The Alderman — Restaurant in New York

Update June 2025: Even Better the Second Time Around– A True Home Away from Home at The Alderman!!

After staying at the Motto Hotel for six days and dining at The Alderman seven times during our stay including breakfast, lunch, and dinner I can confidently say this place is far more than just a hotel restaurant. It became a comforting, familiar space for us, especially for my child who has special needs.

Each visit was met with kindness, consistency, and a genuine sense of care. As any parent of a child on the autism spectrum knows, small accommodations like serving items separately or honoring a preference for no sauce mixing can make a big difference. The team at The Alderman not only accommodated these requests without hesitation, they did so with patience, warmth, and understanding. Even more meaningfully, they carried on thoughtful conversations with my child, making her feel seen and included.

Shannon, the night shift manager, sets the tone with her calming presence and authentic hospitality. She made every evening feel like we were returning home.

Liz, the morning manager, is wonderfully upbeat and attentive, making sure our day started off right with seamless service and a warm welcome.

Le'Trice, our regular morning server, was a ray of sunshine, always cheerful, accommodating, and incredibly kind to my daughter.

Luz, who had already impressed us on a previous visit, continued to shine with her graceful service and caring attention to detail.

This level of consistency and care over multiple visits speaks volumes. The food was of course just as excellent as before, but what made this trip unforgettable was the way we were treated, not like customers but like family.

For breakfast I recommend the Avocado Toast the bread was so fresh and perfectly toasted. The latte coffee was out of this world—I wish I knew their secret because it was so delicious that I now crave it every morning. For dinner the Salmon and Flat Iron Steak were delicious, and the Healthy Cobb wow! So flavorful, satisfying, and beautifully presented.

Thank you to the entire team at The Alderman for creating a safe, welcoming space where everyone, including those with special needs, can feel comfortable and cared for. We can't wait to return.

A Hidden NYC Gem – The Alderman at the Motto Hotel!!!

Don’t let the fact that The Alderman is tucked inside the Motto by Hilton make you hesitate—this restaurant is warm, inviting, and absolutely worth discovering whether you’re a hotel guest or just passing through the neighborhood. From the beautifully designed space to the outstanding service and generous portions, everything here is done with care and attention.

The menu is creative and high quality, and fairly priced, especially by NYC standards. The theater menu in particular is a standout—delicious, satisfying, and perfectly portioned for a pre-show meal without feeling rushed or overpriced. It’s a rare find to get this level of flavor and presentation at such reasonable prices.

What truly made our experience memorable were the people. Shannon, the manager, is exceptional—gracious, attentive, and genuinely invested in making sure guests feel welcome and well taken care of. Luz also went above and beyond to make our evening seamless and enjoyable. Their teamwork and attention to detail truly made a difference. The service felt effortless yet highly personalized, which is so rare and refreshing in a busy city setting.

If you’re looking for excellent food, generous portions, and outstanding service in a stylish yet approachable setting, The Alderman should be at the top of your list. It’s a true hidden gem in the heart...

As I write this review of Alderman, I realize that I can’t just write about the food, but I have to write about the whole experience. Because that’s what Alderman is, it’s an experience. From the food and drinks, to the service, to the ambiance, this place is a hidden gem in Time Square. I’ll start with the food and drinks. I began the night at the bar with an Espresso Martini, and it was so good that I stuck with it all night. My friends got other drinks and everyone was happy with what they had. During dinner, two of my friends had wine, which the server was eager to suggest, and they were very happy with the choice. To begin our meal we had the bread basket. This is homemade bread and homemade butter, and both were delicious. There was also oil to dip the bread in, which gave all of us a choice of what we would enjoy most. We also shared the Crispy Mushrooms and Fried Sunchokes. Both were really tasty. The Sunchokes themselves literally made the trip worthwhile. We shared main courses and they were all really, really good. The Duck and the Trout were so yummy, and perfectly cooked. We also shared dessert, a pudding and a pastry, and they were an excellent ending to a wonderful meal. Now, for the service, I could not have asked for anything more. The staff was attentive and friendly. They really made us feel like they were happy we were there, and that they were happy to serve us. Finally, the ambiance. I really enjoyed the quiet, understated elegance of the restaurant. I felt comfortable while feeling like I was in a high end establishment. It was perfect. I had a great time at Alderman, from start to finish, therefore I wholeheartedly recommend...

I was unfortunately disappointed by my overall experience. While the service I received upon arrival, before my guest joined me, was attentive and warm, the rest of the visit left much to be desired. After placing our order, we were abruptly informed that we had to relocate from the dining room to the bar area due to a scheduled photo shoot. It was disorienting and disappointing to be asked to move, especially given that our reservation was at 1:00 p.m. and the shoot wasn’t scheduled until 2:30 p.m. If the dining room was soon to be unavailable, we should not have been seated there in the first place—or at the very least, we should have been informed upfront so we could make an informed decision.

We were told we’d receive a round of drinks to make up for the inconvenience, but instead, after our meal had essentially concluded, we were brought two complimentary sides we hadn’t ordered—odd timing and an even odder substitute. Only a few minutes later after receiving said sides, we were informed that we would need to vacate again, this time from the bar, as the photo shoot was now moving there. We were told our entire meal would be comped, which was appreciated, but by then, the experience had already been thoroughly disrupted.

This was a special reservation, made with a note that I was hosting a guest from out of town, which makes the mishandling of our visit, a first-time for us both, all the more disappointing. Though the food was genuinely excellent, the lack of communication and poor planning on the service side left a sour impression. Unfortunately, that’s enough to give me pause...