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44 1/2
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
626 10th Ave(between 44th St & 45th St)
New York, NY 10036
Neighborhoods: Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West
(212) 399-4450
- Nearest Transit:
-
42 St - Port Authority Bus Terminal (A, C, E)
50 St (A, C, E)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 11:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- 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:
- Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Maya F. said: "Post-opera grub can be hard to find, especially on a Wednesday night. It was just minutes after 11PM and we were feeling a little too glamorous for Rosa Mexicana or P.J. Clarke's; Marea had just closed. It was such a pleasant evening…" read more »
137 reviews for 44 1/2
Review Highlights
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"I LOVE the hilarious brunch cocktail names." In 51 reviews -
"The back garden is so peaceful - you could easily forget..." In 8 reviews -
"The parmesan scrambled eggs was delicious and so were the..." In 3 reviews
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137 reviews in English
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Review from Elly S.
Astoria, NY
The place is adorable, to start! The decor is very open and light and inviting. The host stuffed us at a tiny corner table and my mom was smushed in the booth, although she assured me it wasn't uncomfortable just a pain when you had to get up. Also, we were very close to the service station which promised our piece of heaven was going to be busy. I will play devil's advocate and say that it's hard to have a really comfortable place anywhere INSIDE the building because it's quite cramped. The front and rear terraces look more spacious and probably give diners more privacy.
The staff was incredibly accommodating and friendly. Our actual waiter was OK, but he seemed to be on his man period because he wasn't as engaging as everyone else there.
To the food --- typical brunch fare, however, done quite well. I love how they restrict the carbs and give you more vegetables and a little fruit plate instead. Definitely know this place is trendy. My mother had the eggs Benedict (which they will make regular and not just white) and I had the California omlette. I thought there would be more of a brunch drink selection. There is a selection, however it's not discounted mimosa/bellini/bloody, it's a panalopy of specialty cocktails that are not cheap. I opted for the Edith Piaf because it looked so delicious when I watched the bartender make it and I love bitter drinks, anyways. Despite it being quite good, I'm still debating if it was worth the $14 price tag (in other words, it cost as much as an entree).
I would like to try their sister restaurant two doors down which is more of a dinner scene. So, I recommend you go and you will have a good time. Would I repeat a visit? Sure! -
Review from Wendy L.
New York, NY
4/30/2012
My review is for brunch, as I've been a few times, but have never been here for dinner. The decor is perfect for a Mother's Day or bachelorette / girly brunch - fresh flowers, very sleek and modern. I don't think the menu is so all-encompassing, so probably not a place to go if you're a picky eater. But if you're up for it, you won't be disappointed.
I give it 3 stars - namely because of the following:
1) Love the decor. I'm told the back garden is really beautiful, but even inside it's bright and happy and a great place to wake up for brunch.
2) Love the cheese grits - white cheddar, so rich and delicious. Makes me feel like I'm in the South.
3) They take reservations. Hard to find a place that takes reservations in NYC for brunch, and this is one of those rarities.
4) They don't rush you - I've been there with friends and stayed for a very long time, they don't make you feel like you need to hurry out once you've finished your meal. -
Review from Agnes H.
New York, NY
4/13/2012
I've been to this place with friends about 3 times and just now writing a quick review about it. This is a trendy atmosphere for brunch, although if you're looking to have an intimate quiet brunch, this isn't the place to visit. The service is okay but really depends on your luck. Twice out of my three times being there the servers have been rude. Most people are at the bar when they wait for tables, I'd say usually the wait is between 30-40mins.
Anyway, I'm gonna end this post dry, like their scones. -
Review from Fran D.
Brooklyn, NY
5/24/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Inviting decore, very comfortable ambience, casual and friendly. Wait staff took good care of 5 women (we are high school friends) who couldn't stop talking to even look at a menu. Food arrived promptly and was tasty, and with good portions. Lobster ravioli were very nice, light and tasty. Pizza was a little bland. Rose was excellent. Salads were delicious. Don't miss the peanut butter mousse! It was a Monday night so the staff let us talk all night, and checked in every so often. I would return here.
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Review from Ken S.
Manhattan, NY
5/20/2012
I've tried this restaurant twice as I live in the neighbourhood. It's a nice space with a courtyard. The food is ok. But the service is appalling. Brusque, haughty and uninformed. On the second visit, our waiter could not answer questions about the menu, needed to be flagged repeatedly before attending to customers, and completely disappeared for a 15 minute stretch. Had to order our coffees from a different waiter. Brought me two separate bills and when I asked, he just took one away and said "that's not yours" without any apology.
The local kebab cart gives better service. -
Review from Austin K.
4/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place was cool but totally not my style. First off its very trendy. Which for some people is fine. Secondly we got sat right next to the speaker playing 80's soundtrack music which I is normally awesome for me except you had to shout to have a conversation. Third, we had a brunch menu. Now I know its Easter and almost all restaurants have limited choices so the kitchen can accommodate the flux of patrons on holidays but I feel if your gonna do brunch, Bring It!
All that said. They had really great service. The waiter was there at a drop of a hat to make sure we had everything. We didn't feel rushed either which on a holiday most places are looking to turn the table over. And I have to say they had a very good bloody mary. Came with goat cheese stuffed olives which were awesome. The spice was good and it was not filled with tons things in it.
Over all it was good. Would have to try dinner here or a lunch in the future. -
Review from Vanessa W.
Bethlehem, PA
3/25/2012
We came here after it's sister restaurant two doors down was insanely full. No matter, this place had lovely atmosphere (much quieter than the other place actually) and a similar if not identical menu.
We were here for brunch on Sunday, before catching an afternoon matinee. Everything on the menu looked absolutely delicious - it was hard to make a choice. Each member of my party did something completely different and we were all beyond satisfied with our meals. Blueberry pancakes, deep dish French toast, mushroom and gruyere omlette, and the breakfast sandwich were all super tasty. They all were classics with a new or gourmet twist. Presentation of the food was also very good.
Server was attentive, pleasant and quick. My parents and my husband and I all really enjoyed this restaurant and will definitely be back. -
Review from Ah-Hyun C.
New York, NY
4/28/2012
3.5 stars. Cute little brunch place (I hear myself saying this often about my Hell's Kitchen brunch joints) - a hipper place than its sister restaurant 44 & X. The word "kitschy" comes to mind but it's done in an endearing way. Love the friendly waiters in skintight baby pink shirts. The food is fairly good - my crabcake benedict was surprisingly not heavy. There's a small, outdoor seating in the back that seemed good for the spring / summertime. Boyfriend had the 44.5 breakfast sandwich which looked so promising on the menu (eggs over easy, bacon, white cheddar, toasted brioche) but ended up being a little too heavy with flavors just running together without complementing each other. French fries were pretty good though. Will have to try the drinks next time!
-
Review from Chepdao N.
Manhattan, NY
3/3/2012
This is a difficult one to rate. I had heard so many positive things about this place and was looking forward to a really nice and delicious meal with a group of 6-7 friends for my buddy's birthday.
The dining area was quite nice...I'm not sure why they did not open the rear section which looked nicer and larger on a Friday night.
We ordered starters: salad with feta medallion (v. good), calamari (blah), crispy duck ravioli (dried, totally forgettable--worse than fried wontons from a cheap Chinese resto).
Main courses were some chicken dish with mash potatoes (bland, and nothing special--decent but reminds me of diner food), pizza with chicken (tasty but the crust was lifeless), risotto with lobster (so-so, a bit under-salted), Caesar salad and short ribs.
Only 3 dishes were delivered and then we were waiting around , wondering what happened to the rest of our orders. About 15 mins later, the waiter came by and said there was some "mix-up" in the kitchen....then it took another 15 mins for the rest of the dishes to arrive. My dish was the short ribs. It was in fact excellent, nice flavor and texture BUT the side croquette was COLD!!!! --its weird that the dish came really late but still it was cold!? Not sure if the waiter or the kitchen was to be blamed but our orders were not complicated and the place was not that busy.
We all sort of got turned off by the end of the meal and skipped dessert.
Not sure why my and my group's experience was not as stellar as most other reviewers but after sampling those many dishes and getting that kind of service, I conclude that this place totally fails. Also, I do not really think the quality of the food deserves the kind of price point they charge. For a place that bills itself as "scrumptious American" cuisine, I'd never go there again. Comparable example would be Union Square Cafe which is MUCH better with almost the same price and way better service. -
Review from Bill T.
Much like meeting "The Flintstones", having brunch here is a gay old time! And that's a good thing.
Met a friend for brunch here and I kind of didn't want to go there because being in Hell's Kitchen is hard for me right now (long story, if I go into details I get too depressed and start crying). Anyway, I decided to man up and head over to 10th Ave and I'm glad I did. Of course, I manned up to a place that has a lot of pink everywhere and a friendly, if frequently flamboyant, wait staff.
Walking in the joint, I was greeted by several friendly people. They offered to take my coat and when my table was ready, carried my drink to the table. Started with a very good bloody mary, a bit pricey at $13, though.
Service at the table was prompt and friendly. My buddy had an omelet and I had the hangar steak and egg and fries. There was so much food! I couldn't finish it. The steak was very tender and delicious, as were the eggs. Fries were also great. The waiter kept water and coffee full and didn't rush us as I recounted my entire sad story to my friend.
The place is lively but not too loud and it's a great place for groups. This is a terrific place and I heartily recommend it.
_________________
btw, not sure why I took pictures in the restroom but the flowers were pretty. I should've taken a picture of my food! -
Review from Maureen B.
Asbury Park, NJ
5/16/2012
This restaurant would have a good review from me even if the waiter had NOT run down a block and a half to return our credit card that we left behind on the table! Atmosphere:Trendy, great waiter service, bathrooms that are a true Zen experience, lovely looking garden space (it was raining when we were there so we were in restaurant). FOOD We did dinner- and the Tuna appetizer served on the Guacamole Base is a thing of beauty and not to be missed. Chopped salad has some 13 ingredients, which our waiter rattled off. Spinich Salad with BLue Cheese, pears was great. Bay Scallops on Mushroom Ragout & truffle oil could have used a bit more seasoning on the mushrooms- or oil- but cooked perfectly. Steak excellent and the Goat Cheese Pizza good...and generous enough to share. Drinks a bit pricey...but this is NY people! Service was extraordinary .
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Review from Anne Marie B.
Manhattan, NY
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love me a gay brunch. And 44 1/2 certainly delivers on that front.
With a little less than an hour before curtain call, three of us needed sustenance and when the sister restaurant was full, they recommended we try 44 1/2. Any place that has multiple benedicts on the brunch menu is perfect in my book.
44 1/2 was already quite full and we were seated in the back of the patio. A little cozy, but we did have a great view of the giant parties next to us. We opted not to get the breakfast cocktails, but with sassy celebrity names it was hard to pass them up.
I went with the crabcake benedict. The bf went with the regular benedict. And our third got an omelet. I'd say we were all quite pleased with our food. The crabcakes were huge and delicious. The eggs were poached perfectly. The hollandaise was spot on. And with breakfast potatoes, salad, and fruit on the side there certainly wasn't a shortage of food on the plate.
The only gripe we had was the service. It took forever to get our waiter to take our order. Maybe had we not been in such a rush to catch our show we wouldn't have minded the leisurely brunch, but they have so many different staff members in charge of water, food service, and muffin delivery, that if you're looking for someone to take your order and bring you your check, it's a little daunting. Our waiter, who was very nice, took our order, then never stopped by our table again. We had to flag someone else down for the check, and finally our waiter brought it, apologizing for the delay due to the big parties in the patio.
I would give this place 3 stars for the subpar service (although the giant party next to us seemed to have the attention of all the waiters), but reminiscing about those crabcakes I just can't help but give them 4 stars. Perhaps if you don't come on a busy day, and you're a fabulous gay man yourself you'll have no trouble getting the proper attention. But I would come back for the food, definitely. -
Review from Dani H.
Manhattan, NY
2/17/2012
Came here for Vday a few days ago.
I had a nice time here w my fiance, he had the lobster pot pie and i had the tuna tartare we both enjoyed our food.
4stars because..
Its a pretty nice place, but i feel like it could have been more intimate.
My fiance tried to reserve a spot for 630 and they said they were booked but when we got there at 6 there were so many empty tables and they remained empty til we left waaay after 630 -
Review from Beth H.
Brooklyn, NY
1/8/2012
Had Sunday brunch here. Definitely glad we had a reservation, as it was quite crowded (but there is seating for people who are waiting, which is a bonus at a brunch place on a chilly January morning.)
The food was good, about average priced for brunch in midtown, and the atmosphere is fun. Brunch portions were quite large -- eggs benedict came with potatoes, salad, and fruit. We enjoyed sitting in the tented back porch area -- darling pink decorations.
The only downside was the service. While our waiter was nice (and cute), it took forever to get our coffee and juice, took quite a while to get coffee refills, and we waited for 10-15 minutes for the waiter to return to run our credit cards.
Overall, though, I'd definitely return. -
Review from mary l.
4/27/2012
i think it's a 4. i rarely comment on ambiance but the place was so clean, filled with fresh flowers, a lovely white marble bar, and a great garden room in the back. the customers varied to fab couples and people in the neighborhood service isn't super quick but they allow you to chill and hang out - that's what brunch is about. the food options range in breakfast and lunch items which i appreciate. calamari app was ok, but not exactly the most tender, but my main dish was huge and delicious - a giant and fresh side salad came with. i'm going back with my parents as i feel its so accessible and a neighborhood fave.
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Review from Derek W.
Valencia, CA
Just was walking along Hell's Kitchen and stumbled upon this place, i'm glad we did
The Order:
North Atlantic Cod - wrapped in bacon with other goodies and this dish delivered, every bite was an explosion of flavor in my mouth
Halibut - in manila clams and chive clam broth was good when we were done with the dish, i wanted to drink the rest of the broth straight from the bowl, i didn't to this but i did finish the broth
This place is worth a trip if your in the area -
Review from Mindy M.
New York, NY
2/28/2012
I walk by this place every morning at around 8:45 AM before they're open, and EVERY SINGLE DAY there is an employee (late 30s, hispanic, slightly larger than average build) sitting in the window leering at -- and making disgusting faces at -- every single woman who walks by. this has happened to me every day for 6 straight months. i've been here for cocktails at night and they are good -- in fact, if this guy weren't so offensive I'd likely be here spending money regularly, as I live 2 blocks away -- but this one employee of theirs makes me think the place has hidden cameras in their bathroom stalls. OWNER TAKE NOTE PLZ.
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Review from Alison O.
New York, NY
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I simply enjoy this place.I mean, I've been here twice. Both times were enjoyable.
Food was tasty. Waiters (cute, friendly, some pretentious - but whatevs) were nice. Prices just right. Oh, and their teas are scrumptious. Somewhere I would def. take others too. Repeat business from me, for sure. -
Review from Danielle W.
Plainfield, NJ
4/28/2012
Took forever, but the waiter was friendly and the food was great.
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Review from Jen F.
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here for Sunday brunch and this place is pretty fabulous. Seriously, all the servers are super fabulous gay guys wearing pink witty tshirts. I wanted to befriend all of them.
Okay, onto the important stuff! The atmosphere is nice. I'd consider making a reservation on busier days because this place filled up very quickly around 11:30am/noon. The heated outdoor patio was still kind of frigid but it was better than waiting for a table inside.
I got the California Omelette. It was good! Egg whites, avocado, spinach, mozerella..YUM. They also give you some fruit and an english muffin with your breakfast. A true three star meal- nothing spectacular, but it hit the spot and helped cure my hangover. -
Review from tammy h.
San Francisco, CA
11/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fresh floral decor, excellent! Friendly and knowledgeable staff, major "Like!" Lord knows you can't put a price on personality.
Theme here is a classic powder pink; nicely done-- aka not overdone. I dont usually fancy pink, even from as a child but I really like it here. The lighting is dim enough to relax but luminescent enough to see who you're talking to.
Offers bar and tables. Cocktails are delish! So nice, knowledgeable, and able to execute delish drinks!
Cocktails range from 12-14. Vino by the glass, 9-16. Will be back :)
Oh, and the bartenders-- simply awesome! They added to our fun while my girls and I sat at the bar to catch up on life. Thanks, Justin & Hugo! The rest of the staff were great as well but they were excellent in terms of customer service and being approachable with any questions on the menu.
I did order food here, it was A-okay. Prawns and angel hair, except I sub'd out the angel hair for grain penne. The prawns were delicious! Proportion of the dish itself was rather petite. Little matter when you're having a great time, and it was a great time! Ambiance is also not too loud-- this place is ideal for catching up. -
Review from Helen C.
New York, NY
9/6/2011
The food was okay but the service was so utterly disappointing that I vow to never come back here along with the 10 people I came here with. Our server "Daniel" was probably the WORST waiter I've ever encountered. He wasn't paying attention to our orders since he had a female companion waiting at the bar for him. Where is the manager at this place? I don't think they had one staffed that night.
Daniel got my boyfriends order wrong the first time. Brought him lobster risotto when he clearly asked for lobster ravioli. Then he comes back 15 minutes later with lobster pot pie! We laughed in disbelief at this guy and told him we ordered lobster ravioli- not Pot Pie- and he had the nerve to give us an attitude and tell us we were wrong. We ended up just eating the pot pie anyways which was tasty but not what we had ordered. This restaurant experience was a memorable one but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. -
Review from Hong L.
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for Sunday brunch around 1pm. It was not packed, although I have to say that we did make reservations for 7 people.
I got the California omelet which was made in egg whites (attempting to be healthy) with a sizeable portion of sliced avocado on top. The dish comes with toasted english muffin, an already dressed mixed greens and a side of not-so-fresh fruit. I was pleased with the size of the plate and how filling everything was. However, the omelet had too much egg whites and not enough content. I really wondered how many whites did they have to use to make my omelet. We also added for jam for our muffin. Though, I was surprised that they didn't bring us ketchup.
The drinks are fun but that's about it. If you want a cocktail, be prepared to pay $10-$14/drink. I got myself a jasmine green tea and I did like the fact that they served me actual tea leaves in an individual sized tea pot. My boyfriend got a coffee it was rather small compared to the size of my tea. Needless to say he finished his coffee rather quickly.
The environment is rather hip modern with a spread of elegance. The waiters wear pretty cute pink tshirts with works in the front & back. Unfortunately, there was no wow factor to make me come back again. -
Review from Benson Y.
From the photos here on Yelp and the web site, I should have known to make a reservation for 44 1/2 but I didn't, so my girlfriend and I wound up sitting at the bar. No big deal to me, I love sitting at bars. It reminds me of diners long gone in the city. Still, we managed to get a good look at this space nestled off in Hell's Kitchen and let me tell you, these people really pay attention to details. The bar has small glasses with roses in them, the bathroom has flowers in it with candles and the outdoor seating area is gorgeous. If it wasn't humid gross (and threatening rain) we would have totally sat out there.
The front area is where the full bar is located with a ceiling high set of shelves for glasses. The bar curves in a gentle pattern and against the opposite wall is a bar and several chairs for a nice crowd to chill out and enjoy drinks. Beyond the bar is the indoor seating area and behind glass panels and doors is the outside area full of greenery in a beautiful setting.
I kicked off my meal with a hazelnut espresso which was wonderful. Deep flavor and nutty. I had starved myself most of the morning for this meal so I went hog wild. Here's a breakdown of the dishes we ordered:
CRAB CAKE BENEDICT
It's hard to make a crab cake that doesn't taste overly fishy, overly salted or just soggy. It's also hard to make one that isn't all grease. 44 1/2 managed to pull it off however, making a light, flavorful crabcake on a wonderful english breakfast muffin slice with a perfectly done egg on top. It was a perfect marriage of texture and flavor.
GRUYERE OMELETTE
This omelette had gruyere, fluffy eggs and mushrooms all worked into a super tasty package. This omelette was neat and the eggs were nice anf springy. This was no flat, diner rush job, this was done by someone who cared ot make the food present and taste good.
The home fries were a surprise. Cubed ptotatoes with peppers and onion and seasoned perfectly. Usually I have to add something to home fries to give them flavor, but not so here.
OATMEAL (with fruit)
I love love love oatmeal, so when I have a bad one it's always sadness, but this oatmeal was amazing. With banana, honey and fruit it was wonderfully creamy and had a great chew to it. In addition the serving size is huge, easily enough for two people to have. The fruit serving as also very generous which was much appreciated!
Kudos to the service. The bartender was very attentive and after we ordered out food came out at a pretty insane speed.
With a great atmosphere and super tasty food, i really do recommend 44 1/2 for a nice brunch in the city. That said, make sure to call ahead and make rservations first! -
Review from Pati F.
Andover, MA
2/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I stopped by randomly and everything was great!! The drinks (highly recommend the eastside on their cocktail list) and the staff was awesome... sophisticated for a date night, while still a fun night with girls at the bar... do make reservations for dinner, but for drinks and a quick bite stop by the bar.... the bartenders will take great care of you!
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Review from Jay D.
Columbia, SC
12/5/2011
Came for dinner here on Saturday night with wife.
Great location with parking garage nearby on 42nd street.
Atmosphere was nice. Seemed like a lot of regular customers where in the restaurant.
Appetizers were great (crab cake and calamari). $12-16.
Entree was great (cod and scallops). $20-30
Drinks were made well. $12 per
Total for dinner $156 plus tax.
Overall...very nice experience
Wife loved the waiters in their pink shirts plus the fact that their were no waitresses for me to look at for a change!
She definitely wants to eat here again. -
Review from Barrett L.
Philadelphia, PA
8/13/2011
44 1/2 knows its neighborhood and clientele very well, almost too well. Cute boys in cheeky, suggestive T-shirts serve the Hells Kitchen and Chelsea set in an upscale, yet just shy of fancy setting. In obvious competition with 44 and X down the street, patrons here should expect run-of-the-mill "New American" cuisine that doesn't look nearly as good on the plate as the waiters or patrons.
I came here for brunch today with a buddy of mine around 2. The place was nearly empty, despite the brunch menu featuring all of the normal standards (eggs benedict, omelets, egg combos, pancakes, etc...) and a list of creative and hilariously named cocktails (I will one day order the Britney Bender, which is made with house vodka and tang). Before our food came out, I greatly enjoyed the fresh squeezed OJ and the corn muffins with creamy butter. The spoiled milk with my coffee, not so much.
When my food arrived, the Scotty's Breakfast, I was overwhelmed by how large the portion was. A heaping helping of scrambled eggs set atop "crispy pancetta" and grits, served with a sliced english muffin and a small fruit salad. The eggs were decent, nothing special, but the Pancetta was definitely not crispy (and definitely not reminiscent of anything I ever called Pancetta). The grits were buttery but a bit heavy, while everything else was fine. Overall, not terrible for just over $20, but on the whole, there was something missing from the experience.
I suppose that this is the kind of place that will do when everything else is busy, or packed, or you want to try a new place. It's not terrible, but it's not terrific either. Perfectly so-so, and that's exactly how I felt after eating here. -
Review from Vania K.
Manhattan, NY
8/8/2011
Who knew there is such a cute brunch place in my neighborhood? Checked out 44 1/2 for Sunday brunch with a group of girls. We were able to make reservation, so no wait at all (YAY!). Walking into this place feels like walking into a Beverly Hills hotel lobby. Everything was so cute and adorable, right down to the all-male wait staff dressed in pink tees. The place was clean, decorated simply but tastefully, and bright with plenty of natural light.
Our food was good. I wasn't too crazy about the frittata, but the girls were really digging the eggs benedict. The french toast looks more like bread pudding and it came with salad, which I thought was odd... but I suppose after all the sugary pecan goodness, you need some salad to make you feel a tad less guilty. All the brunch items were around $15, so I guess it's not exactly cheap... but very few places in NY are anyway. The coffee drinks are worth getting. I rarely ever feel the need to spend my hard-earned dollars on coffee at brunch places, but I would strongly recommend getting a cappuccino or other caffeinated drinks here. They also have a list of "diva" alcoholic drinks that come in bigger-than-usual martini glasses.
Also, service was great. I was a bit worried about service based on the other reviews, but our waters were very attentive even though it seemed to be a pretty busy day for them. Overall, I would recommend this place. It is my little piece of California in the middle of Manhattan :) -
Review from Julia Z.
New York, NY
10/21/2011
Came here with a group of 6 for dinner.
The decor is simple but pleasant. The high ceiling made this place seem much roomier than it is. The outdoor seating looked very nice... I'm sure it would be great in the summer.
Between us, we ordered the salmon, halibut, scallops, lobster pot pie and risotto (everything was priced at around $33).
Every dish had a decently large portion and a good presentation. But the lobster pot pie had the most impressive appearance. Its gorgeous golden crust was near perfection and inside was a generous portion of lobster meat.
Sadly, none the other dishes stood out like the pot pie. E.g. halibut was over cooked and the salmon was under cooked.
All in all, it's not a bad place for groups because the ambiance is nice. But you could find better food else where. -
Review from Joyce K.
Washington D.C., DC
11/13/2011
in town for the day to see a play, and wanted to try something not too far from the theater. After reading some online reviews, decided that 44-1/2 was worth a try. Phoned in a reservation before arriving.
WOW. What a cute place. And, the waiters (all guys in tight pink t-shirts) were cute, too! Had the Bruce's omelet and a mimosa. The mini-corn muffins were delish; just wish the mimosa was served in a much larger glass. Mixed drinks have cute names...but, are pricey! Food was well prepared. If it had been 10-15 degrees warmer, would have opted to be seated out on the patio (looks really nice!). I would definitely return to 44-1/2. Looks like the kind of place that would be great fun at night. -
Review from Cee B.
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Maybe I'm just still floating on air from the wonderful company I had...I met up with some dear old college friends for Sunday brunch. We made reservations at 11:00AM Sunday through OpenTable.
Even though this placed looked like a Beverly Hills or even Marin County spa or hotel lobby, we strolled in wearing sneakers and jeans because of the rain and it was totally chill, casual. Sans humidity and rain, the beautiful patio in the back would've been awesome to sit in. It was a nice place to catch up and talk with friends--not loud and the waiters constantly refilled our coffees. The waiters were bubbly, attentive, and all wore cute pink shirts with sassy adjectives.
This place fed into my SHAMELESS love for tooth-decaying 90s pop. We heard BSB, N'Sync, Spice Girls, Michael Jackson's "Thriller," etc. It played into my lower school memories. I speak for the Under 25 crowd when I say I profoundly enjoyed hearing childhood tuneskies. I was a little disappointed in that I didn't hear any Snow or La Bouche, or perhaps various Jock Jams tracks but that's OK.
They offered both the Brunch and Lunch menu. The token male of the group got a delicious filet mignon sandwich for $17. We girls got the brunch menu. I got the Classic Benedict ($15), which was delicious. It came with a largely ignored, awkward salad in the middle. Please, I'm from Texas, move out of the way so I may access my home fries. We split our bill and it was $35/each for three cocktails and three meals--surprisingly cheap if you ask me.
I LOVE the hilarious brunch cocktail names. The Whitney Comeback (wishful thinking), the Britney Bender with tang and vodka, the Celine Dione's My Hangover Will Go On, something involving Beyonce, etc. My friend stirred her Beyonce-themed Bellini and it overflowed so don't stir it too much even though they tell you to. -
Review from Monica R.
Manhattan, NY
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was hoping to find a good brunch spot near the Theater District; this one is okay. The restaurant itself is cute & the service was fine. Watch out if you are a party of 2 because, as other reviewers have said, they will squeeze you into these tiny tables that are extremely close. I felt like I was intruding on other peoples conversations. My main problem was the food. Looked really good on paper but turned out to be just so so. DID NOT enjoy the French toast. It was more like bread pudding & I did not want dessert for breakfast. The blueberry pancakes were better but still not great. Parmesan eggs lacked flavor & cheese to be quite honest although I did enjoy the grits, yummy bacon & seasoned potatoes. Also good portion sizes, but all-in-all nothing exciting.
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Review from Jessie P.
Healdsburg, CA
1/2/2012
44 1/2 was fantastic. The service, the food, the atmosphere and food was great. Yes, the guys in the cute pink shirts were "cute". My fiance and I came with our ever SO cute and fantastic gay friends. We could have been impressed with the cuteness that surrounded us but we were really impressed with the fluffy eggs and awesome pancakes. My fiance is a chef in Sonoma, California and he is a picky one. All he could say about this place was, "its warm, it's too warm"... lots of cute people in little sweaters... and , " these are the most amazing eggs. it's difficult to do breakfast well. This place does awesome breakfast.". This was the best breakfast/brunch we could have asked for. Anytime my man is satisfied and voices his opinion in a uber positive way, is rad and means the place is worth adding to the "must visit again" list.
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Review from Sasha P.
New York, NY
6/21/2011
Went here recently for a Father's day brunch. There were four of us. We had a reservation. Should be pretty simple. Only it wasn't.
We got there, a little early, and they still wanted us to wait forever for an inside table. So we finally took an outside one, which was nice and breezy. But the service was borderline awful. We could never get our waiter's attention, the kitchen lost our ticket and didn't find out about it for over an hour. Beyond that, when we asked for simple things like: a glass of orange juice, refills on water, etc...it took more than 10 minutes for each. Truthfully, they should have been refilling the glasses WITHOUT us asking. But they weren't.
Luckily, the food was really good, but that was the only redeeming factor. But it wasn't so good that I'd go back and pay that much money for crappy service. -
Review from Kimberly L.
New York, NY
Really cute brunch spot! The black and white theme reminded me of a hotel but then the touch of light pink on the waiter's t-shirts and on the menu's was a bit different.
The back area has a pretty garden patio that opens in May, I'd love to go go and check that out when the weather gets warm.
I ordered the salmon benedict which was good and a decent size portion for $16. It was served with a salad and home fries. I also tasted a bit of the andouille frittata which was light and delicious. The back of the menu was very tempting as well with a large selection of flat bread pizza's.
Our server was friendly and I had no complaints on service (we came at 2pm w/o a reservation and were seated within 20 mins).
I would love to sit outside next time! -
Review from Jude D.
Fort Greene, Brooklyn, NY
8/16/2011
Not surprised to see that the comments consistently mention the poor service and terrible management. Do they think just because they're way over on tenth avenue that we'll forget were in New York, where good service is a necessity?
All we wanted were bloody marys. So we foolishly ordered them without looking at a menu. When they came, we were initially impressed with the many olives and other standard garnishes. As soon as we tasted them however... Well it tasted like tomato juice and olives. I'm a bartender and I really hate when drinks are so weak you can't taste the alcohol even a little bit. I'm not some wasted high school girl who needs a cosmopolitan because she doesn't like to taste the alcohol. We politely asked that our drinks be made a little stronger and explained that we were not satisfied. The waiter said he had to check and when he came back he said he could give us all a double shot for 8 dollars more each! Forget it. If this were my bar and someone didn't like my drink, I would pour them another, no questions asked.
When we get the bill we see that THE WORST BLOODY MARY I have ever had was FOURTEEN DOLLARS!!
I was fuming, so my attempts to talk to the manager were a little sloppy. Had I been an older man maybe I would have stood a chance, but no way did this guy give a shit that a twenty something didn't like her drink.
Terrible management never ever makes a good restaurant. I feel sorry for everyone who has to work for that guy. I will never be going back here. -
Review from Aimee N.
San Diego, CA
2/16/2011 3 photos
Enjoyed a lovely dinner at 44 1/2 over the summer. We strolled in late and were greeted by a welcoming staff, lovely ambiance and delicious food.
Cocktails flowed, food was paced well...our server was conscious not to rush as despite the fact we arrived at 10:30pm.
We started with the tuna tartar appetizer which is among many of the best this tuna connoisseur has experienced.
Our goat cheese salad was just okay. It was pretty standard as a salad can come and the cheese was not as creamy as I make at home. I would recommend trying a different salad.
The grand finale, as we were too full for dessert, our filet mignon, which was fantastic. Perfectly cooked medium rare, creamy mashed potatoes, al dente asparagus and a wonderful demi glaze to round it out. All in all a fantastic meal. I will definitely visit 44 1/2 upon my next visit to Manhattan! -
Review from Michelle L.
Manhattan, NY
7/18/2011
I made a reservation through Yelp at 44 1/2 for brunch at noon on Sunday, and when I arrived around noon (okay, to be honest, I was running a teensy bit late, but only by 5 minutes), my friends and I were seated right away.
One of my party right away commented that the tables were really small - we were definitely squeezed into a two-person table, and we were a party of three. Were there no four-person tables that they could seat us at??
The service, however, was great. I don't remember the name of our waiter, but he was very attentive and helpful - he gave recommendations of his favourite dishes, always refilled our water glasses when they were empty, and returned a few minutes after we got our dishes to ask how we were doing.
The food itself was also great. They served complimentary mini corn muffins with a butter spread before our meal, which was a nice change from the usual bread basket. I had a bit of a sore throat and ordered the oatmeal, and the mound of fresh fruit they had on top was a pleasant surprise. My friends ordered the crabcake benedict and the filet mignon sandwich. All of the dishes were sizable portions, and we left satisfied with our meal.
If the place wasn't so pricey, I would make this place one of my regular brunch go-tos and give 44 1/2 4 1/2 stars! (Really, be warned, this place IS pricey - the prices they have online don't match up with the prices on the menu we received at the restaurant.) -
Review from Christina Y.
Santa Monica, CA
11/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
I was meeting a friend in Hell's Kitchen for brunch and she suggested this pristine, beautiful restaurant. As soon as I walked in I was struck by their gorgeous pink rose and peony arrangement, as well as the weird tight pink t-shirts that all of the male servers and bartenders seemed to be wearing. They looked shocked that we didn't have a reservation - and in turn, I was shocked that people made reservations for brunch, especially when I spied a bunch of empty tables. However, they let us order coffee and peruse the menu while we waited and my friend was running late anyway so it all worked out just fine. We ended up at a very cozy (read: small) table by the front window, which allowed for some fun people watching.
The menu is straightforward but had some interesting things on it. I wasn't in the most adventurous mood, so I went with the smoked salmon Benedict for $16. I liked that it wasn't drowning in Hollandaise, and the eggs really were perfectly poached. The breakfast potatoes it came with were disappointing....not very flavorful and slightly undercooked. But I liked the nice fruit arrangement that it also came with, as it included some yummy pineapples and berries along with the standard melons. They also have some yummy-looking grits and omelets, as well as a crab cake Benedict, which sounded fabulous.
It's a pretty classy looking place and the prices reflect it. It's a great spot to meet someone for a 'cute' brunch, but not someplace I could see myself visiting regularly!Listed in: New York Stops
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Review from Eugenio V.
ASTORIA, NY
6/30/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I wasn't that impressed. The third star is largely because of the atmosphere, which is great inside and out on the back patio.
The food was good, but not anything spectacular. I can get more exciting brunch food for the same price or less elsewhere.
The service was NOT good. Server was inattentive and forgetful, and it just wasn't busy enough for that to have been the case.
Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, but it wasn't one I feel the need to repeat.
