Gramercy Tavern
New York, NY 10003-1300
Phone: (212) 477-0777
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Between Park Avenue S and Broadway
- Directions:
- 6; R, W at 23rd St
- Specialties:
- Bloody Mary
- Best of Citysearch:
- Fine Dining 2008, Romantic Date Spot 2008, Fine Dining 2004
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 12pm-2pm, 5:30pm-10pm, Fri 12pm-2pm, 5:30pm-11pm, Sat 5:30pm-11pm, Sun 5:30pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Gramercy Tavern – by Justin Hartung
The Scene
With its famed wood-burning stove and enough fresh flowers to stock a botanic garden, this enduring favorite feels more Napa than Flatiron. The colorful murals and open layout of the front "Tavern" room attracts young execs and stylish tourists, who fill the space with garrulous buzz, while the more opulent dining area lures an older crowd with hacienda-style archways and iron chandeliers.
The Food
Chef Michael Anthony (Blue Hill) has taken over the kitchen, although his seasonally driven New American fare doesn't veer much from founding chef Tom Colicchio's greenmarket blueprint. Ingredients like ramps, spring garlic and sunchoke lend cache to hit-and-miss dishes such as flaky sturgeon in a lemon-fennel sauce, stringy smoked lobster in a celery root puree, and the menu's crown jewel: a tender smoked trout appetizer dotted with tiny, pickled cipollini onions. Nifty twists on home cooking include crunchy puffed potatoes and, for dessert, coconut tapioca swirled psychedelically with cilantro syrup.
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Insider Tips
What to DrinkThe wine list runs the gamut between affordable and bank account-depleting: A bottle of fresh, crisp Cantalupo Mimo ($30) plays well with the seafood-heavy menu.
Where to SitWithout a reservation, you're limited to the Tavern room, which offers a less pricey a la carte menu (entrees $17-$22).
Prix Fixe MenusDiners have two choices in the main dining room: a two-course $82 menu or a six-course tasting menu for $110($88 for vegetarian version).
User Reviews for Gramercy Tavern
08/08/2008 Posted by lexislee2002
Went here with my boyfriend and his father. It was absolutely delicious. The service was impeccable. The ambience was elegant if not somehow oddly casual. It must have been the large steel stars on the wall, reminded me of Texas. If I could afford it, I'd go back again. If you're looking for an overall wonderful dining experience, you won't go wrong here. And I recommend the Pineapple Upside Down dessert.
Pros: Food, Ambience, Service
Cons: Prices (but you get what you pay for)
08/01/2008 Posted by grouchomarx
I am in love with Gramercy Tavern. I've been there 2 times and I can't get enough. It's very hard to get a prime res but worth the effort. Do what you must! All staff starting at the front desk make you feel like a very special VIP - I know no other restaurant that does that. The ambience is exceptionally warm, inviting, and relaxing. The food is among the best I've ever had anywhere in the world and I've tried it all. The service is a dream, they don't miss a beat, they read your mind and know what you need and deliver it smoothly, quietly, perfectly. We have done both the 3 course prixe fixe and the 7 course tasting menu, both are excellent. We had paired wines with the 7 course which made it very special. The house cocktails are not to be missed - the peach basil fizz is a delicious original. If I had 1 itsy bitsy complaint it's that the people who deliver the dishes don't always speak clearly enough, so if you're doing a tasting you might notice it. Otherwise, I would describe this place as what all other restaurants should aspire to. Danny Meyer is doing things right. I feel so happy and relaxed when I eat here due to the magical chemistry of all the elements coming together seamlessly. Did I mention the food? Spectacular. Even the bathrooms merit praise, they are cozy, elegant, and offer privacy. The faint smell of the wood burning oven fills the dining room and makes you feel you are at a resort somewhere in the mountains. It is expensive but worth every cent. When the meal is done they give you a little bakery item to take home and enjoy the next morning. I always feel like I want to stay forever when I'm there! Gramercy Tavern is an enduring NY icon that never wears out or misses a step.
Pros: Everything
Cons: Nothing
