Minetta Tavern

I wanted to enjoy my boyfriend's birthday dinner at Minetta Tavern this weekend, but the ignorant, arrogant, and condescending staff ruined it for me. Without even addressing the preposterous reservation process, and the threats that were made to my fashionably late friends at the door, I'd like to highlight MT's greatest error. At the end of a two-hour, three-course dinner--and a $500 check--the maître d' came over to our table. After some brief small talk about birthday celebrations, he stooped to casually ask us to leave. "Well, you see, I've got to turn the table, so would you guys mind continuing the party elsewhere?" I'm sorry, but I didn't realize I had stepped into a diner. Don't be fooled by Minetta's vintage-classy veneer. It's just that -- a veneer. And beneath it is all the worst 21st-century pretentiousness that has come to infect New York restaurants with overblown egos. Okay, so they have excellent food. Maybe the best burger I've had, but let's face it, there will always be another famous steakhouse. And this one won't last past its brief flicker in the trendy sky. Why not? Because the Minetta staff treat people like commodities, as if it were the diners' privilege to enter their faux-festooned salon, and not the other way around. What happened to service? And the pleasure and joy of dining? In what world do you gain return-customers by kicking them out? I'll also congratulate Minetta on stupidly alienating the precise demographic of their future clientele: young New York investment bankers. So, Minetta, if you want to attract the tourists who don't know the difference between a Chile's and Le Bernardin, be my guest.

this is mcnally's best restaurant by a long shot. the food is excellent, the cote de beouf is the best steak in nyc, and this is coming from someone who eats at a lot of steak places. yes, the place is a pain, its busy, and its pretentious, but welcome to nyc. if you can get a reservation and can afford it there is no reason not to eat there. anyone who says this place isnt the real deal has no clue what they are talking about.

Last night was my first visit to MT. I read most of the reviews here, but couldn't get a sense of what to expect. Many of the reviewers seemed to express anger with MT. Actually, I find this anger very often in MPages reviews. On the other hand, other website reviews were more balanced and gave better insight into the restaurant and the food. Here is my experience...Minetta is classy and takes a small venue and offers a solid dining experience. Sure, the reservation procedure seems silly; the tables are very close together; the noise level can be loud. But when you arrive and your table is waiting, there really is room enough after you get settled in to your space, and the noise actually creates intimacy, it is quite comfortable. The waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. The cocktails are excellent and the special drinks bring a tang and zest to the meal. Appetizers of stuffed (with cod) squid and asparagus were perfect. Like many first timers I felt obliged to have the Black Label Burger--a three cut mixture of beef which includes 45 day aged rib eye. To my palate it was the best I've ever eaten. You simply can not compare this burger with Big Nick's or other such places. It was cooked perfectly with sweet and abundant caramelized onion. Grilled Dorade was a tasty piece of white fish worth your time and money. Wines by the glass were generously poured and worth the price. Hazelnut crepe made a just sweet enough dessert. In short, MT is a very worthwhile place which maximizes its space to make for very good dining. It is a place I will go back to often. Next time for steaks because they looked outstanding. PS Derek Jeter was in the house.

this is a very crowded restaurant, very noisy, and the food is just ok, i mean only slightly better than bad. But, the kill devil punch is good, very good, probably the best cocktail of the restaurant.

loved it...stuffed squid app, ny strip steak, a chocolate souffle...just awesome!

I had the $26 burger because, well, I HAD to give it a try what with all the hype. The burger was good, it was very good, but was it three times as better as the Corner Bistro burger or the Burger Joint burger? No way. I would've preferred fewer caramelized onions on it so I could've tasted the meat more, but, damn, the onions were good too. The squid appetizer was wonderful and juicy and cost a lot less than $26. I'd go back again but next time will try the steak.

Somebody should sue for copyright infringement: Like many of the other reviewers here I just loved the "quaint interior" and "old school" vibe that Keith McNally has "single handedly" created in his fabulously decorated new palace of cool, but unlike many of those I have been enjoying this place since I was a young kid and my grandmother would take us here on the weekends. What you folks probably don't realize is that not only did this restauranteur steal the name of the old place, it pretty much looks exactly the same inside, save for some minor alterations in upholstery and tiling. He basically closed the place down, changed the menu, and voila, bring on the yuppies! Of course the cuisine is completely new, but better?, hmm , not too sure about that. I'll take a plate of homemade pasta and meatballs anyday. Mama mia!