Grand Central Oyster Bar, Inc. Reviews

Wonderful traditional eatery. Love the decor. Excellent lobster and shrimp pan roast. Had no room to try the key lime pie, alas. Waited on by MARY, a gem. Only remaining female server (30 or so years). My wife's new best friend. Not cheap.

Eating at the Grand Central Oyster Bar had been a dream of many years especially after hearing rave reviews about it. Carole and I ate there several weeks ago. Between us we had a fish stew and crab cakes with fries. The crab cakes were disappointing. What was mouthwatering was the house made Key Lime Pie. We shared it. Next time I will eat it by myself.

We had an awful experience in February (refer to my previous review). The owners Mohammed and Janet called to apologise for what happened and promised a full refund. 5 months on and despite multiple emails / messages still no refund. This is not good enough! Avoid this place as they don’t care about their customers and don’t keep their promises. Maybe it’s because we are from the UK 🇬🇧 and ignoring us now we are thousands of miles away is easy? Awful awful awful!

This place says exactly what it does on the tin. The fish is completely fresh and the menu does change daily . This is a vibrant restaurant . If you are looking for a long relaxing meal this isn’t for you . However, if you want something really rather good then this is great .

Dinner in a train station? Fresh seafood, raw oysters, pan roasts and chowders in an iconic dining room with vaulted, tiled ceilings? Welcome to Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant in the lower level of Grand Central Terminal at 83 East 49th Street at Park Avenue in Manhattan, at Lexington and Vanderbilt Avenue. Open for lunch and dinner at 8 to 7 on Monday and 11:30 to 8:30 Tuesday through Friday, it opened in 1913 and is the oldest restaurant in Grand Central Terminal with one of the largest and freshest seafood menus in New York City. It offers 20 types of fish, 30 varieties of oysters and an award-winning wine list featuring 80 selections by the glass. My wife and I started with a jumbo shrimp cocktail, Maryland crab cake, a bowl of New England clam chowder and a Classic Caesar Salad with croutons and parmesan cheese. One look at the menu and we knew we were in a more fish/less meat zone, just what the doctor ordered. For her entree, my wife chose a sauteed "whole" Dover Sole with rice pilaf and creamed spinach. I was delighted to see Branzino on the menu, whole and grilled with lemons, capers and extra virgin olive oil with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed broccoli. Dessert was a treat, too. We shared a large slice of Florida key lime pie and a cannoli cream tart with an Oreo cookie crust. One more thing: Don't forget to test the acoustical quirk at the archway in front of the restaurant. It is a whispering gallery by which someone standing in one corner an hear someone standing in the opposite corner perfectly, no matter how softly they speak. It's as famous as the oysters.

First time in New York and found the wonderful Grand Central Station. Came across this restaurant with large seafood menu and decided to book given the unusual location with unusual decor. The food was good, large prawn dish and monkfish that was well cooked and plentiful. However the service was awful and we felt completely rushed. We booked at 8.15 (last available booking was 8.45) yet we were rushed from the outset and felt the waiter was just interested in getting us out so he could go home. We were sat down with the menu by front of house and before we could pick up the wine menu the waiter asked us what we wanted. During the meal we were asked if we wanted another drink as he was closing the bar! Then we were asked if we wanted desert. My wife said she wanted cheesecake and I said I needed to see the menu. He came back with the menu and the cheesecake !. Our deserts should be served together. I ordered my desert and whilst still eating it the bill was presented with the words "there are the tip suggestions". We had not even been asked if we wanted coffees or liquours ! I could not understand why the waiter behaved in such a way. There were still many people in the restaurant. Needless to say that no tip was given and I advised the manager at front of house whose response was he would have a word with the said waiter - it needed more than that!! I pointed out I had toured Canada, Washington and New York and this was the only place where I had received poor service and then left. If you do go for the food - there was a large selection of fresh oysters then do NOT go in the evening

Really cool place to hang out in the basement of Grand Central. The ceiling and the tiles are simply beautiful to look at and it creates a unique dining experience. The downside is that the food is expensive.

Wow! Who'd have believed that such a great eatery would be inside Grand Central station! So much choice of fresh seafood that it took us ages to decide what to have. At least 12 different types of oyster from all over North America, lobster, clams, monkfish, salmon....a fish lover's dream. Great atmosphere, busy earlier on , but quieter around 9.00 pm . Good choice of domestic and international wines at reasonable prices. Staff were very helpful, and food was served quickly. A very unique experience.

Not friendly , very mechanical service It’s half empty , they still squeeze the two of us into a small table for two even though we order so much food , it doesn’t fit . (Our bill is usually over $200 easily ) The maitre d is the problem. ..

If you like oysters and more generally seafood, you are at the right address. Located in one of the internal corridors of Grand Central, it is a beautiful discovery. We eat well and the welcome is very pleasant. Only downside, it’s low ceiling and with the world eating it’s noisy. I recommend this experience at least once!

Atmosphere. 5 stars. Worth a visit if only to get a drink. Service 1 star. It's obvious they are living on past reputation. Food 2 stars. The only part of the meal that was good were the oysters. Shrimp overcooked on 2 dishes. Fried clams mediocre. They never brought the clam chowder so didn't get to try. I'd never go back bc I've seen it but for sure wouldn't eat here again.

Hostess was terrible. Insisted we sit at a table near a bus station despite the fact that there were at least 20 other empty tables.

This spot is an original NYC Treasure that is not to be missed. The ambiance alone will take you back in time! I used to visit NYC every few years starting in the 60’s with my family. Our first stop was ALWAYS the GC Oyster Bar. We would sit at the counter where the same gentleman I remember from the 60’s who made soups and stews still worked there in 2018! Not only is the food very respectable, but the ambiance and service are fantastic. I also LOVE the wood paneled bar in the back. Can’t wait to visit soon.

We stopped for a lunch snack and were impressed. Service was good. Food was well presented and good. Loads of atmosphere and attentive staff. Toilets were clean but a little old fashioned. It's a must do destination if you want to see the grand central station. Superb art deco decoration.

We were captivated by the grandeur and cleanliness of Grand Central Station and thought the Oyster Bar would be a treat. We were wrong. When snootily ‘greeted’ with “Have you got a reservation sir?” We should have read the runes and gone somewhere else. The jumped up greeter then proceeded to take a phone call, properly putting us in our place. Patronizing waiter and no better than average food didn’t justify the $100+ cost of a single course for two. And the place was still no more than half full when we left - for the warm welcome we got at Macy’s sixth floor Trattoria.

My partner and I dipped in for a coffee before our train, and I asked the maître d'if it was okay to just have a quick coffee and where to sit if so. He looked past me, barely lifted an arm and pointed to the bar. The bar waiter, when asked for a coffee, snapped 'no food' and when answered, he rolled his eyes, scoffed at us and went to his colleague and moaned about us. When he brought the bill, and was given a card, asked 'you don't have money just for a coffee?' and tutted at us. Absolutely shocking service for such a high profile location. If the venue requires minimum spends, this should be stated on energy to avoid mistreating travellers who are already stressed out by their journeys! WOULD NOT RECOMMEND EVER!

Whilst I was excited to visit here due to the location and being a lover of seafood, it was not worth what was to come next. Within 4hrs of dining here and having not eaten anything else, I was ill. I had a mix of the oysters and lobster bisque. It may seem like a good idea dining here at grand central station but was definitely not worth it, especially as my travel home was the following day!

Great location and nice venue. The staff was friendly and attentive. We had the fried oysters and they tasted great but unfortunately I got food poisoning that night.

The oysters were very good as was the atmosphere. Unfortunately the entrees were bad on all six orders. The halibut was old and the accompanying Brussels sprouts were almost raw. The crab cocktail was unedable and sent back. The pasta was also of poor quality.

My friends and I had a great experience. Although I am a vegetarian, there were options available for me. It was very crowded and a loud, but we still enjoyed ourselves.

What an iconic setting and the oysters were amazing! Service was good and we really appreciated the fact that since my hubby and I were sharing multiple things, they split the items into two servings vs. having to pass around the plates. We enjoyed the new england clam chowder, 6 beautiful oysters and the crab cakes with fries and coleslaw. Portions were generous and the food was very tasty - perfect lunch! If we were to go back, we'd sit at the oyster bar or in the back room vs. in the main dining room.

An evening that the whole family looked forward to. Starts decently with a starter, main lobster cocktail, which is followed for me and my wife's share of ok starters - nothing that you will order again. Our daughters were served amongst the worst pasta ever served in a restaurant, over cooked pasta, watery unseasoned sauce and unseasoned shells. The dessert was also nothing to write home about - key lime pie that felt like it was bought in a store where they saved on the lime Extremely sad when the times that have been there had memorable and extremely good dinners. Will wait until the oyster bar is visited again if ever

I have always made it a delicious priority of visiting this establishment every time I come to New York City in the last thirty years. It was my first meal there since the Covid crisis. By myself, I sit at the bar. It was lunch time on a Tuesday. Not really busy. I ordered a beer, 12 Bluepoint oysters and the oyster stew. My usual order for many years. I was initially taken by surprise that the Bluepoints were only available in what is called the regular size, Although quite fresh and delicious they were unusually very small. A larger size used to be available frequently before. They are also costlier now. The biggest disappointment came with the stew. Six plump oysters swam in a curdled mixture of milk and cream. The taste was good but the texture was off-putting.. The not terribly busy waiter never asked me if I was pleased with a meal that cost more than 60$ dollars. I do not think, sadly, that I will maintain my tradition anymore of coming to the Grand Central Oyster Bar.

It was a huge pleasure to eat in a restaurant that was opened in 1913. The food and the ambiance were great. We had oysters as an appetizer and a sea bass, red snapper, and grilled shrimp linguine as an entrees. They were all great and perfectly cooked. I also like the butter sauce of the shrimp linguine a lot. Red snapper came with an eggplant and artichoke which was a nice surprise. Sea bass was so delicious but it came with boiled potato and zucchini thatI am not a big fan of. The architecture of the grand central and the oyster bar was so impressive. I feel so lucky to get this experience and I definitely recommend.

Can’t figure out why people go to this place. Surly waiters and mediocre food at high prices. The oysters were overly expensive, the calamari was terrible, and 5 shrimp cost $35. The crab cake was a fried bomb of grease and filler. Go see Grand Central, then leave and eat at some place that’s not a past-its-prime tourist trap.

Worst food . We ordered calamari and oysters with linguine, both dishes we couldn't even chew, it came with a roll Which was as hard as a rock.I asked to speak with the manager because I wasn't going to a meal I couldn't even chew, so the manager came over we explained our issue and he said you're just trying to rip me off. So I said if we were trying to rip you off, we would've had the dinner. We took one bite and knew we couldn't eat it The managers name was Jonathan Young he was extremely rude I know people have given good ratings but the night we were there it was totally awful. We paid for our drinks and left If anyone knows the corporate phone number would appreciate it if you could respond to this and send it along I just couldn't believe how we were treated. Jonathan Young needs a new job

What an amazing restaurant made all so special by Mary. My wife and i had lunch here surrounded by beautiful architecture in a relaxed environment. The oysters were divine, i ate my first cherry stone clams and the New England clam chowder was to die for. An all in am wonderful experience

One of our favorite spots when we come to New York. It never disappoints. Oysters come out amazing fast. The options are great. Lobsters are amazing. Writing this review makes me want to go back.

Oysters were good. However, all cooked food was bland. The ridiculous part was that it took close to an hour for egg benedict to be prepared. I asked the waiter 50 mins after it was ordered (That was about 4pm, definitely not busy hour). He immediately replied it was being cooked (without checking with the kitchen). After another 10 mins, hard yolk benedict was presented. I asked the waiter and he responded he couldn't see anything wrong. I asked for the manager and he immediately spotted the problem. When I got the bill, the waiter said the egg benedict was fully discounted. I said NO it was returned rather. In general, very lousy waiter service and cooked food was tasteless. Won't be a returning customer

This came up as the most iconic and best Oyster Bar. Oysters and clams were OK. Had better clam chowder yesterday elsewhere. The service was rushed and very pushy. The restaurant is tired. Ticked it off the list, would not go back.

Well her that must be obeyed lives on seafood and visiting the GCOB "was" on her bucket list. She went for the seafood platter and l went for the oysters. Pretty basic meals that you cant get wrong. My osters were fabous as was the chowder. Her indoors enjoyed her platter but was a little disapointed. She was of course comparing this to her platter in La Rochelle. She was overjoyed with her crab cake sandwich. A lot more expensive than the equivilent in Europe but you are in Grand Central. Lovely building with a lot of history. The member of staff waiting on us was loud and bad mammered turning away from us to engage in conversaation with other staff.

I’ve been coming for years, but this was my worst experience forever. Upon arrival, the place was empty — yet my party and I were exiled to a table in the far right hand corner behind a post … all cards up, there was a better centered table available but it was a squeeze between two other diners, with whom I didn’t care to share my tap water. Finally, we found a table by the noisy bar. Our order was taken — and the linguini with clam sauce was beyond tasteless.

We had drinks and oysters in the saloon opposite the restaurant. Kind of dark, kind of secret and kind of special. Oysters under the train station!

Magnificent oysters, very good service and an atmosphere that is worth visiting. Beautiful place and an important tourist spot in the city

The restaurant is right in Grand Central Station and it’s a very busy place. We were staying nearby at the Intercontinental so it’s a convenient spot. Well worth waiting to get a table as the food is excellent, we tried the scallops, they were large and delicious, also the grilled Artic Char Good value for NYC

Basically it sucked. Bartender was a jerk. Some people came in, waited and left because he could not be bothered to take their drink order.

Any one that has the opportunity to go there should. The architecture alone is worth it. The food and the service were fabulous. So many raw oyster choices.

This is a beautiful spot for a meal. You could spend the entire time staring at the ceilings, and be happy, but I am not so sure that its looks are enough to return. Service was cold, the waiter was straight to the point. and offered no smile or greetings. The seafood was good, but also straightforward, nothing you couldn't order else where - especially given the prices.

Really gone down hill unfortunately, very slow, but friendly service. Food was then served so quick the meal had to have been already cooked hence my main course was no more than average

Three of us went to Oyster Bar for dinner. The place was super recommended. Unfortunately we were very disappointed. The grilled swordfish was still partly frozen, the sea bream dish of the day was raw and the lemon cake that had to be homemade was definitely industrial... the covering peeled off the sponge cake that was dry. It is not worth the prices charged at all.

Tried, at the suggestion of a friend who had been there years ago. Only positive aspect the style of the huge underground hall at Central Station, everything else to forget... First of all the really hellish atmosphere that you have in the place with very high decibels of shouting, laughter and more so that you can not even be heard by the person in front of you, same table .. I ordered 6 oysters of 4.5 $ each, of these 2 were detached from the shell, tasted another, it was bitter, sent back everything, for "compensation" they brought me one, this passable .. I tried to explain the situation to the waiter but he ventured into a long explanation of which I understood very little. Bottom line, dinner, so to speak, was reduced to bread and butter, to drink the glass of white USA, which I thought made me taste oysters more .. Everything happened in 20 minutes, my wife had eaten at least one soup... So : unbearable noise and quality of the fish to see, at least from what happened to me ...

Nice spot and atmosphere in central station. Very interesting concept to taste oysters as there are different varieties. I also had a soup but was not unforgettable…definitely go there if you like oysters.

Overpriced, rather slow and unfriendly service. Oysters were great but everything else was not. I would not be back for another time.

The service was spot on, the clam chowder was excellent, the Ipswich clam appetizer was delicious, and the fried oyster with French fries was perfection! The ambience is a 10!

Nice place with a vintage atmosphere. Service is just miserable. Close to one hour to get our food which was ok. I have been there several times but will not come back

I am a native New Yorker and have dined at The Grand Central Oyster Bar many times over the years. The four of us were nearby and even though I haven’t eaten here in about ten years I have always found it reliable—- until tonight. They missed on every metric. The grouper special tasted bad and way too fishy to be fresh. It was served with the wrong accompaniments. I sent it back and they brought the same piece of fish out with different sides. Inedible! My friend never got the clam chowder she ordered. The salads were tired wilted greens. We ordered a bottle of wine and the server dropped the cap— picked it up from the floor and then placed it on the table! Just wrong. I ordered a bottle of still water for the table and my glass was dirty with food residue on it. Another person in my party had to ask twice for the French fries he ordered and the steak sauce he requested. I lodged my displeasure with the server. He got the manager who didn’t seem to care. He was rude and patronizing. After much discussion he took two entrees off the bill. I still paid $218 and I didn’t eat! Avoid this tired old restaurant with uncaring servers, rude management and mediocre food. It’s living on a reputation from bygone days. I am sorry to say this because I have happy memories of coming here with my mom— but that is the point. The Oyster Bar’s best days are in behind them, in the past. There are lots of other restaurants in Grand Central where you can have a much better and more satisfying meal.

Welp, Long story short, it's about Food and Service. And in this instance my wife and I got hardly any of either. I was excited to go because I had read such strong reviews, and my wife LOVES seafood so we where expecting a great experience. We arrived on a Friday afternoon at about 1:15, we left within a half hour. Upon our arrival we walked in and a server in the bar area motioned us to sit in his section. We sat down and that's when the lack of urgency, effort, whatever you would term it began. We sat and waited for him to greet us..... however, it appeared, cleaning a table and seating someone else was more important than getting us a drink. Once he FINALLY came to our table, we ordered our drinks and an Oysters Rockefeller to start. That's about the jist of it. By now my wife was ready to go. See has a lot of patience, but after waiting to get drink refills and our order taken for lunch, she had enough. In a half hours' time, we only received our drinks and app. When we were ready to leave we tried to get his attention and my wife asked him for the bill. He never acknowledged her, but obviously heard her since he returned with the bill and we left.

Great location in a historic building with delicious oysters ..but it ends there. The chowder tasted like it came from a can and the shrimp salad was an excuse for a salad..shredded lettuce with five shrimps. The courses all came out of order ..oysters then soup then the appetiser with bread. Very expensive for what it promised but failed to deliver.

We hadn't made a booking but on arrival stood at the reception desk for a couple of minutes. A man eventually sauntered over and when my husband asked if we could sit at any of the vacant tables he retorted "This isn't McDonald's you know". Actually, I've had better service from McDonald's and on reflection, wish we'd gone there instead! In spite of a 3/4 empty restaurant, we were stuck on a small table at the back. The service was non existent from start to finish. After taking our order and waiting an age for our food, that was the last we saw of anyone at our table. No enquiry as to how our food was, no offer of extra drinks or whether we wished to see the dessert menu, etc. In fact, my husband had to go over to the reception desk to ask for the bill to be brought over. Food was just ok and nothing special. Insanely expensive for what we got. Certainly not worth the money when customer service was non existent and we were treated like second class citizens.

A big disappointment. I guess we should have read the recent reviews but my husband and I had gone to this place several times over the years and so it was quite a surprise to see the steep decline. Food unmemorable to be charitable. We would have eaten better at a diner. The place looks tired and uninspired. Has definitely seen better days. Sad.

Ordered the salmon filet from Today’s Specials specifically because of the sides - “garlic mashed potatoes with pesto sauce, grilled portobello mushrooms and sautéed spinach”. The food arrived with NONE of these! Broccoli and rice instead with a little seaweed salad and a teriyaki sauce. Very different. I should have said something at that time but didn’t until later. Staff apologized but this should never happen. Very disappointing.

Wanted to try something different whilst in NY and this was certainly unlike anything I've tried before. I'm in no way an expert of seafood generally but the staff were really helpful and not the least patronising when we sought advice on the oysters and other dishes. Landed on a choice of oysters then the Monkfish on garlic mash for a main, followed by classic cheesecake (photos below) Decent prices, excellent service and what a fantastic setting.

WOW, the worst service and less than mediocre food. 20 minutes after we paid our bill, as we're walking out, the server stopped us and asked us to pay our bill again. I confirm that the charges went through as shown in receipt and from my transactions online. They still insisted I didn't pay and that they cancelled the transaction. I asked for proof for the cancellation which they couldn't provide. Another 10 minutes later, the supervisor, Andrew Larson, arrived and didn't offer any better explanation, didn't apologize for the inconvenience, didn't offer any solution, instead stated this happens frequently in the restaurant. Dine here if you want to be over charged more than once for your meal

A great place to meet an old friend in OB – an institution on its own. We order the New England Clam Chowder soup, coleslaw salad and the fried seafood platter (Fried sea food Judith calamari rings with marinara sauce and French fries). Loved except for the service which I expected better (instead of coming multiple times to ask – can I take your order?). All in all – of course recommended as this is an experience in itself

Utterly charmless greeting at front of house when we arrived, right on time, for our booking. Then a lengthy delay in getting waiter service after we were seated. We very nearly left at that point and really should have. Things continued downhill and despite several assurances that food was imminent, we ended up waiting nearly 40 minutes between first course and second. When the plates did arrive, it was clear that they’d been under lights on a pass for a considerable time and my husband’s monkfish was ruined. In a specialist fish restaurant. Any reasonable chef would have taken one look at it and binned it. Instead, it was brought to table, alongside my lacklustre fried calamari. We ate because at that point we were really hungry and fed up ….and just needed some food. . This has been a favourite NYC restaurant of ours for decades. Im afraid we won’t return.

Stopped after doing the Summit One Observatory. Had the Seafood Platter with the Whole Lobster, 8 oysters, 2 clams, 2 shrimp, 3 NZ mussels. Very Good. Nice Wine Selection. I called it average experience because Hostess was rude and cold she literally threw the menus on the table. The waiter was nice but had to ask for bread, waters, and cracker. Bread was awful. The Platter is good enough for one person all the seafood items were small.

Especially if visiting Grand Central Station, as either a tourist or commuter, this is THE classic dining spot. It's been here over 100 years with a reason. Its unique atmosphere is a big part of the fun. Another of course is the oysters - lots of choices and super fresh. Our very knowledgeable and friendly server was another. Both clam chowders are very good, however, I've had better. Pass on the bland Ceasar salad.

Dined many times while visiting NY over the years. This october was the low point. Welcome was horrible - super rude “head waiter - Waiters at table were nice. Sesfood is generally sub par - or maybe sub sub par. Location is amazing - what the place could be with the right owners/chefs🙏🏻 We will come again - but only for the ambiance.

Underwhelmed in every way. Location is great of course but food very average, service mediocre and of course very expensive

I usually get the fried oyster po boy and dineyines the oyster soup. Both are good but filing. They serve the perfect oyster po boy on a bun with Cole flaw and butter snd crackers in the side. I have made a choice of diet to only have the Aldo po boy as weight as we age is nit good the po boy is perfect, Highly recommend sitting at the counter and be served by the v experienced staff . If you sit at tge ysyer bar have a selection of lei clans snd mussels or perhaps some more exotic at a higher cost with a ice cold brew( a perfect lunch) Be sure you tune it to avoid the crush from 1230 - Yo 130 they open at 1130 and have a to go windup in the terminal.

I’ll start with the food - the Queenscup and Irish Point oysters are good. However, I ordered one of the day’s specials - the sea bass - and it was not cooked. Like really not cooked. See the attached photo. Fortunately, they didn’t charge me for it, so I’m appreciative of that, but not a single manager or any kind of team lead came by to apologize. For this caliber of dining establishment, I expect better. Additionally, after realizing everyone around us had been given bread, we asked if we could have bread as well. The server told us he’d see what he could do “because the kitchen stops making.” This was at 745pm, so that’s impressive if that’s true. He did bring a couple biscuits, so that was also appreciated. Do with the info what you will. My opinion is that there are better places elsewhere.

Very interesting place, spacious, comfortable, excellent and friendly service, top quality food. Good tuff

My first time trying this historic restaurant in the historic Grand Central Terminal. Both opened in 1913. The Oyster Bar is on the concourse descending from the main level to the lower dining level. The Whispering Gallery is just outside the Bar. It has 4 dining areas: the Main Dining Room (checkered table cloths), the Oyster Bar counter, the Spiraling Counters, and the Saloon. All areas except the Saloon are situated under the Terminal's historic tiled arches. The Oyster Bar, Spiraling Counters and maybe the Saloon are first come, first served. The Main Dining Room accepts reservations. I chose to sit at the Oyster Bar, which faces the staff who shuck the fresh oysters and also make the famous pan-roasts. I ordered the fried Ipswich clams as a starter, then the cherrystone clam pan-roast. Both were quite good. The pan-roast is a cream and chili sauce-based chowder made with your choice of seafood. It is quite rich but yummy. They are made in special steam swivel-pots in full view of guests. The roast invariably overflows from the bowl it's poured into. A piece of toast is placed in the bowl before the soup is poured in, so the toast gets soggy immediately. Other dishes are prepared in another kitchen, so my waiter was running around a lot gathering dishes from different areas, as were all the wait staff. There are many more dishes I'd like to try here, so I'm sure I's be returning. The place is only open weekdays 11:30 am-9:30 pm, historically to serve commuters.

This is old school dining. The place is very grand. It can seat a lot of guests. The menu is rather massive. You should be able to find something that suits everyone. We enjoyed all of our dishes: crab cake appetizer, followed by shrimp & crab on a caesar salad plus halibut on mashed potatoes. Service throughout was polite & efficient.

The oysters were bland and tiny. ($25) The combination (shrimp,scallops,lobster,clams…etc) pan-roast ($27.95) was covered in a borderline nauseatingly over-creamed sauce and you had no idea what was what. It looked like a. pardon the expression, a bowl of lumpy vomit with no discernible taste whatsoever. The Baked Clams Casino ($21.95) however were good. Accompanied by a soda and a coffee total bill was $105 with tip. Outrageous.

A magnificent room with Gustavino tile arches, brass nautical-themed ceiling lamps. The menu changes daily, with large portions of mostly seafood dishes. Excellent fresh shrimp, crabcakes. Friendly, efficient staff, never felt rushed. A very enjoyable meal.

Sadly very disappointing. Everything went wrong: we ordered oysters lobster and salad with no dressing and we got: salad with dressing, lobster, oysters. By the time the oyster were on the table, we had no wine left, we ordered a new bottle and it arrived by the time we were finished. We ordered pasta (fusilli) for a toddler and we got the wrong pasta (linguine). Not the end of the world but what we ordered basically was constantly not what we received. The steamed lobster was tasteless. We were told no lobster rolls (due to buns being finished) and then we saw new clients having one. Finally; the bill was from a different table... took several iterations to explain our bill was different (and higher!)

We had a 5:30 pm reservation and arrived at 5:25 pm and were seated by the hostess. We waited 20 minutes at which time the manager walked by the table and we asked him "who is our server?" He replied "how long have you been waiting?" He then came back and said "I have three more servers coming in, but your server will be with you shortly". I told him that since it was almost New Year's that I wanted to order a bottle of champagne. We waited another 15 minutes before the server came over. I saw a bottle on the wine list for $120 Andre Jacquart Premier Cru Brut Experience. In looking online it was selling for $95 so I thought that this would be a good deal. We wanted to order oysters and was told by the waiter that it would take 45 minutes to an hour to get the oysters because they were so busy. We said "ok" and ordered two entrees. When the champagne came, I looked at the bottle and it was not what was on the menu...instead it was Andre Jacquare Vertus, which sells for $45 per bottle, less than half the price of the one on the menu! When I pointed this out to the waiter he said, "Oh well that is what we have" and walked away. We were very disappointed by the wait, the attitude of the server and the apparent deception with the wine list so I went back up to the manager and cancelled our dinner. Would you believe that the manager did not even remember me and asked "where are you sitting?" I would never go here again.

I have been to this restaurant on several occasions and been fairly satisfied with the food we ordered, this time was no different. One of my goals in the food world has been to eat soft shell crab and here they were, and very delicious served with vegetables and sod of fries. My partner chose the scallops with fries he too found his meal enjoyable. I found the service prompt but it lacked the personal touch, interest and friendliness which adds to the dinning experience, it felt like a canteen,

Wanting to share the Oyster Bar experience with a New England banker I booked lunch. We had plenty of time for a lengthy conversation in a fairly empty room. The service was decent but not great. I had the Dover sole . It was decent but not special. The vegetables alongside were not worth eating except for the potatoes which were okay. My visiting banker said that his wife’s sea bass was far better than the version that the Oyster Bar served. There was not enough taste in the fish course to justify ordering it. So we enjoyed our conversation and the environment, but not the food enough to return or to recommend it. I remember the old days and I miss them.

Cool but noisy setting which we all enjoyed; however the food was disappointing for all of us. Very bland swordfish although the toppings (salsa?) were tasty. Both family members who had crab cakes left half on their plates because they lacked flavor & had little crab meat in them. Even the fish & chips disappointed. Guess I can say the food was consistent in that none of it was up to par, especially for the price. I’ve used their GCOB cookbook for decades with delicious results, so again, very disappointing.

We have been here a number of times and this time brought family on holiday here. Our son and daughter in law love cheesecake. And this is one of the best, worth travelling across the workd for!

My sister has been to this restaurant many times whilst visiting from Scotland but this was my first time. The food was delicious, the restaurant had a great atmosphere and the staff were friendly. We shall definitely return on our next visit.

We returned to this historic and quaint place located in the always enjoyable context of grand central. The score is an average between the atmosphere and quality of the oysters (excellent) and the courses and service (reviewable). However recommended, perhaps more in bar mode for a toast with oysters in the big apple.

If you want clam chowder that has maybe one tiny piece of one clam and maybe one or two potato chunks and the rest flour, cream and butter, and water probably, and doesn’t taste like clams at all, this is the perfect place. It is a nice restaurant to sit and absorb the history, and the bread and butter serving is very nice, but the clam chowder today was the worst I’ve ever had. I don’t think it’s even worthy of the name. I enjoyed talking to my seatmates and the glass of wine was okay, but I hope the other food is a lot better. At $12plus a pop, the soup is no longer reasonable. My dad used to take me here on occasion for a nice lunch, and my mom taught me that the clam chowder was a good thing to get if you are a solo diner looking for a quick, comforting meal. No more.

This is not a pretentious snooty type of restaurant. This is a beautiful historic landmark underneath another historic landmark. It seems like a wonderfully maintained facility that serves up fresh quality seafood. Lobster, oysters, fish, clams, shrimp, etc, is all available to diners delight. We tried an array of east coast oyster varieties and enjoyed every bite. Additionally, my wife got a lobster roll and I ordered a oyster po’boy sandwich. If you’ve never had a lobster roll from Maine, this is the best lobster roll you’ll ever have.

We shared fried oyster appetiser and had a couple of raw oysters each. It was a good experience to see the building sitting at the counter, the food doesn’t live up to the expectations . The lady serving was attentive and friendly. About 3 hours after the visit my wife was very ill, it may be a coincidence but the oyster is the chief suspect.

Two Brits on a second visit to New York, we really looked forward to lunching here but the experience was so disappointing. The food itself was reasonable - battered giant shrimp with fries and a serving of shellfish stew with lobster - but presentation and service spoilt the meal. I ordered a single oyster just so I could say I had one in the famous Oyster Bar. It was presented on ice with paper pots of shallot vinegar and ketchup. Asked for Tabasco which server didn’t seem to understand though we saw it on other tables. He brought two small packs of crackers so we described Tabasco again but he never returned. Oyster tasted good. Both meals were tasty with lovely shellfish but my stew was slopped right to the edge of the low soup bowl and looked most unappetising. The steamed potatoes with butter and parsley that I’d ordered as a side were undercooked and cold. The replacement came after I’d finished the not substantial stew so it was taken off the bill. The most inappropriate action you can take with a Brit is point out that they haven’t left a tip…when they purposely didn’t leave a tip. The bar is a beautiful room with historic provenance. The food is unexceptional and the service, from both kitchen and serving staff, is below par.

Stopped for lunch upon arrival in NYC - a time honored tradition of my husband's. Maître d' was a grumpy New Yorker, but found us a table though we had no reservation. The underground restaurant area of Grand Central is a unique experience - a full food court, lots of options. Safe. Bathrooms. Easy access from trains & subway. The Oyster House itself is a gorgeous space original to the station - beautiful tile ceilings. The tile makes it quite loud. Extensive (and expensive!) seafood menu. Food & service were good not great.

Located in Grand Central Station, this restaurant enjoys an exceptional location. The first reception is cold, then our waiter will ensure an attentive service. A very large selection of tasty oysters offered, the other dishes chosen are correct, without justifying the asking price. Therefore, too expensive to take away the 5 stars

A beautiful restaurant at the Grand Cantral. A very beautiful and pleasant place. The service is appropriate and does not compromise. The food left me with mixed feelings... The clam chowder was tasteless and blurred. The salmon in turn was pretty good. After all, it’s a restaurant worth visiting because it’s an icon of NYC.

Golly, I've loved this place since I was a kid. The oysters are obviously the main attraction; my dinner partners had them raw (waiter very helpful with selection) and I had mine steamed. Yum. Despite the crowd the service was very prompt. I rarely go to NYC without stopping here.

Maybe I'm too nostalgic, but I've loved GCOB since the 90s and a visit was always a must! After a 10 year NYC break, we were finally there again - and what can I say? It was a huge disappointment! The receptionist greeted us with one word - an unfriendly “Name?” and then preferred to chat with her colleagues instead of bringing us to the table. Later she shuffled around between the tables yawning loudly and didn't feel the need to cover her mouth... We ordered 12 oysters (way overpriced at $70, but what the heck) which unfortunately didn't seem entirely fresh, but tasted ok. The Caesar salad was tiny, basically without dressing, with a few slivers of dry parmesan shavings listlessly on top. The grilled tuna tasted ok, but not really grilled - more like steamed, therefore without roasted aromas and though ordered medium was completely raw and cold on the inside. The side dish of steamed vegetables was thoughtlessly thrown together, overcooked and tasteless. The catfish was fried into hard chunks, the scallops were partly tough. One point is given for children's meals (chicken with fries) - but with 380$ for 4 grown ups (who had no alkohol) and a child not even close to be worth that kind of money! Of course, the large, tiled room is still a spectacular sight, but the food and service are certainly not what they used to be. The place is now no more than a tourist trap. A big loss.

The two stars are for the oysters and Guinness at the start of our meal. My Manhattan clam chowder was delivered to the table barely warm, and looked unappetising, full of unidentifiable bits in it. The waiter was indifferent to the fact that I told him it was barely warm and inedible. He just walked away with it. No apology or a suggestion of a different meal. I've had better service in a transport cafe.

A historic location full of charm, red and white checked tablecloths, a vast fish menu. The food was certainly very good even if the sole was rather dry and without salt. The scallops au gratin and the fried calamari are excellent. Wine list needs improvement, as does the somewhat botched service. Really cheap bill for what you received compared to the New York average.

Great ambience, good food great servers.. we will be back and next time, we will have more oysters, delicious.

The Great Station of New York, at 42nd Street there is an OSTERIA Restaurant highly recommended, for its wide menu, plenty of space and good service

Quite overrated. The food is OK, but the wait is quite long and the service is very impersonal. The place is very beautiful, the noise level is high (like in most restaurants in the USA) and the prices are high.

This place should get between 3 and 5 stars, so it gets 4. Clam Chowder was decent, but not awesome and we got a shrimp dish that was not the best I have had... however, this is overall a great place in an amazing train station. So definitely visit.

With the high reviews, we were both disappointed with our entrees. Combination seafood pan roasted stew - rich cream sauce had broken down, not creamy at all, not hot. Husband's crabcakes over fried, tepid. I know we should have sent them back, our fault. We appreciated the server's attendance, yet we ask for 10 minutes, don't come back in two asking for our order. We sat in the saloon at 3:00PM Thursday

If there is a better seafood restaurant, it must be on another planet! The best, fresh product, prepared masterfully and consistently for over a century.

Every year when I’m back in NYC I come to the GCOB. This time was disappointing. The fish dishes were as good as always. No issues there. I recommend the scrod special or halibut. But, they were out of several items and the server waited until we wanted something to tell us that, and not too nicely either. To his credit, it was a Friday night and the place was packed. He was covering a lot of tables and the service was below par. Maybe not his fault, but definitely not mine. The management needs to review staffing. So, this years overall experience was just average, except for the food which was very good. But this is not an inexpensive place, so they need to step up their game and the overworked servers need to retrained in customer hospitality.

Possibly the most over-hyped place in NYC. This place is past its prime. It is perpetually over-crowded. On our visit, despite being early and a cold rainy day, it was extremely hot inside. It was also very very loud. It was impossible to talk to the other guests at our table. We were seated for over 30 minutes before they even took our drink order and it was over an hour before we got our food. The food was ok but we had much better oysters at a random place upstate the day before. Several of the oysters were very gritty. Probably the only bright spot was that the waiters were very attentive and gracious. Didn’t live up to the hype.

We started with the surly disinterested maitre d' and it went downhill from there. The waiter showed up after 20 minutes and took our order and left. Of the raw oysters they actually arrived, 4/10 had somehow been pulverized. Then came the anchovy oysters. Of the six, one had been pulverized and one was missing. I think they forgot the crackers on the smoked salmon platter but we could not ask because there was no waiter to be found. Half of our ordered oysters and my coffee never showed up. We were so excited to eat at this iconic place but all I can say is don't.

This was such a neat environment and located directly below Grand Central Station. If you enjoy raw oysters this is the place to go! We tried the Wellfleet, Bluepoint, and Queenscup oysters and they were all delicious. We also enjoyed the lobster roll and New England clam chowder.

Wow! It had been 10 Years since we had last been and felt like 10 weeks since we sat down and shared Deep Fried Oysters and a chilled wine…..just hope it is not 10 years until we can share the experience again. Well done GCS Oyster Bar for keeping the experience 👏👏

I had been wanting to come here for years given the history of this place and my wife and I were lucky to stop in on a trip this past summer. We ate at the bar and that seems to be the best way to dine here. Service was good and we enjoyed our drinks (local IPA and a glass of wine). My wife got the Manhattan clam chowder and I got the oysters Rockefeller, both of which were tasty. It was a bit pricey for our snacks, but that's to be expected given the location. All in all, it was a nice stop and we're glad we were able to come here!

We had been referred to this place by friends and I have to say, wow. What an experience, lovely atmosphere, excellent service, and the best scallops I have had in many years. The menu is excellent with huge variety. Whilst sitting waiting on our food we watched as many beautiful plates of food came out from the kitchen. We had the most delicious shrimp and scallops with great sides, beautifully cooked and utterly scrumptious. A definite for any visitors

Disappointed with the meals. The fish was watery, and the vegetables overcooked. The boiled potatoes could have been much better if they had been roasted a bit. Service was average and unattentive.

This restaurant is extraordinarily mediocre. Our service was absolutely wonderful but the food is subpar at best. We had oysters Rockefeller as a starter which was fine, but nothing special. 25$ for 6 oysters and the spinach to oyster ratio was sad. Me and my husband both got the lobster roll for our normal food. The fries were great and super crispy but the lobster roll was flavorless. A good size portion and the lobster was obviously fresh and not fishy, but there was just no flavor. When you ate the lobster roll it literally just tasted like you were eating bread. Undersalted, underseasoned, and honestly just not good. The coleslaw was absolutely horrendous. Dry and flavorless as well. If we were at another restaurant with worse service we would’ve complained about the lobster roll but our server was so nice we decided not to say anything. I think overall the service is great but the food is not, especially for how expensive the food is. Also the bathrooms are in the attached saloon and they are repulsive. Looks like a bathroom that would be in a strip club in the ghetto. Obnoxious lip shaped couches and pink doors and horrifically dirty.

What a place to end your day with family friends. True hidden gem. Variety of sea food and beverages. This was one of our favorite meals in NYC.

The location is wonderful unfortunately the service is dreadful. The restaurant is huge and is so loud you can’t have a conversation with the person your sat opposite without shouting. Our Waiter wasn’t attentive made us feel like we were an inconvenience to him. He couldn’t take a simple drink order and got angry and dismissive when we questioned it. We were presented the bill, he took my card away, took the payment which instantly showed on my phone. He then gave me the receipt and said nothing further. I took all the receipts at which point he came and asked how much was paying……. He had already taken my payment, had he brought the card machine to me before taking the payment I would have considered giving a small tip for the other staff (not our Waiter). But he quickly became aggressive and shouting into my face. He wondered why I didn’t leave a tip, you have to earn a tip - bad service = no tip.

We had been looking forward to having oysters and lobster at this iconic place. We ordered oysters natural and they tasted excellent. 2 of us also got fried oysters with tartar sauce and they tasted ok but nothing more. My wife and kids got lobster rolls 🦞 and they tasted and smelled quite horrible. All 3 of them were inedible and when the waiter asked if it tasted good, we said it was! They luckily deleted 2 lobster rolls from the bill which was ok. We won't be back, if you want oysters and lobster with a good glass of wine, try Cull & Pistol in Chelsea Market which is outstanding 😀

Partner wanted to visit this restaurant for years and did not disappoint lovely atmosphere and pleasant surroundings in Grand Central Station. Oyster were very nice would recommend

For all the hype, aside from the oyster selection, this place was underwhelming. We ordered 15 oysters, two shrimp, cocktails, mussels, and two New England clam chowders. we also ordered sparkling wine and wine with our dinner. Despite the restaurant, being half empty, the hostess wanted to seat us in the far back corner with one of us facing the wall. I requested a different seat, and it seemed to be problematic for whatever reason, but I insisted, and we were finally placed at a two seater in the middle of the restaurant. Several waiters and food runners interact with your table, apparently making it confusing as we would ask somebody for something, and then they would never show up with it and we’d have to ask somebody else. Initially, when we were sat at the table, our server walked by us four times and told us he’d be right with us. When we asked for a bill at the end of the night, the same thing happened. Not to mention one of the gentleman clearing the dishes from the tables was hovering over us, and several times asked us if we were finished with our dishes when it was very clear we were not. We found the service overall annoying in that way. Several of the oysters had shell in them from shucking. Clam chowder was very good and served with oyster crackers but wasn’t very hot. The mussel broth was bland, and it was obvious that they are cooked in massive batches and sit waiting to be ordered because they were not hot either. The five shrimp in the cocktail are massive. The Spanish arches are beautiful, but the red and white checkered vinyl and paper tablecloths are outdated. The atmosphere leaves much to be desired, which is too bad because this place has been around so long - at this point I don’t think they care very much and are resting on their longevity. It’s too bad, because my adult son is a huge fan of oysters, and I was really excited to surprise him with this visit while in NYC. At $225 before tip, it was disappointing.

Absolutely shocking. Food- the much-vaunted clam chowder was tastless and while we were eating it (we left over half in the end) they arrived with our main course of jumbo prawns. I therefore sent it back. When it re-appeared we ate half of it again. Pretty unappetising. Wine - ordered a bottle and it was eventually delivered to the table. After a taste and our first glass, we were left to pour the rest ourselves. This experience warranted a negative service charge and a refund! Stay away would be our advice.

Immense menu, obviously specializing in anything"Shellfish". But, yes they had many other offering to choose from. Only wished they had more Salmon/Shrimp dishes, that's not their fault. We didn't have a reservation and we were escorted to the "Saloon", that was very nice. The Main server (Saloon 302 S) was very indifferent, as if he really didn't want to be there. Felt that he had the personality of a "Turnip", my wife agreed.

Thank you, thank you. The family had a great birthday dinner experience . Previously (January) we visited and had a terrible dinner due to total lack of service. We left a message for management which was promptly returned. They listened to me and I listened to them. I sympathize with them about the lack of good workers available in today's market. They generously sent a gift certificate and we tried again. This time was very enjoyable! The servers were very attentive and Jonathan came by to see that we were enjoying our dinner. The food was delicious and wonderfully presented. To me, the Oyster Bar is back. Thank you again!

We visited twice about a week apart and got table service. The first time our entrees arrived before the appetizers arrived and they put them under a heat lamp until we were ready for them. The second time we left after waiting 45.minutes and being ignored by the waitstaff and receiving no food.

A very disappointing experience. The lobster roll tasted off and the fries with it was not eatable. My last ever visit to this place.

Absolutely disgraceful and from what might have been a memorable meal….yes memorable as I’m still recovering from food poisoning.Any cook with knowledge of shell fish knows that you NEVER serve lukewarm fish.On reflection,I should have returned my order but my husband and I were intimidated by the awful service.I have been very very unwell and had to travel home on a plane (can you imagine) my system is shot to bits.I would have an order placed on it and send in the Public Health bodies. I don’t want to eat a meal in a “restaurant “again.Thanks to the airline for looking after me.

I visited solo, for a light lunch/snack, on a break from sightseeing in the area. You go down the escalators to get to the restaurant; it’s tucked off to the side, not in the central area of the food places downstairs. The restaurant itself is beautiful to look at and has a really nice atmosphere. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I had three oysters, each different, selected from the menu that lists what is available that day, with some fries to help fuel the exploring coming up after the food. I know three isn’t many oysters - I was also off for an oyster dinner, so kept some restraint when ordering! The oysters were excellent and I enjoyed the whole experience, I am familiar and very comfortable with solo travel and eating (it can be such a great experience) but if you’re not and you’re wondering if you’ll feel out of place, you most definitely won’t. You’re in Grand Central station - you’ll see plenty of solo travellers enjoying the food.

Overrated, drinks are filled with 80% ice and mussels had sand in them. My dad was excited to come here after decades, but we left shortly after, dissapointed. Would not recommend.

Not sure if they were having an off night, but the experience was really abysmal. Front desk staff was rude. Then they ceremoniously hand you an extensive, elaborate menu, but when we ordered we were told they were out of many dishes, and the server showed us a list printed on dirty receipt paper of what was left for us to choose from. The best part was that they told us several times that any order of oysters would take at least 40 minutes to prepare because they were backed up. It's like, remind me again what the name of this place is? Then after all of that the food was just average. Pretty bland salmon with a poorly-done bernaise sauce, and Manhattan clam chowder that tasted like it came out of a can. Maybe this place would be fun for a happy hour before you jump on your metro north train but I would absolutely never come here for dinner.

Visited this place simply because of it's fame. We were welcomed by a friendly staff, and seated in a corner of the room. A big open space, with the "typical American" noise level. The starters were oysters. Quite tasty and fresh - but be aware of the price level. At a price of appr 5 USD/oyster, they better be good. The real let down was however the main courses. Nothing exciting, and something more worthy of a simple street cafeteria than a restaurant like this. Mentioning especially the pasta, which was soggy and overcooked,

Scary but I’ve been coming to the Oyster Bar since 1979. It epitomizes New York taste and class. The best of all seafood from around the world, delivered in the sassy, competent, caring way of old New York. I’ve lived in Maine for 37 years and the oysters and fish at the Oyster Bar are just as good as what I get at home —- plus seafood from over a dozen other locales. The martini comes with a side car, something you haven’t seen anywhere else in a decade. It’s a fine thing to be cutting edge….it’s just as good to be a classic in substance and style. Get it while you can.

A unique and welcoming time capsule of old New York City that is thriving today. Not to be missed if you seek the flavor of New York.

The worst service experience I’ve had in a restaurant ever! After causing a severe allergic reaction by staff not asking for allergies / disclosing what’s on the menu,”Andrew” the Manager proceeded to blame it all on my wife! It was apparently her fault for not asking and to boot, he then called the Police 👮‍♀️ on us as we said we had a problem with the bill. Seven Police officers later whilst Andrew hid, we decided it wasn’t worth and paid the full bill for the worst experience ever. What was supposed to have been a special Valentines Day lunch was turned into a very upsetting and embarrassing for my family, something I hope Andrew feels very proud about. The worst customer service experience ever. I’m still in absolute shock now.

Great menu , food lovely amazing building .. thoroughly enjoyable ! Oysters delicious but so much more to choose from .. well worth it ..

After reading La Nuit du Renard, it’s impossible to resist the urge to discover this iconic place: the Oyster Bar in Grand Central. The setting is timeless, full of history, with a unique ambience – even if the sound level is quite high, especially during peak hours. On the plate, we enjoyed shrimp popcorn, squid with hot sauce, a delicious lobster and an authentic American cake. Everything was very good, well prepared and generously served. A special moment in a mythical place in New York. To live at least once!

We sat in the bar and ate various oysters, clam showder, Lobster roll and grilled seabass and drank a fantastic white wine. Everything was amazingly good and the soup the best I have ever eaten. The atmosphere is awesome and the service absolutely wonderful ❤️

Of course an iconic place due to its location in Grand Central. We had lunch there, oysters and clam chowder. The plus: a large selection of oysters. I regretted not having lunch in the Saloon: a room which seems more pleasant than the main room. Hefty bill for the meal, only valid for the location.

Popped in and sat at bar, Ty the bartender provided impeccable service and oysters were delicious. Had several Bloody Mary. We enjoy dining at establishments that have been in business for more than 75 years, I mean, there’s a reason why they’re in business.

Called in on a really warm day without a reservation , for two, we were seated immediately in a very comfortable bar area . As soon as we sat down the server gave us very welcome glasses of iced water. We had the most delicious jumbo shrimp cocktail to start followed by huge portions of really good fish and chips. The bill came to a very reasonable $100 or so, plus tip. Food and service was amazing.

We had New England clam chowder and a forehand oyster platter. Recommended for families: There are different tables for those with reservations and those without.

Have been coming here for years - but the last time was 2019. My what a difference! Despite the efforts of one of our very kind waiters, the rest of the service was miserable. All of our glasses of champagne were room temperature and the Chardonnay which followed was horrible. The main courses arrived within 3 minutes of our starters (which were paltry and without flavor). The « waiter » removed my daughter’s dish so she could finish her oysters, only for him to return the same plate 5 minutes later - now stone cold. The oysters were tired and only half were edible. The shrimp in the shrimp cocktail had zero taste and were hard as rocks. My swordfish was « grilled » to remove any semblance of moisture and served with what was billed as rice pilaf, but tasted more like undercooked Uncle Ben’s. Scallops were tiny and way overcooked and what passed for vegetables were mealy and inedible. Truly a terrible dining experience which we will not repeat! Such a shame, as we have so many fond memories of what the Oyster Bar used to be, but now, no thanks!

Nice restaurant located inside Grand Central Station, a bit noisy but this might be the price you pay for seeing the catalan vaults of the ceilings from Guastavino! Recommended

This one has been on our list and didn’t disappoint. We visited mid week about 7.30 pm. With no reservation we sat at the counters and was really pleased we had. The entire place was packed and is really really noisy - but perhaps less so in the counter area. While for us it was about enjoying the experience - the food was good although perhaps a little expensive as you might except. We tried oysters, had delicious crab cakes and a shrimp linguine dish with HUGE shrimps. It was very popular with New Yorkers. So glad we went. Would totally recommend. Had teenager with us who loved the vibe so also recommend for families. Do it!

GCOB was always my number one port of call when visiting NYC. Sadly, no more. A very flat ambience, robotic service, disappointing Oysters Rockefeller and a bouillabaisse entirely lacking in flavour even with the addition of industrial quantities of salt and pepper. I am saddened by its decline and cancelled two other reservations that I had made during my visit to NYC. If it wasn't for old time's sake i would have only given one star.

Great atmosphere in a vaulted cellar with several rooms in Grand Central Station. Fast and friendly service with fantastic food.

We love oysters, so we had a total of 20, various kinds. They tasted very good and were fresh. Maybe it was just me - but the ones I had were not separed well enough from the shell, and you got oyster shell in your mouth when you ate them. Service was a bit weird, and we ended up with a lot of bread and oyster crackers? We also had a main course each, and they were really nothing special. If you want to experience this NY classic, I recommend to go directly to the oyster bar (and not get seated at a table), have a few oysters - and leave.

Wildly uneven food. Clam chowder is OK, lobster cocktail is fine. Ordered the linguine with clams and they should not be serving this dish.. the linguine with chopped clams, in a white wine sauce was very good.. the supposedly fresh clams on top where disgusting. Clearly pre-cooked and put in the refrigerator. When served the shells are bizarrely cold, and the clam inside is lukewarm. The clams are rubbery, tasteless, absolutely one of the worst renditions of steamed clams I’ve ever had. . You cannot cook clams ahead of time and then try to reheat them.., it makes me wonder what kind of restaurant would do that. The atmosphere is wonderful, old New York at its best, and if you order other items, you’ll have a nice meal.

Delicious food, great atmosphere, and delightful service. Mary our server was friendly and helpful. Did I mention the food? A must do if you're visiting New York.

Had a brilliant afternoon, not cheap but food was fabulous food selection was excellent plenty of different choices .

Our eager return to GCOB was very disappointing. While the many varieties of oysters are still fresh and delicious, the small ones in particular were poorly shucked, barely cut from the shell, making a good portion of the meat inaccessible, and wasted. The clams were not adequately cleaned and were sandy. The rainbow trout from Idaho was served filleted and almondine, but was overcooked, dry and presented with hardly any almonds or butter. The side of steamed vegetables was thoughtlessly thrown together, over done & tasteless. Of course, the large, tiled space is always bright & noisy, but it used to be part of the fun of an extraordinary experience. Now, the place has become a tourist trap. A great loss.

The service is fast and eftective, the food is really delicious. If you want to sit at a table you need a reservation however you could always find a place to sit at the bar which is easy and fast

I visited the bar with friends, they had coffees and soft drinks and i enjoyed a glass of fizz and a choice of oysters. The experience felt really special as I had wanted to go for so long.

This restaurant dates from the golden age of railroad travel when New Yorkers began a business trip, departure to college, a vacation or heading off to war at Grand Central Station. And if timing and budget allowed, what better place to send them off? Amtrak consolidated long distance trains at Penn Station years ago but Grand Central continues to have many commuter trains to the Hudson River suburbs, Connecticut, and now, Long Island. The Oyster Bar is a very special part of the station. As might be expected, seafood is predominant. More than a dozen varieties of oysters on the half shell...pick favorites or ask the server to create a variety. ( Hint: ask for bread; it's available and good with the oysters but they don't serve it unless requested.) Accompany with a white wine: selection by the glass is limited, bottle selection much wider. Most entrees are accompanied with boiled potatoes, French fries or rice, and a vegetable mix. I chose grilled scallops which were perfectly done. A selection of good desserts is offered if you have room.

We were a family group celebrating a special birthday and had booked the table 9 months ahead. We waited 1 hour and 45 minutes for our food to arrive. A significant number of dishes ordered, including oysters, were not available. Several of our party ordered clam chowder but it was not available and they were offered red clam chowder instead. The bread to accompany it never arrived - despite us asking several times. When the "chowder" eventually arrived it was cold, slopped over the sides of the bowls and had never been anywhere near a clam let alone have any it it. At best it tasted like tinned vegetable soup. We raised our concerns with the manager who was barely coherent, could hardly open his eyes and appeared substance affected. Bizzarely he asked if we would be leaving a great review! Our waiter was clearly embarrassed by the whole situation and his manager's slurry, incomprehensible behaviour. An offered bottle of wine by way of apology never materialised. The "chowders" were - eventually (manager seemed unable to count them all on the bill) not charged for. We left hungry, disappointed and hugely let down by what should have been an iconic and special experience. We were not the only unhappy customers - several tables around us were complaining or simply left. Grand Central is an amazing place with lots of other lovely eateries - go there and don't bother with the Oyster Bar. It fails to live up to its reputation and is a waste of time and money.

The location is particularly beautiful. The quality of the dishes we ordered was very disappointing. The oysters, clems, mussels and shrimps, indicated on the menu as 'flatter', come straight from the refrigerator (you could almost say freezer) so they had no taste at all. The other hot dishes were also not tasty. The service was a bit giggly about it. The white wine (bottle of chardonnay) was very good.

This is one of my favorite NYC restaurants. I was REALLY looking forward to eating there today. I usually order oysters but it was a special occasion so I decided to splurge and get the lobster roll ($43.95). I was VERY disappointed. It was loaded with onion. I have had a lot of New England lobster rolls and have never had one with onion. Also, the lobster meat was sort of shredded. There were only 2 or 3 chunks of lobster. It certainly was NOT a $43.95 meal. The waiter never asked how it was so I didn't bother to share my dissatisfaction with anyone. The key lime pie ($12.50) was good but we had to ask twice to get coffee. Sad to say, this was not a good day for us at the Oyster Bar

The food here is great. I recently ordered the fried ipswich clams and it was delicious. I've been coming here for 20 + years, usually for lunch, sometimes for dinner, and occasionally on the weekend and I've never been disappointed. The best thing about it is that they always have what's fresh/in season. I'm surprised to read a bunch of negative reviews. I'm only disappointed that they are now closed both Saturday and Sunday. It's such a nice place to come to on a weekend with a group of people. I think of it as a dependable go to, especially if friends are visiting from out of town. But I happily go there alone too.

We had lunch at the counter and it was nice to watch the staff at work. Recommended for both fried and raw oysters. There are a lot of people so better to book. Prices are in line with the prices of other restaurants in New York. The place is very quaint and historic. Perfect for taking two photos :) It's inside the grand central so if you use the toilet at the station sometimes, the toilets are clean.

We had a special dinner here on our last trip in 2013 and had said we would definitely return So booked in for 3pm on a Friday and slightly surprised it wasn’t busier Started with a couple of Bloody Mary oyster shooters as celebrating birthdays plus just being in NYC Appetisers of octopus and ceviche were amazing Mains of sea scallops and grouper were equally as good Washed down with a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Service was excellent and no time pressure to clear the table It was busier as the afternoon progressed Great experience, wonderful food and service and not hugely expensive for the whole experience Hopefully be back before another ten years go by 😊

I ate here lunch almost every Friday at the oyster bar in the oyster bar for ..5 years as my office was across the street . in tax season I went to the take out window to then eat and work at my desk in the Chan. Building. They are consistent, make great chowder as well. Once in a while I brought special clients and sat at a table. We s are Kay’s had great fish, soup snd non fish waters had several other options. Their architecture is classic old New York and the waitstaff is trained to handle almost anything. A true ny experience that that I have been in fir over 39 years A must do stop fir goodies and historians

We had reservations for noon and arrived early and were seated in a corner in the back of the restaurant. I asked if we could sit in a more central location, but were told these seats were "reserved." Not so--the rude maitre d acted like he was doing us a favor to even be in his restaurant and told us to take it or leave. We stayed and when my order of oysters arrived there was no oyster fork or oyster crackers, both of which help to improve the dining experience. I ordered the fresh halibut--it was dried our and room temperature. My wife had a soup, which was also room temperature. My lunch was missing half the items listed, which were provided once I was able to talk with the server, who was very busy with anything but taking care of our table. I will not return and will advise others to do the same.

Superb dinner (although for the amount of Lobster Luke's on the concourse is better value but doesn't have the ambience!) Great service, fantastic (and massive) menu that caters to any taste but is heavily seafood and fish based. On the pricey side but in line with current NYC restaurants I guess (Mains around $35-45 or lobster $58)

We dropped in here as a great place for lunch after a tour of the un. Such a huge place and menu in the middle but concealed within grand central station. We didn’t want to eat much but chowder was beautiful and Cajun prawns so fresh. I had cheesecake and it was perfect, I had waited for 4 years and it was worth the wait.

Two couples for lunch. Went to the bar first, then seated promptly. Wait service was prompt. Everything was prepared exceptionally well. That included the large crab meat cocktail, raw oysters, dinner roll, iced tea, and grilled red snapper entree. The snapper was cooked perfectly, something rarely achieved. One of those rare meals where every food and drink item was meticulously prepared and served. Wow!!!

An oyster bar located inside Grand Central Station. It is divided into counter and table seating. I went alone so I was recommended to sit at the counter. There were many options on the menu and I was unsure which one to choose. In the end I asked for the recommendation. I ordered a few other dishes and they were delicious. It was a normal oyster bar.

Fantastic experience. My wife loves oysters, and our waiter suggested a selection of a dozen each from a different region (each carefully labeled) which – at least for her – was mouthwatering (I don’t eat oysters). I had the swordfish steak – the best I’ve ever had. Cheesecake and Key Lime Pie – excellent. New York can be a rushed and impersonal place – not the Oyster Bar. It’s calm, congenial, no rush whatsoever; the staff seems concerned only with making it a nice experience. The atmosphere was terrific for this special birthday occasion. The majestically-redesigned Grand Central at holiday time was a seasonal extra. Expensive? Hey, it’s New York and it’s oysters, but the point is: it’s very good value.

It's been many years since we were last here. They still serve great oysters but service is really poor and indifferent. It's a shame as this used to be a reliable 'go-to' venue for fresh seafood.

We've always loved the joint -- it's long been an obligatory stop when we're in NYC -- but for the usual reasons (mainly the Covid stuff) it had been a few years. And some negative reviews meanwhile had us concerned. But no worries. The place was busy on a Monday night, it looked great, the servers still knew their bivalves (large, fresh selection, as expected) and no one does fish better. Had the classic monkfish (bearnaise sauce), shared a batch of fried plump delicate Ipswich clams, my wife (once again) loved the white chowder, the martinis were perfect . . . etc. Costs can get a little out of hand if you're not careful ($5.25 for one kumamoto oyster, so reflexively ordering a dozen is a bit of an indulgence), but that's my only caveat. The Oyster Bah, forever!

In the basement of a large terminal exchange perhaps one of the most beautiful train station in the world, a magnificent restaurant hides, delicious soup of clams, however the quality of preparation of fried sole fillets was not there, despite all hearty as well as the well-stocked vegetable filling,

We stumbled upon the ‘secret’ entrance in the station. It leads to a back dining room that is separate from the main restaurant. We just had a quick Glidden Point (Maine) oyster and shot of Casamigos before dinner

Busy restaurant with a nice atmosphere, service isn’t bad but not what I would call warm or memorable. Food is decent, but again nothing spectacular.

I was looking forward to getting back to the Oyster Bar since the last time I visited was pre Covid. I was not disappointed but the food and service is not quite back up to my memory. I don't think I will return until I see much better reviews. It was just not the same vibe. I asked for bread and they gave me a very small serving where I remember a bread basket. In the past the place was packed at 7pm and service was OK, it was about 80% full and service was super slow. The Oysters and soup were great.

We always enjoy our meals here when in NYC. This year we went to The Summit One observation deck next door. Then stopped here afterwards on a Monday night. We had Clam Chowder soup, shrimp cocktail, scallops, Combination platter. All super fresh and tasty. Recommended for food and unique location in Grand Central. A short walk from Bryant Park or Times Square area.

This place is one level under the clock in the grand hall. The place on a Thursday evening at half full was loud and severely understaffed. Service was slow too. The oysters were fine, the drinks menu lacking. If you come, only come for a few oysters and a glass of wine with a friend on your way to your next train. The famous stew/bake was a sweet creamy bowl of broth which was scant on the fish at $29. The toast was a soggy thin sopping at the bottom of the broth thing. Not toast! No go! The mains were meh…merely meant to fill a plate but inattentive to quality cooking and ingredients. The key lime pie is passable. The chocolate souffle is not souffle…more like a cold cakey mousse inside a chocolate shell. Overpriced for what is delivered. Disappointing.

Poor service by our waiter. He was rude and walked away before we could order our second meal. He asked us three times are we sure we wanted crackers with our oysters? Yes we do or we wouldn’t have asked for crackers.

We went for dinner on a Friday night at 6.30pm. The place was almost full. We were sat in the main dining hall. Great architecture, but quite noisy, lots of large groups. Service was friendly but could have been a little quicker. Food was very good, portion size not huge by American standards. Prices a bit on the high side. It's a once-a-year place really if you like fish.

Typical place inside Grand Central Station in Manhattan. Cuisine mainly focused on fish and shellfish. Excellent Clam Chawder. Nice, quaint place but too loud.

Excellent quality of the menu lobster and oysters I will do average service a little 'breathtaking overall recommend it

What a rip off 34 dollars for a tasteless lobster roll. lobster had been frozen, the fries were not fresh. best part was the coleslaw. I would discourage a visit there.

Every time my mother is in town she likes to go to the Oyster Bar, we've been going there for many, many years and it used to be always a pleasant experience. This time... not so pleasant. We made a reservation and got there 3 minutes early. When we checked in, the host wanted to seat us by the bar, even though we had a reservation AND they had several empty tables (as you can see in the photo) in the dining room. I explained to him that we wanted to be seated at the main dining room and he got very rude and told us to stand there and wait until 8 pm when he would have a table for us (please note this was at 5.30 pm). So let me be as clear as possible... at 5.30 pm this person wanted my 81-year-old mother, my wife and myself to stand there for 2.5 hours to be seated in the main dining room while there were at least 6 empty tables. At some point he decided to stop being a baby and got us seated. From there, it took several minutes to locate the server every time we needed anything. The food was just ok. Bouillabaise was half the size it used to be, and twice the price. Oysters were fresh and delicious. Stone crab claws were also fresh. All their prices have risen considerably. Not sure if i will ever go back.