We enjoyed the loveliest dinner last evening. The room is beautiful and the service was friendly, attentive and warm. I wish I had gotten the gentleman with the ponytails name as he made our dinner so much nicer! I am not sure why this restaurant does not have more buzz, as the food is incredible. The presentation of the soup and grilled cheese was photo worthy . My husband loved the Chicken schnitzel. The dessert which was the cake of the day was truly heavenly. We shall return to try a bit more of the menu, and cocktails next time. read more

Very disappointing experience after a friend had recommended this restaurant for lunch. I had dinner and my experience was completely different. Food was barely ok for NYC, but table service was distracted and slow. Arugula salad with peas and grilled peaches: there were no peas and the salad was just a toss of arugula with some balsamic. Waiter forgot part of my order and then it took what it seemed to be a long time to return with the correct order. Very small portion. A hostile and unwelcoming start; the music was terrible and it competed with a live jazz band playing jazz in the museum next door. Person in charge seemed annoyed when I suggested she turn it off, she only lowered it. Looking back, I should have left right away after this interaction. The best thing was the space. It is very pleasant. High ceilings. But the caned music made it feel I was in a cheap fast food restaurant. What a waste. read more

The review is for their cafe. The sweets are all out on its display case / shelf and we just picked what we crave to. Standard flavor and taste. Quick service. Price is reasonable. Love that it is attached to a gift shop. read more

Okay, when in NYC you 1000% need to visit Clara ! Omg, the special soup tonight was Baked Potato Soup, the best hands down the BEST potato soup I've ever had! The Roasted Tomato soup, crazy delicious, with a grilled cheese! The daily cake was Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cake was over the top ! A must must must try! read more

Clara - Tomato soup - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Went here because I was in the NY Historical Society and you can enter from right I side. Not really that much close to the museum esp when it's a cold and rainy day. I was under the impression there was a weekend brunch but there wasn't. Only a waffle on the specials Had a kale salad that was excellent. Nice variety of greens. A side of buttery yummy rolls and my friend had the lentil soup which was also excellent. The best part was the decaf coffee and the toasted almond Sunday with chocolate syrup. I didn't snap a pic because I was too busy consuming that!! Service was amazing. Small menu Had more alcohol drinks than food!! read more

Let's just say our experience start to finish was incredible! The ambiance is very classy and welcoming , the servers are very knowledgeable with the menu and the food is delectable. We started off with drinks , I had a refreshing mocktail with cucumber and ginger beer, very good ! For the appetizer we did the ricotta and ramp toast with aged balsamic and fresno chillies. Let me just say we were speechless at how packed with flavor this was ! so delicious! For our main entrees we did the spring peas mint ravioli and the roasted chicken with mushrooms. Wow, wow, wow, these dishes had such rich flavors and everything blended together with every bite packing a mouth watering punch haha. We just loved our main dishes . To end our meal we went with the coconut dark chocolate sundae, and this was perfect. Not too sweet yet light and the toasted coconut was so good . We can't wait to come back again very soon, it's become or going to become our go to spot ! read more

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Amazing that a restaurant in a museum is so excellent and so reasonably priced! This was my second time there for lunch and I remain impressed. My friend and I both got the $30 prix fixe -- she had carrot ginger soup for her appetizer and I had a very nice creamy chicken and potato soup; we both ordered the salmon as the main. Lovely atmosphere, very calm and quiet. Highly recommend. read more

Limited menu but the food is very good. Reasonably priced and nice atmosphere. Friendly service. Makes for a really fun trip to the Historical. We've now been several times and it's been very consistent. read more

Excellent service, in innovative menu. I had lunch there in May of 2025. The menu has changed - I enjoyed soup and a delicious salad, plus a insanely good piece of cake. I'm here to respond to some critical reviews I've read. Check the menu ahead of time - if the fare isn't your vibe, then skip. My experience was very good and I will return when I'm back in the city. read more

I highly recommend Clara next time you're looking for a dinner spot on the UWS! We stopped by at 6pm on a Saturday night without a reservation and were able to get a table for 4 immediately. The restaurant only got emptier throughout the night which was surprising because our experience was excellent. The menu is small-ish but has enough options for everyone (including vegetarian). We each got the $30 prix fixe which is a good deal for the amount of food you get. All of our food was superb but I'd particularly recommend the Parker house rolls and arancini. The drinks and service were great as well. It can be a bit a tricky to find at night as it's inside the New York Historical - but if you go in the museum doors on 77th, Clara is directly inside. The restaurant itself is cute and quiet inside - perhaps a hidden gem for dinner! read more

The service was slower than "a storytelling Mama trying to get to the point". There was only one waiter, which was part of the problem, but not all of it. We had to wait ages just to get water on the table. The most disappointing part was that we were inspired to come and see the Dining in Transit exhibit and then have lunch at Clara, because there were articles in the newspapers (e.g. NYT) that said the dessert were inspired by the exhibition itself. Per the articles, Clara was recreating 3 of the dishes that were served on famous luxury (planes, trains, ships). We asked for the dessert menu but those desserts were absent, and no mention of them. We corralled the server and asked about that. Then he ran off to see what he "could do", and he magically came back with a card with the 3 advertised "travel inspired desserts". He told us they only had one of the 3. These are off-menu only if you ask?! Anyway, if you are still reading...The food was great and well presented -- including the dessert. Prices and portions were reasonable for NYC. No concerns there. So 5 stars for food, 1 star for service. read more

We came in on 2/14 for my mom's 83rd birthday/our last NYC family meal before I flew back to LA the next day and specifically asked for a table. A table away from the door. This wasn't about being picky but simply my parents' age and that they get cold very easily. Now, it was Valentine's Day and having worked in restaurants for almost a decade, I understand it being busy and walk ins etc. I did ask the host/runner to let us know when a table opened up so we could move as the bar was not ideal for my parents. A party for an open table no showed but we were never offered that table, unfortunately. On top of all this, not only was it in the res notes but I had asked multiple times for a candle to be put on my mom's dessert and was assured it would be - it was not. There was no candle nor was there ever an apology for the lack of a candle. A pity as the restaurant is nice, as is the atmosphere. My parents enjoyed their food over all but my chicken paillard was on the dry side to the point where I was unable to finish it. The soups and grilled cheese, however, were fantastic. Also, the bartender was friendly without being overbearing. Once the main hostess returned I did ask if we could finish our meal and have dessert at a table and she kindly made it happen. New server offered to take dessert off the bill for the bar/table mix up but it was never about that. Honestly, had a candle been on my mom's dessert that would've more than made up for the mix up and all would've been forgotten. 3 stars overall on this trip. We will definitely be back, although not sure when, and give Clara another chance and hopefully next time is better :) read more

Wowza. A classically beautiful room on the park like Cafe Sabarsky maybe a tad smaller. Chef Diego Moya of tbe Oberon Group brings a majestic room & novel bold flavors to the UWS. Fine dining at museums is so fun. The Tiffany lamps add a stylish historical flair to the room. Are: Orwasher bread brown butter &9 Carrot tartare citrus & koshko $18 Vichyssoise $14 Steelhead trout with persillade sauce $39 Glass of Bordeaux mix $16 You had me at caraway butter. The carrot tartare is bright & citrusy & not to be missed. The vichyssoise is vegan & freaking delicious omg! Lovely lovely divine dining experience including delicious wine right on the park. read more

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Clara is a gem. The dining room sets the tone...soaring ceilings, warm low lighting, and a beautiful vibe. We went with the dinner set (starter + entrée), and it was spot on. The gem salad was crisp, fresh, and nicely dressed with a touch of grated cheese. The pistachio-crusted salmon was cooked just right and nicely seasoned over a bed of pea shoots. A little too buttery for me, but still flavorful and well executed. Service was attentive without being overbearing, and the pacing of the meal felt just right. Overall, a nice experience. read more

Great food and ambiance. Service is attentive and gracious. The vanue is in a beautiful building that houses American Historical Society.

This restaurant was very disappointing. We had the artichoke appetizer (tasteless artichokes from a jar in a watery broth) and the gem salad subpar (lackluster dressing and dark green soft leaves rather than exclusively the crisp gem leaves). After being told by a server we could sit anywhere we want (the restaurant was completely empty), the hostess came by and said we had to change tables. We won't be back. read more

Clara, replacing Storico, in the New York Historical Society recently opened. I think there may be a few kinks to still work out but overall, my friend and I had a solid meal. The service was slower than molasses and the bartender had an emergency so no cocktails or mocktails could be made. We started with the charcuterie plate [$25] and the sourdough bread [$9] with caraway butter. I appreciated the cherries that accompanied the various meats but I don't know that I needed to spend $25 on something I could get at Trader Joe's. The sourdough bread was very nice. Crunchy on the outside, but not too much where I would break a tooth, and soft on the inside. I probably wouldn't have known there was caraway in the butter if you hadn't told me. I had the Clara Burger [$24], it definitely exceeded expectations. The brioche bun was nice and soft, the burger itself was a nice medium. I enjoyed the caramelized onions. The pickles were a little too half sour for my liking, I would have preferred fully pickled pickles. The fries on the side were great. However, I think they could've been in the fryer a minute or two more, they were just crispy enough. The coconut sorbet [$11] was a generously sized dessert. Again, I wouldn't have known it was a coconut sorbet unless you told me. I did immensely enjoy the toasted meringue and caramel, it definitely upscale s'mores vibes. The restaurant is quaint with Tiffany Lamps and books in glass shelving. The gold chandeliers lend an overall upscale ambience. The average age of the diner appears to be 65+ [LOL] but that's expected when you dine at the New York Historical Society on the Upper West Side. The meal came to $140 before tax. I don't know that I would go out of my way to dine at Clara, I'm glad I did, and if I were at the NY-HS, I probably would again. read more

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Had an amazing lunch here and even got to meet Alex Guarnaschelli :) She was even gracious enough to take a photo with me. Enjoyed the ricotta and grilled ramp toast - WOW, the pistachio crusted salmon, and the yummy quiche! We finished with a GIGANTIC slice of the incredible pistachio cake. HIGHLY recommend! read more

Elegant, unexpected, simple but good restaurant. We stumbled in this place while we were visiting the museum, the food was exceptional. Will be revisiting this restaurant again. read more

Clara - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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This was an amazing and delicious meal! The interior of the restaurant is lovely and the service is perfect. The food however blew us away. To start we shared the ricotta toast and the gem salad both of which were delicious. Then for mains we had the starker chicken which came with buttery and fragrant hen of the woods mushrooms and then a pan seared scallop dish which was divine! For dessert we shared the cake of the day, a creative and delightful almond cake with apricot jam and raspberry buttercream! An outstanding meal that has us excited to return! read more

Clara - Cake of the day almond raspberry - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Service and food were great - great choice of wines - Alex was warm and welcoming- comfortable historic environment

I walked into Clara on a chilly night, the kind of night where a 5 minute walk from the train leaves your cheeks numb and one questions if it was worth leaving the house. I was immediately smiled at by all the staff and promptly seated. I sat down and felt like Stuart Little, not scared but in awe of the shelves that surrounded me, eased by the music, and grateful the beautiful chair was actually comfy. This is Clara, the restaurant attached to the New York historical society. I didn't pick this place so I told my partner to order what they had heard was good. - Beans Comforting and hearty without being heavy. They had a Smokey flavor that in no way seemed artificial , I wish I could learn to make them, they would be good any time and any day of the week . -Polenta Once my dreaded enemy, flashbacks of coming home from school to my mom's best effort at nourishing me on a penny. I had a real life Ratatouille moment. The spoon went in my mouth and I'm not sure if I froze in bliss or automatically shoved another in my mouth. It tasted like a brand new thing that warmed up a dead crevice of my soul. I asked about what I believe was cheese on top and learned that if I was to ever have something so creamy and delicious again, it could only be this exact polenta at Clara. Cabbage- If Clara did not have the amazing other dishes, the night at the museum bathroom , the beautiful location , at least it would have this cabbage, I had it as an entree and I promise it was not a concession for being healthy. It was a hearty but fresh, but crunchy, comfort meal on a cold cold day. I've had good Korean style cabbage but this was different. The food felt creative and not just for the sake of being creative and I left full. Our waitress was nice. I'll be back. read more

Clara - Cabbage and Polenta - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Sensational food, amazing presentation and service. The best restaurant experience I've ever had in New York. Not to be missed if you're in New York. read more

Storico. I miss you. Clara. This place is a mess. Service -- very slow, disorganized (I'm not paying diner prices so I'd really rather you not show up with entrées before you've cleared appetizer plates leaving me to clear them and put them on an empty table next to me), and uninformed about what is / isn't available at the bar, about ingredients in a dish, about oh so many things. Again, in a restaurant at this price point the wait staff should be really knowledgeable. Appetizers looked messy, so messy that in my mind I could hear the judges on Chopped making their nasty statements to that effect. Also, the taste was uninteresting, including the pea soup for which we held out some hope, but, alas, it arrived and we despaired. My daughter asked if we could go to Salumeria Rosi and at least have a good dessert. We'll be there soon. Clara, I'm sorry, you're Chopped. read more

Beautiful room... good service. Very disappointing ... good soup... not a good quiche... too solid... like a brick and the crust was like cardboard without buttery flavor. My friend had the salmon salad, and she said it was good, but it was served on an appetizer plate. Very overpriced menu and shocked that bread was not served...since at these prices you would think it would be. Would not dine there in the future, nor recommend it. read more

Food straightforward, but well executed. Service a little overwhelmed - not enough servers that day we attended. Warm interior.

Food variety is very limited and presentation is poor. Overpriced. Very disappointing. Even bread is an upcharge. Wine glasses are very small and not poured to decent levels. read more

We were a small family reunion of sorts -- a party of eight -- having lunch after visiting the museum's current exhibit. The dining room was light and airy; comfortable seating; and attentitive professional staff. My wife's roast chicken was delicious with a crispy skin, rich pan jus, and well seasoned. My cheeseburger was brought to the table barely warm, a little more rare than my requested medium (but still OK for me), but lacking in any juciness or color (see photo for almost "steamed" looking exterior). Fries were also not hot but were crisp and had nice flavor from the cooking fat and adequate fine salt. The burger was served on a sufficiently fresh, soft sesame-seeded bun, and dressed with good mayo-based sauce and lettuce which only marginaly redeemed the dry burger. Other diners were underwhelmed by the salmon, and the mint ravioli that appeared to be more an appetizer portion. My wife remained unsatisfied after her chicken and we ordered three Parker house rolls to mop up the pan sauce: the rolls were warm, fluffy, and flavorful, finished with a good flakey salt, and served with a nice soft cultured butter. It was nice to be together, the location is convenient, but otherwise the portions and uneven execution were a poor value considering the prices (a $30 cheesburger that was neither hot nor juicy). The room does not lend itself to easy conversation and I'd avoid a return visit. read more

Clara - A juiceless, colorless burger is a joyless burger, especially served barely warmer than room temperature. - New American Near Me - New York, New York

For anyone who says UWS restaurants don't have decent food, you need to go to Clara. I could eat the flounder almondine entree every night it was that good. And the chilled shrimp appetizer was amazing. The shrimp were prepared so perfectly not like the overcooked shrimp cocktails at other establishments. We all loved our food, Alex Guarneschelli is a master. From what I hear the lunch scene is busier than the dinner scene but once people try her food I predict dinner service eill take off. You seriously have to try it. read more

Returned to the newly reopened Clara restaurant in the New York historical the other night and had a fantastic experience! The menu is once again hyper-seasonal featuring lots of local produce. We started with cocktails, Gibson martini and spicy margarita, both were delicious. The ramp and ricotta toast was a standout starter, as was the asparagus mimosa and fresh tuna tartare. We then shared the steak, which was one of the best steaks we've had in New York City! It was perfectly medium rare, and came with a delicious peppercorn sauce & crispy golden frites. For dessert, we tried both a coconut sundae as well as the cake of the day... if you're a dessert person definitely do not sleep on this one! They have an amazing pastry chef, the day we went it was a fluffy peanut butter caramel cake. The service was attentive and great curated list of wines by the glass and bottle. Hoping that they get their patio space opened up for the summertime soon, Clara has one of the best spots for alfresco dining near the park and looking forward to returning soon! read more

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Great food, great service, great ambiance! Overall a lovely dining experience. We love Alex's restaurants so we were happy to chance upon this restaurant. read more

We've been coming to this restaurant for many years previously when it was Storico. It has reopened. They've kept the old name of Clara but thankfully that is all that remains. The new version of Clara is amazing. The food is excellent. The atmosphere is wonderful and prices are reasonable. Highly recommend! read more

Very nicely appointed and excellent food at a fair price. BUT, service was rather poor, probably due to understaffing. One of the two servers was brand new. He couldn't remember requests. Salt and pepper were nowhere to be found despite more than one request. No half and half or cream for the coffee. Go for the food and ambience but bring your patience. read more

Probably one of the worst restaurants in New York they try too hard. The food was below bar and the chef tried to be too artistic and forgot about what we go to RESTAURANTS for. read more

Just had an outstanding meal at clara! I'm so delighted that we went there. It was among the best meals I've had on the upper West side. The meal was so delicious! It really exceeded my expectations. The bread and cocktails were terrific. I had the chicory salad, which I'm still thinking about. Really delicious. For the main course, I had the duck, which was outstanding. A friend of mine had the fish which I tasted, and it was also delicious. For dessert we shared the chocolate mousse and the lemon Panacotta. Both were so good. I will definitely return again very soon. The dining room is beautiful -- airy and elegant. Our service was excellent. I'm putting clara on my short list of best restaurants on the upper West side. I've never written a review on yelp before, but liked the restaurant so much and I'm hopeful that they will do very well. I want them to stay! read more

Heard about Clara opening and always liked the space when it was a different restaurant so we checked it out with a group of 6. Not many people on a Thursday night, so we were a bit skeptical sitting down. What we got was a fantastic meal on every level. The smoked duck breast was among the best I have had, and the polenta with squash was divine. Service was terrific. All members of my party felt the same. Hoping this catches on, since the location (within the NY Historical Society) doesn't give it tremendous exposure. But more restaurants of this caliber are needed on the UWS, and Clara is a welcome addition. read more

Truly beautiful space with equally incredible food and service. UWS do not sleep on this place. I think it's our best kept secret.

Went to Clara after hearing about their cabbage main being "the best cabbage of your life" from a few friends. I am a cabbage fan but was skeptical at the idea of going for a full cabbage entree at an upscale restaurant. But WOW. I think this would even impress people who don't see cabbage as exciting thing to eat. So juicy and tasty from being grilled, in amazing sauce, pretty filling. We also really liked the smoked white beans. I want to try brunch there, good atmosphere. read more

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The food is below par. The Waldorf salad is tiny! And comes with absolutely no greens at all, it is more of a fruit salad. The burger has no garnish, very basic! Bread, meat and a side of blanched French fries. Not worth the $. Disappointed! read more

Burger cooked to perfection, great take on steak tartare, retro cocktails to complement the Lost New York exhibit at the Historical Society, chef passionate about his menu which had lots of great options for meat and veggie lovers, great ambience. First visit for us, and we'll be back! read more