Chart House
 

In NYNY at Christmas - would like to take my parents to Chart House (for the view) but avoid taking the ferry (elderly parents!) Chart house not the most helpful in directions - any help! need to get from 57th & Lex to there!

THANKS to you all in advance

If the ferry is out and you don't want to pay for a cab to NJ (probably about $35+), you can look into taking a NJ Transit bus from Port Authority. You will want Route #158. Here is the link to the timetable...
http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T1158.pdf

It would be either gate 200 or 201.

Are you asking for suggestions for public transportation or are you asking for driving directions? If driving, try mapquest.com.

There are buses from Port Authority that go to Weehawken but not sure they go close to the restaurant.

There are other restaurants where you can get a Manhattan view. What about the River Cafe in Brooklyn? You can take a cab there.

To answer your direct question, if you take a cab have them get off the Hoboken Exit from the Lincoln Tunnel. Make a left at the second light and go straight past the office buildings, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse to the Chart House.

But, I'd feel guilty without telling you that The Chart House lives by its view. I went recently and the food was mediocre with a staff that seemed half-asleep. (I actually had to go back to the Hostess after we waited about 10 minutes to see if she mistakenly put us in a section that wasn't yet open as no waitstaff came near our table.) If you go, stick to the basics. They seem less successful when they try something complicated.

BTW, the Chart House is near two ferry stops - Lincoln Harbor and Weehawken. Having a taxi meet you at either, really wouldn't be an issue. Taking the shuttle bus on 57th to the NY Waterway Ferry then having a cab drive you that last 1/2 mile, really might be the easiest option.

I have to agree with Ryan. We live not too far from the Chart House in Weehauken, and celebrated my husband's birthday there. We could only get a 9:30 reservation on a very cold night last January. We waited until after 10:30 for a table. The staff & management were totally disinterested. My 80 year old mother was with us & we had to look for a place for her to sit down. The food was unmemorable after we were finally seated & served. Next day, I filled out a comment card on line & got a call back from the manager within a day or two. He offered us a free dinner for two, but I told him we wouldn't ever go back there.

Ruth Chris is easier to get to if you want the midtown view from NJ(you can take any of several buses & they stop right in front). But the Lincoln Harbor ferry is the easiest way to get over and should not be a problem for elderly people to get on and off.

thanks for all the help and advice....i had a bad time there last year but thought it was just a bad night!!! reading all yr comments I think i will give it a miss.... any suggestions on a good place to view the skyline and have a bite to eat?

I already suggested the River Cafe in Brooklyn, but it is pricey. I've read about a place right across the street from it called Pete's Downtown which is an old fashioned Italian red sauce place with reasonable prices and the same view. I haven't been myself though.

A cab to the River Cafe from midtown on the east side won't be too expensive if you can avoid rush hour.

What a shame about all the negative service reports at the Weehawken Chart House. We've had good service at the Dobbs Ferry location in Westchester.