House

The Scene – Circa 1854 carriage houses don't just make quaint apartments. Turns out they make adorable restaurants, too. This renovation has the bar and nonreservable tables downstairs, which keeps things chill in the upstairs dining room, where diners sup under the view of a giant half-moon window. Service is unobtrusive but precise. – – The Food – The small, eclectic menu mirrors the diminutive space, delivering quality, rather than quantity. Yellowfin tuna crudo would make the ideal first bite if not for its oversalting, while the appetizer of duck three ways…

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Editor's Tips

What to Drink:: The bartenders are deft in turning out dirty martinis ($12), and the wine list is equally pleasing with the 2004 Pelopannese Agiorgitiko from Greece ($43) a steal for its deep well-rounded flavor.
Know Before You Go:: A chef's table in the basement wine cellar can be reserved for 6 to 10 people (a la carte or chef's menu).
Fireplace:: There's a fireplace on the main level, which promises warmth in the chilly days of autumn and winter.

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User Reviews (25)

ambiance	91.11000061035156% positive	“Looks amazing outside and it's very cozy spot and the food is actually tasty.” “atmosphere, wait staff, food” “After we were sized up, we were taken to a cramped table in a bad location (love that too).” “Very tasty food, nice atmosphere and very very attentive staffs.” “live in the neighborhood, and found the location and the carriage house history "charming", so I decided to give The House a try.” “The wine and food selection is terrific, the staff are helpful and quick, the atmosphere is just slightly upscale/trendy, and the prices are amazing!” “This is a beautiful, cozy restaurant spread across three floors of an old carriage house.” “The atmosphere is charming and romantic but not cheesy.” “Two weeks ago I went to House with some friends for a birthday celebration, had good food and a nice atmosphere.” “This is a romantic place with lovely touches but very noisy and crowded.” “Great atmosphere.” “The acoustics of the upstairs dining room made every sound echo off the walls and the unruly patrons didn't make for an inviting romantic scene.” “My friend I happened to be passing by and heard amazing live music coming from this quaint location located right next to a beautiful flower shop, and we just had to walk in!” “With good food, a wonderful location and such graceful ambience, we hope this place succeeds.” “Charming and romantic restaurant.”
dessert	100.0% positive	“The food was deplorable, sans the decent chocolate mousse dessert, and the lamb that everyone is in praise of was so overseasoned that it may have even been flank steak.”
drinks	81.25% positive	“The wine and food selection is terrific, the staff are helpful and quick, the atmosphere is just slightly upscale/trendy, and the prices are amazing!” “The above average, creative fare and good wine selection was tarnished by poor service and long long wait times.” “Like the other reviews, the hostess, instead of welcoming us when we walked in, asked if we had "reservations" with a big attitude, and when we said we didn't and that we just wanted drinks, she told us that the tables were for dinner only and that she wo” “When I asked if we can be seated downstairs as all of the tables were empty and as the second floor was stuffy (the AC upstairs doesn't seem to work well), she insisted with the same big attitude that it was "cool" upstairs and that we can either sit up o” “Well the second time around was even better - the service was impeccable, food was delicious and the wine selection was awesome.” “Our waiter was also quite knowledgable about the wine and food pairings which led to a divine dining experience.” “sit at the bar" In and of itself, that was not horrible, and the bartender was excellent.” “found her attitude unacceptable at such an empty bar on an early Tuesday evening that we decided to walk out.”
food quality	90.62999725341797% positive	“With good food, a wonderful location and such graceful ambience, we hope this place succeeds.” “atmosphere, wait staff, food” “The food was deplorable, sans the decent chocolate mousse dessert, and the lamb that everyone is in praise of was so overseasoned that it may have even been flank steak.” “Our waiter was also quite knowledgable about the wine and food pairings which led to a divine dining experience.” “Looks amazing outside and it's very cozy spot and the food is actually tasty.” “The wine and food selection is terrific, the staff are helpful and quick, the atmosphere is just slightly upscale/trendy, and the prices are amazing!” “Our waitress was sweet but not too pushy and the food was just scrumptious.” “Went this past Friday for dinner for my boyfriend's birthday as we had a memorable meal the last time we were there and had been looking forward to going back” “Overall the server was gracious, and our food was good - my husband got the special steak and really liked it.” “This place is really enjoyable in all aspects, the quality of food and the service is excellent.” “Very tasty food, nice atmosphere and very very attentive staffs.” “Lots of explaining at the end of the evening why their service was so slow, but they did nothing during the meal to manage customers expectations.” “Good food suffered from bad table” “The food was good, but overpriced; the waiter needed to get a personality.” “Well the second time around was even better - the service was impeccable, food was delicious and the wine selection was awesome.” “Two weeks ago I went to House with some friends for a birthday celebration, had good food and a nice atmosphere.”
menu variety	62.5% positive	“The above average, creative fare and good wine selection was tarnished by poor service and long long wait times.” “Our waiter was remarkably rude and not only didn't know the menu and screwed up the order (when a customer says "gluten allergy", you listen), but was also condescending (oh, no bottled water, ok).” “The wine and food selection is terrific, the staff are helpful and quick, the atmosphere is just slightly upscale/trendy, and the prices are amazing!” “Well the second time around was even better - the service was impeccable, food was delicious and the wine selection was awesome.”
overall	100.0% positive	“read reviews about what a great date spot this restaurant is and it made my girlfriend and I laugh as we sat eating dinner there last Friday night.” “It's definitely a great place to take a girl you actually want to have a conversation with (as opposed to those atrociously loud trendy places).” “So guys if you are looking for a great place to hang out with your girl on a saturday night, the house is IT.” “With good food, a wonderful location and such graceful ambience, we hope this place succeeds.”
return potential	100.0% positive	“will never go back to The House nor recommend this place to anyone.”
service	62.5% positive	“sit at the bar" In and of itself, that was not horrible, and the bartender was excellent.” “Rude staff.” “Well the second time around was even better - the service was impeccable, food was delicious and the wine selection was awesome.” “Our waiter was also quite knowledgable about the wine and food pairings which led to a divine dining experience.” “Like the other reviews, the hostess, instead of welcoming us when we walked in, asked if we had "reservations" with a big attitude, and when we said we didn't and that we just wanted drinks, she told us that the tables were for dinner only and that she wo” “This only confirmed that it was not only us experiencing the slow service.” “The above average, creative fare and good wine selection was tarnished by poor service and long long wait times.” “Unfortunately, the service is awful and we saw a live rodent run under our table.” “The service was excellent.” “Was it because they don't like asian or white people?)” “Our waiter was remarkably rude and not only didn't know the menu and screwed up the order (when a customer says "gluten allergy", you listen), but was also condescending (oh, no bottled water, ok).” “Very tasty food, nice atmosphere and very very attentive staffs.” “Excellent service!” “Overall the server was gracious, and our food was good - my husband got the special steak and really liked it.” “great staff.” “Beautiful House, slow lackluster service” “Our waitress was sweet but not too pushy and the food was just scrumptious.” “The wine and food selection is terrific, the staff are helpful and quick, the atmosphere is just slightly upscale/trendy, and the prices are amazing!” “Went with 6 friends and the service was great.” “The food was good, but overpriced; the waiter needed to get a personality.” “Unbelievably rude.” “Lots of explaining at the end of the evening why their service was so slow, but they did nothing during the meal to manage customers expectations.” “This place is really enjoyable in all aspects, the quality of food and the service is excellent.” “atmosphere, wait staff, food”
value	83.33000183105469% positive	“This place is a huge disaster.” “The wine and food selection is terrific, the staff are helpful and quick, the atmosphere is just slightly upscale/trendy, and the prices are amazing!” “The food was good, but overpriced; the waiter needed to get a personality.”
wait time	30.0% positive	“This only confirmed that it was not only us experiencing the slow service.” “Lots of explaining at the end of the evening why their service was so slow, but they did nothing during the meal to manage customers expectations.” “The wine and food selection is terrific, the staff are helpful and quick, the atmosphere is just slightly upscale/trendy, and the prices are amazing!” “The above average, creative fare and good wine selection was tarnished by poor service and long long wait times.” “Beautiful House, slow lackluster service”

03/03/12

Waste of Money and Time!

by KBan6

The quality and quantity of the food was disappointing. The manager/owner? who sat in the corner with his laptop taking up a great table could not be bothered to get up and greet us when we walked in & we were the first guests in the place. A bowl of warm milk with truffle oil & two oysters thrown in does not make an oyster chowder. After our first course had been cleared, we waited 25 minutes for the second course. We hardly saw the poor server who was alone with tables upstairs & downstairs and seemed to be the bartender as well. Again, manager/owner could not be bothered to check on us. Finally, my 2 small scallop sliders arrived were lackluster. My husband's lunch entree (mushroom truffle flatbread) was good but normally it is a lunch appetizer, so a bit of a scam offering it as a lunch entree.

As we began to leave... I waited to see if Manager/owner would have the sense to address us, but of course, he was consistent in not caring one bit about the patrons. And now I know why everyone who walked in that day had an open table or living social deal. Good luck thriving in this economy. One of the worst dining experiences I have had in NYC !

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11/03/11

the house is GREAT

by KNM1013

i just recently came to the house. The ambience is wonderful and the staff treated me so kind. I sat at the bar and enjoyed some great drinks..Strawberry fields was my favorite. I have been coming to the house ever since to enjoy a drink and some food at the white marble bar on the parlor level, everyone was so nice and the food was so delicous!

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11/03/11

Love The House!

by lace miller

I have been coming to the House for quite some time now. I tell all my friends if they want an enjoyable experience to come to The House. Not only is the decor lovely but the food is great too. The wild boar lasanga is one of my favorite dishes. Best Lasanga i've had. The House won best Date Spot and last year they won most romantic. I tell all my friends to come here when they are meeting someone for a date. It is the Perfect spot!

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10/24/10

Used Car Salesman Bartender

by KMW10016

My husband and I have been meaning to eat at the House for quite some time, after having walked by on a number of occasions and finding it to be a charming looking place. We finally went in, opting to have a drink at the bar and review the menu to determine if we would stay on for dinner. As mentioned in other reviews, it was empty when we arrived (at a relatively early hour) and we were asked if we had reservations. We did not, and requested to have a drink at the bar, and they were fine. Things were nice at first, until the bartender started incessantly trying to push us to order more. He must have asked 15 times if we wanted an appetizer... I actually had to sit for a moment and decide if I actually did or felt guilty / forced into it before ordering something. I have to admit, the appetizer was delicious, but then he's asking what we want next (meanwhile we are on round three of expensive drinks so it's not like we're not pulling our weight and just crowding up the space). After that, everything circled around his desire for us to eat there. Are you having dinner? You should have the special (market price). Even a question (regarding the history of the structure) was answered in such a way that diverted us to yet another conversation about us eating dinner there (the windows upstairs, which you will see when you go up to eat dinner). Huh? And are we not allowed to peek upstairs unless we're seated for dinner? The bartender was extremely pushy (which made us wonder if the place is floudering to some extent), but at the same time gave a condescending vibe, which was very curious to me. You're trying to force us to spend more $$ here but at the same time acting like you're a decendant of royalty or something. Perhaps the restaurant is nice, but we never made it that far, and we are unlikely to go back.

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12/19/09

WORST MANAGEMENT

by Samantha Faucher

Management, specifically Alexander is the WORST. Two weeks ago I went to House with some friends for a birthday celebration, had good food and a nice atmosphere.... really no complaints even after our $400.00 bill for 5 of us..... no problem. What I do have a problem with is that i left a shopping bag there filled with stuff (it is Christmas season) and inside the bag was a gift too, left it there. I called that night, Alexander said "we found the bag, don't worry we will put it downstairs for you". I was so happy, that was on Thursday, Monday I go to pick up the bag and no one knows where it is. Alexander was not in, I asked the girls working to call him since I made a special trip down there, they would not. Okay, no prob, I will call tomorrow. I called the next day and spoke to Alexander and he was the RUDEST person I have ever spoken to (not rude the night spending $400), he told me it was a "courtesy that we even held the bag, it is not my responsibility and i don't' know where it is". I was flabbergasted, is it not your responsibility if you take it in your possession, tell me you have it and not to worry about it? THAN he told me "you had 24 hours to pick it up".. WHAT THE WHAT, he never told me that! So, he basically told me someone stole my bag, even though it was downstairs where customers cannot go. If he would have said, "listen, I am so sorry and what can I do"... I would have said, don't' worry about it, I don't want anything (except my gifts since I just came from Christmas shopping). BUT he was SOOOO rude and had an attitude right off the bat, VERY defensive... hummm wonder why. Seriously, he was not rude when we spend $400... but asking him for something he said he has in his possession and to say "don't worry about it, i will put it downstairs" than treating me like a jerk by telling me it was a courtesy that he held my bag at all and that I had 24 hours to pick up"... I just wish he would have told me this on the phone, I would have gone straight back.

Strange thing, I was on a plane this weekend, meet a lady who lives near there and said that she had problem with management too, but she did not know the guys name. This place is good, the owners need to know that they lost about 5 customers due to the RUDENESS of Alexander.

Pros: Food was good, atmosphere was nice..
Cons: RUDE MANGEMENT.. Alexander.

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Editor's Tips

03/03/12

Waste of Money and Time!

by KBan6

11/03/11

the house is GREAT

by KNM1013

11/03/11

Love The House!

by lace miller

10/24/10

Used Car Salesman Bartender

by KMW10016

12/19/09

WORST MANAGEMENT

by Samantha Faucher

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