Nectar Cafe Reviews

We popped into Nectar to get out of the hot sun and have a quick bite to eat - Nectar is an old fashioned diner that takes feeding people very seriously. The ingredients are beautifully fresh and there is no way you are going to leave hungry or thirsty. Only discovered this little gem on our last day. Don’t make the same mistake! The selection of desserts looked great too, but we were way too full to try them. The service was very friendly and professional.

Wanted to grab a bite before tackling the Met. Great choice. Very busy but we got seated at the counter. Excellent fast service. Great prices for NYC. Coffee 2$ and a sandwich for 10$ wow! I had a BLT untoasted on rye. Delicious. Came with tons of crisp lettuce and thick tomato slices. Big pickle spear and coleslaw. Mayo on the side, hubby had grilled ham and cheese with same accompaniments. Clean quick courteous service and we'll run cafe. So so busy but always a smile and great service. I was impressed and the food was very good , price great.

After a walk in the morning in Central Park and visiting the Guggenheim we wanted to find a place nearby to have lunch with the family. We saw this corner coffee/lunch place with a family look and tried. Food was good and good value for money, service was kind and nice. Owners are Greek and you can find traditional Greek dishes as well as other classic brunch/lunch plates

This is a decent place for lunch if you are at the Metropolitan Museum. It is located a block over on Madison Avenue. I had a hamburger and it was perfectly prepared.

What I like best about this place is its close location to the Met--just a block of so away on Madison. It helps that the food and service are good, as well. We ordered soup and a sandwich and they were both very good. I noticed a couple of people having the hamburger plate: huge burgers! Prices may be a bit higher, but that is due to the location. Full diner menu and it is usually crowded around lunch time. The diner is open from 7AM until 10PM seven days a week. You can order online, too! The next time I visit the Met, I'll definitely stop in for some grub!

Located in a neighbourhood with not much choice if you are visiting Museum Mile. The staff were nice but the food was big and tasteless. An open warm turkey sandwich came with a tiny piece of soggy bread and topped with about a pound of sliced tasteless turkey topped with a white gravy. My greek salad was fresh but more than big enough for 4 people to share and there wasn't any options to get a smaller one. Other people around us had sandwiches looked more edible so perhaps it was bad food choices. Big push by waitstaff to include the service tip on the bill.

For an Australian looking for an authentic New York diner / cafe breakfast without hoards of tourists, this is a great pick. Filled with locals, quick and attentive service and the menu you would expect to see. All in all a great choice. Especially convenient for a stop on the way to the museums.

We stumbled in at 9 a.m. on a wet, cold Saturday, not realizing that the Met Museum would not open till 10. We were made warmly welcome, excellent hot coffee was served almost immediately and we followed this with a couple of English muffins - much nicer than anything we have in England. We couldn't help noticing that everyone else was eating BIG PLATE|S of great looking stuff. We came back mid-afternoon for a museum break which involved tea, coffee, a fabulous fresh fruit salad and an indifferent tirami su. After experiencing the rest of New York we realized it wasn't particularly cheap, but decidedly worth it and this was reinforced when we returned for a second and larger breakfast a few days later. Really nice international staff with a family feel, a great menu and first rate ambience.

A sprawling, unpretentious cafe with a long menu of sandwiches, salads, burgers, breakfasts and coffee shop Greek food. Everything is straightforward and fresh. It's crowded at peak hours because it's one of the few inexpensive places in the stylish neighborhood close to the Metropolitan. European visitors love the all-day American breakfasts. Service is rushed but usually friendly.

We stopped in before our day at the Met. Quickly seated by friendly staff. Location is great for people watching. We ordered a greek chopped salad, rueben, a beer and glass of wine. Food was delicious. The salad was amazing actually. I took a star off because it was ridiculously expensive. However, I would still go back for that salad....

We dropped in for a late lunch after a couple of hours wandering in Central Park. Welcoming and relaxed atmosphere, we were attended to promptly and shown to a booth. We ordered a turkey burger, kids chicken strips and soup. All delicious and served quickly. Definitely hit the spot for us, and would happily return.

We were at the nearby MOMA and had not researched where to eat so stumbled into this place....like I am sure most of their patrons do. After we left and before posting this review we read about someone’s bill not being right. To be honest now I regret not checking mine. So look, the food is ok, but check the cheque when paying yo.

Super Expensive for a so called Dinner I order a u$30 dolar salad just greens with little chesse They charged an extra $5 for a slice of bread and $2 for paying with credit card

Bland and extremely over priced. We were quickly seated and were happy to sit down and get something quick to eat. Ordered a salad, omelette and milk shake and charged a ridiculous amount. Wouldn’t recommend and won’t return.

After a hot day trudging through Central Park, then the Met, we stumbled on this little place. Great food, huge portions, good staff. Just what we needed!! Order an open faced sandwich and you will not be sorry!!!

We stopped in for breakfast this past Saturday. The food was very good, as was the hot coffee. Our plan was to grab breakfast here, and then walk around the corner to the Met. Just keep in mind that it's cash only, which I didn't know before sitting down -- fortunately had some money with me (I usually do credit cards for everything). Do count your change when it's returned to you. We should have received another $5.00 and had to point it out to the server. Also, I did hear one customer come in to be seated, only to learn that there was no restroom. Interesting.

One of the worse meals we ever had. Terrible. And so expensive. The owners should be ashamed of themselves. The hammer should fall on this soon.

We went there for dinner late Saturday night on a recommendation from a friend. We were a little skeptical upon arriving since it had the look and feel of a diner but we were very surprised when our food arrived. My wife had the Branzino (fish) and I ordered the strip steak rare. Both were cooked to perfection and tasted oh soooooo gooood! Before we ordered we asked the waitress what kind of fish Branzino was. She did not know and the chef actually came out and talked with my wife personally. She said it was the best fish she'd ever had. My steak came with potato crisps (kind of like onion ring fries) which were crisp with no touch of oiliness whatsoever. All in all, the service was quick and very efficient. The food was excellent and we'll be back the next time we visit NYC. Great job Nectar Cafe and thanks for the personalized service!

Excellent little diner! Surprised to see the “terrible reviews”, great little place to have a nice lunch. Everything we ate was good, 1/2 chicken was good, might add a little spice to it in order to kick it up a notch. Very recommended, owner is present and watching over his employees. When visiting The Met, drop in.

This popular place is really small and pretty much elbow to elbow. Excellent Cappuccino's and some great inlets as well.

Cheesecake which was 2-3 days old. Cappuccino and ice tea were just ok. No restrooms available. Though they have a license to operate... This is NY "civilisation". Waiters don't not care. Stay away!

It started with their saying to stand outside in 18 degree weather while our entire party arrived. After finishing a $32 (yikes) omelette we were told to leave (we had only been there for 45 minutes) because we were finished and there were people waiting. How rude!!!!

Nectar provides very good traditional café meals located near the Metropolitan Museum of Art (useful for a sit-down meal since the Museum's cafes are currently closed). I had the pork chop lunch special plus a carrot cake dessert, which was pretty good. As others have noted in their reviews, prices are typically high for Manhattan.

I ate lunch here after leaving the Met Museum. Food was fantastic but expensive ($65, inc. tip for 2 people) but so is everything in NYC. Service was prompt and courteous. Would eat here again if in the area.

Good food and not to expensive. We had the Penne Milanese, grilled tuna steak and mac n cheese with sides of salad and leek soup. all were good + nice sized portions.

Absolutely avoid!!! Expensive, dishes that look like nothing! A vegetable patty in a bad bun for a veggie burger! Let’s move on…

Don’t go here. Food cold & flavorless, pushy staff, all for a screened in porch. Couldn’t get sat together and were asked to pay for separate table minimums before even getting to finish ordering soup and drinks. Go get $36 chicken fingers and fries somewhere else in the city.

The food was all right. I had the Mousaka, which was fine, but others were not so lucky. A woman at another table had a cockroach in her meal and was obviously a bit surprised. The staff handled it professionally and the women seemed to take it well. Although these things do happen occasionally it is never a pleasant experience. I will think twice before visiting again.

The friendly Greek owner of Nectar Cafe mentioned that more than half of his customers stem directly from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and with good reason! We stumbled onto this restaurant following a Saturday evening concert @ the Met, and enjoyed it very much. Classic (and very good!) diner fare with a wide variety of choices, all of which are reasonably priced. Excellent service all around, too.

This is the most perfect little spot for lunch in New York City! We stopped by on the way to the Met Museum and loved every moment here! This is an authentic diner with a family friendly atmosphere. The food is also tasty and the staff are very helpful and friendly!

Gallery hopping and needed a break. We rarely eat on Madison Ave, way too pricey, but managed to swing a seat in this tiny cafe. Large portions, fast friendly service. Cash only!

We went to Nectar Cafe for breakfast with friends, primarily due to its proximity to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The result was very disappointing. The coffee was drinkable but just barely. I ordered french toast with blue berries, and while the blue berries were good, the french toast was thin, flavorless and overdone. The side order of bacon that I asked for was suitable for bacon bits, but not much else. Others orders their frittatas which were quite expensive, but totally unappealing. The service was so quick that we felt that we were being rushed. This is not a place that I would want to start my day, so as they say in New York, fuhgettaboudit!

It’s conveniently located near the Met and appears to be more of a local diner than a tourist spot. Good portion sizes for the price although always a little more expensive in the city. Turkey club was full of real carved turkey meat not processed pressed meat. Chicken noodle soups was full of chicken and veggies. The Cobb salad was huge and served with a homemade dressing.

This is a clean, friendly corner cafe not far from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The food is good and the service prompt. One can get coffee and a bun or a whole meal.

With a promising name and taking up such valuable real estate on Madison’s sidewalk this overpriced establishment shamelessly serves stale watered down coffee, tasteless eggs and basically is sure to ruin your sunny day. Avoid & save!

This is walking distance from the MET Museum. We stopped here on a warm afternoon in need of refreshments. We opted to get some pie. I asked for my cherry pie to be heated as that goes best with pie a la mode... but it was still cold when served. I asked the server to please heat it... and it was still just lukewarm. What's worse is that the crumble on top of the pie had a stale taste, so that was not good. I could have complained further and probably should have, but I just didn't feel like dealing with it. I scraped off the crumble [like 1/3 of the pie] and ate the filling and it was fine but not warm. The patio was nice'ish. Service was okay. I would say this establishment was Low Average at best based on our experience, and overpriced at that - probably due to the location.

The staff was kind. They allowed me to use their services. They were helpful. I would recommend them.

After a visit to MOMA a quick lunch was in order and this place was just the thing. Lots of options some heathy some not. Enjoyed a buffalo chicken wrap and watching the world go by.

I was tricked into paying 20% service charge because I was a tourist. Disgraceful. I would not recommend this cafe. $24 for a Caesar salad that’s was just leaves and croutons, nothing else.

Stopped in for a quick bite ... waitresses were very friendly and made great suggestions ... service was quick and the price was excellent. Had the apple pie ala mode for dessert ... truly delicious ... will definitely return.

We came here after visiting the MET. The food is very good and the choiche is great but not too wide. The lamb meat in gyro was very tasty and soft and smooth and flavored. It is very close to NYC Downtown and different main point of interest for tourists. The staff is kind and the place very nice.

We do not recommend this place. Blinded by the sticker "recommended by TripAdvisor" we entered this restaurant. We ordered one Veggie- and one Cheeseburger, which should have come along with french fries and cole slaw. Nevertheless the waiter pointed out, that only the 'deluxe' version includes those side dishes. The Burger paddies have been served placed on a toasted bun, no sauces, garnish or relish on it; only a gerkin, a slide of carrot and a poor portion of cole slaw. Having one beer and one glass of wine, we've been charge 59 bugs incl. tip. Summary: not worth the money.

We went to Nectar after a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art because it was conveniently located at a walking distance. We were disappointed with the quality of the food. The calamari we ordered was rubbery and smelly and the roast chicken we ordered tasted like chicken boiled in salty water with no flavor. The crab cake was average but edible.

Nectar cafe has become my go-to place for breakfast when in NYC. Walked 30 blocks each way last weekend just for the feta and spinach omelette. Food is all homemade and the quality shows. While I was eating breakfast at the counter, the cook pulled a beautiful roasted turkey out of the oven in front of me. As others have mentioned, the place is very small (made a little larger in summer with the addition of a few outdoor tables), payment is cash only, and service is New York-style efficient. Some tourists or other out-of-towners may find this not to their liking.

While visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we ran out for a late lunch at this diner, just a block away on Madison Avenue. Happy to discover it serves beer and wine. We had a very generous portion of a club sandwich and a dish consisting of moussaka with a Greek salad. Really good food. The area dictates the prices unfortunately, so be prepared to pay up.

Résumé en français: Madison/79th.Un petit endroit sympa en plein quartier super chic pour petit déjeuner de bonne qualité à prix raisonnable. We're talking of the small NECTAR on Mad./79th not the big one on 82nd Had breakfast there 3 days, because more relax (and less expensive) than at the hotel. Classical American food of good quality, properly cooked; the tea is even better than in most places (not only in NYC!). Friendly and efficient service. Good place to start a day in a quiet atmosphere.

The Nectar Cafe is located just a couple of blocks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a neighborhood full of beautiful homes. That's the good part. We found it to be a very average New York City diner. We chose two NYC icons, a Rueben, which was served open face, and a corned beef on rye and they were both just OK. The helpings are huge and it might be a good idea just to split them. That would make the price better which is one of the biggest issues we had with Nectar... the prices. We know it is New York City and located in a very posh part of town but two sandwiches and soft drinks shouldn't set anyone back almost $50! The other problem is that the service was very indifferent and we had a difficult time getting the attention of our waitress when we needed her. The remaining staff, including a hostess, ignored us completely.

3 of us for Sunday lunch. The tuna special was so overcooked, tough and dry, my friend had to return it. My file of sole was supposed to come with roasted tomatoes; without asking me, the server substituted uncooked peas and carrots and just disappeared. I've eaten here many times before, virtually since it opened about 30 years ago. It is now definitely on the decline, and the prices keep going up.

We found the closest restaurant to the Met for lunch that we could and we had a very good meal with wonderful service. I had a very good grilled cheese and avocado sandwich while my wife raved over her over-easy eggs atop English muffins. We would come again when in the area!

Reviews are all over the place, and if you choose this restaurant -- it is close to the Metropolitan Museum -- order with care. My companion and I pick standard fare: eggs, bacon and toast, for example. We have seen some diners very happy with more complex dishes, but others are disappointed: we saw one diner send back a bronzini for being badly over-cooked, for example. Service is good; and cleanliness is acceptable.

Extensive diner menu, very high quality and fast and efficient service. Usually crowded and noisy and a very typical UES crowd. Close to the Met.

We we ripped off! Guess he heard our foreign accent and took the chance to overcharge us and determine the service charge!!! We only realised too late. Not what I would expect in NYC and pretty disgusted. DO NOT SUPPORT CROOKS.

Very good salad, very warm welcome, a little expensive ($107 for 2 salads and 2 coffees) but it’s New York upper east side! I recommend

Staff were friendly and quick, food was also quick and i had the best veggie burger i have ever tasted! Amazing food, my boyfriend had the pancakes and they were also delicious.

I stop in for the Lavazza coffee and love to sit at the old style counter and enjoy the scene at this establishment.

We stopped by to have a quick lunch on the sidewalk, and were pleased by our choice. We both opted for burgers, with fries. The burgers were a bit undercooked, but the fries more than made up for the deficiency, they were piping hot and delicious. With so many places opting for the “seasoned” fries, which I find appalling, it was great to get real potato fries! The coleslaw and crunchy pickle completed a very tasty lunch

Nectar Cafe is my must visit breakfast place everytime I come.to NYC since 1999. Located 1 block East of The Metropolitan Museum it is a handy place to have breakfast before you visit the museum. This time I took my children. It is cool to take your kids to places you went to in your youth. I as always had a big breakfast whatever that is called on the menu with placed eggs. There is so much food it sets you up for the day. The coffee is great too. My daughter had poached eggs and an extra service g of bacon and sausages...way too much for her but she lived it along with hot chocolate. My son doesn't like eating breakfast but the owner brought him out two pieces of toast anyway... The owners/managers are really friendly people the waiters are attentive...just a really cool NYC experience and a great way to start a day at The Met or central park. 100% recomend it...and have the big breakfast

We left the MET & walked up to Madison Ave. It was our first day. The skies turned to grey. My friend spotted this cosy diner. ‘Yes’ she said. ‘Look at that diner’. ‘OK’ we replied But we walked on...... - Saw two other over priced places & turned back. Got a cosy booth by the window. I ordered a French Onion Soup 🥣. My friends shared a veggie burger 🍔 & chips🍟. The rain began to pelt down. ..... Like cats & dogs! ..... And we felt like the luckiest people in the world. 🍀Such a memorable atmosphere! The staff & service were wonderful! We met & chatted with local ladies, who helped us find nearby supermarkets & were just so lovely. We returned on our last day. The staff remembered my friend. The food was just as good. The place ‘Nectar’ goes down as our one of the New York highlights! 👌🏼 Affordable & good! Defo try it if you can! 🇦🇺

Nectar Cafe was a pleasant surprise after visiting The MET for a few hours. The menu offered a full range.... breakfast thru dinner. Keep in mind, this is a coffee shop and not a fine dining experience. Food and service was good.

This was our first breakfast in NYC. We picked it because was close to the Met and sounded delicious. The food was okay and came out fairly quickly. While I was just visiting for vacation and know that New York cafe's aren't big on friendly service, the server wasn't the best. My french toast was $15 which I was okay with until we started eating at another place for breakfast every morning that was far better and far cheaper. It was a nice little cafe and you could tell that it had a lot of history but it just wasn't what I wanted for the price we paid.

We stumbled upon this place while hot and hungry walking to The Met. Every single worker was so polite and helpful. Very quaint atmosphere. Service was fast, prices good and food was extremely delicious!!

Great food, great service in a quirky but locals’ sort of place. Despite its location that could attract tons of tourists, it seemed to have a locals’ flair. Outstanding people watching from the glassed in tables on the corner. Highly recommended! Also recommended - bottle of wine w/ lunch while you make up life stories for the eccentric people who stroll by on Madison Ave.

I just re-visited this local standby and was a little disappointed which is why I am updating my review.A frittata well done, doesn't mean a frittata burned! Service was good- fresh squeezed orange juice ample and excellent . Portions more than ample- I just should have sent my breakfast back- they shouldn't have sent it out either!

We've stopped here several times for lunch and dinner, as well as just a cup of coffee and dessert (apple strudel is awesome!) We are always seated right away. Greeted by our server rapidly. Drinks immediately arrive. The food is outstandingly good! We highly recommend Nectar Café on the corner of Madison and 82nd.

We ate here last weekend after going to the MET museum all day w/ our friends. It is a short walk from the MET. It was busy but we didn't have to wait for a table. We all most had burgers,gyro,turkey club. The pickles here wwere great & our burgers were cooked to perfection. Everything was great & the soda wasn't flat & tasted fresh. I would come here again in a heartbat. I have no clue why there are so many bad reviews we all loved the place. We were in/out in an hour or so.

I was visiting the MET with my son during the recent Christmas holidays and stopped here for lunch on our way back to the parking garage. The place is located on the corner with windows on two sides of the restaurant. There was lots of light on the cold rainy day. The place was packed when we arrived, but, we were able to get a table for the three of us. I started with a bottle of Sierra Nevada Ale. This is a Greek diner so my son and I both opted for the Gyro, which is served with pita bread, Greek salad and French fries for $22.95. This is your typical NYC dinner so food and service was diner average. The food was good and table service was efficient.

I would never recommend Nectar to anyone after the terrible treatment my family and I received from the hostess, Nancy. From the moment we walked in, she was rude and dismissive. Before we could even sit down, she demanded to know if we were eating, stating, “If you don’t eat, you’re not going to sit here.” We assured her that we were dining, but instead of welcoming us, she rolled her eyes, sucked her teeth, and threw the menus onto the table. The hostility didn’t end there. Throughout our entire meal, she continued to glare at us with a nasty expression, making us feel incredibly uncomfortable. What made this even worse was watching how she treated other customers—specifically, white diners—with kindness and grace. It was painfully obvious that we were being treated differently, and while I hate to assume, it certainly felt racially motivated. As for the food? Completely mediocre and bland—not worth the disrespectful treatment. We were starving, which is the only reason we stayed, but I regret every second of it. I ordered a Gyro and the server delivered us a sauce and she instructed him to not give us anything. No one should have to sit through such an uncomfortable and unwelcoming experience just to eat a meal. If you value being treated with basic decency, avoid this place at all costs—unless, of course, you fit the “right” profile. Disgusting behavior, unacceptable service, and subpar food. ⭐ 1/5—would give zero if I could.

We had the delicious Greek Avgolemono which was the "homemade soup du jour" on the menu. You could see the saffron threads dissipating in the broth, toasted sourdough on the side. Stadd was happy to bring us more when we asked. Great date spot, right on Madison.

Great place for a Saturday brunch. Frittatas and omelettes were delicious. We had a table near the windows so we could enjoy the views of people strolling on the street and the trees flowering. Very helpful waitress. Didn't feel rushed at all. We look forward to returning.

Mediocre, overpriced and no bathroom. Hard to believe this exists on Madison Avenue and 79th street.

One of my meeting places on Madison. There aren’t that many coffee shops left. The staff here is pleasant and it’s usually busy. Classic coffeeshop menu and decor. You can pretty much order anything. I go for egg white omelets , soup and salad.

This place is great for family, friends and they are a cute little diner that has amazing deserts and shakes. Have a chocolate bisccoti you will not regret it.

Meal was great, staff pleasant we enjoyed food and service. Would recommend to anyone needing a quick bite before visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Brilliant Salads, worth the money, so fresh and tasty. Service is first class, patient, friendly and confident - a quick too

We got one of the last tables in this cramped little cafe for lunch. My spouse loved his grilled bacon and cheese and I thought my tuna salad on 7 grain bread was tasty. Sandwiches come with cole slaw and like most diner-like spots, this one serves the usual eggs, salads, and sandwiches.

This was a convenient place to grab a bite after visiting the Met. The service was friendly, and the portions were good.

During our NYC family vacation, we arrived at the MET at 8:30 am and we found the museum won't open until 10 am, so we were looking for a place to sit in to avoid the ruin outside. This restaurant is only one block away, so I decided to give it a try. The restaurant is super tiny, with small space between each table. Food: The food is over priced. We ordered egg sandwich and ham omelette. The food is very basis, in small portion. The ingredient used is very simple. Where is my ham? Not that good and we think we cooked much better than the restaurant. We asked peanut butter for the toast, but they had none. Instead they gave us some cheap quality strawberry sauce (little refilled containers). Service: Normal service nothing special. They charged 18% mandatory tips (considering it's a breakfast) on the bill. Does the food or their service matched 18% service. Nope. The restaurant has no high chair, only a small booster seat. My baby is a very a big tall boy, the booster seat made him uncomfortable, so he cried a lot during the meal, which we didn't spend long in the restaurant and packed everything to go. Overall, it's not a good place to eat. We will never go back even it's free.

STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE !!!!! the owner/manager inflated the bill and he did not want to give me a tax receipt/bill. They will try to rip you off - For Normal 2 eggs omelets and a vegetable burger they charge me $54....I was confused and only when I left, I realized I was cheated. Moreover He didn’t accept payment with Credit card.

Food was extremely bland and overpriced. Horrible for tourists. The manager/Owner not too sure kept hovering over us like if we needed something. After paying. I guess we didn’t tip the usual 15-20% and they questioned us asking for more where we proceeded to pack up and walk out.

Who would have thought a busy small town restaurant would end up on the east side. Buzzing with locals, the servings are humungous and the service is good. Decor is small town tired and the prices were a pleasant surprise. Next time we're at the Met we'll eat here.

We did the empty met tour which had to be there at 830. Needed breakfast before and stumbled on this place. Little cute diner like place. Excellent service and food was delicious and inexpensive. Perfect stop!

Expensive and the food was awful. Can you imagine $9 for a glass of orange juice. I ordered the moussaka that arrived cool with a huge salad, lettuce, feta, tomato, radicchio and olives, on the plate. Parts of the moussaka were burnt and the rest was bland. The check for large soup and my main dish arrived speedily.

The venue is great, the location is great, the wait staff is great -- but the food is just so so, amazingly so given its tony Madison Avenue location. Not terrible, not very good -- just serviceable. Very much a neighborhood place, based on conversations -- and tables are really close. Very clean.

Went here for a late lunch and got quickly a table. Food and serve was decent, but my wife was later terribly sick from eating her Ceasar salad, and had to stay the whole day in bed. Not a very pleasant experience....

Food was ok. Nothing to write home about. Staff slow and again-nothing exceptional. We left a tip equal to what they deserved. Rude waiter returned and said 'you aren't from round here. But we double the tax for all tips'. Seriously... greedy!!! So we gave the greedy waiter another $8 and left. As the whole restaurant was looking at us. So yeah. If you want mediocre food, average (and more on the slow side service) as well as rude waiting staff to dress you down in front of people- go here!

We had a super great experience Nectar. We actually visited both of the café's. We went to the one at 1090 Madison Ave., as we were at the museum of arts. And we just so happened to stop in... we Googled restaurants near us... and we found a gem for sure! The service was so wonderful and the food was DELICIOUSNESS!!! we ordered breakfast at 3pm... and also a burger and some mozzarella sticks.. and all of it was sooo yummy. It was so cozy and simply the best! Better than all the rest! Oh.. and the hot chocolate was spot on! And on a side note.. we went to Nectar Coffee (by accident with our family the next day), and it wasn't by any means anywhere close to the delight of Nectar Café. From service to food... all of it was just ok. Make sure you go the right one. 2 thumbs up for the NECTAR CAFÉ! We definitely will be back.

While the servers were wonderful and the service was quick, the hostess on Thursday, April 27th at lunch, was so nasty. She was snide, rude, and pushy with my elderly mother who went on this very rare outing during my visit to see her. She uses a walker and moves very slowly, and the hostess was insisting she back up with a nasty tone of voice and rolled eyes. The elderly gentleman leaving at the same time got the same treatment. Maybe the hostess was having a bad day or had something difficult going on in her life, but there's no excuse for being rude and treating fragile, elderly people with such contempt. As for the food, it was meh and pretty expensive for what it was, especially in a diner atmosphere.

Local place serving good array of standards. Very good pancakes, and REAL Maple syrup-you have to ask for it, and its extra. Good house coffee, with refills. Simple stuff, but done well.

Great, fast service. Delicious food. Clean, sanitary environment. A little pricey but worth it especially since you get a lot of food. Indoor and outdoor seating available

This is one of the best places for breakfast and lunch. Everything is always fresh. The food is prepared before your eyes. Great service. Always a favorite, especially after visiting the Met!

Food, atmosphere and service transported us to a scene out of Seinfeld. We loved it. Try the Egg Cream. So good. Easy walk from the Met.

We came here by chance as it happened to be at a convenient point on our way home and it was so good that we came again two days later for breakfast. Let me tell you, they serve something called a “lumberjack” which consists of bacon and eggs on a stack of pancakes. I’m a Brit and I don’t mind saying that not only doesn’t such a delicacy exist in my homeland, but it couldn’t. Even if you could find a restaurant willing to suspend its old world snobbery and put eggs, bacon, and pancakes on the same place, the government would find out and ban the practice, or else introduce a punitive tax preventing anyone who earned less than six figures from eating it. It would become a cause célèbre amoung the progressive intelligentsia. Jamie Olive would lobby the the Queen to have the children of any parent who are one removed by social services. The leader of the Tory Party would decry the practice and then be caught eating one at 3am in a shoreditch nightclub. There would be riots. Culture war. The house of Windsor would fall. Here, not only can you order one for a reasonable price. Not only that. Not only will they not judge you for ordering one. They are happy and friendly about the whole thing. As though you are doing nothing wrong. They’ll chat with you and refill your coffee. All whilst you eat, and I really need to stress that these things come on the same plate, bacon, eggs, AND PANCAKES. If you do not stop here and order this dish - have you even been to New York really?

Must try, If visiting MET as its only blocks away. Great service and food. If you are in rush , you may just grab a togo as well.

I stopped by on my daily walk today for an iced tea and a pick me up dessert. Service, quality of food and cleanliness were all excellent. Prices, get the high tone of the neighborhood, are really quite reasonable.

After touring the MET with our two teenagers we needed some food that was low key and could satisfy a picky eater and a vegan. This cafe had a great local flavor, wonderful staff and tasty burgers that suited us all. Sweet potato fries, veggies burgers, turkey burgers and the standard juicy beef. It isn't cheap, but it is NYC after all, and on Madison Ave, so worth it in my book!

Terrific cafe near Metropolitan Museum of Art. Great food, great service, great management! My friend had the Nova Scotia Lox platter and I had Onion Soup. Both were delicious. Even during the lunch hour with a waiting line we were seated within five minutes!

As so many places in Manhattan, they deliver a good lunch. Nothing memorable, but good. I love eggs benedict and they gave me what I longed for.

Most of the reviews here which are negative surprise me. I've been coming here for over 23 years. The food has always been fresh, the service friendly and the owner extremely invested in the running of his place. I always go here for lunch and dinner, then the Met. My children now see it as a tradition when we come to NYC.

Just down the street from the MET which is convenient, although grossly overpriced for the lack of quality/value of food. Had two salads which were truly just a tossed salad with insufficient ingredients, three Diet Cokes and an appetizer of hummus that came to $82!! I don’t like writing poor reviews. I can say the servers are very nice and attentive. Recommend going to the café behind the boathouse in Central Park, which would be half the price with ambience.

This is one of the typical American cafés. With tables and benches all close to each other, it has an American food menu. The service was good.

This place is very convenient and seems reasonably priced for this part of town, but watch out for rip offs on your bill. We had eggs with a side order of bacon and a bowl of soup - both OK - at check out, they tried to charge us $34!!! Where I come from, that's called attempted theft. Avoid it - you can get better elsewhere.

Your basic Greek diner with very good food and especially Greek specialties. Comes with a bar. And some of excellent specials. Prices are a bit high fir a diner but it is in a prime like cation. Very popular with tourists from the museums and pretty crowded on weekends. Good pkace in a pinch and good takeout avaikabke

Urban diners like the Nectar Café at 79th and Madison have become rarities in Manhattan. This little place (10 tables for two plus nine seats at the counter) occupies a corner, so windows on two sides make it light and airy. Expect standard short order fare written on a pad (not an Ipad) with a pen. Cash only. No bathroom. Convenient to Museum Mile. Recommended. What you see is what you get--real charm.

We went here yesterday for a coffee and the staff were very nice and gave us some free water as well. The food looks nice but we will still full from breakfast so we sadly didn't get a chance to eat.

The place was very tiny but felt intimate. It's perfect to stop for brunch and we really enjoyed our food. Beware CASH ONLY there is an ATM across the street.

Friendly , small , authentic diner . We managed to get a seat although packed on a Sunday morning . We ate breakfast , the portions were massive ! Lovely bagels and bacon , refills on our tea . Definitely a little peace of cafe heaven !

Close to the Met in a nice area. Good moussaka and salad. But on being presented with the handwritten check we noticed that the tax charge was higher than we had been charged st other eating establishments in NYC....charged about 12%. We felt robbed.

This felt like a genuine New York deli experience. I had the pastrami sandwich - plenty of meat in rye bread. Just what is needed after a morning of sightseeing. Would definitely return.

I asked for my cappuccino to be extra hot, the barista said no I could not have it that way. He proceeded to make my coffee even colder than normal. When I went to pay he queried how I liked the coffee, when I said it wasn’t to my liking, he reminded me that he was a “professional” Maybe he should make a trip to Sydney or Melbourne to taste real coffee.

When your hungry and tired from walking around the City or coming from the Museum, this is an okay spot to go to.

Honestly to me it was like a denny but much much more spendy. The reviews here are all over the place. We couldn't find anything near the met that was within walking distance. So we opted to walk towards the bus we were catching and saw this place. We had already crossed it off the list of options because of the reviews that day. But when we got here dad was already starving so we stopped. The couple next to us had Greek Lasanga so we copied them. They seemed to enjoy it. Dad had tbone and I had pasta and my sister had something. We spent a lot but weren't jumping with joy. My pasta was ok. The server was very nice and the staff was attentive. It seemed like the owner was there as well just waiting and getting things done as needed. It felt very family oriented. It is one block from the front entrance of the met on 82nd ave. Aside from convenience I would probably not eat here again.

We had a late lunch. the tables are not very clean. The food is beyond average. The crab cake was full of skin from the crab, it tasted awful, never had such a bad crab cake in my life. We let the server know but they just shrugged their shoulders. Ended up paying 60$ for 2 appetizers and a drink. Go somewhere else where you get better food for the price you pay.

Our family of 4 was looking for a place for a quick lunch near the Guggenheim Museum and found the Nectar Cafe. It looks like your average "dive" diner with large crowds and small booths. It was recommended to us by a friend so we ate there. The food was typical diner fare at prices of a fairly nice restaurant (e.g. $22 for a chicken sandwich and for pastas). It is in a high rent district so that was sort of expected but still not welcomed. The food was decent but nothing special. My turkey burger was dry though my wife's egg white omelet was very good she said. My son's $22 chicken sandwich was good too but not great. The only reason I even gave it 3 stars is that the staff is exceptional and very attentive. So, the overall experience was OK, but the check, for what it was was not.

After a great walk around the city from 46th down to 86th and then back up, we stopped for a lunch and happened upon Nectar Cafe. It is a cozy place and they get you seated in no time even though it seemed full to the gills. The veggie burger platter (we both got the same) was HUGE -- and quite tasty. It seemed homemade, but we can't be sure. The price was great, the service fast and friendly. There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try -- and after seeing some of the egg dishes at other tables I had order envy! Give it a try - delish!

Really quaint little American diner just a couple of blocks from The Met. Large portions, good menu selection, good bar and drinks selections. Quality of food was good. Nothing glitzy - just good honest food.

Sat in a sunny cozy corner watching the action on Madison Ave. The waffles were wonderful, fresh and fluffy. Large servings, good prices, friendly staff. What more could you want.

Great food, reasonable prices and a wonderful staff. Good for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner. Easy walk from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Very good option in the neighborhood after visiting a museum. Far better than museums’ cafeterias. Cheap as well.

WORN OUT FROM THE OLD MASTERS AT THE MET? This is a good place to re-group. Pricey, but, hey, it is the Upper East Side! Nothing unusual, food-wise, but it is good food delivered at a clip. Booths, nice view of sidewalk and street outside adds to the ambiance for people-watching. Our waitress - don't remember her name- made it even better. Nice smile, quick delivery of our order, extra request (breadsticks) cheerfully accomodated. They even have splits of sorta champagne - pricey- but it complemented the grilled porcini salad that I had. Crowded, a little noisy, but I would go back again. Even the counter was crowded! Sure, you can get food at the Met, but it is in a dungeon in the basement, if you elect to serve yourself. Petrie Court or the Members Lounge is good if you want to be served, but, again, pricey for what it is. If you need a breath of fresh air after all of that art, take a short walk to this place and relax.

Local -wide variety of great comfort food! Awesome breakfast and terrific sandwiches. Always fresh! We loved this little place right. Ext to the met!

Food is good enough, but a little pricey. The place is a little crowded and not very organized. Service was not great. Only went cause it was close to the Met.

Busy busy place at lunchtime but we snagged a Madison Avenue booth & shared a bountiful serving of Musaka with a side Caesar salad 🥗 which was satisfying and quite delicious!

On my way to the Metropolitan Museum, I was in search of a breakfast restaurant and on passing Nectar decided to give it a try. I was swiftly seated in a window table and ordered the huevos rancheros. The food and the coffee was acceptable without being outstanding, at this point my review would have been a 3 or 4 star rating. However, upon getting the bill ($28.31) I gave the waiter $40 in cash and he said he would be back with the change and receipt. I had decided to give the 20% tip rounded up to $35 when my change arrived. The problem was that neither the change nor the receipt ever arrived. I had put on my coat ready to depart and waited…. And waited. In the end on asking for the receipt and change I was met with puzzled looks and a shuffling of feet. After 5-10 minutes they arrived with the receipt and change (I duly left a tip of 10%). The whole experience was frustrating and left the feeling that they hoped I would have departed without them having to provide change or a receipt.

Expensive for an average lunch. Not very tastefull. But mostly chaotic. Every 2 minutes they ask if you want to order more. We were cramped on a small table. Plates taken away after just finished. Go somewhere else, not worth you money!!

We went to this restaurant after visiting The Met. It is only about a block away which was very convenient. From the outside the restaurant looks like a cozy cafe, and the inside gave a similar impression. I was surprised by the prices once we received the menu. I know that this is New York, but I was not expecting non-cafe prices. The food was good so at least that was a plus.

We often go here and if course this is Greek owned and they have not only all the Greek specialties but some very nice full course meals That rotate on a daily basis. They bake some of the desserts and we often order in from there and they are quite good at timely and accurate deliveries. They have however stopped making a sensational apple crumb pie. Which we loved and have increased prices as I guess the rent has gone up. They are crowded with people who attend the met so we usually order in or go in off hours. Open 7-10 daily and. Can cook to order specials

Quality product but very cold atmosphere partly due to the permanent presence of the boss who stresses his employees Seeing him circling like a vulture watching for the slightest movement from his servers took my appetite away

Classic New York. A warm cafe which was the perfect stop for a grilled cheese and a really good coffee. Staff were friendly. Would recommend for a rest from walking in the park.

I was doing a circuit of shopping and getting hungry and went into the Nectar on a whim. The waitstaff were friendly and quick to point out to one another if one of their customers needed something. I ordered a burger and fries for about $15. While the price was higher than what I'm used to, the burger was huge, the fries were plentiful, and everything tasted good. I would come back.

Good cheese sandwich in the Upper East Side with a friend...a little bit overpriced but, come on, we were in Madison Avenue !!

Good food, extensive menu from soups to main entrees. Serve breakfast lunch and dinner. Nearest restaurant to 5th Ave entrance of the Met, one short block walk. It's about as expensive as you would expect for this location and with so many wait staff. We ordered veal milanaise and broiled sole, each came with soup and two excellent sides of excellent vegetables. Food comes out quick and hot; don't expect to camp out at your table. If you're not eating you're paying and leaving!

We went for Saturday brunch. The restaurant is just a block from the Met and Central Park. There is something for everyone. We had grilled calamari as an appetizer. For brunch- we ordered matzah ball soup, pancakes, eggs, salmon burger on salad with crispy shoestring fries. This is a lovely Greek diner that operates wonderfully. Excellent seating, quick service and perfectly cooked food.

We stopped here for a meal in between visiting The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park. This is a very small diner, but the food is delicious, fresh, and the people who work there are super nice. They serve everything from breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts. It was the perfect spot to eat during our visit. The prices are average typical prices for a diner. We will definitely stop there again to eat next time in the area.

Nectar has decent upscale diner food close to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I had the pea soup and cheeseburger for lunch; these were among the least pricy of the items on the menu. Everything was tasty, and service was prompt. I ate in the outdoor sidewalk shed, which was less cramped than the indoors seating and was still warm on a cool winter day.

Small, but cozy diner where we stumbled by chance out of the Met. Great club chicken and salad sandwich not too seasoned, just as we prefer it. Smiling and polite service, characteristic setting.

Very nice authentic dinner, the tri-color salad was excellent, the linguinis fresh mozzarella was very good, for dessert the classic New York cheesecake was a little expensive but very good.

I did not appreciate the tone or the abruptness of the man who took my order here. Nor did I like the way he did not ask me what type of bagel I would like and assumed i would have the plain one. Manners cost nothing, but a plain bagel here costs a fiver. Pah.

We stop over here for a quick stop to have a beer. The day was really hot. The service was perfect, polite and fast. The location is perfect, close to the MET.

The food was good, but we watched the waiter clean an adjoins table with a lick and a prayer. Dropped "freedom" fries littered the floor. We waited 10 minutes for our waiter so we could get our check. Also seemed expensive for a low-scale cafe, basically a diner.

We left the Metropolitan museum of art to have lunch. This spot is only a block away. It was awesome! My daughter had a grilled cheese and a cup of soup which was very good and traditional. I had the salad special which had a tuna burger. It was awesome and fresh with spinach in the burger. Service was great and we were also able to get a nice glass of wine. Great place

Thieves Watch out for their check out equipment. It is programmed to 22% Tip when you check you check out Be aware you are getting scammed They are ripping you off on the top without your knowledge Shame on the the owners and workers there for the scam. Be very careful before you pay Read your charge over the top

Deluxe cheeseburgers are delish plus they come with both fries and onion rings. A block from the Met! Wonderful, friendly wait staff too. Recommend!

It was a place we sat by chance at the Metropolitan exit, but it exceeded our expectations. My husband and I preferred hamburgers and freshly squeezed orange juice. Everything was delicious and the service was nice. I only deducted one point because a dead fly in the lettuce came with my burger. It was not washed well and since I was pregnant, I did not consume it to avoid toxoplasma. Apart from that, it is a great place in Manhattan in terms of price efficiency and it is difficult to find an empty table to sit at.

My wife and I stopped here for lunch before walking through the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's just down the road from the entrance. There's not a large seating area so don't be surprised if there's a wait. We had sandwiches, which were very filling but a little lacking in flavor. Still, an overall good experience and convenient location.

Okay for breakfast but otherwise you are paying restaurant prices for diner food. Sandwiches are a decent choice if later evening hours bring you there.

From the Met, we chose this spot to have a quick late afternoon snack and drink. When paying our tab, the manager or possibly owner, questioned how much money we had left with the check. We tipped possibly less than 15% but had been there less than an hour and hadn’t received bad service, but were not wowed. He rudely called us out for the amount of the tip. Stating people usually left more. The staff continued to comment on it and ‘bicker’ about us while we prepared to leave.

After a full morning at the Met, we enjoyed the quintessential NYC diner. Tight space, good food and service. Food was fine, but expensive. It felt like a neighborhood place. Great experience….

We were a group of 8. All of our foods tasted good. We had moussaka, salads and burgers with French fries. The food came fast, the owners were friendly. This is by the way a Greek Imbiss/ restaurant.

This is a basic NYC diner with outrageously expensive food. We're talking $10 for a side if fries, $28 for eggs benedict. For those prices you should go to one of the gourmet restaurants in the area. If getting fleeced is part of your NYC experience then this tourist trap is for you.

After visiting MET we arrived to rest for some time and we order a total bill of USD 22.75. After 30 minutes we were invited once to leave once they needed the table and then they almost Quicked Us out of the table. Horrible service, not nice people and completely money driven restaurant. Adding to this, cookies full of sugar and latte absolutely normal and acceptable.

The atmosphere was completely ruined by what was probably the owner—a somewhat older blonde woman with an extremely pushy attitude, who every two minutes tried to aggressively upsell with an excessively mean tone. The bright spot was the Mexican staff.

Food was bad, service ok, OVERPRICED - charged 90 dollars for simple breakfast for 3 persons, no ventilation - smells like a hell, no space at all, chairs looks dangerous and disgusting, give yourself a favor - STAY AWAY, DO NOT RUINE YOUR NEW YORK EXPERIENCE !

Came across this Cafe whilst wandering around following a bus tour. We knew where were were going for tea so just wanted a light lunch. The food was great and the portions enormous! I wanted to try something authentic so had the reuben sandwich and it didn't disappoint. My friends had a chicken salad and again the was huge. We sat outside as it was a lovely day.

We had c a BLT, and a ham and cheese sandwich. Coffee hot, service fine. Good location close to Metropolitan Museum of Art

we stopped here for a coffee/tea and a piece of cheesecake after visiting the Metropolitan Museum. It's a better deal than the Met cafe, but that's a low bar. What we had was OK but nothing special, and at $15, tip included, it seemed pricey.

After a busy few hours in the museum district, we were in need of some refreshments and lunch, fortunately we came across Nectar by accident. This place is busy at lunchtimes!! We were lucky to get seated, the place is small, noisy and somewhat chaotic, but we loved it. We were seated by a most friendly and efficient waitress, we waited only minutes for orders to be taken, food was also quick to arrive. We both opted for BLT's with fries, these were tasty, good size portions and very good value for New York. We both finished every mouthful, it was exactly what was needed. Now onto the entertainment, this for us was listening to the many waitresses shouting, yelling the orders to the kitchen staff. Non of it made any sense to us at all, it so reminded me of the many american sit coms Ive seen. It was fun to listen too, clearly the kitchen staff understood as orders were being quickly dispatched. This is a great stop off for a tasty bite to eat if you're in the area, its not fine dining, but its a fun place with great staff, I'd recommend it.

The food was the standard you would expect from an nyc diner. I had a cheeseburger and fries, tasty but 12. My daughter had angel hair pasta, abundant but not worth 18. You are paying for the Madison Ave real estate. Save your self some money and go to equally good diners on Lex or Third, this is so overpriced for what it is.

I spent a few hours at the Met - close to the restaurant and came here for a late lunch. I had the hamburger and fries, sold separately. The hamburger was basic but I was hungry and did it justice. The service was pleasant.

We popped in here as it is near the Metropolitan museum for pancakes and tea both excellent. In fact delicious!

Popped in here before the Met. The waitress who greeted us was super friendly and smiley - she definitely added some warmth and personality to this place. We had chicken noodle soup which was nice enough but nothing special. Did the job for us but wouldn’t go out of your way to go but did want to review to give a shout out to the great waitress.

The service here was actually horrible. The waiter with the Gucci belt and the front lady were super rude. Between judging us because we wanted turkey bacon, then was also upset because I wasn’t ready to order on HIS time, and then to top it off was upset that we didn’t ask a different waitress for the receipt after checking us out (though 1. That was his job and 2. We were never asked if we wanted a receipt for our order before they ran off). Just plz do better. Sincerely, A very disappointed customer.

Food is pretty good but very noisy and harried people inside. I go here when other places not available. Better to have them Deliver and pay their higher. Upper manhattan east side prices Try if you wish

Late in the afternoon, just spent a wonderful afternoon at the MET, thought a leisurely cup of coffee would be nice. Was passing by Nectar - we wanted expresso - saw on their exterior menu board that they offered espresso. We entered, one table had one person seated. One booth had dirty cups & napkins. We were directed to a tiny 2 top table. We asked if we could have the empty/clean booth. The waitress told us in a derogatory way that people that were only getting drinks couldn’t have a booth. The restaurant was virtually empty. We sat down at the 2 top. No one came to our table. There were many people there working. They were all ganged up at the front when we entered. Enough was enough. We left.

We had lunch here recently on a cold Sun. Just a block east from the Met. Even though they were pretty busy we were seated immediately. The service was friendly and efficient. Prices are reasonable. We both had a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Large portion and very good. Coffees too. A great place to get a quick bite after the hub bub of the Met.

It’s simply too expensive for what we ate. We paid 17$ for a burger and 5$ would have been too much since it was not good at all. Quesadillas were good and the service as well but it’s not worth it.