Ive been here a few times now and it is worth every star. Food, service ambiance is incredible. Owners take pride in their knowledge of wines, and their advice is great. This is a must try read more

Everything that we ate was remarkable. Crab pasta was off the charts. Great service with great recommendations. I could eat here every day!!! read more

I have never in my life written a bad restaurant review. I have a huge amount of respect for restaurant owners, chefs, staff and just other diners hoping to have a good time. Even if I have a bad meal, or poor service, I've given people the benefit of the doubt - we all have bad moments or days, and shouldn't be crucified for mistakes. But last night's experience was so unpleasant for such a minor thing that I feel compelled to write about it because two staff members are ruining it for their colleagues. We have eaten for years at Clay - it has been one of our favorite dining spots in Harlem. The food is truly delicious, it's a lovely interior and nice outside dining on quiet side streets. We have brought friends here multiple times. Last night, we brought 2 friends for a personal celebration. We ordered a lot of food - multiple appetizers, full entrees, multiple glasses of wine, cocktails and beer. Our server, a lovely young man who has served us previously, served us again, graciously and warmly. So - our guests and we made a mistake - not out of malice but because we were enjoying ourselves and were a bit thoughtless. One of our friends knows how much my husband enjoys Pernod and had brought a bottle as a gift. Without thinking, he pulled it out and poured two glasses for himself and my husband. The manager (woman with straight brunette hair who said she's a managing partner - think she said her name was Andrea) and a waitress (thin woman with glasses, not our original server) , immediately showed up and told us in a snide tone that we needed to pay corkage, then lectured us about treating the restaurant with disrespect. Her tone and attitude immediately antagonized all of us. If she had started kindly - a gracious reminder of corkage - we would have apologized immediately and paid it. So her tone caused our friend to snap back. The waitress also weighed in and started berating our table - we were in shock. If the manager treats paying clients who just spent a lot of money like this, I'd hate to see how she treats the hard-working staff. But it gets worse - our friend got up and apologized to the manager. She REFUSED to accept the apology, rushed us our check and told us to leave. Our friend paid our original server a nice cash tip, as he was not the source of our problems. We voluntarily left. On our way out, I turned to the table behind us and apologized to the guests, 3 gentlemen, for having created an unpleasant scene. They were very kind and gracious and said not to worry and also appreciated our apology. At no time did we shout, swear or become physically violent. Yes, we were in the wrong, but it was not out of malice, just mildly tipsy over exuberance. This restaurant not only has lost our custom, but that of our two friends who have a vast, well-heeled foodie social circle, as well now as the custom of people at our local coffee shop nearby who heard about this and changed their minds about dining here. This is a shame - I'd like to see people eat there, but Clay owners need to understand - don't treat previously loyal clients like this. If clients make a mistake and then try to apologize for their mistake - accept the apology and de-escalate the situation. Don't treat clients like the enemy. read more

Our go-to for the tastiest food and thoughtful service. One of the best steak tartare in NYC. One of the best collections of exotic canned beer. Buzzy vibe, chill crowd. This should be your regular joint from midtown to Harlem. read more

Went early on a weekend night. Staff were welcoming but the service seemed rushed and the sever forgot requests multiple times from our table and others. We sat in the basement, but think the upstairs is preferable. The food is good, but seems overly expensive for what you get. The radicchio salad was not very fresh - the pears were browned a bit indicating that they were not freshly cut and the salad itself was not bright and fresh. The bucatini was excellent as well as the chocolate pudding dessert. I know a lot of people love this restaurant but I found the service underwhelming and that it is overpriced for the ambiance and quality of the food. read more

Came in here last night for a drink with a friend after hanging out in the area. Can't believe I just discovered this place, super cute. They've expanded their outdoor sitting and are VERY careful about social distancing and employees wearing masks. I had the Traveling Light cocktail, it was refreshing and ooh so yummy on a summer night. For dinner i had the burger -delish and perfectly cooked. The potato wedges were crispy on the outside and potato doughy on the inside. The servers and hostess were kind and attentive. Will be back soon to try to gnocchi. Thank you for Clay and it's staff for feeding us during Covid. read more

Clay - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Wonderful restaurant in the neighborhood. The best of the best. Loved the food, the wine and the services. read more

Clay - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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I am eternally grateful for the foodie couple at my gym who recommended Clay. I never would have known about it otherwise. Living on the UWS, I pretty much exclusively travel down instead of up when dining out. But when looking at restaurants for a NYE prix fixe, I found that Clay made it onto all of the lists. I immediately remembered the couple's suggestion and made a reservation. $140 for five courses, a champagne toast with an additional $50 per person for wine pairings. Important note: because we had a special menu, this review might not be as helpful as others. But you'll certainly get a good sense for the place. This area is pretty bleak when it comes to any sort of restaurant scene, but Clay makes a convincing case for making the trip. Clay is everything I could ever want in a restaurant. I'm both a huge health nut and a huge foodie, which can be a difficult combination much of the time. Clay's entire concept is built on local and seasonal ingredients and it's clear when dining there that they make a real effort to build relationships and an appreciation for their suppliers. The way sommelier talked about their winemakers, you'd think they were close friends. This is a true farm-to-table experience, definitely one of the more authentic ones I've experienced in the city. And while the wine list is fabulous and masterfully curated, the cocktails are just as incredible. So you can really pick your poison here, and it will be very, very good poison, no matter what. The space lends itself to pretty much any occasion. Two floors, minimalist decor, dim lighting. We were there with couples, large groups and pairs of friends. It works for everything. And as I hinted at earlier, the service here is top-notch. I'm sure they stepped it up some due to the occasion, but our waitress and the sommelier were both delightful. Though we had already decided on doing the wine pairings prior to dinner, we knew we needed to make a dent in the cocktail menu. The drinks here are as creative and well-executed as those at any restaurant in the city. I went with the Good Morning Heartache (gin, beet, pink peppercorn, genepy, lime, hibiscus rose bitters), which was just delightful. Innovative and fun (and pretty!). My bf had the Traveling Light (vodka, lemon, honey, egg white, mint, orange flower) which was as smooth as it comes, well-balanced and frothy. Loved it. As I mentioned, we had a prix fixe. We were given the choice of two different options for each course, so of course we chose different things to try everything. Good deal. Everything we tried was great. Seasonal ingredients indeed, and the love of produce definitely came through. Check the report card below: Lobster Bisque: A+ Fabulous amuse, served in a tall shot glass. Warming and flavorful with juicy little lobster morsels. Tuna Tartare: A Served on teeny tortilla crackers. Delightful. Endive, chicory, apple, truffle dressing: A A nice fall salad, our only real cold dish of the night. Good combo of sweet, crunch, bitter, creamy and umami. Loved the dressing. Seared scallops, celeriac, apple, lardo: A+ The bf was a bit confused with what the lardo was and I just told him that it makes everything taste better, not to worry. I tend not to do well with scallops but these were an exception. One of the better preparations I've had to date. Simple but powerful. Gnocchi, butter, winter truffle: A+ I'm gluten-intolerant so only had two pieces. Though my stomach was unhappy, my tastebuds were more than pleased with the decision. The winter truffle made it all the more decadent. And I tend not to like gnocchi, so this experience was a big deal. Veal sweet breads, ginger glaze matzutake: A Probably the last thing I'd order left to my own devices but on a special occasion, why not? The sweetbreads were great, the mushrooms were even better. Fantastic texture and flavor--never really seen this type of mushroom preparation. Beef short ribs, root vegetables, fermented cabbage, chestnut, pickled mustard seeds: A+ This is how short rib should be done. Tender, juicy, melts in your mouth. Great seasonal accompaniments made for a fabulous bite. I don't eat red meat often, and this was well worth it. Halibut, herb sauce, fennel, baby leeks, green sauce: A+ A great piece of fish. Love the variety of root veggies they use here. It was arctic-level cold on NYE so seeing these hearty greens everywhere was great. For dessert, we had a chocolate cake and an almond cake a la mode. Both were yummy but we preferred the chocolate cake. The fact that it was warm and gooey helped. And the dessert cocktail pairing, my god. Made with pear brandy and charcoal, SWEET and a total knockout. Wine pairings were all great, with the exception of one that just wasn't my taste. The bf liked it. Mostly whites, two reds. The sommelier had lots of wonderful anecdotes about the wineries/winemakers. And the midnight champagne was delicious too, as expected. A wonderful celebration indeed! read more

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$100 Cancellation fee after positive COVID-19 test. I wish I saw the other reviews here where people warn about their cancellation policy. I tested positive for for COVID-19 this morning and silly me trying to do the right thing I am quarantining and cancelled my reservation as soon as I found out (with documented proof). I spoke with someone named Andrea who was just condescending enough to make me feel like crap all while trying to recover from a deadly infection. I honestly can't say how shitty this policy made me feel. I don't know why this seems like the right way to do business. They should just stop taking reservations instead of treating potential customers like crap. Thanks Clay, I will not be coming back. read more

Wow, it's rare to find a place in NYC that isn't gimmicky, loud, or overblown. Clay was a gem - outstanding, fresh food, quiet enough to hear conversation, and smart recommendations - incl responsive wine suggestions - from Will, our server. We opted for a vegetarian feast with a gorgeous Spanish red wine. We started with the cheese plate, roasted cauliflower, roasted beets, and mushrooms. For mains we shared the gnocchi and other vegetarian pasta dish - something like slightly flattened penne. Everything was delicious! How did they get the cauliflower to be so perfectly shaped and browned? Where were those delightful pink peppercorns seasoning the beets from? I'd skip the mushrooms if I go back - they were salty and average - but mostly because we got a good taste of them in the pasta. And the gnocchi was tiny, pillowy, and perfect. Not heavy. The desserts were ok - we had a chocolate caramel pie and budino. I'd skip them or try something else. The real gem here is the outstanding food and smart service. read more

I made a reservation at clay and due to unforeseen circumstances had to cancel. They have a $100 cancellation fee no matter if it's a family emergency, Covid exposure etc. so don't make a reservation as if you have to unexpectedly cancel, it's $100. Then, if you try to email/call to explain what happened and not ask for the money back but rather a gift card for $100 so you can come in and try Clay, Andrea, will speak down to you and treat you pretty terribly. So the food may be great, but there's many other great places with great food and respectful people. read more

was ok, the burger was overpriced and the downstairs looks like a university cafeteria. No real reason to come back...

Came here for dinner on Saturday night and really enjoyed it. It's a pretty place that has a very cozy vibe. The drinks were delicious, the scallop appetizer special was amazing and our entrees (roasted chicken and duck leg) were great too! The potatoes that come on the side of the roasted chicken were SO tasty they deserved a separate sentence lol. We finished with the mini donuts for dessert which were a perfectly balanced dessert. The service was ok, but definitely could've been better which is why I'm only giving 4 stars. Overall a good experience and would definitely come back! read more

Went there to check the venue for a potential event. My husband and I went into clay for a drink to sit outside with and enjoy the view. The bartender was so rude! Paid 49.00 for two drinks ( my wine was 25.00 for house white ) first he asked "what do you want what can I get you) wanted a resling did not have it so he literally any poured my drink. Just a terrible experience. My husband said no to this venue. It is a pretty place but not with that staff for those prices read more

Amazing restaurant! Loved everything about this place. Servers were polite, fresh & tasty menu, delicious cocktails, and Earthy ambiance. I took my mom here because I loved it so much and she was impressed-- she's a picky cook herself. read more

Clay - New American Near Me - New York, New York

So nice to eat again at Clay. By far the most on-point, elevated but not fussy spot in all of Harlem. There I said it. The pork belly, the duck confit, the mini donuts, the PX Sherry, the excellent beer list... it all just makes me happy. Do yourself a favor and go. You deserve it. Right? read more

Clay - The Threes Brewing Constant Disappointment was anything but.... - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Fabulous restaurant!!! All the dishes are wonderful Great service, very kid friendly. read more

Clay has an absolutely horrendous reservation policy - you can only make a reservation if you give them a credit card, and they will charge $50 per person if you *cancel* with less than 24 hours notice - this is not for a no-show, it's if you cancel. This is insulting and I would never comply with it. I only live a few blocks away from them and they are not getting my business unless they change this idiotic policy. read more

Wow. Where do I begin? Ok, make sure bring your vaccination card if you want be seated indoors. Sat at bar, very friendly and attentive bartender helped me pick cosmopolitan cocktail as drink. Absolutely loved it!! Was like a dream in a glass!! Could taste was made by someone takes pride in their work and knows how to create a drink. Had the cauliflower appetizer which was delicious!!! And the Grass Fed Strip Steak which I also very much enjoyed with its two sauces and asparagus and potatoes. Would highly recommend this place to anyone! Thank you to owners and staff for great dining experience. read more

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We visited Clay tonight to celebrate or 9th marriage anniversary. The food was perfect (beet salad, gnocchi, short rib bucatini and popcorn panna cotta) and the service was attentive. Bill was $149.16 +30 for gratuity. We've wanted to visit Clay for a few years and finally made it in. The restaurant is small and has a classy, comfortable neighborhood feel. The drinks (3 total) were balanced and delicious. Clay is a vibe. My wife and I talked about how delicious our food was the whole walk home. We'll definitely return in the future. read more

This is a very cute sleek restaurant tucked in a pretty residential part of Harlem. I can see why so many reviewers were happy with an addition of a farm to table restaurant, but can also sense the concern given it's a huge symbol of gentrification in the neighborhood. First, I was shook by how expensive the drink menu was as most cocktails and glasses of wine were at least $16. I got the traveling light, which was a very delicious mix of vodka, lemon, honey and egg white. I would definitely come back for happy hour when the cocktails are cheaper. Second, we shared a cheese and charcuterie board, which was listed for 9 dollars. But the waitress actually informed us that it was 9 dollars for one small sliver of cheese and 4-5 pieces of cured meat. Which in retrospect was even more expensive than the delicious cheese board served at Murray Cheese Bar in the west village. I definitely did not think it was worth $18 dollar for one piece of cheese and one meat. Lastly, as I can tolerate saltiness, I was surprised to find the duck to be saltier than I would like. I ended up finishing my meal as I was starving and I had already paid 32 dollars for it. My friend really enjoyed her chicken though. All in all, I would come back during happy hour for better drink deals and order another entree to try, but probably nothing on the appetizer menu. read more

Clay - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Great service and looked the cocktails. Unfortunately the duck was very salty but when we informed them they replaced it. The chicken liver and pasta dish was on point. Will come back and try the duck again to see if they have toned down the salt. read more

Clay - o pato - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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The food was incredible! I thought I'd had duck confit before but until I went to Clay, I really hadn't. Also do not sleep on the cauliflower. Exquisite! read more

So, so, so good. Lovely atmosphere and fantastic service. The duck is OMG. This restaurant is a neighborhood staple for a reason.

Anniversary dinner done right. I love when a plan comes together and that's exactly what happened when my wife and I decided to go to Clay for our wedding anniversary. What I enjoyed so much about Clay was to be hesitant about a dish that I never tried before but be amazed by the transformation of flavors a chef can present in a meal. I highly recommend the pork belly to start, gnocchi or skirt steak for your entree and finish it off with nice fresh doughnuts. The drink/cocktail selection was nice and I loved the comfortable decor. We will visit again. read more

All of the food and the cocktails were good, but the pasta was GREAT! I would definitely get more pastas and less appetizers/entrees in the future. read more

Every time I come here and the person that arrived first was Black they've only had "seating available" in the basement. I've been to Clay over 10X and didn't think much of it until I started speaking to people who've had similar experiences. The last time I attended I asked the host why we couldn't be seated upstairs when it was completely empty and he claimed it was reserved. I pointed out that there's no way to differentiate where you'd like to be seated. You'll notice that the better seating for the restaurant, first floor, inside is normally white. If there are Black patrons they're always with white or Asian patrons. They tend to seat Black people in the basement or outside. I've been quite a few times and walk past many times. I thought it was coincidentally but have stress-tested this a few times with my who're friends. I've emailed the owner to see if she can offer an explanation on the seating policy and was told that, She prioritizes those who are unable to go down the stairs, and those who express a strong preference for upstairs seating, whether for a special occasion, or just in general. Not sure how her staff determines the ability of one to go up and down the stairs. While this was one of my favorite places in Harlem, I will never be going there again nor will my friends. read more

I want to like Clay. I had New Year's Eve dinners here, dates here, and even stopped in for a drink. They do have a terrific outdoor setup during Covid times. Veggie burger is starchy and needs an urgent overhaul. Their gnocchi is divine and should not be skipped. Many of their cocktails lack the balance and/or umami you'd except at $14/drink. Moreover, they've built in an ACLU donation built into the price of some cocktails (in my case a Hot Toddy). Please keep politics out of dining - we get enough of it every day. read more

Clay - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Quality, delicious food. Very attentive staff. Smaller, homey, but professional ambiance. Went for birthday dinner and wasn't disappointed. Underrated on yelp. Deserves 5 stars and more recognition. read more

I loved everyone here. Service was THE best. You know when you ask where is the restroom and they take you? Outdoor arrangements were well thought out. The owner came to our table and was lovely. Ok. The food. Incredible. Chicken liver. Duck confit. Calamarata was divine. We loved the whole experience. read more

Clay - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Wonderful bar and restaurant! A neighborhood gem. Lots of outdoor space as well. The gnocchi is excellent (and that's hard to do)!

I was in the area to see a show at the Apollo and had plenty of time to grab a couple of drinks at a bar. The service was painfully slow. By the time I was able to order my second round, me and my partner were discussing just leaving because we risked being late, but we thought if we ordered beer and explained we had to make a show, it would be an easy process. I think in total, it was almost 40 minutes between my first cocktail and the beer when I received it (after the bartender seeming to forget it for awhile under the tap). Ouch! What really put me off though was we had her run my card before my boyfriends beer was in front of him to expedite things. She accidentally only charged me for one beer, so insisted on running the card again even though at that point I told her not to because chugging it was not what we wanted to do. She became insistent that it would only take a few seconds, my hand was outstretched for my card and clearly DONE with this interaction, and she still ran it, then hurriedly poured his canned beer into a glass. Not cool. We missed the first act, and that beer should have been comped regardless due to the extreme wait and the fact that it was her mistake to begin with. She said she was having trouble because it was so busy, but I think there with other issues with that interaction. If I tell you not to run the card, please don't. My cocktail, I think it was Good Morning Heartache, was delicious. And my beer was REALLY good. But I won't be back. read more

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I love this place but the hours are horrible. It feel like I have to plan to go to this place, I want it to be more available because the dining and the drinks are so amazing. His place is seriously a gem. My favorite drink (of all time ) I might add is the Travel Light. You must try this!!!! I love the vegetable plate too. They know how to prepare the most tasty roasted cauliflower. The staff is very pleasant as well. It's very well decorated and perfect for a romantic evening. Lastly another reason why I love this place is that it's Owned by two females. female magic !!! read more

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If you don't mind waiting exactly 45 minutes for your main courses even when there are only 2 other tables on a Tuesday night, then go here. We also had to wait 30 minutes before that for our table (and we had a reservation). They were nice and apologetic about it and gave us a glass of wine on the house. Food is good and service is friendly, but for such expensive prices (see my picture of menu) I expect a much more efficient service and bigger portions. read more

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Drinks are fabulous! Presentation of meals only out done by the actual tests so yummy. Service and ambiance are great. Particularly nice dining outdoors during nice weather. read more

Always excellent. Haven't eaten a bad thing here yet! Let the photo tell you what I thought... Two cheques and two pens!! Of course they would. Love this place. read more

Clay - New American Near Me - New York, New York

My family of three visited Clay last night to celebrate my wife's birthday. Nice, cozy place and must be terrific during warmer weather to sit upstairs with doors all open. Our meal was good but nothing special. Started with a few apps including roasted cauliflower dish that was nicely prepared. I had the pork entree....was dry and very small portion. My wife and daughter were happy with their meals including the duck confit. Service was nice. Menu was a bit limited for me overall. read more

This is a nice understated upscale spot in Harlem. I came here for dinner and had a great time. We shared the roasted beets and pork belly to start. The roasted beets were delicious and were complemented nicely with hon shimeji mushrooms. The pork belly was decadent and very rich. For my main I had the pork tenderloin and was super impressed with perfectly the meat was cooked. It was tender, juicy and not the least bit dry. The outer layer had a crispy crust which was very flavorful. The pork was served with apple, chile sauce, potato and charred romaine. All in all it was a very nice dish. I got to try some of my compatriots pasta dishes. The lobster bucatini was particularly excellent. The dish was rounded out with calabrian chile and bottarga. Great stuff! Overall this is a good spot for a nice dinner out in Harlem. The prices are comparable to places you'd see in West Village, but the quality of food definitely makes it worth it. read more

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Needed to grab a bite before I headed to Wakanda. I was struggling to find a manly word to describe this place but F it... it is CUTE. Still hard for me to wrap my head around a place like this being on 123rd & Manhattan Ave. Gentrification I tell ya. Had the 10 oz. burger which hungry me at the time thought was going to be a snack but ended up leaving me extra full. Gooey cheese, very juicy. No complaints. I'm sure I'll regret saying this but the burger actually could've done without bacon. I know, I know, wtf am I saying right now. But the burger was so strong on its own that the bacon didn't add any real value. The staff was OD friendly, which never hurts. My only concern now is not having a food coma while I watch Black Panther. Pray for me y'all. read more

Clay - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Customer service was amazing and the interior was pretty but unfortunately the food was awful. My pasta tasted like it was cooked in hotdog water. My cup had floating particles in it. Had to order a bottled beverage. The only redeeming quality was the staff in front. read more

Clay - Awful pasta. From flavor to portion. - New American Near Me - New York, New York