Garden Cafe

we ordered soup -12$ and monkfish - which was bland and under cooked 27$. . they have a nerve to charge that much. also, there are no wines for under 32$. Pros: none Cons: overpriced, more

Lovely spot with excellent food and nice staff. Very fresh food and a beautiful outdoor dining area. The front part of the restaurant can get a bit bar-ish but back room is ideal more

My husband and I went here to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary. It is a very small, but not tight, space with sparce decorations and a very mature/quiet vibe. The kitchen is behind a curtain in the back so you don't see it and the dining room is bi-level, with a couple of steps leading up to the tables for two. Our waitress was very nice and even offered to make us some fresh iced tea since we weren't drinking wine and were both craving it. (It was $4.50 for iced tea, but considering it was freshly made and very tasty we weren't complaining.) The meal was good and we both cleaned our plates. The menu only offers 4 choices of apps and 4 entrees, which I thought was going to turn my husband off. We both like to have choices, but since we found something we wanted off the minimal menu, we were happy. He had the tuna tartare appetizer and I had the mixed greens salad with dates. Delicious! I ended up with the monkfish over paella and he ordered the steak. The combination of ingredients was very nice and we enjoyed it a lot. The portions are not huge, so we had room for dessert which we opted to have elsewhere. Our bill, for two iced teas, two appetizers, to entrees and tip was just over $100. Not bad at all and we would definitely consider going back. I'm assuming the menu changes frequently, so I'd be interested in trying some of their other dishes. more

The dining experience here is truly exceptional, with a distinctively talented chef. The quality of ingredients and preparation are outstanding, with innovative presentations introduced in a menu that responds to the seasons and the availability of high-quality products. One can easily be satisfied dining here on a regular basis with no danger of ever being disappointed. Attentive and friendly service, in a setting that is casual and intimate, and yet refined, all serve to complement one's enjoyment of the dining experience. It has the feeling of personal attention, refinement, and elegance that is rarely attained elsewhere, and in a welcoming and comfortable setting. Pros: Quiet, relaxed and elegant setting and service; unsurpassed quality in ingredients and preparation. more

We came here for dinner, with a reservation. A reservation well in advance is a must, as the place is very small. The food is very tasty, although expensive, particulalry given the small portions. The service is warm. At half the price, this place would have been an incredible find. As is, it is still very pleasant and I will likely come back. more

I think that this tiny place definitely deserves all the praise one can think of. I was told that they have been at the same location for 20 years with the same chef and waitress (husband & wife). The food is delicious and the wine list is well-founded. Everything is prepared daily and served as if you're a guest at their home rather than a customer who's there to eat, pay and go. I wish there were more places like this on earth... more

This tiny place consistently prepares imaginative, wholesome and delicious meals. And they've been doing it for years. For three hours, 6 nights a week, you're likely to get a perfectly grilled sea bass, tender lamb or a you-couldn't-ask-for-a-better steak. The wine list is small, but should have something to please any diner. The desserts are never flawed. The woman serving, who's also one of the owners (the other owner is the sole chef), is understated, gracious and very knowledgeable. These people love what they do and it clearly shows. One of the top fine dining places in NYC.. Pros: Food, service more

With a 28 food rating from Zagat's we came to Garden Cafe with high expectations. The food was very good. A 28? Nah, more like a 24, but very respectable, especially for the prices. The wine list is limited but very good. The atmosphere is just ok. It's a small place and cozy. It appears that it hasn't yet been discovered by the foodies quite yet. The service was average. I don't mean to damn Garden Cafe with faint praise. It's worth a try. I'll probably go back. Pros: very good food, nice wine list, not crowded more