- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
The Breslin Bar & Dining Room
Category: Restaurants Gastropubs Gastropubs [Edit]
Ace Hotel20 W 29th St
New York, NY 10001
Neighbourhoods: Midtown West, Flatiron
(212) 679-1939
- Nearest Transit:
-
28 St (N, R)
34 St - Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R)
28 St (4, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7 am - 4 pm
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
612 reviews for The Breslin Bar & Dining Room
Review Highlights
-
"The lamb burger is worth the trip alone." In 216 reviews -
"Love the cumin mayo that accompanies them." In 47 reviews -
"For starters, get the Scotch egg." In 42 reviews
Loading...
612 reviews in English
-
Review from Mike N.
Jersey City, NJ
5/20/2012
Had the lamb burger. It became my second most favorite burger in NYC. Spotted Pig just got bumped down to number three.
The lamb burger was very tasty and moist. Ordered it medium rare. Nice roll and a good balance of cheese and onion. No need to add anything else.
The french fries at The Breslin are killer. I think they might be deep fried in pork fat. A dirty shoe will taste good if deep fried in pork fat.
Finished the meal with a Rhubarb tart. Great desert. It was not too sweet yet very tasty. Could eat it all day long. -
Review from Steve L.
New York, NY
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Breslin at the Ace Hotel is a cool place with good food and better people watching. However our waiter was a punk with an attitude who is stil wondering how he was rejected for the 2012 Abercrombie calendar. His give-a-shit meter was set at 0 and he clearly didn't much about our dining experience.
If you're going to pay $21 for a burger, the service should be on par. Ours was far from good. It wasn't even mediocre. Very disappointing. -
Review from Rebecca G.
Manhattan, NY
5/12/2012
If you're in the mood for a bar-like atmosphere and tasty fare, Breslin is the place to go.
I found myself here after an evening of cocktails, and it hit the spot. Sharing a basket of fries and the razor clams with my friend, I was able to sample another friend's lamb burger- both with and without goat cheese.
The razor clams were the most exceptional dish of the evening. They reminded me of the way that they are prepared in Spain, and they were delicious! As was the lamb burger, although the one with the cheese was a bit too salty for my taste- and this is coming from someone who likes salty foods!
I would DEFINITELY go back earlier another evening to sample other offerings, as well as to have the opportunity to pair them with a refreshing brew or a glass of wine- I had had enough to drink by the time that I got here, so all that I could have was water!
Yum! -
Review from Gene M.
Staten Island, NY
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Lamb Burger iz the Bomb . I seen Breslin on Food Network and decided to check it out and boy was I happy . The Lamb Burger was so juicy and tasty it was perfect . The service was OK but the Burger gets a 5 . Also had breakfast there the eggs with blood sausage is a must .
-
Review from Hello K.
Fremont, CA
5/10/2012 1 photo
Came here to dine during my last day in NY. No problem getting a table. This place is dark and rustic inside, but was a nice dining experience.
I had the lamb burger with fries. The burger is cooked medium rare but was tasty. Service here was attentive and helpful.
Wouldn't mind returning again to try more dishes. -
Review from Matthew L.
Manhattan, NY
5/1/2012
Everyone talks about the lamb burger. Well, let me tell you about the lamb burger. It's good. But for over twenty dollars for lunch, it is overpriced.
If the price of this burger was around 10, even 15, I would say this would be worth it, however, the price alone turned me off from it.
It's good food, if you don't mind paying much more than you should for a burger and fries.
The service is good, the food itself is good, the price is what causes me to bump this down from four stars down to three.
If you notice, most of the people who reviewed this place say they love to come here but the price is the only issue they have with it. So, if you're a poor struggling young professional that can't expense this to your company, be prepared to pay for a week's worth of lunches, you're golden. -
Review from Whitney M.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2012
Dining at the Breslin was, well, HORRIBLE. This was by far the most inappropriate and unprofessional establishment I have ever been to. The staff was inconceivably vulgar and I am embarrassed I forced clients that I was supposed to be entertaining to be exposed to this squalor.
After being told they do not take reservations, we showed up to put in our name and wait for the next available table. With a party of 9, we saw an open table closely behind the hostess stand and asked what the availability on that table was - we were then told that another table of 4 had to be seated before us, but at a table for 4, not the large table for 9. Tell me, how does that make ANY sense? They had to seat other people at a different table before us, when our table for 9 had been vacant for the past hour. Finally, we were seated. The food was odd, and every one of the 9 people were with have felt slight waves of food poisoning - ish symptoms today.
While we were still signing the bill, we were asked to leave because there was a reservation for the table we were at for 10:30. Wait, we were told not only by the hostess that there are no reservations taken, but this is even included on the telephone recording when you call the Breslin. When we asked to speak to the manager away from our clients, he became hostile and irrational. This is not how you treat customers that just spent a lot of money, or any for that matter. -
Review from Alex S.
Manhattan, NY
5/6/2012
The Breslin is a great spot for meat if you can stomach the wait (since they don't take reservations). I've been there twice and the first time the wait was around 1 hour for a party of 3 and the second it was only 30 minutes for a party of 2. Both times were prime time during the weekend, so I can't really complain. You just have to know what you're getting yourself into. Fortunately there's a pretty big bar area up front with a solid beer selection.
As for the menu - very creative and pretty delicious. The lamb burger is great - probably one of the better lamb burgers I've had in NYC. Normally I need some sort of vegetable on a burger (lettuce, tomato, etc...), but this does good with just meat, feta and onions. Also comes with some pretty good french fries.
Of the other things I remember getting, the citrus salad was pretty good but relatively average. I got a sliced beef special that came marinated in bone marrow and some greens. Very well cooked and quite delicious. The broccoli side is also really good. Comes marinated in chiles and anchovies.
I can't remember what I got the first time, but I remember it being equally as good. Desserts were OK - had the chocolate torte. Pretty good but nothing great. Unfortunately if you try to go into the Ace Hotel bar after for a drink they make you go back outside and through the front if it's too crowded (which it always is).
Will definitely go back here and would reocmmend it to everybody. -
Review from Prasath S.
Hoboken, NJ
5/3/2012
Another one of my all time faves in NYC!!!
The Lamb-onion-Feta Burger and Thrice Cooked fries Always steal the spot light but the other entrees are very impressive. It's a shame that this place has become very busy and it's real hard to get a table here. I miss you breslin :( -
Review from Carl J.
Manhattan, NY
4/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is more hit than miss but the occasional miss can occur. My most recent visit was a perfect example of what The Breslin truly is about. We entered and was informed that there would be a an hour wait...no... a 30 minute wait...no.... a 45 minute wait. Calm down, take a look around the dining room and make up your mind. The hostess was just as rude as the hipster bartenders, which is why I generally stay away from the front area.
Once we were sat, the experience truly began to shine. Our server was very knowledgeable but, more importantly, was not at all pushy. He recommended that we start with the Curried Mussels, the Chicken Liver Parfait, and the Seafood Sausage. The mussels were good and not overly curry, the seafood sausage was beautifully prepared but the star of the appetizers was the Chicken Liver Parfait with a Madeira Jelly. The jelly was not overly sweet like I fear of most fortified wine jellies and reductions, and the chicken liver moose under it was as creamy as it was rich.
For the main courses our female companions had the lamb burger, which was a real show stealer. Easily the most succulent lamb burger I have ever had the pleasure of eating. My friend had a nicely prepared and buttery halibut but it was a little bland for my taste. I dined on the Vinegared Poussin (Game Hen) with grilled ramps in a romesco sauce. This may be the only time I will order white meat at a restaurant. It is a beautifully balanced dish with the vinegar being cut with the romesco and the ramps worked very well to bring out the flavor of the vinegared meat itself.
This would be a five star review but the there are problems that occur with the service which I could ignore had they not been repeated over and over and over...AND OVER. When we first sat down the a server took our drink order and our appetizer order, walked off, and neglected to pass or order to the server who would be handling our table. I am in the industry and it is not OK to fuck with another servers table. The server becomes out of touch with the table and the customer ends up pissed. We ended up sitting for about 15 minute without a drink. The person pouring our water spilled it on my lady friend and unfortunately that is not the first time this happened.
Overall this place is great and if you can overlook the flaws, like the managers apparently do, then you will have an amazing time. -
Review from Rachel S.
Great Bar. Great Bartenders. The drinks are pricey and sooo worth it!
I had a cocktail prepared with Grey Goose and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. It was so yummy. Good male:female ratio. Rock and roll music playing but you can still hear your friends. This is a great neighborhood bar for delicious drinks, and friends.
(I didn't try the food) -
Review from adrian robert h.
Beverly Hills, CA
85%
Exceptional lamb burger and very good creamsicle sundae.
***Short Review
Visited The Breslin for lunch in Dec'12 and again in Feb'12
The lamb burger here is truly memorable in every way.
As of 03/12, it's the best lamb based burger I've tried.
The flavor of the meat used is very intense and delicious.
The condiments of red onion, feta cheese, and cumin mayo work great to give it a more distinct Mediterranean character.
The light and tasty steak fries are among the best I've had.
The 'Captain Lawrence Pale Ale' beer I had worked good with the burger.
The creamsicle sundae had with a fun flavor profile of tangerine sorbet, yogurt sorbet, ginger candy, and meringue.
It was well put together and wouldn't be out of place even in a fine dining establishment.
Value is generally reasonable given the quality of food.
Service was very good at lunch.
My waitresses on both occasions were helpful, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about discussing the food.
Food came out within 15 mins on both occasions
Decor is a tasteful re-interpretation of the English pub very much in the style of the owner's 'The Spotted Pig'.
Fortunately the seating isn't quite as claustrophobic.
I loved the design at the bar area;
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Detailed Review will go into the dishes sampled further.
***Detailed Review
-Lamb burger with thrice cooked chipped. Cumin mayo. ($21)
(Dish Rating 85%)
http://www.yelp.com/us...
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Note that although this place is also owned by the same person as The Spotted Pig, there's barely any resemblance between the two burgers, although both are exceptional imo. The Breslin does a very good burger overall with a super tasty lamb patty and just a few key ingredients. Just about everything is superb.
The cut of the meat used, as per my waitress, was lamb shoulder. I ordered my burger 'rare'. What I noticed most of all was how robust the flavor of the patty was. It was a tad gamey but not distractingly so. The flavor also has a distinct sour presence, not unlike that brought about from more aggressive aging of meat. patty.
The lamb patty us quite lean. Juices were about moderate but the meat was very moist. The grind seems coarser, but the meat was notably tender. It reminded me most of an aged beef sirloin patty. The shape of the patty was formed thicker and it was a joy to sample the texture of the meat with each full bite The seasoning is well balanced with the salt strong enough to make a presence and compliment the meat well.
Although I ordered 'rare', I felt the meat resembled maybe closer to 'medium rare'. Ordered rare but seems to resemble closer to med rare. There is some notable char on the outside, but I didn't feel the char contributed that much to the burger.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Condiments used were very good, giving the burger a more Mediterranean theme. I loved the bun most of all. Bread is a Ciabatta roll, toasted on both sides with a notable char. The texture is similar to sourdough toast with some crunchiness, but staying also very light at the same time. Like 'The Spotted Pig', The Breslin also shines with their exceptional bread. The protein to meat ration is good, and it keeps the burger intact.
Feta cheese used was robust and appeared to be balanced against the aggressive lamb patty. A smaller slice is used. My first few bites were great, but one of the weakness was that it got tiresome well balanced initially, but gets a bit tiresome towards the end. Cheese isn't melted, but served close to room temps. I may opt to reduce the amount of feta next time, but it was a good choice.
There is a slice of raw red onion used lending the burger some additional spice, without overpowering other elements of the burger. I didn't feel it was as crunchy as I would like, but it worked.
Cumin mayo served on the side worked great as well. It wasn't too heavy or sweet, but it did lend a more buttery element to the texture and it gave a prominent flavor of the cumin spice, which I love. I thought it was also balanced with the aggressive lamb, feta, and red onion
Steak fries were served on the side. They were exceptional. These were probably the lightest steak fries I've tried, without being too heavy and starchy. Potato skin adds some flavor. They weren't notably greasy and lent some more delicate crunchiness. They're seasoned nicely and were great with the cumin aioli.
Although portion size is about average, i found the burger to be quite heavy and hearty.
Highly recommended.Listed in: Favorite burgers, ranked in…
-
Review from Nick V.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2012
Seated in 20 mins on a Friday. Attached to the Ace Hotel near Korea Town. Get your grub on and then head over to the Ace Lounge and Bar. Food was super good and it went down with:
2 Scotch Eggs (1 per order)
Cesar Salad w/ fresh Spanish anchovies and fresh squeezed lemon (we halved it)
Blood sausages (almost didnt share mine lol)
Chargrilled Lamb Burger, med rare w/ thrice cooked frites (featured in Best Thing I Ever Ate - Burgers)
Jamesons and Pickle Backs (first time Ive ever had these)
Pork Slap beer (Tried it because im just a down right, all-around pork lover)
In a nutshell, just go. Make reservations if you can, or get someone to seduce the host/hostess (lol not guilty there). But yea thats all i gotta say. -
Review from Duke C.
3/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Scotch Egg forever.
I stayed near by and a friend suggested us to head to The Breslin for a quick snack before meeting with our friend. Since it was a Friday and after work, the place was packed! The wait for a table was a ridiculous 2 hours. Luckily we were able to find a spot at the bar to order our drinks and some food!
I've heard about their lamb burgers and how it is a must for lamb lovers. Now... I just recently started to eat lamb. I used to hate it cause I'm not a huge fan of the gamy taste so I was a little afraid of how gamy the burger would taste. Once the burger came and I took the first bite, a strong gamy lamb taste just hits my taste buds, but the cumin mayo instantly takes over. Cumin & lamb just go so well together that the gaminess didn't bother me at all! The lamb patty was grilled to a nice pink so it was juicy as well! Don't know what kind of buns they used but it had a more "rustic" texture haha.
The fries that came with it is absolutely amazing! It is called Thrice Cooked Fries so I can only guess that they fried it 3 times! Super crispy but there's still a somewhat creamy center since the fries are thicker than usual. Great with the cumin mayo as well but really, I liked it plain.
Now to the main star... the Scotch Egg. We really didn't know what it is and just ordered it for the hell of it. When it came, we saw this big fried orb of golden goodness. Turns out, a Scotch Egg is a soft boiled egg covered with sausage meat, breaded, then fried! Sounds ridiculous but it's fawking awesome. We didn't know it was a soft boiled egg in the center until I took a knife and cut it in half for everyone to share and then all of a sudden I see this golden yolk slowly cover everything. Crispy outside, then you hit the sausage and then the soft egg in the center. I'm a sucker for anything dish with a soft yolk so I loved it.
As for the drinks, pretty solid cocktails. I was able to try a few but liked the Tonic & Grapefruit. Essentially a Gin & Tonic with grapefruit bitters and zest. A little bitter but very smooth. I went with a saison they had on draft and it was prefect for all the heavy food.
Now I can't imagine coming here too often. The burger itself was over $20 and the Scotch Egg was $8. Drinks and beers are up there in price as well so a few of my friends didn't like it that much. For me, the wow factor and the unique items that we tried won me over!Listed in: NY fooding
-
Review from Gina X.
New York, NY
3/27/2012 7 Check-ins Here
Perfect meal every time.
Highlights: Throwing back a shot of PICKLE BACK (damn thats some good pickle juice) followed by a LONDON CALLING. OYSTERS - again, there's that pickle juice, which I'd gladly buy a bottle of. LAMB HEART - f*ing amazing, wish I ordered this instead of the beef tongue salad. And for dessert, a bite (or two, or half) of my husband's LAMB BURGER.
Mehs: Scotch Egg - Not as good as Fat Radish's. Deep frying something doesn't always make it better (can't believe I just said that). Beef tongue salad was a disappointment. Yes it was meltingly tender, but come on, 1 cm cubes?! I have to admit the candied fennel slices were kind of genius in this dish.Listed in: My happy places
-
Review from Rama S.
WALL STREET, NY
5/23/2012
Never thought I would rave about English food, but there you have it! Everything was absolutely delicious, particularly the shepard's pie and the G&T.
-
Review from Megan C.
Manhattan, NY
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yay! I'm a fan. Oh wait.... I already said that in the star rating.
Brunch here was quite yummy. The poached eggs over curried lentils was just the breakfast I needed after a late night and my friend's lamb burger was apparently amazing. The atmosphere was nice and the wait staff was super personable. Plus, the wait for brunch on Saturday was 10 minutes.... what???
Overall, a lovely experience. -
Review from Nick S.
Brooklyn, NY
5/10/2012
GOD DAMN SON!
Let me just say this...the Breslin lamb burger is one of the reasons why I will never be a vegetarian (sorry). I've been here twice so far no wait no non sense. I don't care about the hipsters nor do I care about the rest of the menu. I order a scotch egg for appetizer and a lamb burger for entree, along with a nice tap beer to go along. That's it.... Don't bother reading crappy, depressing, annoying, PMSing, hipster apple macbook pro written in the lobby of the hotel type reviews everyone.
As of May the 10th 2012, the burger at the Breslin is still the s***. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Post Falls, ID
5/11/2012
Twice the wait as was told and the kitchen took 40 mins on our food! Great food and options but maybe need more or more efficient staff? Bathroom about 3 blocks away underground.
-
Review from Mike S.
4/18/2012
I try to come here when I'm on business in NY. It's crowded but you can normally find room in the bar to have a pint while waiting for a table. Scotch eggs are amazing. I don't know how they cook them so perfectly every time. I almost always have the lamb burger which is delicious.
I've always wanted to try the suckling pig... Need a good crowd for that one! -
Review from Conor H.
Manhattan, NY
4/15/2012
Went to the Breslin last summer for a drink and some bar snacks. Been waiting a long time to make it back for dinner. I had really high expectations, but left very dissapointed. The decor and ambiance are great. I love gastropubs and this place is right up my alley. Food and service were a big dissapointment.
Drinks: Grade A
The bartenders were great. He made an awesome old fashion. The lust for life and beggear's banquet were great.
Food: Grade B
Started out with the salt and pepper chips, scotch egg, and oysters with pickle juice. The chips were forgettable. I can get better chips at the super market. The scotch egg was the belle of the ball. Easily the best dish of the night. The sausage in it was awesome. The runny yolk was a perfect texture mix. Loved it. The oysters were good. For entrees my girlfriend and I split the pigs foot for 2. Her dad got the famed lamb burger. The pig food was not good. It was quantity over quality. It was big enough for three. It had a very weirdy gummy texture that stuck to you mouth. The vegetables they served with the pig were great. The lamb burger was very good. But that pigs foot ruined the meal for us.
Service: Grade C
We asked the waiter for a description of the foot and he told us they removed all the bones. There was several 1 inch plus bones and knuckles in the foot. Know your food better. The burger came 15 minutes after the pigs foot. How hard is it to make a burger? The manager said he didn't like the first so they refired it. I was very irritated at the wait. The manager took it off the bill, but mood was already ruined. A nit picky point, but the bathroom had no hand soap. Bad service all around.
All in all a very disapointing meal and experience. I'd go to Spotted Pig, Joseph Leonard, or Cask before returning to the Breslin. I also don't the layout of the Ace hotel. The bathrooms are a maze to find. -
Review from Courtney R.
Wilsonville, OR
3/3/2012 12 Check-ins Here
FOOD POISONING 911
I've dined at the breslin a few times a month for the past 8 months. The food always had good flavor but very heavy on the stomach. I ate at the breslin because it's connected to my hotel of choice the Ace Hotel. Let's get to the point of this review because I don't write many. A few weeks ago i ordered the rib eye for 2 priced at $130 dollars for 32 ounces. I was going to eat half of it for myself and bring the rest to my date (thank god I didn't)...
The presentation of the steak was good and I was very excited as steak is my favorite food. With my first bite, it tasted like it was drenched in lemon juice, which in my mind thought was an odd thing to add to steak. I called the waiter over and asked what the chef used. He seemed confused and just looked at me funny and said not sure and walked away. I decided ok well it's an expensive steak and I have to meet my date in 30 minutes. I ate what I could then boxed it up and was on my way!
I believe about 45 minutes after I ate, I started to break out in sweats at my dates hotel and and my stomach was making ungodly noises. I was like OH...NO. Nooooooooo... let's just say for my first date with this guy, i used his bathroom the entire time. Nothing but violence, i guess it wasn't lemon... sour steak.
I never thought paying this much for a steak would ever get me to the state i was in. I finally made it back to my hotel after getting a break from being sick and walked right next door to the Breslin and handed them the left over bag and said here you go. This steak is bad and i have food poisoning. The women manager at the restaurant said you can't prove it's us in a very rude tone and in a mocking sense. I said all i ate today was a package of poptarts for breakfast and I got sick 45 min after I ate your food. All I wanted was a simple refund because i'm not sue happy and she wouldn't even grant me that!!! I ended up calling 911 and being carried out of my hotel and rushed by ambulance to the ER to get hydrated.
By far THEE worst food poisoning of my life and out of the entire staff there has been only 1 server has ever been nice. They are all cocky and are kinda like if you don't like our food then get out. The bartenders roll their eyes. Like i said I only came here because of convenience. NEVER AGAIN. -
Review from Bill T.
New York, NY
3/20/2012
Went on a Sunday night at around 7 PM, and there was almost no wait. Our waiter was friendly, attentive and gave very useful suggestions: extremely satisfied with the service.
There were four of us, and we shared two scotch eggs, terrine board, blood sausage, and curried mussels as appetizers. The scotch egg was rather well done, and I would probably order it again. Mussels were also nicely done, but it really didn't blend in with rest of the dishes. The terrine board was just 'okay', I've had much better at the Black Hoof in Toronto. Blood sausage was 'meh'; the Korean version is a lot better imo.
I ordered the lamb burger medium while everyone else ordered it medium-rare. I was really happy with what I ordered as it was definitely on the medium-rare side of medium, while all the other ones looked plain rare. The burger was decent, nothing to rave about. It was exactly what it was: a lamb burger. Sure, the cumin mustard was a nice touch, but there was definitely no 'wow' factor.
We finished it off with two very unmemorable desserts.
Overall, it was just A-OK. I don't see how it was a Michelin-Star meal, or perhaps that was only for the chef's table? -
Review from That ronald T.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 3/11/2012
A broker took me here again last Thursday.
The broker is a really kool guy.
But this place seems like more of a scam upon my 2nd visit.
$74 for coq au vin for 2? Are you kidding me? It's an old chicken cooked in wine! Roosters cost $2-3 a pound!
Pigs Feet for 2 with winter veggies and creme fraiche for $48? I just bought pigs feet for $1.49 a pound!
I once again had the lamb burger which was good. Much better than the burger I just had at the Clinton Street Bakery. But at $21 it is laughable.
I'll never understand the gourmet burger thing. I'd rather just make them at home and not deal with the aging hipster waitresses. Who also forgot to make my bloody mary spicy and copped an attitude when I asked her for tabasco.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/27/2011
Food is fine. Prices are outrageous. 4 doods. 4 drinks. 3 burgers. 6 oysters. $150 before tax.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Nick A.
Manhattan, NY
3/29/2012
A shining light on the hill of a once-bleak neighborhood food scene, the Breslin has yet to disappoint.
The nose-to-tail fare is of course the most noteworth stuff (sautéed kidneys and oxtail pot pie stand out), but even a relaxed, hungover coffee and eggs seems equally transformed with additions like the Breslin's cinnamon toast. In fact, after a bite you'll wonder how you made it through life eating the square toasted stuff. If Au Pied de Cochon is your idea of heaven, the Breslin is where the angels get their wings.
Don't get me wrong - the hipsterness of the Ace is cranked up to Williamsburgian levels, but try as I might to criticize, it somehow always comes across as charming, not forced. Just check out the wait staff at the end of a weeknight shift - they really are happy to be there, and seem genuinely pleased to have helped you get over your fear of soft organ meats with their reassuring flannel shirts. The same is true for the lobby bar, which eschews typical leather-couched manhattans in favor of Tecate served at big communal tables.
Maybe it's the slightly younger, slightly more intoxicated, and slightly more organic midtown hotel guests that set the offbeat tone, but if the Ace is slightly off, then I'd rather not be on. -
Review from Buo Z.
3/6/2012
Tried the lamb burger here - it was good but not Michelin good.
Coffee and OJ were decent and brunch cocktails weren't too strong (that's a good thing). -
Review from Mark A.
2/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Can I write a whole review based solely on the pickle juice used in the bar's pickleback shots? That doesn't seem like a lot of material to work with, but the juice is so great that I think it's worth it.
If you aren't familiar with a pickleback shot, it's a shot of whiskey (the cheaper the better) chased with a shot of pickle brine. My first pickleback was at Bushwick Country Club, where the drink apparently was invented. I think Breslin's is even better, and it's certainly better than the ones I've had in SF (although that's not really a fair fight since people in SF don't know good pickles from Adam). While I haven't ever had a bad pickleback, the one here at Breslin is especially fantastic because they make their own pickles expressly for the shots. It's a bit spicier than normal pickle brine, and works great with the whiskey leaving a savory aftertaste that gets better the longer you let it sit in your mouth. You owe it to yourself to try at least one if you are at the Breslin. -
Review from G C.
New York, NY
4/28/2012
Ok, I gotta get this off my chest. The lamb scrumpets were one of the best things I have ever eaten in my entire life. Think British chicken tenders... Ok but 100000 times more delicious. It is the most intense gamy, juicy, fatty lamb encased in panko and deep fried to crispy goodness. I could have easy polished off 4 more orders. The mint vinaigrette was good to drip but completely unnecessary/ These things were like Keens' mutton chop encased in panko and deep fried. No joke that's exactly how great it tasted.
The formal appetizer I has was the tempura soft shell crab with a bowl of soup infused with chili. Spicy and a nice compliment to the perfectly fried crab. I've been on a big kick ss crab kick cuz they are in season and these were right at the top.
Of course the lamb burger with thrice cooked chips was my entree. It was incredibly tasty, juicy, and a great lamb flavor. I also liked the cumin mayo that came with it. Only complaint is it was more medium n pink that the bloody rare I requested. Still it was a great burger. The bun was a little too crust on the outisde for me in some parts but overall, this just works. The fries are AMAZING! Probably the best fries I have had in the city to date. Thick, incredibly crispy and perfectly salted is just the way i like them.
Liked the atmosphere, open kitchen, and service. April B was in the joint cooking which was another great thing to experience. -
Review from Liz N.
New York, NY
5/25/2012
i only visited bar side of the breslin and it would have totally received 4 or 5 stars from me but when i went they didn't carry allagash white anymore and they were all out of the lamb burger. i ended up with the beef burger with roquefort cheese which i assumed would be humdrum, but alas, i was wrong! no doubt, this is the best burger, ever. it also helped that the fries were just the right amount of crunchy as a result of being "thrice cooked". ..moreover, we had a cool waitress who managed to be quite attentive despite the amount of customers she had..i could deal without some of the hipsters but sometimes in the city, ya just have to deal.
-
Review from Erin O.
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've wanted to come here since I heard that it opened. I got pretty much what I had expected and hoped for. I went with a work buddy of mine for a late dinner. On a Sunday night, it was pretty dead, though music wafted through the space from the lobby and in the room itself.
I got the house cider and we shared a Caesar salad and Scotch egg. The cider was exactly as described, though I couldn't imagine it. Very apple-y, but without any sweetness. I liked it a lot. This was the best Caesar salad I've ever had. Rich with anchovy, but very bright with a lot of lemon. The romaine leaves were cold and crisp, and it just worked. The Scotch egg was also excellent. You cut it in half, and the yolk ran all over the plate. Very tasty, well cooked, and I couldn't have been more pleased. For the main course, we both had the lamb burger with thrice cooked fries. The burger was special. Very juicy, I mean, EPIC juiciness. Nice and gamey and flavorful. The feta added the right salt, and there was a little finishing salt on the burger as well, which you could feel when biting into the meat. It was perfect. The cumin aioli was great for the fries. The fries could have stayed crisp through the holocaust, I'm pretty sure. I think I prefer slightly thinner chips (fries), but these were damn good.
Finally, we both had dessert. He had the carrot cake, and I had the Earl Grey pot de creme. The carrot cake was a little heavy handed with the cardamom, but it was tasty, and the hazelnuts worked to bring a nice, earthy element to it. The pot de creme was a nice texture, but a touch too bitter. When you had that perfect bite with the chantilly cream and candied kumquats, it was really good. However, there wasn't enough cream or kumquat to really provide that option for the whole dish.
I was very pleased with the food, but the pacing was a little wonky. We had to ask and wave over the waiter a few times, and still, they could be kind of slow to respond. Food was a 4.5, but the service was more of a 3. I'll be sure to go back, when I have time to enjoy another burger. -
Review from Gramercy Girl G.
Manhattan, NY
3/31/2012
The Breslin does not take reservations, unless you're staying at the hotel. When we arrived, the joint was jumping but luckily, we only had to wait about 45 minutes. Not too bad plus you can have a drink at the bar while you wait. You can also order food in the bar area, if you can snag as seat. We were seated in a great booth decorated with elks and a hawk chasing a rodent. Sure made me hungry, or maybe in the mood to hunt, if only I knew how.
I eat a lot of things that I love, but few things that I think of as life changing. The scotch egg at The Breslin was my first scotch egg and my life has been changed. A scotch egg is a soft boiled egg wrapped in sausage then covered in breadcrumbs and deep fried. My only regret is I shared mine with Gramercy Guy, I could have eaten about 3 of these. If I start a quest to find the best scotch egg, The Breslin will forever be the gold standard. The Tuscan Kale (kale is the new spinach) was like a Caesar but gamier.
The lamb burgers were really good. They were juicy and served with a slice of feta which added a nice saltiness. The thrice cooked chips were thick fries that were well done, delicious, and not very greasy. Gramercy Guy had the dorade with cockles and beans. He really enjoyed it, but I found it to a be a little fishy for my taste.
The cookie plate was just eh. If I was going to suggest two desserts, get two chocolate tartes.
For more of my review and pictures, go to http://gramercygirl.bl... -
Review from Morin O.
San Francisco, CA
2/25/2012
Hyper-pretentiousness masked by a faux casual downtown vibe. As I walked in, the sense I got from the staff was that they could care less if we ate there. Every staff person with whom we interacted had a disinterested air about them and we re just gong through the motions to seat us, get drinks etc.
When ordering my meal, I was told that the burger came medium rare. I asked the waiter if I could order it medium. His response, "I guess the chef could begrudgingly cook your burger up medium, but he won't be happy". My response, "Please tell the chef that a paying customer wants their burger cooked medium".
The only saving grace: the medium burger was actually pretty good. -
Review from Julie M.
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
The drinks are great. I am especially in love with the "Rush of Blood to the Head" even though I can't stand Coldplay.
The food is also awesome. The lamb burger and fries are out of this world.
The only problem that I have with this place is the bar gets very crowded, very early and it is very difficult to get a table. Otherwise, this place is bomb. -
Review from Colleen C.
Hoboken, NJ
2/13/2012
Met up with some colleagues on a Sunday evening at the Breslin. It was only about a 15 minute wait for us once everyone arrived. The staff never pushed us out so we (thankfully) stayed there probably for a good 3 full hours.
Of course, you need to start off with "breakfast" in egg format (any time of the day), by grabbing at least one....or two....or three Scotch Eggs.... You just can't go wrong.
We also tried the seafood sausage. Which, I could honestly have everyday for the rest of my life. That...good.
The only downside to this place is the loaded amount of salt content. Make sure to bring that bottle of water with you or for the ride home.
Oh and do not make the mistake of missing out on dessert. The doughnuts were warm, sugary and soft, and the apple cake was delish.
But, chocolate tart was the trump card for this place. The best way to describe this tart was that it was a painting. The tart alone was great, but it was a masterpiece when paired with the ice cream and other secret side ingredient.
Overall, great food, but the sodium could be toned down just a tad. -
Review from johanna a.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012
I'm pretty much obsessed with this place after dinner here on Thur night. First let me tell you...we ate almost everything on the menu. We were lucky to get a special treat by the head chef and got to try a few items we didn't order. This meal my first "foodgasm." Everything from the Scottish Egg to the kale salad was unique, reinvented and delicious.
If you can't decide what to get, please try the lamb burger, terrine board, blood sausage and curried mussels. You will come back and thank me later!
The proximity to my San Francisco home will keep me away so please eat there for me. I'm jealous already. -
Review from Chef S.
San Francisco, CA
4/22/2012
Dined here for their Saturday Brunch & it was superb!!!... Around the table we had their breakfast pastry selection, all items very good/fresh/moist/flavorful... Entrees included: Seafood Sausage w/a Beurre Blanc Sauce & Greens was most excellent... Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, very well balanced flavors... The Baked Eggs w/tomatoes/chorizo very flavorful, but the eggs could have been baked slightly more if one were to be picky... Grilled three cheese sandwich w/house cured ham was delicious... Lamb Burger/Feta Cheese w/Home Fries was as advertized "PERFECT" tender/juicy... Dessert assorted mini cookies were divine... They definitely know what they're doing behind the stoves, dishes are simple in presentation, but robust in flavor!!!... Service was excellent & the Hostess was extremely friendly...
-
Review from John O.
4/10/2012
I came specifically to try the lamb burger and it did not disappoint in the least. Loved the chips too.
-
Review from melody m.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
This food is inspired.
I had the poached eggs with curried lentils and a side of seafood sausage.
I heard that the THING to get here is the Lamb Burger, so, I guess I'll have to return. Shucks. :)
Service was great for me - bartenders were fantastic, helpful and friendly.
Drinks menu was very creative and full of fun options for a compliment to brunch.
I will be returning and bringing others. -
Review from Michelle L.
Manhattan, NY
3/9/2012
The Breslin is in the "trendy" Ace Hotel.
If you're planning on dining here, keep in mind, this place DOES NOT take reservations! I went on a Tuesday night at 7pm and waited around 30 - 40 minutes for a table for three.
The wait is a little confusing, because there's not really anywhere inside the bar / dining room for you to wait. At least we didn't see anyone waiting inside the bar / dining room, so we assumed that everyone else who was waiting was doing so in the lobby of the Ace Hotel. While waiting in the lobby, we secretly wondered how we would know when our table was ready. Would someone come out of the bar / dining room to look for each party waiting? After a good while, we went back inside the bar / dining room to ask the hostess for an update. She said it would be 5 more minutes, so we went back to the lobby of the Ace Hotel. After another 10 minutes with no one getting us, we decided to return to the bar / dining room and ask again about our table. And oh, hey, it just happened to be ready.
I ordered the Tuscan kale with creamy anchovy vinaigrette and pancetta and a side of Thrice cooked chips. The first piece of kale that I ate was fantastic. I love baked kale with a little bit of salt! The rest of the dish, however, was drowned in the anchovy vinaigrette. I would have liked the dish to be a lot simpler and lighter. But it was an okay dish. Would I pay $15 again for it? No, probably not. The fries were great. They were thick, they were crispy, they were lightly salted, and they came out hot. What more can you ask for in a side of fries?
In general:
The wait was kind of long. And confusing / not organized.
The food was good. Not memorable or anything that I would go in search of, but nothing strongly negative to note.
Mediocre, three stars. -
Review from Nils V.
New York, NY
4/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
The London Calling drink has vodka w black currant syrup fresh lemon juice topped with prosecco. Dear lord, it's delish. 80% of the ppl in the bar had the burger.
