Terrace In The Sky

(212) 666-9490

400 W 119th St
New York, NY 10027 40.808 -73.9581

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Neighborhoods: Morningside Heights, Uptown

TERRACEINTHESKY.COM

Years in business

Established in 1975

Hours:

Tuesday To Thursday From 05:30 PM To 10:30 PM Friday From 12:00 PM To 02:30 PM Friday From 05:30 PM To 10:30 PM Saturday From 05:30 PM To 10:30 PM Sunday From 11:00 AM To 03:00 PM

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 7.26.11

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Fine Dining, Brunch, Business Dining

Cuisine:

Mediterranean, French

What People Are Saying About Terrace In The Sky

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Located at Columbia University's Butler Hall, this fine-dining restaurant with a view serves lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch; private party accommodations available.

ambiance
95.2400016784668% positive
  1. The views are wonderful and the food is innovative, well prepared and not trendy at all.
  2. There was no comparison - the food was amazing, service outstanding and the views were even better.
  3. The service could not have been better, the food was yummy - even though the portions were very small (not sure if it's due to restaurant week), the harp player was great as background music, the $36 bottle of wine was good, the view of the GWB was nice.
  4. Great service, good food, good view
  5. The views are great.
  6. went there with my husband for restaurant week lunch hoping for the great view people talk about.
  7. also thought it was a great value for the food and ambiance.
  8. group of us were celebrating a birthday and looking forward to fabulous views and fine dining.
  9. went there with my wife and the ambiance was just perfect for a nice romantic dinner.
  10. Wonderful ambience, and a beautiful view of Manhattan.
  11. yea the view was nice but nothing spectacular.
  12. The view is lovely, and the outdoor terrace is a terrific place for a drink in the warm weather, but do yourself a favor and don't dine here.
  13. Second, the view was of the projects - nothing nice to look at.
  14. Now that the greenhouse is open, you can enjoy the views there.
  15. So even if the food is good and it has a great view, I don't recommend it at all, as I've never seen such a rude service, insulting the clients.
  16. Excellent romantic dinner
  17. was promised a view, good food, service and nice
  18. The view was wonderful, band was great, food was quite good considering the amount of people.
  19. This restaurant has amazing views of Manhattan.
  20. think this would be a good place for a romantic night out as the prices are a bit steep so it's not good for an all the time thing.
  21. There are way more "romantic" restaurants in new york city and I feel I was lied to after going to Terrace.
  22. To cap it off, it was my wife's birthday and I had called in and requested a table with a nice view, which I was told they would honor.
  23. But you can't just feast on just romantic atmosphere can you?
  24. The ambiance and the decor were exquisite.
  25. The food was quite good, true, but the atmosphere unpleasant.
  26. personally feel that Terrace in the Sky is probably one of the most romantic restaurants in NYC.
  27. Granted, the view is nice -- but that alone won't bring me back.
  28. romantic because the views are amazing.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. for dessert I ordered the raspberry panacotta and he got the warm chocolate cake, both decent but nothing to rave about.
drinks
86.66999816894531% positive
  1. It took an hour for us to order, another hour and 15 min to get our entree's I had to go to the bar to order my champange, and carry it back myself, the waiter got our entrees mixed up and placed them in the wrong place and sat there and watched me switch
  2. Fourth, compared to many other upscale restaurants, the price is reasonable(3 courses+wine+tip<$80/person).
  3. The wine recommendations were perfect.
  4. The service could not have been better, the food was yummy - even though the portions were very small (not sure if it's due to restaurant week), the harp player was great as background music, the $36 bottle of wine was good, the view of the GWB was nice.
  5. The view is lovely, and the outdoor terrace is a terrific place for a drink in the warm weather, but do yourself a favor and don't dine here.
food quality
85.08999824523926% positive
  1. With "prices in the sky" at Terrace in the Sky one expects hospitable and attentive service and exceptional food - not the overpriced, mediocre food served by snobs.
  2. Good food presented in an elegant manner.
  3. The setting is beautiful; the food is to be avoided at all costs.
  4. Firstly, The space is beautiful and most importantly the food is awesome.
  5. he also got the angus sirloin which was very good but the corn salsa that it came w/ was way too spicy bc it had too much jalape?
  6. The view was wonderful, band was great, food was quite good considering the amount of people.
  7. The food was quite good, true, but the atmosphere unpleasant.
  8. The food was excellent and so was the service.
  9. I'd been there once before for a reception and the finger food had been quite good.
  10. There was no comparison - the food was amazing, service outstanding and the views were even better.
  11. also thought it was a great value for the food and ambiance.
  12. My wife and I sampled everthing from duo of venison to an amazing diver sea scallop dish.
  13. the food was good but honestly we could not enjoy it.
  14. So even if the food is good and it has a great view, I don't recommend it at all, as I've never seen such a rude service, insulting the clients.
  15. The poached salmon and couscous were good but the quiche was undercooked and runny, as were the made-to-order omelets.
  16. While the brunch could certainly be a great bargain, and the food was actually pretty good, receiving bad service all around was just not worth it.
  17. Had a great fish dish.
  18. We had a wonderful meal.
  19. We dine out at least twice a week and really appreciate a good meal and this place does not dissapoint.
  20. The views are wonderful and the food is innovative, well prepared and not trendy at all.
  21. also ordered the Tartar of Hawaiian Blue-Fin Toro w/ cucumber, Mango and Ponzu Vinaigrette which was delicious, nice and spicy though I felt like I was eating a spicy tuna roll w/out the rice.
  22. Worst meal I've ever had in Manhattan
  23. Oh yes, the food was delicious.
  24. have eaten everywhere from Gramercy Tavern to Nobu to LeCirque and the food at the Terrace is as good if not better.
  25. was promised a view, good food, service and nice
  26. The service could not have been better, the food was yummy - even though the portions were very small (not sure if it's due to restaurant week), the harp player was great as background music, the $36 bottle of wine was good, the view of the GWB was nice.
  27. the white bean soup appetizer was tasty enough, but the vegetable risotto entree I got was below average.
  28. Great service, good food, good view
  29. Service and food is excellent.
  30. First, the food has always been fresh, refined, and consistent.
  31. However, two of our group enjoyed their fish, and the blueberry cobbler was pretty good.
  32. The food was terrible.
  33. the food was fair but the service was bad.
  34. Then, as we were in the elevator, he asked us if the food was good, but then said "Next time, be on time!
  35. While the food wasn't that bad, everything else left much to be desired.
  36. have never seen a dish fail or see a diner disappointed.
  37. The food was wonderful and service first rate.
  38. Third, the food was not great.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. went with the regular menu and everything was cooked well and the ingredients were awesome.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Went there last night for the first time and it was a great place.
  2. caricature of what a nice place should
  3. This is a good place to go if you want the opposite of trendy.
  4. We dine out at least twice a week and really appreciate a good meal and this place does not dissapoint.
  5. think this would be a good place for a romantic night out as the prices are a bit steep so it's not good for an all the time thing.
service
82.1399974822998% positive
  1. can't believe that this restaurant charges such high prices for such terrible service.
  2. have never written a review online before but felt compelled to let people know about this terrible place, especially given it is up town and you don?
  3. and worst of all it took so long to bring my mother a fork, we had to share one fork between us to eat our entrees, the service was horrendous, for $175 a head, they should be able to afford a decent wait staff!
  4. The wait staff is attentive but not annoying.
  5. The food was excellent and so was the service.
  6. With "prices in the sky" at Terrace in the Sky one expects hospitable and attentive service and exceptional food - not the overpriced, mediocre food served by snobs.
  7. More like a tiny little room with a bathroom (I had 12 people in my bridal party--7 bridesmaids, my maid of honor/flower girl, 4 hostesses and me) and it was a disaster.
  8. The service was possibly the worst I've ever had.
  9. The service could not have been better, the food was yummy - even though the portions were very small (not sure if it's due to restaurant week), the harp player was great as background music, the $36 bottle of wine was good, the view of the GWB was nice.
  10. There was no comparison - the food was amazing, service outstanding and the views were even better.
  11. The waiter was very professional and made the experience so much better, gave good recommendations and provided world class service.
  12. was promised a view, good food, service and nice
  13. While the brunch could certainly be a great bargain, and the food was actually pretty good, receiving bad service all around was just not worth it.
  14. It took an hour for us to order, another hour and 15 min to get our entree's I had to go to the bar to order my champange, and carry it back myself, the waiter got our entrees mixed up and placed them in the wrong place and sat there and watched me switch
  15. So even if the food is good and it has a great view, I don't recommend it at all, as I've never seen such a rude service, insulting the clients.
  16. still can't believe that such a 'fine dining' restaurant had such horrible service, especially on xmas eve.
  17. the food was fair but the service was bad.
  18. Second, the service has always been professional and attentive.
  19. The service was pleasant and attentive and they were happy to call a car for our party after we dined to ensure we made our curtain time.
  20. Everything was great from service to the dinning experience.
  21. Great service, good food, good view
  22. Our waiter was perfectly nice, but each course was preceded by a loooong wait.
  23. went there with my husband for restaurant week lunch hoping for the great view people talk about.
  24. The food was wonderful and service first rate.
  25. The service impeccable.
  26. The view was wonderful, band was great, food was quite good considering the amount of people.
  27. The staff was attentive, friendly, and even sweet.
  28. This place would be wonderful if the service was better.
value
75.0% positive
  1. Fourth, compared to many other upscale restaurants, the price is reasonable(3 courses+wine+tip<$80/person).
  2. We had dinner twice before with the same results, wonderful dining worth every penny.
  3. think this would be a good place for a romantic night out as the prices are a bit steep so it's not good for an all the time thing.
  4. also thought it was a great value for the food and ambiance.
  5. can't believe that this restaurant charges such high prices for such terrible service.
  6. While the brunch could certainly be a great bargain, and the food was actually pretty good, receiving bad service all around was just not worth it.
  7. The service could not have been better, the food was yummy - even though the portions were very small (not sure if it's due to restaurant week), the harp player was great as background music, the $36 bottle of wine was good, the view of the GWB was nice.
  8. With "prices in the sky" at Terrace in the Sky one expects hospitable and attentive service and exceptional food - not the overpriced, mediocre food served by snobs.
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. and worst of all it took so long to bring my mother a fork, we had to share one fork between us to eat our entrees, the service was horrendous, for $175 a head, they should be able to afford a decent wait staff!
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/22/11

i like

by jamesbarrera at Citysearch

One of the best kept secret views in the city.

https://www.facebook. com/pages/Terrace-in-the-Sky/154165241322702

1 Star Rating: Poor

06/11/10

Rude Management

by GemNYC at Citysearch

After encountering a problem with the restaurant, I asked to speak to the manager to resolve the problem. She was rude, unprofessional, and told me she didn't care about the fact she was breaking a law because she needed to pay rent. I refuse to give this type of establishment my business.

  • Pros: View
  • Cons: Terrible management
1 Star Rating: Poor

02/23/10

Not worth the price

by hannaruth at Citysearch

We were guests at a birthday brunch for 50 people on Sunday. It was called for 11 am but except for cocktails, there was no sign of food till noon. We were quite hungry by then. The buffet table was ample but the dour people standing behind it (two men who looked like they belonged to the Mafia) glared if you took time deciding what to select. They also didn't allow us to help ourselves. The poached salmon and couscous were good but the quiche was undercooked and runny, as were the made-to-order omelets. When I asked for a cup of tea during the meal, I was told it wouldn't be served until dessert time. I have never before encountered a restaurant that refused to serve a hot drink during a meal! Finally when the fancy but tasteless desserts were served, there were 2 small urns for coffee and a pitcher of pre-brewed, not-very-hot tea. And when my friend wanted another cup of coffee, the table and urns had disappeared well before 3 pm when the event was to conclude. I can't believe that this restaurant charges such high prices for such terrible service. I'll never go there again, even as a guest.

  • Pros: beautiful view
  • Cons: terrible service, so-so food
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/23/09

Great Place

by alexnewyork at Citysearch

Went there last night for the first time and it was a great place. We went on a Tuesday night the and terrace was not busy so me a my girlfriend got a table right by the edge. I personally feel that Terrace in the Sky is probably one of the most romantic restaurants in NYC. I went with the regular menu and everything was cooked well and the ingredients were awesome. If you plan on going try the calamantra pasta, it had the most unbelievable shrimp. The waiter was very professional and made the experience so much better, gave good recommendations and provided world class service. Definitely would recommend it to any couple.

  • Pros: Service, Food, View
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/18/09

Not recommended for restaurant week

by martyna2009 at Citysearch

I went there with my husband for restaurant week lunch hoping for the great view people talk about. Turned out the deck was not available and we ended up in an ancient greenhouse overlooking the roofs of Harlem. The food was terrible. It started out okay with appetizers but my entree was absolutely horrible. The fish was undercooked and all tasted like olive brine. After complaining I was offered another meal. I picked risotto which was surprisingly worse. Even the fruit tart was so stale that you were unable to cut it with the fork. All together I didn't eat anything and left hungry short $60. Overall the worst restaurant experience in my life.

  • Cons: bad food, atmoshere, decor

The Details on Terrace In The Sky

Place Categories:

  • good finger food
  • attentive service
  • nice good view
  • good place
  • romantic restaurant
  • attentive wait staff
  • romantic dinner
  • worst restaurant experience
  • unpleasant food
  • worst meal
  • nice tartar
  • good wine recommendations
  • bad neighborhood
  • great fish dish
  • cold maitre
  • just perfect ambiance
  • fabulous fine dining
  • very professional waiter
  • great new york city experience
  • beautiful setting
  • nice nothing
  • elegant manner
  • enjoyed fish
  • nice dining experiences
  • awesome ingredients