The Bar Room at The Modern

Having read the reviews on a lot of restaurants we chose the Modern for our one night in New York. Thank Goodness!! It was superb! We had Champagne at the bar before dinner & met some really nice chaps from Chicago drinking Islay Malt....then there was the food...I think the previous reviewers were somewhere else because it was faultless. The last meal we had this good was 7 years ago in Dubai at Verre and Angela Hartnett was the chef. Last year we ate dinner at Anthony Bourdain's Les Halle where 2 out of 3 of us had a very average meal for the price. The Modern blew Anthony away. The menu style is very clever as we could try several different dishes without over-eating - also the wine choice by the glass is brilliant! The beignet for pudding was sooooooo good - lighter than in N'Orleans! We are from England and own 4 "Gastro" pubs so we king of do food for a living - the evening we spent at the Modern was truly memorable. All our fiends have been told when in NYC this is a must visit. We will defintely be back as soon as possible.

Winter Restaurant Week was a pleasant surprise. Great selection and a ton of food! I will be back again.

Agree completely wirh ladyfriend. When I first went the place was quiet, service wonderful. Was there last night. Service was also poor. Took a lot of gesturing just to get my first drink and the water I asked for? Forget it. Maybe because I am a female? I am definitely noticing a pattern when a single female is out on her won. Service is not so good at a lot of places I've noticed. When my companion joined me, it was still hard to get a server's ttention. The food? Seriously a tarte flambe is puff pastry with creme friche and bacon and onions. this place's take was I swear matzoh wirh melted cheese! For $12!! I could make that at home for a lot less. Next time I want quiet bar with decent nibbles in midtown, I'll go elsewhere

When the bar room first opened, it used to be my favorite midtown restaurant. We had friendly services and delicious well-priced food. Now the portions are way smaller but more expensive -- the arctic char tartare is disappearing! and the service is cold and slow and unhelpful. We never saw our waitress. When we asked for a sommelier for some recommendations, a manager came over and couldn't describe the wines at all -- completely useless. Just not what I am used to from a Danny Meyer restaurant. I wonder if he is still in charge? because the lack of warmth is just not what I expect from his staff.

Having heard such good things, a group of friends and I decided to try the Bar Room last night. The space is beautiful but the food is decidedly mediocre. Between three of us, we ordered nine different dishes and all tried a bit of everything. Salt appears to be the key ingredient in almost every dish, and indeed tries to compensate for the total lack of flavor in some of the offerings.

The setting was fabulous.The fod was very good ,although somewhat expensive.The cheff should add a least one more meatless option. one small albeit fresh salad and cannolini soup minus the meat side do'y give vegetarians any real options.Come on guys, one meatless dish won't kill you! The cocktails, however are out of this world!

So I've been here for lunch almost once a week for over a year. And I tip 20% as a rule. I don't eat a large lunch - usually an appetizer and some wine. They portion out the wine as though each glass were Chateau Petrus. And the staff, while pretty consistent, never says hello, nice to see you again - etc. Just perfunctory greetings and harried service, as though I were a stranger. Why do I keep going back? It's still one of the best places in the neighborhood to get a good, light, elegant lunch or a drink. Just wish the service were more amiable. And when I find an alternative....won't be back too often.