Cafe Gray - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Manhattan/Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan/Theater District10 Columbus Circle
(between Broadway & W Central Park)
New York, NY 10019 (212) 823-6338
- Nearest Transit:
59th St-Columbus Circle (1, A, C, B, D)
57th St-7th Ave (N, Q, R, W)
7th Ave-53rd St (B, D, E)
- Price Range: $$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
32 Reviews for Cafe Gray
Shutting down what the...... #$%^%!
What a disappointment. what a shame. This was one of the best meals i have had in a long time. The shortribs are heavenly they are the best in the whole city. I also had the house salad with the meyer lemon dressing and root vegetable. It was fragrant almost smelled like parfume it was very interesting very nice. I sure hope this chef opens up other restaurants he is truly a master of butter, cream and truffles. The service was great and the ambiance was perfect i loved the open kitchen overlooking central park.
Apparently the last day for Cafe Gray is June 28th. The rent is just to expensive . If u have not experienced this place go before its to late. Iam looking foward to Gray Kunz other endeavors hopefully i can get those short ribs again!
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Had one of the best meals of my life here. The shortribs are insanity and it's unfair that all shortribs don't taste like this. The mushroom risotto was so creamy and rich.... i get a food hangover just thinking about it. Service was flawless, cocktails and wine amazing, dessert perfect. And not horribly expensive considering what you are getting.
oh yeah, the decor is kinda like an 80's bachelor pad, but in a good way.
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A world of elegance, gracious hospitality and superior food
-- the world of Cafe Gray
After our dining experience at Cafe Gray, I'd say this description on their website is apt. V and I went to a fancy dinner here at the Time Warner Center to celebrate Valentine's Day. That saddest part of the experience is knowing now that the restaurant is closing.
Our meal was amazing, and the culinary highlight was the house specialty mushroom risotto. It was just so creamy and with a great mushroomy flavor. The second course that really amazed us was the short rib, which was served with grits and a mustard sauce.
Besides the food, the service was great, with a very formal dining style. The wine list was impressively pricey, I think we picked one of the cheapest bottles - at around $60! But it was a very good bottle of wine.
Finally, the other amazing thing about the restaurant was the view: windows looking out over Central Park and Columbus Circle. And before that is the kitchen - out in the open in the restaurant. So through the meal I was able to see the chefs preparing dishes, with a backdrop of the city at night. It was really a treat. At the end of our meal we also got a private tour of the chef's table, which is tucked in a corner of the kitchen. I think it too would be a bit pricey to reserve, but if I ever had a chance...
It was a great meal, and though the restaurant is closing, there are rumors that a new location will open soon near Times Square, which may be a good move, as I'd say Cafe Gray is a great pre-theatre choice.
This is the best meal I have ever had in NYC. And I like to eat.
I had the opportunity (the reason for my trip mainly) to eat at Per Se another night the same week. Cafe Gray unexpectedly took the cake.
Starting with the more open atmosphere (which I must admit) suited my group better than the solemn feel of other said restaurant - the waitstaff was incredibly friendly - and was always there when we needed anything. That is the kind of help I appreciate.
The menu was interesting and creative. The beer (of which I did not drink) was ecclectic. The wine list was fantastic without being silly (at least for my tastes).
The food - course for course - was the best I have eaten recently. I don't even like risotto and the truffle risotto was the best I have ever eaten. I had a lamb confit that melted in my mouth and a wine pairing that was superb.
I know this is skimpy on details, but the experience really was overwhelming. From the time I walked in the door to the time I exited, I enjoyed every second of it and almost prefer to leave it that way as an experience rather than trying to pick it apart.
Enjoy!
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I had the Best Meal of my Life here last night and if you didn't like Cafe Gray and pity me, well, you weren't there. There were:
Oysters (best mignonette ever!)
Lobstertail poached with curry in a coconut foam
Roasted pork with crisp belly, sauge, ramps and beets
Chocolate Cheesecake
These were some big ass portions, I must add. I have had pork belly before and the crisp on this sucker is knock your socks off but still juicy inside. The lobster was the best thing all evening-perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. The cheesecake was tiny but so rich I almost couldn't finish it. This is the kind of meal you remember for a long time.
If you sit at a table against the kitchen, you still get the view and you can watch the chefs in action. I found the service on point without being overbearing and while the decor wasn't anything innovative, I wasn't disgusted.
Add a few cocktails to the mix and it's heaven.
the salad was awesome, the main course was decent. everyone seemed to be mostly satisfied (3 of them ordeded the short ribs, 1 had the halibut, i had the veggie of course). the mushroom risotto was really good. the wine was great, but really, for 21 bucks a glass, hook it up a lil bit more! we were truly full, no room for desert.
i liked the open kitchen, would have prefered to be by the window. odd, for dining out it was not too hard on the wallet. esp. for new york standards!
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Lots of mirrors, glass, windows...very sparkling. Cauliflower soup, delicious. Excellent service. Short ribs, absolutely delicious. Expensive, cosmopolitan.
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Well I'm gonna get right down to it. The service is kinda stuffy. The interior is kinda weird. The prices, kinda high. But the Braised Short Rib? One of the two or three best things I've ever eaten and a lingering memory in my mind. So for that, 5 stars.
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honestly the second best meal i have ever had
(oishi, in boston, was #1 for me)
Food was way too salty for me. Service and everything else was fine, but the food was underwhelming. =(
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Nice interior with a view of Columbus Circle and a glimpse of Central Park. The food started off really well with some good amuse bousche and appetizers (risotto), but the entree and dessert were so so. The plating was beautiful, but the service was mediocre. All in all, for the price tag, you can probably do better elsewhere.
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It's amusing how much the fact the chefs get the view of the park bothers people... I quite enjoyed the view of the kitchen (and contrary to what people will have you think, you can still see enough of central park). While the decor is pretty gaudy, I have to say, the use of mirrors effectively makes what is a tight space feel huge. It is very bistro like and tables are squished together, which isn't great but it's not terrible either. The food is expensive but is excellent. In my experience, the word gracious comes to mind to describe the service. I wouldn't be surprised if I did go back and didn't have such a great experience, but for the experience I did have, it was worthy of 4.5 stars. The one weak point was the dessert offerings. Didn't care much for what I tried (and I have a major sweet tooth so this is important enough to take off a point!)
All in all, I had a fabulous experience here and would go back again (assuming my father-in-law is footing the bill again b/c I can't afford places like this :-) So I guess I'll pass on the t-shirt, Aaron K....
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I have been lucky with my higher end fine dining experiences lately. This place is fantastic.
First, the decor is beautiful. It's upscale and fancy but not stuffy.
The service is also attentive and pretty impeccable. Very professional is the word I would use. And they knew their menu well.
The food is unreal. Better than I anticipated. I had the king crab and shrimp salad as an app (so fresh and flavorful, not bland at all) and the braised short ribs for the entree (which gets rave reviews from people). For dessert, I had the huckleberry crumble and it was so tasty and buttery. Even the bread was good.
I left very satisfied, as did my companion.
I would give it 5 stars but am not sure I would go back, but I would most definitely recommend this place to others.
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Odd that you're blocked offf from the view, and odder still that Cafe Gray garners such praise. Certainly the people were nice. But I thought the meal was pedestrian, uninspired, whatever. Only when I remember my experiences at Michael Mina and Gary Danko do I get off the "I'm never going to another expensive restaurant again" wagon that I was on, firmly, for days after dining here.
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Amuse bouche indeed. This restaurant was excellent... from the exceptional decor (perfect lighting, classy bookshelf-lined hallways, amazing woodwork and ceiling design) to the creative and perfectly portioned cuisine.
The fall pie trifecta desert was deeeelicious: pumpkin, apple and pecan. YUM.
We walked in without a reservation and were seated in the bar which feels much more casual though still elegant.
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I wish there were half stars because I would have given 4.5; but, because it took forever to get the check and had to wait 10 min past for our reservation I'll make it a 4 instead of 5.
The service was great and I loved the decor and the color palette. I love the fact that the view is blocked by the kitchen as though it wants to say "who cares about the park view..you are not here for that."
I had the parsnip/almond veloute (afreakingmazing!) and the roasted duckling with red cabbage and sour cherries. It came close to beating my fav duck in town which is the Apician spiced at Del Posto. Boyfriend had the shrimp/crab salad (a bit too much saffron for me) and the pork loin in champagne emulsion (added a very interesting punch to the meal). We shared the coffee toffee creme brulee (I couldn't help but giggle as I ordered it.) All in all with tip we spent $165 and it was well worth it (they didn't add my mojito to the bill so that would ahve put it at 180).
I perused the wine list and there was a great selection and a few rares.
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I've been to Cafe Gray twice - once with friends and once at a corporate event. On both trips, I ordered the risotto appetizer. It is truly delicious. I would return just for that. I also ordered fish on both trips, having heard that the seafood at Cafe Gray was amazing. Both times I had major food envy looking at (and smelling!) the meat around me. If I go again, I will be ordering beef for sure.
As far as the atmosphere of the restaurant goes - it's fine. You can tell you are in a nice restaurant, the waiters treat you well, and nothing about the decor screams gaudy or disgusting. On thing I did not understand is that they placed the open kitchen (you can see the chefs cooking) between the diners and the window. The window would be a great place to put some tables so that the patrons of the restaurant could appreciate the location. What I imagine would be a spectacular view of the park is wasted.
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Very, very pricey, superb service and decor, and very good food. With more verys in the price than in the food, this a borderline call. No doubt, Cafe Gray belongs in Manhattan's elite club of excellent restaurants. But I suspect a lot of its dining traffic comes from frustrated restaurant goers who wanted a table at Per Se or Masa but could not get a reservation. Cafe Gray provides a fine dining option for those of us without personal assistants to call at 9am, 30 days ahead, which is required to secure a table at the other top Columbus Circle venues.
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Elegantly casual, Cafe Gray is a great place to eat for lunch on a sunny day - one side of the restaurant is slightly gaudy with mirrors and gold decor while the other side, by the wall of windows, is sleek and clean open kitchen. It's fantastic to be near an open kitch but sad that we can't really enjoy the full view of Central Park since the kitchen is blocking half of it. The bread is warm, toasted, and delicious and the food is fantasic - very flavorful! Known for their mushroom risotto, it was rich and intense with strong truffle flavors - they were very generous with the truffles which were all over the risotto. The skate schnitzel was light and delicious! Overall a great experience with a great food and good service.
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Cafe Gray was amazing. My boyfriend had wanted to take me here for a while, and the experience at Cafe Gray did not disappoint. The decor is a bit weird though. With the mirrored walls and muted colors, it seems more liek a cheesy Las Vegas/ NJ nightclub than a 5 star restaurant. Oh, yes and the Central Park views are blocked by the kitchen, but the food is so good I concentrated mostly on my plate anyway.
With piping hot fresh bread, cafe Gray sets the tone for an impeccable evening. My tangerine and orange caiprinha was strong (just the way I like it). The spring sangria with prosecco was delicious and refreshign with fresh straweberries and kiwis.
The lobster salad was incredible. The sauce with bits of lobster in it was absolutely delectable. For entrees, my grilled red snapper was yummy in a perfectly balanced cream sauce.
But, the star here was the dessert. An exceptional chocolate souffle with cherry bits and vanilla sauce. The waiter comes over and breaks open the souffle for you, and pours in a bit of the vanilla sauce. When the steam rose from the souffle, I knew I was in for a treat. I devoured it. It was practically orgasmic-one of the best desserts in my life! You must get this dessert.
Cafe Gray makes a wonderful special occasion.
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2 words,
Food Orgasm...
Bit pricy but well worth it if you bring a date worthwhile
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I had a very different experience from most of those below- went in April 2006 and then in late November 2006 for dinner. And stopped in for a drink at the bar recently.
For the dinner reservations went through Amex each time so cannot complain or say anything... Waiters were attentive, but not overwhelming. Not the big annoying fuss that you get at Ducasse (ugh, there I counted 5 napkin changes.. ugh)
Maitre D was perfect. Food was delicious, rich but light - satisfying.
In April was for Bdays - they were fabulous. Made cake, wonderfully decorated, individualized touch.
the food was perfect and we are all picky eaters - 2 are 100% French and I grew up there so our vision of fine dining differs from that of the other 2 in our party but we all agreed on Cafe Gray (one person said it was bistro like but that's their opinion). Courses appeared seamlessly and water glasses were always kept full.
The wine list had some superb bottles (that is also where most of our dinner bill came from).
In Nov was a wonderful tete a tete dinner - diners were less formally dressed than I expected but I grew up hearing my father say "better over dressed than under dressed ' so... Thinking back my only gripe might have to be the chairs.
Oh and about the windows... since I was having dinner there wouldn;t have been much of a view to watch anyway :-) the long hallway is due to TWC building constraints and the bar area I actually really like (sort of reminds me of Lipp in Paris which is weird) Oh and ask for table near the kitchen that's the fun part; left side of the dining room seemed more agreeable to me than the right side but that may have just been that evening ;-)
Comparatively speaking yes it is pricey but not that much so for what it is wonderful updated but traditional meals. It was a moment out of time.
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When
-you are not a tourist and don't mind that the view is blocked by the kitchen
-you want elegance without feeling stiff
-you cannot get a reservation at Per Se but still want to dine in the Time Warner building
Not when
-you want a hearty meal
It definitely is bold to put a kitchen in front of the windows that overlook the city, to place mirrors everywhere, to charge $25 for a risotto laced with mushrooms. To be this bold the chef must have confidence that his food will make the diner overlook all these issues. Well the food is good enough to make one forget about the issues, but definitelty a little bit on the salty side (and this is coming from someone that likes more salt than less), as for the mushroom risotto it is the best risotto I ever had. You will not leave here stuffed but you will be full from the richness of the food. Given Gray Kunz's skills and the location, Cafe Gray is a value.
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Everyone who eats at Cafe Gray should get a t-shirt with their meal that says "Another rock star celebrity chef charged me over $100 for mediocre food and service, and all I got was this lousy T-shirt (and mediocre food and service)." I suppose I should have know better than to expect much from this place, since it is located in a food court, after all. But if the location didn't tip me off, the Howard Johnson's inspired decor should have. Whoever designed this place was either self-taught or received their training from a feng-shui master whacked out on crystal meth. You're forced to find your way through a narrow maze that first makes its way past a very useful faux library, then inevitably past a bar that looks to have been modeled on one of the Saturday Night Fever sets, then onto the very shiny dining room, where your otherwise lovely park view is obscured by (a) the blinding reflection from the gold trimmed, mirror bedecked interior and (b) the kitchen. If you were in my party, you're then seated at a table that is in obvious need of a good cleaning, where the seats are lightly dusted with crumbs (perhaps this was part of the cutting edge appetizer I just didn't appreciate). The ability to utter a coherent English sentence may or may not be on the menu for your waiter tonight. After returning to confirm our orders (which may not have been necessary had he bothered to write them down), our incoherent waiter enhanced our collective sense of suspense for our meal by making us wait about 40 minutes for it. And then, voila, an overpriced, very salty, not at all memorable meal, accompanied by expensive, very bad wine. Save yourself some of your hard earned cash and skip this place - you're not missing anything.
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Cafe Gray has great food. My boyfriend took me there for our first anniversary and they sat us right next to the open kitchen (usually a bad thing but was not when Gray Kunz was cooking and the window facing Central Park is on the other side). The decor is admittedly a bit over the top but the service was on par with the food. The waiter refused to let me pour my own tea or pick up my napkin when it fell.
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This place is beautifully decorated where the chefs gets an amazing view of the city and the guests have glass or mirror walls surrounding them...I guess the view for the chef is for inspiration...their food is artistically designed on the plate but the flavors perhaps were a bit on the salty side...had their soup of the day and that was quite tasty....a hint for everyone, before you go up to the restaurant, have the concierge call up there to see if there is a reservation available...but ask to make sure the menu they have below is current..you don't want to go up to order and not find anything you want when you reviewed the menu downstairs at the concierge.
One of my favorite places in NYC. Had dinner here again in March 2007 and my expectations were again exceeded. Simply amazing food. To bad the kitchen staff has the best view of Central Park. Make sure you get a reservation.
My experience at Cafe Gray was truly very good. Chef Kunz is truly pushing forward for the culinary industry. Not only is his food amazing, spontaneous, and creative but we all appreciate his advancement of conditions in the back of the house. Thank you Chef, you are second to none.
The food was very good. The design is a bit peculiar, with the kitchen between the tables and the view. But what made the experience so much less appealing than it should have been at a high-end restaurant ($380 for two) was the staff's detachment. The hostess was cold and aloof. The waiter seemed rushed and dispassionate about the food, and never inquired about our dinner or experience. Even the sommelier, although charming, needed a lot more direction from us than I would have expected, and seemed to lack conviction. The sommelier told us that she used to work for B R Guest Restaurants, not surprising because apart the food and high price, the entire experience felt like dining at a B R Guest restaurant.
my husband and i ate here a while ago without any prior thought placed on dinner for that evening. we happened to be in the time warner building for something else, he's a chef and had just read something about gray, i was hungry and not in the mood for the acrobatics required to secure a table anywhere else, nor was i in the mood for the scene of people who love being in the hard to secure a reservation place.
we ended up having a drink first in the bar along with an app which was fine. service was good and smart. the booth was very cozy and even romantic.
moving on to dinner in the main dining room. i don't know if chefs have a secret code of eye blinks or they send some high frequency signals to each other that the rest of us can't hear, but somehow, gray happened to be in the kitchen that evening, he decided to stop what he was doing, walk out into the crowd, (you can of course see everything since the kitchen is open) come to our table and engage in a conversation with us. it was sweet for my husband who owns a little place on the prairie and loves talking with other chefs. but the thing i took away from this was that this gray person was incredibly interested in what we thought and how we were experiencing his food. which by the way was delectable. it was too much food to remember but i do remember the risotto being dangerously good. i don't care what people say about it being in a food court. i would go back with or without the prospect of gray asking for our personal critique.
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A great dissapointment.
If you ate at L'espinasse when Gray was there you will not find nearly as refined a cuisine, just ok food at high prices.
The staff is not particularly attentive. Save your money.
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