Mary Queen of Scots

Lovely décor, cocktail list is unique and modern, the seared scallops were perfectly done paired with a yummy dil sauce and the duck and venison was amazing. I’m going back here for cocktails and appetizers with friends. It is on the pricier side.

Big fan of this place.
Been twice, both with reservations (not super hard to get), both on Sat nights. Each time the service was nice, quick, wasn’t waiting too long, etc.
Adorable interior, sort of a quirky library parlor theme. Right up my alley.
Great food, really tasty, and incredible cocktails. Strong, you don’t really need more than one.
I love it because it’s still a little out of the way, so you don’t get the «scene» vibe here — just a great atmosphere with good food on the LES.

If you haven’t been, check out Mary Queen of Scots.
They had a quality drink menu. They had a cocktail to fit everyone’s liking. Some were really strong, and others were on the ultra light side. They also had a wide range of beers and scotches to choose from.
The food menu was complete with options well suited for splitting amongst your table, or ordering for yourself. We ordered a few meat and cheese platters, as well as burgers, fish & chips, etc. I didn’t personally try everything, but everyone in my party had nothing but quality things to say. French fries came with this curry mustard sauce to dip. I personally wasn’t a fan, but that’s based on your own taste buds.
Décor was nice. It felt you were in a classy underground pub in the UK.
Only bad things to say were:
— Only one «Water Closet»
— My friend’s dirty martini tasted like it was all olive juice.

Had beer on tab in the back of the restaurant next to a long table, in front of a long bar. Was quite pleased. Beer was fresh and good.
I looked at the table setting, candles and paintings on the wall. All were well placed. Fabric napkins and pretty regular looking glasses were waiting someone to sit and enjoy the evening.
We were there just for drinks.
Can’t say about the food.
Definitely I wanted to go back and check the food.

When plaid goes out of style (fingers crossed) this restaurant will need a major overhaul! Plaid booths, plaid shirts, etc. The space was actually larger than expected and had a good layout for different areas of seating. The bar area of nice with plenty of space as well. The gastro pub décor has been done several times over, the décor/​food theme is starting to get a little stale. The owners did a good job with the décor, but it’s nothing you haven’t seen since hipster became stylish.
Now onto the food — not good and definitely not worth going back. The beet salad with orange vinagrette was way too acidic and the tanginess was overpowering. Also who hasn’t seen a beet salad with blue cheese and nuts?
The sea scallop appetizer is just that, it is three of the tiniest scallops I’ve ever seen, literally a mouthful, but hey I’m a lady, I ate them in three separate bites. The caviar garnish was overpowering and made the dish too salty.
The cheeseburger was so-​so, at least the burgers were handmade, not the frozen paddies. The pickled vegetables were bland and shredded too small, it was more of a garnish than a side.
Wouldn’t go back for drinks, maybe if I’m looking for a bar in the LES?

Mary, Queen of Scots
You know she ended up beheaded, no? … hmm
I have to admit it. When my friend suggested Mary Queen of Scots for dinner, I wasn’t sure what to expect about it. Mary Queen of Scots is operated by the same people behind Highlands, the awarded British gastropub on the West Village. This one is located in the Lower East Side, and trust me, you don’t expect this kind at Allen and Delancey. The space is absolutely seductive and this could easily serve for speakeasy purposes only. It is cozy and intimacy comes by easily, although surprisingly, I have always seen more groups than couples. The vibe is trendy, among the more fashionable I have seen in the city. The service is friendly, very casual, and knowledgeable. And no, the guys are not dress in kilts but more like elegant hipster style or the prototypical speakeasie’s barista outfit. I Love it.
… I have count 67 Scotchs in their menu. We were amuse by the fact that they served one of those to my friend straight, but also accompanied by a glass with ice. In case she wanted enjoy it on the rocks. I like this people very much and I wondered for awhile if I should start feeling like Mary, queen of Scots … but during her days of glory, ok? In another occasion we ordered a nice sparkling wine recommended by our server with a price tag too low to be real or drinkable, but that ended up being highly enjoyable. And a few cocktails. As attractive as it sounds the combination of white Rum with Ginger Syrup, Pineapple and lime Juice on the The Walsingham didn’t work well and I will skip this one for a more balanced creation, like the Lady of the Lake compose by House Infused Heather Vodka, Lemon, Honey, Housemade Lavender Bitters. An extraordinary drink. Respect Your Elders is the one I have on mind for a next time… this place is really awesome choosing names.
But anyways, even though the menu is divided into appetizers, starters and main entrees, I recommend to order a few plates and to share everything. The portions looks small but the food is very rich and filling. $ 30-​$ 40 per person will do, a bit more maybe with some alcohol. Mary queens of Scots claim to serve modern Scotland and British cuisine under a chef that grew in Australia, went to London and finally New York working at Public and Double Crown, the British restaurant with Indian and Asian influences that is close now, but that had always a really tempting approach. I don’t have enough experience in British cuisine and I am not sure how close his cooking is. Except that they serve Fish and Chips just as I have seen many times in Ireland. My friends devoured this dish by the way. I can tell the fish was tender, and the butter was like a shell: tasty and removable.
I have like every single dish that we have try, some better than others, but overall I would order all them again. Clean flavors, tasty and intense; outlighting the main ingredient either with the dressing or other components, but what I liked the most was the contrasting elements. Either in texture, flavor or both.
I am particularly devote for their Seared scallops, the Grilled Trumpet Royale Mushroom Salad and the Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras. This one came along with warm Fig, Port Glaze and walnut Crumble. It was delicious. The liver was perfectly cook, tender to the point that melt on your mouth and the port glaze and figs were an exciting complement to the savory meat. Pork rilletes is another must order. Originally French, is a way to prepare meat similar to pâté. At Mary Queen is dressed with Black Pepper and served with Apple Chutney and Grilled Sourdough. The Roast Pork Belly with Grilled Onion Purée, Romanesco and Pickled Red onions was very interesting. And you may don’t like their skin. The pork skin is thick, crunchy and tasty and will surprise you at first. And by thick skin I mean it. We have also try their Grilled Pork Chop and Pan Roasted Sea Bream an special in one of our visits. You know it. The plates ended up clean.
When it comes to the desserts we tried only two of them, but I will probably not try others because their Chocolate Stout with Maple Cream and Oatmeal Cookie is gonna become a tradition. Their Upside Down Pineapple Cake was very good as well and you should order it but this Chocolate Stout just got me like your first love. It is smooth, creamy, «chocolatey» and with an intense and delicate touch of liquor completely unexpected. The whipped cream on the top was one of the best I have taste ever. The oatmeal cookie is nothing to overlook as well. Not only the flavor but mainly the texture.
Then, what do you think? have I convince you? Mary, Queen of Scots ended up beheaded. It is scary huh? but take the risk. I dare to say, it is worth it.

My friend lives in the neighborhood and wanted to try this place out so we stopped by on a Thursday night. They sat us in a cozy booth while music played (not too loudly) throughout the restaurant. We both ordered a drink to start. They have a nice selection of cocktails and they aren’t as ridiculously priced as some NYC spots.
We started with a scallop appetizer which we split. It came with 3 scallops, not too skimpy. For main courses I ordered the duck and my friend got the fish and chips. Both portions were sizeable — it’s hard to leave here hungry. I enjoyed the duck (it was cooked perfectly) but I found myself cutting off the fat. I’m sure some people will say that’s the best part but I’m not really a fan. We also had the peas which were great.
They were a lot fresher tasting than I was expecting. I do wish there were a few more choices on the menu (a special or two wouldn’t hurt) but I would go back. There was at least one or two other dishes I would consider trying.

Pretty good. Overall I was not impressed with the food I ordered, but my companion’s food was delicious, the cocktails were a delight and they had a very drinkable champers by the glass for under $ 10. All that plus the adorable and awesome server (and her cute Aussie accent) makes me want to go back for another try, so I’ll consider it.
PRO:
–champagne st germaine drinks (a little sweet but good)
–the champers by the glass — $ 9, dry, crisp, I could have had a bottle it was so good
–cozy, cute atmosphere, great for conversation a deux
–location, location, location
CON:
–My foie gras was fatty and flavourless, even its accessories were disappointing.
–Same with my duck entrée
–My deciding to eat like Henry VIII probably had something to do with my meal being disappointing, so I’ll order something that doesn’t entirely consist of meat and fat next time.

Throwing in a shout out for the fish and chips with mushy peas. Perfectly crispy, smoky flavored and still juicy. It was actually a great spot for a group dinner in addition to a sexy cocktail hour.

Blackboard Eats recently offered a 30% discount for Mary Queen of Scots. And what luck, it came just in time for girl-​date. In terms of ambiance, friendliness of staff, and cleanliness of bathrooms I would give this place an A+. My only concern was fearing that like the total klutzball I am, I’d knock over one of the small votive lights in the restroom that were placed in a cluster on the floor, right next to the door.
The cauliflower soup deliciously warmed my belly on a slightly damp night and there wasn’t scrap of the Roasted Pollock left. I had to clean my plate, Unilocal.The combination of fish, mashed potato, and Kohlrabi-​radish salad won me over. Paired with a few Bonny Prince Charlies (a delightfully fizzy cocktail that sweetly, but sneakily, packs a punch) the outing did not disappoint.

Went here for the first time a couple weeks ago and enjoyed it very much. The food was good, the ambiance is energetic, and it was an overall good night.
Getting the negatives out of the way first:
— we were seated at a table right in the transition from the middle area of booths to the front area. so the end outside seat was bumped numerous times by staff and patrons walking by.
— our server was fun and knowledgeable, but disappeared for extended periods of time
— one of our party ordered a burger medium well and it came quite rare. had to send it back
— for a place with such a great selection of Whisky (scotch), I would have expected a few higher quality bourbons
Other than those issues, the evening was full of positives:
— all the food was very good. we had a baked oyster special dish, a squid special, endive salad, chilled asparagus, the scallops, grilled pork chop, 2 burgers, roast lamb and mushy peas. Other than 1 burger being undercooked, it was all good.
— the deserts are also very good, but a little small and not so good for sharing.
— the scotch list is one of the best in New York.
— most prices are reasonable for NY, though to be honest I was surprised at the Fish N Chips being $ 20. Maybe I’ll get them next time, but it seems high.
— good beer selection
— fun crowd. good mix of ages and styles.
— good happy hour prices, though only good for in the bar area.
— a cool back room that can be reserved for private events (which it was that night).
I’ll definitely go back again.

Had a girls’ night out here and definitely had a great time. The happy hour specials are amazing and the cocktails are strong and tasty.
I love the décor and the atmosphere. It was more of a scene than I expected but not in a bad way. People were dressed well and looked to be generally enjoying themselves.
We had a great waitress. She was funny and worked quickly. Most of us ordered the burger and chips with curry sauce. We also had a cheese plate and rolls for starters. All the food was delicious.
My only complaint, or warning rather, is that all the food is extremely rich. Can be a little rough on the stomach if you don’t normally eat a lot of rich food. Just don’t go for dinner and plan to go out directly after. You’ll need to digest for a bit!
Great spot though, I’d definitely go back and take visitors to NYC. The place has a great night-​out-​downtown atmosphere.

I have now been to Mary Queen of Scots 3 times. As someone prone to insisting on trying new restaurants, that’s quite a staggering statistic. 2 times were late-​ish weekday dinners and one early Saturday dinner. Here’s why I keep going back:
— Décor: from the moment you walk in, this restaurant exudes conscientiousness in its decorating decisions. Traditional tartan + bold wallpaper, the menus are hand-​stamped and everyone gets a different china bread plate… its gorgeous and unique.
— Drinks: Friendly bartender who answered my slightly annoying questions, tasty cocktails, and if I was a whiskey connoisseur, this would be heaven.
— Menu: Delicious. Always something slightly new, while keeping winners such as scallops, asparagus and the pork chop, which is divine. Fish and chips were not my favorite (not my pick to start with, but the taste I snagged from another person’s plate was ehhh) but everything else that I have tried has made me one happy camper.
— Service: Consistently very good. At the largest of the meals that I attended, my chatty uncle was not ignored as an annoying old guy. Instead, they brought out a free digestif. Wise move, as its those chatty guys that convince other people to frequent your restaurant.
Moral of the story? The number of times I go will not remain at 3.

I am obsessed with the décor of this place… crown moulding, tartan, books, and customized wall paper — oh my!
Such a delightful and absolutely charming atmosphere!
P and I came here since P was in town and P is Scottish, so here we are to eat P’s food.
P got a glass of white wine and I got their version of Pimm’s Cup. More fruity than alcohol… my kind of drink and with fresh cucumber and strawberry purée — not the fake syrup crap.
We started off with some fresh oysters… no need to fry them with beer batter, give it to us raw.
East Coast Oysters
Shallot Thyme, Mignonette — the shallot with the migonette… divine and so so fresh.
Seared Scallops
Pea Purée, Crispy Black Pudding, Shaved Fennel — I love everything about this dish, even the Crispy Black Pudding. I think I only like the black pudding because it was crispy and rather small, so not too offensive. I had tried a little bit of di huyt’, since you can find it in Vietnamese cooking. I never enjoyed any minerally tasting things like blood, but I did enjoy their version. So damn good.
Pan Seared Cod
Manila Clams, Broad Beans, Shellfish Broth — Perfect cod, so flaky and tender. The manila clams… I wish the clams soaked up more flavours of the shellfish broth, but other than that… this dish hit the spot and kept me feeling light. I also love the crispy samphire as my garnish… so yummy. I wish they offer it as a side.
Seared Tuna ‚
Haricot Vert, Quail Egg, Worcestershire-​Red Onion Dressing — P got the Seared Tuna. I love Quail Eggs… sooooooooooooo cute. I didn’t try this dish, but P loved it.
Banoffee Pudding
Coffee Caramel, Graham Cracker — I wish I could have shared this dessert with P, but I am not a fan of caramel and I had my eye on the Rhubard Trifle. But it was decent, but the graham crackers were so freaking hard to break off of itself and it was too hard.
Rhubarb Citrus Trifle — okay, I was expecting a lot more from this dish… I believe the only thing that was disappointing from this dinner, were the desserts. I wasn’t a fan of any of their desserts. It’s not a real Trifle… their version didn’t hit the spot. I didn’t like the layer of jello texture mixed with soggy and mushy vanilla crème cake. There wasn’t enough difference of texture between the three layers. Everything was just mushed in. Next time, I’ll skip the dessert here and walk over to il laboratorio del gelato.
Service was good and attentive, but I feel like the waitress could have worked on her delivery and sounding more genuine when describing food.
I never knew they’re the same owners of Highland. I prefer Mary’s food over Highland’s.
I forgot to mention, I appreciate this place for the room temperature butter. This is the THIRD place I have been to that offers room temperature butter. Seriously, I wonder why restaurants doesn’t pay mind to this little detail… we want room temperature butter not butter in form of a solid rock. I ate at a lot of restaurants and for this place to be the THIRD place… come on now, pretty pathetic, right?
Also the bread offering is insanely delicious. I could have ate a whole basket.

It was the last night of a recent visit to New York City, and a friend strongly suggested I get a nightcap here. «The drinks are great,» she said, «but wait till you see the bartenders.»
I have never had such an adorably wholesome, smiling bartender sustain eye contact with me for so long in my entire life! I imagine this is what it feels like for a guy to fall in love with a stripper, if you replace twinkly eyes with T and A. If I were a single girl in the big city I’d be there every weekend, sipping Lochlevens to my heart’s content.

Ron Burgundy’s favorite place in the LES. Their scotch menu offers infinite brands, aged various years from a land called Shangrala… a location only to be found when highly intoxicated while watching Tailspin.
Their service is not to be reckoned with. I can honestly say MQS takes pride in their restaurant. The décor was thoughtfully planned out… the exposed brick, wood planks and kilt booths all the way to the bathrooms. However, there’s a sneaky/​unique soap dispenser and door lock that some people had trouble with. It wasn’t me. Okay, the soap dispenser was me.
In the mood for a classy dinner and drinks? Take a seat in the front of the restaurant. Had a hard day at work and want to unwind? Take a seat at the bar in the back. Have a hot date and want to whisper sweet nothings in their ear? Take a seat all the way in the back, passed the bar, where there are additional tables (apparently these are reserved tables but if you have the loot, do it up).
Cocktail:
Four Maries — Strong at first but had a bitter sweet finish. Perhaps it was the muddled strawberries or angostura bitters that lured me in. I’ll be back for you.
Foods:
Sausage Rolls — Pigs in a blanket. Came with a light green sauce that was hard to decipher but overall tasted good.
Sweetbread Beignets — Loved the idea on paper but not in my mouth. Strange mix of flavors and texture. The beignet batter and vinegar dipping sauce completely hid the flavor of the sweetbread.
Hanger Steak — Not heavily salted or flavored. You could really taste the freshness of the meat and it was also cooked perfectly, medium rare.
MQS Burger — Your basic burger cooked perfectly, medium rare. Not overly salted and the meat had great taste. My first bite consisted of liquid, translucent fat dripping down my mouth.
Ploughman’s Lunch — You can get with this or you can get with that. A little bit of everything. The potted pork and chicken liver was tasty although there was a congealed layer of butter on top. They don’t suggest eating the butter rather break through it to get to the pork and chicken liver. Rest assured, you won’t be beheaded for eating the butter.
On second thought, Sean Connery would love this place.

I love what they’ve done with the former Allen and Delancery space. I had an early Friday night dinner here, armed with a BBE code. The place was half empty when I arrived but fully seated with crowds at the bar when I left. We had a seat in the dining room in the back and it was a bit less crowded than the booths.
STARTERS
We started with a half dozen sweet oysters (East Coast), the seared scallops (appetizer), and the devils on horseback (you can’t go wrong with bacon, cheese, dates). Sadly they were out of sweetbread beignets and scallop crudo. Note: their current online menu is outdated.
ENTREES
Entrees were the moules frites and roast chicken. The moules were in a light white wine broth with a healthy dose of vegetables. The chips were perfectly executed and also came with a side of mustard. The roast chicken was succulent and had the perfect layer of crispy chicken skin. Also came with sides of greens.
DESSERT
The dessert menu was salivating, but I didn’t have too much stomach space left. We had the coffee and beignets (3 small ones, to be exact, and a little too dusted with sugar) and a trio of ice cream. They were out of the roasted almond so we tried the honey and some other scotch flavored ice cream.
DRINKS
For cocktails, I had the Blood and Sand and Phoenix (whiskey and champagne).
*
All in all a great meal and I will admit that I slightly overordered. I wish they weren’t out of things (it’s Friday night!). Service was great and our waiter had a nice Scottish accent. There were two glasses of wine on the check that didn’t belong, so make sure you review the check. Also, I only saw one bathroom on the way to the back with an opaque/​frosted window on the door. Kinda weird.

I would never be so coarse as to use the word, «panty-​dropper.» Never.
But this might be the perfect bar for you creepy, mouth-​breathing, internet message-​board trolling weirdos to impress the sophisticated, attractive women that you somehow duped into meeting you for a first-​date drink.
She will swoon at your savvy as soon as she steps into the dimly lit, tastefully decorated bar. The music will be well-​chosen, and not so loud as to drown out your conversation as you sip strong, well-​made cocktails brought by an accommodating and attentive server. If she drinks quickly, she might even find your awkwardness endearing, and you could even progress to a few of their delicious small plates.
Happy Valentine’s Day. Don’t blow it.

Dan: «What’s with all the Beatles music and the plaid-​covered booths?»
Dan’s friend: «Dude, it’s called Mary Queen of Scots… it’s a Scottish bar.»
Dan: «Oh, yeah… um. that does make sense»
MQS is deeeep in the cut, just off Delancey. That said, it is worth the schlep. The décor is really sharp and well done, with dark green wood paneling, white painted brick walls and the… ummm…plaid booths.
This place is very cozy, dimly lit, and just an overall great place to get drinks with friends without any guest list pretentiousness. We got a few rounds of drinks and got great service from the bar.
For booze, they have a well stocked selection of… ummm…scotch. Of course they do, Dan. Oofa. Regarding other types of booze, they had Plymouth Gin — a huge favorite of mine. Their wine selection was also very good which was surprising as Scotland is not really known for wine. Do they even make wine in Scotland? Anyway, they have some excellent California wines, such as Ridge Paso Robles and Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon.
So, if you find yourself in the LES and are not on any guestlist or if your girl-​guy ratio is not good enough for some «now» place that purposely does not have a sign on the door, go to Mary Queen of Scots, you will have a great time.

Fun opening party combined with NAAG site launch; this is the old Allen & Delancey remade. Scottish décor throughout with bookshelves and pictures of the queen and wall writing The Queen is Dead in the bathroom. The space is divided into three areas; a small front room with a few booths, the middle room with the main bar and a small back room. I would never have guessed it was the old Allen & Delancey if I didn’t know it was; it bears no resemblance to the former resto. when they start serving food on Thursday it will be a Scottish menu of the gastropub/​bistro type.
Brian from Highlands in the West Village is running it. He says he was going for a Vivienne Westwood type feel but from the «Save the Queen» markings it gave me a rather Alexander McQueenish vibe.
Good Kanon Vodka drinks (not sure what the regular selection is). Crowd is hipsteresque (combo of the naturalist and detached ironic subtypes).