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All Reader Reviews of...
The Russian Tea Room
150 W. 57th St., New York, NY, 10019
nr. Seventh Ave.
212-333-2970
| 4.4 | "Not Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
Service Went from Slow to Not
ChuckPMi from 49221-8206 | Posted on 12/7/08
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I visited here with a tour group. The decor and food were excellent. Portion sizes were just right, large enough to satisfy, but not so large that you couldn't finish them or you were stuffed at the end of the third course. The menu was poorly written. "Salmon wrapped pastry" was what most of us would call "pastry wrapped salmon". Service was a little slow for the first two courses and then it stopped. We waited more that 30 minutes for desert and were there more than two hours total, at a busy time of the day. We did not get to see the glass bear because of another group on that floor.
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RT Feeds on Tourists...AVOID this Tourist Trap!!!
HaLa from 11216 | Posted on 8/28/08
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My sister wanted to see the glass bear at this NYC "institution," so her concierge made a reservation for us on the second floor with the glass bear. However, when we arrived we were told that there was a private party on the second floor. Later (as in one hour later at 9:00 p.m.), we were the ONLY people left in the entire restaurant. It was obvious that there was NO party on the second floor, so I asked if they would show us the glass bear. This time they said that the second floor was locked and that no one had the key and that we must have misunderstood earlier. No, actually they lied earlier and were now switching to another lie. Classy. As for the meal...mediocre at best, especially for a NYC "institution" with "institution" prices. From what I can tell, they are now solely reliant on tourists. The RT is taking reservations under false pretenses, lying to customers and serving mediocre meals. If you want a great night out at a NYC institutionÂ…look elsewhere and definitely do not expect to see the bear no matter what the reservationist promises.
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2 star tourist trap posing as a 4 star restaurant
show_me_the_food from 00000 | Posted on 8/28/08
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The Russian Tea Room loses a star every time it reopens. Great decor! bad service, bad food. We were welcomed by the creepy guys at the door who were staring my date up and down (aren't they supposed to provide information and just open the doors? instead of drooling at all the women in the street?) My dessert tasted like Sysco! The borscht was watered down and the sour cream was piled on too high. Limp spinach lobster salad with rancid dressing. My date went for the traditional chicken Kiev dry and burnt (tv dinner?) The tea is in a bag! and cost $10 if you want tea try The Roebling Tea Room. The maitre'd was very rude. The server never asked us about the food. I had to call off work the next day because I was sick from the lobster salad (bad dressing and maybe dirty lobster)
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We weren't wowed.
jenny88 from 44021 | Posted on 7/10/08
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It was a place I had wanted to go to for a long time. I loved the fact that it was a restaurant that had an interesting history. My husband and I went to NYC for my birthday, so we decided to try the RTR, but it didn't exactly completely fulfill our expectations. The decor was what was supposed to be the best part- but somehow it seemed fake, the red leather booths looked too plastic and the russian artwork on the walls seemed forced. Although, I have to say it was still unique. As for the food, it was adequate. For my main dish, I had the Chateaubriand--it just wasn't the best thing I had ever tasted. Though the caviar is something different--the good ones are not cheap. I am still glad that we went there, just to say that we did, but I'm not sure that we are ready to go back.
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GREAT EXPERIENCE for anyone !!!! Highly Recomend
NadiaNastaskin from 10019 | Posted on 3/20/08
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For some people, whose reviews I read this is horrible and very unpleasant experience. They criticize “The Russian Tea Room”, as it is the last restaurant on Earth they would consider going to again! I live in Manhattan for over 20 years and go out to eat to different restaurants all the time, including the other "famous" restaurants - Noby, Chipriani, Per Se, Babbo and so on, and everywhere, if you go often, you would find faults with service and food, but people go there for ambiance and other things they like about those places. In the city restaurants open and close every day, but the Russian Tea Room’s history goes back 80 years! I love Russian Tea Room and go there at least 1 or 2 times a month to try different items on the menu, introduced constantly by the Chef. The decor is terrific, like no other anywhere in the world and if you ask Metr-De to show you 3 floors above in most cases they would take you on the tour (unless there is a private event). You would never in you live see other place like it! Go and judge by yourself!!!
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Russian Tea Room Tragedy
chaber from 11375 | Posted on 2/4/08
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The Russian Tea Room is a tragedy. It is beautiful but the service is nonexistant and the food is horrible. In our case, the waiter "forgot" to tell us there was a "special" for the evening. I had to overhear it being told to other patrons after we had received our food. The staff was unapologetic. The food, meanwhile, was horrible, salmon in a tasteless wet pastry. The beet "reduction" offered three bits of beet in a half teaspoon of tasteless reddish liquid. No other vegetables. When I called to compain that we weren't told about the sea bass special I was told it was my responsibility to ask what the "market fish" was for the day. Meanwhile, they have a nonsensical menu setup in which they list a "market fish" on the "pretheater" menu but not one on the "dinner" menu. We were given a dinner menu without the "market fish" entry., so how could we ask even if it was our "responsibility"? The restaurant was mostly empty at 6 p.m. on a Sunday night. This is a horrible, expensive, "trap."
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Good food but ...
sbwpchen from 06902 | Posted on 12/28/07
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We went in the afternoon, took the bar menu and ordered a sandwich and a burger. Both of those were quite nicely cooked but the portion size did not justify the price tag ($25 each). The biggest disappointment was the service and the speed that the food was brought to the table ... Both are slow at best. It took a long time for the waiter to ask us what to order after we sat down and equally long after we asked for the check.
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Everyone Should Re-Experience the Russian Tea Room
jliscorpio from 10022 | Posted on 11/16/07
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I went to the Russian Tea Room last night with my boyfriend. Having eaten there years ago it was wonderful memory never forgotten however I had read recent reviews that now things were not so wonderful. He always wanted to eat here and last night a special occasion. I thought at least he will be able to experience the RTR even if not up to par. From the moment we arrived the wonderful experience began. It was Thursday the RTR already busy. We were greeted pleasantly at the door and taken promptly to our table. Our waiter pleasant, knowledgeable and attentive. We quickly received our drink orders and appetizer course of the Lobster Salad. It was marvelous, fresh and delicate, seasoned wonderfully. Next course was Kobe Beef Short Ribs with Truffle creamed spinach and potatoes. Each bite heavenly, portions were good size, certainly not a large one but likewise not small either, We also had the traditional Stroganoff which was bite after bite delicious. Desserts were wonderful and we opted for the Cheese Blintzes and the Chocolate Mi-Cuit both amazing. To wrap it up this was a marvelous experience that I would return to again and again.
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Good marketing Dept. Bad final Product
avnegra from 10212 | Posted on 10/10/07
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It looks like a very good restaurant, the pics shown here at NYMAG, and the suntuous entrance make us suppose so. But the real experience was less than poor. The salmon was 80% butter and the dessert (Chocolate souffle) except for a small ice cream ball, was over cooked and dry. Kitchen seems to be commanded by amateurs, service and decoration the only high(?) points and of course its location. But a total deception to what i have always heard about the famous Russian Tea Room.
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Different, but Equal to Original RTR
martin_chamois from West 50's | Posted on 3/22/07
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Most New Yorkers and most out-of-towners know of the iconic Russian Tea Room by its reputation. The dispute is what is the reputation that brings the memories. Fine continental food? A sumptuous dinning event? A boite squeezed next to Carnegie Hall? Russian cuisine? The new Russian Tea Room has tried to establish its own traditions. Yes the chef has left and yes some of the traditional favorites are missing. But the food is very good to great. The prices are not outrageous. The service is slowly improving. The environment remains fantasy Russian czarist décor. Enjoy and develop your own tradition and a new reputation.
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