If this place aspires to any kind of gastronomic reputation, it should start by hiring a manager who’s actually up to the task. The attitude of the current one is simply disgraceful. Cold welcome, barely disguised contempt, snide remarks, and a condescending tone from start to finish. You’d think we were bothering her by choosing to dine there.
No sense of service, no elegance in demeanor, absolutely no understanding of hospitality. Just arrogance, tension, and a clear message: customers are not welcome.
This restaurant hides behind a so-called “high-end” image, but beneath the surface: zero warmth, zero professionalism. An arrogant and dismissive manager is enough to ruin the entire experience.
There are neighborhood cafés far more deserving of your time and money than this pretentious establishment. A true disappointment.
David Charpentier
⭐ 1 star The Grill: Where Glamour Goes to Die
I’ve been coming to The Grill for years. I’ve always admired the space—the architecture, the history, the romance of it all. It was once a jewel of New York dining. What I experienced last night was a total betrayal of that legacy.
I brought a friend visiting from Paris, hoping to share a bit of New York’s classic steakhouse magic. We were 15 minutes late due to a thunderstorm—understandable in any major city. Instead of grace, we were met with smugness. “Your table’s been canceled,” they said—then magically found one a minute later. The attitude? Suffocating.
Right before being seated, we were informed we had 75 minutes to finish dinner. Yes, a literal time limit on vintage champagne and prime rib. Are we at JFK or a steakhouse? The staff didn’t seem to care about providing an enjoyable or gracious experience—it was a ticking clock to flip the table and maximize the bill, all while making you feel like an uninvited guest at your own dinner.
To make things worse, my guest has a disability—he’s hard of hearing and deaf in one ear. Any time he asked for clarification or for someone to repeat themselves, they looked at him like he was an alien. The staff acted visibly annoyed, as though accommodating someone’s basic needs was somehow beneath them. Is this really how we treat people now? With irritation and contempt for needing to hear clearly in a loud restaurant?
Our other Parisian friend stopped by to say a quick hello and have a martini. We were at a large corner banquette with plenty of room, but were told she couldn’t join us unless we moved to the bar—mid-dinner. So we were shuffled to a cocktail table the size of a Frisbee, surrounded by crowds and chaos.
And then came the pièce de résistance: just as our prime rib arrived—our grand, dramatic steakhouse moment—a very large man standing double-parked at the bar literally imposed his entire backside over our tiny table, and ripped a fart directly into our faces. We were crop-dusted with our dinner. We asked them to cancel the mains. They brought them anyway—plus extra food we didn’t order, as if force-feeding us would fix the experience.
The staff were visibly miserable. The energy was oppressive. The vibe? Like stepping into a haunted version of mid-century glamour where the ghosts have all quit out of frustration.
We spent over $1,000 on food for two and a martini for one, and left feeling disrespected, stressed, and honestly—scammed.
If The Grill responds to this review, I fully expect the same cold, robotic, customer-service speak we received all night. A beautiful room doesn’t make up for soulless hospitality.
JFK and Marilyn would be rolling in their well-dressed graves if they saw what this place has become. And as for Sophia? She won’t be jumping in the pool—the water’s toxic.
Claire Mcnamara
Shocked and appalled. Booked this restaurant to celebrate my Father in laws 75th birthday who just arrived in from Scotland. We were turned away because I was wearing a formal matching short suit set with heels. I was informed that the restaurant does not accept shorts under any exceptions. It was also 90 degrees.
Alberto Arzú
New York is home to countless steakhouses, but The Grill undoubtedly ranks among the very best. Stepping inside feels like entering a bygone era of elegance and glamour—the ambiance is nothing short of spectacular. The bar is equally impressive, offering a creative twist on classic cocktails to suit every palate.
The wine list is extensive and thoughtfully curated, making it effortless to find the perfect pairing for your meal. While every dish we tried was excellent, the Pasta alla Presse was a standout—rarely seen on menus and flawlessly executed. The Louise Crab Salad was another highlight, fresh and refined.
As expected, the steaks were superb, but the true showstopper was the Honey Mustard Duckling—a dish that steals the spotlight with both flavor and presentation.
One of the restaurant’s most remarkable features is its extraordinary collection of Château d’Yquem—the largest in North America. For dessert or a special treat, consider their 5-glass tasting flight, which includes vintages dating back to the previous century.
In short, The Grill delivers not just a meal, but a memorable experience worthy of New York’s dining elite.
Elijah Wallace
If you’re looking for an old school, upscale restaurant in Manhattan. Please look no further. The food, environment, and service is unmatched. Be sure to dress somewhat “formally” so you look nice as you enjoy some of the best people watching in the city. You will remember your visit! And ask for Paul, he’s a fun and attentive waiter.
Chris P
The Grill is a very Manhattan upscale power dinner type of place (fun to people watch), and we had a wonderful dining experience.
The service was exceptional, as expected.
The cocktail and wine menu is substantial, excellent martinis.
Every dish we ordered was excellent. Of note, the crab cake starter was pure lump crab meat, pairs well with the complimentary fresh bread and butter.
The Filet was flavorful and perfectly cooked, the Guinea Hen was different choice for me, I enjoyed it, very tender and flavorful. Next time I want to try the Prime Rib, it looked amazing on the trolley cart.
The peanut butter chocolate for dessert was also great.
Definitely an expensive dinner (even by Manhattan standards), but worth a visit, whether for a special occasion or just a nice night out. If you are unable to snag a reservation, the bar has ample seating, whether for just a drink or a full meal (dinner only).
Kaytlyn Christner
The Grill was absolutely wonderful. Our family could not stop talking about how divine everything was: the service, the food, the dessert, the experience, all of it could not have been more perfect.
You HAVE to experience the Pasta A La Presse appetizer. The Prime Rib was prepped tableside and very delicious. The asparagus with hollandaise was out of this world for some reason. HUGE and very tasty. If you think you don't have room for dessert, get it anyway. They have a couple desserts that require tableside preparation with fire which is neat. The lemon cake was so wonderful as well - light and delightful!
Absolutely no complaints at this place. It was exquisite and we would go again and again if we lived in New York. I wish I could remember our server's name because he was excellent as well - he kind of looked like the actor Héctor Elizondo. Thank you for the wonderful dinner experience!
Nabila Wirakusumah
Came here with my dad to get a drink before his work dinner. Why did it smell like sardines? It was baffling. I brought it up to my dad after a few minutes of trying to ignore it and he said it also stank. We eventually became nose blind to the smell but it was super off-putting to walk up into the dining area and smell that.
My drink was delicious though, and the cottage potatoes I snacked on were also decent. I’m just very confused about this smell.
Arthur Mamou-Mani
Where do I start...incredible architecture in a legendary building by modernist hero Mies Van Der Rohe, I never witnessed so many waiters taking care of you with such professionalism. The bread basket is flawless which is always a good sign. The oysters and meat (the Porterhouse) absolutely perfect. The truffle pasta, the sole, the wine...This will stay in my top 10 experiences ever.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Avocado Crab Louis 4
J Alicia
Such a beautiful ambiance. Great photos can be captured in the downstairs women’s bathroom and outside in front of the water. Parking wasn’t hard at all and I showed up minutes before the kitchen was supposed to close (they still let me sit and take my time). Fish soup and fish dinner as a main course were both two thumbs up. Chef persuaded me into getting sherbet for a birthday dessert and I’m glad. Five Stars
Food not great for the price really wasn’t worth almost $500 for two
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Prime Rib - English Cut, The Seagram Crab Cake, Avocado Crab Louis 4, Lemon Chiffon Cake
Lorenzo Bizzi
Top restaurant. Great service, great food, sensational ambience. The menu mainly features classics of American cuisine. Drinks at the bar are great. Perfect place for lunch or a fast-paced evening! We love it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Glyn Richards
Simply superb. Food, service, everything. Best New York strip I’ve ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
G_ Rolis
Just got drinks at the bar since it was too busy for us to get a table, we did not anticipate it would be so busy on a Tuesday night ! Appetizers and small plates can be ordered at the bar. Bartenders were very kind !
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 5
JED
What an awesome restaurant!! The actual restaurant architecture was excellent. Then the food was super great. I had a prime rib and scallop. Then flambé peach for dessert. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Prime Rib - English Cut, Baked Alaska Banana Malt
One star because zero isn’t an option
If this place aspires to any kind of gastronomic reputation, it should start by hiring a manager who’s actually up to the task. The attitude of the current one is simply disgraceful. Cold welcome, barely disguised contempt, snide remarks, and a condescending tone from start to finish. You’d think we were bothering her by choosing to dine there.
No sense of service, no elegance in demeanor, absolutely no understanding of hospitality. Just arrogance, tension, and a clear message: customers are not welcome.
This restaurant hides behind a so-called “high-end” image, but beneath the surface: zero warmth, zero professionalism. An arrogant and dismissive manager is enough to ruin the entire experience.
There are neighborhood cafés far more deserving of your time and money than this pretentious establishment. A true disappointment.
⭐ 1 star
The Grill: Where Glamour Goes to Die
I’ve been coming to The Grill for years. I’ve always admired the space—the architecture, the history, the romance of it all. It was once a jewel of New York dining. What I experienced last night was a total betrayal of that legacy.
I brought a friend visiting from Paris, hoping to share a bit of New York’s classic steakhouse magic. We were 15 minutes late due to a thunderstorm—understandable in any major city. Instead of grace, we were met with smugness. “Your table’s been canceled,” they said—then magically found one a minute later. The attitude? Suffocating.
Right before being seated, we were informed we had 75 minutes to finish dinner. Yes, a literal time limit on vintage champagne and prime rib. Are we at JFK or a steakhouse? The staff didn’t seem to care about providing an enjoyable or gracious experience—it was a ticking clock to flip the table and maximize the bill, all while making you feel like an uninvited guest at your own dinner.
To make things worse, my guest has a disability—he’s hard of hearing and deaf in one ear. Any time he asked for clarification or for someone to repeat themselves, they looked at him like he was an alien. The staff acted visibly annoyed, as though accommodating someone’s basic needs was somehow beneath them. Is this really how we treat people now? With irritation and contempt for needing to hear clearly in a loud restaurant?
Our other Parisian friend stopped by to say a quick hello and have a martini. We were at a large corner banquette with plenty of room, but were told she couldn’t join us unless we moved to the bar—mid-dinner. So we were shuffled to a cocktail table the size of a Frisbee, surrounded by crowds and chaos.
And then came the pièce de résistance: just as our prime rib arrived—our grand, dramatic steakhouse moment—a very large man standing double-parked at the bar literally imposed his entire backside over our tiny table, and ripped a fart directly into our faces. We were crop-dusted with our dinner. We asked them to cancel the mains. They brought them anyway—plus extra food we didn’t order, as if force-feeding us would fix the experience.
The staff were visibly miserable. The energy was oppressive. The vibe? Like stepping into a haunted version of mid-century glamour where the ghosts have all quit out of frustration.
We spent over $1,000 on food for two and a martini for one, and left feeling disrespected, stressed, and honestly—scammed.
If The Grill responds to this review, I fully expect the same cold, robotic, customer-service speak we received all night. A beautiful room doesn’t make up for soulless hospitality.
JFK and Marilyn would be rolling in their well-dressed graves if they saw what this place has become. And as for Sophia? She won’t be jumping in the pool—the water’s toxic.
Shocked and appalled. Booked this restaurant to celebrate my Father in laws 75th birthday who just arrived in from Scotland. We were turned away because I was wearing a formal matching short suit set with heels. I was informed that the restaurant does not accept shorts under any exceptions. It was also 90 degrees.
New York is home to countless steakhouses, but The Grill undoubtedly ranks among the very best. Stepping inside feels like entering a bygone era of elegance and glamour—the ambiance is nothing short of spectacular. The bar is equally impressive, offering a creative twist on classic cocktails to suit every palate.
The wine list is extensive and thoughtfully curated, making it effortless to find the perfect pairing for your meal. While every dish we tried was excellent, the Pasta alla Presse was a standout—rarely seen on menus and flawlessly executed. The Louise Crab Salad was another highlight, fresh and refined.
As expected, the steaks were superb, but the true showstopper was the Honey Mustard Duckling—a dish that steals the spotlight with both flavor and presentation.
One of the restaurant’s most remarkable features is its extraordinary collection of Château d’Yquem—the largest in North America. For dessert or a special treat, consider their 5-glass tasting flight, which includes vintages dating back to the previous century.
In short, The Grill delivers not just a meal, but a memorable experience worthy of New York’s dining elite.
If you’re looking for an old school, upscale restaurant in Manhattan. Please look no further. The food, environment, and service is unmatched. Be sure to dress somewhat “formally” so you look nice as you enjoy some of the best people watching in the city. You will remember your visit! And ask for Paul, he’s a fun and attentive waiter.
The Grill is a very Manhattan upscale power dinner type of place (fun to people watch), and we had a wonderful dining experience.
The service was exceptional, as expected.
The cocktail and wine menu is substantial, excellent martinis.
Every dish we ordered was excellent. Of note, the crab cake starter was pure lump crab meat, pairs well with the complimentary fresh bread and butter.
The Filet was flavorful and perfectly cooked, the Guinea Hen was different choice for me, I enjoyed it, very tender and flavorful. Next time I want to try the Prime Rib, it looked amazing on the trolley cart.
The peanut butter chocolate for dessert was also great.
Definitely an expensive dinner (even by Manhattan standards), but worth a visit, whether for a special occasion or just a nice night out. If you are unable to snag a reservation, the bar has ample seating, whether for just a drink or a full meal (dinner only).
The Grill was absolutely wonderful. Our family could not stop talking about how divine everything was: the service, the food, the dessert, the experience, all of it could not have been more perfect.
You HAVE to experience the Pasta A La Presse appetizer. The Prime Rib was prepped tableside and very delicious. The asparagus with hollandaise was out of this world for some reason. HUGE and very tasty.
If you think you don't have room for dessert, get it anyway. They have a couple desserts that require tableside preparation with fire which is neat. The lemon cake was so wonderful as well - light and delightful!
Absolutely no complaints at this place. It was exquisite and we would go again and again if we lived in New York. I wish I could remember our server's name because he was excellent as well - he kind of looked like the actor Héctor Elizondo.
Thank you for the wonderful dinner experience!
Came here with my dad to get a drink before his work dinner. Why did it smell like sardines? It was baffling. I brought it up to my dad after a few minutes of trying to ignore it and he said it also stank. We eventually became nose blind to the smell but it was super off-putting to walk up into the dining area and smell that.
My drink was delicious though, and the cottage potatoes I snacked on were also decent. I’m just very confused about this smell.
Where do I start...incredible architecture in a legendary building by modernist hero Mies Van Der Rohe, I never witnessed so many waiters taking care of you with such professionalism. The bread basket is flawless which is always a good sign. The oysters and meat (the Porterhouse) absolutely perfect. The truffle pasta, the sole, the wine...This will stay in my top 10 experiences ever.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Avocado Crab Louis 4
Such a beautiful ambiance. Great photos can be captured in the downstairs women’s bathroom and outside in front of the water. Parking wasn’t hard at all and I showed up minutes before the kitchen was supposed to close (they still let me sit and take my time). Fish soup and fish dinner as a main course were both two thumbs up. Chef persuaded me into getting sherbet for a birthday dessert and I’m glad. Five Stars
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Blue Crab Gumbo
Restaurantji Recommends
Food not great for the price really wasn’t worth almost $500 for two
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Prime Rib - English Cut, The Seagram Crab Cake, Avocado Crab Louis 4, Lemon Chiffon Cake
Top restaurant. Great service, great food, sensational ambience. The menu mainly features classics of American cuisine. Drinks at the bar are great. Perfect place for lunch or a fast-paced evening! We love it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Simply superb. Food, service, everything.
Best New York strip I’ve ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Just got drinks at the bar since it was too busy for us to get a table, we did not anticipate it would be so busy on a Tuesday night ! Appetizers and small plates can be ordered at the bar. Bartenders were very kind !
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 5
What an awesome restaurant!! The actual restaurant architecture was excellent. Then the food was super great. I had a prime rib and scallop. Then flambé peach for dessert. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Prime Rib - English Cut, Baked Alaska Banana Malt
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