Pair Of 8's
(212) 874-2742
568 Amsterdam Ave
New York,
NY
10024
40.7887
-73.9744
Neighborhoods: Upper West Side, Midtown
What People Are Saying About Pair Of 8's
The Editor
Justin Hartung
Citysearch
The Scene
Any preconceptions gathered from the restaurant's exterior melt away in the dining room's warm glow, manifested both literally and in the beatific smiles of the staff. Chocolate- and cream-colored walls and a post-rustic planked ceiling help placate the older-skewing crowd, who may have reservations about the room's substantial din.
The Food
Fresh, seasonal flavors get front-and-center treatment, each with a perfect counterpoint. Asian-pear chutney elevates cloud-like crab cake starters, while fried artichoke hearts get a lemony aioli dip. Gentle leeks bolster the tender wild striped bass, sweet potato mash tames juicy venison loin, and a sublime champagne sauce transforms diver sea scallops into oceanic bling. Desserts here are the ultimate comfort food. Try the chocolate-drizzled brioche bread pudding, or the unexpectedly light pumpkin pot de creme.
User Reviews
chiap
April 03, 2007
As a resident of the Upper West Side I am always looking for a good place in the neighborhood and I had heard that Pair of 8's has a new chef. I decided to go back to the restaurant and see How the food was. I was glad to see that they have a good one now. My meal was tasty, interesting and very reasonable. I met my date at the bar and found out they have a cocktail hour special- two cocktails for 8 bucks! It was a great way to start the evening. We passed on more drinks and got a bottle of wine. They had really good bottle of grenache for $29. Much more reasonable then I remember there wine list being. As I said the food was really good. I had the Warm Goat cheese salad that was good as my adventures guest had the Duck Prosciutto. For entrees I had the Burger that was good but a great excuse to have the best onion rings I have ever had. My date had chicken. We both enjoyed a lot. We did not have dessert but I am confident that I will go back to try them out soon.
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iliketo_eat
August 16, 2006
I have eaten at this restaurant on several occasions and find Chef Michael Clancy's food to be unique, fresh, and exciting in any part of NYC. The seafood dishes are particularly interesting. The service in the dining rooms can be spotty at times (definitely not on par with the food), but usually friendly. If there are seats available at the bar, I highly recommend dining there. The bartender, Bill (hope he doesn't mind writing his name), has taken exceptionally good care of me and my friends making sure that we have an enjoyable dining experience.
read full reviewkiki78
August 03, 2006
I ventured into this place as a single gal wondering around the upper west side; the menu looked promising and the atmosphere seemed inviting. I was not impressed by the bartender, who greeted me with "What can I get you?" No "Hello, how are you?" or "Good evening, how are you this evening?". As a waitress in New York, I understand how severs get tired of asking people how they are doing when you so rarely get any acknowlegdment. But, still...a little effort would have been nice, considering this is an "upscale" establishment. The main course was good. My warm goat cheese salad was not good. The cheese was great but spread on stale (?) bagette ..not really enjoying that..The salad was too heavily dressed with an overwhelming amount of balsamic. My skirt steak, however was perfectly cooked and the wilted greens and onions were very satisfying. The bartender did recommed a great glass of wine with my steak, a well balanced Nebbiolo. All in all, salad sucked, bartender was simi-attentive, steak was good. But one thing....it was totally silent! No music...at all. That was creepy, you could hear everyone's conversations..weird. Also, the decor was very minimal...boring in fact.
read full reviewThe Details on Pair Of 8's
What to Drink:
The wide-ranging wine list is easily navigated with help from the down-to-earth waitstaff. The Pinot-Noir-like Lemberger from Washington works well with fish or meat.
When to Go:
Monday nights feature a $25 dollar prix fixe.
Save Time:
Save time and book your next reservation online via the Pair of 8's web site.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Diners Club, Visa, Discover, MasterCard
