(212) 581-6464

326 W 46th St (nr. Eighth Ave.)
New York, NY 10036 40.76 -73.9889

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Neighborhoods: Clinton, Midtown

JOEALLENRESTAURANT.COM

Hours:

Mon-Tue, Thu 12pm-11:45pm

Wed, Sun 11:30am-11:45pm

Fri 12pm-12am

Sat 11:30am-12am

Price:

$$

Last updated 9.23.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Group Dining, Theater District Dining

Cuisine:

Hamburgers, New American, Traditional American

What People Are Saying About Joe Allen

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Butcher paper covers the tables and Broadway memorabilia cover the exposed brick walls at this Theater District favorite. In warm weather, cool breezes drift in from the open doors that face 46th Street. On the menu, reliable American tavern fare mixes with choices like a spicy Portuguese blood sausage, Greek salad, grilled portabello mushroom and quesadillas. The mashed potatoes are particularly good; ditto for the highly rated burgers.

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Lotsa fun here.”
  2. “send everyone I know there, It is casual or dressy and I love the busy atmosphere.”
  3. “The atmosphere is electric, service is excellent and the food good (not great).”
  4. “Great food and great fun”
  5. “Excellent location.”
dessert
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “can't tell you how stale the gingerbread was when it arrived covered in ice cream and caramel.”
  2. “The menu is a mouth-watering variety of new and old favorites--not the least of which is the best steak tartare in the universe--good wines and ab-fab desserts.”
  3. “Service was okay, appetizers and entree were very good, but then our dessert arrived.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “The menu is a mouth-watering variety of new and old favorites--not the least of which is the best steak tartare in the universe--good wines and ab-fab desserts.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “The atmosphere is electric, service is excellent and the food good (not great).”
  2. “The food is usually very good but I have to comment that the waitstaff is not.”
  3. “The hamburgers are great but my wife swears by the seafood.”
  4. “It's one of the few restaurants in the theater district where I feel I'm getting good enough food for what I've paid.”
  5. “Great food and great fun”
  6. “The food was excellent!”
  7. “I've always had excellent food there, especially the steak and the salad with rich homemade blue cheese dressing.”
  8. “By the way, the food is awesome!”
  9. “Awesome food in a cool setting”
  10. “Great food.”
  11. “The menu is a mouth-watering variety of new and old favorites--not the least of which is the best steak tartare in the universe--good wines and ab-fab desserts.”
  12. “The burger's are the best I have ever had in my whole life.”
  13. “We have been a couple of times and the food is great plus I felt like every Broadway star going today was there!”
  14. “If you want great food, great service, moderate prices, and an occasional celebrity sighting, this is the place.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The menu is a mouth-watering variety of new and old favorites--not the least of which is the best steak tartare in the universe--good wines and ab-fab desserts.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “I've been to Joe Allen several times and it is likely the best casual restaurant in the city.”
  2. “If you want great food, great service, moderate prices, and an occasional celebrity sighting, this is the place.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “If you want great food, great service, moderate prices, and an occasional celebrity sighting, this is the place.”
  2. “However the waiter was friendly, professional and served us promptly.”
  3. “have enjoyed everything I have ordered and the staff were always pleasant and friendly to me.”
  4. “Service is fast and friendly and they are very busy matinee days and weekends- reservations are a must.”
  5. “The bartenders at Joe Allen's make the BEST and most PERFECT Martini you have ever tasted!”
  6. “The atmosphere is electric, service is excellent and the food good (not great).”
  7. “They seem like the are too preoccupied to give good service.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “If you want great food, great service, moderate prices, and an occasional celebrity sighting, this is the place.”
3 Star Rating: Average

11/09/10

Don't bother

by brewer69

Read the reviews decided to try it. Well, I guess I should of considered the latest review was from 2007. I was so disappointed. The burger was ok, but for $13 it was nothing special. We sat at the bar and it was strange. The wait staff was arguing about who was going home and the manager was worried about his shift meal at 7:30. Not concerned about any of the chaos with the wait staff. Guacamole came highly recommended from the bartender, it was lame. Don't bother. Too much good food in the NYC to stop here.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/14/07

Don't go to NYC without stopping there

by dmschwrz

I have been going to Joe Allen for the past 20 + years, every chance I get on a Wednesday afternoon before a Broadway show. I send everyone I know there, It is casual or dressy and I love the busy atmosphere. I have enjoyed everything I have ordered and the staff were always pleasant and friendly to me. Everyone I have sent there has loved it as much as I have. Thank you to the Joe Allen staff !

  • Pros: Very young chrildren difficult to take here.
  • Cons: I have happely taken my very well behaved neices and grandchrildren over 10 years old.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/20/07

Theatre District Icon

by jmark45

If you are going to the theatre- this is the restaurant to go to. An institution in this area Joe has been here for over 40 years! The hamburgers are great but my wife swears by the seafood. Who knew? Service is fast and friendly and they are very busy matinee days and weekends- reservations are a must. I bring my family here everytime they visit - you never know who you will see there.

  • Pros: Great food, Large Cosmos, Fun Atmosphere
  • Cons: Can get noisy, not for young children
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/19/07

This place is a classic!

by roseman74

If you are visiting New York or going to a show you must go to Joe Allen. We have been a couple of times and the food is great plus I felt like every Broadway star going today was there! Get the Hot Fudge Pudding Cake for dessert.

  • Pros: Great Food, Service
  • Cons: Can get crowded
2 Star Rating: Below Average

11/08/06

Worst, over-priced dessert I've ever been served in NYC!

by kirkusny

Everything was going fairly well at our dinner on a recent Monday night. Service was okay, appetizers and entree were very good, but then our dessert arrived. I ordered the Gingerbread with vanilla ice cream and caramel, and my friend ordered the toll house cookies with vanilla ice cream. They were priced at $9.50 and $8.50 respectively, so we were expecting something delicious. Both the gingerbread and the cookies were obviously not baked that day. I can't tell you how stale the gingerbread was when it arrived covered in ice cream and caramel. It looked like something from Applebee's. The cookies looked and tasted like they were purchased at the corner bodega. Either reduce your dessert prices or improve the quality. This was my first dining experience at Joe Allen's in New York and I'm afraid it may have been my last.

The Details on Joe Allen

Place Categories:

  • great enough food
  • good service
  • always pleasant staff
  • excellent everything
  • cool setting
  • loved everyone
  • good wines
  • like joe allen
  • excellent location
  • excellent salad
  • especially enjoy cajun chicken sandwich
  • perfect best
  • friendly waiter
  • not like preshow customers
  • great hamburgers
  • good value
  • love mini coke bottles
  • great plus
  • stale gingerbread
  • great occasional celebrity sighting
  • just as nice bartender
  • very good appetizers
  • very good entree
  • best burger
  • fantastic drinks
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