BRASS — Restaurant in New York

My husband and I travel the world and consider ourselves foodies. While staying in NYC this week, we checked out Brass as it was participating in the summer NYC Restaurant Week and was near to the Morgan Library. It was a perfect choice!

The setting is lovely; truly a French brasserie vibe but filtered through a bit of an Art Nouveau lens. Our cozy booth was extremely comfortable and romantic, giving us a lovely view of the huge conservatory dome and the piano, as well as the bar. Despite all the glass above, the sound levels were excellent. We had no trouble conversing over our meal. Lovely touches included beautiful & functional fabric napkins (always a plus in my book), charming service plates, elegant thin-rimmed wineglasses, and fresh flowers.

From 7 pm onward, Brass provides superb live piano jazz every night they are open. I am afraid that I’ve forgotten the name of the player, but he had a vast repertoire. We were dining on the day that Ozzy Osborne passed away; I can think of very few performers who could play such gems as Crazy Train, Iron Man or The Wizard and make them 1) dinner jazz 2) not schmaltzy—yet he did it with panache.

Note: I’m only now getting to the food and service!

We both enjoyed our pre-dinner beverages. I chose the Funny Valentine (a yummy version of an old-fashioned), while my husband the imported beer. Our meal selections from the prix fixe menu were excellent. After our salad course (green salad for the hubby and tomato salad for myself). My salad consisted of heirloom tomatoes and Sungold cherry tomatoes (which I grow at home), and was seasoned with carefully selected leaves of fresh tarragon, chopped chives and fresh chervil with delicately sliced shallots. Delicate and light, it was perfect for a summer salad. For our main courses, I chose the steak frites and my husband selected the chicken with asparagus. Both were prepared and presented very well. The steak was very rare (the way I like it), so be sure to ask for it to be a bit more well done if that is your preference. The chicken had a perfectly crisped skin which our waiter explained was due to it being cooked slowly á rouleau with the skin laid over the top. This kept the chicken deliciously tender while the skin was deliciously crisp. Mike’s asparagus was dressed with wonderful concoction of tiny slivers of different types of olive capers, and teensy currants. I sounds odd but it was quite delicious. All of the sauces were excellent from the green salad’s green goddess, the chicken’s demi-glace, to my á poivre sauce. Dessert was a dense, creamy flan and a raspberry granita with tonka ice cream. Delicious!

Service was immaculate, from water top-ups to drinks, with each course being presented with no haste or rush, allowing us to truly enjoy the meal. The busboy even came by twice to sweep up crumbs.

I highly recommend this restaurant for a romantic dinner or even a lovely, relaxing dinner with friends. The venue is lovely, with both superior food and...

My husband and I were celebrating our second anniversary and, although we live in Manhattan, we hadn’t heard of BRASS until we saw it featured for Restaurant Week. From the moment we walked in, every interaction with the staff was warm, welcoming, and memorable. The maître d' and hostess immediately complimented our outfits and my jewelry, and they congratulated us on our anniversary. We were seated at what we believe to be the best table in the restaurant, and within moments, we were served complimentary champagne to kick off the celebration which was such a thoughtful touch.

While every staff member we encountered delivered exceptional service, our server, Matthew, was the standout of the evening. He walked us through the menu with genuine enthusiasm, patiently answered all our questions, and even offered complimentary items in honor of our anniversary. Matthew also checked with the host to ensure that we could stay a little longer at our table to enjoy the band. To make the night even more special, he asked the pianist to visit our table for a song request. Both the pianist and the trombonist were not only incredibly talented but also took the time to chat with us and truly connect.

The food was outstanding flavorful, fresh, and the perfect balance of traditional and inventive. Not a single detail was overlooked, from the attentive service to the music to the culinary experience.

We left feeling celebrated, appreciated, and already excited to return. Thank you to the entire team at BRASS for making our anniversary truly...

While the ambiance, cocktails, and desserts were enjoyable, the rest of my experience at this restaurant was appalling. The food was mediocre at best—nothing groundbreaking or worth remembering.

But what truly ruined the night was the atrocious service toward the end of our meal. We were having a birthday dinner for my friend and despite spending over $500, we were constantly interrupted by servers, practically rushing us out of our seats as if we were overstaying our welcome. For a party of four that had been there for less than two hours, this behavior was unacceptable and rude.

The absolute worst part came when I went to retrieve my coat after dinner. I stood waiting for help at the coat check/closet for a full five minutes without anyone in sight. When I tried to grab my own coat, which I clearly recognized, an employee rudely accused me of trying to take something that wasn’t mine. I was treated like a common thief, humiliated, and ordered to step outside, leaving my $1,000 coat behind. All this after spending exactly $530.35 on dinner!

To make matters worse, when the employee realized it was, in fact, my coat, there was no apology—just a cold dismissal as if nothing had happened. I left the restaurant feeling disrespected, humiliated, and absolutely furious. This was hands down the worst dining experience I’ve ever had, and I will never return. Avoid this place at all costs if you value being treated like a...