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Barney Greengrass
Categories: Food Specialty Food Restaurants Delis Specialty Food, Delis [Edit]
541 Amsterdam Ave(between 86th St & 87th St)
New York, NY 10024
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
(212) 724-4707
- Nearest Transit:
-
86 St (1, 2)
86 St (A, B, C)
79 St (1, 2)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4 pm
Sat-Sun 8:30 am - 5 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
165 reviews for Barney Greengrass
Review Highlights
"I love the lox and the Nova Scotia Salmon."
(in 13 reviews)
"Bagels + lox + Scallion cream cheese = delicious and tasty."
(in 9 reviews)
"An amazing array of smoked fish is lined up behind glass."
(in 20 reviews)
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165 reviews in English
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Review from Karen F.
1/18/2012
An Upper-West Side tradition - smoked fish, bagel platters, brunch, take out, dine in.
Tourists, long lines on weekends and "New Yawk" behaviors.
Excellent for people watching and terrific food.
Know what you want when they come to take your order!
Latkes, Lox, Herring - they've got all the bases covered.
Who needs the bagel??Listed in: Flam Craves NY Style Deli
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Review from Liana K.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Liking this place will most likely boil down to whether you like quality smoked fish. Yes? Come in, have a seat and drool at all the options.
Being as how I couldn't make up my mind, I order the Sturgeon and Nova Scotia Salmon scramble (21USD). And I was a happy camper. The boyfriend opted for the white tuna sandwich which did not fail to fulfill him either.
I wasn't a bit fan of the bagels they tasted a bit stale, but that wasn't what I came for anyways.
Overall we both enjoyed our pricey brunch and were ready for more trolling through the city.
Also, I think its cash only, haven't lived in NYC for a while now so I forgot that still exists! -
Review from Julia D.
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm one of those weird extraterrestrial Jews who doesn't enjoy lox or any kind of smoked fish, but when The Gothamist listed Barney Greengrass as one of the top 5 institutions in NYC to eat latkes, well, my inner Jew was re-awakened. Goyfriend and I cycled over to this upper west side deli on a Sunday morning, expecting to have to wait in line, and were pleasantly surprised to find that though Barney's was packed, we were seated and attended to very quickly.
We orded the famous latkes, which are actually NOT on the menu but are served here on weekends, and I also got a pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese while my goyfriend ironically indulged in a bagel with lox, tomato, onion, capers, and cream cheese.
Everything was expectedly spectacular; the latkes were the thick and poofy kind, not the thin and crunchy kind, but they had a nice and crispy exterior and were delicious. There were four to an order and they ran $12.95. The bagels were great, but good lord, they must somehow use some kind of golden flour for these things, because otherwise they are way overpriced. Service, coffee, and ambience were all on point, and as much as I enjoyed my experience here, I don't think I'll be coming back due to the high price tag. The total for 2 bagels, coffees, and latkes was a whopping $45. -
Review from Rachel J.
11/25/2011 ROTD 1/1/2012
Just a hop, skip and a jump from Zabar's - the other staple that holds down the UWS - Barney G.'s has the best breakfast food this side of the Hudson.
A 100 year old institution, Barney Greengrass is the place grandfathers take their grandkids for meals on weekends, to introduce them to all manner of smoky fish and salty meats, to devour rugelach and chocolate babka, and to learn how to pronounce it all correctly.
The front is mostly for take-out purchases, although has a few tables for overflow; the back room, preserved in time for grandchildren to admire, is the restaurant proper, covered in horse-and-wagon wallpaper which is somehow charming (even though it's green). The space isn't large and the tables are pretty close, so be prepared for long waits on weekends and to inadvertently overhear all conversations at neighboring tables no matter when you show up.
The dishes aren't cheap, but they are Worth It. My recommendation is to go with "Barney's Specialties:" the eggs with nova and onions, which comes with a bagel & cream cheese, cannot be beat, and you can't find a better pastrami and eggs anywhere in NYC. If none of the specialties appeal to you, hit the 3-decker sandwiches - but be prepared to be unable to finish them! And you cannot leave without having a black and white cookie. I know they're available all over the city, but this cookie is so fluffy and moist it's more like a cake.
I've just made myself so hungry I'm gonna head there now. See ya!Listed in: Best of the West - the Upper…
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Review from Taryn C.
1/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This place has a lot of charm and panache. It gets very busy - even on the weekdays! - for seating. But we didn't have to wait very long for a table for two. Anyway, it was all about the blintzes when we were there. I have to say, I believe this place is a lot of hype. The blintzes are like $15 a plate...but small. I guess compared to Carnegie Deli - a tourist trap in and of itself - I can get blintzes for about the same price and have enough to bring home. The coffee here? Super duper weak. It's like brown water. The service is very good - our waiter was really nice and suggested both preserves and sour cream with our blintzes. I get the charm, but it's very pricey and a bit of a walk for me. I'll probably reserve this place for when I have guests in from out of town.
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Review from k m.
Los Angeles, CA
11/30/2011
Really, I love this place. I could eat here on a daily basis. Lox, Eggs, and Bagels are a family breakfast tradition in my family and this was the best I'd ever head. The best Sabel, Baked Salmon, and Nova Lox. They serve H&H bagels that were fluffy and wonderful. It was a bit pricey but honestly for the best breakfast fish in the United States, worth it!!!
Oh did I mention it is 100 years old???? Yes, seriously, it's been in business that long. Unreal. -
Review from Shanti N.
Chesterfield, MO
10/25/2011
I was, as the Brits would say, chuffed to be able to fit in a subway experience and a Barney Greengrass tasting during my latest visit--in the space of one day, to be exact. My mom and I were fortunate enough to be seated right away. This was especially amazing as we came here on a Sunday, when the line wraps around the block. I started off with coffee (black) and a glass of the borscht (a must-try). For the main event, I went with the smoked salmon and egg sandwich on a bialy. My mom ordered the scrambled eggs with salmon and onions. Both of the dishes were excellent and satisfied my craving for smoked fish and acerbic, old-school New York deli service. Kosher dills accompanied both dishes--not the best I'd ever tasted but a thoughtful touch in any case.
We had the sweetest waiter as well. Since our orders were taking a while to come out, we got a potato latke and applesauce on the house. I'll point out that it wasn't even that long of a wait, especially with all of the great people-watching to be had. This spot is a true New York institution and I look forward to returning, no matter how long the subway ride to the UWS. -
Review from Dayday S.
Scarsdale, NY
10/21/2011
(Review by my 8 year old daughter, Livi)
I love Barney Greengrass. The matzo ball soup is so good, it's almost as good as grandma's. We loved the knish, the salads and bagels. Everything was delicious. The service was nice, our waiter invited us to his gig. I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Jeff S.
A gem on the UWS. Consistently terrific food and service. The house made gravlox is freaking amazing. I had a side of it with some excellent scrambled eggs and onions and a bialy last week, and it was paradise. One tip, this place is crazy packed on the weekend, so it's best to try it out during the week.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/3/2010
Simply fantastic old school Jewish deli food. The place looks like it hasn't changed since 1957,… Read more »
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Review from Kirsten S.
New York, NY
10/19/2011
Barney Greengrass is legendary, but I don't know if I am quite in tune enough with the world of Kosher food and smoked fish to fully appreciate it.
I tried the Pastrami Salmon, which is a wonderfully seasoned piece of smoked salmon that makes me (a non-Pastrami eater) feel like I shouldn't be eating it because the flavors are so authentic.
The world-famous Sturgeon, which (side note) is a terribly ugly fish, has a surprisingly nice flavor. It's a bit drier than the salmon, so if you don't like salmon's fattiness it could be a good option for you.
The man behind the counter was wonderfully schmoozy. Their selection of prepared salads, jarred and pickled things, and dry goods are fun to browse also. Definitely worth a visit. -
Review from Dr L.
Manhattan, NY
1/22/2012
Old world charm, pleasant owner, great take-out prices. Same quality as Murray's and not hype and greediness as 2nd Ave Chinese, Sables. Love the sturgeon, potato pancakes, chubbs and nova.
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Review from Michael G.
Palm Beach, FL
7/17/2011
The wife and I usually go there Sunday mornings for our weekly dairy fix. She loves the blintzes with sour cream. I like their bialys with nova but what I really like is their pickled herring in cream sauce. Barney Greengrass has the best...tender and sweet.
Now this is for all you youngsters out there. I know you've looked at the pickled herring in cream sauce in the deli case and shuddered with horror at the thought of eating anything like that. But one day, when you're much older and you finally decide to try it, you're gonna kill yourself for wasting all those years without it. You'll see.
Next week, we'll talk about anchovies.
And maybe, heaven forbid, capers. -
Review from Michael L.
Brooklyn, NY
8/20/2011
An old timer's restaurant serves up all of your favorites (or more accurately, the stuff you hated but grew to love post bar-mitzvah) from grandma's house.
I enjoyed a smoked salmon and sweet onion omelette that came with a pumpernickle bagel and cream cheese. $14
My fiance was less enthused about hers, which was literally a cut of a white fish next to two sunny side up eggs and a sesame bagel. $12
We shared a coffee. $2.85!
We picked a few decently priced items, but this menu can definitely get out of hand, almost as if they're charging a premium for the nastalgia that their menu brings out to anybody who's parents grew up in New York.
We'll be back eventually, but I'll at least wait til I'm done with graduate school and have an income :) -
Review from Sarah C.
5/20/2011
Honestly, I was expecting that the sturgeon king would not be able to justify his high prices, but Barney Greengrass delivered an absolutely awesome brunch. There's just something special about going to an old school Jewish deli on the Upper West Side. I felt like I was in a Woody Allen movie (OK I just checked and the place actually WAS in a Woody Allen movie. Figures.) It also reminded me of Russ and Daughters, but with the added bonus of seating and table service. If you want a sit down Jewish breakfast, Barney Greengrass is the place to go.
Boyfriend and I stopped in around noon one weekend and were seated at a tiny tiny table without any wait. He got a sturgeon sandwich, I got cheese blintzs, and we both got some sassy-but-well-meant attitude from our waiter.
The sturgeon was awesome. I haven't eaten a lot of sturgeon in my day, but I've recently had a couple of opportunities to try it and it really is delicious. If, like me, you think that sturgeon is an unfortunate sounding word and does not sound like something you would like to eat, do not let that discourage you. The salty smoked flavor is very unique and tasty, and every time I've had it, I've craved more. There is something addictive good about sturgeon!
The cheese blintzes were also delicious. But how can you go wrong with blintzes, really? I mean, it's sweet and cheesy and fried all at once, tempered by rich and tangy sour cream. If you like a hearty breakfast, take a break from bacon and eggs and try a blinz. And if you are at Barney Greengrass and don't want to spend nearly twenty dollars on sturgeon, the blintz is an excellent consolation prize.
As I said, I was skeptical that the sturgeon would be worth the price tag, but I think it is actually a worthy splurge. If you love sturgeon, you should definitely make the investment here. The atmosphere is a wonderful slice of old New York, and the fish lives up to its regal reputation. If you want to try sturgeon for the first time, you're not going to get it better than you would here. Of course, it's a bit of a risk spending so much money on something you've never had before, but I'd say the odds are in your favor. -
Review from Troy S.
Simi Valley, CA
6/17/2011
When it comes to food, I reserve the right to come to my own conclusions about what tastes good, without the influence of the teaming masses. I am supposed to love this place, and how do I know this, because my social network tells me so.
However, this restaurant is not happening for me. Its New York, and with that, its understood that I will wait a long time for a table and get served. I also expect to over pay for any good or service I buy. Conversely, I expect a great slash memorable meal for my investment. Barney's fell short of that mark.
With over 16,000 places to eat in New York, I know I can do better than this, and I have. I feel New York has the world's best cuisine, bar none, so I can give Barney's a miss without too many broken hearts on Facebook. -
Review from Samara S.
Manhattan, NY
1/5/2012
This is an NYC staple!! I have been coming here since I was able to eat and it has been amazing all the way through. The fresh OJ is awesome!!!!
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Review from Evan M.
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
How do I live on the UWS all these years without having been to this legendary eating establishment? I try to go through life without any regrets, however, I don't regret not ever eating here until now. All those mornings when I walked by the huge line out the door for this place were not lost.
I know that I'm going to be part of that small minority that was not amazed by this place. This joint is known for it's fish which I did not have. I realize that my review is not based on their specialty but if they are going to bill themselves as this incredible jewish deli they better be able to excel on all fronts in order get the true jewish deli experience.
Being a well known jewish deli, I figured I couldn't go wrong with ordering a standard hot pastrami on rye. The sandwich was decent enough but the portion size was extremely on the lean side. You go to any real jewish deli and the pastrami is spilling out from the bread because it's that huge. Even an old dog like Katz still does it right. I know you can't teach an old dog new tricks but this ain't a new trick. No need to nickel and dime on the pastrami.
I also got the spinach knish which looked less like real spinach and more like some spinach paste that was mixed in with the potato giving it this weird green, food coloring look to it. You know when you continue to eat something thinking it might taste better the more you progress but it never does? Needless to say, I never finished the knish. That's saying a lot because I always finish a meal the way I finish a movie. Even if the movie is so-so, I never walk out of the theatre. It would have to be really bad for me to walk out. That's what this was like.
Like I said, I know a million people love this place and are afraid to say anything bad about it but it just didn't do it for me. Charging 5 bucks for delivery was also another slap in the face since I was well within their delivery range. That seemed to be based more on pure ego and rep to charge for delivery. Was also told that I would be getting half a pickle with sandwich order. That never happened. When you have a better option like Lansky's in the area there's no reason to go to this dinosaur. Some people like to compare eating here to a Woody Allen-esque experience. If they meant feeling violated and taken advantage of after eating here then that sounds about right. -
Review from Danielle W.
New York, NY
5/20/2011
I hate giving this place 4 stars- i feel like it should be at 1 star for its absurd prices for smear lox and bagels, but for the yumminess of the food it should be at a 5! This is coming to meet somewhat in the middle...more based upon the taste than the price...
I mean the sturgeon people...is great- however $50 for two people???? I just dont know if that is justifiable.
SO! I conclude- this place is great if you are taking your grandparents and they want an old diner-deli combo, with amazing half sour pickles and a few sesame bagels... The lox is great, the fish was great- the bagels...are bagels...and well the service kinda sucks! but hey- its an old deli style place meant for those who like to eat breakfast at a pace of the tortoise and not the hare.Listed in: Lox & Bagels
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Review from Robert Benjamin S.
New York, NY
6/21/2011
You will find me here at least 3 times a month, between the hours of 10 and 12, for breakfast. You'll find me here because I'm afraid that one day the restaurant will close and my heart will break. It is the last of its kind in the City and in spite of Hollywood's attempt to co-opt it, seeking to snatch a bit of its authenticity for its typically insincere representations of the City, it remains true to form. This, in spite of the fact that as its real clientele ages, it is replaced by Europeans and Asians, seeking a taste of the "real New York."
I order simply, the same dish, with rare variation. I order the belly lox platter, also known as salty lox (Mayor Bloomberg can go to hell), without onions or lemons. I ask for two plain bagel, scooped and toasted and extra cream cheese. I assemble my bagel, cream cheese and lox myself.
During the winter I might add a bowl of their excellent matzoh ball soup, and if I feel like something sweet, a cheese blintz. It is a joy to sit in their odd dining room, with its curious wallpaper depicting a genteel and gentile antebellum New Orleans. (I once asked Gary, Barney's grandson, how they picked it and he said he wasn't sure. He thought his mother found it on sale, in a pile of discontinued paper.)
In closing, it's worth noting that the staff takes to heart the notion that deli service should be overly familiar to the point of being rude (although never indifferent) and they're all beautiful performers. Each deserves an honorarium from the City. -
Review from gfiddy f.
Chicago, IL
11/2/2011
Everything was delicious, and the restaurant was very friendly.
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Review from Jesse L.
Mt Kisco, NY
3/17/2011
It's not that I have a love-hate relationship with Barney Greengrass (a.k.a. The Sturgeon King) so much as it is that I have a love-not love relationship with it.
The "love" is the fact that the fish is outrageously fresh and they have arguably the best chopped liver I have had in my life (the only one that rivals it is at Sammy's Roumanian where they add fresh chopped radish and rendered chicken fat to it). In fact, the chopped liver is so good that I usually travel down to the city right before the holidays solely to grab a huge container of it to bring back with me. But, unfortunately, that's where the love stops for me.
The rest I don't quite love. The place is usually packed (a mixed blessing depending how you look at it) which leads to some substantial wait times if you are eating there. The service at best is ambivalent and at worst is downright rude. I could deal with all of that to some degree if the prices weren't so outrageously high compared to the size of the portions you get. Despite the small portions, the food quality is always excellent.
All things considered, I try to stick with the Barney Greengrass that I love. I only go there now exclusively for take-out and you know what? I've wound up being a happier customer for it. -
Review from Max S.
11/2/2011
It was brilliant. The food was phenomenal. They brought a soup called Borsch. I thought they were being very kind because this soup was for my parents, basically they put it near me and it looked like a strawberry milkshake, so I drank it then I looked really stupid ;(. It was nice though. I usually have Borsch in a colour red not a milkshake pink. Hope you enjoyed this review. ;)
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Review from Jessica Y.
Los Angeles, CA
12/30/2010
I guess it isn't fair for me to review this place after having been treated to 3 days worth of to-die-for smoked salmon and French fare cooked by the one and only Uncle Dom so I'd say take this as a 3.5 star rating.
But.. what I really like about this place can be broken into as follows:
+Neighborhood Deli-like feel.
+Straight up and no-nonsense concept. ie. Have your entire party there and we'll seat you and get food over to you right away.
+SUPERIOR service and humor to go with it!
+Order off their "Specialties" section in the middle of the menu. My friend has the Atlantic Salmon Scramble and I had their Two Eggs (poached per the usual) with a Side of Sturgeon and Salmon
On the otherside, the only improvements I can think of is that the menu is TOOO extensive. For a neighborhood deli, I'd say they can cut down on their options. Secondly, they should be a little more lenient about substitutions/sides... they charge you $1 for a slice of tomato!!
So all in all, the Sturgeon King really did impress me but for the small portions.. I'm not sure if I'd go back. I def can't complain about the price because I knew what I was getting into but the food wasn't all that spectacular to put it in a nutshell but the experience overall is pretty legit.
Btw, thanks to all the other reviewers for letting us no upfront not to cave in to their offer of potato latkes! :) -
Review from Bea B.
3/14/2011
They have more smoked fish than you can shake a stick at. The bagels, excellently made, come in a variety of flavors except garlic. I find the potato salad a bit too creamy, and, with bits of sweet relish, not at all the flavor I'm used to.
For the non-fish lover friend that you have to drag to Barney's because it's great and he/she really should just come and see, there are "meat sandwiches" on the menu. My buddy had a turkey with mustard, lettuce and tomato on 7 grain bread. He loved it.
When I leave NYC, B. Greengrass will be a place sorely missed. -
Review from Matt E.
8/17/2011
3.5 stars
What Katz is to smoked beef, Barney Greengrass is to smoked fish. This old school Jewish deli/restaurant has been around since 1908 (in this location since 1929) and is the go-to place (along with Russ & Daughters and Zabars) for smoked fish. As the other two places are grocery stores, that makes Barney Greengrass the place to go if you want to eat-in. Smoked fish is a very old world delicacy that really has been mastered in NYC, obviously with Lox being the most well known but many other varieties available (sturgeon, sable, and a number of different types of salmon are also common). The front half of Barney Greengrass is the deli where you can get the fish (a few meats are also available), some baked goods, and some grocery items. The back half is the restaurant that's really more of a old-timey diner.
The service is friendly but notoriously aloof. Smoked fish is quite pricey so obviously anything involving this beautifully prepared food is going to be a little expensive. The majority of their menu has fish involved in one way or another but they do have other options available. I had a sable sandwich (sable is a very tender and delicate white fish also known as black cod that's been seasoned and smoked) on a toasted bialy ($17.50 after tax and tip, $14 before). Barney Greengrass's bagels and bialys are the smallest I've seen in the city, this is most likely because they're usually piling on the fish and the bigger the bagel the more fish they'd have to use. Another thing to note is that if you're coming here just to buy smoked fish by the weight, they're over priced. For example sable is $60/lb here, the same fish is $52/lb at Zabars, and $44/lb at Russ & Daughters, all of which are very respectable iconic Jewish businesses that each have been around for about a century. Price and quantity aside the quality was fantastic, they didn't skimp on the fish and the warm toasted bialy with cream cheese went perfectly with the sable. The traditional sandwich also includes a slice of onion and tomato, I had them put this on the side as I'm not a fan of raw tomato or onion. Despite not being a fan, it was the freshest and most vibrant slice of tomato I've ever seen. I wasn't full when I was leaving and I wasn't impressed by the service or prices but I still think this iconic spot is definitely worth visiting. -
Review from Benson Y.
11/13/2010 4 photos
New York City is a brutal place to have a business. If you last a decade it's pretty amazing, half a century is incredible. How about a century?! Any place with that kind of longevity deserved a look.
The front window of Barney Greengrass is full of old photos of the place over the past 100 years. The storefront is classic and it feels like you are walking into a piece of living history. The old style counter has grey and green coloring, something out of another time. An amazing array of smoked fish is lined up behind glass. It's a thing of beauty. Seating is scattered between the two sections of the restaurant and it can get quite cramped in there, but that's part of this place's personality and charm.
I was seated quickly and one of the friendliest waiters I"ve ever met in my life came over and offered some great suggestions and information about what's on the menu. I've had sturgeon, lox and other such fish at other restaurants/delis before. The one thing I had *not* had was *salmon pastrami*! I ordered that on a garlic biali with scallion cream cheese. Tomato and onion is part of the sandwich and a crunchy pickle is offered on the side.
The sandwich itself is a thing of beauty. The pastrami spices on the edge of the fish gives it a wonderful and different flavor than simple smoked salmon. There's a sweetness to it that I found unusual and welcome. The biali was *perfectly* toasted, just enough to crunch but still have a good chew. The scallion cream cheese was an excellent way to enhance the flavor of the fish and the onion and tomato added a level of freshness that balanced everything in one bite. The pickle was wonderfully crunchy and tasty without being too tangy.
Overall I was super happy with my visit. I love places like Barney. Loving New York City as much as I do, places like this feel like a time machine of sorts and having awesome food too? That's pure awesomeness right there!Listed in: That tasty psychoactive…
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Review from Dan S.
Manhattan, NY
9/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
What more can be said of this place than already has been? Yeah, it's pricey. Yeah, it's delicious. It's an UWS institution and quintessential New York, and that is that. Any questions?
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Review from Adam M.
1/22/2011
3.5 stars...rounded down because the price--nearly $30 for a bagel with lox and cream cheese, coffee and OJ--is downright obscene, even by NYC standards. On my latest visit, I found the nova to still be some of the best anywhere, but the bagel just kind of "meh."
Would stop by again if I'm in the area but won't make a special trip again to go. While the lox is great, there are better bagels elsewhere--downtown (Murray's, Pick a Bagel) as well as uptown (Hot n' Crusty, H&H). -
Review from Pamela L.
10/18/2010
So I came here not really knowing what to expect, just kinda went by the star count, and when I got there, was definitely like a hidden gem almost. The interior gave like an old grocery shop type feel turned eatery, and really reminded me of a New Yorker kinda attitude. (Whether that's good or bad would be up to you to decide.)
Food was just amazingly good, I would definitely go out of my way to come back. We shared a platter of white fish and Nova Scotia salmon.. Absolutely amazing! Not too salty or strong, just the right amount of flavors meshed together with a pumpernickel bagel. I'd definitely say the platter size was 1.6 portions though, so either come hungry or share. -
Review from Suzie C.
New York, NY
12/16/2010
I love the outtakes from Rush Hour where Chris Tucker tries to say gefilte fish to Jackie Chan...G-A-F-I-L-D-A fish! I had no idea what it was.
Barney Greengrass actually serves gefilte fish, sturgeon, white fish salad, and all the other amazing things that you can't find within an hours drive of my hometown, where going to a Long John Silver's for some fish on bread is the redneck version of a jewish deli.
I like riding my bike up the Westside highway dozens of blocks in the summer to work up an appetite for Barney Greengrass. Sometimes, I think of it for weeks to psych myself up for the journey like those little kids in Stand By Me. -
Review from Gerry S.
2/16/2011
The whitefish and nova I had on my toasted onion bagel were fantastic. Not a thing to complain about. The latkes were, without a doubt, the best I've ever had. I was full at the end of the meal, and I STILL wondered whether I wanted to order more. They were just that good.
The prices? Outrageous. No two ways about it. We spent nearly $70 for breakfast for two. I've spent less in five-star hotels. -
Review from Devon N.
Olympia, WA
3/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not being from NYC, I really enjoyed the culture and history of Barney Greengrass. We ordered our food to-go and walked to the park for a picnic. The counter service was exactly what I'd expect from an old NY deli.
The smoked salmon & sturgeon totally melted in my mouth - it made the best bagel sandwich....ever. Next time I'm in NYC I'll think about going back. -
Review from David B.
New York, NY
11/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
Why do people complain about the price here? Here are the prices for Triple Deckers. I had #1 and it was one of the best Triple Deckers I ever had, ridiculously fresh and just the right size....
1. Corned Beef, Chopped Liver, Sliced Onion $12.75
2. Pastrami, Salami, Tongue, Cole Slaw and Russian Dressing $14.00
3. Sturgeon, Nova Scotia Salmon, Cream Cheese, Onion and Tomato $20.50
4. Tongue, Turkey, Swiss Cheese, Cole Slaw and Russian Dressing $14.00
5. Roast Beef, Chicken Fat, Chicken Liver, Turkey , Cole Slaw and Russian Dressing $14.00
6. Corned Beef, Tongue, Swiss Cheese, Cole Slaw and Russian Dressing $14.00
7. Turkey, Pastrami, Cole Slaw and Russian Dressin $13.00
8. Turkey, Chopped Liver, Tomato, Cole Slaw and Russian Dressing $12.75 -
Review from Sam S.
San Francisco, CA
9/18/2010
Barney Greengrass is one of the great treasures of New York deli dining. The Whitefish salad, coupled with their wonderful black olives, and some onion on a bagel is outstanding. Equally impressive is the Pastrami Salmon, which is a finely smoked and lightly peppered lox that is to die for...also, don't miss their pickles. They're great!
One of the other great things about Barney Greengrass is that they have online ordering so you can send these delicacies back home for speical events. Enjoy this place. It's the best and surpasses all other lox joints! -
Review from Monique S.
New York, NY
8/3/2010 4 Check-ins Here
I was watching on Tyra the other day a story about objectum sexualis (OS) and a woman who married the Eiffel Tower to show her absolute devotion. She even went so far as to take its last name. This is how I feel about Barney Greengrass.
Why, might you ask? Because...they have the best lox in the world, they have great bagels, they have freaking incredible latkes, and they have the same grouchy servers every single weekend. Its like home.
Best to go on a weekend for a later brunch (around 1) to avoid the wait.
I love you Barney Greengrass.
Maybe next time you hear from me I'll be Monique G. ... I could only hope... -
Review from Yan G.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
Before my last trip to New York, my friend texted me: "I got the perfect place for breakfast (if you like lox). I won't tell you where we're going - It's a surprise." Since I've shared many meals with my friend, and he never once steered me wrong, I met up with him and followed him blindly to Barney Greengrass (with his 3-month-old son in tow).
So, two Jews and a baby walk into a restaurant . . .
As I soon found out, the restaurant was featured in the movie Revolutionary Road starring Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. You will notice their famous wallpaper in one of the restaurant scenes. While both the movie and the restaurant have won multiple awards, I would recommend that you skip the movie and visit Barney Greengrass. Unlike the movie, Barney Greengrass, the self-proclaimed "Sturgeon King," is very memorable and not at all depressing.
Having breakfast at Barney Greengrass was eerily similar to having breakfast at my mom's house: both were not afraid to use butter, both had a "no nonsense" attitude, both didn't care about the decor, and both made a pretty damn delicious breakfast.
Since it was my first visit here, we ordered a lot of food. However, ordering food was an adventure in itself, primarily due to our waiter's witty repartee. Yep, if you come here, you'd better have a snappy comeback ready to go.
Me: What kind of knishes do you have?
Waiter: Spinach and potato. What kind do you want?
Me: How many knishes come on a plate?
Waiter: What do you mean? You want one knish, you order one knish. You want one of each?
Me: Sure.
Waiter (15 minutes later): We ran out of spinach, so I brought you two potato.
Me: I'd like a sturgeon and lox omelet and a corned beef hash omelet.
Waiter: One sturgeon and lox and one what?
Me: Corned beef hash omelet.
Waiter (confused): Umm, we don't have that here. Maybe at Barney Bluegrass in Nashville, TN?
Me (realizing the error of my ways, with the help of my friend): I mean, Corned beef omelet
Waiter: OK, what kind of bagel?
Me: Sesame.
Waiter (to my friend): You?
Friend: Ummmmmmmm
Waiter (walking away, almost snapping fingers): You?
Friend (after a few seconds): Pumpernickel!
Waiter: Got it.
The whole situation was rather comical. If it were anywhere else, I would probably conclude he was incredibly rude, but at this place it seemed strangely appropriate. Besides, the food was worth it. We split both omelets, and they had that hard-to-describe forgotten yet unforgettable taste of food made with real butter and lard. The chunks of fish were soft and flaky, and the corned beef was salty and gritty. The knishes reminded me of home, too. Big servings of cream cheese and butter made me wish for a couple more bagels . . .
As I took my friend's AmEx to the cashier, I was politely informed that they did not take credit cards on weekends (it was a Tuesday, so it was OK). My scribble on the receipt prompted a sarcastic "nice signature!" remark. I had to bite my tongue to make sure I didn't say "it's not my card, gimme a break!"
I can't wait to come back!Listed in: I brake for breakfast!, Unique New York
-
Review from Elise M.
New York, NY
8/29/2010
I came here with my friend and her grandparents, both of whom are frequent diners at Barney Greengrass.
I ordered a bagel with lox and creem cheese, and we all shared a plate of potato pancakes. The pancakes were awesome - perfectly golden and crunchy on the outside, and soft and tasty in the inside. The lox was equally delicious. The bagel was OK. Not as fresh/good as the bagels from Bagel on the Square.
If and when I go back, I will definitely order more of those potato pancakes! -
Review from Jillian K.
New York, NY
9/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
I had potato latkes and half of a pastrami salmon and egg sandwich on an everything bagel. The food was all very tasty (especially the salmon chunks in my sandwich), and I will definitely come back here the next time I'm craving this kind of food.
I also really enjoyed the atmosphere here. We went on a Sunday morning at about 11:00 so the whole place was packed, but we only had to wait about five minutes for a table. Even though our waiter ("call me Houdini," he said) was busy taking care of several tables, he was still really friendly and funny. Then, when we went to the cash register to pay, the man there proudly told us about when a scene from the movie Revolutionary Road was filmed in their dining room.
Ordinarily I would give this place three stars for the good, solid food, but the friendly and welcoming staff bump it up a notch. I'll be back! -
Review from Edward N.
Bethesda, MD
2/22/2011
Lox spread on a non-toasted everything bagel accompanied with the single-cup-size offered coffee black for takeaway.
If it's a nice day walk to Central Park find a nice bench and enjoy it. -
Review from Chloe L.
Irvine, CA
1/21/2011
4 stars for the experience:
Entertaining waiter, tight spaces, check is illegible.
3 stars for the price:
Got expensive pretty quick. Some salmon scramble for $17, coffee and juice and bagels and tip added up to be about $40+ per person. If I'm paying that kind of price for breakfast, there better be white tablecloths, a waiter in a 3 piece striped suit pouring me some champagne, and fellow patrons sitting a mile away.
But oh well, if you stick to the basics, some bagels and cream cheese and tap water, you might have a great time looking at the long line out the door waiting for your table. Entertaining waiter might have something to say about that though.
