Walter's — Restaurant in New York

The food is great and well priced. Everything else was that of a restaurant too busy to provide a good experience. It’s in a great location and has a nice aesthetic, so Fort Greeners flock to it like it’s a casual, mindfully-frilled eatery. “A local gem!” Some might say… but the reality is “A local gem being completely run over by an endless stream of customers and managed quite poorly.” We went on a rainy day in early spring, not nice out by any means but not freezing. The inside of Walter’s was even colder than it was outside and very cramped. We didn’t have a reservation (our bad, it was Sunday brunch no less) but didn’t mind the “30 minute wait” until it turned into an hour and a half. Their walk-ins system was very strange, they waited for a specific table to become available instead of seating us at the next available option. The table we were waiting on was a group of people camped out for 3 hours, but the host wouldn’t ask them to kindly release the table. So I thought, “ok, they don’t rush out their customers, good to know in the future, I’ll bring my laptop.” But once we were finally seated, 45 minutes later we were asked to wrap up because a reservation would be coming in. I understand prioritizing reservations, but we weren’t told about a time limit before being seated after waiting for so long. If they’re spacing out reservations, usually walk-ins can be accommodated immediately if they’re told to rush a bit— which we’d have been more than happy to do. The host then kept interrupting us to say “actually no rush, we’ll give you more time.” Then “actually we’ll need this table shortly.” It was awkward and added to an already unsavory experience. I’m sure it’s a great place if it’s not during peak hours and nice outside. But if any condition isn’t already perfect all on its own, just be prepared to have nothing be accommodated for you. If you enjoy eating comfortably, this may not be the best...

I'm visiting from Atlanta and my expect are probably stuck on the quality of dining experiences available in my hometown. With that said, here's my review in real-time as I'm sitting at the table. Our experience started at the front door, where the two hostesses were blocking the entrance as they held their personal conversations. From there we encountered our server, who seemed to have some language comprehension challenges. After receiving the menus we discovered that it was different than the published menu on their website. I'm guessing it's a brunch vs dinner menu thing. Nevertheless, the options didn't seem to appetizing but we gave it a shot. The food was decent, thus the 2 stars. The other stars were deducted because of the staff standing at the end of the bar staring at us throughout our dining experience. It felt like we were somehow intruding in their break room. Towards the end of our experience, a new server appeared. I finally asked her the reason our server had been changed and was told that the 1st young lady was actually in training. Here's a tip. Introduce yourself when you come to the table and if there's a change, bring it to the customer's attention. I can't tell you their names because neither introduced herself. Currently, we are being rushed along, but we've only been sitting here for 35 minutes. I'm not impressed with the energy of the staff or the vibe of the restaurant. This may seem petty, but I gotta share. My guest and I both ordered lemonade when we sat down. I requested mine without ice and my guest requested ice. Her beverage was filled to the top, of course because of the ice. I didn't expect my beverage to only be filled halfway up the glass. That should have been an omen that our experience was going to be half empty. The pictures online are beautiful, but don't believe the hype....

What do you call a cow head on a fish's body? Mer-cow? Mer-moo? I'm sure it's a popular bar conversation starter because it's their logo and I'm always a big fan of getting to know the restaurant background better.

I came here with my gf for a late brunch and sat at the bar with the cool breeze on my back. It was bustling, but I somehow felt at peace with a somewhat nautical theme. I was feeling like it was one of those boozy brunch afternoons, so we shook the bartender's hand and began our adventure.

Bloody Mary - Pretty decent. I like how they use the Icelandic vodka. It's a good amount of spicy and cures a hangover like no other. Bellini. They use this peach concentrate on the bottom that causes it to fizz up, so be careful when stirring. Oysters - East and West coast. I actually really enjoyed the East coast ones more. Fresh and some great sides. Huevos Rancheros - An interesting mix for this one. Loved the poached egg on top, but it needed something more. Great flavors from the guac. Salmon Eggs Benedict - Loved the combination of the hollandaise sauce with the salmon. I think the English muffin could have been crispier, but it all came together nicely. I'd recommend this over the huevos rancheros. Oyster shooters - this was a nice surprise. The bartender, Tim, gave this to us because they forgot the oysters. It's basically a bloody mary with an oyster and some brine inside. I recommend not drinking it like a shooter and actually chewing the oyster (e'hem).

Overall, I truly enjoyed that brunch and I'd do it all again exactly the same. Great company and great service. I'll be recommending it to my friends. What a cute find on a beautiful...