The House

Atmosphere: awesome! This place is completely adorable. I love the way the restored the carriage house. Perfect for special occasions, parties, etc.
Food: excellent! Everyone in our party ordered different things, and they were all great. My husband had the lasgna which he raved about. My scallops were delicious and perfectly cooked. We also shared some appetizers which were all excellent, and even the salad was not at all boring.
Service: a little lacking, otherwise I would have given 5 stars. We were in the room below level because the ground level area was a bit noisy for some in the party, but it seemed to take a long time between courses and our dinner was a almost 2.5hrs in total. Also, we had to ask for a few things twice (i.e., more water), and they did not pour all of the 2^nd bottle of wine so we had almost half the bottle leftover at the end of the meal. Our first bottle was extremely sweet and fruity, even though we specifically asked for a recommendation for a dry wine.
Overall this was a great special occasion place and we had an excellent dinner, but the restaurant could definitely work on improving the level of service

Limited menu, main entrée was good.
Desserts were EPIC FAILURE! we ordered 3 different desserts, they were all failures.
Crème Brulee were over cooked. Apple Galette I think was warmed up with a microwave, the crust was soggy. I’m not even going to talk about the 3^rd dessert, not worth mentioning.
Definitely overpriced.

I really liked the quaintness as well as the food here.
BURRATA with figs was outstanding with incredible flavors.
WATERMELON salad, another winner that was fresh and bright .
BURGER: While they admit they farm out the blend, the assembly could have been a front page photo shoot that looked so good; it tasted great also.
The HOUSE LASAGNA was wonderfully rich with Boar, Pancetta and mushrooms but a little salty.

Absolutely love this place! Nineteenth century ambiance and décor, warm lighting, and gracious service immediately transports you back to a time when one could leave his horse and carriage out front to enjoy a relaxing night out with his companion.
The manager, Sarah, is both incredibly accommodating and super professional. I hosted a friend’s birthday gathering here, and she made sure that everything ran smoothly and everyone felt completely at home.
I had a cucumber martini that nearly inspired me to get wasted ordering 5 more (SO good!), and the short rib was delicious without being greasy, like many other restaurants tend to make it.
Our server — don’t remember his name — was so knowledgeable and accommodating that everyone wanted to leave their own 25% tip.
This place is not to be missed for a spectacular night out!

LOVE everything about The House. Outstanding ambiance, service and food in a beautiful, charming restaurant that is a restored 1854 carriage house.
I passed The House several times and was curious to try. Having a drink to start a girls night out nearby, I called and asked if one of their few outside tables would be available for dinner and made a reservation.
A room for everyone who appreciates charm, character. Different floors of The House suitable for different occasions and preferences: perfect girls night outside or at the downstairs bar, perfect date night downstairs, perfect for private parties or gatherings. More formal feeling upstairs, more cozy and a little more lively downstairs.
When we arrived, our table was not available yet so we ventured upstairs to check out the mini bar and use the restroom while waiting. The upstairs room while very nice with interesting Windows has a more formal feeling, suitable for a quieter date or formal get together. Even the bartender at the small bar upstairs had a more formal demeanor. Not what we wanted for our Thursday girls night so we went back downstairs.
The hostess asked if we wanted to have a seat at a table while waiting for ours to clear, and ordered us a drink. Very attentive and sweet.
The first floor is cozy, charming, very pretty with a fireplace in the back. A slightly livelier feel with some people having conversation at the bar, and several tables for less formal dining than upstairs. The ambiance felt perfect for a date which I said to my friend as we were seated across the table from each other with a small candle in between us. But, not being on a date, we were looking forward to our outside table…
A number of people were walking in and heading downstairs so there is another area downstairs as well likely for private parties.
Finally our table was ready — the server sweetly apologized that it took so long and said the first round of drinks were on The House. Very nice gesture. There are only 3 outside tables so this is prime at The House, near the sidewalk of a charming Gramercy street, festive feeling as people walking the sidewalks pass by.
Service.
The hostess and server Brendan were wonderful. Personable, friendly. Brendan had a great personality with wit while also being knowledgable about the menu and with great recommendations.
The food.
Everything was Incredible and really well presented. We had:
— gourmet deviled egg sampler, so pretty and the lobster deviled egg was my favorite of the four. Others were Caviar and crème fraiche, jalapeño, bacon.
— grilled octopus carpaccio. Both our first time having this amazing dish that when looking at it initially we were a little apprehensive, but it was delicious. We both loved it.
— Long Island duck. This may be the best duck I’ve had, and my friend loved it as her first time having it, saying it tasted almost like steak — which it did. Tender, cooked perfectly and the light sauce was wonderful.
— brownie Sunday dessert. This was just divine and a perfect ending to the meal with my sambuca.
Drinks. Brendan recommended a spicy Martini off their special drink list which was great and served with a jalapeño slice giving it a kick.
My friend pointed out that everyone who passed looked up and checked out the lights. No wonder as the charmingly lit House restaurant is more charming looking at night. Just as my friend pointed out that everyone who passed was stopping to take a look, a couple walked by, and the woman slowed asking her date, «what is this place?» He was on his phone but looked up to see the name and said, «the house; write it down.»
Yes, I thought, write it down. Or Unilocalers Bookmark it. Highly recommend as a wonderful restaurant to have dinner with girlfriends, a date, family or for a special event.

Came here for a drink and it definitely is something different.
Obviously the name gives it away but you feel like you are in your grandma’s living room (thats a compliment). The place is cozy and definitely a cool date spot.
Ordered the manhattan and it was well made albeit a little small.
No real complaints about the drinks.
Might come back to try the food.

We hosted a college graduation luncheon at The House for our daughter’s NYU graduation. They hit it out of the park! Charming restaurant with a great space for private events. Creative menu with something for everyone. Food on par with the décor. Great service too.
We had a memorable experience celebrating a once in a lifetime event!

It’s too crowded and too expensive but so is everywhere else good in NYC so just drink a little and you won’t feel so stressed about how damned crowded it is or the fact you’re spending $ 80 for Mac & Cheese plus two glasses of wine. You could feed an African Village for a month for $ 80.
But considering that you’re not moving, and you probably won’t donate to Africa either, I would suggest the bar here, on a weeknight, on the early side like 5pm. Nice nice atmosphere and good wine selections. Bartenders don’t have much personality or conversation skills, but it’s not that kind of place. It’s a place where yuppies go to feel
at home and they don’t want the help to talk to them.
If you get any food here I definitely recommend the roast chicken. You’d be surprised how many places in NYC like this one that serve chicken for over $ 30 actually screw it up. Not these guys. This chicken is juicy. It’s pretty good. And the veggies they serve it with must be local because they’re really good.
Ok, I might sound misanthropic but that’s my review. Five stars. Go to House! Good place for a date!

A cozy and welcoming respite in an area where Casa Mono and Pierre Loti pack ‘em in on the reg, The House was the perfect setting for a long overdue mid-​week double date — and did I mention the fireplace?
The cocktail list is a succinct mix of classic twists and seasonally-​inspired sips and the beer/​wine offerings sufficient enough to satisfy any palette — though cheap they are not.
And then… the food. It’s hard to keep your eyes from getting to big for your stomach as every single appetizer sounds just plain delish — we opted for the octopus carpaccio, deviled eggs (BEST CHOICE EVER), the burrata and fennel and celery salad. The octopus was a bit under-​seasoned and dainty as dainty can be, as was the salad despite our waiter’s insistence that it was by far the top salad choice –i think feeling was both sounded far better on paper than in execution; the burrata however was spot on and the rich textures and flavors played incredibly well alongside the sweet and slightly savory morsels of figs and pickled onions. The quartet of deviled eggs was an absolute standout — and let’s be honest, with a roster of lobster, bacon, caviar and jalepeno, it’d be hard not to!
Still starvacious, we were ready for more. Two of us opted for the duck while the other pair was split between the scallops and the cod. While the cod was portioned well, I almost came close to asking where the other half of my duck was. (whoops :-)) The duck itself was outstanding and incredibly well seasoned, as was the dish in its entirety — w/​its silky sunchokes and garlicky undertones… but for 30 plus buckaroos, and for a dinner portion, 2 slices was unfortunately not nearly enough to keep my eyes from wandering to other tables. and my mind from wandering to what might or might not be waiting to hijack from my fridge once back home.
Finally, we all excitedly dug our spoons into the warm apple gallette after poring over the dessert menu and idling over the mouthwatering descriptions, each better than the next. The tart was a bit of a let down, but the mexican cinnamon gelato was unreal…
Will I go back? Absolutely! (especially during the holidays when the twinkly lights play so well with the fireplaces)
Will i over order? Yes. And i urge all of you to do the same… unless you too would like to fall victim to hankerings for late night pizza or the good olé corner bodega
Will I try both the burger and the truffled mac and cheese? Yes and definitely yes… bc there just so happened to be a lucky son of a gun next to me enjoying one all to himself… good thing he was just out of arms’ length.
Parents in town (you can actually hear each other? crazy…) or biz dinner appropo…
Now go forth and dine

This place is just amazing the staff is amazing very attentive and friendly. The food is delicious. I had the octopus as my appetizer and the beef short rib as my entrée both dishes were delicious. Looking forward to the next time I dine at this location.

This place is fantastic! I came in for the first time this weekend and the staff was very accommodating. The manager Sarah even came over to check on us a bunch and make sure our table was happy with the service and the waiters couldn’t be more kind and helpful.
The food was incredible. We ordered deviled eggs and truffled pop corn and the most amazing cocktails I have ever tasted (made by a very handsome bartender)!
Definitely would recommend and will be coming back soon!

I feel bad because the bartender was fine but my server was very rude and the manager passive aggressive. Personal pet peeve when establishments act as though they are higher quality than they aren’t
No returning.

This is a small, cozy place in the Union square vicinity that made for a delish dinner. I came here for a business dinner so we actually occupied the entire lower level which made me happy. We were able to hear each other talk without screaming over neighboring tables.
I had the grilled octopus as an appetizer which was prepared very well. The octopus was tender and not rubbery at all. I was having a dilemme choosing an entrée because so many of them appealed to me. I decided to go for the mac and cheese and it was amazing! Came in a sizzling pan and the cheese was so gooey and flavorful. For dessert, I had to get the trio of il labatorio gelato. It came with mango, chocolate and amaretto (my favorite!)
So why the one star off? Service was a bit lacking. We had to ask multiple times for an extra plate setting. They got better through the meal service though.

I really like this place. It’s tiny and cozy — perfect at Christmastime.
The staff are friendly and professional. Nice wine selection. The mac and cheese was excellent and the chicken was ok.
We went back the next night for drinks because we liked the atmosphere and surroundings so much. Very relaxed and cozy.

I came here recently with my good friend after I hadn’t seen her in a long time.
This spot is sooo cute and cosy (when the heat is turned on) and is essentially the inside of an rustic townhouse.
I will say this spot is great for drinks since there is a little bar with stools and the bartender makes sure you are taken care of. Just wink at him * (just kidding he’s a lovely person)
Also if you are trying to impress someone with atmosphere on a 1^st or 2^nd date this is a nice choice (I liked it when I was single).
For food I can say:
–Black Olive Hummus, Avocado, Warm pressed flatbread– is tasty
— Day Boat Sea Scallops, Butternut squash purée, pancetta crisp, hazelnut sherry glaze –I truly recommend!
–Truffled «Mac & Cheese» –Perigord truffles, gruyère, asiago, grafton cheddar (CHEESE… Need I say more?)
–Black Angus New York Strip Steak –Roasted fingerlings, herbed beurre compose — Is good if you have it cooked medium and really pink!
Why not 4 stars you may ask?
Well honestly the last x2 I went it was coldish. Now I’m on the cold side of constitution so I might bias (comes from being South American) BUT I wasn’t able to enjoy the food as much because I was soo cold.
Maybe the heating was broken? I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

After a year of walking by and thinking how cute this little building was I finally came for dinner. So very glad that i did. This place is very small with a bar and few tables downstairs and an upstairs dining room of about 10 tables.
Service was very attentive, the waiter even took our winter coats down to the coat check for us.
The bread was eh, and bread is my favorite thing so that made me a little sad.
The burrata appetizer was delicious (but honestly, is burrata ever not delicious?) and this one is the sweet variation.
Then came the Short ribs entrée! Mmmmm it came with a mushroom creamy risotto, white peppercorns, and covered in a delicious sauce. The meat was cooked perfectly and I should have stopped halfway through the meal bc it was so heavy but I just couldn’t!!!
A bit Pricey but all restaurants in the city are.
Will return on another cold winter day

My wife and I randomly stumbled across this restaurant after spending an evening at a cocktail lounge around the corner. We noticed immediately that they had two floors. The first floor was pretty casual and the second floor was a bit more buttoned up. We didn’t try anything on their wine/​cocktail list but we did dive straight for the appetizers. My wife tried their wild mushroom soup and I went with the grilled octopus. The grilled octopus was good, but it was exactly what I was expecting, nothing out of the ordinary. The wild mushroom soup was incredible though!
Their burger here is to die for. Brioche toast, pat la frieda blend of beef, nicely seasoned and topped with some cheese and lettuce. The small handful of fries on the side were a nice accompanyment.

I loved the location, setup, décor, tunes (modern Jazz), & ambience of this place. It’s extremely relaxed & business casual dress is definitely a must.
The masses probably won’t like a place like this. Yet, those who appreciate a place that’s casual classy will enjoy. It’s definitely Gramercy chic, which is a welcome change from the extremely modern establishments that coalesce (barely a stone’s throw away) on Park Ave S.
I initially planned to come for lunch, then decided to come for dinner. With a busy night ahead, I changed my mind yet again & just opted to try a cocktail.
Hi, cocktail hour. Oh, you have deals… the cocktail was also accompanied by an amazing cheese plate. A choice of three or five cheeses? Five of course…
The Carriage House Punch left a lot to be desired, as I only tasted the wine (*womp womp*) but experienced quite a buzz from.
Sure, my server was a comedy of errors, but he admitted that he was having an off day. His honesty quickly rectified the situation.
So crazily enough, even with a blah cocktail & a forgiving waiter, it still stands @ 5 stars.

I came here on a whim with a friend and boy (why do people say that anyway?), am I glad that I did. I only came for drinks, but the previous reviews have convinced me to come back for food (and of course, more drinks).
One thing about the drinks: a *bit* expensive for what they are. I mean, the cocktails are wonderful. Delicious. Divine. But $ 15 each? Seems like a bit much to me considering the other $ 15 cocktails out there. That was the only downside to this place for me. Considering the area that it’s in, I’m sure The House does fine with their pricing — obviously it didn’t deter me from ordering something.
But this is not to knock the cocktails by any means (just the prices.): my cocktail left me wanting to try the rest on the menu. I can’t remember the name of my drink for the life of me (and I can’t find it online either — sorry Unilocalers, I promise it exists), but it had gin, vodka, I believe basil, and one or two more ingredients. Shaken and served in a martini glass (see photo). My friend got the Hemingway. I’m not a rum fan so I personally didn’t like it, but he seemed to be very pleased with his choice.
Ambience: A+. According to my friend, The House used to be a cottage. I know, shocking, given the name of the establishment. I always applaud bars and restaurants that seem to effortless combine classy and homey to create an altogether pleasant environment. This is a great place to go with friends who want a more upscale evening but still want to just eat, drink and be merry. My friend and I sat at the bar but I’d love to get a table next time.
One more note: They have a coat check. Very grateful for that. I went on the night that this hellish winter decided to have its last, tundra-​esque 20-​degree hurrah, so I was thankful that I could just pass on my layers to a very nice employee and pick them up upon departure.

Very cute, elegant cocktail bar. This review is only for the cocktails and bar.
I went on a Friday afternoon. I would’ve thought it would be crowded but it was very empty, considering we went during happy hour. We sat down at the bar right away.
For happy hour, their specialty cocktails were half off, so each drink was around 8 bucks. The drinks on the menu all looked delicious and were made of a variety of ingredients. I ended up getting the lavender Collins. I have to say that lavender is my new fave drink flavor! It wasn’t an over-​powering flavor either, perfect amount of liquor as well. I tried the punch also, had a strong bourbon flavor. It was good but not my thing.
The bartender was extremely nice. He made conversation with us like we were all friends. He was also on top of his bartending, he made the drinks before us even ordering them (cause he overheard us or maybe it was magic). I would come back here again for sure.