Waverly Inn — Restaurant in New York

What makes this place special- THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND STAFF- WHAT A WELL OILED MACHINE. Service is impeccable. Since I have always been devoted to BALTHAZAR, a client suggested eating here on February 15th. Of course, I agreed. Being a newbie here, the front entrance maybe needs a little more signage or whatever. Luckily, happy guests with martinis on their breath had come out the door and not only opened the door for me but kissed me as I walked by. Well, it is a place with a neighborly vibe. The Inn is quaint with a couple of fireplaces that added to this bleak, wet February day. While I waited for the client, I had a lively conversation with the Mother and daughter who were sitting next to me. But no attitude from the team here since my client was late. What showed even more class from the staff, once the client arrived, he asked if we could be moved to a less conspicuous space. No problem, but luckily the place was starting to clear out from brunch. Now the food- my family had oyster rights in the Chesapeake bay which means I know a little about oysters. On the dozen of oysters alone I would have given them 5 ••••• . They were delicious and served impeccably. With the oysters the bartender crafted two excellent martinis mmmmmm! For brunch the only disappointment was the eggs Benedict. I don’t get it. Not just here but 80 percent of NYC chefs have not mastered a classic hollandaise!!! Simple, read Julia Childs recipe! Sadly, the chef served Canadian bacon over cooked which made it tough. I mean TOUGH! But look it doesn’t matter if you are in JAN’s THREE STAR Michelin restaurant in Munich or wherever it’s rare when everything is PERFECT. I shared with our waiter who was BRITISH it was my first visit here and I was a devoted fan of Balthazar and the manager personally brought over glasses of champagne. Look, do you think I could complain when the team tries so hard and is hospitable- OF COURSE NOT! Plus, I WANT TO COME BACK. The whole visit will be a very memorable Saturday on an ungodly wet and snowy day in Manhattan. What more could I have asked for? Well, of course a better bernaise but I am rather picky! Thanks WAVERLY INN and staff for salvaging a dreary Saturday on Bank St. By the way I think it’s hysterical they put right on their menu about the comment from our current president but hell what does he know about taste and why do you think they are having trouble at the White House finding a new chef. But folks remember, this is what makes America great. We decide if we like something or not and not a celebrity or politician. Sadly, my wife is dead but I would have loved to have taken her here for a romantic date. In NYC there are not a lot of cosey romantic places but I think you could easily add this to your list for a first date or even where you might propose and having met the staff I think if you asked the staff for help they would be more than helpful! I would bet money open on it. For southerners living in NYC or visiting this might be your cup of tea for a special New York experience. Yes we have One if by land but I think you might want to try here also. I am a romantic and I was truly charmed...

Waverly Inn is falling off.

Our server was great. However, we both laughed out loud after he finished reciting the specials. It was a Caesar salad, seafood angel hair pasta, ribeye steak, steak with wine pairing, caviar service, and macaroni and cheese. It took him 2 minutes to recite all the ingredients and prices and we laughed. I said it should be its own menu and he said they chef forces them to keep them all as specials to seem more exclusive.

By the time he came to us, we had already read the regular menu so the specials should have been offered sooner… and on a menu.

We got the kale salad and 2 burgers. The kale salad was soaked in dressing. Like the leaves were heavy. And it was a thick dressing that took away any flavor. I got indigestion. From a kale salad. Let that sink in. And I could taste the salt on my tongue.

Once we finished the burgers came. A half pound of ground beef with a thin single slice of cheese: it felt like we were eating large undercooked meatballs. But it is “the Waverly” so we gave it a shot, not the worst in the city but I wouldn’t get it again.

And then the fries- imagine the bottom of a bag of potato chips being dropped into a deep fryer for 3 minutes too long. My fingers had oil on them so I switched to a fork. And they actually come to The table in the frying container! It’s outrageous. No flavor besides oil, and comes w three drops of ketchup.

On top of it all, the host was dressed like he was hosting the Grammys and not looking up from his desk. That’s probably fine for the few times Andy Cohen comes in, so the host can pretend that celebs still haunt this place and that’s how to be a good stealthy host. However, the real clientele is typically 3 to 4 different groups of 22-26 year olds white kids at birthday parties. It’s like a chuck e cheese for kids who moved to the city. Loud and obnoxious and not a chill spot anymore. The host is chuck e!

Bring back the way it used to be. Until then, I hope this...

Pricey but memorable, great ambiance and good food. Cocktails are so so beet salad : so good. The multicolored beets were soft and well cooked. The presentation/playing was beautiful. Candied walnuts were sparse but delicious. Goat cheese was creamy and light. Basil oil was a fabulous touch. A bit too much balsamic glaze and difficult to get some sauce on the beets without scooping with a spoon or planting the beets on the plate and twirling in the sauce (which isn't great at the restaurant...) chicken pot pie : ok. A bit small but very filling. Too expensive for portion but great, hot and well executed. Butter dough was good duck two ways: good amount of duck! Perfect for a couple sharing. The roasted duck on the bone was delicious and fell apart, nicely separating from the bone. Not enough carrot purée in my opinion, mostly used for presentation and color but tasty. Weird combo with bok choy ... which was fine but def not traditional. The roasted duck breast was a bit more rare in the middle, so would definitely go with a higher temperature if you're avoiding any raw meat.

Ambiance is dark inside. If you wanna be part of the nyc scene, outside (sidewalk) is good. Otherwise, there's a nice "garden" in the back, which I would definitely return to. The tables are close just like in Paris brasseries, but the lighting is great and it's super pleasant for the spring and summer. The inside dining room is so dark you can can't really observe the food or menu. It's also a bit of a scene with people from London, LA etc. And can get rowdy. Would return 100% to try more things on the menu. Would go back alone as well. Waiters are nice, drinks were meh , would skip the cocktails.

Bread they bring out (like a buttery scone) are delicious, with sweet whipped butter, just like they serve...