Monterey — Restaurant in New York

What a horrendous experience from top to bottom. The restaurant, unfortunately, is trying so hard to be something they are not. I will outline my most recent experience below.

They recently opened and are still working out the kinks, understandable. However, for the prices being charged, there are certain expectations that need to be achieved regardless.

After our party was seated, we waited about 20 minutes for a server to come over. Our server was nice enough but you could tell immediately he did not have much, if any, experience as a waiter (this seemed to be a common theme amongst the staff). Drinks were ordered and aside from the one person who ordered a glass of wine, each drink arrived incorrectly.

When it came time to order food, we asked for suggestions. When asked how the Tile Fish was, the response from the waiter was "It's Fish, you know, Fish". When asked how the Chicken was, the waiter responded, "It's 8oz". In both scenarios, there seemed to be no understanding of the menu. These are small details, but again, at this price point, you need a knowledgeable wait staff. Furthermore, as we progressed with ordering, the entrees were described incorrectly and arrived differently than expected.

For appetizers, the tuna tartar was incredibly fishy, and the artichoke was non existent. I will say the Caesar salad dressing was enjoyable.

When our entrees arrived, the chicken was small and plain, with no taste. You would find a more moist, enjoyable 1/4 chicken at a Boston Market. The prime rib arrived cold, with no seasoning, in what could best be described as a chafing dish that one would use to serve eggs and hashbrowns at a Hotel continental breakfast.*

*There are two "signature" items on the menu: The Martini Bar Car and the Prime Rib served table side. You must note however, that the restaurant seating is half downstairs and half upstairs. Due to this fact, anyone sitting upstairs cannot have these two items table side. How you can have a $69 table side Prime Rib or a "Build Your Own Martini" table side but not offer it to half of the restaurant is kind of wild. As we were sitting upstairs, we watched our pre-cooked Prime Rib being cut from the Mezzanine Seats. Also note, the Prime Rib is basically cut from a carving station, so being asked "How do you want it cooked" is kind of a moot point, no?

Our side dishes lacked flavor and/or seasoning and again, arrived cold.

Our party spoke to a manager to explain all the aforementioned points above (and then some). Again, seeming inexperienced, said Manager or Assistant Manager (we're not quite sure who was who as there were many "Managers" frantically running around) did not seem capable to handle a situation with a disappointed guest.

This is very rare but all the negative reviews thusfar are consistent and spot on. You simply cannot have this type of service and this quality of food at this price...

I am writing this review with a sense of regret and disappointment. This is the second consecutive year I have attempted to contact this restaurant, part of the esteemed Chef Driven family of restaurants, for booking a private Holiday Dinner event on behalf of my company. Much to my dismay, beyond the automated message confirming receipt of my inquiry, there has been no follow-up email or call (although their call to action on their website is "Host Your Next Event With US"!)

The Chef Driven family of restaurants are known for their hospitality, warm welcome, and personalized attention - qualities I have had the privilege of experiencing in several of their establishments. We chose this particular restaurant due to its convenient location in midtown Manhattan and the promise of a bold American dinner experience within a lavish art deco interior, as depicted on their website.

Over a week has now passed since I sent my inquiry request on Monday, September 18th, and I am yet to hear from them. When I decided to call today, I was asked to resend an email to the private event manager. To be honest, I found this response quite disappointing and unprofessional. Rather than taking my contact information and ensuring the private event manager followed up on my inquiry, I was asked to repeat the process that had already failed to elicit a response.

While having an attractive space, a promising menu, and an appealing website are important aspects of a successful restaurant, the fundamental cornerstone of this industry is hospitality. Based on my experience, it appears that Monterey American Brasserie, despite being part of a renowned group, still has a long way to go in terms of providing the level of hospitality that begins with promptly responding to potential...

I am a local to NYC and I promise you do not want to miss Monterey. My husband and I do not go out to eat very often in the city because I enjoy cooking at home and the service+food often does not match the price. We finally found a restaurant that is 100% worth it and has the NYC magic! I still cannot get over the service we received. Not to mention, the atmosphere is great because of the modern yet retro ambiance - I've really never seen anything like it and would love to know who designed it. Their staff will greet you graciously and attend so closely throughout the night! Usually, when my husband and I visit restaurants in NYC, we have to get our server's attention just for more water several times throughout the night. But here, it was like any time our glasses were only 75% full, a server was topping it back off again. We really felt like the servers cared about making us have the best possible experience, as well (not like they had to be there or we were bothering them by asking for things). I wish I knew the name of everyone assisting us (they had so many hands on deck to take care of us), so that I could highlight the great job they do. The menu is so unique - don't miss the frog legs... just trust me on that one! We ordered bread, appetizers, a main course, and dessert and the staff brought everything out with perfect timing. You also MUST order the Banana Foster dessert. It is prepared before you with rum and a huge flame... its so fun, a true show and experience! Visiting Monterey brought back the feeling that I am truly in New York City (coming from a local..) and the magic still exists here. I experienced such a light level of hospitality and service that is unfortunately rare these days even in a city like NYC. More restaurants should operate...