I was blown away by the food. It was excellent! We got a lot of dishes and they were all good. 10oz steak was cooked right with the smell of rosemary, roasted chicken was soft and crispy skin, scallops were sweet and buttery, crab cake you can taste lumps of crab in it, and shrimp cocktail was super fresh. Everything was super fresh and cooked right. My personal favorite was the scallops and crab cake! I had a wonderful experience and will definitely come back! Michael the owner was there and greeted all his guests. He was so nice and even invited us to come check out the Santa Monica location! read more

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$14 for bacon, $7 for drip coffee I didn't ask for. Undercooked French toast. Maybe we caught them on a bad day, but would not return

Service was attentive, however, that was the only positive. The negatives include: - Server not sharing the 1 special on the menu (until I asked if there were any) - A burrata order which was tiny and instead came with a large amount of tomatoes and radishes - Branzino which was overly seasoned with lemon to compensate for the lack of flavor in the fish itself - Very limited wine menu read more

Took a client here for lunch on a recent trip to NYC. It is much bigger than it appears. I picked it based on the Yelp reviews and was not disappointed at all. I love the back room and was lucky enough to get a table right against the floor to ceiling window overlooking a small garden area . . . of course being winter it was snow covered. I had the Nicoise salad and it was really good. The tuna was perfect. My client had the crab-cake and said it was all crab, there were 4 small piles of crab. It has a convenient location as well. I will go back. For what it is and the reviews I thought it would be pricier especially in NYC. The price was not bad at all. The menu has a lot of options and you definitely get the Cali feel. Enjoy!! P.S. While I am labeling this dressy it truly is not that dressy, but it is not casual either. You don't have to have a coat at lunch and could get away with smart casual / biz casual and probably a nice pair of jeans. read more

This was my first visit to Michael's. It was a Friday at 2pm during Winter NYC Restaurant Week. The first thing that you notice upon entering is the genitalia (on the wall.) This place is much more dressy than your neighborhood KFC so I quickly took a seat at the empty bar to hide my jeans and sneakers. Staff and management seemed to be upbeat. I ordered the Potato-Leek Soup appetizer and Tagliatelle with Pine Nuts, Parmesan and Mushroom. I enjoyed my meal while listening to some jazzy tunes. I noticed that there is a waiting area by the sheep (not real) that sits perhaps ten people with magazines available. The food was tasty but limited as expected. This is the only week that I can afford to eat here so I came for the experience. read more

This was a staggering experience. The service absolutely blew us a way. If you want feel and experience beautifully balanced dishes, then I would highly recommend this restaurant. Amazing view, delicious and beautifully presented food, also for the absolutely wonderful yet unobtrusive service. read more

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

Very good food, the ambience is a little old school, so can work for a business lunch but not if you want a relaxing one. Service is good too. read more

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

Excellent restaurant with delicious dishes, friendly and professional staff, comfortable interior. I had the Korean steak tacos, the lobster risotto, and hazelnut chocolate cake. Everything was delicious and you would enjoy each dish. Highly recommended. read more

Maybe one of the best spots in all of NYC. Perfect room, perfect service, perfect hosts. Terrific old school / 80's vibe. You cannot go wrong with anything you order, right down to the burger. Really nice small bar. Comfortable, bright, immaculate space. Also a great cup of coffee and great cookies. read more

I was really excited to eat at this Restaurant. My wife ordered the Gaelic chicken and veggies and I ordered the grilled asparagus artichoke heart salad. The chicken was very good, but the veggies were not flavorful and bland. The grilled salad on the other hand was absolutely not grilled. It was seriously completely raw. The artichoke hearts seemed to dumped out of a can. When questioned about it the manager argued that "It wasn't supposed to be grilled, that was another salad on the menu, I'll show you". When she brought the menus back she was apologizing. They quickly changed it out for a different meal though. The waiter was quick and efficient. And the drinks were quickly refilled. The atmosphere was definitely inviting, and enjoyable. read more

Good steak, great appetizers, mediocre drinks. Went here for work function, had a great time! read more

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Great for groups and business luncheons. Seafood is great as well as their sides. Service is hit or miss but the ambiance of the place is nice. Not too loud. read more

Ate at the Michel's in Santa Monica so thought I would try the East Coast version for Lunch. Great service. Delicious food. Great NY people watching. read more

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

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People who go to Michael's are not on Yelp, looking for the best this n that in their hood... they already know this is the place to be to share in the likes of old money and "moguldom" (if there is such term these days). This is the sister restaurant of the originally haute Michael's in Santa Monica, CA. This restaurant looks like a converted lobby complete with conference room chairs and new wave art from the 80's but again the patrons are not here to judge the art or even the food as they are to just be known to frequent the joint. The patio garden is a nice touch though. We went in after some last ditch efforts to try to get a 7 pm table on Thursday around midtown, and ended up here, to eat at the bar. From the minute the three of us walked in the service attention was excellent. The menu is seasonal with a focus on California cuisine, with not too much experimentation, however, on this day/time they were still out of several items like the cod and blue point oysters. The wine list is excellent and we enjoyed several of the house by-the-glass offerings before diving into a Sonoma cab. The first menu item you may notice, if you're not a regular are the extraordinary pricing - $36+ dinner entrees on up to a $50 NY Prime. We sampled several apps which were excellent, the ravioli, sashimi was very fresh, however, the meaty oyster alternatives were not as fresh and flavorful as the blue points I had wished they had.... I had a seared hamachi with bok choi and mushrooms which was ok. The fish was of great quality but the dish was overly saused on both the bok choi and fish. The porterhouse came out with a mountain of fried onions which again was season and cooked fairly but didn't wow me, and the NY prime was cooked perfect yet like the porterhouse just didn't grab me for justifying the Grant. I can't see myself coming back or making the recommendation to my "new money" friends as a place to dine. Maybe a spot for my California parents to go after they've had too much NY and need a taste of home... The service is great but this just isn't my type of restaurant. Enjoy read more

I came here with my boyfriend & another couple and was very impressed with the decor and wait staff's professionalism. Yes, it's very expensive, but that's just the type of restaurant it is. The quality of the service, food and ambiance match the price tag which makes it all worth it. Plus, the wine list has some very reasonable priced bottles (to a non-expert). I would recommend going here only if you really love expensive restaurants or superb service. It's not your "i'm so hungry anything would be good" place. read more

This place gets a lot of flack for being over-priced and over-hyped. Well, sorry, but that's not exactly the restaurant's fault. If you're worried about hype, don't eat near celebrities and if price is a stumbling block don't eat in Midtown. It's as simple as that! Tonight I had an excellent dinner of red snapper with six friends, who all agreed that the food was great. Most of us had various types of fish and split the brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. We also had a wide range of desserts. My warm chocolate cake was scrumptious and I recommend coconut sorbet to anyone who isn't allergic. This is a solid place to which I will surely return for lunch, if only for the people-watching and yummy fish. read more

The food here was quite terrible. It's definitely a place to see and be seen among traditional media. But, that's the thing. Traditional media comes here; online new media - not so much. I tried the foie gras as an appetizer. It was fine, but nothing spectacular. It's also pretty hard to mess up foie gras. I got the halibut for my main, and it was just swimming in butter. Gross... won't come here again. read more

Enjoyed lunch in the conservatory in the back of the restaurant. Both the appetizer - Korean steak tacos and the salmon main course were delicious and well prepared. We were not rushed and things were delivered with a good amount of time so we could have a proper business meeting. The manager was a touch late in getting the restaurant opened for our 12:00 seating. The staff meeting had run over. Pleasurable relaxed business lunch surrounded by stimulating nude artwork. Either no or very low music so it was easy to talk. read more

I dined at Michael's exactly one year ago and returned to the restaurant for what I had hoped would be a fine meal. I was highly disappointed. Decor: Very relaxed setting with tables comfortably spaced and comfortable chairs. Interesting artwork and photographs throughout the restaurant and in the restrooms. However, despite their spaciousness and location, it is best to avoid the two tables near the window because they are also adjacent to the server's stand. Food: Overall, good. The breadbasket consisted of 4 rolls that had been reheated, warm outside cold inside with a miniscule portion of butter. The Bibb salad was fine. The 1/2 chicken was boneless and cooked perfectly with a crisp skin. The side of harcort vertes was good but I prefer my vegetables simply steamed but that is a personal preference. My dining partner's Pumpkin Ravioli appetizer portion was excellent as was the salmon entree. We shared a desert special, a creame brulee with armagnac. I wasn't fond of that dish, preferring a traditional version but my dining partner enjoyed it. Coffee was good. Service: Abysmal. We ordered appetizers, entrees, side, and bread at the same time. Our appetizers arrived first and the salad arrived w/o the dressing on the side as requested. Several minutes passed before the waiter who took our order came to the table. He took the salad back to the kitchen then returned shortly with the salad and the dressing on the side. He indicated that the salad had been brought to the table w/o the dressing. Shortly thereafter, the bread arrived. When we completed our appetizer course, the plates were removed and they attempted to take the bread as well. Our entrees were served shortly after. When the table was cleared, the desert menu was presented. We ordred a desert and coffee. The coffee arrived followed by the desert. Shortly thereafter, the check arrived, w/o request and w/o the server asking we wanted anything else. Prices: WAY out of line with respect to the food which is the reason for the 2 star rating. $15 for the salad is a bit excessive but acceptable. $24.00 for the chicken is acceptable. But... $7.00 for a single cup of coffee w/o an offer for even one refill? $14.00 for a regular sized cream brulee dessert? $11.00 for a miniscule sized side of harcort verts? Overall, the dining area is pleasant, the food is adequate, the service seriously lacking and the prices excessively high. Definiately not a place I'd return to. read more

Probably my favorite restaurant in terms of food and service. Everything here is sooo delicious. My husband and I eat out quiet often and have probably tried every fine dining restaurant in the city, however, none compare to Michael's. Hands down! You won't find anything like it. Their chef is amazing and their dishes are exceptional. They also have an amazing selection of wines with a great sommelier who can pin point exactly what you are in the mood for. The atmosphere is very calming and the place is elegantly decorated. I've had lunch and dinner here as well as celebrated the New Year's. Highly recommended! read more

Last week my family and I visited Michael's for dinner prior to a play. Traffic in the city was horrendous and our arrival time seemed to compromise whether we'd be able to fit in dinner and get to the play on time. Our service staff was confident we could and attended to our order as soon as we were ready. Servings arrived comfortably spaced and we were able to depart on time. That was enough for 3 stars. The fourth star comes from the way the staff and management were able to make us feel - as though we had all the time in the world - and it truly felt that way. The fifth star? Eat a Michael's and you'll learn where the fifth star came from. Awesome experience! read more

Came here after a mix-up with another restaurant for Restaurant Week. We were the youngest table in the restaurant by about anywhere from 15-40 years (3 20-somethings). The restaurant stops seating people at 8:30 pm if that's any indication of their dinner crowd. Apparently it's quite the lunchtime spot, though. Food was spectacular, as should be expected considering the prices (despite Restaurant week pre-fixe, dinner was over $70 each). I got hangar steak with mashed potatoes that came with 3 onion rings that were unbelievable. Waitstaff was very attentive and even somewhat friendly. The decor felt like I was dining in a very fancy restaurant in 1992. I won't go back (for dinner at least) but not because there was anything bad about it - maybe in another 20 years. read more

Tranquility and glamor! Michael's is one of my favorite spots for lunch. Most recently we shared the Korean tacos as an appetizer, and I had the salmon, which was beautifully displayed and tasty as always. The back room is one of the few places in midtown to eat and see daylight. I love looking out at the garden. The front room always bustles with energy. It's rare that I don't see someone I know or someone famous. Best of all, there is elbow room and my guests and I can actually hear each other. My one complaint is they take 12:00pm reservations, but are never ready to seat people. They should open at 11:30 or 11:45 to avoid the impression of being overwhelmed and not ready for guests. read more

The outside has a very home-y feeling to it. Once you enter you are greeted by the hostess and also welcomed by Steve and Michael as well. They're very friendly and quick to land a good first impression on you. The inside decor is very modern. Inside is a lot bigger than you expect. As for the food, I ordered lamb chops and they were cooked to perfection. The sauce that comes with the lamb chops and their special onion is amazingly delicious. Their oysters and shrimp cocktail is very fresh and tasted clean. You will NOT be disappointed with their selections of raw food. read more

Even though this is a "place to be seen," the food is very good. Shocking right? I've passed this place dozens of times and looked in the windows spotting actors and the nude art and wondered about this place. So when my bosses wanted to take me for an early birthday lunch - I chose Michaels. So non-Finance (my) world. I think this might be a Media/ PR kind of place. Definitely lots of power lunches and several characters who flitted around from table to table air-kissing "friends." The room was decorated beautifully for the holidays and we were seated towards the back with the courtyard / garden. Our table was very bright which was nice. I really enjoyed my himachi to begin and the nantucket scallops special as my main. Lots of flavor. Michael came over and introduced himself to us. My birthday dessert had a candle and written on the plate in chocolate was Happy Birthday Allison. This place isn't cheap - best for an expense account or special occasion - but it was worth it. And, if you are into service, 20 attendants await you as you enter. Hook line sinker. read more

I don't understand this place. Or rather, I don't understand the good reviews, and why this place is still considered upscale. The "decor" may have been decorative 30 years ago, but now it just looks rundown, dated, old and dirty. The whole restaurant feels dirty. The restrooms are very odd. The ladies room is behind the receptionist desk, and it feels like you're going into their space in order to go wash your hands. Strange. Inside, it's two little stalls that seen better days. I didn't want my bag to touch anything. Honestly, I feel less grossed out at airport restrooms than this place. And onto the food. Not much better than my initial first impression. Our white tablecloth had a hair on it, about an inch from the bread basket and my cocktail. When I pointed it out to the waiter he just brushed it off with a quick "Oh sorry", as if it's a regular occurrence. More weirdness. I started with the oysters, against my better judgement. Why would I order raw oysters in a place that already felt dirty to me? But my love of oysters went against my cautiousness, and won. They were fine, except for one, covered in muddy oyster poop. Not for me. I ordered the salmon for my entrée. It was fine, nothing really to write home about (or to here). Would I come back? No. Would I recommend it to others? No. Was it worth the money. Absolutely not. For the same money (actually less), take your business and your hunger to the Four Seasons, or Oceana. read more

I came here for restaurant week with my boyfriend. When I first walked in I don't know why but it gave me the feel of a retirement home. Maybe it was the loads of elderly people in there. Considering that we're 19, we felt a tad out of place. The food was for restaurant week so it was good but not amazing. At the beginning of the meal we were given complimentary croquettes of some sort which was delicious and got me excited for the rest of the meal...but that was my favorite part. I heard that the service was good and was not disappointed. Maybe it was because of the restaurant week menu but it was not 5 stars for me. read more

At first I was surprised that I'd never eaten here given the proximity to my office...then I tried the food and it was rather awful. We started with clams and oysters. The oysters were ok, the clams were downright disgusting. I am surprised we didn't get sick from them they tasted like they were off, we joked about it for the rest of the day! Main course I had scallops and again they didn't taste fresh and even had a little sand left as a kicker... They kept my water full and the expresso wasn't bad either. That's one star and they get another star for the service...but overall the place was awful, Michael if you're reading this TRY HARDER! read more

Really great ambience, service and food. Superior wine selection. It's bit spendy. I'll go back frequently. read more

I work right by Michael's and have passed by quite a few times. I took notice to the elegant lunch crowd and without even looking it up on Yelp... yet... I felt that Michael's was a go-to hot spot for New York's classic elite society. With that said, it seemed that the scene was what made Michael's special compared to the actual food. I had no doubt that the food would be of great quality, but I wouldn't expect to find jaws dropping either. My parents made dinner reservations at Michael's last Friday because apparently, my mother had felt the same way as I did- except that she cares more about the atmosphere and the scene than the food. We arrived at our 8:30pm dinner reservations and the restaurant was empty- but in all honesty, we weren't shocked (because the location itself attracts the mid-day working crowd). We also weren't bothered by the emptiness- Michael's had given off a real charm and cozy feeling. I must say that our waitress was so sweet and really knew how to describe the dishes on the menu. It's always nice to see a passionate staff at a restaurant. The three of us all started off with the Tuscan Kale Caesar Salad. We were all very very pleased with it- it had all the flavor and crunchiness of a Caesar Salad without the globs of fatty dressing. It was delicious and I would go back to Michael's for lunch just to get the salad again. For my entree, I ordered the Roasted chicken. Everything on my plate was yummy and of great quality. The food was really comforting, and my parents felt the same way. For dessert, we had tea and the selection of mini cookies. The mini cookies weren't anything special (although I did enjoy the coconut macaroon), but it was a nice "light" treat to end our night with. Michael's is definitely a little pricey, but I was overall very satisfied with my experience! read more

Not only is Michael's the place to see and be seen for media moguls, but the food is also fantastic. I feel bad taking pictures, but the food always comes out so perfectly plated that I can't help myself. One of my favorites is the risotto, which is light and delicious (I usually am satisfied with the smaller portion) and vegetarian. Soups are always great - last time I started off with spring pea soup, which was amazing. If you order a glass or two of wine, make sure you talk to the sommelier, who always has interesting selections to break you out of Chardonnay boredom (though the last Chardonnay I had was perfectly balanced). Most importantly, if you work in media, you should become a regular here. It's not uncommon to see the men and women who run the industry dining with a companion for lunch. Even if you aren't the CEO of a major media conglomerate, it's worth coming here for the people watching and the excellent food and service. read more

Went for restaurant week, the menu was a little disappointing - at least for dinner. Nothing really amazed me, but it was all good enough for the price. I had the burger, fairly good. Loved the shoe string fries. Dessert was very underwhelming. The owner and chef came over to introduce themselves to us, which was a nice personal touch. Although the chef was sitting at a table with the owner and a few other gentlemen drinking wine, which had me wondering who was monitoring the kitchen. But it didn't bother me too much, and again, the introduction was very nice. read more

Wow. How confusing. Walked into a mildew smell like the basement in my grandma's house with the 80's decor to match. The menu was confusing. Every kind of food you could imagine. We opted to try the chefs korean inspired food and I'm glad we did. He should have a full korean menu. The food was great tbh. The decor and overall style and ambience, not so much. The art was beautiful though. Really great pieces. This restaurant needs an update. The food is good, but it was very awkward to have a meal there. read more

I made reservations like three weeks prior to my visit... I heard that it is a great place for a quick business lunch.... Great food, service, and drinks...Plus quick...all under 45 minutes from seating to standing... So I had to go back again with my fiancée... Very simply done fresh food with no FOO_FOO not pretentious at all....great leek soup with black trumpet mushrooms...and I don't even like mushrooms The short ribs were glistening and fork tender...But their cippolini onions were SO sweet and tender too... The bartender makes some killer drinks too...I could smell my fiancées drink from across the table, Fresh orange and lemon...Mmm read more

Okay so this is not really a yelper type restaurant, it is a great place but people mostly go here as a sign of social status for the upper class. Yes the food is great but that is not what the average person comes here for, it's a place to be seen or impress clients. It is fine dining located right off 5th so it is quite pricy, but the food is great made from a high quality product, in addition the staff is very friendly and helpful. read more

Power lunch spot. Theater-goers look elsewhere. Booked this place for lunch before an afternoon matinee because it was close to the theater. Big mistake. This place does not cater to the theater crowd and despite several requests to the server to move things along because we had to make a show, things still moved slowly. Looking around I could see why. It was full of power lunches and business meetings. To the right was a party of 12, with a group of Brits in for a meeting. To the left was a formally dressed VC guy meeting with an internet entrepreneur in orange sneakers. The food is expensive, but really good. Targeted to the expense-account crowd. But hey, business people gotta eat somewhere and apparently it's here. If you are a captain of industry, add a star to my review. So my bad, I just picked the wrong place. There are plenty of other places in midtown that have the drill down for pre-theater lunch. read more

Elegant dining room and perfect for having a quiet conversation. The Maitre D' staff was welcoming and provided a wonderful table before my friend arrived. We ordered from the Restaurant Week dinner menu and were fairly satisfied. The lobster soup was just OK while the salmon appetizer was quite good. Both the sea bass and the hanger steak entrees were good. The desserts were not really special. The service ws not befitting an expensive restaurant of this kind. Instead, our waiter and a young woman who would come around sometimes to check on us could have used training on how to be effective servers. It was if they were clueless college students. read more

I love the duck tacos here. And their desserts are so delish too! Their home made macaroons are to die for. And the fruit tart is just the right finish for a great meal! read more

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The food was absolutely amazing. Our service was terrible. We watched numerous people seated far after us get their food before us. Our server was MIA most of the time. I'll be back but will leave if I have the same server. read more

Michael's was phenomenal! Period! My burger was delish; my mushrooms & Brussels-sprouts were nutrish, and the service was impeccable. The evening was high-lighted by the cameo Michael made, greeting all the guests and chatting me up! Our Esquire photo-session was fun too; will certainly return (and this time, I better see Barb & Joan up in the cut)! read more