Grand Central Oyster Bar
Food was good but over cooked. Atmosphere was very nice and our waitress was very friendly!
Hustling for tip money and turning tables does not lead to an enjoyable experience. The building is awesome. Historic. We came for early dinner and it was not busy but wait staff made us feel like we needed to hurry and go. Food is always great when you get what you ordered. Mash potatoes are not rice pilaf
Even though we showed up 50 minutes early for our reservation we were immediately seated. ( Our tour was over earlier than expected) The food was fabulous and the restrooms in the Saloon were impeccably clean, a must for me. Everyone always seems to be having a great time there. Kudos!
For the first time in decades, we had to send a dish back to the kitchen...the broiled shad was barely cooked. Not a fish meant to be eaten nearly raw! They were already out of the dessert special we ordered (at 6:30 PM).
Food was ehh. Oyster shell shale in my mouth. Chowder not hot. Calamari was mini even for an app. Drinks were good but tiny also. Dessert was great - Key lime pie was stellar!
My handlebar mustached waiter is the best and always gives great service from the heart. The rest of the staff—. Not sure they are thinking like owners.
Great lunch thank you.
Waiter was beyond rude. Came to take our order and drop the check.
A must have New York experience. Food is fresh and delicious. Our server was very attentive, professional yet friendly. Environment is indicative of old school NYC which I find really fun. The only draw back is it's expensive so be prepared.
The Oyster Bar is a NYC institution. Despite being something of a tourist destination, the quality of the food remains excellent. However, the waiters seem overworked and the cleanliness is not all that it should be, with many bus pans full of dishes in view and being transported through the dining areas.
Excellent food until we ordered dessert. DO NOT ORDER THE SUNDAE. Ruined our meal. Up until then we had enjoyed excellent oysters and a very fresh sole meuniere. The place is very laid-back, no need to dress up. For lunch I do not think you need a reservation either, the place is huge! Grand Central Station is impressive, so worth a visit!
When visiting the city I always like to put in an appearance at the Oyster Bar. The food is excellent even if the restaurant is a bit touristy. The wait staff is a bit snooty, but that's almost part of the ambience.
Love to eat here the food is always amazing as well as the service. It’s a must if you’re visiting NYC!!
High energy old school stalwart in Grand Central. Nice place for quick bite to eat prior to train travel. Compared to other seafood options in NYC has slipped a bit but still OK.
Love this NYC classic and will be back! The service and food never disappoint!
Grumpy wait staff, unfriendly hostess, atmosphere & service not worth half the price. Will not return or recommend. Server assistants were the only positive feature
If you're a sea food lover, than yes. However, if you're not their select for non-seafood eater is very limited. I got the roasted chicken meal, and it was very dry. Didn't care for it.
Felt more like a tourist trap. Ice bucket for wine brought only when bottle was literally almost complete despite a request for one much earlier. The minute we had concluded our dinner we were offered dessert or coffee but declined. The check/cheque was immediately placed on the table without my requesting it which infuriated me and make the guests feel like they need to get out ASAP! Food was average. All in all I will not be returning.
Busy and fun. Good food. Can be extremely noisy at prime time
Going bad from year to year... sorry because in the past it was an institution in NYC. Not suggested.
The Lemon Sole was dry. The plate was so hot yet the food on it was not. I would not be returning. Very disappointed.
Service was slow and the food was not up to the standards of my prior experiences. I get the sense that they are cramming more people into the formal dining area since you could barely move and the noise was over-whelming. It was a disappointing experience at a place I have visited for decades!
Food, service and ambiance were good.
For a restaurant as old as this, over time you're bound to have a middling experience. And I have, in the past. But this time, everything went great. They did raise prices considerably, so if it's just for the oysters, go to Tracks in Penn Station. But if you want to put on the Ritz while gulping down ostreidae, the Grand Central Oyster Bar is still a good choice.
We booked a meal here based on the history of the Oyster Bar and the generally good reviews from recent patrons. It's an odd place for sure...with the waiters in paper hats and the decor that hasn't changed in decades. But, the white wine was nicely chilled and the oysters were fresh. Our server Fernando was friendly and attentive. My husband had the bouillabaisse and it was flavourful with great shell presentation. The daily special trout was good. Cheesecake was outstanding. It's a pricey meal but an experience.
The Grand Central Oyster Bar is Old New York, with its Guastavino Ceiling and classic location. More important, the seafood is absolutely fresh and well prepared, setting a standard that is seldom matched these days. Generous portions, too.
Very good value for dollars - generous portions, varied menu, good options
Jose was my server and made
Sure my dining experience was perfect. He is really professional
Still one of the best seafood restaurants in NewYork
Historic venue, tasty oysters, good service. What's not to like.
Best restaurant in NYC! Exec Chef Sandy Ingber does an amazing job turning fish and seafood into scrumptious works of art!
Glad to have done it, but better for lunch than tor dinner. Not one bit romantic and we were rushed. The servers were nice but the service way too fast.
Our reservation was made with no problem and was seated right when we arrived. The food was fantastic. The service however was slow. We had to wait close to 45 minutes (after flagging down our server) to finally place our dinner order and order a second round of drinks. Our appetizers and starters did come first and timely. Once our dinner order was placed, it didn't take long to arrive on our table and everything was great! Overall everything was great and I would come back again.
Eat in the saloon, noisy and crowded- just like NYC!!
Delicious and very varied selection of seafood. Oysters so fresh!!
rubbery clams, dry sole, inattentive wait staff, but the manhattan was well prepared
Having been here 15+ years ago I was looking forward to taking my husband for the 1st time. Atmosphere was just as I remembered it with a noisy buzz about it. Services was good till the end when we where offered dessert menu after we had dessert then got the bill twice (2 servers not knowing what the other had done) food good and I would recommend.
The history and architecture are worth a visit. Stick with the raw seafood, especially the oysters, and the chilled cocktail fare. Grab a nice white wine from the fairly priced wine list and you’ll be just fine. The saloon might be a better bet should I return.
New York classic. Overall solid experience.
The oysters bar is an institution of and seemed the perfect spot to take friends from out or town who hadn’t been to Grand Central Station before. Unfortunately it was a big disappointment.
Went for shad roe. It was only available with a shad filet. Shad roe was over cooked. Also went for the belon oysters. They are always the very best. My wife had a combination pan roast. The taste is haunting. I have been a lunch patron at the Oyster Bar since the mid sixties, which is before it went broke and was resurrected by Restaurant Associates. It is a great restaurant in a memorable space. It was an off night for the shade roe. I have had better, there and at home. Service was excellent. Our waiter was terrific. It is generally the best fish restaurant in New York..