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It's hard to forget you're in a hotel when you enter the Commodore. Sweeping blue drapes, towering flower displays, square-shaped light fixtures, and round booths with chocolate-colored benches and purple high-backed chairs work together to set an art deco tone, but it all feels a little uncomfortable, like someone tried too hard to make it feel designed. The clientele makes it that much more awkward: tourists and business travelers who wouldn't have a clue where, given all the options in Manhattan, to go for dinner. Though the menu is composed of dishes that sound appetizing enough—for example, crispy duck pancakes—it's best to stick to basics here. Still, surprises appear: An appetizer of macaroni and cheese is vamped up with penne, fresh chunks of lobster, and a delicate cream sauce. But if you're staying at the Hyatt and you have a little time for dinner, here's an idea: Get a drink at the marble-topped bar in the adjoining lounge then head downtown for dinner. — Leah Black

For a quick bite before or after dinner hours, the Commodore Lounge adjacent to the Grill serves small plates and is open daily from 2 p.m.–1 a.m.