Rock Center Cafe
(212) 332-7620
20 W 50th St
New York,
NY
10020
40.7589
-73.9784
Neighborhoods: Midtown, Midtown Center
What People Are Saying About Rock Center Cafe
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short
With all the commotion in Rockefeller Center it's easy to miss the discreet glass elevator descending to this underground cafe. Below, an expansive window frames the singular views of the skating rink and gold Prometheus fountain overshadowing the art deco interior. Out-of-towners munch on signature risotto crab cakes, house-made pappardelle and double chocolate--white and milk--mousse. In warmer months, the rink converts to an outdoor bar providing revelers more room for happy hour.
User Reviews
wynbrgr
January 17, 2009
Who needs a fancy show when you can watch skaters fly by, tumble and fall (but not get hurt!). The food and atmosphere here is always good. The prime rib was generous, done to perfection and the twice baked potatoe an unexpected surprise. The food is a bit pricey but, like with all of the Patina restaurants, you get quality for that price. Request a table near the ice rink (in winter) for a fun filled couple of hours. The restaurant even offers a "turn to skate" dinner package that features your meal and a private skate session on the famed "rock" rink.
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nycchicks123
January 02, 2009
New Year's Eve, Rockefeller Center, Huge Tree, Ice Skaters....what could be bad! We chose the Rock Center Cafe for its location and the availability of reservation for early New Year's Eve dinner. Our drinks were lovely - nice Cosmos (no real lime juice, unfortunately) and wine suggested by our friendly waiter. We enjoyed the crab cake appetizer and the caesar salad - didn't like the lamb and hummus - weird spicy taste - and our dinners were equally good - the fafalle shrimp was excellent! Don't order the twice-baked potato...it was very obviously unwashed and appeared to have been microwaved from a frozen state that had been sitting in the freezer too long...and it was cold - the waiter did not take it off the bill ($7.00!) but brought mashed potatoes instead.....In general the food was good and the view was spectacular...here's the BIG BUT to watch out for: We were a small group and some of us had cash and one person had a debit card. We paid half of the bill in cash, gave a substantial cash tip, and then charged the remainder to one person's credit/debit card. When she went to the bank today, she found that the restaurant had charged the entire $250 meal to her debit card, and even though we were only a group of 4 they tacked on an additional 20% gratuity over and above the meal! When she called they told her this was "normal procedure" and that the correct portion would be credited back to her account within 24 to 72 hours. Now, as many of us know, working from paycheck to paycheck does not leave a lot of maneuvering room in our bank accounts. This charge put the bank card over into the red and my friend was charged a hefty overdraft charge on top of everything else. The restaurant - The Patina Group - has yet to respond to her concern about this action....So, it was a generally nice experience, but the bad taste from the bogus charges lingers for days.......
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MattnPat
December 19, 2008
Last year was our first time dining out on Christmas Day. We enjoyed a delicious dinner while watching the skaters on the ice rink outside. The Lobster Bisque was yummy! I asked for an end cut of Prime Rib and I got it, cooked to perfection. Honestly its been a very long time that I''ve had dinner out and every course was delicious. The service impeccable! This was one of the BEST Christmas' I've ever enjoyed. We're going again this year :)
read full reviewThe Details on Rock Center Cafe
Save Money:
Summer happy hour includes nightly $5 specialty cocktails mixed with top shelf liquor.
Know Before You Go:
During the eight weeks that the Rockefeller Christmas tree is in place, the restaurant does not accept reservations. Stanchions are set up to corral crowds who are seated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Family-Friendly Dining, Romantic Dining, Outdoor Dining, Historic Setting, Theater District Dining, View Dining, Lunch Spot, Business Dining, Business Breakfast, Happy Hour, Bar Scene
