Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant

Terrible service and SLOW!

Nicole673 from 10010 | Posted on 9/13/09

Overall Rating: 5 (Mixed Reviews)

Would you go back?	No
Would you take a date?	No
Would you take kids?	No
Would you go on business?	No
Would you go on a special occasion?	No

Food:	8
Service:	2
Décor:	7
Value:	3

Took 4 out of town guests here last night. Arrived at 7:15 and by 8pm we didn't even have our appetizers. Our waiter was so rude. He would walk away while we were trying to order and go attend to another table. After we finally got our apps, he came back with a LONG printed listed of all the things they were out of. It was about half their menu (no lobsters, broiled scallops, grouper, sole, trout, bass, etc.). The waiter then said "well you know we are closed tomorrow so it is the end of our week". I'm sorry but isn't this Saturday night in Manhattan? We spoke to a manager mid-meal to try and sort out the slow service and how they mixed up about everything we ordered. Although he talked to us, nothing was offered in the way compensation. Also, they tacked on an automatic grat of 18% and there were only 5 of us. The only good thing I can say is my food tasted good, but I thought it was expensive for what I got.

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1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Worst experience in New York

HalNic from 30736 | Posted on 9/11/09

Overall Rating: 2 (Not Recommended)

Would you go back?	No
Would you take a date?	No
Would you take kids?	No
Would you go on business?	No
Would you go on a special occasion?	No

Food:	3
Service:	2
Décor:	7
Value:	2

Canteen quality, horrible service, nonsense prices. Waste of money and time!

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2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Had a really good dining experience

questered from 52333 | Posted on 6/23/09

Overall Rating: 8 (Recommended)

Would you go back?	Yes
Would you take a date?	Yes
Would you take kids?	Yes
Would you go on business?	Yes
Would you go on a special occasion?	Yes

Food:	9
Service:	9
Décor:	9
Value:	9

The oyster house service was very good the day we attended (6-9-09). I had soft shell & my wife had salmon. She says it was the best salmon she has had. Soft shell was good too.

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2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Horrible service in my life

myskylab from 92121 | Posted on 5/11/09

Overall Rating: 2 (Not Recommended)

Would you go back?	No
Would you take a date?	No
Would you take kids?	No
Would you go on business?	No
Would you go on a special occasion?	No

Food:	6
Service:	1
Décor:	5
Value:	1

I would say that visiting this oyster bar was one of the most horrible expericence in my life. I read the other reviews, and apparently, My friends and I are not the only people who are appalled by their horrible service. After asking two or three questions on their menu, my friend told our server that we need more time to decide the order, and the server literally told my friend 'Don't make her to come to the table twice to get your order because she is busy person'. After that, the service got worse and went to the worst-Snaching our plate that we are still eating, and the server kept insisting she did nothing wrong....horrible, horrible! Food? It was not bad but not good either. Would I go back to this restaurant? Hell, NO. Why would I? There are so many good restaurants out there that have awesome food and are friendly at the same time, so why would I waste my money and time here?

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3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

2nd out of 3 Worst NY dining experiences

lilyetscooter from 10009 | Posted on 12/30/08

Overall Rating: 1 (Not Recommended)

Would you go back?	No
Would you take a date?	(NA)
Would you take kids?	(NA)
Would you go on business?	(NA)
Would you go on a special occasion?	(NA)

Food:	1
Service:	1
Décor:	8
Value:	5

I've been going to the Oyster Bar for 10+ years and have never had an experience so bad or humiliating as the one I had today at lunch. After waiting 45 minutes for our food, we got 1 of the 2 dozen oysters we ordered and were missing the panroast. The oysters we did get were an incorrect order and looked as if they had been sitting out open for quite a while. When I complained I was met with a resounding "Aaawwww" from the entire bar staff. Upon complaining to the management they nitpicked our check and were inept at dealing with the problem. Sadly I feel as though this is a NY Classic in name only anymore and in all my years of eating in NY have never had an entire waitstaff humiliate me in such a way. Out of three horrible dining experiences in NY ever this ranks as #2 and I will not go back.

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8 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

Great Experience

ChuckPMi from 49221-8206 | Posted on 12/7/08

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)

Would you go back?	Yes
Would you take a date?	Yes
Would you take kids?	No
Would you go on business?	Yes
Would you go on a special occasion?	Yes

Food:	10
Service:	10
Décor:	10
Value:	8

The food was excellent, the decor was magnificent, and the service was prompt and cordial for some Michiganders who had never been there before. Two of us had raw oysters. They were as good as any of us has had and there were no ill effects afterwards.

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4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Worst experience ever

Coachian from 4568 | Posted on 11/19/08

Overall Rating: 1 (Not Recommended)

Would you go back?	No
Would you take a date?	No
Would you take kids?	No
Would you go on business?	No
Would you go on a special occasion?	No

Food:	3
Service:	1
Décor:	8
Value:	1

I was visiting New York and decided to dine at the oyster bar for my 50th birthday, what a terrible mistake. The service was appalling the waiter was a miserable jerk, the food was less than second rate and they gave my wife the wrong dish. They were unable to get it right so I complained and asked for the bill. I was given no less than three separate bills before they could get that right and was overcharged on each of them. I refused to tip the pathetic waiter and was made to feel like I was breaking the law. Without any doubt the VERY WORST restaurant experience I have had anywhere in the world. In one word Atrocious, DO NOT GO THERE!

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4 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Worst experience ever

Coachian from 4568 | Posted on 11/19/08

Overall Rating: 1 (Not Recommended)

Would you go back?	No
Would you take a date?	No
Would you take kids?	No
Would you go on business?	No
Would you go on a special occasion?	No

Food:	3
Service:	1
Décor:	8
Value:	1

I was visiting New York and decided to dine at the oyster bar for my 50th birthday, what a terrible mistake. The service was appalling the waiter was a miserable jerk, the food was less than second rate and they gave my wife the wrong dish. They were unable to get it right so I complained and asked for the bill. I was given no less than three separate bills before they could get that right and was overcharged on each of them. I refused to tip the pathetic waiter and was made to feel like I was breaking the law. Without any doubt the VERY WORST restaurant experience I have had anywhere in the world. In one word Atrocious, DO NOT GO THERE!

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3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Not Good

nyj85 from 10020 | Posted on 7/19/08

Overall Rating: 1 (Not Recommended)

Would you go back?	No
Would you take a date?	No
Would you take kids?	No
Would you go on business?	No
Would you go on a special occasion?	No

Food:	1
Service:	5
Décor:	6
Value:	1

A friend wanted to go here, so I went along. I liked the look of the space...but that was about it. The bread was rubbery, which is never a good sign. The main course was worse. I had the swordfish - absolutely tasteless. My friends had the lobster roll, also bland. It might be worth it to sit in the front and grab a drink, but I would not recommend eating here.

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4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

DO NOT EAT RAW OYSTERS HERE -YOU WILL GET SICK!

dragonboy from 10150 | Posted on 4/14/08

Overall Rating: 1 (Not Recommended)

Would you go back?	No
Would you take a date?	No
Would you take kids?	No
Would you go on business?	No
Would you go on a special occasion?	No

Food:	1
Service:	1
Décor:	1
Value:	1

I had the worst experience here last week, had a half dozen raw oysters for lunch, 2 hours later it felt like someone had punched me in the stomach, I then spent the next 24 hours on the toilet, with my insides being completely turned to liquid. The next day, I went to tell the management what happened, gave them my contact information, and still no response. I cannot believe they stick their head in the sand and do nothing when their customers are getting terribly ill. Do not eat here, go elsewhere, or enjoy spending 24 hours on the toilet like I did. You have been warned.

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11 out of 18 people found this review helpful.