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    The Gem Saloon

    4.2 (321 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 4:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    The Gem Saloon Photos

    Business Info

    THE GEM SALOON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Gem Saloon

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    Inside and ceiling
    Rebecca M.

    Stopped in for a quick lunch and was surprised by how delicious and reasonably priced the lunch specials were. The double smash burger and fries were perfect. The grilled cheese was very tasty and the spinach was fresh and perfectly seasoned with garlic. The food was better than last time and we will definitely be back. The bar area and restaurant were clean with friendly and efficient staff. A great place to go for lunch or a drink and snacks after work.

    Trixie burger
    Cecilia L.

    Met a friend for lunch here today at 2pm. The place is pretty big between outdoor seating, dining room, bar, and upstairs seating, and it was pretty empty at that hour, so we had no wait to be seated in a booth by the bar. Since we haven't seen each other for a while, it took us a while to look at the menu, but our server was so patient waiting for us to catch up and let her know when we were ready to order. I was impressed by all the vegan items on the menu as well as items that could be made vegan. It makes it easier for a vegan and non-vegan to enjoy a meal when we can both have a delicious filling meal! My friend got the roasted tomato soup, and I got the Trixie Burger with fries. The soup comes in a bowl and is a decent size for a lunch (even though it's on the starter menu). She enjoyed it and said it satisfied her soup craving. The Trixie fell apart as I ate it, but that's a good thing because that's how I know it's housemade! Normally when places have a vegan burger, it's spicy, so I was happy to see it wasn't spicy at all. I loved the flavor of the burger and the fresh greens and cucumber on top was the perfect compliment. The bun was soft and held it's own with the burger being filling. The fries were so crisp and perfectly salted, and the portion was enough for the two of us to share. Our server was great checking in on us and letting us keep chatting throughout the meal and the food was delicious and filling. I would totally come back next time in the area.

    Bellini
    Kim O.

    I'm happy to see there are still reasonably priced restaurants with good service and decent food around. They are becoming increasingly hard to find. Met some friends here for brunch. Their brunch menu is pretty much what you would find at any restaurant that serves brunch (steak and eggs, burgers, pancakes, etc). The only exception is that you get one complimentary drink with your brunch which was nice. I had the Bellini and while it tasted good it didn't have any kick to it. For my entree I had the Whiskey Burger which was delicious and cooked to a perfect medium which is how I like it. The truffle fries that were an extra charge was well worth it because they were delicious! Our waitress was amazing - she was patient as we asked for a million substitutions to our orders and checked on us often. A solid place that I wouldn't mind going back to again.

    Raj S.

    Great location . Nice ambience . Lots of options to drink and eat ..went for a party here and it happened in top floor . Service was good . Food bites were good . Some of the small bites were average . Some with bruschetta and cheese . Wish there were rest rooms in all floors . Had to go 2 floors down and the restrooms were small .. overall a good experience . 4 stars ..

    Lisa E.

    Absolutely loved Gem Saloon, a huge place with a bar that encircles the middle of the space. So you have the large bar area, small booths, and lots of standing room. Rustic, but neat & chic décor..this was once Rodo Bar which closed mid 2014 , a neighborhood staple for 27 years.! Gem Saloon has been here since 2016, the owners of Phebe's & Penny Farthing.(I'm trying to recall if the space was Bookbinders in the early 80's) The nicest bartenders & staff, our group was able to chat with Joan who is an owner. We were there as a group but the Happy Hour seems extremely generous Mon-Fri. 4-8 pm with a vast selection of wine/bottles/drafts/Seltzers & Cocktails. Additionally, each weekday has it's own drink special. If you have a group, you can plan a great little party and have the area sectioned off & food platters spaced out. The drinks were excellent, made well, in proper glasses, with proper garnishes. I lived in the neighborhood in the mid 1980's and this would have been my go to bar. At that time, there was little around. The Della Rose, Maker's Mark w/ fresh blackberries is a standout. One thing, it is loud ! I'd add some softness to the ceilings to keep it a bit more conversationable.! I look forward to returning sometime soon.

    Chili Nachos with beautifully melted cheese! Soooo good!
    Ellen F.

    I've been in the neighborhood for a few years now and seem to keep coming back to this place. The food is and has gotten so good! We're talking, best wings in town and epic chili nachos! They let the cheese melt and almost get crispy on the nachos. Like WOW good! The drinks are frigging solid too! I'm a bit of a cocktail snob. I don't drink just anything (I wish I could but as a yout 'quoting great Joe Pesce' I overdid it). I like a good, shaken Vodka Collins. I'm happy to report, my drink is always gooooood! I've tried their pink sangria and it's yum too! The staff is always so kind and friendly. They smile when they come to your table or if you're at the bar, you feel welcome. I love that they seem like my friends rather than staff. I prefer the regular tables over the high top booths. My short legs always fall asleep from dangling or because of where the bench hits the back of my legs. Anyway, yesterday it was raining, they gave us a low top table and had the windows open. It was simply amazing!

    House-Cut French Fries
    Mandisa N.

    Love this place for their daily drink specials and happy hour. It seems to be popular with the after work crowd and can get pretty busy. The staff I've interacted with have been very friendly. Drinks: I wasn't too big of a fan of their margarita. The espresso martinis and daiquiris are good. Food: The portions of their fries are insane and they are really good! I wish there was a little bit more to the lemon garlic shrimp but I wasn't too mad at it.

    Megana V.

    came here for happy hour and the drinks were 5/5 and food was 3/5. got the aperol spritz for $6 and the hh is from 4-8 which is more generous than most places around the area!! tried the buffalo mac and the nachos. wish the nachos had more topping. buffalo mac was really cheesy but chicken in it was soggy. overall super worth for drinks and will be going back for drinks.

    Chicken sandwich
    Lorrie H.

    Stopped here for lunch recently. Menu had a decent variety to choose from. I ordered the chicken Tuscan salad and my husband ordered the grilled chicken sandwich. Service was good and food came out pretty quickly. The salad was very good. Chicken sandwich was tasty although the slaw on top was a little messy. Overall a good place to stop in and grab a bite to eat

    Gem Classic Nachos
    Puspita E.

    Food/Drinks: I absolutely love the food at Gem Saloon and have even come here multiple times in the past month. The Gem Classic Nachos are a must at every outing and I love how it is deconstructed. The hand-cut fries are absolutely delicious and perfectly salted. Their burgers remind me of a well-made Big Mac if that makes sense. Their skillet mac & cheese is also very comforting. The prices are reasonable and their happy hour/lunch special prices are even better! Everything is made of the best quality. Service: Every server I've had has been some of the kindest servers I've ever met. Each of them is attentive and has kind tones. They checked up on us a reasonable amount and were willing to make any substitutions or accommodations for those who had allergies or couldn't eat certain things. The food came out at a decent time and we'd always leave in under an hour. Ambiance: The vibe during the day is very different from the vibe at night. Truthfully, I really enjoy the ambiance at night as there are more people and more chatter. The lights are off and each table has a candle which makes it feel more romantic and calming. The vibe during the day is a lot quieter and emptier as most people are at work or school during that time. Both times, the restaurant uses minimal lighting which I personally like. Go based on your preferences!

    Two Draft beers! Kona and Coney Island Pilsner

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

    Yummy happy hour margs !! Just kinda crowded when we went. Would go back for happy hour for sure

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    5 months ago

    Always an awesome experience. Servers are super attentive and the food is excellent. Our go to brunch spot.

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    5 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Grace is chilll and she was a good waitress. This place is a gem. The food is very good.

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

    Great service and food! The smash burger was perfect and the fries were amazing. Highly recommend going here if you are in the area!!

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    Business owner information

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    Jo B.

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    Page 1 of 9

    The Gem Saloon Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Gem Saloon

    Do they serve outside this time of year? (December)

    Yes

    What is their current happy hour and is it only at bar?

    What is their happy hour?

    4-7 half priced drinks

    Do they serve beer towers?

    No the do not

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    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.

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    Spicy Shrimp scampi
    Spicy Shrimp scampi
    Truffle Monkey Bread (~$35)
    Truffle Monkey Bread (~$35)
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    Friedman's

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    Had reservations for 2 on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. We got there about three…read moreminutes late, but they seated us within 5 minutes in a booth. It was our first time eating at a Friedman's location. It had a nice diner feel to it, with a mix of booths and tables. The brunch menu has a variety of breakfast items, salads, sandwiches and burgers, starters, and entrees (fish tacos, grain bowl, fried chicken). I like that several of the items are naturally gluten free, and some can be made gluten free by request. We decided to go with three breakfast items from the brunch menu: I got the shakshuka, my sister got the Nova Benny, and we got the lemon ricotta pancakes to share. All 3 dishes were great. The shashuka came with grilled ciabatta, perfect for dipping into the sunny side eggs and tomato sauce. My sister loved that the poached eggs and smoked salmon of the Nova Benny came on top of a crispy potato latke. The pancakes were fluffy and the lemon ricotta and lemon zest elevated their flavor. Our server was friendly and attentive, and he asked us if we had any allergies when he took our order. He came by several times to check on us and refill water. I would return to Friedman's when I'm in the Herald Square area, or check out one of their other locations in the city.

    Came on a busy Thursday morning at nine am. Got a decaf iced vanilla latte and a nova Benny and the…read moreMac and cheese. And lemme just say the food came out sooo quick. The Benedict was so delicious. I've never had it on a crispy hash brown type before. It was good and a massive portion. Mac and cheese was alright, though I would probably opt out of it next time. I was so full I totally forgot to drink my latte but the latte was good too. Ambiance was nice clean and very busy.

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    Interior
    Interior
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    Vanilla Cafe Latte

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    La Pecora Bianca

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    Inside seating

    The Gem Saloon - bars - Updated July 2026

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