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.

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 2 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 the idea of returning feels less like reclaiming an old life than dipping a toe into a world I no longer need to inhabit. 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.

We stopped here for our arrival dinner and within walking distance from our hotel in Manhattan on…read moreour way to visit Grand Central Station. We enjoyed the food and ambience. Service was great and we had a relaxed meal. I ordered a grilled chicken Cobb salad (photo included), which was substantial, fresh and delicious. We also meandered to the lower level and discovered another lovely bar area on our way to the restrooms. The stairs are a bit steep, but great decor with a nod to NY subway entrance as you descend.

First time here on a biz trip and met up with a friend for dinner…read more Was seated for my reso right away and had a cushy banquette table. The service was no nonsense NY efficient. They have a solid menu with standard tavern offerings. We ordered a burger and the special chicken with rice and beans. The food was good -- not great-- overall. The comeback chicken was nice and warm but a hit anemic on the portion while the rice and beans were room temp. The sauce was delicious! The burger was solid as were the fries. All in all a good experience and I'd come back to try other things on the menu.

Our group of 5 met here for Saturday lunch and were seated in the large covered dining room. I…read moreenjoyed the atmosphere, which reminded me of a garden atrium and felt serene. Waitstaff were excellent and all service was top notch. The food was prepared well and fresh. I enjoyed Cobb salad and other diners selected a Thai duck salad with papaya and mango, Caesar salad, crab cake, watercress soup, and crispy Canadian salmon with spring vegetables. Everyone enjoyed their selections.

Didn't check the reviews beforehand because we only intended to have drinks, but should've known…read morethat places like this are only for the atmosphere. We asked if we were able to just sit at a table for drinks, she said yes. The wine selection was minimal and not good, but we ordered 2 glasses anyway. We asked the server if we could order bread for our son. He said "I'll bring bread after you order food." We told him we were only there for drinks but were happy to pay for a bread order. He begrudgingly said okay. After being there 10 minutes, we decided we wanted an appetizer so went for the tuna crudo. Not did it taste awful, it didn't even look appealing. It also oddly came out with a massive piece of grilled bread?! Bizarre combo. Do yourself a favor and just sit in Bryant Park, don't waste your money here.

Always looking for easy places with good food close to where I stay for work…read more This place is fantastic! Good ambience, great food selections, friendly bartender, easy location. I had the charcuterie chips which were beyond delicious! Generous portion, I didn't think I'd eat it all, but I did! I had the lavender 75 cocktail, which was also delicious. It was quiet when I arrived, so I sat right down, but as the time progressed people that were coming to see the Knicks game filtered in, and it got quite full. Good value, good service, good food, good location. I will be back!

3.5 rounding up to 4…read more We came here after a long walk around midtown and wanted a late night bite and some drinks. The interior is very cool with a speakeasy vibe. We sat at the bar but they do have tables. What was ordered: Drinks - Lavender 75 Cucumber Basil Cooler Pepperoncini Martini Cavi-tini Food- Margarita Pinsa The pinsa was delicious and really well executed for a late night bar snack. The drinks were creative and well crafted. Dinging them for the service. The bartender was brand new and did not know her way around the bar or the menu. She kept telling us it was her 3rd day and asking other staffers for help. She was super friendly and nice, just not remotely professional! Her personality was great, so I hope she settles in and gets familiar with the job.

Had reservations for 2 on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. We got there about three…read moreminutes late, but they seated us within 5 minutes in a booth. It was our first time eating at a Friedman's location. It had a nice diner feel to it, with a mix of booths and tables. The brunch menu has a variety of breakfast items, salads, sandwiches and burgers, starters, and entrees (fish tacos, grain bowl, fried chicken). I like that several of the items are naturally gluten free, and some can be made gluten free by request. We decided to go with three breakfast items from the brunch menu: I got the shakshuka, my sister got the Nova Benny, and we got the lemon ricotta pancakes to share. All 3 dishes were great. The shashuka came with grilled ciabatta, perfect for dipping into the sunny side eggs and tomato sauce. My sister loved that the poached eggs and smoked salmon of the Nova Benny came on top of a crispy potato latke. The pancakes were fluffy and the lemon ricotta and lemon zest elevated their flavor. Our server was friendly and attentive, and he asked us if we had any allergies when he took our order. He came by several times to check on us and refill water. I would return to Friedman's when I'm in the Herald Square area, or check out one of their other locations in the city.

Came on a busy Thursday morning at nine am. Got a decaf iced vanilla latte and a nova Benny and the…read moreMac and cheese. And lemme just say the food came out sooo quick. The Benedict was so delicious. I've never had it on a crispy hash brown type before. It was good and a massive portion. Mac and cheese was alright, though I would probably opt out of it next time. I was so full I totally forgot to drink my latte but the latte was good too. Ambiance was nice clean and very busy.

This is a great place for italian food. It has an upscale feel and friendly staff. The white lamb…read moretheme is recurring in the decor. We got their garganelli, tagliatelle, and ravioli pastas. For dessert, the iconic tiramisu. Garganelli- This has a nice, arugula pesto sauce that has a rich garlicky finish. It's enhanced with roasted mushrooms and sharp pecorino. Tagliatelle- You get a rich pork and beef bolognese. The house made pasta is cooked to perfection. Pretty satisfying! Ravioli- This is a light, seasonal dish with pumpkin, brown butter, and sage. The sauce complements the sweet pumpkin and the brown butter adds a nuttiness. Tiramisu- This dessert was too cute to eat! It was decorated with a meek looking model of their namesake lamb. Nobody wanted to ruin its face so we slowly ate this from the outside in. The espresso it strong, complemented by the creamy marscapone layers. Textures and flavors were perfectly balanced. Great experience overall!

I thoroughly enjoyed the meal (I wasn't paying so I am blissfully unaware of how much this cost)…read more Highlights included the burrata (super soft and fresh, loved the caramelized apple), the vodka rigatoni (fresh, chewy, and so creamy, but it doesn't beat Il Corallo's), and the tiramisu (absolutely decadent, the marscapone flavor was so strong). Ambience was lovely, as is the case for most nyc italian restaurants. The walls were paneled with mirrors and white/coastal teal wood so it was super relaxing.

Good Times were had. Nothing went bad. The birthday girl was glad. And the music was really rad…read more Try getting any seat during game #2 of Yankee win mania. When we got to the bar upstairs, it was packed with screaming twentysomethings having a ball. Our party was downstairs at Bo Peep, tucked in the corner with cushioned seats. Everyone in our party of nine had a ball listening to the stylings of the piano player. His repertoire range extended from 80s into 90s pop classics. A couple of the waitresses jumped on the mic to belt out some radio goo goo. We ordered a ton of food. Everything including our drinks came out promptly with no issues. We gobbled it up quick with not a crumb left

They had such high reviews and it was quite underwhelming…read more 1. Reservation- needed. 2. Food: 3 stars at best 3. Drinks- not so good 4. Service- nice but slow All in all, I was disappointed. I came here with high hopes.