The highlight here is the waitstaff! Attentive, friendly & engaging without being obsequious or intrusive. The server who torched the signature bacon appetizer at our table was an outstanding young man and credit to the restaurant; the bacon itself is one of the loveliest things I have tasted. Two minor course corrections: be an elegant restaurant or be a sports bar; you can't be both... the 3 large TV's don't need to be tuned to ESPN during brunch. Also, when the hotel door is propped open allowing a 30° draft to pour into the restaurant, the hostess could stop scrolling long enough to take 10 steps and close it rather than waiting for a patron to do it.
Andrew Mohamed
Food, drinks and atmosphere was great, but Shaun the bartender made it even more of an exceptional experience. Will indeed be returning, thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John behind the bar is amazing and always treats me extremely well. The food is great and super fresh. My favorite is the truffle fries with a NY Strip for sure . Greatly crafted drinks and smooth service !! Thank you
Food was ok, was expecting better. Servers were nice but food took almost and hour to come out and it was a salad and oysters. Wasn't terribly busy so don't know the hold up. People next to us were complaining the whole time about their meal which just added to an unpleasant experience. Don't see us going back
A beautiful place, the service was horrendous. Food orders were all wrong, it seemed that way for everyone in the bar. Food was not dressed. A place as nice as this it is a shame it is run so poorly. I blame the Executive chef. I worked in a kitchen and the chef would have murdered the servers. I wanted to love it. I took my wife out for Valentine's Day.
LindaB
The staff was wonderful and the food was amazing, but I believe that there was some disconnect between management and the kitchen staff. Our lunch reservation was for 2pm, after ordering at 2:10pm, we did not receive our first course (scallops) for 25 minutes. Our entree (surf and Turf/black cod) came out 20 minutes after we finished our appetizers, then a full 30 minutes before we received dessert. The Valentines Day desserts were not yet prepared and so our astute waitress offered the regular dessert menu. I admit I was thrilled because I love their regular desserts. It seemed as if the kitchen staff had expected to offer/prepare the regular lunch menu till 3pm, then were told that they would be offering the special Valentine's Day menu instead. Over all our waitress Olivia handled the situation with aplomb and diplomatic tact. The manager discounted the dessert and the hostesses calmed the maddening (many unreasonable) crowd. Hats off to their professional demeanor.
This was the second time going to this restaurant. It was a very different experience than the first time. The food was excellent both times. The drink were equally delicious. The service, however, was lackluster. When you are paying those kinds of prices, you expect the service to be top notch. That wasn't the case this time around.
Anthony R
We have eaten a handful of times at the King Bar within the Garden City Hotel, mainly for brunch or lunch. This is more of the laid-back dining option within the hotel. The Red Salt Room, which is attached to this establishment, is the more formal option. Both places are great and highly recommended! The King Bar is also a nice place to grab a sophisticated drink in the area.
We had the early dinner fixed price weeknight option. The portions aren't huge and the options are 2-3 per course but it was fine for me. The food quality was wonderful. The key lime martini was a standout and so worth it.
FineDiner
Decorated so beautifully for the holidays , staff were warm and so accommodating. Olivia was my server and Jose was so kind and charming. She Didn't miss a beat , checked on us and kept our glasses filled. Very sweet young lady. Warm burrata salad was delicious ! Farro salad was so nutty and flavorful . Scallops were out of this world & buerre Blanc was extraordinary! Used my bread to soak up every drop. Clothesline bacon with bacon was a hit — very decadent. Pork chop entree exceptional , very tender and flavorful. Always love coming here. Kaleena is an absolute Doll , always so warm . Thank you to everyone.
It's the little things that bring the biggest smiles. Celebrated a memorable birthday for my nephew at the King Bar, where Olivia and Marco went above and beyond to make it extra special. The impeccable service, delicious food, and delicious cocktails made it an unforgettable experience. The dressed oysters, bacon clothesline, and arancini were amazing! Lobster roll and salmon entres were perfection! Grateful for the attention to detail that made all the difference.
GabrielB
It was Christmas dinner, meant to be a very special meal. It took forever to get our drinks although there were two bartenders on duty. Both of our soups were cold (as was the soup the woman at the next table was having). Caesar salad was delicious. My dinner partner had a lovely pork chop. I ordered short rib which is usually a safe bet at any restaurant. Slow cooked and so tender it can be eaten with a fork or a spoon. I couldn't cut mine, even when I requested a steak knife. For $64 I expected more. The manager was genuinly apologetic, offered drinks and food to take home. At that point I really only wanted it removed from the check, which it was. We were the last seated table of the night. Our server was in no way overwhelmed, yet quite inattentive. There was a lovely woman dining alone at the next table who made our evening quite enjoyable. The space is lovely. The experience not so much, especially on a holiday.
luvfoodwine
We went to Christmas dinner there at 6:30pm. The atmosphere was very good. I ordered Christmas dinner course. The appetizers and pasta are very good but, main course which New York strip sirloin steak. It was so tough that every each bites has hard and tough fibers and couldn't swallowed no matter how much I chew it. Also, the services were extremely slow. The desert are sold out which should be included this course dinner package. We just surprised that the very good reviewed steak house restaurant in this exclusive hotel served us a such a poor quality steak and services.
MichelleB
Our server was outstanding. I do believe that we definitely overpaid for the food that was given to us on the prefix menu. The soup was not hot. The appetizer course was subpar the beats tasted like dirt. The cavatelli was very good and the entrée was very good. The dessert was not very good. Overall that was definitely over priced for what was served.
Eric
I will start by saying that for a David Burke restaurant in the Garden City Hotel, overall it was underwhelming. The bar service was extremely slow and they made my martini incorrect both times that I ordered it. The bread appetizer was laughable, because it was nothing like it was described (no guyere popover and the rest looked like scraps that were overcooked) and certainly not worth 6 dollars. The best was the tuna tartare and charred octopus, which were tasty and delicious with multi-levels and dimensions of flavor. The other unfortunate part of each part of the evening and service was that we were constantly eating over the table, because we did not have plates. Hats off to the gentlemen on water service because he was on point and our glasses never got less than half.
The highlight here is the waitstaff! Attentive, friendly & engaging without being obsequious or intrusive. The server who torched the signature bacon appetizer at our table was an outstanding young man and credit to the restaurant; the bacon itself is one of the loveliest things I have tasted. Two minor course corrections: be an elegant restaurant or be a sports bar; you can't be both... the 3 large TV's don't need to be tuned to ESPN during brunch. Also, when the hotel door is propped open allowing a 30° draft to pour into the restaurant, the hostess could stop scrolling long enough to take 10 steps and close it rather than waiting for a patron to do it.
Food, drinks and atmosphere was great, but Shaun the bartender made it even more of an exceptional experience. Will indeed be returning, thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John behind the bar is amazing and always treats me extremely well. The food is great and super fresh. My favorite is the truffle fries with a NY Strip for sure . Greatly crafted drinks and smooth service !! Thank you
Food was ok, was expecting better. Servers were nice but food took almost and hour to come out and it was a salad and oysters. Wasn't terribly busy so don't know the hold up. People next to us were complaining the whole time about their meal which just added to an unpleasant experience. Don't see us going back
A beautiful place, the service was horrendous. Food orders were all wrong, it seemed that way for everyone in the bar. Food was not dressed. A place as nice as this it is a shame it is run so poorly. I blame the Executive chef. I worked in a kitchen and the chef would have murdered the servers. I wanted to love it. I took my wife out for Valentine's Day.
The staff was wonderful and the food was amazing, but I believe that there was some disconnect between management and the kitchen staff. Our lunch reservation was for 2pm, after ordering at 2:10pm, we did not receive our first course (scallops) for 25 minutes. Our entree (surf and Turf/black cod) came out 20 minutes after we finished our appetizers, then a full 30 minutes before we received dessert. The Valentines Day desserts were not yet prepared and so our astute waitress offered the regular dessert menu. I admit I was thrilled because I love their regular desserts. It seemed as if the kitchen staff had expected to offer/prepare the regular lunch menu till 3pm, then were told that they would be offering the special Valentine's Day menu instead. Over all our waitress Olivia handled the situation with aplomb and diplomatic tact. The manager discounted the dessert and the hostesses calmed the maddening (many unreasonable) crowd. Hats off to their professional demeanor.
This was the second time going to this restaurant. It was a very different experience than the first time. The food was excellent both times. The drink were equally delicious. The service, however, was lackluster. When you are paying those kinds of prices, you expect the service to be top notch. That wasn't the case this time around.
We have eaten a handful of times at the King Bar within the Garden City Hotel, mainly for brunch or lunch. This is more of the laid-back dining option within the hotel. The Red Salt Room, which is attached to this establishment, is the more formal option. Both places are great and highly recommended! The King Bar is also a nice place to grab a sophisticated drink in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Roll, Sesame Crusted Yellowfin Tuna, Chilled Seafood Platter, Heirloom Tomato & Burrata
We had the early dinner fixed price weeknight option. The portions aren't huge and the options are 2-3 per course but it was fine for me. The food quality was wonderful. The key lime martini was a standout and so worth it.
Decorated so beautifully for the holidays , staff were warm and so accommodating. Olivia was my server and Jose was so kind and charming. She Didn't miss a beat , checked on us and kept our glasses filled. Very sweet young lady. Warm burrata salad was delicious ! Farro salad was so nutty and flavorful . Scallops were out of this world & buerre Blanc was extraordinary! Used my bread to soak up every drop. Clothesline bacon with bacon was a hit — very decadent. Pork chop entree exceptional , very tender and flavorful. Always love coming here. Kaleena is an absolute Doll , always so warm . Thank you to everyone.
Restaurantji Recommends
It's the little things that bring the biggest smiles. Celebrated a memorable birthday for my nephew at the King Bar, where Olivia and Marco went above and beyond to make it extra special. The impeccable service, delicious food, and delicious cocktails made it an unforgettable experience. The dressed oysters, bacon clothesline, and arancini were amazing! Lobster roll and salmon entres were perfection! Grateful for the attention to detail that made all the difference.
It was Christmas dinner, meant to be a very special meal. It took forever to get our drinks although there were two bartenders on duty. Both of our soups were cold (as was the soup the woman at the next table was having). Caesar salad was delicious. My dinner partner had a lovely pork chop. I ordered short rib which is usually a safe bet at any restaurant. Slow cooked and so tender it can be eaten with a fork or a spoon. I couldn't cut mine, even when I requested a steak knife. For $64 I expected more. The manager was genuinly apologetic, offered drinks and food to take home. At that point I really only wanted it removed from the check, which it was. We were the last seated table of the night. Our server was in no way overwhelmed, yet quite inattentive. There was a lovely woman dining alone at the next table who made our evening quite enjoyable. The space is lovely. The experience not so much, especially on a holiday.
We went to Christmas dinner there at 6:30pm. The atmosphere was very good. I ordered Christmas dinner course. The appetizers and pasta are very good but, main course which New York strip sirloin steak. It was so tough that every each bites has hard and tough fibers and couldn't swallowed no matter how much I chew it. Also, the services were extremely slow. The desert are sold out which should be included this course dinner package. We just surprised that the very good reviewed steak house restaurant in this exclusive hotel served us a such a poor quality steak and services.
Our server was outstanding. I do believe that we definitely overpaid for the food that was given to us on the prefix menu. The soup was not hot. The appetizer course was subpar the beats tasted like dirt. The cavatelli was very good and the entrée was very good. The dessert was not very good. Overall that was definitely over priced for what was served.
I will start by saying that for a David Burke restaurant in the Garden City Hotel, overall it was underwhelming. The bar service was extremely slow and they made my martini incorrect both times that I ordered it. The bread appetizer was laughable, because it was nothing like it was described (no guyere popover and the rest looked like scraps that were overcooked) and certainly not worth 6 dollars. The best was the tuna tartare and charred octopus, which were tasty and delicious with multi-levels and dimensions of flavor. The other unfortunate part of each part of the evening and service was that we were constantly eating over the table, because we did not have plates. Hats off to the gentlemen on water service because he was on point and our glasses never got less than half.