How is Agern restaurant rated?

Name: Agern
Address: 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY, United States, 10017
Telephone: (646) 568-4018
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.5

Agern

4.5

406 Reviews

$31 to $50

Nordic

Agern, meaning “Acorn” in Danish, is a season-driven restaurant and bar, located at Grand Central Terminal, tucked away between Vanderbilt Hall and the 42nd street southwestern passageway entrance (accessible via the 42nd Street entrance at Vanderbilt Avenue). The menu, from the hands of Icelandic head chef Gunnar Gíslason and his team, features farmed and wild ingredients from the New York State region exposed to time-honored techniques, and flavors rooted in Nordic Cuisine.

On Saturday's Agern offer Tasting Menu only.
Agern Full Tasting Menu $155
Features a round of 8 servings
Agern Abbreviated Tasting Menu $105
Features a round of 5 servings
Tastings menus requires full participation of the table

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

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What 406 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.5

4.5 based on all time ratings

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.3Ambience
3.9Value

Noise • Quiet

88% of people would recommend it to a friend

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d
david
New York Area
6 reviews
vip
2.0
6 reviews
Reviewed on July 12, 2019
overall2foodserviceambience
Walked in-place empty but early. Staff nice-- professional. Atmosphere also fine. Portions miniscule. Eat a lot of bread!! You will spend over 30 dollars for a piece of monkfish that is smaller than an appetizer portion in most restaurants. Needed to get something to eat after dinner. Perhaps chef will double the size of his portions to approximate what most restaurants would serve
KJ
KateJ
New York Area
8 reviews
vip
3.0
8 reviews
Dined on May 3, 2019
overall3food3service3ambience3
Nice complementary sparkling water. Unique menu not for everyone. They served us the wrong entree but did not offer to take it off the bill.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great - good food - lovely presentation
E
Excathedra
London
10 reviews
vip
2.0
10 reviews
Dined on April 26, 2019
overall2food2service4ambience2
The restaurant is a shadow of itself since the opening. Food is not as good and inventive. I had a duck special for 44 $ and got 2 small slices of duck breast (!) wine list is good and interesting. Service was great. Restaurant was empty on a Friday 6.30 pm
AC
AlexanderC
New York Area
6 reviews
vip
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2019
overall4food4service5ambience5
Agern has a lovely dining room -- beautiful and surprisingly quiet, given that it is located literally steps from one of the busiest corridors in Grand Central Station. The bread, the appetizers, and the desserts were great, if a little elborate. (The waitstaff has to explain what everything is, both before and after it arrives at the table.) The entrees were a slight disappointment; good, but trying too hard to be imaginative and innovative. The restaurant is incredibly convenient for those who commute via Metro North and perfect for a mid-week celebration. Frankly, if it were a tad cheaper, we would go there more often.
MN
MariaN
New York Area
30 reviews
vip
3.0
30 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2019
overall3food3service2ambience3
Interesting flavors
HB
Happy2BHappy
New York Area
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 18, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
A unique place. Excellent and unusual food, perfect service, quiet. The only negative is the price of wine by the glass, which is much too high. But there is good beer at normal prices.
JS
JayS
New York Area
2 reviews
vip
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 12, 2019
overall3food4service5ambience5
Portions were too small.
CS
CatS
New York Area
24 reviews
vip
5.0
24 reviews
Dined on April 10, 2019
overall5food5service4ambience5
Our small office went to Agern for a staff birthday. All of the food was delicious. For first course, the treviso was great, as was the black bass and the beets. For the main, the arctic char, pork shoulder, and roasted chicken were all hits. We only got 2 desserts - chocolate and blood orange - but love them both. The plates are small, so a 3-course meal is not filling at all. But the flavors are so complex, it's a very satisfying meal. Also, try the non-alcoholic cocktails! The spring tonic, made with ginger beer, was my fave. Others enjoyed the shrubs.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
5 reviews
2.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 8, 2019
overall2food5service3ambience1
The food was delicious but not enough of it. I am a thin woman, but I left hungry. No one wants to load up on bread, no matter how delicious it is, to feel satiated. There were too many staff members asking us the same questions — drinks, water, ready to order. They were lovely but annoying. The decor is like eating in a cafeteria. Tablecloths and candles and the lights turned down a bit would help. The prices reflect fine dining, and the ambiance should reflect that. Also, 80s punk music at a too-high decibel is not ok. The staff/kitchen might have been grooving on that, but we were not. I won’t go back.
CS
ChrisS
Chicago
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 1, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food. Booking system and social media presence is broken, so the place doesn’t get traffic. Deserves better.
c
claude
New York Area
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 23, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had been looking forward to dining at Agern for some time. It did not disappoint! Everything met or exceeded expectations. The tasting menus were very well executed, tasty and beautifully presented. Service was attentive and friendly making us feel very welcome. A true Scandinavian experience!
ST
STld
New York Area
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 14, 2019
overall4food3service4ambience3
It didn’t feel as cozy as we had expected. The music was terrible, which cheapened the overall ambiance.
BP
BrentP
London
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 12, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our 6th time at Agern. Service always outstanding, food outstanding, great wine & other options for drink. This was the first time they didn't send us home with treats - bread & sweets so maybe a change in policy. We will continue to go back!
SH
StevenH
New York Area
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 6, 2019
overall3food2service2ambience4
menu was very strange to me and was challenging to order
RF
RisaFoody
Orlando
81 reviews
vip
5.0
81 reviews
Dined on February 1, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience3
Consistently wonderful. One of my favorite restaurants in NYC. Each dish is delicious and surprising and delightful. This time I tried the chicken, and it was perfect. It’s right that straightforward chicken is the best test of a kitchen, and Agern passes superbly!
IL
IngridL
Washington DC
19 reviews
vip
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on January 24, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious lunch. Beef tartare, bass, pork shoulder, Arctic char all delicious! My husband remarked how he wished he could get his sourdough like theirs and they gave him some sour dough starter
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 17, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Dining at Agern was a wonderful experience from the moment we checked in to the moment we walked out. The service was warm, attentive (without being overbearing), and knowledgeable, and the food was outstanding. Each dish was a delectable work of art. We were celebrating a double birthday and were surprised with takeaway goodies. The ambiance is somehow both lively and soothing at the same time. It is a lovely retreat amid the bustle of Grand Central Station and a worthwhile treat!
D
Downtown
New England
27 reviews
vip
4.0
27 reviews
Dined on January 17, 2019
overall4food5service4ambience4
Space is simply too noisy and crowded for the price and quality of the food. Food is delicious and thoughtfully conceived. Wine pairings were excellent but costly.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on January 16, 2019
overall2food1service2ambience4
Poorly executed menu. Trying to be far fancier than apparently able to deliver. Portions were laughably small, e.g. two leaves if kale and one tablespoon of spinach next to a piece of fish the size of a child’s wooden block....and about as flavorful. If you get a chance to eat here, pass it up!
L
Lennie
New York Area
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on January 11, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Agern is always changing, never disappointing, a bit unusual, creative and elegant! I would recommend everything!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 5, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Already knew place had great reputation. Very understated, the tables and chair almost look cafeteria casual until you look carefully at the hand crafted tables and Danish Modern chairs. Service and presentation, and quality of every single morsel served, were exceptional, perfection clearly the goal. While prices were exceptionally high as a result, perfection costs money. Agern is to dining as Georg Jensen is to silver and crystal.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 26, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
A well hidden gem worth finding!
RS
RickS
London
21 reviews
vip
5.0
21 reviews
Dined on December 26, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience4
Interesting food and great service. Been there several times and have really enjoyed the experience each time. Will be back.
K
Kellyeatsout
New York Area
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 21, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
My husband and I dined on the tasting menu pre-theatre. The scallops, fish and lobster were cooked perfectly but somewhat forgettable. My favorite was the duck ( a substitution for venison) as it was tender, flavorful and simply fantastic. My husband kept the venison and he finished it all despite seldomly eating meat.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on December 20, 2018
overall1food1service2ambience3
Unworthy of its one star at all
TR
TrondR
New York Area
10 reviews
vip
3.0
10 reviews
Dined on December 17, 2018
overall3food5service1ambience3
The service was terrible. We ordered a bottle of wine and it took the restaurant 30 minutes to tell us that they were out of that wine. They were slow in taking orders and not very attentive. For the price you are paying at this restaurant, you would expect excellent service. The restaurant was not even crowded.
h
hollyl
New York Area
16 reviews
vip
3.0
16 reviews
Dined on December 12, 2018
overall3food2service4ambience4
Food portions were small and unimpressive.
M
Mexico22
New York Area
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 7, 2018
overall5food5service2ambience5
Food was outstanding, amazing flavors and beautiful plating. Service was fair. Different from other restaurants of this price range and level, where you see service very sharp and quick to minor things you may need, this time it took them some time to bring us menu’s, we probably waited around 10 -15 min for the server to stop by again to take our order and we had to flag the person down to ask for things.
l
lovely
New York Area
41 reviews
4.0
41 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2018
overall4food4service4ambience3
We really enjoyed our meal. I wish there were more options on the a la carte menu. The tasting menus looked good but it's just too much.
D
Discerningdiner
New York Area
22 reviews
vip
4.0
22 reviews
Dined on November 28, 2018
overall4food3service4ambience4
Agern continues to be a welcome haven in the hustle and bustle of GCT, and NY needs high quality restaurant options in this area. For my second visit, with an invited out of town guest, I found the food delicious, again, but not served hot, and the wines extraordinary (but priced so). The service was extremely attentive, also often missing in NYC eateries, but a bit too much of a production made over choices: too precious. New Yorkers just want to be delivered great food without fanfare by nice and informed staff in pleasant surroundings. The Nordic theme is followed with authenticity (but not over the top) and is also welcomed as a cuisine not offered all that often. Restaurant design is attractive and appealing: Scandinavian modern with lots of blond wood; pleasant, clean and welcoming, including the bathrooms (also critical to foodies). I consider Agern a go-to in midtown and recommend it to others highly despite a few (hopefully isolated) issues.
LR
LiveforRestos
New York Area
49 reviews
vip
3.0
49 reviews
Dined on November 25, 2018
overall3food3service3ambience4
Staff is a little too pushy and intrusive. I understand that the Lunch is a good deal. As a recent traveler to the Scandinavian countries, I feel this spot is no big deal. It doesn't even approach what you'll find in Denmark or Iceland or Stockholm or Oslo.
PA
PhilA
Tampa
34 reviews
vip
3.0
34 reviews
Dined on November 20, 2018
overall3food3service4ambience3
Outrageously expensive for a very ordinary lunch. Would not recommend
c
cuponoodles
New York Area
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 17, 2018
overall4food4service5ambience4
Good food and ambience, with great service. Prices are a little high, given the small to moderate portion sizes.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
150 reviews
vip
4.0
150 reviews
Dined on November 15, 2018
overall4food4service4ambience4
Great place near the grand central.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 14, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
A splurge but worth it!
j
jpgirl
Orange County
16 reviews
vip
4.0
16 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2018
overall4food5service4ambience2
Food was amazing and the service was good, but it took forever for the food to come out. We got the tasting menu and took almost 2 hours until the main course. Maybe go at a earlier time when it’s slower?
f
fernand7
New York Area
13 reviews
vip
4.0
13 reviews
Dined on November 11, 2018
overall4food5service3ambience4
Food is better than service and ambient. Overall, valie os good. Worths a visit.
CB
ChrisB
New York Area
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 10, 2018
overall5food4service5ambience5
Historic location provides an intimate ambiance. Portions are consistent with more typical European portions - a good things. Tasteful and well presented. The pork shoulder was delectable but probably wouldn’t get the lobster again - just not my style. If we hadn’t been full, would have tried one of the desserts.
RF
RisaFoody
Orlando
81 reviews
vip
5.0
81 reviews
Dined on November 7, 2018
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outstanding in every way. A menu that’s truly inventive, fascinating, and delicious. I wanted everything! And the portions are reasonable.

FAQs

Agern is rated 4.5 stars by 406 OpenTable diners

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing