The View at The Battery — Restaurant in New York

It was an absolute DREAM to work with Donna and her staff at Battery Gardens from start to finish. During the planning process she was extremely helpful with suggestions but also open to our ideas and came up with creative solutions to make them a reality. She truly went above and beyond - from little things like writing a specific brand of vodka into the contract for my mom or making a different salad for the groom to letting our guests into the cocktail hour practically an hour early due to the driving rain outside. We got married on New Year's Eve and the timeline she developed and executed was impeccable. I didn't feel rushed for a single second and everyone had a glass of champagne in hand for midnight without a scramble. Also the food was incredible. Passed items at cocktail hour were plentiful and delicious and the stations never ran empty. The most impressive part, however, was the fact that the entrees (filet mignon & sea bass) arrived at the table piping hot and were cooked to perfection. Many guests sought us out to happily report that their meat arrived at the temperature they ordered it - not easy to do with over 100 guests and frankly not something you typically get at weddings, galas, etc. Also the vegan/vegetarian dinner option is an actual delicious dinner and not just the sides from the meat dishes plated as dinner. There are ton of options to pick from regarding menu and the amount and quality of the food is incredible. The rooms are tasteful and understated so your linens, decor, theme can really shine through. There's also outdoor space and terraces that we took advantage of even in the winter. Plus the view of the water and Statue of Liberty can't be beat. All in all, would absolutely recommend Donna and Battery Gardens to anyone looking to get married in Manhattan....

This place was awful! We stopped here for a late lunch because it was a beautiful afternoon and wanted to enjoy being by the water. The hostess went to check for a table and returned saying that there would be a wait but wasn't sure for how long. After we pushed her a little bit more, she said that there was a table available but not shaded. We were okay with that and when we went outside, we saw an empty shaded table. When we asked if we could sit there, she said it wasn't clean. We had to ask if someone could clean it and then could we sit there. Really?!

That should have been our first clue to run. A server broke a glass while cleaning the table and didn't sweep it up until half way through our lunch. It took a very long time for a server to come take our order. We had to ask three different times for bread and butter. When the bread came, there were four pieces for our party of five. Um, okay. We asked for a fifth piece of bread but never got it. They are unable or unwilling to make any substitutions to the menu.

I have to say that the food is decent and the view is lovely, but the service is so bad that it's not worth eating here. As we were leaving, another couple was storming out, furious that they were being treated so rudely.

Diner beware. In a city with thousands of places to eat, don't waste your time or...

We chose The View for our daughter and son-in-law's wedding. I honestly cannot say enough good things about the experience. Kevin and the entire team took our experience very personally, paying attention to every detail, and it was absolutely fabulous. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, was attentive, pleasant, and eager to offer help. Nearly all our guests commented personally to us about how much they enjoyed the food, the drink, the company in attendance, and the overall vibe of the event. Apart from the fantastic people, the facility is top notch. From the ceremony in the courtyard to the cocktail hour on the lower level to the reception on the upper level, all spaces were very well-suited for our 170-person wedding. The mini lobster rolls fronted a roster of delicious hors d'oeuvres, the beef tenderloin was a personal favorite for the main course, and the wedding cake and lots of other options for dessert tasted terrific. My only regret is that I lost focus and missed out on the late night buffet. Such is life. You don't have to have a wedding here to appreciate what this place is about (though I certainly recommend The View if you are considering various venues for a function). Come for a drink, a bite to eat, and a spectacular view - you'll be very...