Garage Restaurant and Cafe

Romance is in the air! Join us for Valentine's Day and enjoy an exclusive Couple's 5-Course Menu!

(212) 645-0600

99 7th Avenue South (Between Grove Street and Barrow Street)
New York, NY 10014 40.7329 -74.0031

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Neighborhoods: West Village, Downtown

garagerest.com

Hours:

Mon-Thu 12pm-4pm, 5pm-1am

Fri 12pm-4pm, 5pm-3am

Sat 11am-4pm, 5pm-3am

Sun 11am-4pm, 5pm-1am

Price:

$$$

Last updated 2.09.12

Category:

Restaurants, Holiday Events, Bars & Clubs, Halloween Events

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Happy Hour

Restaurant Special Features:

Late Night Dining, Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Brunch, Outdoor Dining, People Watching, Online Reservations, Group Dining, Live Music, Fireplace

Cuisine:

Traditional American

Bar & Club Type of Music:

Jazz, Blues

Bar & Club Special Features:

Specialty Cocktails, Romantic Nightlife, Live Music

What People Are Saying About Garage Restaurant and Cafe

The Owner

Garage Restaurant and Cafe

Owner

Greenwich Village's best casual American restaurant, outdoor cafe, and Jazz venue; featuring the rich tones of exposed rafters, inlaid wood floors and a double-story stone fireplace. Multi-level dining allows everyone to have the best seat in the house, whether you relax on richly upholstered banquettes or overlook the entire scene from a cozy booth on the balcony. Beneath an enormous copper hood, you'll find the grand rectangular bar, where cocktails abound and grazers can enjoy the freshest shellfish from the raw bar. Regulars and newcomers alike enjoy live Jazz seven nights a week, as well as during our Jazz Brunches and new weekday Jazz Lunches Monday through Friday. Eight frosty draught beers, an incomparable live entertainment schedule, the finest seafood and steaks, and the best people-watching view make a visit to Garage a must when visiting New York City's West Village.

CityGrid

Read more from the owner

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – What used to be a garage in the '20s is now a casual American restaurant famous for its live free jazz and late night meals. Out-of-towners and locals alike dive into the a la carte dinners and weekend prix fixes while watching the show. In summer, the outdoor cafe is a airy spot for microbrewed beers, raw bar selections, and chargrilled burgers and fries; in winter; tables around the stone fireplace warm crowds.

ambiance
93.05999755859375% positive
  1. Great location too.
  2. I've been in the village for years and have walked by Garage a million times, so when my friends wanted to meet there and I saw how incredible the atmosphere was, I felt silly for never having tried it out.
  3. Fantastic food and drink, wonderful service, comfortable/cozy ambience and just superb music all the time!
  4. The food was delicious, with a range of prices to suit everyone, and the atmosphere was intimate.
  5. GREAT, GREAT food, awesome drinks (specialty martinis), wonderful service, comfortable/cozy ambience and FANTASTIC MUSIC ALL THE TIME!
  6. Great space & decor but food is mediocre
  7. The atmosphere is purely romantic with dim lighting and candlelight dinner.
  8. This fun happenign resatuarnt,,,was a great tiem from the get go.
  9. fun atmosphere, great food, and smooth jazz along with it.
  10. The jazz was quite good, but didn't make this a romantic setting.
  11. We got a seat outside--the overall atmosphere is nice.
  12. The room is lovely with stone fireplace, terraced seating areas, nostalgic decor, soft lighting and fantastic free live jazz.
  13. She seated us at a table with a view of the band and the incredible stone fireplace.
  14. We were looking for a casual spot with good food, atmosphere and live music.
  15. But this place really blew me away with great food, ambience, and service.
  16. The jazz made the night fun and relaxed and the food was delicious without being pretentious.
  17. The ambiance is really nice and the service was excellent.
  18. the ambience was cozy and romantic.
  19. We walked into Garage and loved the atmosphere immediately.
  20. Garage is an incredible value for a fun night out.
  21. ambiance of the place is very nice.
  22. The decor is nice with dark-paneled wood and a live jazz band playing.
  23. The food quality, ambiance and service are excellent.
  24. It's a very comfortable place with good energy and an interesting atmosphere.
  25. The atmosphere and the food were not not thrilling at all and service was good but who cares if everything else is really REALLY bad!
  26. The banquettes & booths on the tiered & upper levels are particularly cozy, though sitting at a table along the balcony provides a great birds-eye view of the whole place.
  27. It was just a perfect night, the food was perfectly cooked, served at the perfect time, and the atmosphere was just beautiful.
  28. Comfortable ambience, talented musicians, and enticing food - all combined to make an excellent brunch experience.
  29. Pretty uninspired on the whole as far as food and wine, but a great space and ambience.
  30. The ambiance was really romantic, and service was pretty good.
  31. In addtion we've built several lasting romantic memories there as well, always a job well done.
  32. Oh yeah there was no cover charge and the ambiance was excellent.
  33. great ambiance.
  34. It has a huge bar on the main floor of the restaurant or if you may choose to go to the dining area you may get a balcony view of the entire restaurant or booth seating for couples or families.
  35. Perhaps instead of prizing the food rating so much, we should consider that the value to any good meal derives also from atmosphere.
  36. The music was excellent and the atmosphere was really cool.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. So, if you enjoy great Performers in Jazz and you like great food and desserts this is the place!
  2. The dessert sampler is a great idea for groups - and at just $4 per person, it's more than reasonable and would be a great accompaniment with some good coffee.
  3. The food is excellent with many dishes to choose from and desserts were yummy but we could have used a few more selections.
  4. We had a great bottle of wine (hint - they put really good cheap bottles on the bottom of their specials page where no one notices them) and we had dessert, and our bill came to only eighty bucks.
  5. The food was delicious, the music was great, the portions left us full where we couldnt fit dessert.
  6. for dessert we had apple cobbler with gelato which was so amazing.
drinks
97.5% positive
  1. The bar drinks were good (strong), and the jazz was different, but the food was horrible.
  2. We had a great bottle of wine (hint - they put really good cheap bottles on the bottom of their specials page where no one notices them) and we had dessert, and our bill came to only eighty bucks.
  3. Just had appetizers at the bar, but they were great, and their raw bar is really fresh and good.
  4. Pretty uninspired on the whole as far as food and wine, but a great space and ambience.
  5. They have free jazz music, very good food and drinks and the service is always well above average.
  6. GREAT, GREAT food, awesome drinks (specialty martinis), wonderful service, comfortable/cozy ambience and FANTASTIC MUSIC ALL THE TIME!
  7. The drinks, btw, are incredible and Marianne and David, the bartenders were awesome.
  8. The bar is awesome though.
  9. liked the overall setting A LOT and it was only improved by the fact that our waiter was pleasant and attentive even though we only ordered entrees (no drinks, no appetizers, no coffee).
  10. The dessert sampler is a great idea for groups - and at just $4 per person, it's more than reasonable and would be a great accompaniment with some good coffee.
  11. Great food, Poor wine list, Great music, Too loud
  12. It has a huge bar on the main floor of the restaurant or if you may choose to go to the dining area you may get a balcony view of the entire restaurant or booth seating for couples or families.
  13. bartenders/barmaids. The drinks are always good and the service is wonderful.
  14. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, the drinks were good and the food was as well.
  15. We had some drinks & some apps and everything was great.
  16. We were able to get a seat up at the bar and the windows were wide open allowing us to have a beautiful breeze.
  17. My point being is that if you are up to some good drinks and a delicous meal, this is the place.
  18. We thought we were going just for drinks and to hear some nice jazz but were pleasantly surprised to see an extensive menu ranging from salads to steaks to pasta & seafood.
  19. You can't beat value for money listening to 10 to 15 pro musicians for the price of a few beers - especially as there aren't so many 'big bands' around these days.
  20. Fantastic food and drink, wonderful service, comfortable/cozy ambience and just superb music all the time!
food quality
92.34000205993652% positive
  1. Perhaps instead of prizing the food rating so much, we should consider that the value to any good meal derives also from atmosphere.
  2. The food quality, ambiance and service are excellent.
  3. The vanilla bean soaked french toast is the best.
  4. had the vanilla bean french toast which was a good french toast but not very vanilla-y.
  5. The food was delicious, the music was great, the portions left us full where we couldnt fit dessert.
  6. Great food, knowledgable wait staff and great price.
  7. It was just a perfect night, the food was perfectly cooked, served at the perfect time, and the atmosphere was just beautiful.
  8. The food is excellent with many dishes to choose from and desserts were yummy but we could have used a few more selections.
  9. We asked to be seated and a very rude host told us that we could only sit if we ordered food.
  10. night in january with 10 people every one loved the food and jazz The steak aupiove was great 2 of my friend had the chilean seabass witch was out of this world thats what will get on my next visit
  11. Comfortable ambience, talented musicians, and enticing food - all combined to make an excellent brunch experience.
  12. Rarely have I had such bad food in an NYC restaurant.
  13. My HUGE bowl came to the table overflowing with giant scallops, jumbo shrimp, tons of mussles and clams (all local, they claim), and a huge lobster claw on top!
  14. Fantastic food and drink, wonderful service, comfortable/cozy ambience and just superb music all the time!
  15. My point being is that if you are up to some good drinks and a delicous meal, this is the place.
  16. The food was fantastic
  17. The food here is great and the service is greater.
  18. The salmon was good, but a little over cooked, which surprised me, as the filet was so well done.
  19. The bar drinks were good (strong), and the jazz was different, but the food was horrible.
  20. Great venue for music and food
  21. not only was the apple salad wonderful and refreshing , the garage steak was delicious as well.
  22. But this place really blew me away with great food, ambience, and service.
  23. Everything was excellent particularly the mussels, the sauce was so good.
  24. def recommend the oysters and the melted brie salad.
  25. Great food for a jazz joint!
  26. The steak was tender and the salad was so fresh.
  27. While the food and jazz were excellent, the service we received from the hostess and the overall management was sorely lacking.
  28. The service was awesome and the food was really good.
  29. The food is great, the service.
  30. So, if you enjoy great Performers in Jazz and you like great food and desserts this is the place!
  31. Great food, live jazz, near fiasco
  32. We were looking for a casual spot with good food, atmosphere and live music.
  33. We both enjoyed the food with my steak being perfectly done to my request and recieved excellent service.
  34. The filet was very good as was the seafood scampi.
  35. the food was delicious,,,I had an amazing scallop and bacon appetizer and the most amazing banana chip crusted mahi mahi.
  36. They have free jazz music, very good food and drinks and the service is always well above average.
  37. The food is always great, and when they have the live Jazz performers, it's just amazing.
  38. for dinner i had the chicken stuffed with feta, spinach, and pine nuts which was DELICIOUS!
  39. Good service, food and live jazz, too.
  40. have had many an wonderful meal there,,,and the Jazz has never been better.
  41. The food was delicious, with a range of prices to suit everyone, and the atmosphere was intimate.
  42. Great jazz and delicious food = awesome combination
  43. My sister had the caprese omlet which was awesome, stuffed with fresh mozarella and tomatos.
  44. The food is excellent, but the prices are something else.
  45. The atmosphere and the food were not not thrilling at all and service was good but who cares if everything else is really REALLY bad!
  46. The service was good, the food was good and the music was good.
  47. And the salad is great!
  48. think they really stand out with the sea bass, but all their food is delectable.
  49. great food.
  50. and our friends had amazing food as well.
  51. my husband and i were in the mood to relax and have a good meal.
  52. Pretty uninspired on the whole as far as food and wine, but a great space and ambience.
  53. We enjoyed the live jazz and the delicious food and the great service.
  54. great food+great jazz=great time
  55. GREAT, GREAT food, awesome drinks (specialty martinis), wonderful service, comfortable/cozy ambience and FANTASTIC MUSIC ALL THE TIME!
  56. As for the food, the vanilla bean soaked french toast is mouthwatering, though for something more savory the benedict mignon really hits the spot.
  57. Don't like jazz, but loved the food!
  58. good jazz- average food
  59. The food is great.
  60. Great food, Poor wine list, Great music, Too loud
  61. best food and jazz
  62. The food was very good all around -- the asian spring rolls are a great appetizer.
  63. During the entire meal there was incredible jazz playing - can you believe we didn't even have to pay a cover?
  64. Good food, good music, good service
  65. Above and beyond the food, the service is amazing.
  66. The food was excellent.
  67. Good food and wait staff, lousy management
  68. The service was good, but the food was all around mediocre and very overpriced.
  69. We thought we were going just for drinks and to hear some nice jazz but were pleasantly surprised to see an extensive menu ranging from salads to steaks to pasta & seafood.
  70. Both meals were very good(a pasta dish and tuna).
  71. fun atmosphere, great food, and smooth jazz along with it.
  72. Lovely space, great food excellent service.
  73. loved the food - modern american - really good coconut shr.
  74. The food was lovely, the wait staff helpful, the jazz a tad too loud, but otherwise nice place.
  75. The food here is amazing, I guess that comes as no surprise.
  76. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, the drinks were good and the food was as well.
  77. Great space & decor but food is mediocre
  78. Good music, Good food, Good service
  79. was going to get steak frites, but the waiter we had recommended lobster ravioli.
  80. good food with live music
  81. The jazz made the night fun and relaxed and the food was delicious without being pretentious.
  82. thought we were going for the jazz, which was really good, but the food was amazing.
  83. Meat (is murder) eating friends went for the steaks which they told me were succulent and the service excellent.
  84. Just had appetizers at the bar, but they were great, and their raw bar is really fresh and good.
  85. The food is magnificent, even during restaurant week.
  86. what a place, with great food and great staff
  87. The food was delicious.
menu variety
60.0% positive
  1. The regular menu is good as well, but the specials are really good.
  2. appreciate that they, unlike other many restaurants in the area, did not require that we order off some pricey prix fixe menu.
  3. The food is excellent with many dishes to choose from and desserts were yummy but we could have used a few more selections.
  4. The menu is full of mouth-watering fare.
  5. We thought we were going just for drinks and to hear some nice jazz but were pleasantly surprised to see an extensive menu ranging from salads to steaks to pasta & seafood.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. So, if you enjoy great Performers in Jazz and you like great food and desserts this is the place!
  2. This is one great place for brunch!
  3. great live music restaurant
  4. The food was lovely, the wait staff helpful, the jazz a tad too loud, but otherwise nice place.
  5. My point being is that if you are up to some good drinks and a delicous meal, this is the place.
  6. the jazz was really nice and it seemed to go one for ever,,,we closed the place.
  7. find Garage to be a good place for those living in the neighborhood, like myself, or to take friends from out of town.
  8. Also seems like a nice place to hang after work, perhaps next time.
  9. Garage is a great place to go for brunch.
  10. great place
  11. great place to people watch, while waiting between courses.
  12. The banquettes & booths on the tiered & upper levels are particularly cozy, though sitting at a table along the balcony provides a great birds-eye view of the whole place.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. There are too many really good restaurants in New York for us to return here, but it was ok.
service
87.04000473022461% positive
  1. The ambiance was really romantic, and service was pretty good.
  2. our waiter was very friendly and attentive.
  3. Rude staff and poor management
  4. liked the overall setting A LOT and it was only improved by the fact that our waiter was pleasant and attentive even though we only ordered entrees (no drinks, no appetizers, no coffee).
  5. Everyone was really nice from the male and female hosts hosts who greeted and seated us to the waiter to the manager.
  6. was going to get steak frites, but the waiter we had recommended lobster ravioli.
  7. Anyway, if you go to Sunday brunch don't expect the best service and you might want to try the "lunch" items.
  8. While the food and jazz were excellent, the service we received from the hostess and the overall management was sorely lacking.
  9. The food was lovely, the wait staff helpful, the jazz a tad too loud, but otherwise nice place.
  10. But this place really blew me away with great food, ambience, and service.
  11. We enjoyed the live jazz and the delicious food and the great service.
  12. what a place, with great food and great staff
  13. Fantastic food and drink, wonderful service, comfortable/cozy ambience and just superb music all the time!
  14. The staff was friendly and attentive, serving us in plenty of time to leave for theatre at 8.
  15. Great service at the Bar and a friendly staff.
  16. Good food and wait staff, lousy management
  17. The ambiance is really nice and the service was excellent.
  18. The food quality, ambiance and service are excellent.
  19. service wasn't that good.
  20. The staff was attentive without being bothersome.
  21. The whole staff was very friendly and we were in and out very quickly.
  22. Good service, food and live jazz, too.
  23. great service.
  24. bartenders/barmaids. The drinks are always good and the service is wonderful.
  25. The service is great.
  26. night in january with 10 people every one loved the food and jazz The steak aupiove was great 2 of my friend had the chilean seabass witch was out of this world thats what will get on my next visit
  27. The staff was friendly and attentive.
  28. friendly and accommodating staff, great music
  29. We both enjoyed the food with my steak being perfectly done to my request and recieved excellent service.
  30. Our table waiter was absolutely void of decent manners and attentive service.
  31. The food here is great and the service is greater.
  32. We asked to be seated and a very rude host told us that we could only sit if we ordered food.
  33. GREAT, GREAT food, awesome drinks (specialty martinis), wonderful service, comfortable/cozy ambience and FANTASTIC MUSIC ALL THE TIME!
  34. ...then our 1st server comes over about 10 minutes later to take our order (Uh?
  35. either from be shorthanded or just bad service
  36. The music was very good and the staff was very attentive, without being bothersome.
  37. The service was good, but the food was all around mediocre and very overpriced.
  38. The service was awesome and the food was really good.
  39. The atmosphere and the food were not not thrilling at all and service was good but who cares if everything else is really REALLY bad!
  40. Good music, Good food, Good service
  41. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, the drinks were good and the food was as well.
  42. Above and beyond the food, the service is amazing.
  43. The service was good, the food was good and the music was good.
  44. Meat (is murder) eating friends went for the steaks which they told me were succulent and the service excellent.
  45. Great service.
  46. Marianne is the best bartender I have ever met.
  47. They have free jazz music, very good food and drinks and the service is always well above average.
  48. The food is great, the service.
  49. great place to people watch, while waiting between courses.
  50. Lovely space, great food excellent service.
  51. The drinks, btw, are incredible and Marianne and David, the bartenders were awesome.
  52. Great food, knowledgable wait staff and great price.
  53. this evening was made perfect by great service and AMAZING JAZZ.
  54. Good food, good music, good service
value
77.08000183105469% positive
  1. If you have ever complained about how expensive a restaurant is then don't bother going.
  2. Great food, knowledgable wait staff and great price.
  3. We had a great bottle of wine (hint - they put really good cheap bottles on the bottom of their specials page where no one notices them) and we had dessert, and our bill came to only eighty bucks.
  4. You can't beat value for money listening to 10 to 15 pro musicians for the price of a few beers - especially as there aren't so many 'big bands' around these days.
  5. the live jazz bad was well worth the visit.
  6. appreciate that they, unlike other many restaurants in the area, did not require that we order off some pricey prix fixe menu.
  7. Fast, affordable and great Jazz playing the entire time we dined.
  8. The service was good, but the food was all around mediocre and very overpriced.
  9. The price wasn't expensive either.
  10. The food is excellent, but the prices are something else.
  11. The food was delicious, with a range of prices to suit everyone, and the atmosphere was intimate.
  12. My HUGE bowl came to the table overflowing with giant scallops, jumbo shrimp, tons of mussles and clams (all local, they claim), and a huge lobster claw on top!
  13. The food was delicious, the music was great, the portions left us full where we couldnt fit dessert.
  14. Perhaps instead of prizing the food rating so much, we should consider that the value to any good meal derives also from atmosphere.
  15. Garage is an incredible value for a fun night out.
  16. It has a huge bar on the main floor of the restaurant or if you may choose to go to the dining area you may get a balcony view of the entire restaurant or booth seating for couples or families.
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. ...then our 1st server comes over about 10 minutes later to take our order (Uh?
  2. long live Garage and long live great Greenwich Village Jazz!
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/16/12

WORST EXPERIENCE!! UNHELPFUL STAFF

by worldstraveler

Bad management!!! Unhelpful staff. Charged 20 percent gratuity for a party of TWO.. For this type of establishment that is just soooooooooo lame.. Don't go here. Foods not worth it!

1 Star Rating: Poor

03/11/12

Bad Management

by tina106

I made a reservation for brunch four days in advance because I was coming with a party of 9. We waited an hour to be seated, then another hour to be served. In addition, one of the plates came out 15 minutes later than the others. When we asked to speak to the manager to complain, he told us that we had a bad attitude. When my sister asked him his name, he said "Pablo Escobar." Total disrespect for the customer.

I was so embarrassed. I have never been treated so poorly in a restaurant before. I had guests from out of town, and thought this would be a nice way to end the weekend. Such a disappointment.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/29/12

nice job

by davislawfirm1

Everybody has always been helpful and I would recommend them any time. They are my heroes!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/22/12

Great Place

by carlaqueen

I visited Garage last week with my friends. Primarily I go there for the great variety and seafood dishes. The atmosphere was fantastic. They have also a happy hour every Thursday and it was fun.

3 Star Rating: Average

01/09/12

amazing music, they dont have places like this anymore

by watkinstina89

great selection of music jazz and blues fare. good selection of wine and just a very chill atmosphere. definitely the best place i can think of to take a date to, check this place.

The Details on Garage Restaurant and Cafe

Place Categories:

  • great food
  • great good service
  • great light jazz
  • great place
  • great live music
  • friendly knowledgable wait staff
  • fantastic live jazz
  • incredible overall atmosphere
  • not very bland food
  • attentive waiter
  • good bar drinks
  • great comfortablecozy ambience
  • excellent ambiance
  • good delicous meal
  • big live jazz band
  • great raw bar
  • great everything
  • not best service
  • pricey prix fixe menu
  • incredible lovely dinner
  • recommend melted brie salad
  • really good restaurants
  • mouthwatering soaked french toast
  • recommended highly
  • recommend garage

As Seen In…

Best of Citysearch

New York

Message from Garage Restaurant and Cafe

  • Daily & Nightly Live Jazz
  • Two Story Stone Fireplace
  • Private Parties/Special Events

Greenwich Village's best casual American restaurant, outdoor cafe, and Jazz venue; featuring the rich tones of exposed rafters, inlaid wood floors and a double-story stone fireplace. Multi-level dining allows everyone to have the best seat in the house, whether you relax on richly upholstered banquettes or overlook the entire scene from a cozy booth on the balcony. Beneath an enormous copper hood, you'll find the grand rectangular bar, where cocktails abound and grazers can enjoy the freshest shellfish from the raw bar. Regulars and newcomers alike enjoy live Jazz seven nights a week, as well as during our Jazz Brunches and new weekday Jazz Lunches Monday through Friday. Eight frosty draught beers, an incomparable live entertainment schedule, the finest seafood and steaks, and the best people-watching view make a visit to Garage a must when visiting New York City's West Village.

Garage Restaurant and Cafe

20% off entire check

Everyday, from 5pm-close. Inside Dining Only. Must present coupon upon ordering.

Garage Restaurant and Cafe - 99 7th Avenue SouthNew York, NY10014 - (212) 645-0600

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