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Categories: American (Traditional), American (New)
Neighborhood: Flatiron23rd St-Park Ave S (6)
23rd St-Broadway (R, W)
Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)
Mon-Thu. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"I love this place. I generally come here for breakfast everytime I am in the area. The waffles with the raspberry sauce...incredible.…" read more »
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Why five stars instead of four? GT's not the fanciest, not the cosiest, not even necessarily the best food I've ever had. But its reputation as one of the best overall restaurants in NYC is well deserved.
I've been here three times over the past ten years and it keeps on getting better. They do a good job at presenting an impressive restaurant that's fun and strikes a good balance between casual and formal.
If you're going to do the tavern in front, as opposed to the formal sit down area in the back with a separate menu, there's no reservations taken, so assume you'll have a brief wait at the bar, which is a combination of regulars from the nabe with a smart looking crowd from elsewhere that appreciates fine food and drink. Unlike some other restaurants, there's a good vibe at the bar.
The mixologists keep a waiting list for bar chairs, which makes it a bit more civilized and less haphazard and competitive for scoring a seat. Patrons talk to each other, and the bartenders are pleasant.
The wine list is extensive and most are available by the glass. The cocktails are well crafted and I'll recommend the Mantalban, which is two shots of Hedadura with a few juices that's a lovely drink.
The service is impeccable, intelligent and friendly. Even though the restaurant is full, the maitre d's staff will remember you by name, find you at the crowded bar, and seamlessly move the experience to your table, where the waiter's staff continues the welcome feeling.
Fabulous bread and butter, a terrific standard menu standard, and the three course prix-fixe is a deal.
I had the shrimp salad and sea bass. My sweetheart had the squab. All highly recommended.
For dessert we skipped the sweets and had the chef selection of cheeses. Impressive and delicious. Also, great coffee.
The room is a bit on the loud side, but on the NYC restaurant noise spectrum, not bad at all. It comes across as lively.
How do you celebrate a belated b-day for 2 special friends who love to wine and dine and be accommodated to the fullest by the wait staff? ....you take them to Gramercy Tavern! :)
After a month's long wait...we finally made it to our reservation on a Thurs evening @ 9pm! I can tell you that this was seriously the LENGTHIEST dinner out I've EVER had! And it was MAGNIFICENT! @_@
I loved everything and I had high expectations, I mean it is a legendary place afterall! It exceeded every expectation I had and I couldn't get enough of that rustic warm elegant Autumn decor! The ambiance they created just wrapped me in its arms and gave me a hug when I walked through the front door! ...and trust me, I NEEDED IT! #_#..
The waitress with her cute haircut and her red framed glasses was the BEST! We ordered 3 Autumn tasting menus and 1 three course menu...well not just that we basically substituted every other item on the tasting menu among all of us and she greeted us with a smile! ...I can say that I've tasted about 15 different dishes and my portion just consisted of 5 courses...with 2 amuse bouches...MMMmmmm! She was also knowledgeable with the winelist and the pairings, I was very impressed....We decided on a Rioja, which was splendid! She even went through the trouble to pour me a glass of Voignier that she originally recommended to go beautifully with the mackerel, which automatically gave her a thumbs up!
Savory highlights: the lamb parpadelle (fresh, flavorful and juicy), the smoked trout (butter!), the lobster soup with a portion of lobster and a shaving of pancetta on top (delicate and rich), the mackerel with a little shaving of foie gras (I didn't know a little bit of foie could go such a long way), and the duck (so well prepared -tender, juicy and flavorful, I cannot not love it).
Dessert highlights: OMG! so we ordered 4 and 5 showed up...each uniquely presented and I just almost died and went to heaven...actually I really did fall semi-asleep right before due to lack of sleep (3hrs) and high stress! ...you can't blame me....by this time it was already midnight on a weekday with 4 glasses of wine in my body! ....with that said...dessert woke me up! ^_^
I remembered the peanut butter one, the bread pudding, the chocolate cake with MINT icecream, the goat cheese cheesecake with a berry ice cream (too much like goat cheese to me...too savory and heavy), and the ginger cake! I literally almost felt my belt buckle click...but then there was more!
...the petit fours were so wonderfully Autumn :) There were macaroons with pumpkin in the middle, pumpkin truffles (OMG I would be happy if I ate that along all night!) and the passionfruit tarte (the perfect balance of tangyiness and sweetnes!)...OK please drag me out of here!
OK after the bill was paid and everything settle, it wasn't over yet! We all received a little muffin to take home @_^ I just can't take it anymore, YOU HAD ME AT HELLO ! :)...and now I never wanted to say goodbye....It was already 1am in the morning, I could've just made myself comfortable and slept there all night!
One of my favorite NYC restaurants!!!!!!!! I'm not RICH, so this is reserved for special occasions (unless I want a drink, and for $13 you will only need one and it will be made to perfection).
I have dined in both the front area (Tavern), and the fancy sit down tasting section in the back (generally reserve this in advance).
The Tavern has excellent food, my favorite is the mushroom lasagna. Not your typical lasagna, very little pasta and lots of mushrooms. If there is something on the tasting menu that you really want they might even bring it to you here if you ask nicely. I've noticed that this is a restaurant that will accommodate you. They've sent over extra appetizers or a second dessert if we mentioned that we had a tough time deciding between two things, or if the waitress highly recommends something. For two people you can have drinks, an appetizer (necessary, mains are too small), 2 mains, and split a dessert (I love when they do the crisps for 2 people) for under $100 including 20% tip.
The tasting room is wonderful. Excellent, fancier food.
Best thing about this place, decor and SERVICE!!! Probably the best service I've had in NYC consistently (too bad I had a bad server at Danny Meyer's Union Square restaurant, otherwise I'd be able to say that Meyer has this DOWN).
If you have a special occasion and don't want to spend $500 for 2, this is the place.
*Hostess generally tells me that the wait is 45 minutes even though only 1 other couple is waiting and then we are seated within 10 minutes. Keep this in mind, and you can always wait at the bar which is truly superb.
I finally made it to this place after countless number of tries. if you want to get in dinning table area. it's AT LEAST.. let me repeat AT LEAST 1 month in advance reservation.
The menu was pretty straight forward. regular tasting/ 6 course tasting/vegetarian tasting. GREAT FOOD.. GREAT SERVICE.. I've couldn't ask for more.
4 hours dinner.. I'll remember this dinner for a while for sure!! we literally closed the restaurant at 1am.
Good things are worth of waiting !!
Service:
The waitress here was attentive and knowledgable. A few of us in our party had questions and she was able to answer them (and even offered to go confirm something with the kitchen). I think we had at least 3 members of the staff clearing our table of 5 - I was pleasantly surprised at how attentive they were. They made sure we had plenty of bread and water.
Food:
I started with the celery root soup. I personally don't like celery but I love the rich flavor celery root provides. It was a hearty soup with small chunks of celery root. It came with a fried oyster which complemented the soup very well. I also liked the texture it added to my appetizer.
I had the hanger steak as my entree. It was tender and flavorful. I felt it was a little on the salty side but still enjoyable.
For dessert, we asked our waitress for a recommendation. We ended up going with the chocolate raspberry cake, cheese plate, and sorbet (she had recommended the peanut butter custard). To our surprise, she brought out one of the peanut butter custards compliments of hte chef. I sorta felt like she wanted to prove to us how great it is cause we ended up not taking her recommendation at first. To be honest, it was the best dessert of the three we ordered.
Overall, it was a fantastic meal. I'd love to go back and try some more of their appetizers!
We really enjoyed the bar here and would love to come back for a meal since the menu looks great. The atmosphere is fantastic especially on a Sunday afternoon.
I had my first ever hot chocolate Martini, which was amazing. My friend enjoyed a hot cider with bourbon. Fantastic!
There's not a lot to not like about Gramercy Tavern. The Margaritas are perfect. The cheese selection is probably the best I've ever had. And while I'd love to give it 5 out of 5 stars, I have to say that my last visit, last night, left something to be desired. But that's true of any place that offers a taster menu. The time before that i went was perfect, as was the time before that. But last night the veal was over-cooked, the deserts (I tasted 2) were just off, and i wasn't quite sure who our waiter was, as we seemed to have about 4 of them.
None-the-less, I will go again, and if it is better again next time, I will bump it to a 5. It beats the pants off Jean-Georges!
We went there for my sister's birthday. What struck me was the elegant decor and casual atmosphere of this Michelin starred restaurant. There's a very large bar/bistro area and to the rear, a section of private tables. I saw people in shorts and your typical food geek whipping out their cameras for their blogs.
We were greeted warmly and seated promptly. The staff is so great here. I would highly recommend speaking to them as a normal person (not psycho foodie). In return they'll really make your experience an extremely pleasant one. For the evening, we both went with the pre fixe 3 course menu. My lobster and bean salad was awesome. The product that was used for the dish was absolutely top notch and used at the height of their seasonal ripeness. My sister's crepe was beautiful but was just ok.
I then had the pork served 3 ways. Again the presentation was spectacular but the food was ok. There were these crispy things on top of the dish and i asked if it was chicharones. It was so tasty that I said that I could eat a plate of it. Our Latin waiter kind of laughed and went back into the kitchen and reappeared with a small dish of it! That's pretty cool.
The third course was for desserts. The really nice staff actually brought out 3 dishes of dessert. It was ok, but the service really impressed me. Thanks GT, your food was good and service was legendary. We'll be back for more.
This is a traditional, expensive, high-end food place but it stands out from the others because of the food. As with many other similar places, it is filled with vendors taking out their clients as well as an older crowd that probably goes there at least a few times a week. The food here is solid and you are unlikely to ever be disappointed. It isn't over the top (like in some other places) in terms of presentation but it does blow them away in taste. Not to say the presentation lacks luster, but you might see something more creative in a place like Le Cirque . Out of all the super expensive places I have been to in this city, this is probably one of my favorite.
The lovely girlfriend gets major points for taking me here for my birthday. For years I have referred to GT as "my favorite restaurant I've never been to." I'd walk past the crystalline 10-foot windows and stare in at the beautiful people with their beautiful food and impeccable lighting, feeling like an orphan child hiding in the shrubs of a Dickensian mansion while a warm Christmas-day turkey dinner unfolds inside.
But last week I became a member of the mansion-dwelling elite.
The food. Oh goodness the food. I had the trout appetizer. The trout was smoked and existed at this luscious midpoint between cooked and raw, where the flesh melts in your mouth. It sat on a bed of cippollini onions prepared three ways, one as a vinaigrette, one as a creamy puree, and one pickled with beet juice. The sheer creativity was amazing and, of course it was delicious to boot. The gf had the heirloom tomato tart with pickled watermelon (yes, you read that right) which was pretty much a perfect tart.
My main was the rack of pork + belly, which was perfectly succulent and very rich. I kind of wish I had tried something a little more adventurous, or at least something I don't eat often, but on the other hand this was a known quantity done impeccably. The gf had the striped bass which tasted very good but I'm not generally a capable judge of fish.
For dessert, I had the ice cream sundae with blueberry compote and toffee popcorn, which gave it a very pleasing crunch.
I thought I wasn't going to like the decor of the backroom but it was actually very pleasant. There are many semi-partitions between the quadrants of the room so pretty much every table feels like a corner table, and you have little glimpses into the tavern and other rooms which makes it feel like you're spying from a secret corner and not just in one, loud room.
The service was extremely capable without being overbearing, and Michael Anthony came out at the end of the meal to say goodnight, which was a great touch. A fantastic, five-star dining experience.
Oh, I almost forgot! My cocktail, the New Deal was amazing -- rye with pickled greenmarket cherries. It was strong enough that the taste of the liquor still came through, but not at all difficult to drink.
One of the best dining experiences I've ever had. I took my wife here for her birthday and despite the fact it was our first time there, we were treated as if we were royalty. Upon arrival, the hostess noted that I asked for a more private table and brought my wife back to the dining room to allow her to choose which table she wanted to be seated. The service was phenomenal throughout the meal.
We ordered the 3 course meal. For me, the smoked trout was the best thing that either of us had that night. I ordered halibut entree, which was tender and delicate. My wife ordered the lamb papardelle and a duck confit special, both of which were very rich, but not overpowering.
We couldn't decide on our dessert courses and asked our server, Gabe, about the blueberry corn sundae, chocolate bread pudding and peanut butter semifreddo. We ultimately picked the bread pudding and corn sundae, and we were delighted when Gabe brought out the semifreddo as well. Just another little thing that made us feel special. By the way, next time I go back, I'm choosing the semifreddo, although each dessert was incredible.
The personalized note from Chef Michael Anthony which I received shortly after dining there again made me feel very special, even if it is standard for this restaurant. Although this experience came with a price, about $100/person before tax and gratuity, it was worth every penny.
Smooth Execution
There is a reason why so many people have reviewed this place. Every time I come here it only confirms my belief that they cannot mess up a dish. Delicious food, great atmosphere for any occasion, nice staff.
Definitely a place you can feel comfortable dining in as a destination restaurant.
Date Rating: 8
Pick up Scale: 3 (7 if you're charming and you sit at the bar)
Strong Suggestion: Make a reservation they're pretty busy.
I was curious about this restaurant but for some reason I never made a point to kill my curiosity... until I discovered that one of the cooks Felipe Saint-Martin is BRAZILIAN!
Of course I was only sad I did not come to this place earlier. It's beautiful and happening without being snobby and the service is impeccable. If you love cheese like me order the cheese selection which is to die for.
Great for lunch and the eye candy is NOT TO BE MISSED!
this is exactly what you would expect from one of the highest rated restaurants in nyc...
insanely high prices. great wine and alcohol selection. great atmosphere. treated like a king. decent selection of things you may or may not have heard of in your life, as well as things you may or may not even be abel to pronounce... portion sizes could use a dose of steroids (expected), and the flavor....i wouldnt say it was amazing, but i would also not say that it was bad, id just rather have a tonguegasm when i am paying this much for food...
perfect place to take a first date if you are trying to impress or just trying to get them back to your place... but then again this is ny so you really dont have to try very hard these days...
i did like the wine. a lot. but i hear there is alcohol in that stuff so im sure that helped.
The food are wonderful. I especially like the lamb, which is so special and really surprise me. I think the lamb is one of my favorite in the world. And the dessert, the volcano not sure is this name, with hot chocolate in the chocolate cake), is the BEST!!!!!!!! I love it and how can i live if I never can taste it again? Anyway, be sure to order both the dishe and dessert that I mentioned above. Very recommanded!!
Nice, romantic setting: gramercy tavern is a restaurant in a beautiful setting. The food is very good and the service is good. We went on a New Year's Eve and I think they had an abbreviated menu. The food was excellent, though. Even though I prefer restaurants with more interesting menus, this restaurant has high-quality cuisine. Definitely nice for special evenings out.
Had the Pre-fix tasting menu $35 for three courses: Chilled soup was delicious, sea bass was waaaay too sour- too many mixed flavors that just didn't mix too well. Dessert was OK- (although I'm pretty snooty when it comes to my desserts)
food was mediocre. prices were good for new york- only in the tavern section though... make sure you know that when you make reservations- it's for the restaurant (not tavern) which is a minimum $85 set menu. Same kitchen- so not sure if it's worth the $50 premium
Just received a signed thank you letter from Chef Michael Anthony. I'm impressed that it was personalized - the first paragraph referenced the feedback I left on the comment card.
It's that extra step that always leaves a lasting impression. Love this place - wish I could give it 6 stars!
I spent more money on brunch here than I did on my plane ticket out to NYC...and as you can tell by… Read more »
We have been to Gramercy several times. Each time the menu and food were really inventive not the usual. Many of the upscale restaurants now serve practically the same thing especially or dessert.
Gramercy is one of the few places that is still inventive.
Had a wonderful date there last night - definitely recommended for a date, going out with a friend or your parents.
We sat at the bar and waited about a half hour for our seats (they originally said an hour, so we were happy). We had also put our name on the list to sit at tables in the tavern, but we liked sitting at the bar so much we'd definitely just put our names on that list to do it again.
For drinks we had a bottle of wine, one of my favorites, Emeritus 2007 Pinot Noir. It was a bit expensive from what I normally get but their wine list does have a range, although more are definitely in the higher end. The cocktails served around us looked wonderful, too. (And it was a lot of fun to watch the bartenders make them).
The food was amazing. The portions aren't huge which was nice, because you got to try something of everything. My boyfriend got the three-course prix fix for $35, so we got to split his app and dessert, while I just got an entree. Such a great idea and not costly! I got the seafood stew ($19), which was great, but definitely for a seafood lover. The app was the barley risotto (amazing), and then the steak, which I was told was very good. We shared the strawberry pie with ginger ice cream and graham cracker crust - AMAZING. So good, we ate every bite. Also, the bread they serve before dinner is fabulous too.
The service was impeccable. Everyone kept our glasses full, asked how we were doing, and after being seated at the bar the host came up and asked if we wanted to move to an open table, which we declined, but it showed attention to detail. All in all, very impressed.
Sitting at the bar can be a bit crowded as patrons reach for drinks over you, but everyone's polite about it - and the people next to us were so friendly as to offer us a bite of their dessert. Seriously, from food, to service, to wine, to even the other patrons, this place is wonderful. I can't wait to go back, and I definitely recommend you give the tavern, or their dining room which I'm sure is great, a try.
The smoked trout appetizer was so good I almost fell out of my chair. And then after I finished eating it, I was angry it was all gone and wanted to throw the empty plate on the floor. It may sound dramatic, but judge me AFTER you try the smoked trout. Incredibly tender, the perfect amount of smokiness, not too salty, melts in your mouth... with tangy little pickled onions for balance.
I got the roasted chicken for my entree-- it was sous vide(d?) before it was thrown into the oven, so it was extra juicy and flavorful. A tad salty for my taste, but probably ideal for most.
The lamb papperdelle was very good (the sauce is amazing and perfect for soaking bread), but the shrimp salad appetizer was not my favorite. A little too shrimpy and paled in comparison to the other dishes we had.
A special shout-out to our server whose wine pairing suggestions were right on the money.
We didn't go for the prix fixe this time, but it's on my to-do for next time. Now I just have to find something to celebrate...
Gramercy Tavern is definitely my go-to restaurant whenever someone asks me to recommend a top-rated NYC restaurant.
What I love most is that the restaurant has a conservative and homey ambiance- not like other top restaurants that have a snooty, "i'm dining like a princess" air to it.
The food is top-notch, as can be expected from any highly rated NYC restaurant. Flavours are unique, but not over-done. From my experience, every dish from the mouche-bouche to the complimentary baked goods at the end made me feel warm and delightful.
If anything at all, I think they could improve on the bread basket- I love it when restaurants serve "melt-in-your mouth" bread. The bread at Gramercy Tavern is quite ordinary.
But other than that, everything else is wonderful. I hardly ever award 5 stars to a restaurant, but this is well-deserved.
Just an all-around pristine dining experience. After several days of pizzas, burgers and fries in NY, I was clamoring for something a bit more refined. How about food served on white dishes placed on white tablecloth, accompanied by shiny silverware, and a glass of wine to go along with it? Gramercy Tavern was the perfect selection.
I almost booked a table online for the pricier dining room, but thanks to Yelp, I knew to directly head to the bar and tavern area at the front without requiring any reservations. Plus, I didn't think we were up for a gargantuan tasting menu. The atmosphere and ambiance was more casual, although we definitely stood out as one of the more younger-looking patrons in the crowd.
All of the appetizers looked good, but we settled on the house cured pastrami with pickled cauliflower, and the calamari and carrot salad. Thinly sliced, the pastrami packed an walloping punch. Whatever curing salt, brine, or spices that they used for the pastrami, you could definitely taste every bit of it. The calamari was just about melted in my mouth, and nicely complimented the lemon vinaigrette.
For the entrees, the food was simple, classic, and elegant, but with a sophisticated touch. More often than not, chefs these days get all crazy by using too many ingredients with fancy purees, drizzles, and flavored foam. My sister ordered the meatball, with fontina, potato puree, and red wine onions. I had a taste, it was a delicious. My wife had the halibut. Again, delicious. I wanted to take a huge bite, but my wife knew better. She carefully gave me a small sample, and closely guarded her plate.
I had the sea bass with marinated cucumbers and yogurt sauce. Tender, flaky, as perfectly cooked a fish as I have tasted. The cucumbers were thinly sliced and served as the foundation at the bottom of the sea bass, along with the white yogurt sauce. Together, the flavors were clean and vibrant. I wanted to order another filet.
For dessert, the chocolate pudding with salted caramel and brioche croutons really stood out. It wasn't too sweet, and I found myself reaching for the crispy texture of the croutons to offset the saltiness of the caramel. We also shared the strawberry pie with ginger ice cream. I'm not the biggest fan of ginger, but the subtle flavor just worked well with the tartness of the fresh strawberries.
As expected, service throughout the meal was flawless. There was something about our waitress, as she just exuded the most confident and pleasant vibe ever. The rest of the waiting staff was also on point, like they were mind readers in changing plates and refilling waters. After dining here, you can't help but wonder, why can't every restaurant have service like this. Absolutely 5 stars, a fantastic dinner to cap off our NY trip.
The first time I went to Gramercy Tavern, it was a magical night. The food was so unbelievable that my boyfriend and I looked at each other and said,"This is the best food we've ever had." after all the places across the east coast from Maine, to New York City and down to Miami that we have eaten at. For 6 months I dreamed about going back and having the experience again. When we went back to NYC we tried new restaurants and saved Gramercy Tavern for the last night we were there, incase all else failed at least we could fall back on this for our last dinner. What a disappointment. I even got the same appetizer as last time, and it just wasn't the same. I don't even remember what we got as entrees because all I remember it being was a thin piece of overcooked duck with weird crumbs on top that tasted like corn flakes. The best part was the dessert and luckily we tried a new one (the peanut butter semifreddo) because we also ordered our favorite one from the time we ate here before, the warm chocolate bread pudding, and it was such a miss. We both left feeling really sad about the experience, not even about the money but the fact that it was so below par.
Would I go here again? Maybe just to try to salvage some of the good feelings I had about it the first time.
Our last night in NYC, I wanted to go eat at a fancier place and since Gramercy Tavern was on the list of restaurants to try, we decided to eat there for dinner. We already mentioned we will sit at the Tavern area rather than the dining area since it cost less. At first, we were worried we would not be able to get in with our sticky sweat on our faces from the humidity, and wearing shorts and tank/tshirt but to my surprised, they seated us. Even though the waitress gave us a look, she still had a smile on her face.
The decor is contemporary with fresh flowers around the tavern. It is definitely a cozy place to sit, relax and enjoy a nice meal.
We started out with the calamari salad and pickled cauliflower with pastrami. The calamari was tender and full of flavored from the dressing. The pastrami was thinly sliced and complimented the pickled cauliflower perfectly.
For my entree, I ordered the Halibut. It was moist and flaky. The dish was nicely presented.
I have to mention, I think their ice tea is one of the best I have ever had. It was light and didn't taste like it was from a Lipton tea bag. It even came with simple syrup that you can add to the tea besides basic sugar. I have never gotten simple syrup with my ice tea before and I loved it.
We ordered the chocolate pudding and strawberry pie to share. They were both really good and a great way to end a the meal and night.
The service was excellent considering we weren't dress nice. Our waitress treated us with the same respect as all the other patrons. This was definitely a great last meal in NYC.
Yay for people who GET IT!!! Gramercy Tavern is a classic New York establishment for good reason.
They understand that it isn't about stuffy service or tables sprinkled sparsely like islands. Rather they understand that it IS about creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere with phenomenal food and consistently outstanding service.
Normally I'll go all out and get the big million course prix fixe with wine accompaniments, but this time I knew exactly what I was there for; smoked trout and soft shell crab. It goes without saying the service is impeccable. Even though you feel like you're sitting in a rustic barn upstate, you are still afforded all the essentials of fine dining. Plates and silverware are refreshed like clockwork, the entire meal is timed to perfection. You can be certain your Hendricks gin martini will arrive cold, but not too cold, and with the most succulent house brined cocktail onions.
The pork was fantastic but the coup de maître had to be dessert. Peanut. Butter. Semi. Freddo. I die, I die! It was the best dessert I have ever eaten in my entire life. In fact, I have to end this review there. I know I've said this before about a lot of places but, listen up people, I really mean it this time! I've also done a little research and you can get the PBS at lunch, in the tavern, so you really have no excuses. You can thank me later.
The best restaurant experience I've ever had. Hands down.
My mother, sister, and I were in NYC for five days on sort of a culinary adventure (Keens, Bar Room at the Modern, Babbo, and WD~50 as well), and GT was almost an afterthought. But we had been to the Bar Room and EMP on our last trip and were blown away by both, so I should have expected GT would do the same. What an understatement.
We were late in arriving because I gave the cabbie the wrong address, but when I called in, the hostess was very gracious. "Don't worry about it, we'll see you when you get here." We were seated promptly when we arrived.
Mike W. was our waiter, and we just hit it off from the get-go. He was so personable and efficient, we felt right at home.
Mike brought us an amuse bouche trio to start, and then our appetizers. While the lobster salad and lamb papperdelle were fantastic, the warm Maine crab in an egg crepe absolutely stole the show.
Since we hadn't ordered the smoked trout, Mike didn't want us to miss the experience and brought us each a plate. Sooo good. My sister doesn't really like fish and she ate every last bit.
Our entrees were duck breast with duck confit, chicken poussin (one of the specials of the evening), and rack of lamb. Everything was amazing. We ate every single item on our plates. I don't normally order chicken in restaurants (you can get chicken anywhere, after all), but sis' poussin was outstanding. Really moist and flavorful. Even the tomatoes accompanying the dish were awesome. But the best thing on our three plates was the chickpea fries that came with my lamb. Oh lord, I could have eaten a whole plate of it. Mike said he gets that request a lot. Kudos to Michael Anthony!
Our desserts were fabulous, and Mike topped off the evening by bringing us after-dessert desserts! And we were given muffins to take back to the hotel, which we glommed on the next morning for breakfast.
An overall wonderful experience, from beginning to end. Every dish was stellar and timed perfectly. Even the cappuccino floored me. Service was prompt, unobtrusive, and friendly. We really loved Mike - he had some great recommendations for our trip and treated us like we were old friends. Even the manager, Jen, stopped by during the dessert course to tell us how much her staff enjoyed serving customers who were so obviously enjoying themselves.
I'd fly back to NYC tomorrow just for another meal at Gramercy Tavern. We'll definitely be back. Meyer's restaurants are definitely to be experienced.
Wow. Wow. Wow. This place is ridiculously good on every front. Food, service, ambiance, they nail everything! I guess there's a reason it's become such an institution...
My friend and I had lunch here yesterday and tried a few of their signature dishes plus some seasonal specials. The smoked trout is so good it's retarded. I didn't really like smoked trout until now, and I'm converted. Why is it so good? The fish is incredibly moist, not too smoky, not too fishy, just right. And the pickled onions they serve with it is the perfect accompaniment!
The lamb parpardelle was nearly as good. The lamb is so soft you could almost eat it through a straw, the pasta has great texture, and the lemony sauce brings everything together.
Our other dishes were good but not quite as mind-blowing. The shrimp salad was deliciously 'shrimpy' and really tasted of fresh summer vegetables. My friend's chicken entree was cooked sous vide then roasted, and came out with great texture, though it was perhaps a bit on the salty side.
All told, I'm itching to come back here, and would definitely recommend it to anyone!
I had a nice business lunch here the other day. The food, service and pace was all fine. However, I ate a few times the previous week at the bar in teh front room and that was a fantastic experience. One regular I went with asked the bartender if they had the soup and sandwich combo, which wasn't on the menu. They did and it was fabulous. So, I have found a new cozy place to get a drink a small meal.
I got the Tasting Menu....$112 pp and a bottle of wine from the hamptons...I'm a San Franciscan and maybe i have different tastebuds compared to a New Yorker but my rating is based on the food.
Service was great, ambiance was nice....I liked the fact that ppl actually dressed up to the nines---unlike in San Francisco...where no matter what you will always see someone in jeans and a fleece sweater--while next to them is someone dressed in a tux---but hey--That's what makes SF SF :)
OK here is the breakdown: (I took a picture of each item--I have no shame)
1) Amuse Bouche---ehhh Dry
2) Tuna tartare deal ---very very good melts in your mouth good :)
3) Chilled Corn soup (hmmm---not good, flavors were creative but to difficult to manuever)
4) Trout--(definitly melt sin your mouth like seabass but taste like trout--Its made with pickled pureed onions with vinegar giving it that distinct taste and great combination)
5) the Pork (that was not good at all---it was dry, hard and I did not even eat half)
6) the dessert (it's ok nothing special
7) gramercy tavern bread pastry to go--cute conecpt but bread was dry and I ended up giving it to the housekeeping in the hotel)
Overall Experience....3 Stars :)
I called for reservations weeks ahead of time, the earliest we could get in was for a 10PM seating... we went early and enjoyed some tasty Belgian beers at the bar. The place was packed. You need to tell the bartender to put your name on the seating list (be polite) don't just grab a seat -- we were entertained by watching the eviction of pissed-off seat grabbers.
The food was superb, service impeccable. The waitstaff very knowledgeable. We were advised on good choices. It was a perfect New York night of foodie heaven.
Great spot for an evening out, with both a regular and vegetarian tasting menu. I really like the atmosphere at Gramercy -- much more than Union Square Cafe, but maybe that's just personal tastes. A very open space, more modern, with a cool bar area up front where you can go just for dessert. To me, the best of Danny Meyer's restaurants. Everything from the food (the desserts are especially good) to the hospitality-level service to the space (Tabla is close) is just a cut above. A great high end option if you're not looking to break the bank on a 3-star meal but want destination worthy quality all the same.
I think most people realize when you go to a Union Square Rest. you are going to get great quality food and service. I wouldn't say this is a five-star restaurant but it is definitely a high-four. I really love the Jalisco Pear (alcoholic drink). The bartender definitely has some great concoctions. This is the type of place where you can always spot some celebrities. I have tried a few things here, but my favorite was the meatball. It is stuffed with cheese and is one BIG ball. Desserts were quite good as well. Since we just got a gift certificate for Un.Sq. we will probably go back real soon!
Goods: As good as advertised--had the lunch tasting menus and was blown away by the high execution of food and impeccable service.
I generally like heavier tasting food, so the balance in the dishes that is both light and concentrated in flavor is a true revelation.
Very impressed with the service and atmosphere of the restaurant. I much prefer it to Union Square Cafe, no matter what the Zagat says.
This is very traditional American style dining experience, and you may want to take someone who's republican there (haha). Menu is very standard, service is awesome (our waitress was a little too dramatic...actress-in-training). We hosted b-day party and out of towner's welcome party a few times, each times they delivered what we expected.
Ridiculously delicious. The service was incredible as was the food and wine. I had the maine crab appetizer which ruined all other crab dishes I'll ever taste. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars was the sirloin and flat iron I had for my dinner entree was a tiny bit salty. Otherwise, everything was superb. I felt like royalty.
I need to post two thank-you's here. The first - to chef Michal Anthony for crafting a meal I won't soon forget. The second - to http://www.eateryexper.... This website has given me excellent restaurant advice on multiple occasions - with Gramercy Tavern topping the list. Just an all around fantastic meal. The wine list is extraordinarily extensive, the food delicious and the wait staff attentive and precise. We went for the tasting menu which proved to be an excellent decision. Next time I want to try the tavern (I've heard the pulled pork sandwich is worth the price of admission)
My review cannot do justice to this restaurant. The food, while amazing, was only a tiny part of the experience. It's nearly on par, quality-wise, with 11 Madison, but the staff are so much friendlier and less pretentious.
I'll let real food critics describe the dishes. All I can say is that Gramercy has hands-down the best and most knowledgeable wait staff I've ever experienced in restaurants of its caliber.
This may be one of the most expensive dinners I've ever had. And one of the most memorable as well...everything from the food to the service! Damn, what service! I went last summer when I was in New York and it was quite the experience.
First of all, it is a gorgeous restaurant. Flowers everywhere and the restaurant looks quite spacious...I didn't see the whole thing but it felt huge. (Oh and the restroom was gorgeous as well. Flowers in there with hand towels on a marble sink. Hey, I like a restaurant with a nice restroom. Cleanliness is next to godliness!)
We could have had better seats though...I didn't care to be 5 feet from my neighbor, but I tried to ignore them. =P The waiters were SO nice too. They literally attend to your every little whim. When I got up to go to the restroom, he folded my napkin neatly for when I got back and kept refilling my water to no end.
I think we had a selection of breads...but it probably wasn't too good or too bad for me not to remember. My friend had foie gras in a pudding or some form...and it was good, albeit a bit heavy after awhile because, well, it is foie gras. And it was in a cream.
I had a soft-shell crab with salad that was amazing! It was the right amount of hot and cold together and very refreshing. For the next course, I cannot for the life of me remember what my friend had, but I had the lamb and it was good! Very juicy and easy to eat.
Okay, so a story about the lamb. I was trying to cut a piece for my friend and put it on his plate...and you see, there's this candle in between us. Needless to say, do not attempt to share lamb with someone over candlelight and using your fork and knife as a delivery method. My piece of lamb promptly put out the flame...(was there one?!) and we could not stop laughing for the rest of the meal. The waiter saw too...I'm sure he was trying not to laugh at me as well. Gosh, it was embarrassing, but he didn't say anything and promptly came over to change the candle for us. (See how attentive they are?? You can't even drop lamb in a candle without being caught!)
Before dessert, we had a palate cleanser dessert that was compliments of the chef. It was a mini strawberry shortcake arranged in a mini dish with the shortbread to the side, strawberries, what I believe was blueberries or blackberries in a jam, and a dollop of creme fraiche. There was a hint of mint too, I swear, because it really did clean my palate before dessert. And being a mint fanatic, I absolutely loved it! This quite possibly might have been my favorite part of the meal, but I'm a major pastry/dessert fanatic.
For dessert, my friend had coconut tapioca with passionfruit/coconut sorbet and cilantro syrup. The sorbet was sandwiched between two thin wafer cookies...shoot, I'm not sure how to describe the cookies. But, I think it would have been much more enjoyable if I actually liked cilantro. Because I love passionfruit and tapioca! Sadly, I don't like cilantro. I think I have that gene that makes it taste like soap. I can distinguish the flavor so clearly...and it's gross!
I had a mascarpone cheesecake that was the lightest, fluffiest thing ever! The crust was baked into a buttery, crumbly cookie and topped with a pecan or praline brittle of some sort. And raspberry sorbet with pistachio bits to the side. All very beautifully displayed of course. =D And yummy to boot.
Gosh...it was such a great dining experience. And they even gave us raspberry muffins to take home for breakfast the next day! They were quite delish the next day. =) Brought a smile to my face in the morning. Great marketing technique. haha =D
Overall, I don't know if the food is the most amazing I've ever had in my life that I'd die to go back for it. It was delicious, no doubt! I just think the whole experience of dining there was what made it so superb. And an unforgettable story about lamb...
Maybe it was the food, the attentive service, or the fact that my baby was with me...or maybe it was all three...but I had a fabulous time at Gramercy Tavern. T. took me there for our 1-year anniversary. To start off (as usual), we stuffed our faces with the selection of bread that seemed to continuously be filled on our table. The amuse bouche was a small shot of chilled corn soup that had so much flavor packed into a tiny little slurp.
For our first actual course, T. ordered the tagliolini neri allo scoglio (squid ink noodles with seafood) and I ordered the lamb ragu linguini that we both thoroughly enjoyed. The portions were quite large, so I was pretty full at this point...but I still had two more courses to go.
Following that, T. ordered the lamb shank and I got the sirloin and filet. I felt like the man. haha. I paired that with a nice merlot and man, I was in heaven!
Finally the best part -- dessert! Not realizing that we would get a bunch of additional goodies (dessert amouse bouche of a sorbet with a creme foam and a plate of truffles), we decided to splurge and order three desserts: chocolate bread pudding, a peanut butter-wafer-chocolate-toffee dessert, and the cheesecake. Those were listed in the order of our liking. Though every dessert was fabulous, we definitely agreed that the chocolate bread pudding was the ultimate -- creamy and moist, rich and chocolatey.
The service, ambience, food presentation and quality of food definitely allows Gramercy Tavern to live up to the hype!
5pm-7pm Monday - Friday
Neighborhood: Financial District
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Category: American (New)
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New York, NY
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