Elaine's

12/30/2007 Posted by giuliano_castellano

1-Excellent service,provided by a hard working mature team. 2-Food it's a bless to taste it. 3-Wine?Who could've thought that you can find a 2002 Chateau Margaux(Liechine)in a italian restaurant? Questions: 1-How is it posibble for an american "conaisseur" to comment italian food,service or wine? 2-If so many celebrities are going to this restaurant........how come they still going?(Are you frustrated cuz you are not one of them?)

Pros: ambience thumbs up

11/09/2007 Posted by bulamrpaul

After living two blocks away from Elaine’s for the past five years we decided it is a restaurant we had to go to at some point. We went midweek and sat at a table for two in the back room angled so you see and be seen. The food was very typical plain Jane Italian...and for the price a bit of a rip off, but worth every penny. The room was just full of people wanting to be looked at/thinking they were important - young women with sugar daddies, older ladies with facelifts, guys trying too hard to steal the spotlight... Such a random evening and definitely a New York City experience not to be missed. But honestly though, don’t go expecting to have fabulous Italian food – go for some of the best people watching on the Upper East Side. Billy Joel's Big Shot means so much more to us now! "...Yeah, they were all impressed with your Halston dress And the people that you knew at Elaine's And the story of your latest success Kept 'em so entertained..."

Pros: Excellent People Watching

Cons: Mediocre Italian Food, Price, Slow Service

06/07/2006 Posted by chelseaite

People seem to like to dump on this place. Don't quite understand why - as I've found the food to be perfectly fine. Not fine as in fine dining - but fine for a decent meal at a fair price. I wouldn't know Elaine if she ran over me - and frankly don't care. It's where I go when I'm in the neib.

08/02/2005 Posted by eastmeetswest

I moved to New York 5 years ago, to start out at NYU. My recollection of Elaine's was then only of the movie "Manhattan" by Woody Allen. I went to Elaines on a whim to try it out. It was everything I have heard and read about. I finally felt like I was in a real "New York" place....not some 20 something bridge and tunnel like "hotspot". I am now by no means a regular, ( at my age I can't afford that)...but I consider Elaine's as where I will go anytime I need a treat, a good meal, a good time , and a great environment. The mussells and baked clams are amazing and the Cabernet is delicious. Elaine's truly outlasted being trendy by decades...it will always be a great place to spend your evening.

10/14/2003 Posted by justsilky

excellent taste at a reasonable price. Excellent atmosphere, typical neighborhood NY, where the locals may go. No problem with a front/window table. Excellent service. Celebs visible. Elaine herself.......fair.

Pros: taste, atmosphere, prices

Cons: elaine

11/17/2002 Posted by babson

...and the same scene plays night after night. I hadn't been there in months, and stopped by recently with an out of town friend who just HAD to see for herself. In a way it's sad to see so many folks just hang around the bar hoping to be noticed by a celeb. I have, on occasion, been there with 'someone' and seated at a front table, and that can be fun, but once in a great while is plenty for me. The food is average, at best (I have been repeatedly underwhelmed by the mediocre fare) and the service is only good if Elaine is within range. There are two types at Elaines: the celebs, who go because of Elaine, and the "wannabees" who go for the celebs. More movie than restaurant.

Pros: good drinks

Cons: same tired crowd, food

08/09/2002 Posted by steelerman

I have avoided this place for decades because of the phoney crowd including Elaine herself. But if you go before 8'oclock especially on mon. or tues. you can get a pretty good meal at a fair price. And you may even get a widow table without earings or dressing like a star in "men in black 2"