The Grand Feast — Restaurant in New York

FOOD: The menu was enticing and the food was absolutely incredible. The chef has some serious talent! Got the Caesar Salad to start and the roast chicken entree, both were phenomenal although there was a bit too much of the (freshly made, delicious) dressing on the salad. My dad got the duck which was as good as any he's ever had (and he's had a LOT). My mom is a little (ok, a lot) high maintenance, and ordered the Cioppino, but "without any shells in the sauce," which was a ridiculous request since proper Cioppino is always full of clam and mussel shells and shrimp tails. The chef somehow managed to accommodate this request, presenting the clams and mussels beautifully on the side and allowing my mom to remove them from their shells without sticking her fingers in the sauce (which would've been natural and no big deal for anyone in the world except for my mom). The taste of the Cioppino was to die for - probably the best thing we ordered although everything was incredible. The portions for EVERY dish were robust and perfect, and the prices were extremely reasonable. Had a gourmet dinner (only one app, three entrees, one dessert, and two drinks total) for three people for $120 after tax and tip!

SERVICE: Super friendly, attentive, and chatty server, although needs a bit more training on proper table service to match the quality of the food. For instance, forgot to bring a spoon for my mom's Cioppino, and then handed it to her directly, hand-to-hand, without any napkin or sanitary barrier between. Also, he's apparently been there a few months already and wasn't so knowledgeable about the menu.

ATMOSPHERE: I went with my parents (who are in their late-70's) who like to eat on the early side, so we were literally the only diners in the restaurant at 5:30p. Felt a bit awkward and a little depressing, even though the decor is crisp and clean (apart from plastic flowers on the tables, which I thought was a little cheesy - a simple votive candle would be better in my opinion). The mid-block, unremarkable location, the vacuous interior with diner-like tables/chairs, and the outside scaffolding are unfortunate.

CONCLUSION: The food is absolutely worth the trip! I hope this place survives, and would gladly go back any...

I usually start out my reviews with giving a little bit a flavor on the service, ambience, and parking. At the grand fees, two of these were very good., and the third well let’s just say most of New York City must face the same thing.

I'm not from New York, so parking is a little intimidating, so I Uber there and back . But it certainly was worth a trip.. the service was so friendly and kind, my water glass always was filled, food came and left the table without me noticing and everything else you think of with excellent service.

Another decor, that’s a different story. There were some lights, green lights, actually, around the bar. And overall, it was a little mix, but you come for the food anyway.. it’s certainly a good date night spot.

Here's my take on the food

Fried calamari - perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked. Truffle fries - cooked perfectly but lacked flavor. Brussel sprouts - really well done, a very delicious side. Penne ala Bodka - very simple, but to perfection, really delicious. Green pea truffle risotto - I gotta tell you my first bite, I wasn't sure what I was eating, because the taste of the pee was so heavy. But when I figured out what I was eating, I realize this was a very special dish, that had not gotten anywhere else in the world.. Beef Bourguignon - served over mashed potatoes, this was a very rich and satisfying dish. I would order it again 10 times.. Crispy skinned fried chicken - now this one threw me because the chicken was fried, but the skin was like you would see on a crispy duck dish that you get at your favorite Thai restaurant. Except this wasn't a Thai restaurant, it was the grand feast, and the chef told me he was actually going for that same flavor and texture that you get from crispy duck, and he succeeded.. It was a real surprise, and it was a delicious.

The owners are from the Dominican Republic, and you can see some of the flavors come from those roots. But the food was so good and a grand...

Our family chose Grand Feast to celebrate five-family birthdays, and it turned out to be the best decision. We’d heard the food was exceptional — some even said the best on the Upper West Side — and it absolutely lived up to the reputation.

I’ll admit I was a little skeptical when we first walked in, since the restaurant itself is quite simple. But the manager was very accommodating and let us bring in our own tablecloth and decorations, which made the celebration feel extra personal. His attentiveness, along with the excellent service throughout the evening, set just the right tone.

And then came the food, which was nothing short of outstanding – its reputation is well deserved.

Every single dish was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. Our group ordered a wide variety of items, and each one was cooked to perfection. The DUCK is their signature dish, was a highlight: tender with just the right amount of crispness, paired with an orange sauce that was not too sweet.

I ordered the SHELLFISH & SHRIMP over FETTUCCINE, and it was incredible — the broth was so delicious I wished I had asked for a spoon to savor every last drop. The RISOTTO was creamy and comforting, the peas adding a nice freshness. The salmon and steak were also excellent, both cooked exactly as ordered. Honestly, it’s impressive how such a small kitchen can deliver dishes of this caliber.

We took advantage of their very fair wine prices and ordered full bottles. While the selection is small, it has enough choices to make anyone happy, and we felt we were getting great value.

Grand Feast isn’t fancy, but the food makes up for the decor. The service makes you feel cared for, and the whole experience feels like a hidden gem on the Upper West Side. We left full, happy, and talking about when we’ll come back and what we'll...