Cliff Bernstein

Review of The Russian Tea Room

As a Manhattan Native, I dined at The Russian Tea ...

As a Manhattan Native, I dined at The Russian Tea Room many times over the years and always had a great experience. Since I hadn't been in a long time, I decided to celebrate a friend's birthday dinner here this week. The experience was beyond awful and I felt so embarrassed for taking my guest to The Russian Tea Room for her special occasion. Although I had a reservation, we had to wait over an hour to get a table (We were told by the hostess that the restaurant overbooks). Service was slow, food was cold, and portions were tiny. After we received our entrees, we were finally offered bread for the table. I was beyond shocked when we were served slices of stale white bread (resembling Wonder bread). In much less expensive restaurants, a basket of warm fresh bread/rolls are served when you're seated. In a five star restaurant like this they had the nerve to serve slices of stale sandwich bread...UNBELIEVABLE!!! WE WILL NEVER NEVER NEVER EAT HERE AGAIN. AVOID THIS PLACE...NYC is filled with much better restaurants for half the cost..