Recommend this business?
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- Neighborhoods:
- Midtown South Central, Midtown
- Categories:
- Restaurants, Catering
- Cuisine:
- Traditional American, Seafood
- Price:
- $$$$
- Catering Services:
- Restaurant Special Features:
- Payment Methods:
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At a Glance
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85% ambiance
“love the Oyster Bar -- even more than its delicious chowders and biscuits, it's the old-style NYC atmosphere that's the real draw here.”
100% dessert
“Rite after our main dishes were served, our waiter came and asked if we are going to order dessert.”
81% drinks
“Our waiter was horrible -- he spilled our drinks on the table, dropped a dirty knife onto my lap, never came by once to see how we were doing, never refilled our drinks and was in general quite rude in his demeanor.”
75% food quality
“You will love this restuarant for the wonderful fresh seafood.”
100% menu variety
“It provides 4 separate types of seating to fit your mood (counter, dining room, quiet back room, and oyster bar itself), has easily the largest and most varied selection of fresh oysters in the city, and has a menu that meets virtually every seafood lover”
95% overall
“The waiters are good and the place is even BETTER than I remember it.”
100% return potential
“While it was a decent dining experience, I probably won't go back for the food unless it's just to for a beer and some oysters at the bar.”
50% service
“The waiters are good and the place is even BETTER than I remember it.”
80% value
“The mediocre food and poor service was not worth the 40 minute wait at lunch.”
0% wait time
“The mediocre food and poor service was not worth the 40 minute wait at lunch.”
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Grand Central Oyster Bar
What Our Expert Scouts Say
March 20, 2013
This place takes you back in time. Oysters and a martini, yes please! Great place to visit if you're traveling.
0
Heart
February 12, 2013
The Oyster Bar is so iconic and timeless that it's a shame it's mostly commuters that go there. There is no larger selection of oysters in New York, or possibly the world.
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Heart
Tips for Grand Central Oyster Bar
October 10, 2010
New Enland clam chowder paradise.... ...the best New England clam chowder in the City, hands down. The chowder never changes and never varies - it is always fresh and delicious! A+ Have it at the counter with oyster crackers and a glass of cold tea. Heaven for less than 10 bucks...
1
Heart
September 10, 2010
Fried Oysters were a disgrace to the establishment's name.
I have been a loyal customer for almost ten years, but tonight made me question my loyalty.
After ordering my usual fried oyster platter, I was shocked to be presented with a few whole oysters and about two dozen tiny fried bits that were dredged up from the bottom of the fryer. When I take guests from out of town here, I don't expect a huge pile of oysters, but the ones I receive I expect to be of high quality -- medium sized and plump. Tonight was a disappointment.
To the credit of our server, he did agree to take the charge off our bill after I sent the plate back. Still, the next time I want to treat my guests to a top-notch New-York fried-oyster experience, I will look elsewhere... sadly.
1
Heart
July 24, 2010
Great Oysters!.
Always sit in the back of GCOB by the bar, otherwise you will be overrun by tourists.
Still a NYC landmark and still the best oysters that you can find without travelling to the west coast, but over the years the waitstaff quality has dropped - they are less knowledgeable about the oysters, more into rushing you out than caring about your experience and not as cordial.
However, the food still holds up to what it was and the underground speakeasy feeling exists.
I am not a beer drinker, but when I do drink it's always dark.
Highly recommend: Turbo Dog Dark Ale with your oysters and ipswich clams.
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Heart
May 09, 2010
no longer a landmark. I used to love this place but something's gone wrong over the yrs. Maybe the location and tourist cache will be enough to keep it going forever which is probably a big part of the problem. The food is no longer great and the service even much less so. skip it, go elsewhere
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Heart
February 21, 2010
Get the Shrimp Pan Roast!.
Did a great walking tour of Grand Central Terminal (we love you, Justin Ferate!) and ended up smack-dab in front of the Oyster Bar. Tummies grumbling, we decided to belly-up to the bar and enjoy.
I haven't had a good pan roast in years so I ordered the shrimp pan roast. Anything that starts with a base of cream, well, I'm all over that. Decadent. Nothing could better describe each and every bite of that pan roast. Perfectly seasoned, the shrimp perfectly cooked, it was truly a thing of beauty and my tastebuds sang out. We loved sitting at the bar so we could see oysters, pan roasts and stews being prepped/made to order. Very cool! It's a don't miss when you're in the neighborhood, especially on a chilly day.
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Heart
February 11, 2010
best oysters. I love going to this place with my mom. We both are big fans of seafood and they have a great selection here. I especially love their oysters and the fact that they have such a great variety of oysters to choose from!!
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Heart
December 30, 2008
Humiliating Experience. 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.
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Heart
November 08, 2008
Just Great. a ny classic - you'll never go wrong here. a bit more on the formal side but very very tasty. i've had several seafood dishes here, all of which were top notch. will have to revisit to provide more specific commentary.
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Heart
October 14, 2008
Excellent....
I am in love with this place! We came last week and mixed green salag with beefsteak tomato- - SUPER GOOD! You have to get it when you go! I had the broiled Florida red grouper filet with
peekytoe crabm and pancetta eat wine sauce, 5 grain rice and tiramisu and it was AMAZING! My friend had the lobster and it was just as good (but mine was better). I cannot wait to come back!
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Heart
August 11, 2008
yUMMYYY. moderately hung over on a sunday? Well go somewhere else, can't help you. I want the window seat at Grand Central ! You can't have it. Sitting here with the friendly staff, yummy crab, and wine just made my day.
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Heart
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Grand Central Oyster Bar
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