The Reading Room

The grilled octopus was delicious. The burger was mediocre, with a stale brioche bun and a serious deficit of sauce or flavour. Way too many fries. And the fries were really mid. Service was >30% slower than it should have been - for the price point. I like the name / theoretical concept but there was nothing book or reading really about this place. I think they could have learned into it more. Nice ambient environment, slightly loud. Would not go out of my way to come back. Walked in on a Thursday at 7:30 and got a bar seat.

My mom and I came here for brunch before seeing a Broadway show! The service was great and ambiance was nice! The food was delicious! Good portion sizes and good prices! We didn’t make a reservation so we ate at the bar but that was fine. I would recommend making a reservation so you’re guaranteed a spot. Would definitely recommend and come back again!

The crispy eggs Benedict ($20 plus tax) was a novel take on a brunch classic The eggs and Canadian bacon on the English muffin were good, but the accompanying potatoes were bland. The small fruit serving could be more seasonal and fresher. The interior, maybe in the attempt to make it cozier, felt rather dimly lit, which would have suited dinner service better. For brunch, I wish it were just a tad brighter.

In the unique Gotham Hotel, The Reading Room has read my vibe completely. A quiet happy hour not crowded, comfortable plush seating, with plenty of space a skylight —-in an otherwise darker themed lounge—-to brighten the mood with Sade’s smooth operator playing in the background…it’s a must I stumbled upon whilst next door at Gregory’s Coffee.

We had the filet and the steak frites—both were absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is cozy and romantic, making it a perfect spot for a date night. The staff was incredibly attentive and made sure everything was just right. Highly recommend!

Great spot that isn't too far from Grand Central. We tried several seafood dishes and they were all fantastic. Staff were very friendly and the soundtrack was legit.

Peri peri chicken was solid, risotto was delicious. I saw a lot of people get the charcuterie board and burger & fries. Drinks are ok, I got the hot & heavy and it tasted watered down. Staff / service was excellent. This is a restaurant located inside a hotel. It gets packed fast since it’s near Grand Central / JPM.

Some very spooky vibes here. After significant scientific research, I have detected definitive evidence of ghouls. Amazing eggs benedict. Haunted.

Such a cozy place! Stopped by for brunch with friends. Service was excellent! And the food!! We all ordered something different so we could sample: Crispy Eggs Benedict, French Toast with Dulce de Leche (yummy!) Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and the Breakfast Burrito. All wonderful dishes! To be honest, though, we were scrambling to get the last bits of the pancakes and French Toast! We will be back!

Honestly had a pretty solid Saturday brunch here! I had my doubts since this is a hotel restaurant, but we really didn't have any complaints about the food. We made a reservation even though we didn't need it (restaurant was 30% full when we got there). I ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes and my husband ordered the eggs benedict which was unique since the eggs were poached and then fried. We shared our dishes which was nice, because if I only had pancakes, I would have gotten tired of my dish quickly (it would be great if they add a side of fruit to this dish). The potatoes and the fruit that came with the eggs benedict were delicious. The server was friendly, and the vibe was nice (the restaurant isn't that big). All in all, spent $25 per person for brunch which is expected in NYC.

It was freezing with a heavy snowstorm on its way, so Jamie W and I were very deliberate with our walking route from our Midtown East hotel to see the Sunday matinee performance of "Gypsy" at the Majestic at 3PM. That's what made this an ideal restaurant to have brunch before the show. However, navigational ease was not quite matched by the culinary quality. It was a relatively small space, but it was well appointed and not overly crowded. The New American brunch menu was concise but offered the usual combination of breakfast plates, salads, sandwiches, and a few key appetizers (Photo 5). Jamie ordered the $19 Fried Chicken Sandwich which sounded like a winner with a huge breast on a brioche bun slathered with Asian slaw, green onion, sesame seeds, and spicy aioli (Photo 9). Accompanied by hand-cut fries, the chicken was overcooked almost to the point of being burnt. The aioli did little to lubricate the poultry. I fared better with the $25 Steak Sandwich. I didn't know what cut I received, but I'd guess it was a flank or skirt. More important, although it was a bit chewy, the meat was grilled properly and placed in a split ciabatta with arugula, slow roasted tomato, and horseradish cream (Photo 8). I was happy to get a side salad instead of the fries. The individual restrooms downstairs were a nice touch, and we got to the theatre on time. FOOD - 3 stars...middling brunch fare with execution on the fried chicken sandwich disappointing AMBIANCE - 4 stars...small but well decorated and spacious SERVICE - 3.5 stars...moved quickly but follow-through was a bit lacking TOTAL - 3 stars...a surprising slight miss for us RELATED - Hungry in NYC? Here's my collection of bars and restaurants l've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2YS9ELS

Charming restaurant hidden at the back of Gotham Hotel. Welcoming atmosphere and staff, food was delicious, it was an excellent spot for a delightful dining experience with my girls. My favorites were the steak on toast, grilled octopus, and steak frites. I would come back!

We went for a Sunday lunch, it was busy. I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich with fries. The size of the sandwich is decent- you could easily eat half and save half for later or it's great if you are very hungry. The fry on the chicken was crispy, the inside was still moist, & the slaw on the sandwich added flavor.

Moody bar and lounge vibes, some tables and bar seating available. Was able to make a reservation in advance but it was busy so we had to wait for our table a while before being seated there. The staff was nice and had us sit at the bar and get our drink and food order put in while we were waiting. Food is standard brunch and lunch fare, the steak was really tasty and the fries had a nice crisp to them!

Went here for brunch. It's a cozy restaurant inside a restaurant. Decent quality food and drink. The fried chicken sandwich was good, and also comes with a gajillion fries, so very potato heavy. Service was friendly and helpful.

Came for a business lunch. Excellent experience. Was concerned with the bar and small size it'd be loud but we had no problems conversing. The venue is great. The food matched. I got a steak sandwich which was absolutely delicious. Perfectly cooked steak, tasty sauce, tasty fries. Great menu. Can't wait to return and try something else too!

This is tough. I've eaten here twice. Once for dinner and once for breakfast. For dinner we had a lovely piece of beef. The atmosphere and service were lovely and the drinks were strong. Unfortunately breakfast was an entirely different story. We had eggs and pancakes. The food was just so so. Nothing came out hot and the prices were outrageous. Bottom line come first dinner and eat breakfast elsewhere.

Very nice spot with feasible prices for NYC. We stopped here for a quick bite and a cocktail. The Dona noodles were delicious as was the steak bruschetta. Would recommend a stop here if in the area.

This spot totally lives up to the hype! Personnel service was notably outstanding. The food quality is high. The service is attentive. The prices don't hurt. Perfect spices. Reasonable costs and friendly service. We'll certainly come back soon!

Solid New American restaurant inside The Gotham Hotel (and an outstanding hotel restaurant/bar). Definitely worth checking out if you're at the hotel or in the area, but not sure it's quote worth a trip across town. Cocktails were good and mostly $18 - we liked The Fireside (rye/cherry/vanilla/smoke) and the Caribbean Old Fashioned (rum/amaro/falernum/simple). The Paper Crane (bourbon/aperol/lemon/simple) wasn't as well balanced as we hoped. Food was solid. The mains were excellent, particularly the Halibut with Thai Green Curry. The Baby Beet Salad was fine, but not particularly memorable, and the Steak on Toast was a bit bland (tasted better without the toast). Service was friendly and prompt, and ambience was good - had a dim lodge vibe. They closed surprisingly early (on Wed) - kitchen closed at about 9:15, and last call for drinks was maybe 10ish? We would have hung around longer and chatted otherwise.

The space is interesting - kinda sorta tucked away in the back or side of a hotel lobby? It was definitely buzzing on a Wednesday evening. The octopus appetizer was pretty good. My braised short rib was very rich - rather fatty - and could've been a tad more tender, but overall still delicious.

Met a friend for brunch here on a Saturday. The space itself is in the bottom of a hotel (I was confused at first). It's warm and inviting... very relaxed and casual, with books lining the walls per the name. Very cozy and inviting. Our waitress was friendly and delivered our order just fine. The kitchen was definitely a bit slow though... it took way longer than it should have to get our food. But we also didn't care since we were busy chatting. We both wound up getting the crispy eggs benedict, which is a traditional benny with the poached egg breaded and deep fried. It was a very nice spin on a traditional benedict and was pretty tasty. I would have personally liked much more hollandaise sauce. But other than that it was great. It WAS very rich though, fair warning. Coffee was strong and plentiful. Would return.

Came here with a friend for a last minute happy hour meet up. Great HH menu and quick snack bites. Seats are comfy.

A tiny but gorgeous restaurant inside the Gotham hotel. Reservation is a must for lunch or dinner. The restaurant is decorated with shelves of books to really create the reading room vibe. Accompanied by a lovely bar. From the menu we loved pretty all the things. Mussels were really good, soaked in citrus juice. Skirt steak was tender and juicy. The G&H burger was solid. At the end we got a complimentary dessert for celebration our occasion at the restaurant. The chocolate mousse cake was so good. Service was superb, constantly being checked on and kept us updated on the upcoming items. The restaurant did take a while to get our entree, understandably so since the restaurant got full right when it opened at noon. So not a recommended place to grab lunch quickly. But am excellent restaurant to chill, dine and have some wonderful conversations in company of lots of books.

A restaurant inside the hotel. Nice decoration. Not many tables so reservation is highly recommended. Food is great! I love steak and frites. The steak cooked just right. Tender and juicy. Mussels are very good. Love this place. Table to table is a little close so if u want romantic date with privacy, prob not the place for you.

The food is absolutely delicious. The 12 Oz. Ribeye was perfect. The crab cake was perfect too. You must have the strawberry salad. The service was great, Valentina is special. The ambiance is cute. Small but cute.

Love the Reading Room! This is now my go to place by Grand Central. Their cocktails are wonderful as is their food. I've had the cheese board a number of times, steak, tuna crudo, brussels, fries and nothing disappoints! The folks that work there are also super nice! Whenever someone needs a reco in the area I always refer the Reading Room! I expect to be back soon :)

Love this spot! Drinks were fantastic. The vibe is very cool. I had the salmon and it was absolutely delicious. Our server Angela was so sweet, attentive, and quick!

Ambiance is bland. Food was a little inconsistent. Tithe service was great. Friendly but a little slow

Worst restaurant experience I have had in ages. Manager had left. It took 40 minutes for brunch to arrive with hardly anyone there. My grilled chicken sandwich had such gobs of aoili that it ran down my hand trying to eat it. I had to take off about 1/2 cup. The caesar salad had way too much parm cheese and was soaked in dressing. I couldn't eat any of it. They comped a cappucino but should have comped the whole meal. Of course, with no manager present it was impossible to give the feedback.

Came here for a birthday dinner. They gave us each a free champagne AND free dessert. We ordered two entrees and an appetizer. The bone marrow was SO SO good! The entrees, however, tasted good but not New American. It's just Thai food with fancier presentation. Service was also extremely slow. We had to ask for menu, for water for check and waited a long time for each. If they hadn't given us free stuff, I would have rated it a 3/5.

All around excellent and enjoyable dining experience; It's somewhat of a hole in the wall, hidden in a hotel down an unassuming hall in a room that is modern and seems like a library mixed with a bar/dining area. We (3) were able to walk in without a reservation and get sat immediately. Our waitress was super nice and knowledgeable about the food/drinks and helped us pick our meals/drinks, which were absolutely delicious. The oysters were nice and fresh, drinks were well-made, and the steak frites was cooked perfectly. Would definitely go again if I go back to NY

Great intimate space for a business meeting over delicious coffee and breakfast. The Reading Room offers a simple breakfast menu that you would expect at a hotel restaurant but with a sophisticated, high-end feel. The cappuccino was made with excellent quality coffee beans and the Crispy Eggs Benedict was delightful. The service was attentive but not overbearing. The space was intimate but not claustrophobic. Highly recommend for a quick bite or business meeting.

We got the steak and fries and they were good. Bummed they didn't come with any veggies. Also got the short ribs that were amazing.

Was there for breakfast. Service was excellent. Very friendly. Very professional. Food was served. Promptly didn't order anything extravagant. Had the bacon and eggs with potatoes and toast. All was as expected. My only nitpick was the eggs were ordered over easy and they were definitely a little hard, but did not ruin the meal the service more than made up for it. I would go back.

What a great place to chill with a bourbon or cognac. We didn't try any of the food because we had eaten next door already but the service was great and nice music too. We got there early enough so that it wasn't too crowded and loud.

Worse steak frites than Le Monde- I asked for medium rare and got well-done. I'd have taken a picture but I was at a work thing and I needed to look somewhat professional and not like a jerk who takes pictures of his food for Yelp reviews. Honestly I don't think doing so would have made me a jerk- I have no recourse against a restaurant that charged $36 for a burnt to hell steak except for a Yelp review. If anything, this isn't a retributive Yelp review, it's a Yelp review to warn others. I just don't think the good folks paying for my meal would have seen it that way. I mean just because they're paying for my food doesn't mean I can't think it's bad. Also, I think it should speak positively of my character that I want to warn others. I'm not getting anything out of this. Purely in the interests of others. Also they didn't give me nearly enough ketchup for the fries.

The espresso martini was the truth 10/10, little pricey but worth it. Also ordered the steak frites (medium) steak was just ok but the fries were absolutely delish

Had a great evening at this hidden gem. It's a business inside a business. It's small so I would call ahead for reservations. Luckily they had room to sit us. The drinks were great! We started with mussels then continued with our entrees. I ordered the halibut and it was perfectly made and seasoned. My husband ordered the steak and my daughter ordered the burger. We finished it off with the trio sorbet. Would go back if I'm in the area again.

Warm - quaint vibe. Good happy hour options and pricing. Exceptional service. Loved the short ribs !

Didn't know what to expect because it's in a hotel and I've never had good luck with hotel food but to my surprise it was delicious!! My fiancé got the steak, I got a chicken plate with plantains and we got octopus as a starter. They were all so good! The service was also great and the restaurant was quiet and chill. I would come back because the food was so good.

What a great restaurant inside of The Gotham hotel! Came here for date night with my boyfriend as we saw it had great reviews and I was honestly shocked it was as empty as it was on a Friday evening. The waitress we had was so attentive and kind, and even the bartender would check in on us from time to time. The food was really tasty and presentation was A+. We got the salmon and the short rib, along with some mocktails/non-alcoholic beer. I'd definitely come back to try their brunch!

Simply amazing. We found this place through Yelp as it was near our hotel. When we arrived in town, it was a brief 6 minute walk. The place was fairly empty for 8:30pm on a Friday, but we grabbed a table because all of these reviews couldn't be wrong! Indeed, they were not. We started with cocktails. I had the "Tristessa", which is one of, if not the best, cocktail I've ever had. I loved it so much, I had two. My wife had the "The Fireside", which was smooth and Smokey. We started with the bone marrow appetizer. I wasn't sure about the eggs and caviar on it, ut man, it was good! The Mrs. ordered the salmon and I had the burger. We both raved. Come here. You won't be disappointed. We are thinking of coming back again before we leave town. A very memorable meal.

Second time visiting NYC this year, came back to try Reading Room again, this time with my daughter that lives in Manhattan. Great entrees - short rib and filet mignon - but the mashed potatoes with the filet were listed on the menu as 'garlic' and didn't have a hint of garlic. The bone marrow appetizer came with almost zero bone marrow so we basically ate a lot of dry, grilled toast. The sorbet selection could use some changes: the passionfruit and watermelon are way too close in flavor and could not be differentiated; the pineapple sorbet was too chunky. Still, the mains were quite good, and cooked righteously well. Service is good and the atmosphere is quality. Would give it a third try and try the mussels instead.

Brunch food was perfectly adequate, no more. If you are looking for somewhere not crowded and not hurried for brunch in Midtown it works.

Great quiet spot to grab a sit down breakfast. stopped in here around 1030 to grab a late breakfast with my wife before checking out the library. The good: The food, After three days of bagels on the go it was refreshing to get a sit-down spot and indulge a little bit with the French toast. My portion was just right. My wife had the eggs Benedict which had a unique crispy coating she was thrilled with. The location, this is a great little spot a couple blocks from Grand Central, 5th ave and The Library, but just far enough from Times Square that it's not a zoo. The Bad: Hard to complain about. Nothing about this place was a turn off for either of us. The Mediocre: The dining room, it's in the back of a hotel so you have to walk through a reception area and there's no windows or natural light. Other than that the seating is comfortable and it was not overly loud during our visit.

Perfect place for a date night. The service was amazing and very attentive. We got the brussel sprouts for an appetizer. They were crispy and creamy. The perfect start. We shared the steak frites (lots of fries) and the short rib, which was the favorite

Hidden gem in midtown boutique hotel. Excellent food, wines & cocktails. Great service. Attractive space.

This place is such a cool little stopover while in the city. We went inside real quick to grab a drink prior to our next obligation. I had the watermelon cooler drink. I didn't have any expectations so I was pleasantly surprised at just how good this drink was. The service (bartender) was excellent. I would definitely recommend swinging by if you're into book vibes :p

Let's get this over with - definitely a yes! We had the Paper Plane cocktail (twice - it was very good) and a fair priced glass of Pinot noir. Both of us started with the beef carpaccio and we both loved it - one of the best I've ever had - nice sauce. One of us had the halibut and it was excellent - great flavor. One of us had a ribeye - how could that be any different! Weir was / the seasonings they used were tops - oh my what a great steak! Service was great. Prices were appropriate and maybe a tad low (did I say that?).

Had a great experience at The Reading Room! We were there with our baby and the staff was super accommodating. Cocktails were delicious and expertly prepared. I loved the duck breast. The hangar steak in the steak frites was a little chewy but had good flavor and the fries were delicious. Would recommend and return!

Great food, service and ambiance. Visiting NYC from LA I took my wife to the Reading Room for her birthday. The service was great, no rush, no pressure. Food was really good. Started with the bone marrow, Grilled octopus and persimmon salad. All very good. Entrees were the Old Bay sandwich and the scallops. Did not disappoint. Special call out to Vinnie the bartender. Great place, chill vibe, reasonable prices. Highly recommend!

I liked this place very much. Great food, also a couple of non-alcoholic IPAs on choice - that's definable a good thing. It was half empty on Tuesday night. The food was served fast. Nice old-fashioned interior, calm music.

Food was pretty mid tbh. The bone marrow didn't stand out at all. Not sure if it was the combination of the flavor they used. Just expected it to be better. Octopus was the best out of everything. The rest were okay. Could've gotten better somewhere else.

Food, atmosphere, and service were all good. Restaurant located in a hotel. Good place to meet for anyone coming into midtown.

Yummy casual restaurant with great burgers and fries plus other breakfast or brunch or lunch choices. Cofee & cappuccino perfect. Full bar. Friendly and attentive service. Make a reservation and enjoy! Yum and fun!

Came here as an alternative to nearby, hyped post-work bars upon a friend's recommendation. Was surprised to see it in a hotel but at least it was right back through the doors. Atmosphere was popping in a good way, and the decor was classy without going overkill. Bartenders were serious but also friendly, which is a rare combo in this kind of place. Prices were what you'd expect; really hate the $15-$20 drink trend but you're not avoiding it in Midtown if you want to be somewhere that's not a dive bar (and even then). Not sure what I was thinking getting the Fireside (Old Overholt Rye, Cherry Heering, Antica, Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters). As the name and ingredient list would suggest, this was a smoked cocktail with a ton of booze. Perfect for a winter evening, not a summer one. It was well executed with the bitter cherry flavors being a highlight though. The Jungle Bird made up for my mistake (Blackstrap Rum, Pineapple Juice, Simple, Lime Juice, Passion Fruit Float). Perfect pineapple and rum cocktail which is generous on the rum. I could've sat there and drunk those all night. Good alternative to the Campbell if you're by Grand Central. Some hotel bars are stuffy with a weird atmosphere, however this was a nice exception. Would come again.