Came for Brunch on a Sunday . Great food (try the shrimp &…read moreGrits- different but really good). Live music is fabulous (Danny Lipsitz) and the drinks are perfect. Of all the places to go In New York, Glad we stopped here . The attentive service (Bar and Restaurant) made the experience even better. Great job Valerie's !!

Came here for brunch and had a decent time. The place wasn't too busy, likely due to the crappy…read moreweather, so we were able to sit there for a while after our meal concluded. Service was good. We had the fried chicken Benedict and the crab cake Benedict. I was a bit confused when I saw that each Benedict dish only had one poached egg - shouldn't it always be two? I guess that's shrinkflation (plus inflation) for you. That bent said, the crab cake was actually really big and filling. The side of potatoes were really delicious. Would I come back for brunch again? Very unlikely. But, it does seem like a pretty "safe choice" if you need a last minute reservation for a group.

The bartender Josiah was great! He was very knowledgeable about the spirits and made great drink…read morerecommendations! The ambiance was just what you want for a speakeasy just with a more inviting entrance. Their menu is also designed like a cute little newspaper. I came alone after seeing a show! Glad I stopped in!

We had scored an awesome street parking spot and there was no way we were giving that up, so hubs…read moremade sure wherever we ate was within this area. We reserved for a quick bite at Redeye Grill before catching Dog Day Afternoon on Broadway, but as soon as we walked up, some bouncer told us they were closed for a private wedding reception. We were dazed and confused because how was I able to reserve online? But the real plot twist was that it ended up being the best thing that happened. We actually stumbled into Tanner Smith's thinking it'd be the typical, boring bar-food spot. Nope. They first sat us at a hi-top by the door, but that wasn't our vibe, so we grabbed seats at the bar instead. Best decision. Our bartender, Josiah, was absolutely killing it. My cocktail had passion fruit, so of course I asked my usual question: "But is it real passion fruit?" He just nodded in agreement and that told me everything I needed to know. That drink was legit and had nice strength. The food was great too. My fish tacos were packed with fresh fish, the guacamole and salsa were chunky and full of flavor and hubs enjoyed his pastrami sandwich. I have no clue when we'll be back in Midtown, but one thing's for sure- we're sitting with Josiah again.

We were in the city for 36 hours and were exhausted after a long day of travel and exploring the…read morecity. We found Judge Roy Bean on a whim while doing a quick Yelp search for nearby pubs. We are so thrilled that we ended up here. It was the perfect way to end our day. Cozy yet elevated pub atmosphere. Relaxing yet also fun. Great ambiance and good energy amongst staff and customers. There was a wonderful bartender and waiter (both from Ireland) working the night that we went. They were both delightfully witty. Playful banter with one another and with the customers which made our experience quite entertaining. Burgers and fries were DELICIOUS. Both cocktails I ordered were lovely and well made. 10/10 experience. I have already recommended it to friends who are planning a trip to NYC.

Uncommonly inexpensive for its touristy high rent loca†ion and †he food is really good. Huge short…read morerib sandwich wi†h properly cooked yukon potatoes Incredible beer selection in the tiny but comfortable table area. The whole place has great ambience.

Monkey Bar became one of my favorite Midtown restaurants because its modern history ran almost…read moreperfectly alongside my years in New York. I arrived in 2008 with very little, and when Graydon Carter revived the restaurant in 2009, I was beginning a rise of my own, first at a large global bank and then, to my astonishment, at one of the city's most powerful investment firms. The suits were daily, the walls were gold, and the pressure was so consuming that even success could feel like a form of attrition. After a few years, I moved to a smaller firm with Southern roots, where the culture was more humane, the work gave me greater autonomy, and I produced some of the strongest results of my career, even within an industry still governed by fear, greed, and status. Inside, the red booths, low lighting, generous spacing, and hand-painted monkey murals made lunch feel ceremonial without becoming stiff. The room was timeless and handsome, with polished service, quality food, and the subtle assurance of a place where you could be proud to bring someone important. I especially remember sitting in one of those booths with two mentors, each only a few years older than I was and therefore close enough in vintage to feel relatable, trustworthy, and genuinely within reach. One had entered my life after I left the larger firm and helped me understand an earlier chapter that had also ended abruptly and, at the time, felt deeply unfair; the other had guided me through the smaller firm where I finally found a more sustainable way to work. Over that long lunch, I introduced them, we discussed several promising ideas, and for a moment my career seemed to have reached the point where relationships, experience, and opportunity were finally converging. One of those ideas consumed an extraordinary amount of my time and energy, and I believed it might become the foundation of my next chapter. Instead, the arrangement eventually turned on me, the role I thought I had earned never materialized, and the business itself sputtered. My professional life, financial footing, and pride all collapsed just as COVID was beginning. Then Monkey Bar closed in 2020, which made the ending feel almost unnervingly complete: the restaurant, the city, and the version of myself built around New York finance all went dark at once. For years, I experienced that ending as devastating and unfair; now I can see it as wisdom delivered through an unnecessarily rough process. The restaurant's later revival by a Chicago hospitality group feels fitting because it still honors tradition and ceremony while allowing the old forms to evolve into something healthier, looser, and more current. I have not been back since that lunch, but a return now would feel like visiting the museum of my past, not reclaiming a life that asked too much, gave too little, and finally lost its hold on me. Even now, I remember Monkey Bar as a great Midtown lunch in a memorable room, surrounded by the residue of old ambitions and the gratitude of having survived them. The cocktails were sharp, the service was impeccable, and the dining room carried that glamorous old New York energy without feeling trapped by it. I remain deeply fond of the place, partly for what it was and partly for what it witnessed. Some restaurants become attached to a chapter of your life, and Monkey Bar holds mine with unusual grace.

The truffle monkey bread while a total carb and calorie bomb was delicious and left a lasting…read moreimpression. It featured a crispy, sugar-glazed exterior and a soft, chewy interior, topped with truffle cheese and served with a truffle butter dip; the pairing was superb, and it tasted great both on its own and with the dip. For the main course, I ordered the miso-glazed black cod. The flavor was flawless, and while the portion was small (which was acceptable), the pool of broth accompanying it was completely unnecessary; it was inedibly salty, so what was the point of serving it? After finishing the fish, I was left with a plate full of broth, rendering the plate unusable. Plus, it was overpriced; for this dish, you're better off going to Strip House Strip House remains the undisputed king of this dish in New York. A friend ordered the chicken parmesan. It was just average. Another friend ordered the short rib stroganoff. The flavor was decent, but it was far too rich and heavy. As someone whose palate is split 50/50 between Western and Chinese cuisine, I could manage only five bites at most. If you have a palate that prefers 100% Chinese food, proceed with caution on this dish. Friends ordered sides of mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. These are dishes originally meant for low-income Americans to fill up on cheaply; there's no limit to how good they can be, but also no floor to how bad they can get. Both were on par with the average quality found in upscale restaurants. Honestly, these are two dishes I would never order myself. To sum up: the atmosphere was great. It's also hard to get a reservation; the place was packed when we had lunch at 2 PM. Aside from that monkey bread, I didn't feel like anything else justified the price or offered something you couldn't find elsewhere. I don't quite get the hype. Perhaps I just didn't order the right dishes; maybe next time I'll try the burger and the steak.

Wow, such a treat to experience!…read more We were welcomed a bit earlier than anticipated than our arrival time and was a nice gesture. I've never been to a formal tea before so was a super nice treat for me. Started with a glass of champagne and followed by great recommendations for tea (which is not my jam) and was a perfect pairing. We had the Spring Afternoon Tea which was an assortment of finger sandwiches, desserts and clotted cream and preserves. The staff and recommendations were remarkable and if ever in the area would love to come back and share the experience with family and friends!

Great spot for cocktails if you want spacious seating + a classy atmosphere where you can actually…read morehold a conversation. Service was fast and friendly. Cocktails were ok. - Whitby paloma: 7.5/10 (on the stronger side)

There's two ways to enter this restaurant. They do in fact have a main door facing 53rd street. If…read moreyou're already inside MoMA, there's a separate door by security. They have to let you in. I didn't have a reservation, but was seated immediately. Win! I really should've asked questions instead of going rogue. My intention was to do the lunch prix fixe menu. The menu on the table was a la carte. This did however work out better for me as I had limited time since I was catching a broadway show. Started with the olives then followed with the hot dogs and closed with the gem lettuce. They did come at different times. This gave me the perfect time to nibble slowly. The olives paired perfectly with the salad. The hot dogs were my favorite. The whole meal was perfectly balanced for me. Just have to mention how amazing the service was. No table had anything waiting to be taken away because there was always someone walking around. At one point, one of the guys clocked I had just finished drinking my water and within seconds he was at my table refilling my glass. I mean c'mon. Will took great care of me. He even suggested the dessert I ended up getting which was the peach cruller. I'm gonna try to come back to do the lunch tasting before I go back home to LA.

After having to cancel a few other rez here that was out of our control, we were excited to finally…read moremake it. We were already inside MOMA and entered via the inside entrance with a guard and a huge door. Since we arrived at 5pm when they opened we were led to a seated waiting area and provided cold water (a 100F day) and a smaller drink menu. Within a few minutes the main dining room was ready for us and we were led to a three quarter moon seat with a table facing the MOMA outdoor sculpture garden. This room was glorious with its high ceiling and cobalt blue paint and an impressive massive floral arrangements. There were plenty of museum visitors still outside wandering about in the sculpture garden. Each and every staff were wonderful in their friendly welcoming stance and conversations. Having perused their voluminous wine selection online ahead of time (an excellent thing to do ahead of time to avoid last minute decisions) we placed our wine order with the sommelier. Then there was the choice between the two menus, one obviously more expansive in offerings and the price. Since NYC was experiencing our extreme heatwave we opted for the smaller menu, which was totally sufficient and very filling. Most of the time, restaurant tasting menus have words and phrases that "sound" so inviting but wind up being a huge disappointment. However, words here really don't do justice as a description. The menu seemed simple and basic enough: "radish, shiso* crispy ham and cheese; hiramasa and garden peas; sea bass, crab and squash blossom; halibut, tomatoes, sweet corn broth or chicken and red wine braised celeriac; berries and cacao -- Impressions Menu -- 'a glimpse, capturing a moment' $175 (discovery 115 * reserve 295)". Prior to ordering we were informed that both of us had to order the same menu but that we had the option to sub and add on from the expansive menu--which we did with the eggs on eggs on eggs dish, as well as my choice of the lamb. Their signature dish--Eggs on eggs on eggs: a must have to add on this special course with caviar ($50/order). The dish is small, precious and very rich and was positively impressionable. That's the dish I go away with thinking about the restaurant. It came with a stick of toasted brioche to sop up the runny yolk and the caviar (which was neither fishy or salty). I would note the dish was served with caviar spoon. Staff knew enough that after we started eating this they brought an extra set of two more buttered toast sticks. Paired with our all Pinot champagne it was a magical combo. This is the kind of patron mind reading that differentiated a Michelin star restaurant. As the executive chef described the dish: "At the bottom of the bowl is a fried egg sauce, and is broken with a dill oil; second egg is a poached egg yolk (poached in a saline solution just so they are warmed through...we want the yolk to spill through the sauce...). We finish this dish with pickled shallots and more fresh dill for acidity and freshness, and drop a huge spoonful of caviar on top." The amuse was a great way to start especially with the pairing of our champagne. In lieu of the halibut in the Impressions menu I added the lamb from the other menu. Although it was only one piece in the rack of lamb it was terrific with the crunchy maitake mushroom and tasty sauce. The sommelier was excellent and professional without being pretentious -- as well as every single staff that greeted us and served us along the way. THIS Is what one should expect from a two star Michelin restaurant. I tasted the halibut from my wife and it seemed to be slightly under seasoned, though it had a decent sear. Service was perfection. They did not disappoint and I will be back!

Wonderful place to eat out. We went there after a show, seated immediately, and welcomed by all…read more All the staff was friendly and welcomed our conversation as we enjoy getting to know our servers. Food was delicious, wines were excellent, dining was fabulous. I love dining out and there was no rush. There were various settings to choose, from quiet dark dining, to patio, to group. Overall, it was a magnificent experience. Thank you to all.

This is the kind of restaurant experience that I adore…read more We came here for dinner before a concert at Carnegie Hall. We had a reservation and were seated within moments. The place was packed! The dinner items are so intriguing. Why did I love it so much? Because it was like art, but also delicious. I can highly recommend the tableside butter service. A giant cart with a mountain of butter is rolled to your area. In the most entertaining way, butter is scooped and prepared on a marble slab then served to you and yours with many little accoutrements. It was way too much for two people, but we loved every bite. The service was so good, the food fun and photogenic, and I loved all of the bites. I can't wait to come back.

Rodrigo and Andres were excellent! They were attentive and even brought food out early knowing we…read morewere catching a sporting event! I would recommended everyone come here for good ambience and great service. The cocktails are delicious.

Edna is amazing!! Great customer service, fast and efficient. She MUST make your drinks!! Ask for…read moreher.