Skip to content, or skip to search.
Skip to content, or skip to search.
Home > Restaurants >
All Reader Reviews of...
Compass
208 W. 70th St., New York, NY, 10023
nr. Amsterdam Ave.
212-875-8600
| 7.8 | "Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
my favorite upper west sider
maryoduta from 10023 | Posted on 10/15/08
|
|
A friend invited me to dinner at Compass - I hadn't been there in a while and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. They've now changed the menu focusing more on seafood, which I loved, since there are not many places on the upper west side that serve quality seafood. Everything was light and delicious -none of the pretentiousness that I've come to despise in the self called "high end" joints.The hamachi appetizer was the perfect starter and the sea bass entree was right on point. Service was attentive but not intrusive and the place is spacious and warm.Highly recommended!
Did you find this review helpful? 
A Sad Relapse
LorrieStuart from 10025 | Posted on 3/8/08
|
|
I've always wanted to love Compass: it is an elegant restaurant with widely-spaced tables -- you can actually hear yourself talk! -- and a great location if you are going to Lincoln Center. Plus, I always favor underdogs, and Compass is definitely that -- sitting somewhat forlornly next to that noisy hussy, Cafe Luxembourg. And for awhile, loving Compass was no problem: with John Fraser at the helm, the food was fabulous. Fraser has moved on to greater heights now (anyone heard of Dovetail?), leaving Compass, once again, with a somewhat mediocre offering. My tuna carpaccio appetizer, while tasty, was alarmingly purple and the portion was not particularly generous; my duck breast -- while quite generous -- was pretty chewy. Service, too, has suffered since Fraser's departure. The waiters used to be kinowledgeable and solicitous. Now they just seem harried. I'm hoping the restaurant will get back on its feet, but for now the main reason to go is location, location, location (and you can always get a table!)
Did you find this review helpful?
Still not quite there
Mobahat | Posted on 12/3/05
|
|
I came back to this restaurant after basically swearing off it a while ago cause it got two stars from Bruni in the Times and I thought they were finally working things out. Some of the dishes were quite good (Skate, Parsnip soup) but the entrees were either mediocre or sub. Also, we had to wait 15 minutes past or reservation time to get a table, though it wasn't particularly busy. This plus the borderline atrocious decor was disappointing considering the review.
Did you find this review helpful?
Food tasting menue
Valiant | Posted on 11/4/05
|
|
The beautifully plated delicious masterpieces prepared by the staff of the chef John Fraser are expertly matched by the sommelier Edward Allen with wines from the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence collection. Ask for a tasting menu and, if you lucky, enjoy a dozen of courses of the innovative delight. Or try these appetizers: Pan Seared Sea Scallops, Black Truffle Risotto, Lobster and Kumamoto Oysters Rockefeller; and the entrees: Free Range Chicken, Braised Sturgeon, Seared Breast of Long Island Duck and Braised Leg in Pastilla. Do not pass on desert! Sophisticated, contemporary appropriately lighted, airily and cozy interior, welcoming professional staff. Terrific food and service, great value. Enjoy!
Did you find this review helpful?
the right direction
elgreco | Posted on 7/18/05
|
|
Having seen the transitions in this space over the past couple of years, it is safe to say that Compass is finally going in the right direction. The food was outstanding and clever in its subtle pairings. Loved the duck ,the buffalo tenderloin, kobe beef carpaccio and the monkfish! and the 2 desserts we tried were interesting, exotic and well presented. Add another destination to the Upper West Side dining landscape...I'll be back!
Did you find this review helpful?
the right direction
elgreco | Posted on 7/18/05
|
|
Having seen the transitions in this space over the past couple of years, it is safe to say that Compass is finally going in the right direction. The food was outstanding and clever in its subtle pairings. Loved the duck ,the buffalo tenderloin, kobe beef carpaccio and the monkfish! and the 2 desserts we tried were interesting, exotic and well presented. Add another destination to the Upper West Side dining landscape...I'll be back!
Did you find this review helpful?
exceptional
dominique | Posted on 5/12/05
|
|
From the food and service to the decor and athmosphere my recent dining experience at Compass was out of this world!This restaurant has been through so many changes but it seems to have reinvented itself with the help of their new chef.He's refreshing ,innovative and sensational!Reccomended dishes: scallops, calf's liver,sweetbreads,monkfish and duck.
Did you find this review helpful?
Cold food and colder decor
UWSider | Posted on 11/22/04
|
|
The decor at Compass really misses the mark. It feels like it was designed by a mediocre industrial designer in 1982. Cavernous is how it was described in Zagats, but that doesn't capture how uninviting the space is. The food was brought cold to the table and the tuna was riddled with nerves. At over $450 for a party of four with a round of drinks and a nice bottle of wine, this was my most disappointing NYC meal yet.
Did you find this review helpful?
Compass needs to find its bearings ...
newyorkbrit | Posted on 6/29/04
|
|
Well, this place has undergone so many changes it's crazy! The midweek $33 prix fixe is a steal, I must say. Appetizers are FAR too small, but delicately done; main courses are wonderfully cooked, but perhaps too subtle. The sumptuous flavours of a wonderfully grilled trout is somewhat ruined by cous-cous and goats cheese, for example. The cheesecake is stunning, a quadruple-layered feast! The wine list is not a list, but a reference book - with some stunning choices that are not overly-priced. As for the decor ... what on earth is going on?
Did you find this review helpful?
Wonderful Food in Ugly Room
simulation | Posted on 12/30/03
|
|
I found out that no matter how good the food and service, if the room is depressing the whole experience is depressing as well. Our seats in the main dining room gave us a view of an ugly opaque wall housing a wine cabinet. If we craned our necks, we could see a back wall with a red mural. I felt like we were in purgatory. We ordered from the $33 Prix Fix menu. The short ribs were excellent as was the chicken ordered by my spouse. The apple strudel dessert was the best I ever had (although the waiter said his grandmother made it slightly better.) Service was excellent and even friendly. I hope they can do something to improve the appeal of the room. This could have been a memorable experience if the room hadn't weighed us down. I wonder how come the rest rooms had been designed so well considering the design of the main room.
Did you find this review helpful?
Advertising
Latest News
Latest News Near
Popular Restaurant Guides
-
Where to Eat
Adam Platt picks 2009’s top dining destinations,
including Dovetail, Momofuku Ko, and Corton. -
Best of New York Food
The best that the city’s restaurants have to offer:
paella, coffee, grilled cheese, ramen, and more. -
The Cheap List
We live in a city full of small cheap-eats miracles,
including $1 foods, Korean fried chicken, and burgers.
Todd Oldham Creates Art Nerds With New Book
Cruz Is Irresistible in Broken Embraces
Emily Blunt Trades Prada for Prudery
Sarah Ruhl's In the Next Room Is Pure Pleasure
Quality Design Mixed With Pop-Culture Wit 
Look Book: The Singer and Dancer 
The Best Neighborhoods for Real-Estate Deals 
Inconsistent Food, Impersonal Feel at SD26
Tantrums Erupt Over Wall Street Pay
What's Bill Bratton's Next Career Move?
The Political Fictions Project
Smith on the Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Trial 
