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All Reader Reviews of...

Freemans

End of Freeman Alley, New York, NY, 10002
nr. Rivington St.
212-420-0012

Avg. Rating

7
Food: 7
Service: 6
Décor: 8
"Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

55% would go back.

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fair

By msollie on 4/11/2011

  • Overall Rating: 7
  • Food: 7
  • Service: 6
  • Décor: 8
  • No, I would not go back!

This place has potential to be a great restaurant. I like the interior and the vibe, but it's simply not good enough. Cold draft from the door, smug wait staff, food is ok but not excellent.

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58 out of 115 people found this review helpful.

I loved it...

By r1ch13p on 3/1/2011

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

Being a Brit maybe I'm not as focussed on how good the service is. I ordered, they brought it and then they went away. Brilliant! The feel of the place was cool, the drinks were as I'd want them to be and the food was spot on. I had a great night and even the wait (we knew we couldn't book) so expected a degree of unpredictability was fine and gave us more time to enjoy the quirky ambience. I've already recommended the place to a couple of friends... Maybe its for tourists but I liked it and would go again next time I'm in NYC.

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65 out of 126 people found this review helpful.

A really terrible experience and waste of money

By thetaheal on 11/22/2010

  • Overall Rating: 1
  • Food: 1
  • Service: 1
  • Décor: 1
  • No, I would not go back!

I'd last dined here several years ago - which I had great memories of the place. This time was the worst dining experience I've ever had, and I felt I had to share it as others appear to be feeling the same. I'll start with the positive. If your attending a party, and you don't mind yelling to be heard, and you don't care about the food being edible, hot or cooked, and you don't mind being squeezed into a space at a table that puts you right in the face of your co-diners and, dealing with the attitude overload of the waiters, and being bumped into every 2 minutes then this is the perfect place for you. Oh - and the terrible cold draught on the back of your neck throughout. Amazingly this place was packed - unbelievable! Have people lost their minds? After waiting 45 minutes for our cold uncooked entree to arrive we paid the bill and left without eating it. Oh - and, as a by-the-way in 2010 who's hanging stuffed animal heads as decor?, And cleaning? Anyone heard of it. It's one thing for the environment to be shabby-chic, its another thing when its just plain dirty.

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73 out of 143 people found this review helpful.

Bordering on obnoxious

By Scandi on 11/16/2010

  • Overall Rating: 4
  • Food: 6
  • Service: 1
  • Décor: 5
  • No, I would not go back!

Freeman's disappointed me enough last week to make me write my first review. The food was ok, but the service was unprofessional, bordering on obnoxious. First the waiter removing my friend's cocktail without asking her whether she was done (there was about a third left). When she got a hold of him, he went into the back and retrieved her drink remains (we hope it was hers) instead of bringing a fresh one, as would be expected in a place a few price classes above Benny's Burritos. We shared the scallop entre as a starter. They were lukewarm at best. When we let the waiter (another one, a hipster with major attitude problems) know, he responded by snapping: "well, what do you want me to do about it?" Uhm, how about, I don't know, just fixing it? "You already ate a lot of it". I don't care! Finally he took them back to the kitchen, they were heated and came back warm-ish. The manager was more professional but very very chilly. All in all: it's a place where the staff makes you feel unwelcome. The entrees were, to be fair, good (lamb and some kind of fish with white beans) but nothing out of the ordinary for the price. Decor? The place is cute but cold with a nasty draft. Freemans doesn't deserve the crowds it gets. Never again.

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61 out of 124 people found this review helpful.

Go Somewhere Else

By Jules72 on 9/30/2010

  • Overall Rating: 2
  • Food: 3
  • Service: 1
  • Décor: 1
  • No, I would not go back!

Ate here the other night and was really not impressed. This has to be one of the most overrated restaurants in NYC (which is saying something). Food was ok; Service was bad; and the hipster vibe is just really annoying and forced. Just because you're down an alley does not make you a cool place - it just makes it hard to find. Can't say I'll be going back...ever.

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73 out of 147 people found this review helpful.

Perfect for cocktails!

By Mercy on 9/27/2010

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

Lovely time at Freemans...funny and attentive bartender, Frank. Great drinks, especially the Palomino. Will definitely go back!!

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74 out of 146 people found this review helpful.

Great service, fantastic decor, LOUSY FOOD

By Elmswood on 9/10/2010

  • Overall Rating: 5
  • Food: 1
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 9
  • No, I would not go back!

Ate at Freemans this week. The service was wonderful. The staff were very friendly and welcoming and very knowledgeable about the menu - well done. The atmosphere was also great - the decor is set up as an old hunting lodge with lots of stuffed animals, books and deer antlers, which looked great and gave it a very cozy and fun feel. The restaurant also has a great vibe and is very lively and bustling, so it is great for groups and birthdays. BUT, the food - shocking - really shocking. I had the Devils on Horseback for starter - absolutely gross. It was literally a piece of cold, greasy bacon wrapped around a teaspoon of fig jam. The sweet and sour combination is a well trusted concept, but the execution here was way off. For entree I had the Grilled Chicken with mustard-tarragon potato salad and homemade BBQ sauce - it was absolutely disgusting. I know that sounds harsh but it was - there is no other way to describe it. For dessert I had some banana and caramel concoction which tasted and looked like something you would expect to be served up in jail. I really wanted to like this restaurant because the service was so great and the atmosphere was really good fun but the food was just too bad. Had this been a diner I might of forgiven the many culinary acts of terrorism here but given that we paid $150 PER HEAD I just can't. I honestly don't understand how anyone could enjoy this meal unless you are so drunk that you are beyond the point of tasting anything. Really sorry.

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82 out of 143 people found this review helpful.

meh

By mayof1968 on 8/17/2010

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 1
  • Décor: 8
  • No, I would not go back!

the food itself was good, but the service was really terrible. i eat out at a lot of 'cool' places, and i know that most of the waitstaff is just trying to make money to fund what they really wanna do, but that doesn't mean the customers are, by default, bad people because they are eating as opposed to working. i don't think anyone expects anything unreasonable - but please don't make me wait 10 minutes before you get my drink order, and then another 10 to get the drink. it doesn't matter how good the food is, it won't make me come back. there are plenty of other places i can go...

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75 out of 153 people found this review helpful.

Well worth the effort to find it!

By christinawalker on 5/11/2010

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Four girls travelled from England & sought out this restaurant from a recommendation. Not easy to find but definately worth the effort. The place was packed so we chose to be seated at the bar & we drank in the atmosphere like school girls. at only 5'2" the bar stool did present me with a challenge but it gave my friends something else to laugh about. The Bar tender was an absolute star & made the evening complete, offering great advice on menu & drink choices. We sampled the French 75, Grey Fairy & Nolita Manhattan cocktails - the French 75 was delicious & I thoroughly recommend it. Me & Paula shared the Artichoke dip & it was plenty for 2 & the most delicious dish ever. Dawn & Sarah had the special of Shrimps & Grit which I can only assume was delicious too as they scoffed the lot! Me & Dawn then had Seared Filet Mignon which melted in the mouth & was scrumptious. Paula had oven roasted chicken which was a such a big portion that she couldn't finish it & Sarah had Grilled Scallops which again was delicious. We had a lovely bottle of red wine during the meal, unfortunately I can't remember the name of it but it was very smooth & mid price range. It was extremely busy & you should allow plenty of time for your visit. This place is not fast food but If you want the very best experience of food freshly prepared for you then it can't be rushed & is worth waiting for. We had a great time & will recommend it to all our friends that get the chance to visit NewYork too.

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75 out of 154 people found this review helpful.

Great brunch

By opdinnerout on 3/2/2010

  • Overall Rating: 7
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 6
  • Yes, I would go back!

Had a private brunch party here a few weeks ago. The reservation service was a little out of it and required follow up, but my event want very well (nice touches like a personalized menu etc). The first people were seated as they arrived--nice to not have to wait for the entire group! The service was attentive and deserved the 20% tip, but it would have been nice if they didn't keep walking through the private space to serve other patrons. The food was good as usual (esp the artichoke dip!) and well portioned. However the décor is starting to look faded and shabby--and not in the shabby chic boho way.

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83 out of 166 people found this review helpful.

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