Essex Restaurant
(212) 533-9616
120 Essex St
New York,
NY
10002
40.7194
-73.9875
Neighborhoods: Downtown, Lower East Side
Reviews & Ratings for Essex Restaurant
116 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 116 reviews
Love the Monday Night Specials
by TC76
May 05, 2009
Went on Monday evening with a couple of friends for dinner and had a spectacular experience. Our waitress, a lovely woman from South Africa, helped us through an extensive food and drink menu and was spot on with her choices. Cheeseburger Empanadas were amazing. And you can beat the prices-$1 oysters and half-price Martinis for happy hour. Can't wait to try brunch.
- Pros: Food, Service, Value
- Cons: Location
Trendy place but horrible service
by tsetsefly88
May 03, 2009
We had the worst table service at this restaurant. The dinner lasted 2 1/2 hours as we waited what seemed like eternity for our appetizers and entrees. When our appetizer and entree dishes finally came out, 3 out of the 4 plates were cold. What would have been a great meal was ruined. The waitress was inattentive -- she did not provide cutlery for the entree after our first set was taken away. We noticed other tables were also waiting for their food. What was most disappointing was that the waitress and the hostess didn't care after we brought up the issue. The bar area is good if you're just looking for a place for drinks. Do not come here for dinner.
- Pros: good atmosphere
- Cons: Poor service, cold food, inattentive staff
GREAT Easter!!
by brooklynbeagle
April 14, 2009
Having read the previous reviews of Essex and figuring Easter brunch might be a bit of a madhouse, I made reservations about 5 days in advance (no problem, by the way, they still had several times available). Upon arrival, I was totally glad I did, as it was utter bedlam inside - in my experience though, any place with this many people waiting to eat is usually worth it! And it totally was - the Easter brunch menu had an astonishingly wide selection of amazing dishes, and additionally it comes with THREE cocktails, your choice of mimosas, screwdrivers, or bloody mary's? All for twenty bucks?? I was blown away. The food was first rate, the atmosphere was lively and fun, and we couldn't have had a better time. Bigups to Essex, you gotta come check this place out!!
- Pros: Amazing food, exceptional price, lively atmosphere
- Cons: Probably need a reservation
Best Brunch in town
by jonlikesit
March 24, 2009
This place serves up the best brunch in town. I wouldn't listen to any of the negative reviews. Make sure you plan ahead and show up very early or prepare to wait as you can easily wait for over 1.5 hours to be sat on any given weekend day for brunch.
- Pros: Best Brunch
- Cons: None.
You haven't had the best brunch unless you've been to Essex!!
by CSMobileUser2
March 09, 2009
This has got to be the best place for a brunch EVER!! Their food is absolutely delicious..and inexpensive!! Not to mention first 3 rounds of drinks for free..mimosa, bloody mary or the screwdriver. although I DO recommend calling in advance for reservations, because you will be waiting for a VERY long time, an hour the LEAST..but once you've had a meal from their you will understand why its such a great place!!!
Time Well Wasted
by brunchfanatic
March 01, 2009
Picture it. LES. Random, chilly, late morning/early afternoon Sunday.
My 2 friends and I head over to Essex. We heard the food was creative and hearty and the space was cool. We put ourselves on the list. We are fine with the 45 minute wait. AFTER 75 MINUTES! - we ask, what's going on? The hostess very flippantly says another 30-45 MINUTES! We saw people who came in after us but were larger parties get seated first. We saw them ask for large parties who had left. We saw them take people who had only just gotten there but were 5-6 people get seated because that was the size of the table. They had no respect for the other smaller parties who were waiting patiently.
We didn't really need to give this waiting room our money.
- Cons: Never had a meal.
Best Brunch Ever!!
by sdaba34
January 27, 2009
My girls and I went to Brunch last weekend and had a blast. I have been taking my friends and out of town'ers and parents there for years. Yes the place is crowded and yes the place can be loud but that is why we all love Essex's. The prices are just right for the location and the drinks are tasty and everlasting. I can't believe that people can complain about a brunch where the portions are huge and selection is just right and the price is only $16. I wish all these uptown "shanghai posters" would just stay up there, if you want a five star restaurant then go will you! All these uptown or non NY'ers just don't get it. We go to Essex's cause we are hung over, still wearing the same outfit from the night before, smelling like the walk of shame, needing to just get drunk to forget about the night we just had, lighten up and shut up already!! Get crazy, rock your smudged makeup and your sunglasses dance and drink and wait for table like everyone else and just have some good ole LES NYC Brunch fun! Essex's we love you!
- Pros: Affordable, great service and food!:)
- Cons: Surrounded sometimes with uptown idiots that expect the world!
Cheap food,great service,in one word: excellent
by CSMobileUser
January 26, 2009
I went there and I loved it!!! Everything was great,the food was excellent,the service was quick and prompt! The drinks were good and the prices were more than reasonable! I highly reccomend this place especially for brunch!"
Fantastic Brunch!
by ac2006
January 20, 2009
We were a party of 8 and they were quick to seat us and were wonderful in helping with recommendations from what is quite an expansive brunch menu! Their $ 16 brunch definitely is definitely very attractive with entrees and 3 drinks included. 2 people in our group were running late but that didn't faze our server and this is inspite of a packed house! They even gave us a free drink coupon for the bar so that the table could be cleared for the next party.
I definitely recommend Essex and am coming coming back with more people! Thank you for a wonderful Saturday brunch!
- Pros: Definitely helps to make a reservation
Great Night Out
by JamesMK
January 14, 2009
Essex was great overall! We had a party of 6 and then had to switch down to 4 and
switch to a different time if one opened up. Essex called us back to give us an
earlier spot on a Saturday night!! We had so much fun the atmosphere was vibrant
and kickin and you could still hear you table conversation. Very trendy, hot spot,
great decor! The food was excellent...apps and entrees and the drinks were delicious
and creative with a wide selection! The best part was the prices--very well priced
for such a place not expensive at all!!
- Pros: Great food, vibe, price
- Cons: None
