We've often walked past this lovely little W. Village restaurant and finally decided to have dinner there last night. We had an early reservation (6:15) and were seated immediately; the place was mostly empty at that hour. The food was delicious (two of us got the swordfish and the third got the halibut), the service was prompt and pleasant, and the prices were pretty standard (meaning high) for this neighborhood. I deducted one star because once we'd been there for a while, the place had filled up and it got loud. I was surprised at the . . . let's say exuberance . . . of the people around us, given the classy atmosphere. Other than the noise level, it was a charming experience.
Maddy
Second time dining at this establishment. A very warm greeting by the hostess. We were seated and drink orders taken in a timely manner. Menu had plenty of vegetarian options which we appreciated. We also had lots of questions about the menu and the waitress was very patient and knowledgeable. We split several appetizers: The arancini were very good as were the carrot panisses and the mushroom tartare. The Brussel sprouts were ok. Companion had the potato croquettes with caviar, which we were warned were tiny which indeed they were. Our table of four also split two desserts. The chocolate one was amazing. Total check for the party came to about $400, slightly on the steep side but guess that is the going rate these days. All in all, a very enjoyable experience. Waters never more than half empty and not a single dud amongst the almost ten dishes we ordered. Would definitely recommend.
Irena
The restaurant has a nice vibe and very friendly service. The menu has many interesting dishes. Will come again
Jonathan
I would not recommend The Mary Lane if you have significant special dietary requirements. I have been there several times with someone who has relatively minor special needs and she had no difficulty finding menu items to eat, but when another person, whose needs are more significant, and I went there recently, the result was very unsatisfactory, even though her needs had been happily accommodated by the chef on a previous occasion. I know the restaurant takes pride in its food and preparations, but that seems to create a good deal of rigidity in accommodating special dietary needs, so if you have them, I'd suggest going elsewhere based on recent experience. .
Philip
From start to finish, the service here was outstanding, warm, attentive, and perfectly balanced. We felt genuinely cared for without ever feeling hovered over, and we were never left waiting or forgotten. The food was a wonderful surprise: creative, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Portions were generous, and the pricing felt completely fair for NYC, especially considering the quality. All in all, this is a fantastic spot to relax and enjoy an exceptional meal. Highly recommend!
Kristine Tran
Wine and appetizers were delicious. Mains were of excellent quality but next time we are back we will try something new. Definitely worth it and a great date spot!
Juanita Acevedo van Arcken
It's a beautiful place with a very fresh atmosphere! I went for brunch, and the food was amazing. The burger was fire, and the grits with shrimp and poached eggs were one of the best breakfasts I've had in a long time. The pancakes were really good, too, but small. The cocktails were also delicious. Service was a 5! Thank you!
Alexander Morin
The restaurant is well rated and posts beautiful photos of its food, which made want to try it. Unfortunately, the experience revealed a clear lack of care both in the kitchen and in the service.
To start, none of the four poached eggs we ordered came out with a runny yolk—they were fully cooked through, essentially just soft-boiled. When we brought it up to our server, the response was surprisingly dismissive: “That’s how it’s done and you didn't even specify how you wanted it cooked.” I’ve never heard of needing to request a specific style for poached eggs, and if that's the case here, it should have been mentioned upfront.
Second, having worked in kitchens myself, I noticed signs of sloppy prep. Vegetables, like scallions labeled as “chopped,” were actually long strips with knife marks that hadn’t been followed through. It’s the kind of detail that signals a rushed or indifferent approach to cooking.
Third, the food was slightly over-salted across the board—not inedible, but enough to throw off the balance of flavors.
Overall, while the food wasn't terrible, it was clear that neither the kitchen nor the service is invested in the quality of the dining experience. That lack of care, both in execution and attitude, is what ultimately justified the low rating I gave.
Hamilton Forsythe
Sweet potato lasagna was excellent and olive oil almond cake was surprising and fun
Hany Youssef
Nice spot in the city, very cool food menu & fun drinks, great indoor & outdoor seating to enjoy the city in a fun ambiance, great service, worth checking out
Brunch food is really blah not much effort staff is friendly
Madison Back
A delicious and BEAUTIFUL meal. I appreciated how accommodating and kind the server was about my allergies — this place is fine dining for anyone with a food disability or dietary restrictions. Our group had the grilled carrots which seemed to be a star, mushroom tartare which was interesting, burrata, halibut, trout, lasagne and ravioli. All delicious — and a cozy west village environment.
Had a wonderful dinner here for our last night in NYC. The Maitake tartare was dreamy, the trout was light and fresh, and we loved both the olive oil cake and the chocolate marquis. We have gluten and soy allergies. This restaurant was very good about checking to make sure everything was safe for us. Our server also gave us great wine reccommendations. Highly reccommend the fig Negroni as well. Looking forward to our next visit!
David Wong
Very good pork, super nice restaurant
Sean
The food was superb The experience was very festive. Everyone was very friendly and the waitress was fantastic. We all had the specials. 2 Halibut and 2 Short Ribs, both were delicious.
We've often walked past this lovely little W. Village restaurant and finally decided to have dinner there last night. We had an early reservation (6:15) and were seated immediately; the place was mostly empty at that hour. The food was delicious (two of us got the swordfish and the third got the halibut), the service was prompt and pleasant, and the prices were pretty standard (meaning high) for this neighborhood. I deducted one star because once we'd been there for a while, the place had filled up and it got loud. I was surprised at the . . . let's say exuberance . . . of the people around us, given the classy atmosphere. Other than the noise level, it was a charming experience.
Second time dining at this establishment. A very warm greeting by the hostess. We were seated and drink orders taken in a timely manner. Menu had plenty of vegetarian options which we appreciated. We also had lots of questions about the menu and the waitress was very patient and knowledgeable. We split several appetizers: The arancini were very good as were the carrot panisses and the mushroom tartare. The Brussel sprouts were ok. Companion had the potato croquettes with caviar, which we were warned were tiny which indeed they were. Our table of four also split two desserts. The chocolate one was amazing. Total check for the party came to about $400, slightly on the steep side but guess that is the going rate these days. All in all, a very enjoyable experience. Waters never more than half empty and not a single dud amongst the almost ten dishes we ordered. Would definitely recommend.
The restaurant has a nice vibe and very friendly service. The menu has many interesting dishes. Will come again
I would not recommend The Mary Lane if you have significant special dietary requirements. I have been there several times with someone who has relatively minor special needs and she had no difficulty finding menu items to eat, but when another person, whose needs are more significant, and I went there recently, the result was very unsatisfactory, even though her needs had been happily accommodated by the chef on a previous occasion. I know the restaurant takes pride in its food and preparations, but that seems to create a good deal of rigidity in accommodating special dietary needs, so if you have them, I'd suggest going elsewhere based on recent experience. .
From start to finish, the service here was outstanding, warm, attentive, and perfectly balanced. We felt genuinely cared for without ever feeling hovered over, and we were never left waiting or forgotten. The food was a wonderful surprise: creative, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Portions were generous, and the pricing felt completely fair for NYC, especially considering the quality. All in all, this is a fantastic spot to relax and enjoy an exceptional meal. Highly recommend!
Wine and appetizers were delicious. Mains were of excellent quality but next time we are back we will try something new. Definitely worth it and a great date spot!
It's a beautiful place with a very fresh atmosphere! I went for brunch, and the food was amazing. The burger was fire, and the grits with shrimp and poached eggs were one of the best breakfasts I've had in a long time. The pancakes were really good, too, but small. The cocktails were also delicious. Service was a 5! Thank you!
The restaurant is well rated and posts beautiful photos of its food, which made want to try it. Unfortunately, the experience revealed a clear lack of care both in the kitchen and in the service.
To start, none of the four poached eggs we ordered came out with a runny yolk—they were fully cooked through, essentially just soft-boiled. When we brought it up to our server, the response was surprisingly dismissive: “That’s how it’s done and you didn't even specify how you wanted it cooked.” I’ve never heard of needing to request a specific style for poached eggs, and if that's the case here, it should have been mentioned upfront.
Second, having worked in kitchens myself, I noticed signs of sloppy prep. Vegetables, like scallions labeled as “chopped,” were actually long strips with knife marks that hadn’t been followed through. It’s the kind of detail that signals a rushed or indifferent approach to cooking.
Third, the food was slightly over-salted across the board—not inedible, but enough to throw off the balance of flavors.
Overall, while the food wasn't terrible, it was clear that neither the kitchen nor the service is invested in the quality of the dining experience. That lack of care, both in execution and attitude, is what ultimately justified the low rating I gave.
Sweet potato lasagna was excellent and olive oil almond cake was surprising and fun
Nice spot in the city, very cool food menu & fun drinks, great indoor & outdoor seating to enjoy the city in a fun ambiance, great service, worth checking out
Restaurantji Recommends
Brunch food is really blah not much effort staff is friendly
A delicious and BEAUTIFUL meal. I appreciated how accommodating and kind the server was about my allergies — this place is fine dining for anyone with a food disability or dietary restrictions. Our group had the grilled carrots which seemed to be a star, mushroom tartare which was interesting, burrata, halibut, trout, lasagne and ravioli. All delicious — and a cozy west village environment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sweet Potato Lasagna, Chicken Cacciatore Ravioli
Had a wonderful dinner here for our last night in NYC. The Maitake tartare was dreamy, the trout was light and fresh, and we loved both the olive oil cake and the chocolate marquis. We have gluten and soy allergies. This restaurant was very good about checking to make sure everything was safe for us. Our server also gave us great wine reccommendations. Highly reccommend the fig Negroni as well. Looking forward to our next visit!
Very good pork, super nice restaurant
The food was superb The experience was very festive. Everyone was very friendly and the waitress was fantastic. We all had the specials. 2 Halibut and 2 Short Ribs, both were delicious.
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