The View spins Times Square kitsch into a Broadway hit - Review - New York - The Infatuation
"Don’t let the words “revolving restaurant from the ’80s inside a Times Square hotel” deter you. The View is an absolute blast. After wandering through the ghost mall that is the Marriott Marquis lobby, and rocketing up 48 floors in a glass box, you’re time-warped to a two-floor restaurant and lounge, suavely remodeled by the Union Square Hospitality team. photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte Pause Unmute The slowly revolving dining room—illuminated by miniature table lamps and the glow of the skyline—does one full turn per hour, which is plenty of time to appreciate the instrumental version of “I’ve Gotta Feeling” wafting over from the grand piano. It's NYC with jazz hands, perfect for entertaining out-of-towners before a show. The lounge, which is on the upper level and revolves slightly faster, is a good post-show cocktail spot that's open until midnight. photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte video credit: Emily Schindler photo credit: Kate Previte Pause Unmute Convenient as it is for hosting, with a seemingly limitless supply of tables, The View is a fun portal to Big Apple nostalgia for New Yorkers, too. Servers in black-and-white uniforms deliver crisp martinis with overstuffed blue cheese olives, the surprisingly budget-friendly slab of prime rib is cooked just right, and a towering slice of devil’s food cake winks to the skyscrapers outside. Without straying too far from its Broadway roots, The View spins Times Square kitsch into a hit with staying power. Food Rundown Shrimp Cocktail There's only so much you can do to make chilled shrimp more intriguing, but these are pretty juicy, and the horseradish grated on top is a nice touch. Most importantly, the icy dish is the most glamorous version of itself against the Midtown skyline. photo credit: Kate Previte Baby Iceberg Salad Crisp and satisfying, with lardons and a quail egg. If you're having a full meal here, it's a good precursor to whatever meat you end up getting. photo credit: Kate Previte Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cake This nice little crab cake is topped with toasted crumbs, and sits on a pool of remoulade that tastes like hot pickles. It's $34, and not essential, but get one if you're cobbling together a snackier meal in the downstairs restaurant. photo credit: Kate Previte Char-Broiled Burger A very good burger, just as you'd expect from pedigreed, burger-producing parents like Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and Manhatta. For this variation, the thick patty is covered with sharp cheddar, horseradish sauce, and sauteed mushrooms, which feels like an appropriate throwback for the setting. Hot, crisp fries are included. photo credit: Kate Previte Snake River Farms Picanha An unexpected hit, this 9-oz. steak has a charred crust, a beautiful little rim of fat, and dense, juicy meat. photo credit: Kate Previte Wagyu Pigs In A Blanket Only available in the upstairs lounge, this is in fact a silly little appetizer, but it tastes good, and it feels like the right way to embrace the fact that you're sitting in a revolving restaurant, and drinking a martini with pastrami spices on the rim. photo credit: Kate Previte The View Chocolate Cake This slab of devil's food cake is dramatic, yet comforting at the same time. It's easy to share between a few people and richer than you'd expect, thanks to the drizzle of caramel. Some tall cakes stuff in multiple icing layers, but this one doesn't need more than two. photo credit: Kate Previte" - Sonal Shah
