Historic name and setting are the only value.

Posted by magdfg from California on 7/17/08

With so many fabulous restaurants in all price ranges in NYC, visitors should skip this one if they want good food and service. Our recent dining experience was really terrible. We always try to make the best of every evening out, but the awful food and lousy service were impossible to overlook. We were fortunate to get a nice table close to the windows, so at least our view of the pretty patio was nice. It took 30 minutes for the waiter to appear for our drink orders. Our rolls smelled of plastic, so we didn't eat them. Make sure your expectation for the food is mass catering fare--dull and disappointing. And the house wine tasted like something out of a box, which is being unkind to boxed wine! (we didn't bother to order a bottle of wine after our late cocktail arrival) All this at a high cost unrelated to quality--just the name and location. So go once in your life if you must...but you might want to heed those reviewers who have already been there and done that! PS FYI-we got all dressed up in coat and tie as the dress code states, only to find many around us were wearing casual...even shorts and sandals at the table near us, possibly because it was early evening???

Great to do at least once in Life

Posted by TheTripChick from Seattle on 2/1/08

We enjoyed dinner at Tavern on the Green during Restaurant Week. Reading the reviews prior to going, we knew that most likely we'd be in for a touristy experience but wanted to try it our for ourselves. We ate in the Crystal Room, which was decorated in a fairy-tale of pastel colors and chandeliers. It was quite lovely with the trees outside festooned with little white lights, and knowing that kitsch is what sells Tavern, this suited us just fine. However, we were a bit disgruntled by the photographers standing by each table, asking for a photograph to "capture the wonderful memory of eating at Tavern on the Green". Blech, can you BE any more hideously overt and tacky? Please, Tavern, banish this practice immediately. My beau ordered off the Restaurant Week menu: orecchiette to start, salmon as main course, and chocolate cake for dessert. I ordered off the Pre-Theatre menu: iceberg lettuce wedge to start, herb-crusted filet of beef as main course, and creme brulee for dessert. The orecchiette was good but nothing amazing, and while I thoroughly enjoyed the iceberg wedge, it compared with the one I had at Junior's diner. The salmon and beef were delicious and cooked perfectly. The chocolate cake looked amazing, but typical of commercially-prepared desserts was missing the depth of a good chocolate flavor. The creme brulee was a little disappointing because it tasted of torch fuel more than anything. The service was impeccable but having eaten at Tavern, I don't think we need to return.

Terrible Service, Terrible Food, Terrible Restaurant

Posted by A from USA on 12/12/05

Went to Sunday brunch. Had to wait in long lines to check coats -- it's required or else you have to wear it throughout your meal. It's crowded, service is subpar, food is incredibly below average. As for the decor -- TACKY and TIRED. Would never go again.