Michael's has held court on West 55th Street since 1989, and more than 35 years later, it remains one of Midtown's great institutions. I've been for both breakfast and lunch, and I love the natural light, exceptional flowers, and effortless elegance of the place. There is a little Le Bilboquet in its polish, but I feel Miami Beach Art Deco more strongly: bright, social, and confidently glamorous. Even the wonderfully retro Michael's logo seems to understand exactly what kind of establishment this is. Geographically, Michael's occupies a fascinating corner of Manhattan's power map. Its location and cadence have always felt closer to trading, liquid markets, and the information economy than to the more buttoned-up Park Avenue world of investment banking, private equity, and corporate law. My last lunch here came just as COVID was jolting the world and markets were collapsing, and the tension was palpable. It almost felt as though fund managers were eavesdropping on neighboring tables for another scrap of intelligence about just how ugly things were about to get; for the next few weeks, the answer was very ugly indeed. Most of the time, though, people-watching is simply part of the pleasure. Michael's has spent decades attracting the people who trade in money, information, and influence, while maintaining the warmth and visual character that make you want to linger over breakfast or lunch. It is an institution in the fullest sense: distinctive enough to belong to an earlier Manhattan, yet alive enough to remain relevant to the one outside its windows today. read more

Delicious, "nice" lunch - great service and beautiful calm ambiance w artwork hanging everywhere. Perfect for a business lunch and groups. Got the branzino, brussel sprouts and frites. The fish was fresh and delicious, brussel sprouts perfectly crispy and frites thin and seasoned. Highly recommend! read more

Michael's Restaurant - Branzino - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Service was very nice. Ambiance was fancy and great for a date night. I really really liked the Cobb salad. One of the best I've had. Got cookies as a celebratory dessert for our engagement. I liked it here and would come back! Fiance got the burger and he liked it. read more

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Amazing food , wonderful service and excellent energy. This nyc food spot is not only iconic but incredibly tasty. Prices are worth the quality and deliciousness of the food and drinks. Personally I love their Korean BBQ steak lettuce cups , organic king salmon & roasted chicken and goat cheese . For drinks a margarita will never miss !! Stop by and enjoy the vibes at this fantastic spot ! read more

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With its retro, 90s art gallery vibes, candlelit tables, polished silverware and excellent service, Michael's is dripping with ambiance and is an ideal, quiet spot in the heart of the city. A small, albeit diverse menu should have something for everyone. Service was good, if a little slow and our waiter often seemed aloof. I was surprised to see how empty it was at 6 on a Saturday, but perhaps it gets busier in the evenings or during the week? read more

The service was attentive and competent. The food was delicious and we had a great time celebrating my mother's 76th birthday here. Easy walk from the hotel. Definitely recommend! read more

Michael's Restaurant - Gravlax appetizer - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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A pleasant surprise around the corner from our hotel! Very friendly staff, great food and though we couldn't enjoy it, a lovely garden patio in the back!! Will definitely include this on a return trip... read more

I held a corporate event at this space and the staff, food and ambiance was wonderful. The team did a great job making sure everything went smoothly. read more

On a humid and stormy evening I dined at Michael's with my best friend. It was among my favorite meals in New York then, and I regard it just as highly now. It felt like we had the restaurant to ourselves. Staff was truly professional and we met and chatted with Michael for a few moments. read more

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I had a very nice business lunch here recently. The food was very tasty. I ordered from the menu (fish and a salad), while my companion ordered a Dover Sole special that was delicious. I would want to go back and try it for dinner. The food was not complicated, but everything was plated beautifully and tasted great! Interestingly, they have "real" art on the walls. There are some collector's prints that would have value at auction. read more

Has the gravalax Benedict for breakfast. Good portion but the hollandaise sauce was a touch too tangy.

Private party , so limited menu. Burrata salad was mostly tasteless, even with some doctoring with balsamic and olive oil. Main course was branzino--infinitesimally small piece of fish with green beans and a few potatoes. More skin than flesh. Dessert was a super rich chocolate cake with out of season raspberries. Didn't even attempt fruit plate. Servers were courteous and room with large windows facing the garden was spacious and welcoming, though temperature fluctuated from warm to cold. There have got to be better places in the theatre district. Open bar featured generous pours. read more

Ugh. Dated. Old. Over priced. Horrible service. Go if you like to beg for bread and water and if you feel like fighting to keep your plate from being taken from you while you're still chewing. And did I mention that it's waste of money? Run the other way. read more

Amazing presentation & attentive service. Decent & conceivable taste. +1 star for NYC restaurant week menu. read more

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This place has a very nice atmosphere and very attentive staff. The food and wine were delicious! I highly recommend this place. Great attention to detail in a relaxed environment. I look forward to going again! read more

Pretty good lunch spot in midtown! We ordered the oysters and tuna tartare to start and I had the salmon, which was well cooked and plated and the avocado and Dijon offered a twist on the classic salmon served at many of these midtown places during lunch. We definitely enjoyed! read more

Michael's Restaurant - Salmon - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Great place for dinner in midtown. Always very attractive service and great food. Steve the GM is very welcoming . read more

Got the two egg breakfast- scrambled eggs with toast and potatoes. Nothing to brag about. Toast was rock hard and potatoes had no flavors. Eggs were just eggs no taste to them. Would not recommend. Service started off strong but after we got our food we were never checked on and waited 20 minutes after plates cleared to get the check - in which we had to flag down our server for because he kept staring at us but would not bring over a check or ask if we would like anything else. It was 8:15am and we were one of three tables in the restaurant dining. It was a sad experience to start the morning. read more

Had an amazing evening! We just walked in bcus we were hungry, turned out to have great food tried the sweet potato noodles, cant complain! Beautiful place to go on weekend. read more

Food was great. Service very attentive but not overbearing. Great restaurant for a business lunch.

If I could give a Zero star review I would. Terrible meal. Dank dining room. The dining room is dank from construction in the garden. I'm not about eat in the street with ubers about to hit me. , and their tables are poorly set up for social distancing. The food was less than memorable. Michael should've used the pandemic as an excuse to fire that chef and buy a new one. The restaurant is a limping shadow of its former self. read more

Michael's Restaurant - Michael's last Saturday night. The rest of 55 St was packed to the gills. - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Want to close a multi million dollar deal? Get your suit out and head over for breakfast or lunch. Your table number relays your cache. Ate: NY Power breakfast $21 egg whites, spinach, toast potatoes or grilled tomato citrus salad Decaf latte $8 Decaf cappuccino $8 Food wise, the food is California classic. Nothing innovative or farm to table. My egg whites were fluffy and tasty. The grilled beefsteak tomato was a plum. Brioche toast was good. Spinach & citrus salad was also nice. Preserves were the good ones in a jar. Both the latte and cappuccino were weak. Service: Snotty coat check girl should check herself. Otherwise, service was fine. The space is spacious and comphy, but unlike Jams where the California cuisine pops, Michael's is a staid, arrogant mainstay that serves those who may not know the difference between a beefsteak or plum tomato. read more

Michael's Restaurant - NY Power Breakfast - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Took my husband here for his birthday dinner. The food and service were good overall. The hostess who checked our coats was very nice. The restaurant even brought out a little dessert as it was my husband's birthday, which was a nice touch as many restaurants seem to have stopped doing this. I believe it was the owner of the restaurant and our server who brought the dessert out singing Happy Birthday, but then the owner stopped our server from singing (quite rudely if I might add, and seemed to me because he didn't have an american accent). This truly left a bad taste in my mouth and put a damper on what was an exuberant celebration a moment prior. read more

Opened nearly thirty years ago, Michael's is still an iconic Manhattan dining experience. We returned for dinner tonight, after many years, during Restaurant Week and found the decor, the service and the food to be perfection. Really, the food is good, if not inventive, and the service was professional and friendly. The food is pricey, but in line with area fine dining restaurants The ambiance, mid 20th Century, with lots of interesting artwork, is elegant and calming. It's what distinguishes Michael's from other midtown restaurants and is what appeals to me about the place. But, I was taken aback by the wine prices. Granted they have high end and highly allocated wines, but most were in the $24/glass (6 ounce pour) range for reds. The use of a tablet wine list was useful because you could read about wine, but most bottles were over $100. Your beverages could cost more than the food--which was the case tonight. If the wines were more approachable in terms of cost, I'd consider Michael's as a solid five star restaurant. If I was on an expense account, I'd be a regular. I am surprised only about 100 Yelp reviews about Michael's have been posted (that includes not recommended reviews) in nearly three decades. read more

Just wishing Michael's to fully reopen soon again and stay strong! Great service, great food and great people working there! I always remember this place with love! read more

Michael's Restaurant - Cookies - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing Dinner last night at Michael's. Nantucket Bay mini scallops - a menu special recommended by our waiter - were unlike any scallops I had ever experienced. They were extremely tender and flavorful and are not often available. We also had the Branzino which had a wonderful smokey flavor with roasted capers. Service was, as usual, very attentive. Some complain about the prices, but I find it a much better value than so-so food at high NY prices - well worth the money and the visit. Also recommend the Califlower chowder. read more

Food was great....pretty restaurant and service was impeccable ...so on point!!! I look forward to returning the next time I'm in NYC

Fantastic service & delicious meal. Michael greeted guests warmly, ambiance was lovely - nothing amiss! Look forward to returning!

It smells like a musty basement. The service was attentive and friendly and the food was pretty good. I would say... if not for restaurant week...it would have been a total rip off. They really need to shampoo the carpet (yes..the place has wall to wall carpeting) or rip it out and put in any other kind of flooring. The smell and overall feel is dated...not in a charming way. I ordered the "I used to be a good guy" cocktail and it was disappointing...and the garnish was an oversize spotty basil leaf stuck in a lemon slice. Oh...and there was a tiny roach on the table. The waiter killed it with a napkin. read more

I love Michael's. It's a neighborhood staple and has great food and atmosphere. The service is top notch and I always enjoy my time there. I tend to sit at the bar and have a glass of the Whispering Angel rosé couples with great food and conversation. read more

Michael's Restaurant - Korean Steak Tacos - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Why o why have we not dined here before?.... Big mistake on our part! The dining experience was lovely, beginning with a warm welcome, and continued all evening. Service was warm helpful and calm, as was the general feeling in the dining room. The menu is small but well balanced. I enjoyed a delicious noodle dish, a nice vegetarian dish while my husband had a hamburger. Wine list was also well considered. A special notice to the lovely manager, who is the epitome of what a wonderful host should be... We will see you soon, to make up for lost time. read more

I tried Michael's with my guy and it was a lovely lunch. It was a pleasure to see a couple of Korean influences on the menu. Thank you Chef Lim. The food was flavorful especially the Korean taco and the duck confit bao. The Niçoise salad needed some seasoning, but the tuna seared perfectly. Service was great and very helpful since I have a gluten allergy. Thank you read more

It started with me walking into a mirror. Literally. The entry to this swanky deal-making place (formerly THE media meetup according to my journalism companion) is a hall of mirrors. Confused I walked smack into the wall instead of the door. Great entrance to a place that serves $34 Cobb Salads, white table cloths and the most attentive pink-shirted wait staff I've ever encountered. I liked having my chair pulled out for me multiple times and I must say it was the best Cobb salad I've ever had. Served in a little round with the ample bleu cheese chunks hidden throughout the premixed creation. Yes other items on the menu also looked tasty including seafood and pasta options, but apparently toy they are known for this salad. My $6 ginger ales (no free refills) were a bit much but again you are paying for a NY experience here. Great place to catch up with an old college roomie and people watch! Too bad I didn't have room for dessert. Looked yummy! read more

Michael's Restaurant - This place was too swanky to get my phone out at the table! - New American Near Me - New York, New York

We lunched here last week. What I like about Michael's is it isn't your oh so typical urban decor. It's light and bright and white with pops of colors. The fare was good, the service great and the people watching awesome. They have a lovely garden room in back. Perfect spot for lunch. read more

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He had been raving about this place so I made a reservation when my mom and sister were in town. Turns out this wasn't the place he was talking about after all, but it was nonetheless, fantastic. Seems like this is also the place to go for the power meeting to seal the deal. Well, one does like to read the reviews. Our server was low key cool and recommended simply everything. She asked if were pre-show and was able to accommodate our curtain time. Cuisine is California casual - menu is seasonal. We visited in early October. My sister had the octopus, I had the scallops, he had the duck and my mom had a burger. Everything was indeed, wonderful and worth recommending. Presentation was excellent - a treat for the senses. Atmosphere is airy, yet cozy. As the website indicates, the space features works by Frank Stella, Jasper Johns, Richard Diebenkorn and Robert Graham. The chairs at the table rock - literally. My sister almost couldn't stop. Staff was wonderful - A serene and lovely experience all around. read more

First off, if you have tourist friends in town (and they aren't too embarrassing) bring them here for lunch. You are almost guaranteed to see at least one celeb. (Yesterday's lunch we spotted Lesley Stahl, Issac Mizrahi and John (Cougar) Mellencamp!) So it's definitely got some eye candy. The service was great, very efficient (also great when you are business lunching) and the owner (Michael himself!) came over to welcome us and wish us well (I am not that special, honest!) I ordered the soft shell crab special entree, 2 crabs, lightly fried with a roasted tomato mayo, and some imported french baby asparagus, in a light vinaigrette with some shallots. The portion was perfect and the flavors, divine! Soft shell crab season is a favorite of mine, and these crabs were farmed at the height! The shells were practically non existent, the meat sweet and fresh, the tomato mayo (a condiment I tend to avoid) was an excellent complement and the asparagus was crisp, fresh and very summery. We will definitely be back - if not for the food, then to see who else we can spot! (I also saw a girl I went to high school with, but I didn't think you would find that interesting.) read more

Solid steak, nice shoestring fries Didn't have the mushroom & kale risotto Outdoor dining space works, good service read more

A few months ago a really good girlfriend of mine in the service industry sent me a text to let me know that she is now on Michael's staff and urged me to bring in my clients in the finance industry occasionally because she thought they'd really love it. Occasionally has now become a weekly ritual and I'm just getting started. I can't say enough about this place, so unlike most of my reviews, I'll keep this one short. Dining while surrounded by all of that incredible art is about the best thing in the world until you realize that the food is completely out of this world. The garden is spectacular and I'm still plotting which event I'm going to host in their private room and when. Any day now, the invitations may just very well go out for a charity dinner or business luncheon, or I might just book the whole place for my "I'm 30 something and still single party" which I plan to have in lieu of a wedding reception if I fail to find a mate any time in the next couple of years!" Unlike most of my reviews, I'm going to stray away from telling you about my favorite dishes because they are all incredible! What I will stress though is that this is one of my favorite cocktail hours in all of NYC! The bar is quiet and I can sit and chat up clients without a ton of chatter around me or intrusion. Final thoughts: the staff here is amazing. I have never been to a restaurant that treats you as a welcomed and honored guest like this one does. It never seems "put on" or insincere. The staff cares that you are there and that you are enjoying yourself. It's no wonder people keep coming back. Michael's is not inexpensive, but I will say that it is not the most expensive restaurant in NYC and for the atmosphere and service it very well could be! Their wine list is exceptional and their cocktails are old school and perfect every time! Love! read more

Michael's Restaurant - Chocolate layer cake and rose champagne at the bar makes for an excellent end to a single girl meal! - New American Near Me - New York, New York

My husband and I are new to the community and we've been trying out all the restaurants in the area as we are avid lunch goers. I want to say up front that we had a lovely meal today at your place. But when I got the bill I was stunned. My husband and I ordered the soft shell crab that we saw on your outside menu under "Additions to the menu" to share. The cost shown was $28. However we were charged $59. I paid the bill and thought to myself well that's it for this restaurant. But I was so upset I went into the restaurant and talked to a young woman who told me she was a manager. She explained that I was charged for "dinner" order and not "appetizer" order. But there was no indication on the menu that this was an appetizer. And since it was listed nowhere else on the menu (not under dinner with the $59 price) I had no way to know about this "dinner charge". She took my name and said next time I come in she will "do something nice for me." I have no idea what that means nor does that recompense me for the $31 additional cost I had totally not expected to be paying. My husband and I are happy to pay around $40-$50 for a nice lunch (we always share the order to keep cost down and it's invariably more than enough for us to eat). The food and atmosphere outside was delightful but I'm sorry to say I am very uneasy about trying another meal at your restaurant. Another shocker - $9 for one glass of Coca Cola! Also I emailed the manager and got no response. read more

The band is back together at Michael's and you just don't want to miss the fabulous food, the enthusiasm of dedicated staff and as always, the most gracious and warmest welcome to indoor dining. Chef Kyung Up Lim presented a stellar menu for the Spring, carefully curated and prepared, totally satisfying and one that rang true on every note. Our large party was able to sample it all. We were feted, attended and made to feel like honored guests by Celina Martinez, Manager. As always, the presence of Steve Millington, General Manager, was highlighted by his ability to 'host each guest' insuring many return visits for lunches, intimate evenings, celebratory parties and again and again the pure pleasure of fine dining. read more