04/03/07

Really Good Spot On the Upper West Side

by chiap

As a resident of the Upper West Side I am always looking for a good place in the neighborhood and I had heard that Pair of 8's has a new chef. I decided to go back to the restaurant and see How the food was. I was glad to see that they have a good one now. My meal was tasty, interesting and very reasonable. I met my date at the bar and found out they have a cocktail hour special- two cocktails for 8 bucks! It was a great way to start the evening. We passed on more drinks and got a bottle of wine. They had really good bottle of grenache for $29. Much more reasonable then I remember there wine list being. As I said the food was really good. I had the Warm Goat cheese salad that was good as my adventures guest had the Duck Prosciutto. For entrees I had the Burger that was good but a great excuse to have the best onion rings I have ever had. My date had chicken. We both enjoyed a lot. We did not have dessert but I am confident that I will go back to try them out soon.

• Pros: The service was really good and the wine list was very inexpensive
• Cons: The lights were very low

08/16/06

Very good food

by iliketo_eat

I have eaten at this restaurant on several occasions and find Chef Michael

Clancy's food to be unique, fresh, and exciting in any part of NYC. The seafood

dishes are particularly interesting. The service in the dining rooms can be spotty

at times (definitely not on par with the food), but usually friendly. If there are

seats available at the bar, I highly recommend dining there. The bartender, Bill

(hope he doesn't mind writing his name), has taken exceptionally good care of

me and my friends making sure that we have an enjoyable dining experience.

• Pros: great food, eat at the bar
• Cons: no music, odd location

08/03/06

Great steak...everything else: not so great.

by kiki78

I ventured into this place as a single gal wondering around the upper west side; the menu looked promising and the atmosphere seemed inviting. I was not impressed by the bartender, who greeted me with "What can I get you?" No "Hello, how are you?" or "Good evening, how are you this evening?". As a waitress in New York, I understand how severs get tired of asking people how they are doing when you so rarely get any acknowlegdment. But, still...a little effort would have been nice, considering this is an "upscale" establishment. The main course was good. My warm goat cheese salad was not good. The cheese was great but spread on stale (?) bagette ..not really enjoying that..The salad was too heavily dressed with an overwhelming amount of balsamic. My skirt steak, however was perfectly cooked and the wilted greens and onions were very satisfying. The bartender did recommed a great glass of wine with my steak, a well balanced Nebbiolo. All in all, salad sucked, bartender was simi-attentive, steak was good. But one thing....it was totally silent! No music...at all. That was creepy, you could hear everyone's conversations..weird. Also, the decor was very minimal...boring in fact.

• Pros: Great Steak
• Cons: Silent dining??

07/31/06

Great food for anywhere in nyc not just the upper west side

by lubin2121

I have live in the UWS for 10 years and this place has exceed all expectations. I hear that they got a new chef and the food was great. I went with a group of 6 and every plate was beautiful and flavorful. The wine list has lots of choices and with many of them under $50. The only complaint was that when it gets very busy they should crank up the ac.

• Pros: Food is fun and very very tasty. The wine list is great.
• Cons: it is hard to find- street signage could be better.

06/26/06

needs new Chef

by wrightstuff

Word in the Restaurant is they just got a new Chef-

Well then please, keep looking! I've been offended with the time it takes to get the first dish, if you get it at all.... what is worth that wait? And perhaps we can get a muzzle for the bartender while we're fixing things.

• Cons: wait for ever, and usually the food isn't cooked right.

05/16/06

Wonderful meal for Mom

by leahconway

We went there with my mother, at her request, for Mother's Day and were thrilled. This was one of the top 20 meals I've ever eaten. Wonderful wine list, great service, fabu skate, rabbit and lamb and the deserts blew us away, esp the key lime brulee. Highly recommend going with more than one person so you can sample bits of everything. Too bad I didn't bring my mother in law here earlier in the day.

I'll be back for the $25 dollar meal in a heartbeat!

• Pros: enviting room, great food, attentive service

05/04/06

A little downtown uptown.

by tonytif

It is about time the Upper Westside had and adult restaurant / wine bar. The food and wine are delicious and the staff is friendly and down to earth.

• Pros: winelist, food, value
• Cons: crowded

04/27/06

Solid neighborhood restaurant

by linu809

Yes, the space is a little tight, but the extensive wine list, tasty food, and good service make up for it. The prices are on the higher side for the dishes that are served, but overall this is a nice restaurant for the UWS.

• Pros: Comfortable ambience, Wine List, Service
• Cons: A bit pricey, Tight space

04/08/06

Just What the Upper West Side Needs

by lefevre

Finally, the Upper West Side has an intimate, smart dining spot for neighborhood afficianados instead of tourists. The food which ranges from a vegetarian platter served on a bed of wild rice to venison, New York strip steak and wonderfully inventive fish dishes. The prices are very reasonable, the wine list is sophisticated and the service on the night I was there was attentive without being intrusive. The hostess was particularly charming. We will become regulars.

02/24/06

The food and feel at this New American bistro strikes the perfect balance of cozy and classy.

by Justin Hartung

The Scene
Any preconceptions gathered from the restaurant's exterior melt away in the dining room's warm glow, manifested both literally and in the beatific smiles of the staff. Chocolate- and cream-colored walls and a post-rustic planked ceiling help placate the older-skewing crowd, who may have reservations about the room's substantial din.

The Food
Fresh, seasonal flavors get front-and-center treatment, each with a perfect counterpoint. Asian-pear chutney elevates cloud-like crab cake starters, while fried artichoke hearts get a lemony aioli dip. Gentle leeks bolster the tender wild striped bass, sweet potato mash tames juicy venison loin, and a sublime champagne sauce transforms diver sea scallops into oceanic bling. Desserts here are the ultimate comfort food. Try the chocolate-drizzled brioche bread pudding, or the unexpectedly light pumpkin pot de creme.