VitaeGood Food. Great Service.Was here for a two part event. Drinks at the bar with one friend, dinner with another. Nice place, as you'd expect. But the service was the standout. The bartender was nice, knowledgable, and accommodating with suggestions. The hosts were good at keeping me up to date on the table reservation. When my second friend showed up a little early we decided to just eat at the bar, which the hosts might have taken as meaning we were waiting too long (which we weren't, we were just settled), and began to send out freebies, not much, but enough to be noticed, which just makes them that much more awesome.
I enjoyed the food, nothing really stand-out, but certainly good enough.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent spot mid-town forExcellent spot mid-town for lunch. Staff professional, attentive and knowledgable. A request for quiet table was recognized and acted upon! A must try!6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMalways a very enjoyable experienceWe have eaten at lunch - very busy all the time, and also dined at different time - busier now than it used to be at night, Bar area crowed and alive, dining room can be noisy. Tables are at a reasonable distance and chair very comfortable. Service always very good and professional, food creative and excellent.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good food, just too loudHad a very well prepared meal in lovely surroundings, that was just too loud. Conversation was more difficult than we expected. Request a table upstairs for a quieter experience, because a trip to Vitae for the food is very worthwhile.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing FoodImagine we two bankers using words like "the tastes are so subtle;the foamy amuse bouche is popping in my mouth; tasting sweet and salty and loving it". The food was astoundingly great and inventive. The duck confit croquettes special appetizer was outstanding followed by several other appetizers which were equally delicious. Seared Scallop appetizer had 2 generous scallops atop pureed cauliflower with fabulous flavors. 6 mini pulled pork tacos in polenta taco were delicious. Homemade gelatos fabulous especially chartreuse chocolate and salted caramel. Service was excellent with very attentive mature waitstaff making sure we were happy. Prices are typically New York mid high, but worth every penny. Returning soon.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AM5 star Food and Service!!Every Dish was spectacular and the Service we fantastic!!!6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMSkip Restaurant Row - Come Here!From the moment we walked in it was smiles all around. Warm welcome from all staff. Beautiful, serene, modern space in muted tones with many interesting design elements. Upstairs dining area continues the theme with perfect view of the first floor if you sit near the railing. All servers were pleasant & knowledgeable. From the foamy honeydew amuse bouche to the complimentary tray of dessert bites (3 varieties for each of us) the food was out of the ordinary & delicious. Menu is limited but we had no trouble finding things to satisfy our diverse palates. Warm smoked trout entree was delicious. Chick pea soup plus an appetizer each made satisfying pre-theater meals for the rest of us. Highly recommended. We will definitely return!6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat SurpriseWe really enjoyed Vitae. It's smart and relatively spacious (given the location), and the upstairs seating area is fairly private. Tends to be a business-oriented crowd, but there were some casual diners as well. The food choices were excellent, starting with the appetizers of mini pork tacos and special prawns. Entrees were excellent. The only possibly over-ambitious choice was the creme-brulee for desert, which mixed some unusual tastes. The presentation of all the choices was lovely, and the homemade chocolates at the end were good, if a bit messy.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Find in MidtownExcellent experience from top to bottom. Food, drinks and service all outstanding! Duck-fat rolls to begin we're pretty amazing and foie gras is delicious. Can't miss if you go here and I highly recommend a visit.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMIt all comes togetherHad lunch for my first visit here. Pleasing decor, tables not crammed together, all staff welcoming and friendly. Waiter knowledgable about the menu, which had great variety, and the food was excellent. I'll be back.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the vibe at Vitae!This was my second visit to Vitae. The second time around was just as wonderful as the first. Thank you for a fine dining experience!5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMMy new favorite restaurant.My new favorite restaurant. Service level is exceptional.
We had dinner before the theatre. We realized the play started at 7 not 8.
They kept our wine for us and we came back to finish our meal so we were not late for the play.
Food is off the charts. Buffalo is fabulous.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMExtra Touches For A Special NightOur dining experience at Vitae was outstanding. Great cocktails, food, and the extra little touches made the night all that much more special, from the amuse bouche to the duck fat rolls to the bites of dessert and the cookies on our way out. It all made us feel like VIPs. Would highly recommend!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat findEverything on the menu is excellent. Great ambiance, not too loud. Highly recommend. The staff is great and very accomodating.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was very good, serviceFood was very good, service started out excellent and then became a bit inattentive. Menu is creative and our choices were very enjoyable.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMPleasant Midtown Dining ExperienceThe host, servers and bartender were all most gracious and polite. Vitae offers some interesting cocktails and a pretty good wine list. I have eaten here before and enjoyed an eclectic menu with seasonal variations.We were pleasantly surprised with dessert tidbits which were presented with no prompting, a nice surprise. I would not hesitate to recommend Vitae to business or friends and family.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a Great Surprise!The options in the midtown area are limited but with a friend in town staying at the Grand Hyatt, I picked Vitae for it's proximity for her. Boy, was I surprised at how great our dinner ended up being! We each had a glass of wine which was a generous pour, we had the Arctic Char dinner which was AMAZING and we were given free mini desserts after we finished dinner! The service was attentive and knowledgeable and the atmosphere was nice for us to be able to chat and catch up.
Pleasantly surprised by Vitae and would return when I'm in the area!5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMRegular Manhattan visitorsIt was a quiet night in the restaurant, which we view as a plus. The service was impeccable. the ribeye for two was excellent as were the deserts. We will be back.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMMy friend said that the porkMy friend said that the pork chop was the most delicious one that she had ever had. Service was excellent, attentive but non-intrusive.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMSolid upscale dining in Midtown EasThe food was very good, although not super-excellent - but that may have just been what I ordered (Schnitzel). My friend ordered the lamb, and it was delicious.
Ps - the dinner rolls and fois gras terrine were TO DIE FOR. Yum!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Food near GCTTrying to find great food near Grand Central Terminal tends to point one to the Oyster Bar or one of the excellent Japanese restaurants just east. But Vitae is a phenomenal place for inventive and tasty fare with excellent service and nice touches (amuse bouche, palate cleanser, complimentary sweets and a treat to take home). It's these little things that put Vitae over the top. Only concern is that it does get noisy when the place fills up. Having dined upstairs and down I've found it quieter up top. Definitely go -- excellent for pre-theater.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWhen the Chef overcomes the reviewsThe choice of this restaurant was based on tripadvisor reviews , but I should say that all the dinner (food choosen from the list, no tasting menus) has been excellent and much more than expected. Also the kindness of our waiter (and the others who were helping) is a 'plus' for this restaurant.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMClean, fresh eating.We really enjoyed the food at Vitae. The ambience is modern and a bit sterile but not unwelcoming. We had a delicious bursts cheese with a pesto sauce for an appetizer. It was fresh and just the right texture. I had the trout which was cooked to perfection. It was served very simply with some smoked Fennel inside. It was served with delicious rounds of potato and I'm not a potato fan. But it was balanced and very very good. My friend happy arctic char. The skin was crisped I found the fish a little bit dry but she enjoyed it and the flavor was again simple but excellent. The only disappointment was the desert. It was a rhubarbs strudel. However there literally was two bites of strudel. The additional foam and single scoop of ice cream did4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFound a gem!Wonderful experience that was perfectly in sync with the menu.
Interesting food pairings and flavors that excited the palette, instead of competing.
This was a top five dinner in the last 10 years.
Wine list was adequate for breadth, with some high end choices.
Our $90 Cab was a fine complement from the middle of the list.
Service was model for excellent. A small staff that acted as a seamless team, felt much larger and attentive.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMMy first time lunch thereMy first time lunch there was a winner. The food was imaginative and well executed. The service was attentive but did not get in the way of a business conversation. Everything about the experience will reinforce a return visit.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was my second time atThis was my second time at Vitae and we had equally great food, service and overall experience as the last time. The menu is creative and well thought out without being overly adventurous. We constantly found ourselves trying to decide between multiple options that looked equally delicious. Great service again from Jason, who's knowledge of and passion for food really make for a great experience. We'll definitely be going back4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a wonderful restaurant.This is a wonderful restaurant. I've come here three times. I love their bourbon/whiskey-based cocktails the best. The service is very good. Everyone is very welcoming and courteous. The noise could get a bit loud during lunch, though. I went alone the first and third time here, and the experience was a bit different. I don't recommend dining here alone.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent, a real treatThis is a fine restaurant. The service is very attentive, friendly, and professional service. The menu is creative, but also has items -- such as our familiar but excellent Potato Leek Soup. Fish was expertly prepared, desserts were creative and very satisfying.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, fair pricesVitae is a real hidden gem. The interior and decor are all modern, tasteful and crisp. It sets a sophisticated tone right from the start. The 2 tops are packed Manhattan close but the larger tables are actually spaced very well.
The menu is relatively simple and packed with a nice variety. They have about 10 apps, 5 pastas (all can be dinner or appetizer sized), 5-7 entrees and 4 sides. Everything I have eaten there has been fresh and well prepared. On top of it all, the prices are extremely fair. 2 blocks away you would pay $27 for a cobb salad, but here you get a wonderful Artic char for $32. Go for the char.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMReally great lunch! Menu hadReally great lunch! Menu had nice variety. The rhubarb streusel dessert was delicious!4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMMidtown GemSecond visit, equally as impressive. Food is top notch, quick and nicely presented. Service is strong. Great spot in midtown for a nice (but not over the top) place to meet and lunch.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Best Meal All Week!This was the best meal we had the entire week we were in NYC! Everything was perfect from start to finish. The food was creatively prepared and absolutely delicious. The service was attentive and the ambiance just lovely. Due to its proximity, this is the perfect restaurant for before or after a Broadway show. You will not be disappointed!4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMApproaching the restaurantApproaching the restaurant from the outside, I expected nothing like what I was greeted with as I entered. There was a noisy scene at the bar. As I was brought to our table upstairs, I did a complete turn-around. Comfortable seats, spacious table for 4, waitstaff who were eager to see to your every wish, low lighting. I found the menu varied so that everyone could enjoy whatever appealed to their tastes. The soup was delicious, as were the scallops, the pork chops and arctic char, excellent presentation and accompanying sides, the pork schnitzel, although delicious had the thinnest meat inside a delicious breading. The pairing of wine was easy because of the extensive wine list. Dessert excellent,an an enjoyable evening.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMwent here to celebrate a birthday~went here to celebrate a birthday~ service was great! very attentive and attend to all your needs~ food was delicious! the lamb...porkchops...trout...tacos...dessert...was all so good! full of flavor and the presentation of the food was great as well~ i would say pretty pricey but worth it to eat here for a special occasion :)4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWent for a business lunch.Went for a business lunch. The service was terrific, the food delicious and memorable. I would definately recommend and return.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMMarvelousA colleague and I had lunch at this beautiful restaurant in an area with not too many gems. Service was attentive but not overly so. The food is exquisite and we were treated to an unexpected amuse bouche. I had the roasted baby beets with mizuna, pistachios, goat cheese, and beet vinaigrette as a starter, and ricotta gnudi with crispy prosciutto, spinach, and parmesan as the entree. My companion opted for the wonderfully satiating creamy polenta with burrata cheese, wild mushroom ragu and thyme. We were brought fresh brioche rolls hot from the oven. Prices are what you would expect for a nice midtown restaurant, but not overly outrageous as the portions are more than adequate. Highly recommend.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience.Excellent on all counts. Definitely going back! Pork belly appetizer is amazing.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved itLoved the food and atmosphere. Preferred sitting downstairs as upstairs felt hot, stuffy and cramped. Would go back3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic!!! Had the scallops,Fantastic!!! Had the scallops, beet salad, beet pasta, and apple crisp and all were out of this world! And the house bread could have been a dessert it was so good!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is Amazing!!What can I say this was our third time coming here, the food is AMAZING!! I had a hard time deciding what to get for an appetizer & entrée as I knew no matter what I ordered I would not be disappointed. I wish we had a restaurant like Vitae upstate but then again I guess we wouldn’t have an excuse to go to NYC to dine here. We brought my Sister here last year when she was visiting, she still raves about the food. I’m looking forward to returning soon!! Service was Excellent and I just love the Ambience!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMA great restaurant at reasonableA great restaurant at reasonable prices and although the restaurant was pretty full, it was quiet enough to be able to talk at the table.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food in souless midtownThis restaurant is a gem, though I am not a fan of the neighborhood which reminds me too much of work.
Do not hesitate and get the tasting menu for $75, it is a very good deal.
Make sure to keep room for their tasty desserts.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a lovely meal for two.We had a lovely meal for two. We had the tasting menu with the wine pairings. The food was delicious and the pouring was generous. One note, the clientele was "eclectic," which means it was a bit of a bummer that for our romantic Friday 8:30 dinner we were seated next to a family with three sullen teenagers wearing ripped jeans, knit caps and hoodies who spent the time texting. But, aside from that it was a terrific experience.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe service was great, foodThe service was great, food tasted good and location was nice. However my complaint with the Vitae is the portions were EXTREMELY SMALL. In fact they should state on the menu it is "A la carte" because it was virtually that. So I went to location hungry, had an appetizer and main course and STILL left hungry. Based upon the price...the food was ridiculously over priced. When I go out to have dinner...its primarily to eat. As a result, I will have to give Vitae only a marginal passing grade but I will not be going back and will certainly not recommend as a place to eat dinner. In my opinion...what is the point of having dinner at a restaurant and still famished at the end?3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was very good. SteakFood was very good. Steak was great, lamb was very good, duck was great.
Reasonable wine list.
Sit upstairs, it's far better. A little too bright downstairs for my taste.
I'd go back, and I'm very picky.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent, innovative food.Excellent, innovative food. First rate service. excellent wine list and genuine hospitality. A great combination. Decor not particularly to our taste but tables nicely spaced and comfortable. Would definitely go back and recommend3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Dining ExperienceSaturday night dinner with three friends to celebrate two of the attendees' birthdays was delightful. We were greeted at the table with a bottle of champagne to start off the evening (I included a note via OpenTable about the birthdays so they were prepared). Very nice touch! The food was well seasoned and prepared with a beautiful presentation at the table. The service was outstanding. Our servers, waitress, and sommelier were all very polite and professional. The flow was well-paced, not too frenetic yet not too slow. Overall, a wonderful dining experience for a very special occasion.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMCool ambiance, our waiterCool ambiance, our waiter recommended the venison and it was to die for. Will be coming back.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful ExperienceVenison was to die for, service meticulous, and hostess made real accommodations to modify dishes and make them healthier.
A wonderful meal and I recommend highly. I would definitely return.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMThis has been the fourth timeThis has been the fourth time at Vitae. The food has been excellent as is the ambiance. The last time dining I found the service slightly rushed and the noise level louder than in the past. I may seem a bit picky but I do believe that this venue has the potential of being outstanding.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AM