The Library at The Public

Who gave this place a michelin star?!
As always, I’ll start with the pros, which are few for this restaurant. The setting is beautiful as mentioned in many reviews, and the host and hostess were great.
But the food was really average for a restaurant with this reputation. You can get better pieroggis in a Polish deli, the beets appetizer is very standard and the other dishes we got to try were nothing special.
The service, on the other hand, was simply terrible. Waitress came over 4 times to ask for our order in the first 5 minutes (hello, we’re on a date, can you let us talk for a couple of minutes before we look at the menu please?!). They brought our entrees before we were done our appetizers and put them on the table even know we said we were still working on our apps (!!). Last but not least, the waitress picked up the check after I signed it and before we left, a definite faux pas.
If this was a neighborhood restaurant, this would be a different review. But this place had the least inspiring food of the michelin star restaurants I got to try and definitely the worst service by far.

This is surprising a really nice spot for dinner and or drinks. It’s located inside the big event space (?) I don’t know what this building is. But it’s the restaurant inside it and there was some reggae band thing happening when we went.
Our waitress was great! Super kind and helpful, and the bartenders were pretty fast. We had a 9pm rez, came at 9 exactly, and they said to «wait by the bar and have a drink and we’ll come get you in 10 minutes»… Quite the obvious up sell. But I’m glad they did because I ordered the Rosemary shrub drink and it was perfect! Like a fruity refreshing mojito.
The ambiance is very ~romantic~, they have a bunch of those date type booths, luckily me and my Unilocal mooching boy toy sat next to the date type booth and got the entertainment of watching the couple next to us in the date booth take full advantage. I think they were famous the chef kept coming out and giving them more drinks and food… Anyways…
RW 2016 winter —
Burrata– vrrry good, refreshing and light
Calamari– generous portion and super crispy
Trout — cooked really nicely
Cassoulet– huge portion, had a nice smokey flavor, would actually really recommend, it was very much comfort food.
Apple crumble — sooooo good, the brown sugar crumble mixed with the melting vanilla ice cream was the best
Pocky self serve — good, tastes just like childhood haha.
Overall, would totally recommend as an excellent date night, birthday dinner, dinner out with friends.

This place is underrated. Went here for restaurant week and it was the best meal I’ve had in a while. We got the steak and trout for mains, both amazing. The kale side and the apple crumb dessert are the best I’ve ever had, respectively. The squash soup was awesome. The fish tacos and the cheesecake were pretty good.

Had dinner here as part of Restaurant Week. I appreciated that there were so many great vegetarian options on the menu. The roasted winter squash soup appetizer was a revelation; creamy and buttery, with several bite-​sized chunks of squash left whole for texture, and topped with sautéed mushrooms and soft greens — absolutely divine. For my entrée, I savored the smoked cauliflower cassoulet — so hearty and belly-​warming, it’s an excellent dinner choice for a cold night. The restaurant has a charming Victorian mansion library feel. I’ll be back!

This place is great. Love the dark wood, walls of books, leather chairs, and beautiful bar in the back. It’s a quiet, intimate atmosphere with great cocktails and food. The fish tacos and fried calamari were perfect. The brook trout, cauliflower cassoulet, and paccheri were all delicious (although the paccheri was a bit too salty). The shrub cocktails were unique and delicious! Dessert was so-so…they gave me a brownie– but called it «chocolate walnut cake» on the menu :/​Overall, I would highly recommend this place… can’t wait to go back to sit at the bar and try more of those yummy shrub cocktails!

This places punches above its weight class, and is better than a bar at a theater needs to be. The cocktails are ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD — something no other bar-​in-​a-​theater can really say. And so’s the food. It’s not super cheap, but similarly priced to your average bar or restaurant in a theater, and way better.
It also has the perfect interior for a theater geek — old show posters and memorabilia, but put together in a really tasteful way that keeps it from being an Applebee’s full of bric-​à-​brac. It’s just perfectly friendly and cozy

What a shame, a truly beautiful room, with terrible service.
Was there last night for a bite and some drinks. The rooms was about 50% full. There was nobody at the hostess stand when we arrived. We were eventually seated by a busy but nice hostess, who was clearly trying her best.
Waited 20 minutes until someone came over to take our drink order. We ordered simple vodka based drinks. They both tasted terrible, not sure why. When we complained to our server about the wait and terrible drinks, she said, «I’m sorry you’re not 100% satisfied.»
That’s when we left…

Four of us had dinner here last night. The ambiance is very nice, that’s the best part. Our waiter was a nice guy — but when we ordered the quail appetizer he should have warned us to stay away! It was the tiniest serving ever and mediocre at best ($ 18 ugh!).
In fact most of the food was just ok, not great. especially at pretty high prices. Calamari was bland. I had the steak ($ 38) and it was good. Scallops were also fine but my friend had the stuffed cabbage and it was tiny — not sure why that’s even on the menu. The room wasn’t close to half full on a Saturday night. It’s a beautiful space, just needs a makeover in the kitchen.

I like this place for its atmosphere and interesting drinks. It has a speakeasy vibe, good cocktail list, and ample space around the bar for people to sit/​stand. If you reserve an area for a party, they will also give you 1 – 2 sofas for your guests. You also have the opportunity to order food platters with your party reservation, but they are quite overpriced despite the generous portion size. That said, if you want to bring some of your own bites, you can ask if they are willing to serve that without an extra charge.
I’ve been here several times, and its never been overly crowded or too noisy. Good speakeasy-​vibe date spot without having to wait for a table or get shoved into a corner. Bar chairs are large and comfy. Its bright enough that you can see the other person, nice enough that you can sit at the bar and feel like you’re part of the scene, and casual enough that if you stay for one or two drinks, no one will pressure you to buy another round. I always end up getting a cocktail drink, but they have other well drinks and beers available. Like most cocktail bars, cocktail drinks are expensive.

This is a wonderful setting for a serious cocktail perfectly mixed by a proper mixologist. Their speciality are «shrubs». These are house made elixirs of savory or sweet ingredients added to a spirit with a splash. Shrubs are served in a sexy Collins glasses with lovely herb sprigs, a top a flower of crushed ice. The rest of the cocktail list is equally impressive. I tried the «waiting #2», A twist on a vodka martini but with a large blood orange rock. As the cube melts the drink becomes almost tropical. There are many drinks on the list that speak to the bone chilling days ahead this winter. Looking forward to spending some cozy evenings in here. If you had a youth in England this would bring you back to all those days spent after a regatta in your «club».

** NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2015 Review **
We arrived very early but they were nice enough to seat us anyways (I think this is a trend for us!). The Library’s Restaurant Week menu offers three courses divided into three «Acts» — just like a play. I thought this was really cute and clever of them. Act I, the appetizers, offered five options. Act II, the entrees, had four options. And lastly, Act III, had three dessert options. I was pleased to notice that their RW menu features items that are on their regular menu.
For Act I, I opted for the Burrata with green market vegetables. The burrata was very nice — moist and stretchy. I just wished that there was more! The Boyfriend had the Crispy Calamari with shishito peppers and chipotle aioli. The portion size was huge and this appetizer is definitely made to be shared! The calamari was crispy and crunchy — fried perfectly. The best part was the chipotle aioli, which was super tasty.
For Act II, I had the Flat Iron Steak Frites with bitter green salad and Maitre D’Butter. The steak was cooked perfectly to my requested medium rare. The best part, though, was the huge portion of fries that we were able to share. It felt like they were never ending! The Boyfriend chose the Steamed Branzino with Madras curry and summer vegetables.
For Act III, I had the Vanilla and Chocolate Soft Serve with Pocky sticks. They had me at the Pocky sticks! The ice cream was such a huge portion ice that I couldn’t finish it. The Boyfriend had the Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble with Vanilla Soft Serve. His dessert was also huge — it’s definitely shareable between 2 – 3 people at least. The crumble was served warm, which contrasted nicely with the vanilla ice cream. But alas, we were too full from dinner to finish it.
Service was attentive and our waitress was super nice. I must compliment the Library for serving their regular menu at regular portion sizes for Restaurant Week. A lot of places often create items that aren’t on the menu or downsize items that are on their menu for Restaurant Week. Props to the Library — I’ll definitely be returning!

I came here with my mom and sister who were visiting from out of town. We had tickets for a 7PM show, so I thought it would convenient and nice to eat at The Library for restaurant week and as a pre-​show dinner.
I don’t think I’ve ever had better service than what we experienced tonight at The Library. Lizzy was GREAT. She was courteous, friendly, and totally made our night memorable and fun. THANK YOU!
We had the calamari, corn soup, and baja fish tacos for appetizers. The corn soup is phenomenal!!! All our apps were wonderful, but the corn soup really stands out.
We had steak frites for our main entrees. SO GOOS. The meat was cooked perfectly, and it was so tender. Really yummy!!!
DO NOT SLEEP ON THE STRAWBERRY RHUBARB CRUMBLE. OMG. I am gonna be dreaming about it for days. The chocolate and vanilla soft serve was great as well!
For RW, our dinner was a steal. It was relaxing. The ambiance was really lovely, and the whole experience definitely made my time with my family sweet and special.

Lovely, classy intimate atmosphere. A place where good memories are made. Ideal for first dates and catching up with a small groups of good friends.
$ 33 steak– filling and achingly delicious– you’ll crave more after you finish the last bite. Accompanying fries were shoestring but heavy with grease and not tasty.
Calamari average.
All cocktails were overly sweet.

3.5 for Food and drinks in general, 4.5 for the steak!
We ordered a bunch of food pre-​theatre which were great. But the real star of our meal was the steak. We totally didn’t expect it to be so delicious. The meat was juicy and flavorful. The hamburger and pasta dishes (rigatoni and black fettuccine) were about average. The starters, of which we had three, were also average (calamari, grilled octopus, pea salad).
Tips:
Show your theatre ticket to receive 10% off the total tab.
Excellent Malbec (Argentina) by the glass.
Mocktails are not so great here.

I feel like I stole something.
I knew getting the rush tickets to Hamilton were a long shot, so I figured that I’d make the best of the trip by grabbing a bite to eat while I was there. The drawing started a bit after 5 PM and the Library opened at 5:30 sharp so my timing was excellent.
Lovely, dimmed décor with a straight up speakeasy for food vibe. Regardless of getting there early, make a reservation if you want a table. Though the bar has to be the most comfortable arrangement I’ve sat at in my life. I took advantage of the coat check but with the sheer size of the comfy as all get out stools, I didn’t need to. Nobody else did. I could spend another paragraph raving about the stools and the hooks under the counter for your purse, but I won’t. Suffice it to say I couldn’t have been more comfortable if I’d sat at a table in the dining room.
I’m never going to turn down a cocktail named for a Salt-​n-​Pepa song. Never. It was the better of the two, I also had the Stay Puft Effect. If you’re thinking «A Stay Puft Marshmallow Man cocktail!!! This is going to be awesome!» Let me stop you right there. There is no marshmallow nor a facsimile there of. That said, it was nice and strong, which is what any $ 15 cocktail should be at least.
Now here is where I feel like I got away with burglary. Who’s the lucky chick that comes on Restaurant Week and doesn’t even know it?!? :points thumbs at chest: For 35 bucks I got three sizable «acts» for a pittance. A pittance I say!
Act I — Rock Shrimp Tacos, Guajillo, Avocado & Queso — $ 12
I’ve since given up on shrimp (I won’t gross you out as to why), and this was the best send-​off ever. I don’t even like avocado! It was delicious.
Act II — Grilled Pork Chop, Greens & Beans, Tomato Sofrito. — $ 32
This is the price of admission. This is the curtain call. This is the standing ovation. There. I’ve gotten all the theater similes out of my system.
I’m usually not a fan of straight up tomato on anything, but a little bit of sofrito with a little bit of seriously excellent greens (hidden under the pork chop in the photo. I could have eaten a whole bowl, thank you!) and a juicy, perfectly cooked and seasoned cut of pork chop is heaven. Thanks for asking how it is, Ms. Bartender, but can’t you tell by my blissed out expression? I think my pupils were dilated.
Act III — Salted Apple Crumble, Vanilla Soft Serve — $ 9
They even upgraded me from mere soft serve! Way too big for a single person. Grab someone off the street to finish this for you. Very good.
The service is outstanding. I had to leave mid meal to see if I’d won the drawing. I did not, but they let me leave and come back on the total honor system. Because if I were criminal minded, leaving after that delicious pork chop would have resulted in my snickering like Snidely Whiplash right out the door.
All that for 65 bucks. I feel smug like a Wall Street banker after a Senate hearing.

Came here for restaurant week & I’ve gotta say, this place is a hidden gem. A definite steal for RW and a MUST if you’re looking for a place to unwind & have a cocktail! The food is pretty good too.
Dimly lit & beautifully decorated like a classic library. Loved it. Great place for a date or group outings :)

My last restaurant for NYC Restaurant Week ’15, and it wasn’t a bad finish. The décor is in theme with the rest of the theater, classy with dim lighting. Arrive no later than 15 min. for your reservation or you will most likely lose it to others.
The food wasn’t bad, although not great enough that I would come back not during restaurant week. I think this place is better for pre-​theater/​post-​theater drinks. I tried my friend’s Peach Rosemary shrub and it was really light and fruity, somewhat herbaceous from the rosemary.
Appetizers:
Crispy Calamari — A safe appetizer to order. The squid was crispy and well seasoned.
Shrimp Tacos — On the small side. Not too much shrimp in each tiny tortilla, but the flavor was good.
Entrée:
Lancaster Chicken and Dumplings — The chicken thigh for this was so dry, but luckily the sauce was savory and creamy enough to make the dish palatable. The one large dumpling reminded me of German potato dumplings and was much more delicious than the chicken itself.
Flat Iron Steak Frites, Maitre’D Butter — I should have ordered the steak, but didn’t because I thought it would be too boring. I was wrong. The steak was perfectly seared and extremely juicy. The shoestring fries that came with it were cold, but still addicting, because fries just are.
Dessert:
Chocolate and Vanilla Soft Serve, Pocky Sticks — Just plain soft ice cream, but it was a good palate cleanser in between the heavier desserts.
Chocolate Olive Oil Cake — Somewhat unctuous and oily as expected. I’m glad it was chocolate, because if it wasn’t I probably wouldn’t have liked it as much. The texture wasn’t the greatest out of the olive oil cakes I tried before (which isn’t very many).
Sea Salt Apple Crumble — The best thing of the night. If I returned, it would be for this perfect warm apple crumble. The quantity they give for this is huge too.
One complaint about service is our waitress kept on taking away our plates even before we were finished. I guess one course is fine, but she did that for appetizer, entrée, and dessert. It was very sneakily done. We were all immersed in our conversation and poof the food was gone. I guess I have to give some props for how skillful she made our food disappear.

A gem tucked away in the mezzanine at the Public Theater. We were here on a snowy Sunday evening for restaurant week.
The décor was classy and sophisticated the room was filled with theater goers (we spotted the former POTUS dining with his family across the room and guarded by security).
Cocktails were thoughtfully crafted and the list was created by Tiffany Short, one of the top mixologists in NYC. My favorite was the Push It, with Mezcal, apple cider and black pepper syrup and a salt and pepper rim. It reminded me of a grown up margarita or a evening version of a bloody Mary.
I liked that there were many options on the restaurant week menu, most places gives only two or three items for each course, but at the Library there were at least six options. We had the Brussels sprouts, roasted beets, shrimp tacos, and calamari, followed by fish, pork chops, and steaks. Everything was delicious — steaks were well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The desserts were stellar as well, the soft serve, apple crumble (highlight), and chocolate olive oil cake were delightful endings to our meal.
Service was efficient and professional, the setting was cozy and refined, the food and drinks were exquisite and delectable. This is a wonderful choice for a date or dinner with a small group.
Note: the restroom is shared with the building, downstairs outside of the restaurant.

What an amazing night of great food and fun. The truth about The Library is that it’s a hidden gem. To be honest, when you enter the place you might think you’ve arrived at the wrong place. To my surprise, The Library is but one destination within this massive factory like building. The building houses several art and theater shows throughout the year. The Library is on the 2^nd floor and now armed with this information, you won’t have to look lost like me.
Now on to the food. First of all, the menu is very extensive and put together with great consideration for the customer. I haven’t seen a menu with such variety in a long time. I had the rock shrimp tacos and for my main course I had a chicken dish with potatoes. The chicken was superb and the sauce was absolutely delicious. To top it off, I had the apple crisp for dessert and man was that scrumptious.
I came here for restaurant week and honestly, I probably would not have come here unless there was a restaurant week but I’m so glad I did. The service was excellent and he vibe of this space is comfy cozy indeed. I plan to return for drinks and dinner very soon. The Library is also excellent for a romantic date night as well.

Despite the pretty room, the bar service is pretty poor.
I asked if he made a good drink (read: do you have a nice pour). You’d have thought I’d insulted his mother based on the glare I got back. He snarked something like «of course I do,» the way one might expect. Nonetheless I ordered a Tito’s on the rocks with olives, and the drink was so short I was insulted.
I don’t know why they have such large rocks glasses if they’re going to pour a shot and call it a drink. Get smaller glasses, at least, so the pour doesn’t look so pathetic. Especially if you’re going to charge $ 14 a drink.
I can honestly buy 1.5L of Tito’s for exactly $ 29. Why am I going to pay $ 14 for a drink that’s, honest to god, one shot. If the ice cubes are above the alcohol level in the glass, something is seriously wrong.
I would not come back here for another drink. It’s a complete and utter rip off. And they’re not even nice.