Blue Water Grill

Blue Water Grill is clearly going downhill as one of NY's restaurant institutions. While always very corporate feeling, its menu used to be delicious. However, this is no longer the case. I ate there the other day with my husband and another couple and was overwhelmingly dissapointed. We were seated in the "jazz room," a continuation of the restaurant downstairs, where the band was so loud we couldn't carry on conversation at our table. The bread was so salty I couldn't eat it. I then had the filet mignon MR, which was a completely boring and uninspired dish; my husband had the merluza, which was a tiny portion which came overly salted. The one saving grace of the evening was a delicious calamari appetizer. Dessert wasn't creative or cool--a standard creme brulee and a very measly cheesecake dome thing. With so many new, hip, charming menus and restaurants popping up all over the city, and in a time of recession, this standard, skippable restaurant is sure to see less and less of its customers.

The servers at Blue Water Grill are amazing--knowledgable, friendly, and attentive. That said, their talents go to waste in this mediocre restaurant. Whereas once you needed a reservation to dine here, you can now just walk in and there is a plethora of empty tables. I'm certain this is, in large part, do to the mediocrity of the food. The food is edible--except the chef tends to make the dishes overly salty--but unimaginative and unmemorable. For 29.00 for chilean sea bass, it could come with more than white rice and chinese broccoli--I could make that at home. In addition, the tables are packed so closely together that you often feel like you are eating with strangers. While bright and expansivve, the restaurant lacks any sort of character and is the epitome of un-special experience.

I went with a party of four last Saturday night, had a 8pm reservation, showed up at 8:15 and got seated immediately in the downstairs Jazz Room. Food and service were excellent and prompt. Even got three decent sized glasses out of the half bottle of chianti which was surprising. My red snapper with white shrimp was cooked to perfection, and I had a taste of merluza, tuna, and mixed seafood paella that others in my family orders, and everything was great! Total came to $205 before tip, so a bit on the pricey end, but worth it. A warning though: They say they try to keep the Jazz Room at a conversational volume, but we all found it to be a bit too loud. You do in fact have to raise your voice for others across the table to hear you.

Had a 9pm reservation on a Friday and had to wait an additional 45 minutes to be seated. I knew of this possibility from previous reviews, but nevertheles still disappointing. Got a free round of drinks. The food was good and the waitress pleasant. We were in the dowstairs jazz room, which is very noisy but that we did not mind.

Stumbled upon this restaurant while in the city with my two girls (ages 11 & 14). Granted we were there early (6pm) so it was not crowded. Service was extremely attentive, my kids love it when they are "fawned over" at a nice restaurant. Waiter made many trips to the table to make sure drinks, food, water, everything ok. Had 2 delicious fish dishes and chicken. Portion size was perfect, as we didn't want to take leftovers to the theater, and had room for dessert (creme brulee with pears - yum!). Switched one dessert, immediately brought another. Would definitely go back. One minor complaint - bread was slow to arrive.

Food was delightful!!! But the service was not great. The service attendants (waiters) need training on how to greet and treat.

I came here on a Thursday night during Restaurant Week with 9 pm reservations. I arrived 20 minutes early because the hostess told me to come early at the chance of getting an earlier seating. We ended up waiting for 45 minutes in the overly crowded and noisy entrance. Once we were seated, the service was inconsistent...drinks coming out quickly, but the appetizers slow...entrees quick...etc. The food was average and the portions were on the small side. My peach pie dessert was cold when it should have been warm, and not very tasty. I don't think that I would come back here, although I could see it being a decent place to take a date