The National Bar & Dining Rooms

The food was great. Manager changed our table because it was too loud for my boyfriends hard of hearing parents. Get the mussels! You won't regret it. The steak tartar was amazing.

Wait staff are eager to please. Food is hit or miss during brunch. Colombo coffee a plus- nice and strong; no choice of nut milk though. Do not order the oatmeal- very watery, even the great toppings selection that comes with it cannot make up for the lack of substance. Egg dishes come in big portion; good size plate of chicken sausage (tasty too). Seat near door to bathroom /hotel lobby is very drafty, avoid.w

The burger itself was delicious but the service could have been better. I was meeting with friends from out of town so were chatting a bit and before taking a look at the menu. At a certain point I think our waiter forgot about us? In any case, the food was on point.

Delicious food, interesting menu, delicious cocktails. The staff was very friendly and easy to work with. I had to change tables when I was joined by two people. Shrimp Cocktail had lovely, firm, large shrimp, and the Caesar Salad was one of the best I've had anywhere. Delicious Manhattan.

Delicious. Tad pricey. Around 20 for breakfast I believe. It was in Manhattan so all good. Nice upscale breakfast for great photos. Minutes away from a nice walk to Times square.

Wow , service was great!! Everyone tried hard to keep things going but yet never too fast The some was something else pride is really something when it comes to picking wine, and he nailed it every time Food was great, get the tuna tar tar worth every cent Wine like I said what a worker Beer didn't have any yet the menu was on point And I had a cocktail, good stuff Go for the travel zoo deal if its still there Over all just a great job

I come here every time I come to New York. One of my favorite restaurants. The food is always great.

Only decent thing we had was the Caeser salad. Way overpriced. I've had better food at a bodega. Ordered cavitelli and it wasn't even cavitelli. The sliders were cold, dry, and covered in what tasted like thousand island dressing. Will not be coming back.

The food was good and fairly reasonable being right across the street from the stadium. Decent prices for a bucket of beer. I enjoyed the Saratoga Chips and everyone in our party enjoyed the food

We stopped here for a big group dinner. The bar downstairs and dining area is filled with dark wood furniture and a selection of tap and bottled beers (though most people chose wine). Going upstairs - there's a couple stairs, including a curving one up near the doorway, and you end up in some private spaces that can be set up for a mini-bar (in one room) and a long dining table (in the second room we were in). Salad: Market Salad had a barely-there shallot champagne vinaigrette, would be enjoyed by vegetarians who like more raw vegetables with little outside of that. The cast iron chicken looked fantastic - unfortunately I ended up with the Mediterranean Branzino which was on a wonderful but all-too little sauce of basil pesto. Branzino itself was a touch on the dry side with some jumbo asparagus (ok) and fingerling potatoes (eh). Overall, not as good as expected, but will have to try to come back and try other things (not in a big group with a pre fixe menu).

This place is among my favorites. I love the atmosphere and overall dining experience. My server was very helpful in answering questions and providing me with his top choices. I love salmon, so of course I ordered this. The salmon was delicious and cooked perfectly. I'm so glad that I decided to order this. Salmon, I think, is always a great choice! I also had dessert. They had several options. And I ordered coffee. The whole experience was amazing and I would definitely come back here, again!

Very nice working lunch today at the National. I had a very good Caesars and the Branzino. The service was excellent as well during a very busy lunch time. It is a bit pricey for lunch, but good! We

Came here for a work/team lunch (group of 10) so my review is a bit different than most others. For a "corporate" and fancy lunch spot, I think the establishment is kinda average and strays towards that rating honestly. I noticed a few odd things that stood out a bit. First, we had to ask for a couple bread baskets when normally it should be standard/customary to automatically bring it out. On top of that, the bread wasn't warm (although it was soft) and we were given basically a cup of butter, which seems kinda strange too as I'm normally used to the cubed/fancy style served at more formal restaurants. Also surprised we weren't given olive oil or a more diverse set of breads. Additionally, the service seemed a bit slow honestly from the moment we were served to the moment where we waited quite a long time to receive desserts and our check. For a large group, the wait staff should probably be more attentive. The main meals and dessert was actually pretty good. As a vegetarian, I ordered the confit sweet potato and then the profiteroles for dessert. I do wish there was another hot lunch option for vegetarians, but I'm probably too picky. Overall, the food wasn't a problem. Overall, I don't know if I'll be back for a work lunch, but the food options are not terrible, so it's something to still consider...

Perfectly fine choice for a midtown east lunch. All of the standard American bistro fare is accounted for and nicely executed. East coast oysters are a mix of blue point and wellfleets which are good starter. And the steak frites are a great way to follow. Crispy fries done what rosemary along with a solid sirloin represent this dish well. If table service was slightly more polished, this would be a star bette

The National is a great choice for lunch in midtown. The burrata was delicious--creamy and well seasoned. The salmon was absolutely perfect. Nice, seared skin, cooked to my preferred medium rare and full of flavor. The restaurant was packed with people but the service was fairly attentive. My only critique is that the restaurant acoustics can be a bit loud when the restaurant is filled. Nevertheless, I will be back!

TL;DR at the bottom. explaining why I only gave two stars. Why 2 stars? Start at 5... now... Poor Value = -1.5 Stars Disastrous Desert = -1 Star Good/Great, but not excellent food Quality -0.5 stars As for the review itself... First, some background After watching Chopped, I became a fan of Mr. Zakarian. Now, when giving my opinion on any dish, anywhere, my family and I lovingly refer to it as Zakarian-ing. When on vacation in NYC, I had to visit his restaurant. I knew it would be expensive, and I knew the reviews weren't great... I wanted to check it out for myself. My experience left me extremely disappointed. I was not devastated, only because I have read the Yelp reviews, and was mentally prepared to have a less than stellar experience. Here, it really comes down to an issue of value. Was the food good? Certainly! Was it great? The short rib was, the rest was okay... The price did not equal quality. It is NYC, but I feel prices as so high because it is Zakarian's place, not because of quality. I spent about $90 on my dinner (incl tax, excl tip)... while I do not regret the experience, I am extremely unlikely to return here in the future. Okay... food (and drink): I ordered: Grilled Octopus Wine-Braised Short Rib NTL Mule (Drink) Pecan Pie Espresso (was able to try both the coffee and actual espresso) They also brought bread while I waited. Start with the bread... unfortunately, while this was not the undercooked play-dough many restaurants provide, it wasn't great bread either. I know this is a minuscule part of the experience, but a nice restaurant should have nice bread. They also took a little while to bring it out, because it was not terribly busy at the time, I would have hoped for it to be brought out sooner. Octopus came out relatively quickly, quicker than I was expecting in any case. While it was cooked perfectly, if it was seasoned, then it was very light on the seasoning. I did like that the taste of the octopus was not overwhelmed by anything... but I would have liked a nice spiciness to complement the flavor. Part of the dish was also a small salad, while it was quite delightful, I would have liked a little less beans, and a little more veggies in it. Short Rib was pretty great. This dish was more in balance. The short rib was awesome. The wine-marinade they use added a great, lightly sweet flavor to the meat. The meat itself was soft and tender enough to be cut with a fork. The mashed potatoes complimented everything well, they helped absorb some of the sauce, and added their own nice texture. I will say that it could have used just a dollop more potato. I also found those strips on top fascinating, they added a nice texture, but were a little heavy on the salt. The NTL Mule was quite good, but I would have liked it be a little stronger. Pecan Pie was appalling. I'm sorry, but as a lover of pecan pies, this thing was inconsistent with the quality I expected from this restaurant. A pie should be soft, slightly crumbly, and have a certain density of everything. This pie was a very small circular thingy... the crust was very firm, like that of crunchy cookie, but not as tasty. The crust is usually the best part of a good pie... not here. The pecans, and the sweet "bed" they were on were okay... but nothing at all special, nothing of a Zakarian level. Honestly, this felt like something they got at a no-name bakery, added ice cream, and pawned it off as their own... They also could have at least warmed the dang thing. Espresso coffee was an interesting thing... they bring you a coffee pot, milk, and some sugar. The coffee was strong and had a very good balance of bitterness to acidity. There is enough here for two people... so $5 is not a bad deal. I also had the opportunity to try a regular espresso. While the flavors of this are great, $5 for a shot of espresso does seem a little steep. Service was an interesting blend in my one visit. It could have been a little more attentive (for the kind of restaurant this was, especially since it was not particularly packed at the time). Some servers were great in the sense of taking the time to explain the dishes and make recommendations, others were still very nice and polite, but there is a little room for improvement. Portions were good, they won't fill you to the brim, but you won't leave hungry. ~~ TL;DR, as promised: Because this is Zakarian's place, I had high expectations, that were not met. The octopus was good, and the Short Rib was great, but these dishes were not as amazing as I expected from an Iron Chef. Portion wise dishes were good... proportion wise there is room for a little improvement, but not a lot. Pecan Pie is to be avoided... coffee is great, esp for two, espresso is great but overpriced. NTL Mule was good but could have been stronger Service was good, but the TEAM could use some polishing. Value is poor, I spent $90 on food that did not meet the caliber of the restaurant.

Shame on you Be welcoming, be accessible, be real. Your wine list is none of these things. Sometimes travelers or guests want to sit at the bar and have a quiet dinner. Have a drink. Offering a wine by the glass list that starts at $16 and goes up from there is pompous and insulting. Just because I'm on an expense account doesn't mean I'm careless or stupid. Offer guests options, otherwise you're viewed as greedy. The service was very good, the food was fine. But I couldn't help but feel that you were trying to take advantage of me.

I had high expectations coming to GZ's restaurant for brunch. Unfortunately I felt let down after dining. After trying the Huevos Rancheros (special) and Eggs Benedict, I was left feeling that there really wasn't anything special about our experience. The food was under seasoned and just okay... I feel like if GZ was served this on Chopped, that person wouldn't make it past round one. Then when you add an $80 price tag for two meals and two drinks, you definitely feel disappointed. Sorry, National... You've been chopped.

Bad bad bad service and mediocre food. When you ask for your drink tall and no fruit and it comes on the rocks with 2 limes and a plate of limes and lemons and the really tall straw doesn't fit the glass. Waiter was constantly not listening and running away before we were able to finish ordering. Caesar salad was good, chicken was dry dry dry, roasted potatoes tasted terrible but mashed potatoes were delicious. Didn't ever properly clean up table. Took way too long to get food, 2 hours for dinner. Was school night & needed to get home. What could have been an average meal turned really really bad. Won't ever go back. Was not my choice of restaurant was my friends.

You have to be fast in Manhattan, to succeed here you have to have a tough exterior and be proficient at about everything else. A New Yorker thrives on the hustle and bustle of the crowds and the constant traffic trying to splash or run you over at every corner. To a younger me, New York meant beautiful long-legged fashion models, amazing old skool rappers like Biggie and street smart guys who were also know-it-alls who could think on their feet. The staff at the National were none of these things. We walked in to an almost empty restaurant. We asked to be seated and they said they couldn't seat our large party of 12 for unknown reasons or very unsatisfying reasons. We then asked if we could seat at the bar, they were unable to confirm since the bar had no great arrangement for large parties. Unable to understand the staff and tired of waiting in the front reception area, a small group of us started occupying the stools around the bar and ordering drinks. We never got these first drinks. They were unready for service and all we asked for was just a little service. This was 30 minutes into our arrival when they finally came over and said they had seats for us. We sat, still bewildered by the sheer disorganization of the experience. I had a beer and then left. I had other commitments. I end this with a great poem found about New York: Nora Ephron, Heartburn I look out the window and I see the lights and the skyline and the people on the street rushing around looking for action, love, and the world's greatest chocolate chip cookie, and my heart does a little dance.

I was in town and needed to find a place to eat before the theater and close to our hotel. Always wanted to try a restaurant associated the Geoffrey Zakarian. Since my daughter has been here for business lunches we knew the food would be good. The dining room and bar was full of people it seems to be a good spot for the after work crowd. We did get seated right away in a booth in the bar area. I told our waiter we were going to the theater and didn't have much time. We both ordered drinks, she a Margarita me a glass of of wine. We were not that hungry so we had mussels for an appetizer served with crispy bread and made with coconut milk, Thai basil and green curry one of the best mussels I have had. Certainly enough to share. We then shared their burger with a fried egg on top served with french fries. We both enjoyed it. Would like to come back again and try other items on the menu. The serve was good and our tummies were full.

The national just keeps getting better and better. I've been here probably 10 times. Today was the most recent time and the best so far. I started going here when I moved to the city a year and a half ago. I needed to make a last minute reservation at 11am on a saturday and found that the national had a reservation for 5 available literally 30 min later. I've had everything here from the spinach and mushroom omelette, to the pork belly bennedict, to the house made granola, to the short rib biscuits and gravy. Everything is delicious. Plus potatoes to die for. They also have great coffee and their bar is pretty good as well. This time we had the apple walnut pancakes and the smoked salmon benedict (not on the menu). Both were very good. But let me tell you the eggs benny was some of the best I've had in the city. The hollandaise sauce is superb. Its got scallions it in which really makes a difference. Can't wait to find myself at The National again soon. Thanks for creating such a cozy and delicious brunch spot Geoffrey Zakarian!

Mediocre food + lackadaisical service + clean hotel ambiance= meh dining. Came for a business lunch. Had to flag down a waiter to take our order. I mean, come on. Business lunch people. Tick tock. Our server couldn't have cared less. We got a few appetizers, sides and chicken sandwiches. All meh. The brussels sprouts were like do you want some brussel sprouts with oil and sauce? I could barely taste the poor sprouts. Oh well. Good thing there are plenty of other dining options in the area.

Stares wiry a generous bread basket with wonderful butter. Moved on to Decent but a little oversweet Wings Delicious Zachariah burger (lamb, Hamond, cucumber slaw), finished with a completely not gelato-like chocolate and strawberry gelato waiter when asks for a fresh napkin bteougr a stained on and never cleared the growing pile of napkins was extremely slow to bring check after dessert

In Asia, the hotels usually host starred restaurants while in the US are much less so. This one is casual but decent enough for local to go for a good meal. The French Cosmo cocktail although looks tardy (just like the bar maid who made it) is sublime with just enough kick. Two fish entrée Grilled Branzino and Cod are good too. The side Brussels sprouts is a must! Fresh flowers in the bathroom is a nice touch.

I personally like this place, it has a very refined feel. As my friend put it " somewhat of a french bistro with city chic" For lunch I had the Roasted Chicken Herbed Barley Risotto, Pearl Onion, Parmesan for $27. It was really great, the chicken was succulent and I could taste the mild herbs, but really thought the barley risotto was a nice touch. I kid you not I did not need to eat anything else for the rest of the day. Not to say the meal was large, but it was just right to the point when I had my cappuccino to top it off I was completely satiated. Our server was a delight. He was so attentive and friendly. He was patient and even told me to stop talking so I could eat my food before it got cold :-) I heeded his advice and was glad I did so I could really enjoy my wholesome lunch. I could definitely go back here for another Business lunch or even a casual one.

I've been coming here for years with colleagues and clients and generally like the service and food. However, the management really needs to do something about the hostess who was on duty today. We arrived around 6pm and were directed to the bar. No bartender was present and no one appeared -- unusual for a Friday night. I went to the hostess stand to inquire and mentioned that it had been awhile. She literally SNORTED at me and said "I just saw you walk in." And went back to her conversation with other staff. We promptly gathered our things and left. She did not apologize or acknowledge the problem. There are too many places in the neighborhood to waste time at an establishment with such rude staff greeting customers. I hope they fix this embarrassing problem.

I didn't even realize I had been here before and gave it a not so good review. I came back here to try the breakfast. While they had a lot of healthy options the quality of the food was not up to par. It was more like diner food in a nicer room. The staff was superb and friendly, but the food didn't cut it. Wouldn't come back.

Everything was overly salty. The food took a bit to long. Our 2nd group came in after us and we ordered first but their food came first before ours and we still had to wait. I ordered 1 of the side truffle mushroom and it came longer than everything else and I was half way done with my entree and the side dish still didn't come out.

Twice this place has disappointed. First experience: Overall, the food was very good. The Boo loves the meat options ...good wine, though a bit pricey and few that were "approachable"... Side dishes are fairly generous... What failed: cookies ...were like hockey pucks...dry, small, ugly. Very disappointing. Second experience: Ordered the burger. Made a point of saying NO ONION ...you'd think the waiter would have pointed out it's on an onion bun?? Asked if should be concerned that onion was used as a seasoning ...said no. Onion was somewhere as I had an allergic reaction ‍ Take us seriously when we ask these questions!!! It's unnecessary pain for your ignorance

Superb! Delicious food snd friendly atmosphere. Staff was professional and accommodating. They took special care of our grandson, who is a fussy eater. They even took him in the kitchen to meet the chef who then brought him ice cream and cookies. This place is phenomenal. First rate in every respect! We had an excellent experience.

This is a French bistro inspired joint in the Benjamin Hotel. We had dinner on a Friday night early and were able to be seated right away. It really is a great room, nice flow and feel and you do feel like you are in a bistro in Paris. The drinks were good and they have a small bar menu and full restaurant menu. Our kids split the pork tenderloin which both of them could not get enough of, the peach bbq sauce was great. We had some mac n cheese and Brussels sprouts that we shared, both were excellent. My wife had the petite fillet which was cooked perfectly. I had the lamb shank which was good, it was cooked perfectly but could have used more basic seasoning (salt and pepper). The dessert menu was really basic the strawberry shortcake eats dry, could use a sauce or syrup. The cookie plate is ok but a little pricey for 6 cookies. Great spot to have a good relaxing quality meal.

I came here for brunch and I really enjoyed the grilled branzino and polenta and watercress, although for $33, I did wish it was a whole branzino instead of just a half filet of it. The waiter also noticed that our party was celebrating a birthday, whispered to me in an aside to confirm, and brought out a complimentary dessert for the birthday boy, my boyfriend's father. (He did not want his birthday to be a public affair but if anyone could disobey his wishes, it'd have to be me!)

I have never in all my years not left a tip - as someone who is a partner in a nyc restaurant this is by far the worst service. Most salty food and a waiter and worse the maître d' with an attitude simply because we spoke about how much salt was on the food. - ( I will not say the name of my restaurant since I don't want this to sound like an ad). But think twice before eating here. There are many and much better restaurants near here that if your going to spend the money they will talk to you with respect and understanding

Better than I expected. Went for a business lunch during restaurant week. The half chicken had this savory pesto/anchovy sauce - good, although I wish it were a bit more delicate.

I had a 12:30 pm reservation today and took two associates and was totally ignored. I was informed that people stayed longer than expected, if so, that means that the entire restaurant was packed at 11:30 am!! This restaurant is usually filled with business people and to have to wait OVER 20 minutes for a table, that was reserved, is totally unacceptable. Our time is just as valuable. After the manager totally ignored me and gave me some weak excuse, I looked around the restaurant and saw an empty table and asked if we could please sit at that table and finally, we were seated. We will not be returning and anyone in my firm who suggests this place for lunch or dinner, will hear my story, we will not be back!I GZ should worry more about the front of the house just as much as the food!

Came here on a Saturday night, the dining room was busy and the bar looked almost full. Tried a few different wines but decided on a Cabernet. Started with shrimp cocktail and then the short rib, which they are known for. Short rib was very good and came with a carrot purée. For dessert I had my favorite- profiteroles with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Food was great. Service was slower, but we were not in a rush.

I was really looking forward to dining at Geoffrey Zarkarian's the National Bar but I have to say I was greatly disappointed, not in the food but the service was horrible. Service 1 star, food 4 stars, so it left me with a 2 star rating We stopped in on a rainy November Tuesday, we were seated promptly and waited. When a waiter came by he wasn't ours but asked for drink orders. Then we waited some more. Eventually, some other waiters showed up and congregated around the cashier/wait station near our table and started having an argument about what sounded like money and table poaching. Finally our waiter showed up and we ordered soup of the day, grilled octopus and a half dozen oysters on the half shell. We had a bread plate and anticipated it would be brought with the soup, but unfortunately we had to request when our soup was almost finished. All of the food was great and honestly we would have lingered longer, ordered more and had planned to have one of those signature Geoffrey cocktails. But the discussion at the cashier/wait station had escalated, as we watched other diners who were visibly frustrated and honestly no matter how great the food, service is king so we waited to pay our bill and finally left. Disappointed, because I'm always impressed when I see Geoffrey cook, but I would say he needs to shake his service team up some because Iron Chefs are held to a different standard.

The tuna paillard appetizer is good. However my entree of seabass is mediocre, salty, nothing so special about it for an Iron Chef standard. Dessert of profiteroles with vanilla ice cream is good again, not spectacular. In conclusion, I am disappointed for the quality of an Iron Chef restaurant. On a positive side, service was great

I was visiting NEw York City and was dying for good NY bagel cream cheese and Lox. I ended up adding a poached egg and it was delicious! Enjoyed every bite!

Out of town guests brought me here for a second time and I will not be back. Bathroom is absolutely filthy! Every surface - toilet, sink, etc - was covered in hairs and dirt. In both bathrooms. It looked like frat house. I would rather use the bathroom at a dive bar! Our waiter was thrown off completely and caused a scene at our table when I asked to order a drink off menu. A typical restaurant at this price point and "prestige" will have talented bartenders who are happy to create something for customers. The food is fine but $25 for a hamburger give me a break. There were other little things, like not offering to take my coat. At this price point it's just not worth it.

Lovely solo experience as I traveled for work to The Big Apple. Next to my hotel, I walked the block on a rainy evening and it was the best looking spot. A nice glass of vino and mussels for my entree I was in heaven watching NY walk by off Lexington and 50th. Great and busy ambiance with families, singles and friends alike. Looks like a local fav as well as those who visit. Very nice!!

Went there for brunch. Excellent environment, good service but bad food. I got the steak and eggs for 30$. Unfortunately the steak was disappointing and overall ruined by this weird yellow sweet and sour sauce. Also I had a bite of the NTL Benedict with pork. It was just bad.

Sunday evening with few customers. The service was quick, drinks arrived promptly and the waiter went over the menu specials. My choice was the UGLY BURGER! Nothing ugly about it. Came with plenty of hot fresh tasty fries. Second dish was Branzino over sautéed fennel and vegetables! The plates were clean when we left!

A lovely restaurant setting, nice waiters and an overall relaxing yet fun, chic atmosphere. However, my only criticism is that the food (specifically my chicken meal) was VERY dry... my dinner partner had the NY Steak which he described as just "alright" but not good enough to eat a second time. I agree (the same feeling goes for my chicken dinner and appetizer salad). Overall, did I have a nice time, YES... BUT would I ever go back... NO, considering there are tons of places to eat in the city, next time I will eat somewhere else.

The worst service that I have ever received and I live in Paris! It was off putting from the start. The hostess made us wait for our table even though we had a reservation. There were several opened tables. They sent us to the bar wit a baby. One waiter yelled at my daughter for trying to bring her stroller through the door instead of helping us out. I had just had surgery and I am on a cane. The food was good but way overpriced. The flavors were delicious but that cannot make up for not only rudeness but indifference. Our water glasses were never refilled. As we watched 3 waiters just standing in the middle of the floor chatting, we had to wave one of them down for the check. The entire staff seemed unhappy. I stay at a hotel nearby and thought we could try it finally. I won't be back. Don't waste your time or your money.

Great location; nice vibe; ok food - somewhat limited beers. It's a nice place to hang after work for a drink, although we partook in dinner as well with the salmon as well as the ugly burger and the ceasar being the choices for the evening. Again, they were ok as food goes, but certainly standard fare as comfort foods go. The service was attentive, and although as mentioned the beer selection limited but they did have the Brooklyn, which is definitely a fav of this reviewer; however my colleagues couldn't find something suitable for their tastes. But it is an easy place to relax after a hard day at the office.

Love the National. I have been here for brunch while staying at the Benjamin. So cozy and love the atmosphere. Food is excellent, for brunch I have had the Eggs Benedict as well as the Croque Madam. I also recently came for their Thanksgiving Prefix Menu, with options for Roasted Turkey with stuffing, Porterhouse, Gnocci, Red Snapper. We tried everything and it was awesome. The National honestly never disappoints. My favorite appetizer is the mussels with a slight spicy broth, so so good. The executive chef is also extremely friendly! Love the people that work here and the food.

I wandered into The National quite by accident. Passing by I peeked into the window and was drawn in by the view. It has got the NYC vibe running thru its veins. I sat at the bar which I must say was tight quarters. That was a drawback to me. The house signature drink is a ginger mule. The concoction is interesting and proved to be very refreshing. A great daytime cocktail. The menu did not grab me however the salmon salad looked quite popular so I gave it a try. It was very tasty and I enjoyed lunch. The waiter/bartender was attentive in a casual unobtrusive way. Liked his style. I understand the menu offers a broader selection at dinner. Heard on Sundays they have a jazz band.

Cannot say a bad word about The National. Booked a table through Open Table a few weeks in advance and mentioned that it was for a birthday meal. Upon arrival, staff wished my partner a happy birthday and seated us promptly. Cocktail recommendations proved to be a winner, and the food was pretty awesome - the roasted brussels sprouts were to die for. The short rib is a must! After our mains, the waiter brought out a special Happy Birthday dessert for my partner which was on the house - we didn't have room for a full dessert after that! It's a little pricey, but so worth it and I would not hesitate to recommend it, or to hurry back next time I am in town. It's right next to the Waldorf, where we were staying, so in a great location, too. Sorry that we didn't get to try brunch there, as it looked phenomz.

If I could have given the service a negative number I would have. I made a reservation for 5 but 1 person had canceled. We were moved from our original table to a table in the bar. It was a business dinner planned well in advance. One of the ladies I was entertaining kept getting hit in the head by a gentleman at the bar (the table was a low table so it was right at elbow level with the patrons at the bar). I went over to the maitre d' and explained the situation with a request to be moved to a different table but he refused rudely. After my prospective client got hit several more times, he agreed to move us. The waiter was clearly stressed upon arrival and it took him over an hour to take our order. He never once checked on us or came to pour our wine and when I waived him down because we needed to order another bottle he told me I'd have to wait until he had time to come back instead of taking the order then. I would absolutely never recommend this place or go back there. Someone needs to manage this place - the service is horrible. BTW the food was pretty decent and the prices are good so someone needs to get their act together.

We ate here last time we stayed at the Benjamin Hotel. Breakfast was amazing, easily one of the best I've had in recent memory. Mushroom omelette with caramelized shallots, spinach and Parmigiano Reggio, thick cut bacon, fruit salad with a refreshing ginger lime treatment, coffee with rich flavor... all seriously good and in my opinion worth the premium price. Plus, it's New York. You really can't be shocked at $16 eggs. One crappy downside I have to mention was that the staff threw away our breakfast after we stepped out to the bathroom. We just got our food and took a few bites when my 4 year old decided that we need to take a bathroom break. Since I was doing some solo parenting, I needed to take all the kids to the can and leave the table unpopulated. However, we left our jackets and bag there, and of course, the nearly full meal we were just served. We go, come back, and of course, all the food is gone. When I explained it to the manager they sent out another meal toot sweet. Still, it was a boneheaded mistake for them to make in the first place. That aside, great breakfast spot. Well worth trying!

I had a very intimate and romantic experience at The National. The food was delicious and the servers were friendly and accommodating. I was seated at a beautiful semi circle booth facing the restaurant. I really enjoyed the classy NY style ambiance of the restaurant. It went perfectly with the midtown backdrop outside the restaurant windows. My server, named Fidel, made sure to ask about any allergies or preferences. He made many great recommendations for wine and food pairings. My food came out at the perfect time and was cooked perfectly. I would highly recommend.

I came here for breakfast on a weekday and ordered the steak and eggs. It was delicious. Absolutely. However, the rest of the menu felt more esoteric than practical. I really just wanted scrambled eggs, with bacon and some home fries. That was nowhere on the menu. There was one dish with scrambled eggs, which was $18, and if you wanted a side of bacon it would be an extra $7. $25 for scrambled eggs and bacon?! I don't care what you're doing but that is crazy. Their other choices were also meatless and expensive, like avocado toast and poached egg ($18 or $20 I think), or mushroom omelet (about $20), or oatmeal and parfait for $15. Then they also had a list of coffees to choose from, whether you want Arabian bean or Colombian. I just wanted coffee. I was brought here for work so I didn't really get to pick. But this goes down my list of another restaurant in New York that is way too fancy for its own sake, and doesn't just cook hearty meals for people to enjoy. If you're gonna charge $20 for breakfast, at least pair it with bacon!

Perfect Sunday afternoon vibes at National in the Benjamin Hotel on Lex in nyc after seeing the Book of Mormon. "Ugly burger " famous was one of the best juicy and delicious I've ever had. Highly recommend. We will be back! 4 stars cuz pumpkin soup was bland and flavorless and came cold but French onion soup was delicious.

DELICIOUS ! My regrets for not taking pictures of our dining experience BUT....we will be going back again & again! Sorry folks...just go and enjoy the food & ambiance!

This restaurant is unbelievable, the service is incredible. Nick, the manager was beyond accommodating especially after getting off a flight from Chicago and coming into New York relatively late. The late night menu has excellent bar food bites including the sesame ginger chicken wings and the "Ugly Burger" served with a side of extra crispy fries. I would highly recommend the The Blindside sommelier wine experience! It was absolutely impeccable. The wine selection was something I would have never normally ordered and I fell in love with it!