Brasserie 53 vs. Brasserie 8 1/2
 

Does anyone know both of then? Which is better? I asked the concierge of My hotel to make a reservation at brasserie 8 1/2 but he made it at brasserie 53 and says it's better, do you agree?? i can hardly find info about brasserie 53...

Is this it?
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profil...ileTab-reviews
lots of reviews....

Thanks!! It does sound good, But the reviews aré from 2008...

Carlota: I am assuming that Brasserie 53 is the Brasserie in the Seagram Building on East 53rd Street. I have dined there only once on a friends and family evening just before they opened and that was years ago. It was ok.

I have not dined at Brasserie 8 1/2. I will tell you that neither of these gets a particularly good review in the Zagat guide, which is a compilation of ratings from diners, not critics.

Are you looking for a place in midtown?

Oh, both now owned by Patina Group--here is the website with menus, plus MenuPages reports:

http://www.patinagroup.com/restaurants.php


http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/brasserie/

http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/brasserie-8-1-2/

If you want midtown not too formal, you might take a look at:



http://www.themodernnyc.com/#/restaurant/barroom

Or even Alto:

http://www.altorestaurant.com/home.html


Or, walk a few blocks east and come to this popular and casual under-the-radar neighborhood spot:

http://www.zecafe.com/

It's for our first night we wanted some place near the hotel in midtown and decided between brasserie 8 1/2 and morrells wine bar

We've always had a good experience at Brasserie 8 1/2. Good food, good service, good ambiance. You'll love the first view of the place as you walk down the steps once you walk into the building. Very trendy looking.

I really get upset when a concierge does that, not booking your requested restaurant.I'd book 8 1/2 yourself.

The Brasserie (it's NOT called Brasserie 53 and no one would know what you were talking about if you called it that) is closer to your hotel but very very tired and nothing special, imo. I've had some excellent lunches at Brasserie 8 1/2 but have never had dinner there. The entire restaurant is below ground down a big spiral staircase and while I think the food is good to very good, somehow on arriving in NYC at Xmas time, the idea of eating "downstairs" and not seeing anything doesn't really sound right. I'd go to Morrell's Wine bar at Rockefeller Center or the Bar Room at MOMA, both of which would be buzzier and cheerier I think.

I don't agree with mclaurie. The OP will have plenty of time to soak in the holiday spirit while dining during her trip. I'd stick with the quality (and beauty) of Brasserie 8 1/2.

Mclaurie I called it brasserie 53 because the concierge called it that, i hadn't heard of it before...I'm still thinking what to do, the only thing I'm sure of is that i don't want brasserie (53)....

Why are you still thinking what to do? Either insist on booking Brasserie 8 1/2 as you originally wanted and as everyone is telling you it's better, or reconsider one of the other places we originally gave you instead of either. What's the problem?

I was sure about brasserie 81/2 but i see your point about the modern and morrell which was the other one i had the intention of going to, so i don't know if it would be better to change to the one of the other 2....

Carlota: Please have that dinner at The Modern Bar Room.

I can almost guarantee that it will be better than either of the two you mentioned originally.

I am a little leery of following the advice of the concierge if those were the two places he recommended.