My wife and I took our kids (10 and 16 year old boys) to this place on our last evening in NYC. We…read morewere looking for a place that had a nice ambiance and good food. Ambiance: This place has a nice ambiance, definitely very "New York" -- dark (you can't see how dirty the floor is) and loud music (maybe too loud). We sat upstairs (we had a reservation) and of all the people on the top there was a party of 4 (us), a party of 8 (all dudes celebrating something) and the rest of the tables were on a DATE - which I thought was funny. Service: We were served by Ann-Marie who was so delightful. She was kind, super nice, and took the time to speak to us (which is basically how we figured out she wasn't a native New York City person). She gave us good food suggestions and we were very happy with our selection. Food: Here is what we ordered * Steak Frites: My two boys got the steak frites and I have to say the steak was awesome! I had a bite of each of theirs and they each ordered it differently (one Medium Rare/Medium and one Medium) and they both were prepared PERFECTLY. The fries were overflowing. * Caeser Salad with Salmon: My wife got the salad with Salmon (they only have a few salad options) and she enjoyed it. * Prawn and Crab Risotto: I got this and I have to say it was VERY bland. I wouldn't get this if you are looking for taste. I had to put salt and pepper on it to make it have any semblance of taste. Value/Price: I would say this is not over priced but it is not cheap either...bill is attached. I would recommend it to folks who are looking for a good place to either go out on a date or a family type meal.

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.

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.

Ordered food to go because the bar was very loud. The music the DJ was playing was good though…read more Ordered buttermilk chicken tenders, shepherd's pie, hot chicken sandwiches, Asian-sesame dry rubbed wings, fries, and tater tots. The shepherd's pie is insanely salty and it's very off-putting. It was inedible. I was looking forward to having it but I would not in good faith recommend this to anyone. The buttermilk tenders is supposed to come with pickled shallots and marinated green beans. We didn't get the pickled shallots or the marinated green beans, which was a shame. The chicken tenders by themselves didn't have much flavor. It also is unfortunate paying $17 for what was considered a small plate and just getting the chicken tenders. The Asian-sesame wings were okay. Also, didn't have much flavor and weren't that impressive. There was also still hair on some of the pieces of chicken, so the chicken could have been cleaned better. They have fries and hand cut fries. The regular fries were soggy. Should have went with the hand cut fries. The tater tots were okay. I was told that the chicken sandwich was good. It came with a little side of rustic chips. I would not come back for the food but I would possibly go back to try a drink if I was in the area. The drink menu looked pretty good.

Best pub in midtown, food and drinks. Sonia makes it all come together, thanks to her and Jen for…read moreanother great night

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.

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.

Came here during restaurant week. 3 courses for $60. The bread you get at the start was quite nice…read more And the standout for me was the steak tartare. Bursting with flavor and the potatoes made for a nice variation of textures. Salmon with endive salad was also great. Salmon skin was cooked perfectly. Only thing I wasn't crazy about was the corn gelato. Just didn't taste like much and the peaches I found didn't really play well with the dish for me. Overall though, service was top notch and you can't beat the upscale vibe. Would definitely recommend this for restaurant week experiences if you're looking to get a fine dining taste at a reduced cost. Portions felt reasonable for the quality and left full (far from bursting, but definitely not hungry at all).