The Lambs Club

You know, I went here without reading the reviews and I am glad I did! Yes, its pricey...Yes, its busy...but this was well worth the money! And there is something to be said about a place that is busy! ;) I loved their chicken paillard and I went with a group of 8 for lunch...everyone enjoyed the food which was apparent by the empty plates that got collected in the end! I am not too sure why others didnt like it but so far I am planning to go back for dinner (I hope it still impresses me!)

This was supposed to be the answer to the lack of decent places in the area, but is actually very similar to the other options - expensive, mediocre and touristy.

Big space with a deco feel, but the food was not very good. It is also very expensive - standard drinks are $20 and not big like local steakhouses, just a measured shot. I couldn't believe the bar bill actually.

Being a true foodie, my tastes range from the excellent hamburgers at Minetta Tavern and DB Bistro to the squab and foie gras at The Modern so I like to keep an open mind when it comes to taste, regardless of what the menu (and reviews) say. In this situation, however, I must agree with some of the other reviewers: The Lambs Club needs a bit of work to rise to the good opinion offered by Timeout Magazine a few months ago. What do I mean by work? First of all, the cocktails are extremely overpriced and extremely "underwhelming" in their mixtures and their size! I had them make a vodka martini, straight up, dirty. The young waitress asked "do you want that with olives?" I received my martini in an old fashioned "champagne" glass with olives that had food coloring! The foie gras appetizer was OK, actually nice and creamy. The dinner entrees needed help: my friend had the lamb saddle which appeared overcooked even though she requested medium rare; the size was also more consistent with a "lamb bracelet"! I had the cod over pork belly with clams and leeks. First of all there was 1 leek and 1-1/2 clams! The cod was good, though overcooked. The pork belly "taste" underneath was good as well. The waitress brought a fish knife out without a regular knife; now a fish knife is great with whole fish however this entree actually needed a regular knife, which, in all honesty, was dull: I had trouble cutting up the piece of leek. Dessert was good: choclate ginger cake with pears. The atmosphere was, well, c/w a hotel restaurant in midtown. Very casual in a place that did not want to be casual.There was an attendant in the washroom (!) which I have also encountered at other midtown hotel restaurants. Given the place, clearly absurd! This restaurant is OK, however it is NOT up to par with prices and atmosphere thay are trying to attain. I rated the service high because the staff was very attentive and did their best. Any foodie who eats in Manhattan/NYC will be hard pressed to want to return to this place.

This is one club you do not want to be a member. Even armed with a corporate card I felt it was just too expensive for the quality of food and the service. The waiter tried to explain that the chef uses simple methods to prepare local foods - not sure why this would mean more pricey than complex methods to prepare rare foods. Anyway, had the lamb saddle which was OK but small and nothing special. Sides were stingy and bland, and the service does not match the prices. Very nice space with not much else to offer.

Brought to partners for dinner. A whiskey on the rocks was $20 and the bartender used a thimble to pour it. Just because the bartenders are wearing white jackets doesn't mean you can rob people. Sure enough, not even all of the spirit made it into the glass. Chicken was $30 and reminded me of my college cafeteria. Waitress was a sweetheart but totally clueless. Nice space but stuffy. Will not return.

This place is VERY expensive - my steak was $50 before tip and no better than your local diner. The scene was touristy and the servers were scrambling around pretty clueless. When we went upstairs to the bar after dinner most of the tables had a single drink or small plate of food because the people who want to hang out there actually can't afford to enjoy themselves. It was just a sad atmosphere.