The Standard Grill — Restaurant in New York

It's not just an eatery - it's an institution. If you are an out-of-towner asking: Where do the chic New Yorkers eat their staples?

Places like Standard Grill, located at the storied The Standard Hotel West

[emphasis on West - they do have a sister joint on the Lower East Side of Manhattan where my children dine, even though they grew up dining in the one I am so painstakingly penning a review for after decades of waiting]

Recently, I went for lunch, and the restaurant was packed:

Indicating that I am the sole diner in my group to the outstanding hostess, I said: "I am hungry and tired."

She asked for my phone number, and I dutifully gave it to her.

She looked up." this restaurant will always have a table for you, Mister Doha."

Stepping away from her rostrum, coming around, and almost brushing me past, she paused by the door that leads to the outdoor seating and told me:

"But you must wait a few minutes because I have to set it up for you."

She then returned to her desk of extraordinary prowess.

About five minutes later, addressing a snake of hungry and tired New Yorkers, she said: "excuse me, I will be back."

She once again brushed past me and did not return for another 10 minutes or so.

Then she came back and unnecessarily loudly announced to the hungry-and-tired-may-I-add-angry New Yorkers:

"Your table is ready for you, sir."

Sir?

Oh, how much I love these things - these New York City things?

But, The Standard has an extraordinary place in my heart, and an outstanding woman at the Standard Grill delivered on my decades of patronizing Standards around the world.

Outside on Washington Street, right across from Samsung's flagship retail, steps from Diane Von Furstenberg's flagship retail, and a stone's throw away from her husband's littoral masterpiece, the Little Island, stood a small round table and only one Standard chair with a complimentary glass of freshly squeezed Orange Juice.

This is The Standard - quintessentially New York.

I was on my Little Island, awaiting my Caesar Salad, lightly dressed with roasted...

So my husband and I are all about staycations and where better than the Standard to stay on a couple of cold winter nights.

The first night that we stayed over we figured we'd do a nice dinner at The Standard Grill so we can lounge around the hotel. We called down to make reservations and they were more than happy to accommodate us on pretty short notice.

We entered the restaurant -- I absolutely loved the vibe and dress code the waiters have. It was very European and appealing. We were quickly seated and a lovely and friendly waiter was more than happy to recommend the best dishes to order.

I know I'm jumping straight to dessert but my absolute favourite dish was the chocolate hazelnut mousse. That pie took me straight to heaven. I saw paradise and I didn't want it to end. Alright, alright, back to the real food. The salmon was phenomenal, grilled to perfection with an amazing sauce. I've definitely had better crostinis but it wasn't bad. All other dishes were OK.

The next morning we decided to come back for breakfast. As it was morning, we had a different waiter, who wasn't so attentive and it was difficult to enjoy what should have been a really pleasant morning.

We ordered coffees, french toast, bagels etc. I ordered my coffee with sugar --- in that case I'd need a spoon to mix the coffee. It was not provided when he initially brought the coffee to the table. So I waited, and waited, and waited. Literally 10 minutes and he failed to come back to my table, so I got up and walked to the kitchen and asked them for a spoon. They were of course happy to help. The manager, standing nearby, overheard my request and was absolutely mortified. Moments later he came to my table and offered unlimited coffee on the house for my inconvenience. But the setback had already set the mood for breakfast although I definitely tried to enjoy as best as I could.

The breakfast dishes were pretty ordinary and decent.

I love The Standard and will be back with out a doubt. Definitely looking forward to more dinners at The...

First time out from Florida. Spent well over $200 on a meal, and it was a horrible experience. The waiter was basically dory from finding Nemo. Started when I heard another family ask if service was usually that bad. So I was reluctant. Then later, we were told we get bread. Cool. 25 min pass, no bread, I ask for extra butter to come out with the. Read, then he goes oh! You didn't get any? So that happened. No big deal. Moving forward. I asked for horseradish to come with the $80 steak (no sides just a steak), that never came. Food comes out, I ask for hot sauce. We joke that he will forget...he did. We ask for more butter, also forgot. I'm the meantime he takes bread to the other table, they tell him "you already gave us bread" he says "oh I did?" Followed by the drink orders that he was suppose to put in. He says "did you already get your drinks? Oh I must have forgot to put them in" so all this happens. Then it comes time for the bill. We ask for it. 15-18 min pass. He comes back around. At this point we are pressed for time, say hey can you just run our card? I kid you not he looks at us and goes "oh your done eating? You need your bill" I'm like bro yea. We literally asked you for it 15 min ago. He totally forgot. We give him our card. 5 min pass. Then he comes back with someone else's card and says "is this your card?"uh no... is this real life?

Yea... it was bad. Not sure the waiters name. But seemed British ish, tattoos. Cool guy. Horrible waiter. Having a bad day happens but this was the worse.

Oh and we started in the patio area before dinner, there we're bugs in our water... so that was a good start.

$250 in on some mediocre meal. The steak was nothing incredible. The burger was ok. I've had better meals and service at a Texas Roadhouse.

Not happy at all. I wish I could get my money back and go...