So I loved this place for brunch. Â We had a group of 8. It took a while for the coffee to come, but that was the only annoying thing. I got a coffee, a Virgin Mary, and for my "starter," the donut holes with different sweet jams/sauces - SO good. Then I got the eggs Benedict but with smoked salmon and it was so good as well. The salad and potatoes it came with were fine - nothing amazing. My brother's fries with his burger were really good and it seemed everyone enjoyed their food. $23/person and usually id say that's pricey but its a lot of food and really classy, interesting atmosphere. Definitely want to go back - maybe for dinner!
Review Source:Really? Is the atmosphere that classy? Personally I find the walls favoring more towards a bath house than a hollywood basement like many have reported it to be. You'll find more posters and pictures of Hollywood in a Johnny Rockets.
What did set the tone was the live performance. The view of the performance was conveniently blocked by a divider stretched across the length of the restaurant, separating the bar and the dining area. Not sure if that added to the Feng Shui, but it definitely prompted shares of "pardon me madamoiselle*" as everyone tried to squeeze through the divider opening to access the bar, bathrooms, and exit. The other diners were mostly in the 50+ and well attired, which resonated with the classical theme better than the decor itself.
For appetizers I went for the pizza bread, served on a pizza peel (lol). For 10 dollars you get a very shareable portion of cheesy breads. Recommended. Fried calamari was thin cut and tasted like stuff I'd get in Dave & Busters (review for that to come.) Too salty and not enough calamari beneath that super fried skin. Not recommended.
Main course... short rib straganoff (25). I was expecting straganoff served in a stew-y texture per our public school cafeteria standards. What I got was a full unsliced cut** of short rib sitting on a familiar bed of egg noodles.The short rib was extremely tender and tasty. Egg noodles were flavorful and freshly made. How do I know? Asian.
On the menu they also boasted the well-known beef wellington. I had not the guts nor appetite to challenge the dish popularized by Britain's top asshole, but its worth noting.
Dessert - nutella crepe (8). These are cut into bite size pieces so your friends can help themselves. It's... well... nutella and crepe resembling the Beijing dessert, the "rolling donkey." It tasted as simplistic as it looked. You can't go wrong with hazelnut. You can serve that shit with fried rice and get away with it. For a dollar more you can go for the Baked Alaska, which looked like a tiny mountain of icecream and dessert. My chubby friend loved it but wouldn't share it so I guess I'll recommend it?
Service was standard. There's a grandfatherly looking maitre'd who will drop by for routine check ups. I enjoyed The Astor Room. No complaints about anything but nothing particularly stood out.
* Yes. That's what I say.
** I've been hearing shit like "baller broke girl" recently so I'm assuming its oxymoron week.
When I went with my friends over the weekend, apparently they were in the process of moving to a new menu and cocktail list. Â It was something of a comedy of errors- they couldn't make the "signature" cocktail that I wanted, or the "classic" that one of my friends wanted. Â They then didn't have the first two wines that my friend tried to order after failing to get her cocktail. Â On the plus side, they make a decent Manhattan.
This is going out of my usual reviewing order, but the service warrants special attention. Â Everyone was extremely courteous. Â Really. Â To their credit, after they also didn't have one of the desserts that we tried to order, the manager came over, apologized for not having half of the things we asked for throughout the night, and gave us dessert on the house. Â However, they were just inexcusably slow every step of the way- cocktails (the ones they had) took 20 minutes to get to the table. Â And the restaurant was fairly empty, with only 2 or 3 other tables at the time and an empty bar. Â The only service sin that compares to making a customer wait in line after they've made a reservation (thankfully, not the case here) Â is making a customer wait for service in an empty restaurant.
The food was otherwise a bit of a letdown- the truffled fries were soaked in truffle oil (ew), the flavors of all of the entrees that we ordered were over-the-top heavy, and dessert was unremarkable (but at least comped).
I really wanted to like The Astor Room, and will probably give it another shot because it's a great concept and storied location. Â I hope that the service mishaps were a fluke.
Excellent service. Excellent food. Excellent music. Is a bit pricey, but totally worth it.
Went here the other night with my SO for out anniversary dinner and were pleasently surprised by the atmosphere. As we entered, the jazz singer was just starting up offering us some oldies but goodies with her voice that sounded a bit like Patsy Cline. She was wonderful needless to say.
My SO and I began our meal with some PEI mussels, a glass of pinot grigio, and a glass of the Queen's Road. I had the cocktail and I was expecting a bit more sweetness from it, but despite that, it still had a great kick to it. The mussels were absolutely spectacular. Marinated in this delicious sauce that made them tender and tasty.
For dinner, I had the short rib stroganoff and my SO had the lobster roll. She was a bit unhappy with her selection as it appeared to be more of a lunch selection rather then a dinner one. However, both of our meals were quite tasty, igniting different sections of our pallets. We ended our wonderful evening with a creme brulee and a molten chocolate cake. The cake was rich and tasty, offering a perfect combination between hot a cold, with a dollop of ice cream included. My SO absolutely devoured the creme brulee and was very pleased with the taste and the overall texture of it, remarking that it was smooth without being too liquidy.
Our waiter the entire night, was present without being overbearing. He asked us how our meal was and if we needed anything else and then left us to our own devices. The manager, I assume he was the manager, came around and checked in with us and several other customers as well to see how we were enjoying everything.
Overall a great but pricey place to eat. Take the SO here for a special evening the two of you will never forget.
Search the Internet and read many reviews of many places to find who had Beef Wellington available on Fridays, and who had the most constant positive reviews.
This lead me to the Astor Room.  We were in NYC for our 10 year wedding anniversary.  I will tell you right, this was the most perfect dining experience we ever had.  Our waitor was Frank, a recent transplant from Boston, and along with the manager, they did everything we could think of, and even had a surprise in there for us.  The chef even change his risotto recipe for us, and sent us a batch to approve before we ordered it - that has NEVER happened before.  Beef Wellingtons are not easy to cook, if you have watch Gordon Ramsey's Hells Kitchen you know this.  My wife ordered mediuem well, I ordered medium rare, and we got what we asked for.  Our appetizers were good, the bread was good and the deserts were fantastic and well presented.  This is a gem of an eatery hidden away in a little corner  of the historic Kaufman Astoria Studios.  Only like 2-3 blocks from the nearest subway station.
Yeah, live music, nice bar, heck even Lady Gaga had reservation for her and her entourage the following evening.
If your reading this review, and have looked at online menu and they have something you like - find a way to get here, you won't be disappointed!
The decor in this place is what makes it stand out, it's almost straight out of the 1920's (not that I was around then, but according to the movies). The prices for their specialty cocktails are very reasonable ($10-12) and there's no other place in Queens that has the same ambience and drink selection as The Astor Room. If you want to impress someone in the neighborhood, you should bring them here.
Their happy hour is also awesome with 2 for 1 drinks and $1 oysters. I'm actually not a fan of oysters, but I really liked the ones they have here! Beer selection is also decent with about 8 different ones on tap including Victory Golden Monkey, Chimay, and something from Saratoga. I've also had their truffle fries and their mussels, both were quite tasty!
We visited the Astor Room a few weeks ago for brunch on a lovely Sunday afternoon. Â
After securing a reservation a few days in advance, we arrived at 1:30 and were seated at a table in the rear of the room. Â There was live jazz up front by the entrance, which was an awesome touch. The ambiance here can't be beat...a throw back to the glory days of film and Hollywood, you'll be sure to feel glamorous, even if you show up dressed down. Â The brunch deal here is killer...An "eye opener" (small plate), an entree, and a cocktail (mimosa or bloody mary) all for $23. Â I had the donut holes which were quite good, followed by the Maryland lump crab melt (crab cake, roasted tomato, avocado, fontina cheese on brioche) which kicked ass. Â The mimosa was quite good as well. Â While the service was definitely not friendly (no smiles, acknowledgement of our "thank you's", or coffee/tea service), there was a manager strolling around that made up for it. Â
One last item of note...The cocktails here are the bomb. Â And there appears to be a happy hour where they are half price, and it includes a special on oysters as well. Â Overall a great choice for a drink or a boozy brunch...You decide.
I heard so much about this place and was excited to check it out. Â First time was on a Friday night around 10pm, in February and it was cute but not the classic ambiance I imagined, the decor could be better (more of the beautiful peacock wallpaper when you walk in and more old Hollywood glamour photographs or roaring 20s art deco). Â I liked the jazz playing in the background and while the drinks were strong and we like that, we tried to order shrimp or oysters and they told us the kitchen was closed. Â However, a couple came in probably at the same time if not a bit after we came in, and they were able to order food. Â I had the impression that either they were regulars or friends with the owner or chef or whatever but either way it was a questionable...
Went back last weekend, only because my friend really wanted to try the brunch since there are so many rants and raves about it on the internet and I was not impressed at all. Â I was impressed with the jazz band they had, their Gatsby-esque period outfits that were wonderful and gave the otherwise dim place a more elegant air overall. Â I had the chicken and waffles, the chicken was so under cooked it was gross, the waffles, well how can you screw up waffles, they were ok. Â The donut holes appetizer that comes with the $23 brunch were ok.
The staff was very nice though a bit slow. Â Once seated, it took forever to get someone to the table, even though there was a guy dressed in a suit staring into space, couldnt help but to wonder if he was the manager? I almost got up to go to the kitchen and place my order, when one of the waitresses came to the table. Â To be fair we did get there at 2:45pm and brunch ends at 3pm. Â I may go back there in the winter, but cant imagine really wanting to be in a dark underground room for brunch when there are so many nice outdoor or bright options in Astoria. Â I don't think this place is any more pricier than most places. Â It looks like it may be good for big groups as there was a baby birthday party happening when we got there.
I went to brunch here as a part of baby shower celebration a few weeks back. Â The fried chicken and waffles entree rocked my world more for the chicken than the waffles they were a bit over done. Friendly staff and manager, well he had to be for a group of 30-40 women and we had a private room so we had a great time.
Review Source:Ive been to this place a few times and every time I have a different experience, each one usually fine and the food is pretty good. Â I went this past Saturday night (4/13/13) and my waitress was adorable and kept the drinks coming, my boyfriend and I decided to get a drink at the bar afterwards. Â
This was a huge mistake. Â While my waitress was awesome, my bartender was hostile and completely rude. Â She walked away from us, rolling her eyes as soon as we sat down and then shoved a menu at us without one bit of a smile. Â When we asked for just some regular drinks instead of their specialty cocktail menu, she rolled her eyes yet again and then made and served only half our order before she walked off and took care of other people. Â
The male bartender was a little bit better but became annoyed and hostile as well when he was asked for drinks at the service bar, slamming ice and glasses in front of us. Â We left shortly after still leaving a 20% tip because I was waitress for seven years and I don't have the heart to leave less but seriously they were both acting like little bitches. Â Leave your issues at home.
A friend and I had wanted to visit the Astor Room for a while and when I saw it on <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2FGiltcity.com&s=c592de7c0be5b4f0bc6d701af9e43502ec02f9926e194a1cd4ac9dad7efab90d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://Giltcity.com</a>, we decided it was the perfect opportunity. Â After reading the reviews, it definitely wasn't what I was expecting. Â I thought it would be a bit more upscale than it was. Â Not that that was an issue, I just was expecting more after reading other reviews. Â The hostess was sweet and seated us upon arrival. Â Our table was up close and personal with the band. Â The older crowd wanted to shy towards the back of the room and the younger crowd was closer to the music. Â We ordered off of the special menu for giltcity vouchers.
I had a Caesar Salad and Lemon Chicken. Â My friend had the Oysters Rockefeller and the Salmon. Â This was accompanied with a bottle of white wine. Â My friend also tried one of their gin cocktails which she loved. Â (I'm not big on gin so I didn't try it.) Â All of our food was excellent. Â We also shared sorbet for dessert which came with 3 scoops of different flavors.
The only negative thing we both agreed on was that the service was a bit slow. Â The waiter was REALLY nice, but he just disappeared a lot and we were both done with 1 1/2 slowly sipped glasses of wine before the appetizers hit the table. And the sorbet was delicious, but we had no idea what flavors we were eating aside from the very distinct lemon flavored scoop.
It was a nice little spot, cozy and tucked away. Â I would come back for an evening at the bar.
This was astounding. Â
We have a toddler, so we don't get out much. Â When we do get out, we like a grown up meal and we like it local. So we were ecstatic to try the Astor Room. Â The decor is a hoot, the staff was wonderful-warm and informative. Â And the food was amazing. Â The standouts are the mango crab cake, the apple crisp (more like Swedish pancakes-a fascinator) and the lobster mashed potatoes, which are very subtly flavored. Â The scallops were also quite tasty; I usually can't get my husband to eat a scallop, but he loved these. Â Risotto and steak quite enjoyable; not a bad bite in all three courses! Â Soothing and romantic. Â Also very close to movie theater and Museum of Moving Image.
I've been wanting to visit the Astor Room for a while but its above my normal price range so I came here with my fiance to celebrate our anniversary. The decor is old world, and its really different. I love the wallpaper going into the bathroom. Anyway...I'm sure you're more concerned with the food!
The cocktails are really interesting and will run you anywhere from $10-$12 in a teeny tiny glass. Â I loved the clara bow but wasn't a fan of aviation, it tasted like potpourri.
We had the flat bread pizza for an appetizer which was as large portion and really yummy. For my meal, I had the salmon which was amazing and just the right size. I also ordered the truffled fries which were a rip off. They basically tasted like diner french fries, which I don't mind, but not for $7!
My fiance had the coca cola pork chop and he said it was really good. For dessert we split the baked alaska and it was small but  a nice ending to our meal.
We had great service and the ambiance is definitely great for a date night or something different. But our bill was about $125 so this definitely isn't a place we'll go to often!
Eh.
You'll find better food and cocktails just about anywhere else that specializes in mixology drinks or features a quality bar with top-shelf Scotch, etc.
The draw is really the decor and ambiance of the place. Â It's a nice spot. Â There's live, chill music. Â The place has a nice feel to it.
But I can't help but feel it's like Saturday Night Live. Â It used to be happening a long time ago and now it's kind of cheesy and everyone knows it except for the cast and loyal fans.
I don't know that I'll go back. Â I rather hit up Dutch Kills and rub shoulders with some bearded hipster than to come here, get a lesser drink menu, and hang out with Jimmy Fallon-types.
The drinks were tasty as were the oysters. I understand that the dinners are supposed to be reminiscent of a by gone era, but I found the food heavy and the taste dull. Perhaps it's just not my taste. My husband thought the food was very good.
Decor is nice as is the live jazz, but for the prices nothing was spectacular.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Â Wanna play a round of Clue? Â Yeah, Â very mob squad theme here. Â Wish I got the memo. Â I would've totally broke out my trench and fedora. Â
Fancy and sophisticated decor. Â A very warm ambience with a brown tone throughout. Â A place you can't imagine seeing in color. Â A classic throwback feel. Â Great hostess and coat check. Â They made me feel very VIP. Â Wait... Girl, Â you are VIP. Â
Piano man greeted me as I walked to my table. Â That's what is up. Â
Ordered items:
-Mojito: Â Pretty lackluster and disgusting. Â Worst I've ever had. Â Don't get it. Â Sorry! Â It didn't even taste like your classic mojito. Â Didn't have a minty flavor at all. Â Tasted like parsley and looked like it too. Â Strange, Â I know.
-Oysters Rockefeller: Â Great flavor, Â but had tiny shards of shell so it made it
slightly unpleasant.
Â
-Salmon over couscous w/ a zucchini medley: Â Delicious! Â Orgasmic! Â Hummina baby, Â lip-smack me, Â thank you. Â Clean plate club right here. Â Cooked to perfection and had a wonderful char to it. Â It was so crispy, Â moist, Â juicy, Â and thick. Â Is this a salmon or prime rib? Â Best salmon I've ever had in my entire life. Â Tastebuds were doing somersaults.
Â
-Dessert Sampler: Â Chocolate brownie, Â cream puff, Â pecan pie, Â coffee crumb cake, Â raspberry cake. Â Had the triple D factor: Â delicious, Â divine, Â decadent. Â Maybe dangerous too. Â Worth every calorie. Â Had to stock up, Â you know... to brave that blistering cold weather. Â I didn't wanna share. Â I had flashbacks of my previous fat life. Â Been there, Â done that... snap out of it. Â Share, Â woman. Â
P.S. Â careful on your way down. Â The staircase at the entrance is a sneaky little bitch. Â I fell and got some nasty cuts on my hand. Â 2 weeks later, Â still bearing the scars. Â I promise, Â I wasn't drunk!
I've only been here once and I think this place deserves a 4.5!
My friend and I came around 10ish or so, and surprisingly, it was not packed when we arrived. A live band was playing, which was a plus! And it wasn't so loud that we couldn't hear our companions. We opted to sit at the bar. The drinks we ordered were pretty tasty and it's definitely different from what I'm used to drinking (mojitos, whiskey sours, sex on the beach...). I am ashamed to say that this is probably the classiest place I've ever been to. I guess I was stuck in my college years and always chose rowdy places with douchebags and cheap drinks. But yea, this is a great place to catch up with your friends, where you can actually talk without screaming, and nurse your drinks for hours and just enjoy the time.
I love the ambiance and drinks, and it's a great date place too! The bartender was super nice. I'd definitely come back, and will even try their food, which my friend said was very good. I really had a great time with my friend here!
How disappointing. I'm sure a few of my friends are going to try to talk me out of giving such a lousy review here, but I don't see any reason to return and my experience there was what it was, so here goes:
I expected good things. The place is well reviewed, and I love french motifs and cocktail bars. After a couple missed attempts, we finally made it and got 4 seats at the bar. Got the menus and saw some interesting but not extraordinary options. A bourbon Blood and Sand, an Aviatian... Cool. 2 drinks were on happy hour special ($5 each), so why not... they were ok, but not great.
Then, things got weird. The bartender seemed a bit off. Not sure whether to shake or stir a drink, misleading a friend as to what she would put in his drink, and telling us that not every drink was included in happy hour, but saying so when the drinks we ordered were included *eyebrow raise*. Â As the night got weirder, we could sense things weren't going to turn around, so we left and headed up the block for 5 Napkins, a few beers and Manhattans. Â
Not sure what went wrong there, and I'm sure other nights are better, but I'm not sure that what the Astor Room offers is better than the alternatives - in Astoria or otherwise.
Used a Gilt City voucher to visit and so dined with a discount, but I still won't be back. In a word - disappointing.
1. I was told there'd be music at 6pm on the night we visited and then was told it would be at 8pm. Â At 8pm the band still wasn't there. The staff just didn't have a clue.
2. The food wasn't anything special. We ordered the salmon, chicken and steak entrees and my dish (the steak) wasn't served hot.
3. This place was reported to exude old world glamour, but on the night we visited the thrill was gone. I honestly didn't find anything charming about this establishment.
So happy I found this place in my neighborhood! Â Came here with a friend on a Friday night, not knowing what to expect. Â Was greeted at the bottom of the stairs by the general manager and a hostess immediately. Â We decided to sit at the bar, as we already ate. Â LOVE the vibe and service here! Â There was live jazz music, which I loved, and the bartender ( Michael ) was very friendly and cool. Â We enjoyed some great Belgian beer and smooth jazz music. Â Great night. Â Will definitely head back.
Review Source:I went here last night... brutal. It was valentine's day and this place basically ruined the night. Â My girlfriend and I had been trying to go to the Astor Room for awhile because it looks so cool from the outside. Â I don't write many Yelp reviews but had to chime in on the Astor Room because my experience was so bad.
It was a pre-fixe dinner but the service was terrible. Â Â The entrees took over an hour to get there and they were cold and not good. Â My stroganoff tasted like it came from a cafeteria. Â We were there for 2 hours (!!) and dessert hadn't even arrived. Eventually, we just asked them to cancel the dessert so we could get the heck outta there. Â Too many other delicious options in Astoria to ever go back to this place. Â The only reason I gave 1 star is because the manager/owner(?) gave us a glass of wine for being patient.
Oh, and the health grade was pending... not a good sign either.
I've been here for Easter brunch with my family and regular weekend brunch with some friends. I wasn't sure what to expect when once you step inside you're taken to the 1920's - old NY, old Hollywood glam. Love the decor and ambiance here but the food is just OK.
For Easter brunch last year, we were a large party (20+), Â I Â was very impressed at the service and staff they were very accommodating for such a large party and the place was packed to the brim. Our food came out fairly quickly - standard brunch fare (eggs benedict, burgers, pancakes etc) Â and came with a complimentary drink! Â
The best part was the live jazz band, they were great and set a nice tone for the afternoon!
I want to say I really love Astor Room, but overall I was unimpressed.
The decor was exactly what I expected, a 1920's cinematic theme, as the name suggests, with a two-man jazz band playing off to one corner.
Came for brunch and was pleasantly surprised with the clever $23 pre-fixe option in which you choose one item from "Eye-openers" and one from either "Breakfasty Stuff" or "Lunchy Stuff" with a complimentary Mimosa or Bloody Mary and coffee or tea.
Instead of the complimentary alcoholic beverage, I chose an Astor Room signature, the Mexican Firing Squad. Of the countless tequila-based drinks I've ever had, this was one of the most interesting. The bitters was a nice addition, adding a third dimension to what would've otherwise been just a simple margarita.
I could've done without the profusion of donut holes I ordered, which proved to be more of a cake ball than a donut. The fillings lacked serious creativity and should've been piped inside to add moisture and break up the lemon zest flavored monotony of the dough.
After much debate, I chose the "Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Golden Waffles." With a name like that, who wouldn't? I must admit, once the food arrived I was very proud to have ordered this dish and relieved that I did not order what looked like a poor excuse for juevos rancheros. Everyone marveled at the tower of crispy golden chicken and waffles as i poured the syrup and thin gravy over top. Unfortunately, the waffles were overly cakey, like the donut holes, and turned into a pile of soggy mush within seconds. The moist chicken was definitely the star of the dish.
Dinner next time instead of brunch, perhaps.
It pains me to update my review of the Astor Room. They were doing so many things right but now whenever I go I find myself disappointed in something or another. Why mess with perfection?
For starters, the new brunch menu makes me sad. It's a pre-fix menu which ordinarily is a cool option but I just do not need an appetizer AND and entree at brunch. The problem here is that it's not an OPTION - it's just the way they do brunch now. I'd love to see brunch a la carte in addition to the prefix.
Next, they keep messing with my favorite all time brunch sandwich ever! The fried egg and oyster sandwich has not been the same for the past 6 times I have eaten it. And none of those times have matched it's original glory. Why add lettuce and tomato? Why take away the pickled onions? When you say fried egg, why does it come out scrambled like an omelet? Can't we go back to nice deliciously running fried eggs pouring out over and bathing those scrumptious fried oysters? Â
In addition, they managed to also dumb down the "Mother and Child Reunion" which aside from being one of the more clever dish names I have encountered was also SLAMMIN' delicious. Gone are the running poached fried eggs, gone is the real blue cheese with an actual bite, and the buffalo sauce has been replaced with a version of a spicy BBQ sauce that doesn't quite make it for me.
I actually also noticed even the signature cocktails seemed a little weaker on my last visit - how can that be?
I can say that I LOVE the bands in there lately. It really adds an appeal to the atmosphere and it's fun to go in when someone is hosting a private party and people are dressed in their 1920's gear. The atmosphere upswing has been thoughtful and welcomed. But please, please, please bring back your awesome on the food side Astor Room!
Of the many gems in Astoria, The Astor Room is one of the biggest. A unique venue in every right, it combines a sophisticated take on American bistro cuisine, various musical acts, and an impressive list of cocktails that rank among the best in NYC.
It feels rustic, a journey back in time and a classy homage to the neighboring Kaufman Studios - vibrant enough during the day time for a boisterous afternoon brunch, intimate enough at night for a quality date. It is larger than it appears, with a bustling bar, and back area room for parties.
They are regarded as one of the top cocktail bars in NY and judging by the quality of their drinks and mixologists behind the bar, there is no doubt. Park yourself at their long mahogany bar and choose from their list of signature or classic cocktails. I personally recommend The Chaplin from their signatures and Blood & Sand from their classic menu. Ask your bartender for the perfect cocktail for your preferred libation worthy palate and order up some of the best bar food out there. Truffled mac / fries, lobster mash, and crispy calamari? All day, every day.
While their brunch is immensely popular (love the chicken and waffles + astor disaster), I almost prefer the dinner hour, especially during the week nights. The crowds are significantly less, the food specials are usually quite fun, and I've always enjoyed my food. I've really enjoyed oysters, seared scallops ($25), pan crisped salmon ($23) and big ups to their very juicy astor burger ($14). Another surprise? Some killer chicken / pork empanadas. Who knew?
I appreciate the quality of their live music acts, which vary from week to week from acoustic sets to jazzy big band sounds. There is a $15 cover sometimes, which comes with a drink (essentially the same price as an average cocktail). I say stop in, grab a bite, and enjoy one of the borough's finest establishments.
I came here with my mom and and my boyfriend over the weekend for brunch before a movie. My first thing I noticed is that the place is mainly underground, but still had a decent amount of daylight coming in. The decor is a bit dated, but I didn't really mind. We started out with drinks - I had a mimosa, boyfriend had the bloody mary and mom had coffee. The mimosa was good with a high champagne to orange juice ratio. Boyfriend didn't quite love his bloody mary. I'm pretty sure it's made with clamato, which he is not really a fan of. It did taste more like cocktail sauce than tomato juice. Mom enjoyed her coffee.
For entrees, I ordered the eggs benedict with smoked salmon, boyfriend ordered the chicken and waffles, and mom ordered the spinach and goat cheese omelette without the goat cheese :P. Everything came out looking delicious! My eggs benedict was pretty standard, perfectly poached eggs on top of pretty large portions of salmon. The side salad was a bit lackluster, but I didn't come her for the salad. Boyfriend's chicken and waffles were amazing! The chicken was coated in crispy seasoned fried goodness and the waffles were crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. The jerk seasoned sauce it came with was a nice twist. Mom really liked her cheese-less omelette. It looked like it had a lot of fresh spinach in it. She couldn't stop talking about the food even days after! I'm glad we introduced her to the wonderful world of brunch starting with the Astor Room.
I've been going to the Astor Room frequently for the last couple of months and really enjoy hanging out at their bar. Last Thursday I was there and they had a nice live quartet doing jazz/blues with a good singer. It has a beautiful, well-stocked HUGE bar that makes it easy to meet people. Each time that I've been I've found good conversation. There are quite a few bartenders there but so far my favorite has been Ali. The manager Mark has also been very welcoming. I really like the classic movie videos, songs and atmosphere.
On the downside I haven't yet figured out which bartenders work on which nights. The restrooms are clean, but perhaps lack capacity when the restaurant is crowded.
I haven't tried the food yet but other customers that I sit beside at the bar always finish their plates.
I've got to say. I do love the Astor room, but unfortunately I love it for reasons that can never trump the terrible food.
It's charming, historic, affordable and I love the live jazz. Bust Jesus Christ, after eating there at least seven times - thrice for brunch and four times for dinner - I've yet to order a meal that doesn't make me want to projectile vomit.
I really just cannot figure out what the problem is - that is to say I cannot pinpoint it.
The menu itself is great, but everything tastes so fucking weird. I think the best way to describe it would be that it taste exactly like airplane food - for those of you too young to remember airplane food (once served domestically) think of a very basic meal component like beef, boil it in water for five or six hours until all it's flavor, nutrients and enzymes have been completely depleted, refrigerate overnight, then reheat it in a microwave. That's exactly what airplane food tastes like - and unfortunately the Astor room's food too.
The big problem, and the weirdest thing of all is that's it's not just one dish - it's everything. Everything taste like it's from a microwave. I could make a list, but for the sake of brevity I'll just focus on yesterday's brunch.
I ordered the chicken fried steak and eggs, severed with "creamed" mashed potatoes. The alleged chicken fried steak tasted nothing like steak, nor chicken or anything composed of organic compounds of any kind. The steak had the texture of what I would imagine a magnum condom would taste like if it were beer battered, fried, then reheated in a microwave. Even the fried batter tasted weird - like it had been boiled and microwaved. WTF? How do you make fried meat taste bad. You should be ashamed of yourself.
The creamy mash was neither creamy nor mashed. Big clumpy chunks of tepid, unseasoned Idaho spuds. Add some fucking salt for Christ sake - something, anything. It wasn't even mashed. It tasted like yesterday's baked potatoes taken from the trash and reconstituted on my plate.
The fried eggs were fine, but even the eggs had that weird airplane taste. I don't know what it is - it's so distinct but impossible to finger.
I'd love nothing more then for the Astor Room to succeed, but if they want return customers they're going to have to rely on a lot more than just atmosphere, you guys got to work on your food.
Seasoning and always fresh food I think is the key. Don't make me long for Applebee's when I'm eating in a proper restaurant - that's unforgivable.
It seemed like a night that demands live music so we hied off to the Astor Room for some live jazz music. Â I had called ahead for a table so it was a quick hello at the reception and we were seated quickly. Â
Neither Chris nor MIchael was on the floor so I wondered whether the lackluster night was due to their absence. Â The four of us ordered cocktails, then a bottle of wine and proceeded to order food. Â We had two orders of pumpkin ravioli, a chicken pot pie and calamari. It breaks my heart to say this but I wanted to go into the kitchen and cook my own food. Â It was truly disappointing, to say the least. Â
The only bright star of the night was Andy Mac, his guitar and the saxophone player. Â They performed their hearts out and it was the only reason we did not walk out. Â If I were heading back to Astor Room, it would be because of Andy Mac and this time, I'll stick to the bar. Â It saddens me to say this because II love Astor Room and would love to continue supporting it but the quality of food is abysmal.
Fancy brunch in Queens. This is where you should take all your out of town guests or the parents.
The Astor Room was the "it" restaurant of 2011. Now it's just a reliable classy place to go. I have been to The Astor Room on three separate occasions for different reasons and had a different experience for each meal.
I have experienced The Astor Room for a large party in the party room for big groups, sitting at the bar because getting a table was impossible for a weekend lunch, and for Saturday brunch without the jazz.
The Astor Room is excellent for large parties. Even if you share the room with other groups there is still a sense of privacy and The Astor Room gives you all the attention you need. Service is excellent! I'd recommend The Astor Room for special occasions such as birthdays, bridal showers, and baby showers.
When The Astor Room is busy, they are busy! Expect an hour wait or so. My group of three decided to not wait it out and just sat at the bar. We were sort of forgotten and it took a very long time to get our food to the point where the wait made us yawn. It's a good thing the manager and bar staff humored us by talking hockey.
My most recent meal at The Astor Room was for Saturday brunch. We arrived in the first hour and there was no one there. I hope The Astor Room isn't losing their mojo. I'll chalk up the lack of customers to post hurricane and snow storm woes. After an hour had passed, more people arrived but it was a snoozer compared to the fuss going on for Sunday jazz brunches.
Nonetheless, the food has always been excellent no matter when. I love that you get a complimentary Bela Lugosi (bloody Mary) or Guilded Lady (mimosa). It makes brunch the best deal. In reality, even if they didn't give a free drink it'd still be a good deal at approximately $10 per person.
I recommend the fried chicken, eggs benedict, donuts, granola and Greek yogurt, and Astor Burger. You will really get the most bang for your buck with the chicken or burger. Amazing. I'm still thinking back on my meals. I wouldn't recommend the Astor Disaster. While I don't know anyone who has actually complained about it (everyone I know actually liked it) I just think it looks kind of sad on the plate. Disastrous presentation.
Everything else about The Astor Room is precious and has charm from another era. They even take your coat.
Lesson learned - Sometimes it is just worth the wait...
Hubs and I wanted some good simple brunch nearby without the hassle of the long waits. Doing a quick Yelp search, we came across Astor Room and picked it because of the opentable reservations. But, now I just wish I had gone with the wait at another place!
The food was just meh. The homefries with the benedict were just horribly seasoned. The side salad was just romaine and dressing. The first pass at my poached eggs resulted in a still clear and runny egg white. I love runny eggs, but this was just plain uncooked. We also tried the donut holes and they did not taste fresh at all and were definitely not warm.
Now, it was not all bad. I will give them props for a nice atmosphere, good music, and great service. They had a large party at the same time, so our food was delayed. The server and manager immediately made efforts to make us comfortable, including a round of drinks and a free dessert. I appreciated the fact they were proactive and attentive.
Perhaps I will have better luck with the food for dinner...?
"That was glorious."
This is what they are saying about the Astor Room. Actually, this is what a middle-aged gentleman remarked to what must have been his mother after a fine meal. They do brunch and they do it well.
I had the fried oyster sandwich. You heard me right. As an expert on the subject (having had upwards of 75 oyster sandwiches over the course of my decadent life) this one was near the top. When it comes to bivalves I eat them all. Clams, mussels, oysters, raw, rare, deep fried - I don't care. I eat them the way they were meant to be consumed. By the gross while wading knee deep in the murky waters of the East River. As each passing frigate goes back nearly sending me to a watery grave I yell "Ahoy, try the Astor room."
The Astor family has meant much to me over the years. I've been t o Astoria, Oregon, live in Astoria, New York and have boarded many subways on the Place du Astor (Astor Place). Plus, I was next in line to marry Brooke Astor before her untimely death at 105. You must understand, in her prime she was among the finest trim in all five boroughs. Her prime of course was the 1920s and that is the world of the Astor Room.
I also wrote the definitive biography on the patriarch of the family and fur trading legend, John Jacbo Astor, entitled "Astor? Hardly knew her: Tales of an American Tycoon" published by St. Martin's Press with a forward by fmr. Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.
I stopped by The Astor Room after a charity function in Queens for some food and drink.
For some reason I was craving raw meat (there's a joke in here somewhere) so I decided to go with the beef tartar from the menu. Mmmm great beef tartar with fried quail egg on top! The meat was tender and juicy and perfectly seasoned. Me likey.
Afterward, I met up with more people from the charity and we ordered more food and more drinks. I was so tired by then that I can hardly remember what we had but I do remember being happy and full.
My only qualm with this place was the house band playing at the time. It was a kind of weird country/grass roots sort of group playing and I didn't think it fit in with the old school, vintage ambiance at all.
Overall, The Astor Room is great space to catch a drink and a bite to eat on a late night in Queens.
I took my wife to The Astor Room for her birthday. She had a great time, mostly due to me turning into my father for the 15-20 minutes it took us to get service.
Let me stop here and say that the manager and the staff did a great job of correcting their mistake once it had been realized, but it's a kinda funny story, so I will share it.
We arrived a few minutes early for our 7pm reservation, but were seated immediately. We were given water and bread, things were going SWIMMINGLY. I took a sip of water, that water was replenished without pause. BUT aside from the water and bread, we hadn't met a server, and hadn't received menus. We watched as a waiter, and seemingly a single waiter at that, made his rounds to all tables but ours. Finally, my wife, sensing my annoyance (and by sensing, I mean she used her sense of hearing my whispers of "What is going on here? Is it because my blazer matches the table cloth? Are we sitting inbetween universes, only able to be seen by the bus boy who has super-perception?") asked the helpful bus boy for a menu. He brought one over, we perused it, and no one came over.
Finally, the manager came over and asked my wife "if she had any questions about the menu." I jumped in and said "actually, we never received any menus but this one that we asked for, and haven't even met a server." From this point on, service was excellent. I have no idea why it occurred, but everyone hopped to it. The weird thing was, the singular waiter didn't serve us, we got a combo of the waitress and the manager while the waiter continued to serve everyone else and new parties that came in. So yeah, it was a strange experience.
Our main drive in coming here was the cocktails. That and the menu looked great, too. A Coca-Cola pork chop? Sold. I wound up getting that pork chop, along with a side of lobster mashed potatoes. The pork chop was alright, but the mashed potatoes really shined. The cocktail I ordered off their seasonal menu was also 'ok,' but they made a great Old Fashioned. Basically, the things I expected to love, I thought were OK, and I was pleasantly surprised by some offerings I was unaware of.
(Wrap it up, yo.) Ok, sorry. While off to an awkward start, we did have an enjoyable time here, and the manager also comped us a couple after dinner cocktails for our troubles. The food was decent, the drinks and dessert were better. The atmosphere was nice, but really picked up once the live music started as we were on our way out. I'd definitely return to enjoy some cocktails and music, but maybe not a full on meal.
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