Grand Central Oyster Bar
(212) 490-6650
89 E 42nd St
New York,
NY
10017
40.7523
-73.978
Neighborhoods: Midtown South Central, Midtown
What People Are Saying About Grand Central Oyster Bar
The Editor
Kathleen Squires
Citysearch
The Scene
There's something grand about eating in Grand Central Terminal, as 90 years of Oyster Bar patrons can attest. Just ask the time-pressed commuters who prefer the lunch counters; the drinkers gravitating toward the saloon; and the tourists and power-lunchers enjoying the twinkling white lights of the arched Guastavino-tiled dining room.
The Food
The restaurant's strength is in obtaining quality seafood. Start with the immaculate oyster selection and follow with the "cold buffet, smokehouse and raw bar" portions of the menu. Chilled lobster salad is paired wonderfully with a curry tarragon dressing; uniformly pink North Atlantic salmon is just slightly smoked, allowing the true flavor of the fish to come through; and the meat comes right out of plump Florida stone crab claws. Hamachi, however, arrives overcooked and without any seasoning whatsoever, and a soupy, creamy paprika sauce overwhelms the pan roasts.
User Reviews
lilyetscooter
December 30, 2008
I've been going to the Oyster Bar for 10+ years and have never had an experience so bad or humiliating as the one I had today at lunch. After waiting 45 minutes for our food, we got 1 of the 2 dozen oysters we ordered and were missing the panroast. The oysters we did get were an incorrect order and looked as if they had been sitting out open for quite a while. When I complained I was met with a resounding "Aaawwww" from the entire bar staff. Upon complaining to the management they nitpicked our check and were inept at resolving or addressing the problem. Sadly I feel as though this is a NY Classic in name only anymore and in all my years of eating in NY have never had an entire waitstaff humiliate me in such a way. This ranks in the top two worst dining experiences I've ever had in NY. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
read full review
Anonymous
December 04, 2008
You will love this restuarant for the wonderful fresh seafood. Oysters, clams, mussels, many and varied fish dishes, they are all wonderful. The atmosphere is wonderful, below Grand Central Station it is a beautiful restaurant. If there is one complaint, it is that it is very noisy, hard to avoid in such a large and busy restaurant.
read full reviewAnonymous
November 20, 2008
I love the space that houses this restaurant. Huge tiled arches under the glorious Grand Central Station. The oysters are outrageous but they have other things for those leery of raw seafood. Burgers for one.
read full reviewThe Details on Grand Central Oyster Bar
The Extras:
The Guastavino Construction Company designed this laminated tile to create a vaulted effect in wide arches. For another example, visit Guastavino's--the restaurant wedged under the Queensboro Bridge.
When to Go:
The restaurant becomes much more sedate in the evenings--a good time to go for more attentive, less rushed service.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Diners Club, Visa, Discover, MasterCard
Catering Services:
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Private Rooms, Historic Setting, Business Dining, Online Reservations, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene, Notable Wine List
