01/24/09

AWFUL - Go somewhere else!

by bdorfman

I ate at City Hall last night with five others. The food is awful. The waiter was fine, but the spineless manager would not come over to hear our complaints (crab cakes that smelled and tasted like spoiled cat food, tasteless brisket that was billed as short ribs). I am not one to focus only on a restaurants bad points, but you should not be drawn in by the elogant interior - it is only lipstick on a flabby, snotty, inedible pig. This is New York - a restaurant needs to be a lot more. Go somewhere else. Other reviewers had the same opinion - this is not a single incident.

• Pros: Nicely decorated
• Cons: Awful food

10/29/08

Delicious Steaks

by trebor125

I happen to love the steaks and seafood offered at the quintessential New York eatery! I had to write because I was reading the latest review and am a bit dumbfounded. This person makes some serious accusations and claims and I eat here regularly and these food items are not on the menu. If you are going to lash out at a restaurant publically (which you are well within your rights to do) you should know what you are speaking about. I have never had a "bad" experience there, have there been bumps, of course as is with the case with all restaurants. The constant is that the service, ambience and food are always on - and if they are off, they more than make amends for it. Again, if you want to criticize a restaurant, you are well within your rights, but at least get your facts straight - it just makes it seem that you are just putting up a negative comment to be negative or vindictive.

• Pros: food, service, ambience
• Cons: at times too many kids

08/18/08

Lovely decor,nice servers,food was distinctly horrible.

by CormacMacAirt

I will admit,I got into the game rather late,only dining at City Hall in the past 18 months,but every meal I had there was ,more or less,inedible. Incidentally,i am not one of the types who love tearing apart restaurants,etc. in online reviews.We had nothing but good expectations given the length of time the restaurant has survived in Tribeca,which tends to be rather unforgiving,as in your place gets shut inside a year if you don't have what it takes. City Hall,a gorgeous space with decent waiter service (the "barmaid" is a disgrace to the trade),is on it's last legs as far as I can see. My wife and I found it hard to believe,ergo giving it a second shot,only to be repulsed again by raw chicken,wasabi mash potato "special" that were made from "instant' mash mix,cold and hard as a brick. My wife ate pork loin ,another special,which was burnt to grizzle and cold again !! I met a colleague there weeks later for a drink,who was determined to have some appetizers at the bar,once again,horrible. It appears to me CH is existing on the vapors of former greatness,it appears no one is minding the shop anymore. I don't take any enjoyment in writing this,as I am a lifelong downtown resident,and I have nothing but love for businesses who showed continued commitment post 9/11,but this place is exceptionally horrible and people should be warned in order to save their money.

• Pros: Ambience is ok,nice lighting,decor.
• Cons: The food would be turned away in a prison.

07/09/08

King Henry's Court

by carinpelle2

What happened to the customer is always right? This was by far the worst dining experience I have ever had in NYC... The chef/owner, Henry Meer, is so pompous that he can't accept criticism from his paying guests! My husband spent more time picking out bones in his salmon filet than he did eating it, while I suffered through an insanely tough Delmonico (if I'm going to splurge on the extra calories with a ribeye, shouldn't it at least be juicy and tender?). Our waiter was nice but the ambience was stale. This is a place for Sunday brunch with the kids and a bucket of crayons, but alas, they're not even open on Sundays. Honestly, they shouldn't be open at all.

• Pros: Friendly Waitstaff
• Cons: Bland - Lacks Creativity - Dead Zone

06/25/08

Attention to Detail

by davidgaffe

I am a frequent diner at City Hall Restaurant and I must say that it is one of my favorite places to dine. The consistent food & service and their attention to detail is what brings my partner and I back over and over. There is something to be said of a place that offers you warm sushi towels after eating chilled seafood. They anticipate our needs and we usually do not have to ask for anything. Being recognized by the staff at one of your favorite restaurant is so welcoming. I have read some of the reviews on here and find it hard to believe that they are talking about the same place! They even remembered my birthday and sent out a complimentary cake with a candle. Keep up the great work!

• Pros: Ambience, Service, Food, Decor
• Cons: none

04/29/08

amazing steak & raw bar. cool atmosphere. and the sidewalk seating couldn't be more charming!

by anngnyc

I felt compelled to write a review for City Hall - first time writing one here - because of the most recent review listed which was really unfortunate. I was truly shocked when I read it - my husband and I live in the neighborhood and are frequent diners at City Hall and LOVE it. We can always count on a good meal here - whether it be steaks or seafood. The Delmonico with bleu cheese is fantastic as are the colossal tiger prawns...they are huge! Honestly, we've tried so many things on the menu and have never been disappointed. Oh, and the sides dishes....don't get me started. I have never before had a brussel sprout but my husband convinced me to try one when he ordered them as a side. I am a new fan! I asked how the chef prepared them and the waiter was nice enough to find out every detail for me and now I (try to!) duplicate it at home. City Hall is definitely one of our favorites in Tribeca.

01/07/08

What Falls Below Awful?

by janesmith3

If I combined all of my bad dining experiences into one nightmare, it wouldn't be as bad as a recent business meal.

From the vulgar, surly waiter unfit to be near paying customers to overpriced food poorly cooked this was the worst restaurant meal ever. Three of our four steaks had to be returned twice ans still were inedible. The manager was in way over his head and was unable to provide any level of satisfactory service,

City Hall was the single worst dining experience I ever had. Word must be getting out, only three other tables were occupied. Subway prepares better food - with more plesant service.

• Pros: Supposedly a good wine list - if the waiter ever bothered to bring it over
• Cons: Service was unreasonably bad; if you saw this in a movie you wouldn't believe it.

08/27/07

Everything you didn't read on Page Six...

by calliethom

I had dinner here with a friend last Thursday night and we sat outside sharing shrimp cocktail, oysters, and a bottle of white wine... It was on the earlier side since we met up after work and I was surprised to see a cadillac SUV pull up... And then another, and another... First came Rob Cordry... then we saw Ashton Kutsher... then Lake Bell... then Cameron Diaz, then Treat Williams. It was so cool and totally unexpected. Word got around that they had some sort of pre-production party in one of the private rooms downstairs. My friend and I had always considered City Hall just a comfortable neighborhood eatery that appeals to families and young professionals and the political elite, but I guess it's a celebrity haunt as well. Who knew?

• Pros: Decor, Ambience, Drink Prices, Outdoor Seating
• Cons: Limited Menu

08/24/07

a real shame

by dylz

i've been to city hall on several occasions in the past and if it wasnt great it was atleast a decent meal however last night was the final straw. witht the exception of the hostess and the bartender everything about the place was laughably bad. the waiter overly theatrical (when present, which was rare), the food was super slow coming out, none of our 30 and 40 dollar steaks were cooked right (burnt on the outside, rare in the middle), and the manager was blahse about his appology. certainly willbe the last time i'll go here, 400 dollars POORLY spent. get your act together guys.

• Pros: great space, very nice
• Cons: service, timing, steaks, management

08/17/07

Still going strong...

by jandrews99

There are few restaurants in Manhattan that have been around as long as City Hall and are still as busy (or busier!) than the trendy new restaurant nextdoor... Last month I had a surprise party for my husband in one of their gorgeous private rooms downstairs, and when I came in this week - unannounced - I was still treated like a queen. The City Hall crew has a way with old-time NY hospitality and new-time flavor... The food is fresh, the wine list is enviable, and the ambience is comfortably elegant. Somehow they manage to compromise between the Left and the Right... Given how full their dining room is at lunch-time, I'm surely not the only one aware of this. When it comes to the whos-who of the political elite, it seems that City Hall is the center of the city... And that's good news for Tribeca!

• Pros: Private Dining
• Cons: Closed on Sundays