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Fraunces Tavern
Rating Details »
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Financial District54 Pearl St
(at Coenties Slip)
New York, NY 10004
(212) 968-1776
- Nearest Transit:
-
Whitehall St (R, W)
Bowling Green (4, 5)
South Ferry (1)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
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20 reviews for Fraunces Tavern
Throughout the former colonies, one will find a wide selection of places where George Washington allegedly visited, spent the night, drank and partied down.
Fraunces Tavern is one of them and as NYC's contribution to the GW tour excels in preserving the old and embracing the comforts of the new.
A spacious tavern that has ample room at the bar and tables, Fraunces is one of the few watering holes where you'll find an ad for the Magna Carta exhibit and murals of Revolutionary War battles. That's because a viewing of a copy of the MC is only an elevator ride away and there's a full museum of colonial artifacts above.
Table service was a bit slow, working perhaps on colonial time and the waitresses could have been friendlier. That's about the only flaw I can find in the tavern part of Fraunces Tavern. There is a respectable selection of brews on tap and bottled along with traditional bar foods. I especially like the inclusion of a lobster roll as part of the bar food menu.
We ordered "The Platter", a vast disc of fried finger foods that provided enough nourishment for any colonial regiment about to cross the Delaware.
Chicken fingers, mozarella sticks, chicken wings, calamari and appropriate sauces rounded up the platter of goodness. It was enough for 6 people to nosh on at a leisurely pace and only cost $30.
Two large flat screen TVs hang from the bar to provide sporting diversions and entertainment.
Have your beer with a side of history at Fraunces Tavern-- revolution never tasted so good.
Four Score and Seven years ago..
Wait, wrong President - this is the place where ole George Washington gave his farewell address to the troops after the revolutionary way - and I'm guessing he tied one on here too. Really, the guy had an entire army after him, you think he didn't drink?
Since I happened to be in the area and I knew it was here and I was trying to make something out of having to go down to Wall St. I figured I would hit this place - just because it is there and I've never been in it.
Upon entering you can go to the more formal dining room to the right (which is also the original building) or the tavern to the left which was built later.
We opted for the tavern as the dining room looked a little more formal that the shorts we were in. We were seated and totally forgotten. We hit the bar and the bartender was a champ- she took care of matters promptly and we ordered away.
Food was solid if nothing totally amazing. The beers were VERY cold and the bartender was there making just the right amount of small talk.
We wandered around and looked at all the memorabilia on the walls.
Definitely something interesting if only to say you had a beer and took a pee where G. Washington did...
No parking - good luck with that.
On a recent trip to New York City, my guy and I happened upon the Fraunces Tavern during our open-top bus tour. The place is packed with history - it's especially cool that this is the place where Washington said goodbye to his troops after the Revolutionary War. Another cool hint of history is the plaque with photographs and signed baseballs from previous presidents.
We had dinner plans elsewhere, so we opted for some fries and a few brews in the bar. I had the Stella (I'm a pushover for Stella) and my guy had the Old Speckled Hen. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have told our friends to check it out when they are in town. We were there mid-afternoon on a weekday, and found the place nearly empty. I'm definitely heading back the next time I'm in NYC.
Love this place. It's like 3 different places. You have the restruant on the right side, the bar on the left, and the back left of the bar more social/drinking area. Food is good on either side. Love the atmosphere.
Quite the after hours hang out, since most of lower Manhattan closes up around the Wall Street area.
This place is bad. The waitresses are ditzes who try to sneak extra drinks on your tab if A: you're in a large group so you might not notice or B: you're in a small (seemingly inebriated) group so you might not notice. I've been part of both at this place. Don't F*** with my money. You will NEVER see my business again. The manager also seems like a jerk from the way he talks to people.
I'd rather spend my money in a place where the food might not be great, but the staff are friendly and honest.
I never even made it to the museum. I had too much fun at the tavern. It wasn't crowded. The bartender was great. The selection of bourbons was respectable. What more can you ask for? Historical significance? OK, George Washington drank there. Seriously, how cool is that? My only problem with Fraunces is that I can never find the right subway after I've had a bunch of drinks, and it's a long cab ride to the Upper West Side.
There is nothing like sitting in Fraunces and having feeling the history and significance of the place whilst sipping a proper beer.. alternating glances at the big screens with glances out the box-pane windows out on to Pearl..
I am a regular due to this feeling alone.. Though the beer selection (*Old Speckled Hen on draft ! HB & others!) and the awesome super friendly and casual bartenders are a huge huge plus that keep me coming back without second thought.
The food isn't my main draw, I stick to the bar for the most part.. though I can't say I've eaten toooo much there, I can say that the corned beef for St.Paddys day was surprisingly the best I had on my many station pub crawl haha
Great place.. Pure NY in many respects..
=
P.S. Mei Mei~ NYC/New Amsterdam has been around for 315 years! And Fraunces sits where the old town hall sat during the Dutch (first!) period!
We skipped the museum part upstairs because it was about to close in 20 minutes and the admission is $10, but beforehand, we ate lunch here, which was a welcome repast in the middle of our walking day.
C. got the fish and chips, which was well prepared. The fish was more fresh and flaky than a lot of fish and chips, and the potato wedges were hot and tasty. I got the pot roast with mashed potatoes and vegetables, figuring pot roast may have been on the menu when Washington, etc., hung out here in the late 18th century.
That's why you should go here. The building is a throwback to colonial and revolutionary times, and you can feel the history in the wood grain of the windowsills beside your table. Walk through the space to look at some of the historic Americania hanging on the walls -- a letter giving privateers the rights to attach British ships, a painting of the city in the late 1700s -- and go upstairs if you have the chance; I haven't yet.
But stick to the dining room side. The pub side -- while they do have $5 pints (reasonable, I think, although I don't drink) -- is more modern in its decor, and I think is even in a newer part of the building connected with a short passageway.
We went in our walking clothes -- but I didn't feel underdressed in my T-shirt and cords. Evening time, I might dress up a little more for dinner.
Came here on the firm's money for a celebration of a colleague's marriage. The architecture was nice--it's a very historical place, with George Washington's portrait greeting you when you walk in.
Besides that, all in all, pretty mediocre. Service, food, prices, everything. The food's okay, just over-priced. But I guess they can get away with that being a landmark place and all. The service is okay, just not amazing, like you'd expect. A lot of tourists.
My turkey club sandwich was okay, I mean, I've probably had better in a cheaper bar.
I don't think I'd ever go if I'm paying for myself.
Just went to the restaurant though, not the museum or the bar section (which I THINK they have). So those may be cool.
This place take you back in time. Its amazing that a place like this still exists in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world. New York is known for being the leader of new trends. But we also forget that it has been around for over 250 years. This restaurant was establish in 1762 and still has so much charm. I stumble across this place just wondering around Manhattan looking for lunch. I saw this building that said it was a museum and oddly it had a menu by the door. Thats interesting and different. It sure did catch my attention. The restaurant was filled mainly with business lunch goers. Mainly in suits. The looked like they worked at Wall St or Lawyers. There were a hand full of people that looked like they were tourist or Birthday goers.
They have $22 Prix fixe lunch menu selection that day or you can order off the lunch menu. I decided to do the Prix fixe menu. The first course I got was a house salad and some ice tea to go along with it. It was pretty good. The 2nd course I got was the fish and chips which was pretty tasty. Then I got a slice of apple pie and some ice cream for desert. The food was good. But the experience was exceptional. The weight staff was very friendly and prompt. I defiantly would love to stop in again. Maybe this time take a look at the museum attach to the restaurant.
Expensive for a beer, and fills up with irritating bankers after work, but the staff are friendly, and the draft selection pretty good.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/6/2008
Pub/restaurant in downtown New York City, which I feel indifferent about.
The Fraunces Tavern prides… Read more »
I love history and I love George Washington. So, I took my Pops here for an educational and delicious dinner while he was in town visiting. The food was totes good and the dining room reminded me of all of the trips to historic Jamestown we used to take. Go here if you're into the 80's...the 1780's!! oHhhhhhh! (Is this thing on?)
(And I'm pretty sure George Washington would kick my ass for using the word "totes" in this review.)
I'll give this place 3 stars simply because I am a lover of history, and it scores off the charts on the "coolness factor" in that regard. It's about 250 years old for God's sake. Just think, people ha ve been getting drunk in this tavern for a quarter of a millenium!!! As a bar, however, it's pretty bland. I have not had dinner there, however, but I've been told by others that live in the area the food is pretty good. I think it's a great place to go and experience, sit down and have a relaxing drink and learn a bit of the Revolutionary history.
George Washington used to be a frequent visitor of Fraunces Tavern, AND gave his famous farewell address to his troops here.
From the account of Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, Washington's deputy for intelligence:
The time now drew near when the Commander-in-Chief (Washington) intended to leave this part of the country for his beloved retreat at Mount Vernon. On Tuesday, the 4th of December, it was made known to the officers then in New York, that Gen. Washington intended to commence his journey on that day. At 12 o'clock the officers repaired to Francis' Tavern, in Pearl Street, where Gen. Washington had appointed to meet them, and to take his final leave of them.
We had been assembled but a few moments, when His Excellency entered the room. His emotion, too strong to be concealed, seemed to be reciprocated by every officer present. After partaking of a slight refreshment, in almost breathless silence, the General filled his glass with wine, and turning to the officers, he said, "With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable."
After the officers had taken a glass of wine, Gen. Washington said: "I cannot come to each of you, but shall feel obliged if each of you will come and take me by the hand."
Gen. [Henry] Knox being nearest to him, turned to the Commander in Chief, who, suffused with tears, was incapable of utterance, but grasped his hand; when they embraced each other in silence. In the same affectionate manner, every officer in the room marched up to, kissed, and parted with his General-in-Chief.
Such a scene of sorrow and weeping I had never before witnessed, and hope I may never be called upon to witness again. It was indeed too affecting to be of long continuance--for tears of deep sensibility filled every eye--and the heart seemed so full, that it was ready to burst from its wonted abode. Not a word was uttered to break the solemn silence that prevailed, or to interrupt the tenderness of the interesting scene. The simple thought that we were then about to part from the man who had conducted us through a long and bloody war, and under whose conduct the glory and independence of our country had been achieved, and that we should see his face no more in this world, seemed to me utterly insupportable.
But the time of separation had come, and waving his hand to his grieving children around him, he left the room, and passing through a corps of light infantry who were paraded to receive him, he walked silently on to Whitehall, where a barge was waiting. We all followed in mournful silence to the wharf, where a prodigious crowd had assembled to witness the departure of the man who, under God, had been the great agent of establishing the glory and independence of these United States. As soon as he was seated, the barge put off into the river, and when he was out in the stream, our great and beloved General waived his hat, and bid us a silent adieu. We paid him the same compliment, and then returned to the same hotel whence Gen. Washington had so recently departed.
RESPECT!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you work on Wall Street you have to go to Fraunces Tavern at least once. I have had dinner, lunch and met co-workers for drinks after work here.
It is eating and drinking in a piece of history. A very cool building.
My coworkers and I have been holding happy hours at this place for the past 2 years and have seen it rapidly go downhill until it hit rock bottom last week. The bartenders and waitresses used to be awesome, greeting us by name, never messing up orders etc but most have been replaced by inexperienced people who constantly screw up orders and "accidently" slip drinks on our tab. This has happened on several occasions. The breaking point however, was the other night when the snobby manager with the Napolean complex kicked us out of one section of the lounge because a more important party was coming. Mind you, this party was three hours late for their reservation and the manager had no qualms about our party using the space (and dishing out money) while they were on their way but as soon as they came, we were basically expected to guzzle our drinks and shoo out of "the reserved area" to make way for Goldman Sachs. YES, the manager actually named dropped as if we were supposed to be impressed! He is basically a greedy little man who should've closed off the whole area in the first place if he were to really honor a groups reservation- not squeeze as much money as possible out of people in a given amount of time. He lost a large group of regulars with his bad attitude. I wouldn't be surprised if he's the reason the awesome bartenders and waitresses are no longer there.
In conclusion, spend your money elsewhere. Don't contribute to this poor man's ill-fitting suits tailored from the boys section of Bloomingdales. It makes me sick to think of how much money my friends and I have spent at this establishment before coming face to face with this troll. Had we known what evil lurked here, we'd have changed venue long ago.
This place had a fun historic atmosphere to break up the work day, for sure. I *almost* forgot I had to go back to work. Almost... it wasn't cheap, but the portion sizes were good. The bread brought out beforehand was perfect and fresh.
I opted for the fish and chips - only appropriate, I thought, for a tavern. The fish reminded me of the fish from Sunburnt Cow, but not quiiiiite as good. Not bad though.
For a place that is perhaps a bit more touristy and busy, the service was very prompt and our food was out to us very quickly. I'd definitely head back over if I had a co-worker in from out of town or a friend in town who ventured down towards the Financial District during the day to meet-up.
Based on comments by others, I'd be curious to check the place out for drinks post-work at some point.
$22 Prix fixe lunch.
Good choices.
I grew up (Swiss-Italian) on polenta and I loved theirs.
Had the gnocchi which were a bit too chewy for my liking.
And of course just as American/Colonial the building is the desert was Apple Pie....however, I've had better from Entemans.
For a prix fixe in the FiDi the service was pretty slow.
It really does feel Colonial in there! I didn't go to the museum (booo...) but I did sample the Caesar salad, crab cakes and sea scallops... quality. i was nervous because I heard the food wasn't that good..but that seems to be a lie. I went there sort of unexpectedly, so I didn't do my usual pre-game research, psyching up for the "Big Event" activities, so perhaps I wasn't as well-informed as usual, but in any event, I hung out in one of the oldest (or THE oldest, depending how you look at it) bar in NYC, and that's pretty hot.
Nice place to hang out and relax with people from work... They have a pool table in the back, but it's not regulation size. Food is pretty good, but portions could be larger.
This place will never be torn down due to progress. Located on the one block in downtown that has no buildings taller than 5 stories, there's a lot of history here. Check out my review for the museum if you're bored and have nothing else to read. The food is great! The problem is that it's not enough! The price is in the upper teens and in the 20s. A great place to take clients, or just hang out after visiting the museum, go after 2PM when the crowd dies down. Just a block from work.
