Russian Tea Room
I made a reservation at the RTR on an impulse for my anniversary dinner...I'm only in town for a few nights (from LA) and was looking for something romantic and different for my husband and I's wedding anniversary. I looked the Russian Tea room up after watching an episode of friends...(yes that is how out of touch with NYC I am) and went to their website...it looked perfect! Then I went to Yelp and am now doubting my decision! I'm looking for a landmark iconic/romantic/sexy restaurant that is purely New York! I like dark settings which is why the red and dark light interior of RTR struck my fancy.
So should I cancel my reservation @ the Tea Room? Any other suggestions in midtown/Theatre district area? Doesn't have to be Russian food, although I was really looking forward to that since I've never tried it.
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Russian Tea Room
150 W 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
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sgordon
Sep 8, 2011 12:31 PM
Tourist trap. Food isn't awful, but it's WAY overpriced.
My "celebrity" sighting, as everyone seems to have one, maybe 25 years ago: Joel Higgins, who played the father on "Silver Spoons" - not exactly Warren Beatty. My mother struck up a conversation with him. His dining companion was much more interesting, though - a voice actor, don't remember his name but he's done a million commercials. Specialized in rustic/Americana voices. Was the voice behind Pepperidge Farm, Country Time Lemonade, a number of other products back in the 80s.
Mari Vanna is fun, though I wouldn't do it for an anniversary. Right across the street from them is Gramercy Tavern, though - a solid choice, if there ever was one, often referred to as NYC's unofficial First Restaurant. Not exactly dark, but lovely upscale-farmhouse chic. That said, we're getting further from Midtown / Theater District.
In that part of town... with dark-ish rooms... (mind you, most fancy places aren't terribly dark - so we'll just go with "muted colors" perhaps...) the first places coming to mind are:
Aquavit
Picholine
Telepan
But I'd take the subway downtown, personally. Marc Forgione has a "dark" vibe, can be very romatic, especially on weekdays after the after-work crowds leave. And Chef Forgione is a NYC character, for sure - his father was one of the godfathers of NYC Modern American cuisine.
The Orchard feels positively subterranean - no windows and it's bathed in a dark orange light. Food is solid as well. Peasant could be a good call as well - rustic, hearty Italian, all cooked in a wood-burning oven. WD-50 (if you're adventurous eaters) is all dark tones, and a true only-in-NYC place.
All that aside, most of the "classic" NYC places - at least the high-end ones - are, sadly, tourist traps at this point. They might have had their heyday once, but are overpriced & overripe relics now. With the exception of a couple of steakhouses (Keen's and Luger's) I'm not sure I can think of any I'd recommend.
My suggestion: go somewhere awesome for dinner, forget about the "Classic NYC" thing. Do some classics for breakfast / lunch: Katz's, Russ & Daughters, 2nd Ave Deli, etc...
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WD-50
50 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002Aquavit
65 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003Keens
72 West 36th St., New York, NY 10018The Orchard
162 Orchard St., New York, NY 10002Telepan
72 W. 69th Street, New York, NY 10023Second Avenue Deli
162 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016Picholine
35 West 64th St., New York, NY 10023Peasant
194 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012Marc Forgione
134 Reade Street, New York, NY 10013Mari Vanna
41 East 20th Street, New York, NY 10003›9 Replies-
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re: sgordon
I still like 21. There are a whole lot of non-tourists in there all the time.
But I do know what you mean...although I can't name many "high end classic NYC places" that are like those you mentioned. La Grenouille for example is a classic NYC place, and although plenty of tourists go there, there is nothing "trap" about it. A lot of tourists go to Babbo, that doesn't make it a "tourist trap." Tourists go to good restaurants all the time, in part thanks to CH!
And lots of bad overpriced restaurants that coast on their reputations and PR are filled with locals!
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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 1001121 Club
21 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022-
re: gutsofsteel
sgordon
Sep 9, 2011 01:17 AM
True, Babbo is a classic. I guess I wasn't specific enough - I meant old-school classic, landmark places. The places tourists had heard of before there was a Food Network. The above, Four Seasons, Tavern On The Green, etc.
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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011The Four Seasons
99 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022
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re: City Kid
I hate that your experience at Delmonico's was poor. I have been there several times and always fared well. You are correct that it does not fit the request for midtown, but I guess I sidetracked by the discussion of what does or does not constitute "tourist trap" and "classic" NYC restaurants.
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It should be clear by now that the RTR is a bad idea, but I'll add my voice to the chorus. I went there for an event earlier this year, and the only good thing I can say is that at least I wasn't paying for it. Happy hour at the Russian Vodka Room before moving on to a nice dinner somewhere else could be a fun option.
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Russian Vodka Room
265 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019 -
coasts
Sep 7, 2011 09:15 PM
i had a meal there a few weeks ago. like many readers of CH, i often take photos of the plates before tasting them. nothing that was served to Ms. Coasts or myself looked good enough to photograph. we left having taken zero pictured. neither of us finished dessert and it wasn't because we were so full from dinner. i vote cancel.
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Russian Tea Room
150 W 57th Street, New York, NY 10019 -
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I have to agree with southernitalian. I don't think the food is appalling -- they actually do a good bowl of borscht -- but mostly, it's not very good, either. There are better restaurants, even Russian ones, in Manhattan (for instance, Mari Vanna, a pretty restaurant in the East 20s: http://www.marivanna.ru/ny/#/).
As far as iconic, romantic and sexy restaurants go in Midtown: Look into La Grenouille and see if that might suit.
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La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022Russian Tea Room
150 W 57th Street, New York, NY 10019Mari Vanna
41 East 20th Street, New York, NY 10003›7 Replies-
re: michelleats
I love Russian Tea Room, but would not choose it for your big special dinner. The atmosphere is great and cozy and different, but the food is not up to snuff for the occasion. I think maybethe food used to be better when it was a true expat russian hangout; I have the old RTR cookbook and there are lots of great russian recipes in there.
Michelleats made a great suggestion in La Grenouille, that place is absolutely fantastic and special and gracious.
But if you like high tea, and you have time during your visit, you might want to hit RTR for tea in the afternoon, say starting at 2 or 3.. Also: Make sure to request a booth when you make the reservation.
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La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022Russian Tea Room
150 W 57th Street, New York, NY 10019 -
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re: uwsister
An ageist comment if I ever saw one! Who says people in their 60's -- and beyond -- can't be sexy?
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re: RGR
Ageism, I agree! I also do not equate sexy with romantic. Here's why La Grenouille is romantic: The flowers! The hushed atmosphere where you can have a nice quiet tête a tête. Gracious, seamless service, where waiters don't introduce themselves or intrude on conversation. Beautiful, comfortable room with nicely spaced tables and lovely paintings. Excellent, classic French food. And, of course, the flowers!
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La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022 -
re: RGR
That's not what I said. Of course people in their 60s and beyond *can* be sexy. However I believe a restaurant generally isn't considered "sexy" by most people if the average clientele is in their 60s. Most people feel sexier in their youth than in their 60s. I say this as someone who's married to a man twenty years senior than her - if my opinion makes me an age-ist, then hey, I guess I am.
I agree that La Grenouille is very, very romantic - but not sexy.
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southernitalian
Sep 7, 2011 03:09 PM
I can't believe that place is still open. Do not waste your time and money. You're in NYC, for goodness sakes! There are literally hundreds of better (and less expensive) options.
