Sardi's is a must-go-to restaurant after seeing a Broadway show. Food and service are excellent. The walls are lined with caricatures of celebrities who have dined there in the many years it has been open. read more

2nd Floor Bar review. Came in with VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS! It was after a show on a Saturday night. Sat down at the bar and once settled in the young bartender ignores me and asks 5 other patrons what they would like. I had to ask to order. Not the best bartenders in NYC. Ordered Merlot which was house and it was pretty good. Also, tried the Creme Brûlée which was just ok. It was 1/4 inch thick and really no flavor. Ate 6 bites and was done. It just did not have the flavor to make me want to eat it all. It's described as real vanilla flavor and it did not taste much like vanilla. Also, I watched the bartender walk through the bar opening with my Creme Brûlée but he stopped and chatted with his coworkers for a minute or so before he served me. Old guy bartender clearing tables behind me and passing dirty dishes and glasses on either side of me. So am dodging this mess. So rude and lazy. Get a tray and clear the tables and walk around the bar. Do things the right way. I do love the star caricatures on the wall which is cool but other than that pass on Sardi's as it's old and tired. Service help needs to be retrained. #Annoyed #OLD, #TouristsTrap #BadService read more

Sardi's - Wine and Creme Brûlée. - American Near Me - New York, New York

Three of us went for dinner at Sardi's last night before a show. I had Spaghetti and Meatballs and the other two each ordered the appetizer portion of Canelloni. They enjoyed their Canellloni. My pasta meal was "okay" - not amazing. I did enjoy the meatballs - very tasty. The sauce was pretty basic marinara. The pasta was the thickest spaghetti noodles I've ever had. A bit hard to get into your mouth :) In all, it was a decent meal in a classic setting and we were not rushed. read more

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If there were an award for the most appalling dining experience, Sardis would be this year's champion. From the moment we arrived, everything was terrible. Starting with the food, it was basically not edible. There is absolutely nothing special on their menu and the basic items they do offer, are horrible. You are better off EATING ANYWHERE ELSE. In addition to paying way too much for terrible food, the service was the worst of it. I was "greeted" by a man who seemed to be too busy to bother to help my daughter and I. When he finally took us to our table, he seemed bothered and rude. Our table was dirty and THEN THERE WAS A ROACH RUNNING ACROSS THE SEAT! I immediately asked to be moved which we were and tried to tell myself "this is just NYC" and for some stupid reason I now regret, we chose to stay. Service? What service? The waiter was like a ghost, popping up now and then, looking like he'd rather be literally anywhere else. Asking for water turned into an epic quest so we didnt bother even asking for what we needed throughout our meal. Save your time and money and seriously, go anywhere else. Sardis was horrible!!!!!! read more

Go there once.... Just to say you went since it's a historical institution.... The food while good, is not worth what we payed.... The service by the team who were not the waiters (the team giving you the bread, keeping your water full, and keeping the tables clean) was better than the waiters. The ambiance is outdated and it would make sense to you if you have been following musicals for years. If musicals is not your thing.... And even if it was... the place is not necessarily for you. We went, took pictures.... And won't be back. I could tell the waiter preselected the 20% tip... which we always give no matter the service.... But independent of that.... Why the need to preselect that.... Very bad taste. read more

Just a tourist trap ! The food is mostly fusion , the pasta it's hard to look at Looks gross . I ordered crab cakes they were mostly bred crumbs . They had no brad for our appetizer , we had the sardi appetizer $ 28 .00 When I asked for brad they said they don't serve bred ... mah ‍ With lots of olives mainly , the prosciutto was chopped In very small pieces on chopped watermelon ... why ? Low quality prosciutto . Service very bad and the waiters put their thumbs inside the plate ... I wonder where that thumb has been before . Low quality drinks read more

Mid-week post-theater early dinner. First time at a place I've often seen in magazines and movies. Eager to try. A zillion caricatures filling the walls, from Dick Van Dyke to Abe Beame. No pix - your imagination will serve you perfectly. Four diners, accorded friendly service. Curated menu seemed promising. Cannelloni, chicken parm, poached salmon for them. I had cheddar cheeseburger with skinny fries ... possibly the most boring I've ever had. Perfectly fried fries, but nothing interesting. Big burger, good quality but not very flavorful, on a big squishy bun, garnished with polite tasting tomato, pickle, lettuce slice and onion - how is an onion slice bland? Well, it was. Pickle too. Others seemed to like their choices a lot - maybe it's just me. Two had Chocolate Decadence, which turned out to be a cake, though you'd never know from the menu description. A chocolate/vanilla ice cream duo was a big hit. My dessert sounded great on the menu, an apple/brown sugar streusel on a sugar cookie base - turned out to be a thin pie-like presentation with terrific vanilla ice cream on the side. The apple concoction was so un-yummy I didn't finish it. Smoking has been illegal in NYC restaurants for many years, yet one in our party smelled it here in the air, and coming from the banquette, even on his clothes later. We did have a festive time - it's that kind of atmosphere - but I'd rather eat at Carmine's just a few doors east than ever set foot again in Sardi's. read more

A New York Classic lives up to its reputation! I had lunch here before seeing Phantom across the street. The menu was diverse. I enjoyed the Kale Salad from the specials and the lentil stew from the classics menu. Both were superb. The service was white glove at its best. Felt very welcomed and was accommodated for the short time frame till curtain, but never felt rushed: a must do for old world Manhattan while your in town. read more

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This is the worst restaurant I've ever been to. If you're reading these reviews, wondering if you should take a chance on Sardi's, don't do it. Upon walking up to the restaurant, the manager was outside smoking, which is totally fine, but he spit on the ground not two feet away from where we were standing. We then proceeded to walk inside and literally NO ONE greeted us. Aforementioned manager walked in and kept walking right past us. We had a reservation and they asked for my name three times; even when we were already sitting. Even after all that, Opentable just sent me an email requesting an explanation for why I didn't attend my reservation. I can't think of anything positive about this place. The staff is rude and the food is nasty. We wanted to experience such a historical theater district institution, but I'm afraid the magic that one was Sardi's is gone. There are so many better places to eat in this area. I highly recommend going literallllllyyyyy anywhere else. I'll even cook for you to prevent you from making the epic mistake of eating at this putrid place. Barf. Never again, Sardi's. Never again! read more

Service was great-we had a very friendly, very busy server. Can't say I was overwhelmed by the food, other than the fact that it was family sized servings, so if it's just you and one other, come hungry! I wish they offered smaller servings because my friend and I could only manage the rigatoni vodka dish and a bite of the largest tiramisu ever served-it was literally the size of a small plate. Took back to the hotel but never ate it! As a NYer, I've had better Italian food, but fun place to bring a tourist for the experience. read more

Sardi's - Homemade Tiramisu Cake - American Near Me - New York, New York

Such a disappointment. For the price that they charge for the dishes, my expectations were so much higher! My cannelloni au gratin was $27 and it looked like something I could get on an airplane. The taste was about the same. My brother got the Grilled Filet Mignon medallions for $45 which he did not like either, it was try and cheap tasting. The ambience wasn't that impressive either. The room was bright and lined with caricatures of various celebrities and artists. The waiters had matching uniforms, but they seemed to fit them each differently. Some jackets were too tight and some were too loose. If you're looking to see a historical spot with the wall of caricatures then you should go at least once, just don't plan on an amazing meal. read more

Sardi's is a NYC institution on Broadway ... old school and storied. The most famous attribute you'll find at Sardi's is the hundreds (if not thousands) of hand drawn caricatures of actors, actresses and movie stars adorning the signature red walls. The food is not why you come here ... I would equate the food to cruise ship restaurant food. Many of the dishes are fancy staples of a past era ... steak tar tar, saucy French inspired dishes, shrimp scampi and chopped salads. The dishes are fancy but not done well. If you decide to go for a 'hard to mess up staple' such as a cheeseburger, you'll pay for the safety it brings you. $30+ for the cheeseburger, which even in Manhattan is a bit pricey. The atmosphere is while you are here. It feels vintage and upscale ... the hosts and waiters are decked out in matching suits. The hosts greet you with a smile and handle you like a car dealer ... the waiters are like quiet robots who are there when you need them but don't overwhelm you. Everyone here is for the most part smiling and there is a buzz in the air of happiness and excitement. I remember 20 years ago when I was a kid, we stopped in NYC and my parents really wanted to try Sardi's as that's where their parents ate after seeing a Broadway show in the 1960's. We were all dressed casually and they made my father put on a house jacket because all gentlemen had to wear a jacket. That is not the case these days ... we saw people there in jeans and polo shirts and of course the one slob in a t-shirt at 9 p.m. on a weeknight. Not quite as elegant a crowd as the olden days but then again, if you didn't make a reservation weeks ahead in the 1980's ... it was hard to get one. Now, we called up and they told us to come right over. One big benefit of Sardi's is because of their reputation as a post-theater restaurant, they stay open later than most other places on weeknights. Hard to believe but in 'The City That Never Sleeps' restaurants close pretty damn early on weeknights. After 10 p.m. your options get very limited for dinner. Thankfully, Sardi's serves until at least 10:30 or 11 p.m. to accommodate the shows which get out later. The drinks here are done well and if you aren't hungry, there's a bar area upstairs which gets a lot more lively than the dining room. This is where you'll find many of the actors from shows hanging out and having cocktails. The last time we were on the top level, 2 very well known movie actors were drinking at the bar and singing along to the songs on the speakers. The top level can be very fun if you catch it at the right time. As for the food ... I had a chopped salad, which was fine. Not amazing. Not terrible. The steak was cooked fine. Nothing amazing. Nothing terrible. I doubt you'll find too many people who rave about the food here ... you won't be blown away by it but you also won't hate it. But really this is a vintage throwback restaurant where the atmosphere is the best thing on the menu and people go because it's where their parents went and their grandparents went after a Broadway show. This is the type of spot which is disappearing regularly but thankfully it seems Sardi's is going the distance. read more

The restaurant was quiet. The first one I've been to this week where I could easily hear my dinner partner. The waiter was an excellent server. He's been working at Sardi's for 20 years and is now semi-retired. He and the couple next to us ended up having a great conversation. According to my girlfriend, having these friendly encounters at Sardi's is quite common. This makes for an enjoyable mealtime. And the guy seated nest to us is an author whose most recent book is prominently displayed in Sardi's display cabinet halfway up the stairs to the second floor. read more

Sardi's - The signed caricatures of famous people. - American Near Me - New York, New York

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I had dinner before a Broadway show last week, price of dinner is what I expected for a touristy restaurant in the theater district. Service was great and my entree was good. I didn't want dessert but did order a cup of coffee, when I received my check I was totally shocked to see that they charged $9.00 for a standard size cup of coffee, WOW!!! Totally ridiculous!! read more

Sardi's - American Near Me - New York, New York

The place has a lot of past history that drives guests in. It's smack in the middle of the Broadway Show district. It's that past history that allows it to survive, but I am not sure how much longer because my meal and service was mediocre. I ordered the Salmon and it was over cooked, dried out, and mediocre. It almost tasted microwaved--but I don't think they did that. If you are a fine dinning restaurant and can't deliver Salmon baked perfectly each time, something is wrong. The waiter was not accommodating with substitutions upon ordering. If you try to deviate from the menu, he will turn away from you. The chairs were uncomfortable, narrow, old, and shaky wood at the connections like you may fall over. The matre de was as friendly as a pit boss at a casino. My overall impression dining here for the first time is that they don't have long belong closing down. They need a "Restaurant Rescue" professional to turn it around and make this a happier, hipper, and more lively Broadway dinning place to eat. I will note that I enjoyed the taste of my friends's Scallops. Great Scallops--they gave her 3 of them and she graciously shared one. read more

We have been patrons of Sardi's every time we are in New York, often visiting several times during our trips, but not because it is Sardi's, but because we loved Enzo at the bar! He made us feel so special every time, even if we hadn't been there for months! He was recently let go and we will not be back. Sardi's is just another tourist trap without Enzo! read more

Great History of the theatre seen in NYC! I was waiter in Sardis when Vincent Sardi Sr , Jimmy A infamous Maitre D was retiring, people came from all over the world to bring him gifts, it was amazing to see, really. Vincent, promoted me from a busboy to a waiter after he observed my attention to the customers. I served Paul Newman, Milton Berle, Eartha Kit, Robert Altman and so many famous people what a great experience it was. The food I always recommend at the time was "Shrimp Sardi" The Canolloni, Prime Rib was fabulous, and The "Chicken Sardi" w asparagus and mash potatoes cover by a béchamel sauce, yummy!! read more

Iconic and Classic! Wonderful customer service. The crab cakes were amazing! My husband ordered the chicken parmesan and the cutlet was the size of the plate! It was delicious! I had the caesar salad and I think it was the best caesar salad I have ever had! read more

Sardi's - Caesar salad and Spaghetti al Filetto di Pomodoro - American Near Me - New York, New York

Cocktails were great. Food was very meh. My steak had the texture of meat that had been previously frozen and it had seemingly no seasoning, but it was cooked perfectly. Of all the tourist traps, this is one of the better ones, but it's just meh overall. read more

Tourist opinion: On its own, this place is slightly above average. I can't say how it compares to other Italian restaurants in the area. Both types of pasta we got (spaghetti and fusilli bucati) were slightly overcooked. The meatballs and parmesan chicken cutlet were good but nothing extraordinary. Prices are reasonable compared to everything else in the area, but that doesn't mean it's cheap. Credit where it's due: The service was excellent. Our water glasses never got below half full. read more

Sardi's - American Near Me - New York, New York

I visited Sardi's with my two daughters after a matinee show. I was looking for a place that was special - unique to New York only and not going to kill me on price. I was hesitant when we entered, but found myself immediately embraced by a warm staff who set my hesitations aside. Our best jeans and fancy tops, slightly tired from an all-night bus ride were welcomed as if we had arrived in cocktail dresses. Frankly, this was one of the best service experiences I have ever had at a restaurant. I have never seen a waiter stop the food runner before coming ten feet to the table and sending him back. Apparently I almost was served the Cannelloni au Gratin instead of the Spinach Cannelloni au Gratin that I ordered. The corrected dish arrived less than five minutes later and it was perfect and delicious. Water glasses were filled the minute I sipped, and a second round of bread was offered without request. It was truly wonderful. Both of my daughters were thrilled with their entrees. The fine staff made our trip all the more special. I loved that this place has kept it's identity from the past intact - both in the decor and in the caricatures on the walls. Sardi's doesn't ever need a modern updated decor to get my five stars. They get them from outstanding service and for being undeniably proud of their food. I hope to return some day and enjoy another fine meal. read more

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Had last visited 10 years ago and the meal was memorable enough to want to come back on my next visit to NYC. Clearly, with a location in the heart of the theater district, they don't have an issue filling the dining room, however I found this trip underwhelming. Opted for a 5 pm reso, which I highly recommend before heading to your show. It gives you plenty of time to eat and then to walk it off before sitting in a theater. When we arrived, we were directed upstairs and seated immediately. Decor was exactly as I remembered, a place you'd expect the Rat Pack to have dined decades ago. Uniforms are old school and our table was surrounded by what were likely tableside carts from yesteryear. Our table wasn't desirable, a 2-top by a pillar and right outside the kitchen door. Seemed like the kind of spot someone thought 'hey, we can squeeze one more table here'. Server was attentive, waters stayed filled and bread was served immediately, but I remembered the menu being more extensive. Nothing really piqued my interest so I opted for a simple Meatball/Bucatini dish. Hubby chose the chicken special with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans. My grandmother would have hit the roof to have been served pasta with such a scant hint of sauce, which required me to ask for more, a request that was readily accommodated. Hubby felt the chicken just 'meh, but the mashed potatoes were great - creamy with he perfect amount of butter and salt. We skipped dessert and were in and out within an hour. read more

Sardi's - Traditional Meatballs and Bucatini (before I asked for more sauce). - American Near Me - New York, New York

Absolute classic restaurant in Theater District. Make a reservation, or post up in one of the two great bars and wait for a table. Staff is old-school professionals that take great care of you. Drinks, appetizers and entrees are worth the expense and effort of getting in here. Fantastic destination after a show. read more

We had a wonderful pre-theatre dinner. So much history in this place. I had the Cannelloni au Gratin (on the menu for over 100 years) and my friend had the Fusilli Pasta. We both loved our dishes! Also, the French Martini is perfection! Can't wait to go back! read more

Sardi's - Cannelloni au Gratin & Fusilli Pasta - American Near Me - New York, New York

Sardi's was recommended to us by a few people, but seems it hasn't kept up with the times. Way overpriced for bland unexciting dishes. We are from California so maybe our standards are different(?). Mozzarella and tomatoes had no flavor and were served with the tiniest piece of basil I've ever seen. Salmon was ok but the sweet potatoes that were served with it were awful. Spaghetti was boring and small portion, definitely not "family style". Chocolate cake was good, so at least we ended with that. Wish I could've spent that money on something else! read more

Sardi's - American Near Me - New York, New York

I belong to a group called (no kidding) called "Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society". This group, around since 1957, has had many distinguished members, all people who have some connection to the automobile culture. The group has held a monthly meeting at Sardi's for more years than I can remember and the atmosphere of the restaurant adds to the fun. The walls are covered with caricatures of famous and semi-famous people - all signed by the person being honored. The fun for me is trying to figure out (without reading the signature) who the person is (or was). Because many images are decades old and Broadway theater related, I strike out a lot, but it's still fun. "Chowder" doesn't go to Sardi's for the food, it's the tradition that is the draw. However, they serve us solid "banquet" fare with a pasta, chicken, fish, salad and dessert meal that is tasty, hot, and available in generous portions from the uniformed wait staff - very professional and friendly. The signature menu item is the pointy dinner rolls. I could eat 10 of them - crusty outside and moist inside. The perfect compliment to the real salted butter on the table. Mmmmm... One surprise for me is the cost of drinks at the bar. While I waited yesterday to get a diet soda for myself and club soda for a friend, the gent in front of me requested a glass of red wine. He got a shock when the bill - over $14 - was presented. My shock was $10 for two non-alcoholic drinks. Welcome to NYC. So, I think Sardi's is an experience worth a visit. Old, a little creaky and yet filled with a cool classic atmosphere, serving a decent bill-o-fare albeit at serious NYC prices. I go a few times a year for meetings and never hear any carping from the fussy Chowder members about the food, service, or prices - it's a NYC experience and I enjoy every minute. My opinion - Go, soak up the atmosphere, then walk around the Broadway theater district and add a full day of memories to your soul. read more

Amazing food. Impeccable service. Fairly priced for Manhattan. Treat yourself & enjoy the experience. read more

First time here and will definitely come back. Service was excellent and our meals outstanding! Waiter came around with assortment of breads. I choose the raisins with nuts and it was fresh and tasty. read more

Sardi's - American Near Me - New York, New York

Our server Brendan was excellent! Food, service, and personal touch - all top notch. Drinks were never empty and dietary restrictions were taken into careful account. read more

Returned to Sardi's yesterday after having not been there for probably almost 10-15 years. We had a great meal and the food was just as well-prepared as the last time we were there. Had the spinach cannelloni appetizer and it was excellent. The supreme sauce was delicious and the crepes were tender. My wife had an excellent side salad with apples, walnuts, cheese and spinach, and the salmon entree which was much better than I would have anticipated. The salmon came with mashed sweet potatoes and had a sauce that was made with orange and teriyaki. My entree was a lentil stew that had broccoli florets, polenta cakes, and roasted mushrooms in it. It was excellent and it was something I did not expect to see on the menu here. When we were there, there were only a few tables as it was during odd hours (it was about 3.15pm). There were many servers doing prep work around the dining room and we were waited on by the maitre'd. He was very friendly and took good care of us. I greatly appreciate that at Sardi's the staff still are attired in dressy uniforms and quickly refill drinks, bring bread, etc. The only disappointments we experienced were related to the missing "traditional" tableside items that Sardi's was well-known for: Caesar salad, steak tartare, and Baked Alaska. I have had all three there in the past and enjoyed all of them. I was very disappointed that since reopening after the Covid closure, Sardi's still had not revived these things. We were told that these things would return, however; apparently in an effort to reduce close contact after reopening these things were cut from the menu and now with staffing issues facing so many restaurants, this has further delayed returning these items. I really hope that they do return as they were each good dishes and it is so unusual to see them on menus or to have them made tableside anymore. That said, we would definitely return and enjoyed our meal. read more

Super crowded and super famous spot! My husband and I arrived at Sardi's on a Saturday night, luckily with reservations. While in line to check in, the host told a party in front of us that the wait for a table would be around an hour and a half without a reservation. My husband and I were promptly seated. The service was great. My husband and I both had Chianti wine with our dinner. Shared the melon and prosciutto appetizer. Such a simple but great flavor combination!! For entrees, I ordered the spinach cannelloni. It's available for entree or for an appetizer portion. Don't miss out on this great dish if you visit! My husband got the crab cakes and ate every bite, with the exception of the one bite I ate Had to have crème brûlée for dessert, as we were there celebrating my birthday! Sardi's definitely didn't disappoint! read more

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We love the Ragu bolognese lasagna. The chicken bolognese fusili is all pretty good. A great location pre theater. A nice atmosphere

Food is reliable, served by well dressed uniformed staff. The ambiance is peaceful and welcoming.

Being a Broadway fan and visiting NYC - Sardis was a must. We thoroughly enjoyed the caricatures throughout the restaurant. Wait staff was attentive and the food was good but nothing special. Prices mid to high range. Make sure and go upstairs and look around! read more

Sardi's - Spinach Cannelloni au Gratin - American Near Me - New York, New York

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How do they do it? While preserving the "legend," they keep up with the changing market and ensure that everyone feels comfortable. The servers are professionals, and the facility is iconic. We prefer to go after the theater, but many (including families) come beforehand. If you pay attention to the menu, prices can be quite reasonable. While many other, once-similar establishments have folded, Sardi's continues to flourish, earning their great reputation for food, friendliness, service, and great cocktails! read more

Everybody comes here pre-theater or post-theater, but why not come while everyone else is in the theater? We had the place almost to ourselves. I hadn't been here for about 30 years & all I could remember was how much I liked their cannelloni. I told my wife about it & there they were still on the menu. Needless to say, they were as great as I remembered them tasting. Most people come here for the history, which is fine, but the food is really something to enjoy, so do both! read more

We came here for pre-theatre drinks and apps as we usually hit up Joe Allen for post theatre dinner. Well, I wish we just had come back to Sardi's as it was a much better experience in every way!! We had excellent service and fabulous drinks. The energy of the place was fun too! It's our old/new spot in the theater district for sure! read more

Opened in 1927, Sardi's is one of the most iconic restaurants in New York City, and is considered a Broadway Institution. Famous for the hundreds of celebrity caricatures which line the walls of the restaurant, Sardi's is a staple of classic old school Broadway, and the actual birthplace of the Tony Awards. Often times my visits to Sardi's are spent upstairs in the bar area. The service is usually pretty good, and respectful. Normal prices for cocktails apply, plus you can get the full menu in the bar. For me, the food is not the focus of Sardi's, but it's the atmosphere and history which attracts me. I do not come here to eat, although I do eat when I am here. I've had some very enjoyable meals, and some that were not so good. The service has ranged from acceptable to excellent, and of course, that can depend on how busy the dining room is. The prix fixe lunch menu is a fantastic deal for $38.00, as is the business lunch. Both, very good deals. While some of my meals have not been as memorable as I would have liked, every one of my experiences at Sardi's has . For this, I give Sardis five stars. For its longevity, its history and its contribution to the Arts, Sardi's gets my patented four thumbs up! read more

I read some other reviews saying the food was so-so, I can't disagree more. The food was phenomenal, best salmon I've ever had and my table was raving over the shrimp cakes. The staff was nice and attentive. I will say for the price you'd maybe want the staff to treat you more formally and less casual like, but this isn't a huge deal. The interior with all the celebrities who have visited is awesome to see. Good atmosphere, have no complaints, wouldn't be right giving anything less than a 5 star review. read more

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A few too many tables for the space with a stodgy/fairly ordinary menu- but it is worth the experience as the service is very good and their food preparation is enjoyable - we like it very much for pre theatre and the historic environment. read more