11/07/09

All around bad...

by klwsoprano

My boyfriend and I recently took my parents to The Rock Center Cafe while they were visiting from out of state. As an experienced server, I was anticipating a great experience at this touristy, pseudo-busy restaurant during skating season. We showed up at 5:30 for our reservation and we were seated immediately next to the window, as I had requested. Our server approached us after putting his Blackberry phone away in his apron, and seemed annoyed that we were there. No smile, no welcome. Tried to sell us wine by the glass immediately. His suggestions seemed memorized and lacked character. In fact, it was difficult to understand him because it seemed like he didn't have a grasp of the English language. After we ordered, he left and we didn't see him again until we were having our entrees. At that time, I gave him a coffee mug back because it had a crack in it. He was annoyed to have to take care of this. It was a nice environment to watch the skaters, the food was decent, but the service was terrible. The Organic Chicken with creamed spinach is great. Salmon is o.k. Maybe try the steak. And ask for a server with personality.

• Pros: Skating Rink Show
• Cons: Lack of service, no personality, no friendliness

07/22/09

Don't waste your money

by FoozGrind

Ok, I am not one to really complain about dinners but I was here with my younger brother Mid July and we decided on having a nice dinner at a fancy place. Well this dinner cost a ton of money. For 2 Sirlon steaks (14oz only) and 2 ceaser salads and 2 drinks with 1 refill it was about $120 bucks before the tip. The steak had no taste. It was simply grilled (and to chewy to cut) with butter sauce on it. The menu said creamy mashed potatoes. Well mashed potatoes are my favorite dish and these tasted like instant potatoes. A side ceaser salad cost 12 bucks! Maybe i just went on a bad day, but the food tasted better at McDonalds.

• Pros: Atmospher
• Cons: Food

01/17/09

A Bit Pricey but Worth the Show (in Winter)

by wynbrgr

Who needs a fancy show when you can watch skaters fly by, tumble and fall (but not get hurt!).

The food and atmosphere here is always good. The prime rib was generous, done to perfection and the twice baked potatoe an unexpected surprise. The food is a bit pricey but, like with all of the Patina restaurants, you get quality for that price.

Request a table near the ice rink (in winter) for a fun filled couple of hours. The restaurant even offers a "turn to skate" dinner package that features your meal and a private skate session on the famed "rock" rink.

• Pros: Fun to watch others skate and food is very good
• Cons: Some may find it too pricey for their budgets

01/02/09

Good views, pretty good food...but watch your bill!

by nycchicks123

New Year's Eve, Rockefeller Center, Huge Tree, Ice Skaters....what could be bad! We chose the Rock Center Cafe for its location and the availability of reservation for early New Year's Eve dinner. Our drinks were lovely - nice Cosmos (no real lime juice, unfortunately) and wine suggested by our friendly waiter. We enjoyed the crab cake appetizer and the caesar salad - didn't like the lamb and hummus - weird spicy taste - and our dinners were equally good - the fafalle shrimp was excellent! Don't order the twice-baked potato...it was very obviously unwashed and appeared to have been microwaved from a frozen state that had been sitting in the freezer too long...and it was cold - the waiter did not take it off the bill ($7.00!) but brought mashed potatoes instead.....In general the food was good and the view was spectacular...here's the BIG BUT to watch out for: We were a small group and some of us had cash and one person had a debit card. We paid half of the bill in cash, gave a substantial cash tip, and then charged the remainder to one person's credit/debit card. When she went to the bank today, she found that the restaurant had charged the entire $250 meal to her debit card, and even though we were only a group of 4 they tacked on an additional 20% gratuity over and above the meal! When she called they told her this was "normal procedure" and that the correct portion would be credited back to her account within 24 to 72 hours. Now, as many of us know, working from paycheck to paycheck does not leave a lot of maneuvering room in our bank accounts. This charge put the bank card over into the red and my friend was charged a hefty overdraft charge on top of everything else. The restaurant - The Patina Group - has yet to respond to her concern about this action....So, it was a generally nice experience, but the bad taste from the bogus charges lingers for days.......

• Pros: Views of the Ice Rink, Location, Location, Location
• Cons: Watch your Bill!

12/19/08

Delicious Ambiance

by MattnPat

Last year was our first time dining out on Christmas Day. We enjoyed a delicious dinner while watching the skaters on the ice rink outside. The Lobster Bisque was yummy! I asked for an end cut of Prime Rib and I got it, cooked to perfection. Honestly its been a very long time that I''ve had dinner out and every course was delicious. The service impeccable!

This was one of the BEST Christmas' I've ever enjoyed. We're going again this year :)

10/16/08

Not GOOD..

by lamorrr

Had a friend in from out of town and started at the bar which was good service. Continued to our table where it took forever to get our wine.

the steaks came out undercooked, we sent them back and they were OVERcooked! by the time the waiter came back to take our order for after dinner drinks we were already finished with our dessert. This is supposed to be a great restaurant and we will never go back!

• Pros: lacation
• Cons: service,food

07/17/08

Fantastic view + Armando's exceptional service

by micqa

My husband and I had brunch on July 6, 2008 as part of his birthday celebration. We were delighted to be seated in front of the bronze fountain (Statue of Prometheus) while enjoying our shrimp frittata, summer fruit plate, poached egg florentine and key lime pie. Armando was very gracious and thoughtful in his service (gave us 2 forks for the key lime pie). We returned today July 17, 2008 for lunch. To my surprise we were seated once again in front of the bronze fountain and Armando was more than happy to serve us (again) our iced tea, virgin strawberry daquiri, crispy calamari, Caesar salad and grilled chicken Cobb wrap. Exceptional location, food and service! Highly recommended!

• Pros: Best location on 5th Avenue to unwind without missing a beat

06/12/08

Tourist Trap Personified

by sbleier

New York working Girl takes husband out for a birthday dinner...Hoping for a little scene, we were seated in the back corner of the restaurant near the bar without a view. The place was empty. Onto drinks, we ordered Kettle one and were told they were out. "I'll try a new vodka, what's the latest???" my husband asked..."I don't know, Stoly?" the waiter replied. My husband of 6'2" orders the lobster risotto, as the waiter promises it's got a pound and 1/2 of lobster meat in it...The meal arrives as a bowl full of risotto with two tiny pieces of claw meat . "Where's the rest of the Lobster?"..."It's in there" says the waiter. This bowl of risotto was sent back, and the waiter promised the crab cakes are their signature dish. $38 for two breaded crabcakes on the plate...sitting in honey mustard. Come on - at least make it look good. Think I'll resign from the Dine Out NY membership. The $50 off still cost us $200. Really poor.

12/27/07

poor service, snotty waiters

by bsher0320

went there with my family the sunday before christmas eve. We went for a quick bite and drinks. As soon as the waiter realized that we were not having a huge meal, he was brief with us. Our food was good, but he forgot our appetizer. He never checked on us until we asked for the bill, even though he stopped by other tables around us.

Very disappointing. needless to say, his tip reflected his service, which was extremely poor.

• Pros: lively atmosphere, good location, food is ok
• Cons: snotty waiters

12/17/07

Terrible Food for an Outrageous Price

by sc102006

My boyfriend and I who are lifelong New Yorkers decided to venture here on a Sunday morning after craving brunch the night before. We called and the recording said they opened at 10 am for brunch. We got there at 10 and found out they open at 11 and NO BRUNCH. We were starving and after waiting on the 30 minute line of tourists we decided to just eat. We ordered a 17 dollar crab cake appetizer which was so fishy I couldn't stomach it, the risotto it came with tasted like frozen food, the ham sandwich and turkey sandwich both came on cold rock hard bread for almost 20 bucks a piece. The fries were good but were identical to a fast food chain. The soda was flat. Neither of us ate the crab cake or the ham sandwich, which translates into 90 dollars for a turkey sandwich on hard bread that we didn't want in the first place! I work at a restaurant and never have written a review (let alone a bad one) before, however this place was such a disappointment that I just had to. Don't go here if you want a quality meal. The only thing that was nice was the view of the ice rink, which you could get for free from the street.

• Pros: View of the rink.
• Cons: Food! No brunch on a Sunday morning, etc...