- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Gramercy Tavern
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
42 E 20th St(between Broadway & S Park Ave)
New York, NY 10003
Neighborhood: Flatiron
(212) 477-0777
- Nearest Transit:
-
23 St (4, 6, 6X)
23 St (N, R)
14 St - Union Sq (N, Q, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 12 am
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
770 reviews for Gramercy Tavern
Review Highlights
"Simply put, it was an amazing chocolate bread pudding."
(in 62 reviews)
"Would love to come back for the dinner tasting menu."
(in 161 reviews)
"This is in reference to the calamari and carrot salad."
(in 19 reviews)
Loading...
770 reviews in English
-
Review from Melissa B.
Manhattan, NY
2/9/2012
Gramercy Tavern is such an energetic restaurant.
We sat at the bar and enjoyed oysters, pate and wine. It was very enjoyable. We're looking forward to going back to eat dinner in the dining room.
Note: The menu is different in the bar room vs. dining room. -
Review from Lori W.
Falls Church, VA
2/8/2012 1 photo
Everything (and I mean everything) about this restaurant was perfection. My two girlfriends and I were in NY and this was our first visit to Gramercy Tavern. Having heard/read about it for years, we wanted to go. My girlfriend was responsible for making the reservations. Upon our arrival on a busy Saturday night (Feb 4) for our 8:15 res, we were told by the hostess that we didn't have a reservation. We all blanched; I almost fell into one of the most spectacular floral arrangments I had ever seen. Ends up my gf didn't make her res properly and that explained why she never had a res confirmation.
The hostess was so amazing; she actually fit us in and within 40 minutes, we were in the dining room - we must have looked like country bumpkins who can't make a NY res...it could have been the fact that we fasted all day (except for cupcakes at The Little Cupcake Bake Shop on Prince Street) and looked faint.
We all did the tasting menu (the larger one of course) with wine pairings. Jahir was our server. He had been there 9 years. Since he looked 20, my age judgment was off (or the wines were that good). I had the vegetable tasting menu.
Every course was outstanding and I almost cried a couple of times it was so good. I was having a serious case of soup envy when my friends had a soup that was delicious (and not meat) so I asked (begged) Jahir for a small ramekin. He brought me a bowl - how sweet.
Desserts: outstanding and delicious. The hot chocolate martini made with Stoli Vanila and some other liqueur was so outstanding our table had two. We asked if the chef could come out so we could hug him. He was really nice and they knew a mutual chef in Atlanta.
Danny Meyer...bless you... your team is outstanding. They are all approachable, knowledgable and proud of their abilities. I look forward to another visit, this time with a proper reservation. How could anyone have a mediocre experience here? I just have a hard time believing it ! -
Review from Lucy Z.
Manhattan, NY
2/7/2012
This review is for Gramercy Tavern in August 2011. We had the tasting here.
High points: artic char crudo with amazing cippolini onion puree. It was amazing and brought me back to my childhood.
Low points: weird and pretty much nasty rabbit dumplings. The actual two slices of rabbit were great but the dumplings were gross. I don't say this often but the texture was truly terrible.
Another weird point was the tenderloin dish which came with tiny cubes of stewed meat. After my boyfriend said it was like cat food, I couldn't eat another bite. It really did remind me of something you would feed a cat.
At the end, you're given petit fours and a muffin for the next day. The desserts were really good; I especially like this sweet seltzer and sorbet they gave you as the pre-dessert. I was completely stuffed at the end.
I would say save you money and do a tasting somewhere else. The tasting here is 125 dollars and I wish I had gone to EMP instead for the price. Service, however was great. -
Review from Arben S.
Manhattan, NY
2/1/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
The hostess cancelled my Open Table reservation, which pissed me off.
10PM reservation, I arrived at 10:15PM and she was calling my cell phone as I walked in.
Bad Start!!
Seated in the "Main Dining Room"
Service was slow and cold!!
For the amount of money I spent, I would have much rather spent it elsewhere.
Sorry, I hate to give this a 3 star but that's all it merits. -
Review from Lissa V.
1/25/2012
And for my 100th review... let me present to you GRAMERCY TAVERN!
One of the best all around dining experiences I've had in NYC!! FFF, T and I came here on a snowy Saturday evening and it was the definition of perfection. Those two had actually already been here once without me, can you believe it??!! I couldn't either, needless to say I was beyond excited to finally experience Gramercy Tavern for myself.
As others have mentioned the service is top notch, I mean these guys really have it down. The could teach the course to all other area restaurants. The Tavern Menu is one of the best deals in the city, hands down. You still get exquisite food for a price that is really reasonable. Plus, the Tavern itself has such a great feel to it. It's warm and classy, friendly and upscale all at the same time.
Their cocktail list is really on point and I highly, highly recommend the Fall Classic with Bourbon, Cider, Calvados, Thyme and Lemon. This is a drink you will find yourself craving weeks if not months later, and perfect for any chilly evening. The wine list is also great, and amazingly reasonable.
Also, they sell a "taste" of wine ie: half glass. Let me explain to you how perfect this is, say you are going to share a nice bottle of Pinot to accompany your meal but you're like me and can't fathom the idea of not starting with the oysters. Now you're thinking well a crisp white would be better with the oysters now wouldn't it.... well Gramercy Tavern has the solution already figured out for you: half glass! Damn, these guys have thought of everything...
The food... oh the food! When FFF are together it's a sharefest of food. I know what you're thinking... we're not mean to T, we'd share with her too but she's allergic to shellfish and I prefer my dinners not ending with a trip to the E.R.!! So anyway we split some oysters, pate, the seafood tagliatelle off the tasting menu (umm yea they don't even flinch at substitutions and special requests at GT). T had the sweetbreads and even though I'm not really a fan she said they were fantastic. I had the flounder which was amazing and done over spaghetti squash and a lovely sherry sauce, it was really just divine. FFF had the smoked pork shoulder, which I got a couple of bites of and was also amazing but a bit rich.
For dessert we did the chocolate pudding and the banana creme tart, which reminded us of a banana pudding. Both were equally fabulous. The entire bill- cocktails, wine, all that food (yea we went a tad overboard) and dessert came to about $100 per person - AND WE ATE LIKE KINGS! Thank you Gramercy Tavern for joining my Top 5! -
Review from Stephanie C.
New York, NY
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ah, this is where it all began. My love affair with food, I mean. Had my very first fine dining experience when I was 12 with my family.. and since i'm a big girl now, you know that a resto that's been around that long has it going on.
1 star docked because it wasn't as good as I recall. But times change, and menus change. And I say to try GT's seasonal tasting menu. I took bf here for his birthday Sunday night (Giant game night, so there were an unusually low ratio of peeps dining..thankfully for us, a coveted 8:30 resto opened from our prior 6:30.. which was booked more than a month in advance, FYI)
Let's start with the decor. It's beautiful! Like you just stepped out of the city and got a whiff of the country air...with fresh flowers, produce, lots of rustic wood. The walls are adorned with paintings of historical American stuff. But, "tavern" should be more like "cottage" since it's not "tavern-pub" like at all. There is a lot of space in the dining room- it's a big resto.
Starters: bread- bet plain and sourdough. Plain was crusty and standard and sourdough was nicely sour (they give you alot). Amuse- a goat cheese puff (dry)
The winter tasting menu is $116 pp. (The regular 3 course are $88 and full sized). The courses (all beautifully presented) were as follows (AND were the right portions, despite your eyes initially deceiving you.. trust me, we were SO full)
1. Fluke Tartare with radish and american caviar- This is one of my fav dishes of the night. With lots of cirtrus flavor, the tartare was extremely fresh, and chilled, that it popped in your mouth. Nothing fishy about this-- my bf , who doesn't like fish much, enjoyed it. You get small heapings of radish and caviar (esp the latter) but its' salty enough to know it's there.
2. Clam Chowder- Not your original bisque. It's not thick so dieters, be happy. You'll taste more celery (delish) in the base. The fried oysters are amazing (perfectly done and still crispy, despite being in soup!) and the razor clams are fresh and not fishy. The shrimp was cooked to perfection-- soft, but not overdone. Lastly, the TROUT roe pops in your mouth, and adds a salty kick- making for a fun culinary experience (note that the food is a bit salty, but the waiters are very good about re filling your water)
3. Halibut- steamed--a unique way of having this fish. The carrot/cabbage soup base seeps into the fish for some serious carrot-esque flavor. The cabbage is crunchy, a good play on texture. The calamari is small tiny and steamed also (well not fried). While we recognized the artistry in this dish, it was our least fav.
4.Duck dumplings- Not my fav way to have kale (it's a bit soggy), but excellent dumplings. The wrapper is so thin and light and managed to carefully balance the heavy, dense meat inside. There was a LOT of very flavorful duck in here
5. Despite the site menu saying next was venison, it was in fact, it's sirloin. I did not have this bc I don't eat red meat. Instead, the waiter asked if I'd like the sea bass from the regular menu. I had asked if I could have the pork loin and belly (which I originally opted for because of the belly- so my bf could try. I don't eat pork, normally). I told him pork, but somehow he forgot and brought me sea bass.
Now, I LOVED the sea bass. So I didn't mind, and in hindsight, I really don't like pork. But... that was an example of poor service, so I was a bit surprised. Our waiter was sweet, and even offered to bring me something else if I didn't like the sea bass, but I'm not sure how knowledgable he was. (seemed to have to think hard about each dish, and was kind of the person that was like "everything's good"...yes I know.. but I want some detailed recs, man).
In any case, the sea bass (which was FULL portion, as it was from the reg menu) was awesome. Perfectly fresh and cooked. But even better was the SAUCE. A candied walnut-apple-mango sauce which was so perfectly buttery, and sweet... I honestly will say that I cannot even describe it in words. You need to go and try it for yourself. The fish was plated on top of spaghetti squash, which I love. It was perfectly baked and strung.. not too soggy. I finished this but couldn't finish the whole fish.
Bf had the sirloin, which he said wasn't the best. It was in a wine reduction and came with a sweet potato.
6. Tasting dessert- we had a sampling of the graham cracker goat cheesecake with a concord grape sorbet- AWESOME. and true to ALL subtle flavors. Then, pistachio ice cream with salted caramel/ peanut butter crumble (very good- me), and passion fruit with American meringue (bf- very sour and good. They put a candle in his dessert with Happy Bday writing per my request up front)
Misc: petit fours, peppermint chocolate, small choc pies, hazelnut macaroons (dry), and gingerbread/pumpkin truffles-eh, but what you do expect for free. We got a take home apple oatmeal muffin which was kinda like coffee cake- this was VERY good (we had it the next day) -
Review from Sandra M.
1/29/2012
Our intent was to try another restaurant by the same owner, but when that location was closed, they suggested the Gramercy Tavern.
We were very impressed by the atmosphere and the professional staff (even the young lady who had just started that week seemed very well trained).
The food was a perfect balance of flavour and size for a reasonable price. Our waters were always full, bread always on our side plate and a great wine recommended by the staff. Between the four of us, we had their fish, lasagne, sausage dishes and appetizers all unique to the summer season.
The assorted desert sorbets are all delicious!
They change their menu each season and I look forward to returning to this establishment on our next visit to New York. -
Review from Hamsmash C.
Denver, CO
2/7/2012
I love Gramercy Tavern. The food and service are just outstanding and I will keep coming back.
To be honest, the desserts have gone downhill. Maybe that's just my opinion, but I've been here more times than I could possibly count and have noticed that the desserts went from "OH MY GOD, this is the best thing ever" to "yeah, it's good". I'm not trying to be picky, it's just what I've noticed. -
Review from L.B. F.
NY
1/20/2012
After checking-in with the hostess, I was able to admire the interior space as I was led to our table. Rustic wooden beams contrasted beautifully with the buttermilk-colored walls and arched passageways. Understated chandeliers, wall sconces, hand-painted murals and antique artworks painted the space with casual elegance.
What a pleasant surprise to see that Julie had arrived first and was already seated at our table! While waiting for Christine, the two of us got a chance to briefly catch up and order our first round of drinks. After perusing the cocktail menu, there wasn't a chance in hell that I could say no to the "Jalisco Pear," composed of tequila, pear liqueur, and allspice dram.
Christine joined us just moments later.
When dining at Gramercy Tavern, you have one of two choices: the $88 a-la-carte prix fixe (dinner), or the $116 seasonal tasting (dinner). With the latter menu, guests are not able to select specific dishes, unlike the a-la-carte option. My girlfriends and I opted for the seasonal tasting menu, because someone forgot to tell us that we're not ballers.
Moments after we placed our orders, a gentleman carrying a large basket of bread and a pair of tongs approached our table. We had the choice of sliced sourdough or a whole wheat boule - or both, if you're anything like me. Butter and sea salt accompanied.
~
First course: Fluke Tartare~
Radish bits, orange segments, and bite-sized pieces of raw fluke came together "tartare-style" in this sexy presentation. The dish was finished with dollops of black caviar.
As stunning as it may have appeared, I found that the fluke tasted unpleasantly "fishy." The verdict is out as to whether it was intentional, but the caviar only accentuated that strong flavor.
Second course: Clam Chowder~
A halved, pan-seared scallop - a single shrimp - and, what tasted like, a tempura-fried clam, appeared at the bottom of a shallow bowl. Celery root soup was poured over the ingredients and topped with smoked trout roe.
This dish would have been dynamite had it not been for the roe. I did my best to push it aside but, ultimately, I was defeated.
Third course: Halibut~
A perfectly-cooked filet of halibut sat atop a surprisingly flavorful carrot broth and a vegetable melange, including cabbage and mushrooms.
It was at this point in our seafood-heavy tasting that I finally enjoyed every aspect of the dish. Bravo!
Fourth course: Duck Dumplings~
Three handmade dumplings were stuffed to the brim with salty, finely-shredded duck meat and surrounded by a rich broth (I'm guessing it was beef) that was studded with cooked turnips and black kale.
All three of us loved this course, but found it to be a bit salty. The duck meat reminded me of a ball of tightly packed, shredded brisket.
Fifth course: Roasted Sirloin and Flatiron~
A small medallion-cut of each, sirloin and flatiron, was prepared medium-rare and served alongside chestnuts, beets, and ripe pear.
This was the course that I wanted to love most of the five savories. It also happens to be one of the reasons that I voted for the pricier tasting menu. Sadly, I was disappointed; the beef was incredibly hard to cut, tough, and chewy. It also lacked in flavor but, luckily, we still had a dish of sea salt on the table from the bread service.
Dessert course's amuse bouche: Deconstructed Goat's Milk Cheesecake~
A round, graham-cracker/shortbread disk separated a dollop of whipped, goat's milk-based cheesecake "filling" and a small scoop of Concord grape sorbet.
Aside from the duck dumplings, this was my favorite "course," despite it being an amuse. The pungency of the "filling" was perfectly cut by the sweetness of the sorbet. The graham cracker disk added a delightful crunch and texture.
Dessert/sixth course: Coconut Mousse with Passion Fruit Ice Cream~
While this plate appears to be "busy," all of its components worked brilliantly together, both in flavor and texture. In the center stood an ample scoop of passion fruit ice cream, which was surrounded by toasted coconut nibs. A ring of fresh passion fruit puree came next, followed by fluffy coconut mousse. The mousse was topped with crunchy meringue "puffs" that, from afar, looked like cotton balls. Finally, another ring of passion fruit puree encircled the outer perimeter of the plate.
To conclude~
I can easily see why Gramercy Tavern is a favorite among New Yorkers and tourists, alike. The space is lovely, the service is smartly on-point, all of the ingredients are sourced from local farmers/producers, they've got a great beverage program, and the food is good. However, people said that a meal here would change my life. It didn't.
I look forward to returning to the restaurant - only next time, I'll enjoy my meal in the more casual Tavern room. I'm more of a "cheeseburger and fries" type of girl, anyways. -
Review from J.A. C.
New York, NY
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hands down the best meal I have ever eaten in Manhattan. Not only is the food magnificent the service was the best service I've ever had ANYWHERE! It is a pricey restaurant but worth ever penny.
-
Review from Adam S.
Manhattan, NY
1/28/2012
Went here with my wife for my birthday. I'd characterize everything here was 'well composed'.
The atmosphere was good. The interior tasteful and comfortable. The mix of people surprised me, from one or two younger hipster types to older grey haired UES patrician types. Perhaps more on the older side than young.
The food was balanced and nicely presented, if not blindingly innovative, or challenging, or stand out tasty. I had the prawns to start (they were fine), the lamb for main (undercooked and somewhat unimaginative) and a cake of sorts for desert (nicely presented but forgettable).
GT is the sort of place Jack Donaghy (from TV show 30 Rock) would come to enjoy a meal away from the rabble and without any nasty surprises. The service was superb. And they did all they could to make our evening comfortable.
Glad I ate here, but I'm not in any rush to return. For me I like to be more surprised by the combination of ingredients and flavors. And I know when I do want to return, GT will be there. -
Review from pete r.
1/24/2012
5 stars, DUH it is Michelin 1 star...
Actually this is one of my best friends favorite restaurants so I finally decided it was time to try it. It was amazing. Excellent food, excellent wine and excellent atmosphere.
Treat yo self! -
Review from Lauren K.
1/17/2012
I was SO excited to go to Gramercy Tavern for a friend's birthday but was deeply dismayed at my meal. I have been told that this place is far and away the best restaurant in New York City. I have to disagree respectfully.
Don't get me wrong, the decor and ambiance of this place is just lovely. You walk in and immediately see bouquets of fresh flowers everywhere. The paintings and decorations in the main dining area make you feel like you are in someone's elegant home. It is intimate but also bustling, which is a difficult balance to strike. The service was superb, friendly, and accommodating... the waiters knew everything about their dishes and were happy to share their expertise with us.
That being said, the quality of food simply did not align with the service and atmosphere. Everything was oversalted. Even the bread. When you pay this much for a meal (especially with so many cheap places to eat in the city), you expect excellence. I had the tasting menu and only liked one of my appetizers. Everything else was too salty to bear. In fact, some of it was so salty, I couldn't taste any of the other flavors.
This was a true disappointment. It's possible I went on an off day, but with a reputation like theirs, that really shouldn't happen. -
Review from Tim F.
Northport, NY
1/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Went here for lunch one afternoon this summer with very high expectactions. Had heard about Gramercy Tavern for years and it was always on the list of places I wanted to try but just couldn't find the time to get there.
The atmosphere is really great. Well decorated, comfortable, and lots to keep you interested. I found the menu very limited (we were there for lunch). I settled on a sea bass entree and frankly, I it was just ok. The sides were uninspired, the fish had little taste and wasted well seasonsed.
Maybe it is a case of my expectations being too high, but it just fell flat.
I may try again because of the excellent reputation - but not a first choice. -
Review from Bo Y.
2/1/2012
This is exactly what I expected from a hip and popular restaurant/bar in New York City. Interior design is a visual feast with fresh flowers. The waiters are very well dressed with fitted dress shirts, ties and vests, all in a professional but fun color scheme. The cocktails are $14 but they are darn good and darn strong. The food...oh the food! Their appetizers are amazing! I especially recommend the sweetbread from veal. Absolutely phenomenal!
-
Review from Charlotte G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/8/2012
If you're in search of a top-notch meal in a relaxed but tasteful environment, this is your place. The service at Gramercy was above and beyond and the gentleman who took care of us was right on with every suggestion. The ambiance is sort of rustic-elegant; the type of restaurant where you can have an equally great casual dinner with friends or an intimate, romantic night out. And most importantly - the food was superb. Given the exceptional quality of everything we ate, the fixed price menu of $88 seemed totally reasonable and worth every penny.
We started with the celery root soup and the open ravioli - both were excellent. My boyfriend then ordered the duck, but was intrigued by an amazing burger he had seen someone else eating when we walked to our table... So he ordered both to sample, and nearly ate all of both - they were just THAT good! I asked for our server's suggestion for my entree and he raved about the sea bass (which I don't normally like), but I went for it and I am sooo glad I did! It may have been the best fish dish I've ever eaten in my life. The sauce was indescribable but amazing, and all the ingredients together made each bite a little bundle of culinary bliss. I literally cleaned the plate, thanks to the delicious bread they offer, which I used to soak up every remaining drop of miraculous Sherry sauce.
As a sweet finish, we opted for the Peanut Butter Semifreddo and it was awesome. If you're a peanut butter fan, do NOT miss this dessert! I'm also a lover of all things pumpkin, but I wasn't as impressed with the tart - there was a little too much crust and I'm a traditionalist with pumpkin so I didn't love the lime sorbet. Still, the meal overall was so wonderful I can guarantee we'll be regulars on every future trip to New York. -
Review from Frank F.
Harrington Park, NJ
1/5/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Some have called this the "unofficial first restaurant of New York". It's crazy stinking good. Fixed price or tasting menus only at dinner in the main dining room. A superb wine list. Flawless service. And when they say "business casual", they mean it, by today's very relaxed business casual definitions. You can get a little dressy if you want, or you can show up in cords and a buttondown, and you'll feel right at home either way.
The food is ridiculous. It is expensive. But you won't care (and I don't care). Do it. -
Review from Alka J.
Manhattan, NY
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Superb service but for the price, the food is just ok.
Had the prix fixe dinner menu. I ordered the Celery Root soup which was fine, but Campbell's could have made it too by just cutting up some butternut squash and throwing it into their celery soup. It wasn't cream-based yet still thick due to the puree, which I enjoyed.
The duck breast as my main wasn't bad bbut it wasn't close to the best either. If I ate it with the skin on it was too salty, if I cut it off, it wasn't salty enough. The confit, brussel sprouts and mushrooms were all great and probably the best part of the dish.
Had the chocolate bread pudding for dessert, but not sure if I enjoyed it because it was fantastic or because I was 3 glasses of wine in.
once again, service was spectacular - it would get a 5 by itself. The waitress and bus boy were very attentive. Also enjoyed the atmosphere - wasn't stuffy at all and had a good vibe. But if i had to do it again, i would go to Craft just one block over. -
Review from Gabrielle J.
Austin, TX
1/1/2012
This place was amazing! We were in NYC for 2 weeks during Christmas and came here twice, the first time wasn't planned. We were in the neighborhood and asked for a recommendation for a good drink. Once we sat down and tried the food we were hooked, the day before we left to come home we came back for a late lunch. During the first visit we tried the mussels with chorizo, kidney beans and a cilantro broth (tasty!) We also had the meatball, yes, one meatball... this thing was the size of a softball, cut in half and served on top of the creamiest potato puree ever. I would have licked the plate if it wouldn't have been totally inappropriate.
The second time we came here for lunch. I started out with the orange blossom cocktail, champagne poured over a sugar cube with a big slice of orange rind (delicious, I had 2!) We shared the mussels (again) and the sweetbreads which were to die for! The husband had the meatball for a second time and I had the kielbasa with speatzle, both were excellent.
The service was good, not the best I have had but with the food being as good as it was I can forgive. Plus I think NYC service is just completely different from the service you receive in Texas, people are just friendlier down here. -
Review from Sean W.
San Diego, CA
12/16/2011
Went here at the recommendation of a friend while my g/f & I were on vacation in NYC. We left this for our last stop of the trip and went on a tuesday night after we saw the play Wicked. We didnt get there til 10pm (had reservations) and it was fully packed even at 10pm on a Tues.
We were seated right away and had some tasty bread & a complimentary "bite from the chef" which was very good. We chose from the select your own style tasting menu vs the chefs tasting menu. I must say just about everything we had was extremely delicious. My g/f did get the carpachio starter & we both agreed it wasnt as good as the one we had at Craft a couple nights prior, but aside from that everything was very tasty. I also loved the atmosphere here vs our experience at Craft. This place has a good buzz/vibe, felt like good energy & so on.
We even got 2 complimentary desserts after our 2 ordered desserts, so we were feeling great about our experience. Oh and the muffins they sent us home with were just the thing to snack on the next day on the plane.
Would highly recommend and would go back again! -
Review from Jeff S.
11/26/2011
We had the chance to eat at Gramercy Tavern a few weeks back and were pretty pleased with with the experience.
First of all, the service was truly impeccable. We ate in a private room and each person had their own personal server, who timed everything down to the second. All elements of the meal were in perfect synchronicity throughout the night. For example, all of the food was served at exactly at the same time, all the dishes were cleared at the same time, etc. It's obviously not a must at every single restaurant, but when you see it in action, it is rather impressive.
As for the food, the technique was flawless. Everything looked great and was plated perfectly. However, the flavors were a bit on the dull side. Simply no soul at all. I got the butternut squash soup which was good, but very tame, almost flat. They added in a lot of vegetables which was nice, but it added almost nothing to the soup aside from texture. I also got the halibut with a potato puree. This too was good and very competently executed, but it just wasn't memorable. Finally, for dessert I went with the bread pudding, which was pretty good, but as with everything else, it was far from mind-blowing.
As a dining experience, this place was quite a treat; nice atmosphere, great service, attractive plating, decent food. I definitely can see how some people would rate this place really high overall. But strictly speaking of food taste, I've had much better experiences at all sorts of restaurants. It's probably a bit uncouth, but I really feel as if I've been more moved eating a dog with everything at Gray's Papaya or a sloppy burger at the Parker Meridian than I was at Gramercy Tavern. -
Review from Silvio D.
New York, NY
12/19/2011
Rarely does a place like this live up to the hype, but Gramercy Tavern was as good as advertised. The food was outstanding, the drinks were smooth, and the service was impeccable. Hats off to Gramercy Tavern for making my wife's birthday so enjoyable!
My wife and I ate in the main dining room, where they only have three set menus. I went with the pappardelle as an appetizer. It was delicious with a plentiful amount of noodles with beef in the sauce. I also had the duck as an entree, and it was AWESOME. I got it medium rare, so I recommend it the same way because it was so tender and flavorful.
My wife had the pollock as an entree. Cooked perfectly without a fishy taste and the lobster on the side was excellent!
And, the fall classic is a fantastic drink. Smooth with a nice cider taste. I highly recommend it if you like apple cider. -
Review from Wenky L.
Manhattan, NY
1/22/2012
I was here 5-6 months ago so I'm reviewing based on memory. It's a nice spacious and serene restaurant with great service and polite waiters. My gf ordered the lamb which was really good, better than the fish I had ordered (which was pretty good too). I had a nice relaxing experience there, it could've also been the great company that I was with.
-
Review from Raffi K.
San Jose, CA
1/26/2012
I've been using Yelp religiously for a few years to plan my dining, so I thought it's time I contribute with a review.
After all the research I'd done and lists I'd made for the various cities we visited, the first place that popped in my head was Gramercy Tavern. My wife and I ate from their tavern menu almost three years ago, and we still talk about it to this day. For me, the sign of a great meal is one that's memorable and this definitely hit the mark. I remember eating the meal and thinking to myself, I wouldn't even know where to start to try and create flavors like this. Amazing.
My only regret was skipping the dining room menu the next time we were in New York. That mistake won't be repeated...we'll be back eventually! -
Review from Kristi W.
Danville, CA
12/26/2011
I was pretty unimpressed with Gramercy Tavern, unfortunately. I had high expectations and went with my husband and friend for lunch during Christmastime. We ate in the restaurant and though the food was definitely fresh and local, the dishes were pretty bland and boring.
I had the lobster salad to start, which was nice but not very flavorful. I had a special for my entree - spinach fettucine with duck confit - the texture was nice but again, not much flavor. My husband had the same comments for his entree, the braised lamb. The dessert - the peanut butter semifreddo - was excellent.
The service was very attentive and the place has a nice atmosphere, especially during the holiday season, but next time I'd eat in the tavern - we sat in the bar for a while and the food out there looked much better and was probably a lot less expensive. -
Review from Rachel O.
Brooklyn, NY
12/4/2011
Do not waste your money.
This place is so over-hyped it's hard to know where to begin.
The tasting menu had no connection between the courses, lacked creativity and left us feeling stuffed and nauseous. I love brussel sprouts- but they were in more than half the courses. No course was particularly memorable or incredibly delicious and while the service was attentive - too much so - it was so stuffy that it felt cold. I like to feel like my waiter is a human being!
I have heard the a la carte menu is better, but we didn't try it so I can't speak from experience.
There is much better food out there in NY for much less money. -
Review from Tram L.
Marina del Rey, CA
12/23/2011
This place was excellent. My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and we did the pre-fix dinner, along with paired wines. Each dish was beautifully prepared. The scallops were amazing! Service was really good, and our waiter was very nice as well as knowledgable. He introduced me to the best Chardonnay I've ever had, and I'm not even a fan of Chardonnay! If there was a complaint it was that I was overstuffed when I was done. Kind of amazing that it happened, but they were very nice to bring us complimentary dishes from the chef...so that put me over the top. I would happily come here again.
The ambiance is very nice and romantic. I enjoyed the openness of the restaurant and of course, the food was fantastic! -
Review from Sarah C.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/6/2011
Super hard to get a reservation here! We booked a month in advance, and could only get a late lunch reservation! We went here for the day after my husbands birthday lunch.
The place is beautiful, and the service was amazing! My husband did the tasting menu, and i did a la carte, and most places don't let you do the tasting menu unless everyone at the table does it! I had a Parpdelle with grilled cauliflower and broccoli, with a cream sauce and it was SO good :) Couldn't be happier with my choice.
We did a sorbet sampler for dessert, and they gave him a birthday dessert as well, and it super yummy, and we got two different glasses of dessert wine, and the sommelier split them in two glasses each so we could both try them.
The service was amazing! -
Review from Danielle F.
12/7/2011
I went here for a Sunday dinner with my parents and we got a table right away in the "tavern" portion of the restaurant. I have never seen such a beautiful "tavern"! Everything about it is stunning and brought to the next level as you notice little gems of seasonal decorations.
The service is outstanding. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about the food, wine and ciders, friendly and simply great at everything she was doing. There were many people to help with the production of the meal as well. I think our glasses of water never made it halfway.
I ordered something simple: chicken, fingerling potatoes, butternut squash and kohlrabi. You would think a chicken dish with vegetables wouldn't be a showstopper but it was. Never have I had more moist chicken (cooked low and slow) or a potato more perfectly cooked. And kohlrabi was a new one for me! So that keeps things interesting as well.
I also got to sample the curried seafood chowder which was a treat with flavour upon flavour upon flavour (Canadian spelling, sorry) and the flounder with spagetti squash, walnuts and sherry sauce. The flounder- again- was so flaky and delicious, making for a very nice bite with the other choice ingredients.
Dessert was ridiculous! In a good way. We ordered the ricotta cheesecake that came on top of a fudge brownie, with a large quenelle of black currant ice cream. With all three things on one plate, you truly are getting the best of the dessert worlds. A cheesecake not too sweet with almondy sweet toppings, chocolately goodness at the bottom with a fruity ice cream. Add some lemon tea on the side, it was the perfect way to end a fantastic meal. -
Review from Christine D.
Manhattan, NY
1/19/2012
it had been a while since i'd dined at gramercy tavern, so when my friend lindsay mentioned she had never been & wanted to go, we made it happen!
as i was led to our table, i immediately noticed the heat coming off their open wood-fired oven...i loved the rustic feel, juxtaposed with both the quiet elegant dining room and the casual tavern room.
i love cocktails, and my girlfriends were already one cocktail deep when i arrived, so i hurried to order the sloe storm. it was a sweeter cocktail than i generally drink, but the crushed ice and touch of ginger...it was exactly what i wanted. my friend's cranberry daiquiri was tasty but way too sweet for me.
onto the menu...we debated with our server steven (who was AMAZING) between the a la carte (so many yummy sounding dishes) or tasting menu, and he was extremely helpful in making our decision: TASTING MENU! during our debate, we had mentioned a few a la carte dishes that interested us, and steven made sure that our amuse included some of these: a potato puff topped with beef carpaccio and a taste of the squash custard which was so yummy (except cold...i wished it had been warm).
when choosing wine, the girls leaned towards red but since seafood dishes dominated the tasting menu, steven helped us choose a perfect bottle of riesling that we all enjoyed and also worked with our food.
1st course: fluke tartare with radish & citrus (mix of grapefruit & orange?) topped w black caviar. this was the blandest dish to me. the fluke had little/no flavor, i would have preferred the citrus be lime and the radish was just kinda there. the best part was the black caviar. that said, the riesling worked very well w it.
2nd course: clam chowder. i LOVED this dish. creamy clam & celery root soup w clams, scallop, shrimp, a fried clam, potato puff and bright orange pearls of smoked trout roe + a touch of dill...this is how i would interpret upscale clam chowder!
3rd course: fish - a beautiful perfectly-barely-poached halibut in a carrot broth with cabbage and squid. this was my least favorite course. the carrot broth reminded me of organic ave's carrot juice (which i cannot stomach) and made me sick. i wasnt feeling well going into the meal, so it might've just been me, or the carrot juice association, but i just didn't like this dish, despite how perfectly the halibut was cooked.
we had obviously finished the riesling at this point, and steven came back with additional pairing options for us. despite our protests that we were all anti-beer, he brought us a japanese white beer to pair with the 4th course as it stood up to the garlic in the dish. i tasted it and could see how the beer worked, but i really dislike beer. he also offered the il mimo rose, which julie went with... i didnt think it worked so i had another cocktail. back to the food...
4th course: this was the entire reason why i wanted the tasting menu: duck dumplings (i heart dumplings). 3 pretty dumplings stuffed with seasoned (very salty) ground duck in a duck/garlic broth with black kale and turnips. it really would have been delicious if the dumplings weren't so salty.
5th (final savory) course: roasted sirloin & flatiron steak with potatoes, beets & pear. it was a really pretty presentation but the sirloin wasnt that flavorful and a bit on the chewy side. the flatiron steak cubes had more flavor but i just didnt get the entire dish. it was a weak tasting menu offering. steven did offer us an earthy red to go with this dish which i preferred to the actual sirloin.
in between our dessert course & final savory dish, we were brought a dessert amuse (love small details like this!): a goat cheesecake disc with a shortbread-like cracker and a mini scoop of concord grape sorbet. holy crap: FLAVOR! and steven paired this with a fruity red that went exquisitely with the sorbet. it was perfect.
desserts: lindsay opted for the coconut mousse with passion fruit ice cream, but julie and i went with CHEESE. my memories of gramercy tavern always include the cheese course, so it was a no-brainer for me.
we got 6 cheeses each, served with 3 kinds of bread. my favorites: ascutney farms and the harbison. that said, i ate every last bite so none were particularly distasteful.
as we were walking by the wood-fired oven to leave, we saw kielbasa (which they serve in the tavern room) being plated, and the aroma and deliciousness stopped us in our tracks. luckily the chef, michael anthony, was standing there and chatted with us for a while about the menus in each room, the wood-burning oven and other gramercy tavern factoids. it was a great ending to a good meal (3 stars) with great drinks/service (5 stars) and amazing friends (priceless!)! and now i can't wait to get back there for dinner in the tavern room for a cheeseburger and some of that kielbasa!!! mmm... -
Review from Jim L.
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the highlights of my latest trip to New York was the wonderful Gramercy Tavern. We started with the mussels. lobster salad, country pate and 1/2 dozen fresh oysters. The mussels were wonderful in a delicious sauce, the lobster salad was well balanced and complex in flavour. Country pate was sublime, and the oysters were exceptional. For the main course we had the special Duck Confit with fettuccine and braised lamb, both were perfectly prepared and complimented by wonderful sauces.
I don't normally bother with desert except on special occasions. This happened to be one of those times, and we asked the waitress to bring whatever was recommended. I ended up with the Chocolate Bread Pudding, which was the best I have ever tasted in the U.S. Well balanced, melt in your mouth heaven. If I have one last desert before I die, this is it! -
Review from A Z.
New York, NY
12/21/2011
Lovely at Christmas time-- so homey with a nice holly decor. The tavern is a great alternative when you want an excellent meal without spending 90+ on the tasting menu in their dining room. The highlight
Of the menu was their pork in a bacon broth. Cooked perfectly. Not to mention the cocktails are top notch...smooth but strong. Especially their gin honey and Meade. Class act joint with a reputation they live up to! -
Review from E H.
Brooklyn, NY
1/19/2012
I think it's priced a bit high for for laid-back attitude. It's an excellent, but very tourist-centric and lots of people in jeans and being really loud. The food very good the wine pairing is affordable and enjoyable. But it's not Eleven Madison Park... One side note: A+ to the staff. Friendly, smart and attentive -- always there when you need them.
-
Review from d d.
Manhattan, NY
11/2/2011
Gramercy Tavern is a classic. It's been in business for almost 20 years and is run by the same folks who do great food ranging from $5 meals at Shake Shack to $500 meals at Eleven Madison Park. It's elegant yet rustic, and while not the most romantic, it is an institution and is good for business meals, out-of-town visitors or visiting parents.
We dined in the formal dining room, which isn't formal in the way that women need pearl necklaces and white gloves and men need jackets and white hair. Rather, it's formal in that the menus are sprinkled with words like "Caviar", "Lobster" and "Verjus". (Verj-what?) The menus are also not a la carte, so you choose between a 3-course pre-fixe or a 6-course tasting menu.
We opted for the tasting menu. The dish that blew our socks off was the first: marinated scallops with grapes and verjus: lightly acidic; gentle yet flavorful; and extremely silky. It was kinda ridiculous. The other dish that made us say "wow" was the Piedmontese Beef -- steak sliced French-style. So good.
The service was great as to be expected, but they weren't at all pretentious which isn't always to be expected. They were simply professional. And friendly. So friendly in fact that they gave me a free dessert. I'd asked if I could substitute my tasting menu dessert for their chocolate bread pudding. Rather than substitute it, they brought me both desserts. How nice is that? -
Review from Paul B.
11/8/2011
The best advice I can possibly give to anyone about anything in life is this:
Go to Gramercy Tavern on a sunday afternoon. Sit in the tavern. Order the Omakase.
It may take a little bit of explaining to the waiter, but you will be so happy you did it. Not sure how to order Omakase at an American restaurant? When the server arrives first, be friendly, next say "can we ask a favor", and finally explain "we want whatever two mains you like the most on the menu as well as the appetizers you think go best with those mains and corresponding deserts. We complete trust you and are excited to be surprised. We are in your hands"
That might not be exactly what Omakase means, but its close enough. Order it. When each item comes out, be amazed. Then when the bill comes out and its not that expensive even though you just got an incredible meal be amazed again at what a great deal lunch in the tavern is.Listed in: The must go places
-
Review from Monica S.
11/11/2011
The tasting menu at Gramercy Tavern was the first time in my life I had spent more than $100 on a meal. But boy, it was worth it. The occasion was my parents' 25th anniversary, and since we were taking a family trip to the Big Apple, we wanted to do something special.
The food was incredible - if it weren't gauche, I'd have licked the plates.
Despite that this was high-end dining, the ambiance was warm, cozy, and inviting.
And, after what felt like our 18th course, the servers mentioned that "they had heard it was a celebration" and brought out the final dessert with "Happy Anniversary" written along the plate in chocolate, along with complimentary champagne. The staff here went out of their way to make our evening extra special. Thanks for earning my brother and I some "good children" points, guys. -
Review from Elssy C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Came here for lunch with the boyfriend during the Christmas holiday break mostly because I'd heard many wonderful things and its been on my list for a while now. I really enjoyed it here; service was superb and friendly, the food was delicious (although a bit pricey) and the decor is warm, inviting w/out losing its elegance. This is the kind of place to enjoy a beautiful 1 hour+ lunch date, well that's what it turned out for us anyways.
We were sat at the dining room, I guess when making a reservation or coming in you are asked whether you want to be sat at the tavern/bar area or the dining room (since I made the RSVP's via yelp, I think it automatically puts you down for the dining room, but I'd like to come back and try the tavern menu next time).
Anywho, we started off sharing the lobster salad; delicious! Every ingredient on that plate stood out yet complimented each other perfectly. Mail course: bf had the steak and I had the red snapper; I don't recall much about them except them being good but nothing amazing. Perhaps it was because the dessert was such a stand out; we shared the chocolate bread pudding; delicious! I'm usually not a fan of these, but this one had gotten such high reviews, we ordered it and it did not disappoint. It wasn't too heavy, or creamy, but enough to fulfill the decadent...the ice cream that comes with it was also very good...Since we said we would be sharing it they kindly provided us two plates w/ a scoop of the ice cream.
Will definitely come back again to try out the tavern menu. -
Review from Emm C.
Manhattan, NY
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is beautiful and memorable every time I make it there. Once it was for a romantic dinner...the second time it was at the bar and a spur of the moment meal. The menu is drop-dead gorgeous, the service is impeccable, and the flower arrangements there make me wish I could use their florist (there are about three big spreads of floral--at the entrance, on the way to the restroom/table, and in the ladies' restroom). Went for tasting menu which is a nice taste of everything, without making you feel like a fat bastard. The latte is made perfectly, which surprised me in a good way.
-
Review from Isabel L.
11/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Finally made it here after all this time. Thanks to my dear friend treating me for my birthday, I got to savor all the goodness the tasting menu has to offer.
Favorite dish has gotta be the poached lobster salad and desserts..
Also LOVE the way the dining room is decorated, it has a classy yet cozy vibe, not stuffy at all. 5 stars for ambience
Read no more. come experience :D -
Review from maya f.
11/8/2011
I've only been here once for lunch at the bar. I forgot how cheap it can be to eat out when you don't order any booze! (Yes, we sat at the bar and didn't drink. We were Those People.)
The space is comfy yet classy; the servers wear those vests and ties that flatter the men on the floor while making the women look vaguely like flight attendants; the murals along the walls (by Robert Kushner) and seasonal flower arrangements (by Roberta Bendavid) are beautiful and colorful.
The lunch bartender was very handsome, with elegant and apt tattoos, and he was very strict. He would not allow me to substitute the soup that came with my sandwich for the salad on the menu (yes, I was That Girl). However, as he was setting us up with napkins and flatware, he proceeded to spill my glass of water on me. Naturally he had to make amends, and he already knew exactly what I wanted. There is nothing quite like having a comely barman make your lap all wet and then comp you an heirloom tomato salad. It certainly made my afternoon.
I seldom skip dessert, even at lunch, and I am glad we didn't this time. The ice cream sundae was unique and vibrant, with popped corn mingling with sweet cream and blueberries, and a small savory corn muffin on the side. (Note that this was some weeks ago; berries and corn -- and the aforementioned tomatoes -- are not so much in season anymore, alas. Still, I imagine there are equally divine treats in store for late fall, both savory and sweet.)Listed in: hot stuff behind the stick
