Recommends

yesplease

Joined 5 years ago

A classic. Smooth service. Excellent food.

Recommends

fletche2

Joined 5 years ago

Midweek Treat. My friend and I decided to treat ourselves to lunch at 21 club. By Wednesday, it had already been a particularly trying week. We were completely pampered at 21club. They were warm and welcoming from beginning to end and we even received a free drink for making our res online. (Shhh, don't tell our boss :-)

We were delighted when the waiter told us they were featuring a special italian menu. apparently they have some visiting chefs in this week from sicily. Can you say "YUM"! Lobster risotto to die for with big hunks of lobster and the most incredible seven-layer chocolate cake that you have ever experienced. Thanks 21 club, you made the week sooooo much better.

Doesn't Recommend

xyzNYC

Joined 3 years ago

Beware. Age discrimination. As a young professional, 37 , and avid 20's era antique collector my girlfriend and I were excited to dine at 21 club. We went to the finest clothing stores in NYC, spent a thousand dollars on clothes for us to wear out on her 34th B-day. Entering the restaurant with awesome Suit jacket, elegant dress and designer shoes just bought us a big disappointment. We were approached by the manager named "Shaker" and he was of middle eastern desent.

He was rude and very nasty. He did not consider my pants to be a suit. And after we begged him to let us dine and pled the case that we had planned this birthday dinner for weeks he treated us like Pleblians.

Its obvious that 21 club does not cater to the under 80 crowd. Felt judged that we were not old enough. and I have never been treated so poorly in my entire life.

"SHAKER" should be fired and this club should reconsider its policies. When were rejected from the 21 the security guy outside who deals with the cabs appologized and said that the guy is a racist and if you dont look old and rich they will find something with your attire to send you away. They dont care about the money. They are just snobs! the outside employee also told us that they reject professional athletes all the time. They just want old people and the regulars that grease them for the royal treatment.

Doesn't Recommend

notworththeeffort

Joined 3 years ago

what you do not know/alot of people go.. 21, great looking place, owed by the famous orient express wow,right,wrong.they must plant these reviews because plenty goes wrong and right. it looks nic e on the outside but take a look at there dirty kitchen and utensils. the new rating system has got them to clean up, talk about being forced,all that money they make. if you knew the character of the staff etxc you would not let them walk your dog never mind cook your food,they know no boundries.they are their to make money,great reputation carefully crafted, the hand sometimes can be quicker than the eye.great food lots of wow, they have had lots of practice.beautiful rooms alote of great people go there but some famous slime balls have gone their and it rubbed off.the all around quality is the question,including buisness practices. you will have a good time just do not close both eyes.this is all theater but what is'nt these days.if you like just good food and great atmoshere and do not care about the rest,go.alote of people do.

Recommends

mapleleaves

Joined 11 years ago

Always perfect. I've been going to the 21 Club occasionally for the last three years (I don't live in New York), and I have never had a bad experience.

The food is excellent and the service is efficient. When you're there to talk business, you don't want a chatty waiter hovering over you.

I particularly liked the schnitzel - it was a kitchen-sink pile of all the stuff that goes on different regional schnitzels (fried egg, ham, mushroom sauce, etc.).

They really value repeat business. On my mother's SECOND visit they greeted her by name and said "would you like your regular table?"

The toys on the ceiling are gifts from regulars - the airplanes and trucks are from the executives of the companies they represent, and the sports memorabilia are from owners and famous players.

Recommends

TardyKat

Joined 10 years ago

Milk chocolate tart, creme brulee, smoked pork belly. Our reservation was 7:30pm, had to wait about 20 minutes for our table. The bar room was very interesting with all the hanging automotives and other knick knacks from the ceiling. Not sure what the story is behind that. The sound level was quite high.

The tables were packed very tightly next to each other making getting in and out of your seat a whole spectale of people moving the table for you. There were just so many different servers doing different things (water filling, place setting updating, etc.) in the confined space.

I tried the gazpacho, smoked pork belly and the milk chocolate tart. They were very, very good. The gazpacho was on the salty side for me. My friends tried the grilled calamari and sauteed salmon and finished the meal with the creme brulee and blueberry upside down cake.

All in all, I felt the menu selections under Restaurant Week to be very good. Took a glance at the a la carte menu and it seems to be very over-priced. Would I come back here other than Restaurant Week? No. would I come back for Restaurant Week? Probably not. I've been there, done that.

Recommends

BeHappyNYC

Joined 4 years ago

Don't *get* it. We went as a part of restaurant week, sat in the famous Bar room and to be honest, we didn't *get it*. The place was decorated with toy cars and trucks on the ceiling. I don't know, I really must have missed the point.

Would I go back...no. It was ridiculously overpriced for what we got. I did enjoy the staff in their white jackets and bow ties, though. Also, what restaurant has a Bloomberg terminal in the waiting area?

Either way, the food was tasty, the creme brulee was definitely one of my all time favorites, and the service was attentive to the letter. I liked that they seat you side by side and it was quite conducive for a romantic evening out.

Doesn't Recommend

OD

Joined 4 years ago

Definitely a place to avoid. The theme of the decor downstairs is junk. If it weren't for all the uncomfortable people in suit jackets (don't try to take yours off - they will spank you) you might think you were at a TGIFridays at least until you saw the prices. They pack people in at the tables - we were 12 at a round table that would comfortably seat 7 or 8. I don't think they like anyone there. A very unpleasant experience. The restaurant week menu was very limited - none of it looked very appetizing. The salmon on the restaurant week menu was farmed while the salmon on the regular menu was wild caught. Feels like they are trying to drive new business away which should leave them with very few customers as the remaining few look pretty close to the grave.

Doesn't Recommend

Talise

Joined 4 years ago

21 club doesn't welcome Asian. This was my fourth dining during the restaurants week.

Food was good but the service was terrible. Contain was okay but the busboy was very rude. Two ladies set next to us. They came before us. She got the bill when she asked for it. When we just finished desserts, the busboy put the bill on our table. It sounded he couldn’t wait to kick us out. I guess they didn’t welcome Asian. I don’t think we will come back again.

Recommends

studenteater

Joined 4 years ago

Great for a Night Out!. A few of my girlfriends and I went to 21 for a friend's 21st birthday. When we got there, everything was all set for us. They food was fantastic, I had the burger to see if all the hype was true and it was delicious. My friend had an amazing time and she enjoyed her dessert. The service was friendly and for the whole experience, the price really was not bad.

Thanks for a good time!