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One If by Land, Two If by Sea
17 Barrow St., New York, NY, 10014
nr. Seventh Ave. South
212-255-8649
| 7.6 | "Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
slow, old, boring
bnsracing from 10009 | Posted on 11/16/09
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1) Three hours for three courses is too long. 2) The clientele was mostly old people, or young people trying to act old. 3) The food was boring. Brief glimpses of inspiration, but largely flat. A girl seated adjacent to us actually fell asleep. I'm not even joking. By the end of our meal, we were struggling, too.
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Overall fantastic but what's the deal with the wine?
tampagal from 33647 | Posted on 9/27/09
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It doesn't get any more romantic than this restaurant. Service was very slow. The food was excellent...perfect. almost everything tasted great. they need to do a couple things like invest in heating the plates so that patrons' food doesn't get cold so quickly after serving, and buy better wine. Surprised with all the gaffes for Michelin restaurant but I'd still probably go back.
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A New Level of Dissapointment
stl from 10010 | Posted on 9/3/09
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Being a 12 yr Manhattan resident, I've grown to accept the highs and lows of eating out several times a week but my first visit to this so-called "classic" made me feel embarrassed that it exists in my town. 1) Waiter knowingly tried to switch my wine order from $65 pinot noir to $86 Etude. How do I know? His reply was "but this one is also dry". 2) Five of the six mains came out bone cold, after a 30-40 min wait after starters. This issue was politely raised and NOTHING was done to compensate 3) Service was slow and inattentive. Waiter chatted with older 2-top behind us for 5 mins at a pop several times. 4) Atmosphere is dated and almost gaudy - not rustic and classy as I expected. 5) All starter courses were tiny, e.g. buffalo a la plancha = Four 1/2" strips of buffalo jerky. We laughed outloud when it came out. For the prices they are charging, you have SO many better choices in town.
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Always great
foodielover from 10024 | Posted on 8/2/09
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It's romantic, the food is great, the service is attentive, and the ambiance is amazing. Not only is the restaurant beautiful, but it also boasts a ghost! What could be more fun? I love this place, and I like it more every time that I return. By the ways, the desserts here are fantastic!
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wedding day
nycpammie from 11746 | Posted on 7/13/09
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I was fortunate enough to live around the corner for 2 years and we ended every Friday and Saturday night at the bar enjoying the piano and atmosphere. We also dined there on many occasions and always had a memorable experience. What better place to have our wedding!!! It was a great time had by all of our guests! The staff went out of their way to make everyone feel special. Sam the chef did a superb job! We recommend all to consider this when planning any special occasion
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Great Food Terrible Wait
csugden from 11362 | Posted on 2/23/09
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I am a continuing patron of this wonderful restaurant and I must say that the food has never disappointed me. Some if not all of the waiters are excellent. They make you feel like royalty. However, the past few times I have dined there I have seen the waiting time increase from 15 to 40 minutes for a table for two. Given that you have to reserve far in advance to get an early dinner on the weekend, my 40 minute wait for a table did leave some distaste for the entire reservation process. Their acknowledgement of the wait was noted, along with a larger table and a gift certificate for next time. I guess they are due one more chance...
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Disappointing...
whiskerpudding from 12487 | Posted on 6/27/08
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Listed as one of the most romantic restaurants by Zagat's, we were initially very impressed by the ambiance and decor. Our server was delightful as well. The food, however, left much to be desired. Our meals were bland and unremarkable. To his credit, our waiter brought another dish for me, though I was not too impressed with that one either. We left without ordering dessert, and regret having made a bad choice for our romantic evening out. Afterwards, we stopped at Pinkberry and were happy to at least consume something that tasted good that night!
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A sham
voodoochild from 10011 | Posted on 9/24/07
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When dining in a romantic setting is the only recommendation. The menu isn't held back by minor glitches; it's flawed in concept and execution. And at $75 a piece, itÂ’s a major problem. The service is rushed, the waiters and runners appear at the table panting like dogs after a long chase. I was not informed of any special, received no description of the menu or the courses. This restaurant clearly lives on its image of romance and glitter. In a city where romantic dining has improved out of sight in recent years, One if by Land is a bleak spot on the culinary landscape.
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Beautiful for couples!
Amori from 10017 | Posted on 5/17/07
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I went there with my boyfriend and couldn't have enjoyed myself more! The prix fixe dinner features an enormous variety of appetizers, main courses and delicious desserts! And the wait staff is attentive without being stuck-up. Definitely an experience and now that they are starting Sunday Brunch, we will try that as well!
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More amazing than ever!
terithecook from 10465 | Posted on 1/8/07
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I had been to OIBL in the 80s, and for some reason didn't return for a long time. Now I wonder why I waited so long. The service, as always, is outstanding, the decor is romantic without being overly so, and the food is more delicious than most of the more expensive restauants in the city. The menu changes seasonally so you are never bored, and each season brings new delights -- but the best part was the desert. They are wonderful and inventive and there is something for everyone, even if you are not a desert person. I recommend it highly.
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