very cool atmosphere with all its decorations, but is quite loud as well.
For a much better experience at 21, eat upstairs for a special occasion. You won't be disappointed. -
Review from Melanie L.
Iselin, NJ
2/4/2012
RW menu. 5:30 reservation on a friday. pretty quiet- no background music for ambiance. Service was great, besides the first waiter that never presented us with a menu (i think he was annoyed that I didnt know what i wanted to drink the moment i was seated). he was pretty old school- no amount of charm or smiles would soften his Lurch-like disposition. otherwise, the rest of the staff was kind and attentive.
The food:
Tuna tartar- refreshing.
Soup (Manhattan clam chowder)- had to convince my date not to lift the bowl for the last sips.
Pork loin- portion was WAY larger than i was anticipating. pork cooked perfectly (side note: nothing annoys me more than overcooked protein). brussel sprouts were my favorite part. the sauce wasnt that special but still a very good plate of food.
Seafood pasta- boyfriend said it was good, but nothing too out of the ordinary. unlike what previous posts have claimed, there was plenty of large shrimp, scallops, and squid (which, he claimed, "were nothing like rubber bands" :) )
Creme brule- delicious!
Key lime- exceptionally tangy. The strawberry compote on the side definitely kicks up the sweetness factor so use wisely.
They gave us a plate of mini dessert as well- 2 mini chocolate macaroons and 2 chocolate (white and dark) confections.
Overall- this place was a joy. with food and drink $150+ So that puts into perspective the pricetag of this place on a normal day. However, here, you get what you pay for.
Warning: if you arent willing to embrace "old new york" fine dining, stay away. otherwise, you might wrongfully misconstrue the staffs behavior as pompus or uppity, thus putting a damper on your evening. the truth is that some places take their service very seriously, but that doesnt mean you have to. :) -
Review from Denice M.
Land O' Lakes, FL
4/25/2012
Recently wen to NYC and dined at 21 Club before seeing The Lion King. The staff was top notch, the atmosphere was hip yet with lots of old nostalgia, the story of it's history during Prohibition was interesting! The portion sizes were smaller than I would have liked but probably the size we should all eat. The staff made sure we had plenty of time to get to the show by asking where and what time the show was. I would definitely make this a stop while in NYC!
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Review from Sam C.
Avon, CT
4/23/2012
This restaurant epitomizes fine dining. It is one of the finest restaurants I have ever been in tastefully mixing tradition with new trends. I love the fact that male patrons are required to wear jackets and most dress in tie and jacket and ladies are always well dressed here. It is a great place for people watching and to be seen! I prefer the downstairs bar to the more formal upstairs dining. The managers, head waiters and waiters are consummate professionals, friendly and very capable. The food is exceptional. The famous "21" burger and classic chicken hash are always available, but the seasonal menus with specials like "peekytoe" crab, dover sole, and Kurabota pork chop give diners wide varety. Salads are especially creative - desserts are to die for. Artisanal cheese platters are fantastic!
Most of the entrees are in the $30-$40 range and while it is expensive to dine here, it is worth every penny. The wine list is enormous with selections and prices for every taste. It is not stuffy or snobby, but welcoming and friendly. Everyone is made to feel important here!! The atmosphere is dark subtly lit with lanterns and, though diners sit close to one another, the atmosphere is very romantic. -
Review from Christine M.
New York, NY
4/18/2012
21 Club was fantastic! I went there tonight for a private event, and the food was delicious. The salad, pretty much just lettuce, tomato, and celery, was one of the best I've eaten despite its simplicity. The steak was cooked to perfection, and the cheesecake came with cinnamon apples that really spiced it up. Perhaps the best part of the evening was the service! Our server Raul was seriously one of the nicest I've ever had. Even though it was a private event, I felt like I got very personal attention, and despite lots of people ordering things left and right, he always remembered my special requests. I wish I could have given him an extra tip, but unfortunately I couldn't find him at the end of the dinner. At any rate, this restaurant has great food with great service, and I highly recommend it for a nice evening out!
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Review from Kim K.
1/20/2012 6 photos
2.5 stars. This is my type of joint- I love the homey, classy atmosphere, autographed toys and sports paraphernalia on the ceiling - but wow was table service and food-worth-the-price-tag absent this Friday night.
Our server, a short black guy, stood around most of the evening doing nothing. After we were seated, he came over to take our drink orders and then ignored us for nearly ten minutes. I had to signal him to give us our menu, after doing the awkward squint stare off because I wasn't sure if he was our waiter. He was actually just standing nearby, looking at us. Super awkward. He was really inattentive, never brought the wine list, abrupt...really the pigeon poop on a good suit.
The food was also surprisingly mediocre. I'm always hesitant to try the Restaurant Week menu when the dishes seem to be created just for RW. The seafood pasta barely had any seafood- two shrimp. Dos. No bueno. Pieces of one scallop. See photo. Ah well. A little bit of fresh pepper and it was ok. The salmon, which is noted on the menu to be organic (I forgot to ask if that meant wild vs farmed) was lovely but not melt in your mouth orgasmic, which is what I expected from 21 Club.
We finished off the night with the creme brulee and a sundae which came out as a parfait. See pix. Both ok but I've had better brownie sundaes at chain establishments.
I definitely felt like a B team was preparing those dishes. An hour later, my palate has long forgotten the dishes. The only bright spot of the night was an older waiter who noticed us taking a photo of an autographed helmet, told us the team's coach was recently in and spoke knowledgeably about some memorable games. Too bad he wasn't our server!
PS the bathroom attendants in the boys and girls rooms are v friendly. -
Review from Rui H.
Manhattan, NY
1/21/2012
I came here for lunch during Restaurant Week 2012. This place has an extremely old school vibe and the dress code is pretty strict -- jeans are a definite no-no.
While the service was great, the food was disappointing. I had the salmon tartare and the coffee-chili rubbed pork loin, which were both pretty bland. For dessert, I got the key lime meringue tart which was overly sweet. The best thing about the meal was the thin-cut, toasted raisin bread that they serve when you first sit down. -
Review from Grace L.
1/29/2012
Dear 21 Club: If you're going to actively suck at RW, you just shouldn't do it at all.
I guess there are two veins of thoughts on Restaurant Week from a restaurant's point of view. One (which I like) is that it's a great way for restaurants to drum up business - let people try out places that they would like to come back to on a special occasion, get some word of mouth going. Two (which I don't) is that these restaurants are doing us a favor by just letting us in the door. 21 Club was very much of the second view.
They have a strict dress code, no jeans, no sneakers and blazers required for the boys. Restaurant Week patrons (us) were in the bar room, festooned with plastic toys dangling from the ceiling (shades of TGIF) and tables as packed as they could get them. The cocktails at our table ranged from mediocre to terrible, with the Bees Knees (hopefully) missing some ingredients as its contents tasted almost entirely of lemon juice.
Shall we move on to the food? Not only boring, but not very well prepared. The grilled calamari was chewy and lukewarm. Salmon in the salmon tartare was step in the unfresh direction. The terrine was ok. The chicken was dry but serviceable, kind of what you expect when you order RW chicken. Pork was ok. The pasta was intriguing in its weirdness. The clear winner of the evening was the chocolate torte, with a deep, complex flavor. The creme brulee, which I thought would be the hardest to mess up for a uncaring kitchen was all cold, had the thinnest of sugar crusts that was already soggy, and slightly curdy, thin custard.
Service? Every dish was literally just thrown on the table. Clatter, rollllll. Clatter, rolll. Over and over again. I assume this was a RW special. Not pleased.
So in conclusion, we were seriously disappointed. Could you tell? -
Review from Victoria F.
New York, NY
1/25/2012
I made reservations a few weeks beforehand and was so excited about finally coming to 21 club! I was disappointed when we were seated downstairs, I had expected we would be upstairs in the main dining room. To top things off, we were seated at a very odd two seated right up against the bar. It was just awkward.
We came here before seeing a show, so we had the pre-theatre pre fixe menu, which is 3 courses for $40. Unfortunately, there wasn't much value. The menu was pretty, well, bad. I started with the salmon tartar, had the grilled salmon and ended with the chocolate tart. My boyfriend had the calamari, seafood pasta, and the creme brulee. we both had a glass of wine, which were the best parts of the meal!
Overall, it was bland, lacked presentation, and the service was just awfully slow.
I highly doubt I'll return. $120.00 + tip not well spent. -
Review from Dennis M.
1/25/2012
I came here with my fellow co-workers for restaurant week. We sat at the Bar Room. I ordered food from their Prix Fixe Luncheon menu for only $24.07 per person.
The food is excellent and the service is efficient. I tried the seasoned soup, which is the Tomato Wheat. My Main Course was the Seafood Pasta; dessert is the Creme Brulee. I loved my order. The Tomato Wheat was thick; Seafood Pasta was delectable; Creme Brulee was savory!
The toys on the ceiling are gifts from regulars - the airplanes and trucks are from the executives of the companies they represent, and the sports memorabilia are from owners and famous players.
This place is great if you want to discuss business with your guests and/or if you want a private time with your close friends. There are 10 rooms inside the 21 club. There is a strict dress code for men. Men must wear a Jacket; no jeans or sneakers.
I would come back only for lunch to try their other Prix Fixe lunch menu. It only cost $10 more or if the place offers another NYC Restaurant Week discount! -
Review from Veronique L.
Manhattan, NY
2/1/2012
This is one of my go-to places for afterwork drinks and a bite.
They have one of the best bartenders in New York, who can mix up all sorts of magic potions, based on one's specifications.
The staff is accommodating and friendly and the food is pas mal. The overall atmosphere is warm.
Though if it did not sometimes feel like a father-knows-best- sausage-fest, I would give it an extra star. -
Review from Ashlee G.
Manhattan, NY
2/10/2012
The service here compares to none. I love being treated like
a princess. This is one classy restaurant. I heard Warren Buffet
and Bill Gates eat here. The food is amazing. I ate the
coffee-chili rubbed pork loin and it really hit the spot. A dessert of Crème Brulee and I finished with a smile. -
Review from Wes F.
Manhattan, NY
11/18/2011
You know that classic movie scene where the boy from the wrong side of the tracks falls for the uptown girl and tries to prove his worth by going to a fancy dinner with her family, only to be humiliated by being forced to wear the house blazer?
Yeah, that happened to me. Well, sort of.
Let me first add some context here. I am not by any means financially insecure, nor was I unaware of what this place is all about. I was well aware of the restaurant's elegance and I have a handful of suits I gladly would have worn. But, of course, I used http://Savored.com to book a reservation and they only put 'no sneakers or jeans' on the receipt. So I ended up eating with a black jacket four sizes too large for me that was a nice compliment to my navy pants. More to come on Savored. With that...
Lesson #1: WEAR A GODDAMN JACKET!
What more is there really to say about 21 Club that hasn't already been said? It is one of the finest classic dining experiences I've had. Bare in mind, though, that this is a classic experience in every sense of the word. You will not get your courses back-to-back or quickly. You will be hungry. And, make no mistake about it, they do this on purpose. Time is taken in between courses and orders to ensure proper preparation and to foster conversation between guests. So, with that...
Lesson #2: If you're hungry beforehand, eat a SMALL snack. If you're in a rush, go to the ABP down the street.
As far as food goes, this place had some incredibly tasty stuff. The show-stealer for us was the Steak Tar tare. It comes out looking like they just unwrapped it from the meat aisle at the grocery store, but, damn, does that raw pile of hamburger helper taste good. I couldn't even begin to tell you what's in it. Just try it. So flavorful and great on the rye toast they provide.
Fillet Mignon and oysters were both solid picks, but nothing to write home about. They were perfectly prepared and presented, but they didn't quite have their own spin on these dishes. And, at 21 Club's level, they should.
All-in-all a New York must. It's one of the last fleeting glimpses of Old New York and truly a special place to take someone you care about (or want to impress).
A quick MONEY SAVING TIP:
- Go on http://Savored.com and book a reservation. It will automatically take 30% off the bill (including an automatically assigned 20% gratuity).
- Go to http://21club.com and buy a gift card before Christmas this year. They are 20% off as well! (e.g. a $200 value gift card costs $160).
Both of these methods can be used in conjunction with each other and ended up saving me over $100 on a "pull-out-all-the-stops" dinner for two. You're welcome. -
Review from Lester M.
1/5/2012
I was there with a group of five for New Year's Eve. We had a four course dinner on the second floor, where there was a six piece jazz band. First, our waiter was very friendly, and the staff was attentive even though this is obviously a stressful evening for any restaurant (and it was pretty full - the first floor was packed, the second floor full, and I saw people coming down from the third level all evening).
Second, the food. After a small, but not memorable (either in a good or bad way) amuse, my first course was the beet salad. There was nothing to complain about, and it was quite good. The second plate, consisting of Hudson Valley foie gras, was great. My main was a fairly large and robust lamp chop, which was well-prepared and tasty. Lastly, I had the profiteroles for dessert, and these seemed pretty standard.
Everything was good, but not remarkable. I probably wouldn't go here for a regular dinner, but for New Year's Eve it was perfectly acceptable. The only thing that was a little weird was the music - they seemed to be playing a lot of low key or slightly somber jazz; this was very strange given that there is a large dance floor and it was New Year's Eve. Maybe they need to reconsider their music selection for next year. Also, the patron composition was a bit eclectic - a mix of random 30-somethings, large groups spanning two generations (ages 21-ancient), and even one couple who obviously couldn't find a baby sitter, as evidenced by the presence of their one year old plus stroller (seriously, who brings a baby to a New Year's Eve party?).
I believe it was around $195 per person, exclusive of drinks, which was perfectly reasonable for what was offered. -
Review from Ivy C.
Manhattan, NY
1/19/2012
I'm a fan!
My experience has been great every time I come here. Well, I know that the decor is old school and the wait can be long but I still give it a five star for the amazing wine list, great food, and great service. -
Review from Tim T.
New York, NY
4/25/2012
The perfect mix of old school charm and delicious food. Ask for a tour of the wine cellar.
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Review from Joe M.
Martinsville, NJ
1/15/2012
Been here several times and normally a solid experience. Not the case last night.
Food - The vegetable medley was nearly stone cold. Unacceptable for a restaurant of this reputation. Burger too was only luke warm and undercooked to boot. The pork special was only fair ... nothing special at all. Caesar salad was very good as usual... same with the beet salad.
Service - Disappointing. Meals were placed in front of wrong diners. Tables were packed in and one of our party was repeatedly bumped while eating by servers working other tables - inexcusable. The waiter was slow and not especially attentive and we spent a long time trying to pay the bill.
We have always enjoyed 21 Club but last night it seemed just a crowded food factory and hardly the classic and classy New York restaurant we've experienced in the past. -
Review from Clint H.
1/26/2012
This is what Restaurant Week is all about, going to places you can't afford in your wildest dream, with your friends!
We came thru 21 Club this past Monday for a late (9pm) dinner. As you know by now, this place is classy and shmancy so you can't wear jeans and you have to wear a jacket (blazer) and shoes. No problem. No one loves getting dressed up like I do.
The funny thing is, the entrance is classy, there's a bar and you can order what I would guess are expensive cocktails. We walked inside however, and it kind of had a diner feel to it. Checkerboard table cloths, and it had all these "artifacts" hanging from the ceiling, that were like model airplanes and stuff toys and things! It was very strange. Ah well. On to the food.
I ordered the the grilled calamari to start. It was alright. Had a lot of different flavors going on, with these very potent olives and other things. For my main course I got the seafood pasta, which was good. It was in what I think was vodka sauce, but the actual pasta was some very huge pieces of macaroni. It was good. One of my friends got hte salmon, which he devoured so I'm assuming it was good. Another friend of mine got the pork chop, which I had a little bit of, it was good as well.
For desert I got ice cream (again) which was good if you really like chocolate, which im not really a fan of. Two people got Creme Brulee (of course) and since it's Creme Brulee it was great. My other friend got their version of the Key Lime pie, which she didn't really like, siting that there wasn't enough Key lime in it. I'm not a Key Lime fan so I didn't even try a bite, I wouldn't have given it justice anyway.
The food for me was alright, but I had to give it an extra star because we managed to get a tour of the secret wine cellar downstairs! So awesome. They actually keep the wines and champagnes in the same place they kept it during prohibition, in a secret airconditioned room that is only accessed by a secret door that's actually about a foot thick wall of bricks! It was like going into the Bat Cave! Once inside, you saw all the bottles that were purchased by all these celebs and politicians, who were coming back at a later date to pick it up (if they wanted). Once you go past the wine cellar you enter the private dining room, that has a huge table that stretches out and can seat a bunch of your friends. I guess they do 7 course dinners down there, but God knows how much that would set you back per person. It seems like one of those ridiculous opulent things that rich people do however, that would actually be cool to do if you had the money to do it. I can't imagine me coming back here (unless I'm rich enough to rent out that room!) but it was an awesome experience for a first-timer like myself. I love Restaurant Week! -
Review from Matthew P.
Brooklyn, NY
10/7/2011 1 photo
Old school charm and elegance. I believe I lowered the median age by at least 20 years.
The food is very good, but not great. Best crab cake of my life, but at $32 for a single cake, it better be. My dining companion (business lunch) had the chicken hash which he claimed was remarkable. Rice pudding for dessert was just ok.
Excellent service and a feeling you're peeking into a rarefied New York world with captains of industry and retired captains lunching with their ladies, many of whom appear quite high end. The waiter reminded me of something out of a classy 1940s film noir.
I likely won't be back, but glad I tried it (and glad my business companion picked up the rather hefty lunch tab as was able to expense it). -
Review from Alex C.
Manhattan, NY
2/18/2012
Jackets required. Well.. I sorta expected a bit more from a place with that type of requirement, but then again... its an old establishment.
Food - not bad. I had the set menu for lunch. Food was good. Cooked and presented well.
The ambience is too formal for me. Good place to talk business, but not a place to relax and enjoy as it is just too formal. -
Review from Vanessa B.
Bayside, NY
12/13/2011
I was so so excited to go to the 21 Club with my family for the first time last night. Being that this restaurant is a New York icon, I was expecting the best of the best.
Unfortunately, the following mishaps occured:
-- My father ordered the grilled octupus as an appetizer but was given a green salad instead? We informed the waiter of the error but we didn't have time to wait for the new dish because we were in a time crunch; had to make a show at 8:00 p.m.
-- My sister's were each served an incorrect glass of wine at two different points during the course of dinner. We were told the incorrect glasses of wine would be taken off the bill but they were not; we had to point out the error AGAIN.
-- Also, the evening we dined there happened to be my 22nd birthday, and my father had stopped by the restaurant earlier in the week to put in a special request for a special birthday cake which he paid for in advance. Alas, the special ordered cake was M.I.A. on the night of my birthday, and my dad was PISSED.
The food was fine, but when you're paying for a 600+ dollar meal, I really would expect far less mistakes.
Meh. Unimpressed. -
Review from kelly m.
Kew Gardens, Queens, NY
9/13/2011
This is the best place i had ever been to. It's very expensive though.
The place was dark and dimmed. The food was very unique and yet very tasty.
My friend and i went upstairs to have diner. even though it was way more expensive, but it was all worth it. The wine was very good and my steak was unbelievable.The only downfall for this place is that you have to dress with at suit and jacket. If not dressed in a business fashion they wont let you in.
All i can say if your in midtown please go. This place is a must. As emeril lagasse siting down on the first floor which was an amazing experience for me it was all worth it. The best early birthday gift for me so far. I would go again. -
Review from Jason H.
7/18/2011
I had an amazing dinner with my best friend at 21 Club before we went to New Year's Eve 2011 Ball Drop in Times Square.
We ate in the Bar Room and the Grilled Organic Chicken Breast was fabulous! The room was a veritable Hall of Fame as a large collection of colorful sports memorabilia and outdoor Christmas decorations.
We had plenty of time between courses so that we never felt rushed & were never waiting long for the next course.
This is a celebrity hot-spot. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting to have a fine dining experience in New York around Midtown area.Listed in: Good for Groups
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Review from Jerman V.
Manhattan, NY
2/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
One of the best places to go before a show. Can't beat their 5 dollar parking deal for 6 hours! The 21 Club Burger is delicious as always, clearly they are a NYC institution for a reason. Their service is second to none. Make sure to try their special for the day - that always seems to be a sure bet. On this last trip is was lamb and it was incredible.
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Review from Kent W.
New York, NY
8/12/2011
This place was recommended by Ben aka social media man. And was a fantastic recommendation.
First of all, the food and decor was legendary. The meal was filling, tasty, and plated nicely. The ambiance had that nostalgia feel to it - random objects hanging from the ceiling (was that a doll's head?). Then why the 4 stars instead of 5? The snooty-a** service. SOB. Seriously, I wanted to give this place 3 1/2 stars. These people think we owe them a favor for coming in. Phuck that. Seriously, phuck that. Sigh. I'm aggravated as heck. Any who:
Restaurant week - the only really decent restaurant on that list. Pork loin dish - the sauce with green beans? Epic. Grilled calamari? Eh - needs a little work. Salmon with couscous ? Phuck yeah! Desert? Nothing out of the ordinary.
*Guys - wear a jacket or don't come at all. They are serious about their dress code.
*20% tip required. -
Review from Gregory G.
New York, NY
8/11/2011
I brought my best friend Andrew here for dinner for his 31st birthday. It is upscale dining so make sure you have a jacket and slacks and ladies a dress is recommended. The entire meal was served under low lighting. It was so low I could barely see the menu so if you wear glasses make sure you have the additional light.
Every thing from the drinks to the food were amazing. I would sincerely recommend this to anyone looking for a special night out or a business dinner. The 4 stars were for the low lighting and tables were awfully close. However, I do believe this restaurant is on the restaurant week menu so if you have not been here because of the price of the food, I would certainly recommend you look into restaurant week as a time to dine here. -
Review from Tom W.
Thornwood, NY
2/6/2012
A terrific Restaurant Week experience! The food was perfectly presented and tasted incredible. The service is second to none here. Our waiter, Christopher (Upstairs at '21'), was friendly, engaging and knowledgeable, making sure we felt quite at ease in such a high-profile establishment. You'll wait between courses, so be prepared. They make "dining out" an experience and not just something to do. We'll definitely be back - some day!
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Review from Caroline K.
Queens, NY
9/30/2011
I had a fun time here! Two gentlemen greeted us when we walked in, and they have the cutest matchbooks with toy soldiers on the covers.
Food was decent and well-prepared, and the service was excellent. I loved the decor and furnishings; it was embellished with an antique theme complete with little toys ranging from airplanes to Ford-esque automobiles hanging festively from the ceilings.
