The Independent

First time visiting The Independent last night and we will be back. Great location for dinner before a show. The staff amazing and attentive. All of the staff constantly observed tables when walking past to take care of patrons. There was no attituded of "that's not my job" or "that's not my station." Great team work! We enjoyed everything we ordered. The espresso fall-tini has great flavor. (Just give it a few more shakes for a better froth on top). The pull-apart brioche..sooo good! The pickle brined chicken was moist and flavorful. Love the fries. My husband enjoyed the shrimp tacos with an order of truffle fries. I also ordered the brussel sprouts. Two things, please offer as a side, b/c the appetizer portion is too big for one person. I also wish they had a bit more of a char on them. But overall we had a great experience and will recommend to our friends who frequent the city. Oh, Sierra is a great waitress!

Was here for a corporate happy hour. It's ok. Great location to grand central. The waiters were john on the spot to take drink orders. Food orders, no so much. Infact, you're best avoiding the food. Not great. The drinks were OK but nothing spacial. Maybe stick with the margaritas. Decent holiday decorations. We enjoyed ourselves but when drunk enough with known people anything is fun enough. There are better places to go. There are also worse. Check it out and decide for your self.

Had an incredible time at The Independent! The atmosphere was welcoming, the drinks were spot‑on, and the service was top‑tier. Scarlett, in particular, made the night unforgettable. She was friendly, attentive, and genuinely great at what she does. Her energy and professionalism elevated the whole experience. If you’re looking for a place with great vibes and even better service, this is the place — especially with Scarlett behind the bar!

Thank you again so much Clive! Clive is such a wonderful bartender, gave friendly service and made delicious cocktails. He is clearly a huge asset to this establishment. It was our first time in NYC and he made our experience incredibly memorable. Not to mention this place is BEAUTIFUL. So if you want excellent service with great drinks in a lovely atmosphere, go see Clive at Indo.

Nice atmosphere. I went there during restaurant week with 2 friends and 2 of us were late but they were still patient and nice. Steak frites were so good. I would definitely go there again! My server was also nice and other servers were constantly checking in. For some that might be a tad overwhelming but it was okay.

Hard to find a nice setting for lunch in Midtown that's reasonably priced with good food and isn't so noisy that you can't easily talk to your lunch partner. This was such a place. Shrimp tacos were excellent. Especially fine was our service. Thanks to Ciera for not rushing us as we talked, for always smiling and checking in that we had all we needed. You really made the lunch a notch above.

Delicious food, very friendly staff, and love the ambiance. We had the prix fixe dinner and it was very reasonably priced. Fantastic date night location, highly recommend.

Wondered in on our first day, in New York. Clive couldn’t be more welcoming “bar is full of bloody English today” we laughed, drank and were well fed. We enjoyed the atmosphere and Irish craic so much we returned 3 times during our week. Highly recommend this lovely bar with great staff. Cheers from Robin Hood land 🍻😂

I learned about this restaurant after getting into the NY Restaurant week website and looking for a good option near the theater district. We met Stephanie T and David S for dinner and we loved the food there. I picked the restaurant week menu option of Meatballs app, Salmon entree and poached pear dessert. ($45)...everything was just delicious and nicely prepared and seasoned. My husband got the burger with fries and it was juicy and great tasting. Great service by our server and the manager. Overall a great choice if you are in the area.

Our friends, Robert and Jeff, were visiting NYC and of course we were so happy to meet up and catch up with them. Due to Robert's research, we chose to go to The Independent. Robert made a reservation for Wednesday at 6:00pm and we were seated right away. It was pretty busy inside, all the tables were occupied and a lot of people were at the bar. It was a little loud, but we were able to have conversations. The Independent is participating in NYC Restaurant Week from Sunday-Friday, January 20th-February 12th, 2026. A three course dinner (choice of appetizer, main, and dessert) is $45.00. All the appetizers looked so good, but I went with the burrata which had roast pear, brown butter, marcona almonds, and sage. My husband went with the crispy chicken bao buns which had cucumber, red onion, cilantro, sesame, and gochujang. For main, I chose the faroe island salmon which had chickpeas, onions, spicy roasted red pepper tomato sauce, whipped feta yogurt, chili oil, dill, and 2 pieces of sourdough. My husband had the French onion French dip which was shaved tender roast beef, gruyere, horseradish cream on baguette with a side of caramelized onions and fries. For dessert, I had the red wine poached pear and my husband had the butter toffee cake. There were 2 red wine poached pears and accompanied with whipped mascarpone cream and marcona almonds. The butter toffee cake was warm and tasty. It was nice that I started my meal with pear and ended with it. Everything was very good and flavored well. The salmon was a little salty by itself, but when I mixed it with the sauce it decreased the saltiness. I really enjoyed the roasted pear and the red wine poached pears. Service was wonderful and friendly. The three course dinner for $45.00 is definitely worth it and very filling. For the location, I was expecting the food to be a little mediocre but it was a lot better. Of course, the company was the best.

I choose to go with the five star rating, despite some small glitches. We visited restaurant on Sunday night for dinner before the concert. Great ambiance, I kept looking at all the New York historical pictures from the early days. Restaurant offers good selection of draft beers, mostly local - however my first choice, Five Boroughs Pilsner was not available. We shared a few appetizers first. Fried Calamari was okay, not the best rendition. Crispy Chicken Bao buns were delicious though, great flavor, also Mortadella sliders were very tasty. I had Crispy Chicken sandwich as my main dish and it was excellent, very tasty, served with perfectly crispy French fries. The restaurant didn't have any espresso on the offering which I found a bit strange. Good service, prompt, attentive, friendly. Recommended.

I came here for the restaurant week lunch and it was great. I had low expectations because of the location of this restaurant and thought it was a tourist trap but I had a great experience. First for appetizers I had the meatballs with polenta this was quite delicious. The met was soft and flavorful and the polenta was the perfect accompaniment it was smooth and silky; a really great dish. I had the burger and it was good. The fries were fresh and the burger was juicy and good. The service was really good, the waiter was friendly and attentive. The place was nice and the bathroom was clean and organized. I really liked this place and would come back.

Went for lunch in a Friday, the place was empty at 12:30. Great set in the window. But, it took forever to get someone to come over, then it took forever to get water. Then it took forever to get our order in. We just got sandwiches and my French dip was good, but hardly any au jus, ran out half way through, and we couldn't find anyone to get more and our water ran out. My wife got the chicken sandwich that was supposed to be brined in pickle juice with aoli on it. It was just a thin super fried piece of chicken with a gallon of sauce. And our tiny table was covered with plates that never got taken. I just think you have to always consider there might be a reason it's empty at lunch on a Friday, my mistake.

I stopped here just for drinks, so we didn't have a chance to try any food. The location was great, definitely near a ton of other things. The drinks were just okay, but definitely not bad. I had an apple cider mule which seemed like a regular Moscow mule with apple cider in it. The holiday decorations were a fun touch!

This was a wonderful, casual restaurant. Our server, Sierra, was excellent & very attentive to our needs. The other staff worked well as a team by getting us another drink when glass was empty, delivering our food, & clearing our dishes when empty. It's a small, cozy place to go for a drink, dinner or appetizer. Our food was delicious. We will be back on our next trip to NYC!

The ambiance, the decor, the service, the food and the drinks make this place worth it to give it a try! Since we were there to make time to attend a show in broadway, we tried their espresso martini and truffle fries. Both were such a great choice to munch on while we headed over to the show. I would put this place in my list if I ever visit NY again.

Great spot to grab food and drinks! Came with a huge party and they were able to seat us. Great service and a variety of food options! Cocktails on point!

Solid things to say about The Independent. Has become a classic catch-all for after work. Would be fun for a first date, and great for catching up over a nice pint after work. They do a fine job on classic and specialty cocktails and the food is no slouch. Would put the quality above average bar food, with a sophisticated touch/care to the quality. The food menu is more specific than just pub food and the beers are classier in their own way too. Always cold, pricey but that's due to the environment and area effect

Stumbled across this place while walking in Times Square area. Great spot with live music, awesome drinks & food. The staff are great and very engaged. I actually forgot my phone at the bar and I was down the block and the bartender caught up to me to give it back. So cool, that never happens. Thanks Jojo. You rock!

Stopped in later in the evening for a drink and some food. They were offering a limited bar menu, which still had a good variety. Each in our party of four enjoyed what they ordered. I had the burger which I found to be very good. Nice place.

Tasty food. Unique menu. Cozy high top table in dark wood setting w classic design. My teen didn't enjoy the menu, but another teen & the adults did.

Popped in for happy hour after work with a friend and the drinks were great, space was fab and so was the service. The calamari was a bit tough but the tuna tar tar was pretty good.

It's been a while since I've been here and I'm happy I finally returned. During my previous visit I didn't have any food, so this evening I ordered a few dusted with my buddy. Crispy cauliflower: very yummy. It didn't come out hot, though, and don't order it if you don't like cumin. Margherita pinsa: it came burned on the bottom and lacked salt. Wings: again, they were barely warm. Nothing to write home about. Burger: it was pretty good, but again it didn't impress me as anything out of the ordinary. Overall, the food deserved 3 stars, but the service was outstanding, especially Zana, who made us feel welcomed and comfortable. The bar is beautiful and warm. I think next time I'll stick to just having a drink, since they have a rich selection.

I was in charge of booking a team dinner for 17 people around our office and stumbled across the Independent. They helped create a prix fixe menu with appetizers, entrees, and sides. The entire planning process was easy and the communication. Was wonderful. When the time came to head to the Independent, I was very happy with the ambiance! The staff set us up in the back of the restaurant along two long tables on the wall. Even though it wasn't a private room, it still felt like we had our own little area. That being said, it was quite loud in the restaurant and sometimes you had to shout to be heard, but that isn't the fault of the restaurant. We just came in at a busy time and the place was buzzing! My appetizer was the burrata with basalmic strawberries which was quite good. The other option was a tuna tartar that, though I didn't eat it myself, got rave reviews from the team. Our three entree options were a harvest chicken salad, lemon herb pasta, and a grilled salmon. I had the pasta and it was airy and delicious. The sides were homemade super crispy delicious fries, a green salad, and veggie stir fry. All were fabulous. I 100% will be back. Everything from the planning to the service to the food was top notch!​

My husband and I came here after a Broadway show tonight. It was fairly small and intimate and not busy at all. Unfortunately, they were out of the 'Everything Pretzel' which I really wanted to try. Therefore, we tried the 'Chile Crisp Chicken Wings' instead which were DELICIOUS. I should have just ordered a couple orders of those. For my husband's entree, he ordered the 'Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich'. He said this was very bland and even with the sauce they had on it, it was tasteless. However, the fries were good. For my entree, I got the 'Cheese Steak Sandwich' which was NY Strip / caramelized onions / tomato / arugula / blue cheese sauce on a baguette. He had to make me a new order because my waiter, unfortunately, dropped it. That's okay - mistakes happen, but once again, this was not a hit. It was fine - nothing more nothing less. The steak was very dry. Despite dropping my meal, like I said, mistakes happen. The service was fast, friendly and knowledgable. Would I be back or recommend? Probably not. It was $111 with tip which is expensive and I've had much better in the Times Square area.

Came here on a Wednesday evening (545 pm) during restaurant week. I couldnt get any reservations online so I called two days prior to ensure walk ins were welcomed. They said walk-ins were welcomed. I got there and it was full with people at the bar (front area) and back area. However, I was taken to a high table in the back almost immediately. When we were seated, our waitress approached and asked if we were in a hurry. I told her we had a show at 7:30. She told us the kitchen was backed up as a warning. Well...... she wasnt lying. We ordered drinks, appetizer (chicken bao buns and meatballs),entree (roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and salmon with squid ink risotto) and dessert (butter toffee cake). They brought out our drinks and appetizers in a timely manner. We enjoyed both. However, we had to ask (7:10 pm) for our entrees and dessert together. When we realized how behind they were, we just asked for boxes for our entrees and our dessert to be boxed in advance. We literally took two bites of our food (still delicious) and pack it up. When I got home and tasted the toffee cake....YUM!!!!!!! Our waitress was apologetic for the delay and provided a discount for our food due to the delay which was much appreciated. The ambiance was very nice. Dark walls, intimate lighting Would definitely try this spot again...with more time to enjoy my food.

We popped in here because we had neglected to make any reservations on our last night in the city. They were able to seat us after about a half an hour and the vibe was fine but food was just mediocre, actually our worst NYC food experience compared to every other meal we had over the course of four days.. To be fair the menu description was accurate, but my salad was 100% radicchio which I just found to be very odd ...I asked for a side of mixed greens to make it a little more edible. I also added grilled chicken. For an entrée salad it was lacking. Also had the truffle fries which were edible. Drinks were good!

We visited NYC a couple days after New Years and were looking around Times Square for a place to eat dinner; we found The Independent on Yelp. We were immediately seated at a hightop table. The hostess, Zanna ('like Donna with a Z') was very kind and accommodating to our 6 year old daughter, printing out coloring pages of her requested characters and providing a large box of crayons as well. Thank you! We ended up doing a bunch of small plates for a tapas style meal. This worked well for us, though we barely made it by with a child because I don't feel like most of the offerings are kid-friendly, even with our fairly adventurous eater. Too spicy, complex flavors, etc...might be good for adults but hard to feed kids like this. STILL, she was happy with the crayons and we made it work. Beautifully decorated for the holidays. Restaurant was clean, as well as the bathrooms (one on the same floor, but others down the stairs). I would eat here again and would recommend to others, especially if eating only with other adults.

The food was pretty good not a very extensive menu decorated very tastefully for xmas wouldve gotten 5 stars the 20 peecent added to bill is crazy when server wasnt even attentive for drnks

came here for restaurant week, resy online but it felt like it wasn't needed as it was pretty empty when we came in. they did have a reserved sign for our table which was nice- it was high table though (which is a bit hard for me as i am short but it was fine for a short meal). the waiter/staff was nonchalant - not bad not amazing. he let us take our time with our menu before ordering. the drinks came out promptly after we ordered then the appetizer and meal. $30 for the lunch we felt like was steal! the drinks were half the price but that's nyc for you. we all thoroughly enjoyed our drinks and meal. the burrata was disappointing but the brussel sprouts and meatballs were very good. i got the burger, my friend got the pizza and my other friend got the chicken sandwich. the burger was cooked well and came with fries (delicious). the pizza was underwhelming but still tasty nevertheless. overall, nice atmosphere &good food. wouldn't mind coming back. if you're nearby this place, i would say take up on the restaurant week deals!

We had just arrived, checked into our hotel and then stumbled upon the Independent for dinner. It was completely enjoyable. The cocktails and food were really good. The portions were very good sized and the lights and trees were so cute. The waiter was incredibly attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Nice place to dine.

I was debating between 3 and 4 stars - we love the ambiance of this place but some parts fell short. Our waiter initially was on it but when it got busy he disappeared. The drinks were not great, we both got old fashioned and espresso martini. The appetizers were amazing - brioche and brussel sprouts, but the french onion french dip was fairly bland. We'll probably be back, but not for drinks.

Couldn't be more disappointed with the reception when we walked in for a couple cocktails.. 2 open seats at the bar and 2 more open tables( in the window area)..Hostess simply said at 330pm on this Saturday..sorry no room for you and we have this places reserved..won't be back..too many great pop in and out bars in the area

A good vibe, drinks were good, food wasn't the best... quality of meat in the steak frites was lower than expected.

Love this bar! Great drinks and food. Javi, the bartender, is always amazing definitely recommend coming!!

Though I have been here , my family had not and as it was an easy walk from our hotel, decided to head here after St. Paddy's day festivities! Great service, great ambience and nice and chill! Enjoyed some local IPAs and tried a bunch of smaller dishes! Deviled eggs with avocado were excellent! Also enjoyed a really great cheese board ; mussels which were good thought the broth was better and falafels! My daughter had the poke bowl which was okay and the pretzel sticks which were great! Good food, good atmosphere and well priced for a great last night in NYC

This is a hidden gem in Times Square. Came here after my brother's show wanting to grab some drinks and bar food late night, and this place did not disappoint. We were a large group, but our server was happy to accommodate us and set us up in the back of the bar. Their late night food menu is one of the better ones I've seen, with offerings way beyond the typical burger and wings type of late night happy hour. We ordered almost everything on this menu, but stand outs were the sticky tofu, everything pretzel, cheese board, chili crisp wings, and harissa popcorn cauliflower. Ambiance was elevated pub, with how far set back this bar is you could almost forget you're in the middle of Times Square. The person playing music in the front of this bar absolutely made our night, though. They started taking requests, which of course included Pink Pony Club - then someone who had been sitting at the bar got up and did a Beyoncé duet that was lifechanging. Solid spot if you're looking for late night food away from the tourist crowd in Times Square.

Food, service, & ambience all three were fantastic. Drinks were tasty too! I'd come back!

My sister and I dropped by after a show. We wanted a restaurant a little bit off the beaten path from TSQ. We made a reservation on Resy just in case, which was straightforward with many available. There was plenty of availability for a walk in, and we were seated immediately. We came around the holidays so it was cozy and nicely decorated with trees and twinkle lights. Drinks: my sister got a Dark day 75 (bourbon based drink) and I got the Liberty Bell (vodka-based drink). They came out promplty; however out server set both of them in front of my sister without clarifying who's drink was who's. We ultimately figured it out but I felt my drink was a bit unbalanced - I would have preferred way less sugar and a bit more spice. I could not finish the drink. My sister liked her drink more but it was quite strong. Food: I had the Asiago stuffed gnocchi which was well balanced - well seasoned and comforting, perfect for a cold day. My sister also liked her poke bowl, which tasted pretty fresh when I took a bite. The butter toffee cake was pretty fantastic. Soft, sweet, wonderful way to end the meal. Overall all, solid choice if you're in the TSQ area.

Stumbled upon this place in NYC. Beautiful decorated on the inside. Welcomed by a cheerful hostess. Told her we did not have reservations but she did was quick to get us a table to a packed place. Greta apps, food was delicious and the beers ice cold.

I'd been here once before for just drinks so I was excited to try the food menu. The restaurant was super loud. Even though it wasn't full, you had to raise your voice to have a conversation. My sister's Apple Watch even alerted her that the ambient noise volume was above a healthy range. To drink, I got the Liberty Bell. I was hoping for bold spiciness from the habanero, but the flavor was very subtle and it tasted watered down. My mom got the mango smash cocktail special. It was strong and flavorful. For an appetizer, we shared the sweet potato croquettes. This dish included four round, fried balls. They had a nice, crispy texture but were a bit bland, dry, and could've used more sauce. My mom and sister also got the crispy duck spring rolls and said they were cold. For my main, I was excited to try the jalapeño popper grilled cheese. It also arrived cold to the table and the cheese wasn't even fully melted. The jalapeños did have a good kick, but I wish the bread was crispier and more toasted. The sandwich was served with fries, which were well prepared. We also got the shrimp tempura roll, which had mushy rice and was quite pricey at $19. In general, the menu was overpriced. Service was a bit slow. This place is okay for drinks, but definitely would not recommend it for food or experience.

Happy hour alert! Casual easy bar with sense of modern.. love this little outside counter and table on the street. Just a nice to grab some drinks and bites.. fresh fries makes me happy :) they recommend good drink options too :) we appreciate it :)

Cute place, nice for a quick stop for dinner before a show. The rolls were delicious, highly recommend ordering them! The cocktails were good and our waiter was super attentive.

Low key spot for lunch. Hamburger: bleh. Bland meat and too much dry bun. Music way too loud for lunchtime. Service OK though.

Nice bar/restaurant located in the Garment District of New York City. The place is so lovely! Fancy decoration and beautiful pictures of the city on the old days. We enjoyed our stop here for late night snacks and drinks. Cocktails were good, but nothing special. For cocktails I got the bowtie and trace of balsamic. The presentation was nice for both cocktails but I would say both were underwhelming in terms of flavor. My friend got the bright lights and said it tasted like liquid skittles. We tried the Brussels sprouts, shishito peppers, and a spring rolls. All were decent but would not say they were worth the price. We were expecting more from the food, especially considering the price. They look great in the picture, but taste is beyond the expectation.

Walked in on a Saturday 715 pm Extremely accommodating without a reservation Super friendly kind hostess Menu is straight forward They do have fixed menu for the theater!! 40 bucks you can choose an appetizer, main entree, and a dessert Very small and cozy charming restaurant and bar Decorated for Christmas but looks like decorating lights can be there all year

Came in with vouchers for the NYBC and the staff was fantastic. Food recommendations of the bao buns by Santiago was a great call and the beer was fantastic. Zana was a fantastic hostess and very gracious. Atmosphere is open and welcoming. Would definitely recommend!

Pulled up places to eat near my hotel on Yelp. This place looked great and it was. A nice interior with really nice servers that are helpful and friendly. The food and cocktails were right up my alley. I had the Alter Ego cocktail which was a combination of gin, falernum and something lavender. It was awesome. The sandwich was king. Pork belly BLT with a fried egg. All I can say is that it was heaven. Perfectly made fries as well. Find this place and enjoy when you're in town near 40th and Broadway

4.5 this is not pub food, well done ...not just a good pub...good food that is elevated. Secret good place

Group came ready to eat, drink, and be merry. Service was slow, and and seemed uninterested in our group from the jump. We were never asked if we wanted bottled/tap/ or water at all. We had to ask for water a couple of times after never receiving it with our first drinks. An order of 3 beers took over 20 minutes. Our food took much longer, and during both breaks we were were avoided like the plague. We had to waive down refills for our adult beverages. We were never offered the idea of a dessert or night cap. The food itself was ok to good, but couldn't overcome the poor service. This would have been 3 stars if the place was packed, or even busy. But it was half-full at best, and was not short staffed. We ended up spending much more money at a mediocre bar closer to Penn.

Unassuming interior and exterior that exemplifies outstanding service and business's loyalty that only comes from a privately owned business. I came with a regular and was treated like royalty. Outstanding cocktails with a huge variety of brands and liquors. Upper end bar food to match the cocktails Owner/manager/hostess exemplified hospitality.

This continues to be my favorite place in NYC. The food here is just so outstanding and consistently good. I've never had something here I didn't like. I've come here on two occasions where I had a show to catch after dinner and they always get me out on time. This past weekend I dined with a group of 7 people (I wanted to show them what the hype was about) and they had us out within an hour in time to make our show. That's including with appetizers and drinks ON A SATURDAY. The service is great. I tried something different on this last visit. The chicken schnitzel is usually but go to because it's so damn delicious but I tried the shrimp tacos this time. They weren't as amazing as the chicken but still very good. And of course, no meal is complete without their sweet chili brussel sprouts. Needless to say, everyone loved this place.

Food was excellent. Had a large group and everyone had various dishes. Everyone was pleased with everything. Drinks were good but a bit pricey. Service was good just a bit slow so plan for a long laid back dining event but otherwise highly recommend the place. Food prices actually pretty good for higher end NY restaurant.

Great American bar/restaurant for a dinner or drinks offering both classic American foods as well as a couple Mexican/Asian inspired options. I ordered the Prime Rib Burger ($21), which was pretty standard in terms of ingredients but was high quality. It was cooked a bit more than the desired medium but was still good and juicy. It was a good large size yet still comfortable for eating without it falling apart. I also tried the Beef Short Rib and Kimchi Tacos ($18), which were good too. The beef was like tasty pulled meat and the kimchi was not actually spicy but did add some tasty veggies and a bit of sour flavor to complement the savory beef. The prices were generally okay. The place had some dim lighting with upbeat music, creating a rather intimate and lively environment despite the fact that there were not that many other people there on a Sunday night. There is a nice bar seating area as well as a bunch of other tables inside. The service speed was decent and the staff were fairly friendly and attentive. The restaurant is conveniently located near Bryant Park and Times Square. Overall, if you are looking for American food/drinks in Midtown, The Independent would be a very solid choice.

Great spot for a quick glass of decent wine with a friend. Lovely service. I'll be back

Visited The Independent on a Saturday night for some cocktails and dinner. It wasn't too busy but had a great ambience. The food was delicious with generous portion sizes! We ordered a bunch of apps which were very filling and amazing! I recommend getting: 1. Sticky tofu (so good!) 2. Crispy deviled eggs (yum) 2. Halloumi fries (best dish on the menu) 3. Crunchy Chile garlic shrimps (really good as well) Highly recommend!

Great gastro pub food. The service is good and atmosphere comfortable. Definitely try the pretzel. They have great burgers and fries as well.