White Horse Tavern - Financial District — Restaurant in New York

I am mixed on this place. It does take forever to get service. You absolutely need to know your order before you enter the place as the first time you get a waiter's/bartender's attention might also be the last. If you come when changing shifts, oh boy is it a nightmare.

The next shift runs around getting things sorted and fills out drink orders to everyone else but me and won't take a food order for a while. The last shift needs to close up tabs or do what they have to. So don't bother them. The new shift also seems to be one woman while another deals with tabs. It is tense and rude. Give a smile or say excuse me and get yelled at. If another bartender arrives, I am not sure as that person disappears to maybe serve the tables. Good because the sole bartender (not dealing with the bills) has to run back and forth, get dishes and napkins from the kitchen that isn't given with the orders. At the tables their backs are expertly turned when you need something. So once again, know your order and your friend's if they are on their way.

Returning customers say all their food is good. They can't recommend one over the other which is good because then you don't have to feel you ordered the wrong thing. When the shift changes dies down, food is coming, drinks, and such. But know your drink order too and don't ask questions with questions as the bartender is readying to leave. The food seems to be consistently good.

The yells and rudeness is either melted away from the employees once they can take a breath, or maybe that's their personalities. Right now, the only one I haven't seen or heard from before the chao is gone. The ones still here, (maybe the second shift) seems to be certainly more personable while running around and making cocktails. They don't hold conversations. The regulars know the names of the employees. I haven't had a chance to speak more than five words with anyone. Next time I should ask what is your name before they run away. The food has been consistently good. The same waitress who was rude before and personable now was also amazing the last time I was here with my friends. We were in the area. The kitchen was closed, and she gave us recommendations where we can go to eat. So I am mixed. I have been rude at and friendly by a majority of the employees. I suppose my next review should be at a less tense time.

I'm not a vegetarian, but in case you are the vegetarian looking items on the menu:

Hummus and warm pita Veggie burger French fries

Chicken Cobb salad is the only salad on the menu. It is listed as an entree. I don't recommend ordering with having to say no to this and that. Someone down the bar is eating the Cobb salad. It certainly looks like an entree with...

3 1/2 stars

White Horse has caught my eye a few times during lunchtime constitutionals, in part because it seems bizarrely out of place - it's an unapologetic dive bar with a ye olde porch in front tucked away on a side street in the Financial District. When I saw that they had legit lunch entrees for only $10, it was only a matter of time before I graced them with my presence.

I came here for lunch a few Fridays ago on a very muggy/rainy day. I work less than two blocks away, so it seemed like one of my safer options in the event of a midday downpour (which I successfully avoided). I loved the atmosphere as soon as I stepped inside. The outside weather certainly played a part, but it's very cozy and transports you immediately to a different time/place. Either you're into establishments like this or you're not. At this point, I'd say it's my favorite environment I've encountered in this neighborhood. The place was decently populated - it clearly has a fanbase - but I caught the bartender's eye almost immediately and got a small table right by the window with a decent view of the rest of the bar and the gray, murky world outside. Also, every employee I talked to had an accent from the British Isles. Delightful.

I've been fortunate enough to encounter great service almost everywhere around here, but this was right at the top of the heap. I ordered the Pot Roast Platter ($10! I know!), which came with mashed potatoes and corn. It was at the table within two or three minutes, tops. Obviously pre-made, but still super fresh. The pot roast itself was okay. It was juicy/tender and the broth it was cooked in provided some nice seasoning goodness for the palate, but the brisket had a lot of really fatty strips throughout that I had to cut off the meat before consuming. I was a big fan of the mashed potatoes though. Definitely one of the better foods to ingest on a gloomy day, especially when it comes with solid gravy. The corn was fine too, though if it were up to me I probably would have made the sides more of a 75/25 split favoring the mashed potatoes, but that's more about being pro mash versus anti corn.

Although the bartender had his share of patrons at the bar, it wasn't difficult to catch his eye and obtain the check once my meal was consumed. Again, top-notch service from beginning to end - in and out in less than half an hour, effortlessly - and you're not going to find a more competitive price point for a sit-down meal in this area. I'm definitely going to come back, but I'll probably opt for a different entrée next...

If I could give The White Horse, the owner and the staff more than 5 stars I would. Stopped in with the family to grab a quick dinner after a day of sight seeing before we started our trip back to Indianapolis. Owner was very courteous and got us seated right away, our waitress was friendly and professional and the food and drink was delicious and a great value, especially when considering it's only a few blocks from Wall Street. Solid to say the least, right? But when we got back back to Indy and unpacked I realized that I had left my backpack with my 360 action camera and all the video and pictures from our trip at the the White Horse. I was crushed! Called the next day (Sunday), and the owner actually picked up the phone and remembered us. He confirmed he had the backpack and stated he would put it in the mail back me after the weekend. I mentioned that I would reimburse him several times during our call and emails, but he rejected the offer each time. He felt karma would take care of it and truly hope it does. I received the backpack carefully boxed up just a few days later! I was a broker in the San Francisco Financial District during the internet boom and loved hanging out at the old pubs in the surrounding area. Being in The White Horse for that little pitstop really took me back to those times in my head. Unfortunately most of my old haunts haven't survived covid, but I'm glad the The White Horse Tavern has. I wish the tavern and everyone it supports all the best! ...