(212) 484-5120

154 Central Park S (Between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue)
New York, NY 10021 40.766346 -73.977792

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Neighborhoods: Central Park, Midtown

154southgate.com

Hours:

Sun-Thu 11:45am-2pm, 5:30pm--10pm

Fri-Sat 11:45am-2pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm

Breakfast Mon-Thurs 6:30am-11am Sat-Sun 7am-10:45am

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 9.08.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Hotel Restaurants, Late Night Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Fine Dining, Brunch, Notable Chef, View Dining, Lunch Spot, Online Reservations, Group Dining, Fireplace, Bar Scene, Prix Fixe Menu

Cuisine:

New American, Traditional American, Seafood

Notable Chef:

Kerry Heffernan

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About South Gate

Featured Review

Jessica Allen

Contributor

Restaurants attached to hotels tend to charge their customers for convenience; this one--part of the ultra-luxurious Essex House on Central Park South--charges for quality, atmosphere and a well-known cook in the kitchen. Formerly of Eleven Madison Park, executive chef Kerry Heffernan takes a cue from the views across the street as he creates seasonal American fare, including red snapper with celery fondue, pork belly with leeks, and lamb with rutabaga. All those greens practically require a guilt-free conclusion like chocolate millefeuille or pot de creme.

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
Cozy up to the fireplace in the back, and peruse the bookcase.
What to Drink:
With 700 bottles displayed along an entire wall, there's a wine for every palate--but not necessarily every budget. A few bottles cost around $50 each, but most begin at around $100 and continue into the thousands.
Brunch Served:
In addition to the regular menu, on Sundays a $37 brunch buffet is also available.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Great ambience, wonderful food, best wine selection, trendy bar atmosphere”
  2. “love the atmosphere in the Bar and they have a great selection of cocktails.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “The staff were all friendly & attentive, and we were brought champagne and a special dessert on account of the occasion.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “The bar well-attended by the good looking professionals.”
  2. “Great ambience, wonderful food, best wine selection, trendy bar atmosphere”
  3. “The bar had a great drink menu and several creative and tasty mixed drinks.”
  4. “love the atmosphere in the Bar and they have a great selection of cocktails.”
  5. “The restaurant is conveniently located at the heart of Manhattan which makes it an ideal meeting place for drinks or an incredible meal.”
  6. “enjoyed drinks and then dinner with 3 business associates last night.”
  7. “Discuss business over amazing drinks in a great space”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “The restaurant is conveniently located at the heart of Manhattan which makes it an ideal meeting place for drinks or an incredible meal.”
  2. “had the lamb chops, they were truly delicious: my wife enjoyed her lobster.”
  3. “Wine pairing with the dinner was wonderful and the dishes were cooked to perfection.”
  4. “Great ambience, wonderful food, best wine selection, trendy bar atmosphere”
  5. “The bar had a great drink menu and several creative and tasty mixed drinks.”
  6. “Then we had dinner in the dining room - the food was excellent, the server very friendly and helpful (and not snotty at all like you'd expect at a restaurant at the hoity toity Essex House!)”
  7. “The food was really good, and the overall experience was great.”
  8. “food is good”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Great ambience, wonderful food, best wine selection, trendy bar atmosphere”
  2. “love the atmosphere in the Bar and they have a great selection of cocktails.”
  3. “The bar had a great drink menu and several creative and tasty mixed drinks.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “Then we had dinner in the dining room - the food was excellent, the server very friendly and helpful (and not snotty at all like you'd expect at a restaurant at the hoity toity Essex House!)”
  2. “The waiter pulls out the table for the lady, so that she can have the nice, plush couch to sit on.”
  3. “The waitstaff is very attentive.”
  4. “The staff were all friendly & attentive, and we were brought champagne and a special dessert on account of the occasion.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/08/10

Gorgeous All Around

by goods2give at Citysearch

This is THE spot for a business lunch. Easy to get to, really nice service, bright and the food is great too. I want to try it for dinner too. The restaurant is so gorgeous during the day so it's hard not to keep coming back!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/30/10

Nice place

by JamesWang at Citysearch

food is good

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/05/10

Great Dinner place

by JonSoleymani at Citysearch

For Valentine's Day, I took my girlfriend to South Gate and LOVED IT. The dinner was a pre-fix menu, at only $88 per person (that's FANTASTIC for Valentine's Day in New York). First of all, the place has a live jazz band, that places some cool beats in the background.

The place is 100% classy, with a VERY old-world feel to it. I felt like Frank and Dino were going to walk in the door!

The waiter pulls out the table for the lady, so that she can have the nice, plush couch to sit on. The food was really good, and the overall experience was great. Would HIGHLY recommend this place to ANYONE!

After dinner, right outside, there are carriages for a nice, Central Park Horse drawn carriage ride. ENJOY!

  • Pros: Great food, great prices, great service
  • Cons: NONE!
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/01/09

Discuss business over amazing drinks in a great space

by SusanPeters at Citysearch

I consult so I am always looking for a chic place to get drinks and discuss business. The atmosphere is open and elegant. The bar well-attended by the good looking professionals. We were comfortable and well serviced throughout the evening. Definitely a great option for the neighborhood.

  • Pros: great drink menu, beautiful crowd
  • Cons: not cheap, but when you want to impress...
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/29/09

Lovely anniversary dinner

by barrymc at Citysearch

We celebrated our anniversary here. I had the lamb chops, they were truly delicious: my wife enjoyed her lobster. The staff were all friendly & attentive, and we were brought champagne and a special dessert on account of the occasion. Top marks!

  • Pros: Great food, great service, trendy open setting
  • Cons: None

The Details on South Gate

Place Categories:

  • creative mixed drinks
  • really good food
  • attentive staff
  • great trendy bar atmosphere
  • love kimchi lobster
  • helpful server
  • great drink menu
  • incredible meal
  • very attentive waitstaff
  • wonderful wine
  • good professionals
  • great space
  • great overall experience
  • recommend highly
  • cool beats
  • nice place
  • great option
  • great ambience
  • nice plush couch