Rare

Service was awful! If it had been crowded it would have been understandable but we had to flag down a waiter just to get a glass of water. The waitress was rude when asked where our food was and then to top it off we were overcharged! If the menu lists a price - that is the price - not some other number. The most confusing thing - the manager refused to come speak with us when we asked the waitress to have him come over. I spoke with him on the way out and he seemed to be suprised that I thought that was strange. While the burgers were good, I can make better at home, and certainly don't need the rude treatment and poor service at Rare. I will not be back.

Cons: , Attitude, Service

Posted 07/16/04

I want to bet that all the good reviews were written by the owner. Seriously, I've been here 2 times - for lunch and for happy hour on the roof. Lunch: we were all excited for "the best burger ever" and we all walked away saying that they were "just ok" and extremely slow (it was almost a 2 hour lunch). Needless to say we never went back. Roof: very nice space (although I know 5 other rooftop bars just as good), but the crowd was a bunch of posers and the owner was a tool. Give a geeky guy a popular bar and watch him start thinking he is the coolest. Apparently they are too hot to reserve space for birthday parties (even though it could've brought them in a ton of money and publicity = short-sighted). All in all I left with a bad vibe.

Posted 07/13/04

Man, I was really impressed with Rare and Rare View. FYI, Rare has the best burger I have had in a long time (blows corner bistro away) and the scene in this place was awesome. Hot chicks EVERYWHERE and great service too! I was also impressed with how friendly the owners of this place were which is a "rare" find in this city! This place is no doubt going to be my new spot to chill, Rare and the roof (Rare View) are the bomb!

Pros: hot chicks

Posted 06/29/04

Superb is the only word to describe my experience at Rare. Delicious food, exemplary service and incredible ambiance. Before dinner we had drinks at Rare View on the roof which has an amazing view of the city and is the quintessential place to share cocktails with friends! Rare and Rare View are absolutely great additions to the Murray Hill neighborhood!

Posted 06/28/04

I'm shocked at the negative reviews of this place. They are completely erroneous. I have to say this is absolutely the best burger I have had in NY or anywhere else. The food was amazing, the service terrific and the fries were the BEST! My friends and I have been to Rare on many occastions and each time is better than the last!

Posted 06/28/04

I cannot say enough about how fantastic Rare is! The food is phenomenal, the service is outstanding & the atmosphere cannot be beat. It is very difficult to find a restaurant with a cool vibe, absolutely no pretension and superb food. The crowd was a great mix of people too. I was very impressed with Rare and loved their roof deck, Rare View (amazing views of the city!) I absolutely recommend this place.

Posted 06/28/04

Hands down, Rare has the best burgers in town. Not only was the food incredible but the service was great too. The french fry sampler was amazing! Clearly the owners of this establishment know what they are doing bc the place was packed and buzzing. It's refreshing to find a restaurant with a cool vibe, delicious food and friendly service. I will definitely be back.

Pros: fairly priced, fantastic service, great atmosphere

Posted 06/27/04

Rare is truly one of the best restaurants that I have been to an a long time. I went with a group of friends who all agreed! The service was extremely friendly, ambience was impressive and the food was fabulous. The burger trio was delicious, a must try! After dinner we had drinks at Rare View on the roof and the view was incredible & the scene was amazing. We will absolutely be back!

Pros: great scene, moderately priced, wonderful food

Posted 06/27/04

Truly the best burgers in the city! I have never seen such an amazing variety of burgers. I was with a group of friends and we each tried a different burger. The kobe burger and the crab burger were so unique and delicious. I will definitely be back to try all the rest! It is refreshing to find a place where the service is both curteous and friendly. Without doubt an enjoyable experience that I look forward to repeating!

Pros: fantastic food, pleasant service

Posted 06/27/04

I met a group of friends at Rare, because Rare View was closed due to rain. None of us were able to get drinks in a timely fashion, and the bartender was EXTREMELY rude to us. I have been a bartender and a server, so I pride myself in understanding the plight of those in these industries. There is never an excuse for a bartender to yell at a patron, and then ask for an additonal tip!

Cons: , rude bartender

Posted 06/21/04

Rare's burger is pitiful. No exaggeration. Dry and tasteless meat. Their burger is not even in the *ballpark* of Corner Bistro. You're better off going to Wendy's, for god's sake. I can't believe some of the positive reviews I'm reading on this site. Also, the fries are sorry. They were soggy -- drenched in oil [hint to kitchen staff: raise the temperture on your frier]. However, the redhead bartender is way cute and very friendly.

Pros: hot redhead bartender

Cons: , service, fries

Posted 06/18/04

What a pleasant surprise. My girlfriend and I are regulars at Rare . We love it there. The food, service and management are always great. Now they've added a Jazz club next door. What a great place to hang out after a great meal. Cozy atmosphere and a great Jazz quartet. Piano, bass, drums and a cool female vocalist. I understand they change the groups every day. Thurs, Fri and Sat. Drinks are reasonable and the music is fantastic. No cover, No min. and second drink is free, We were sitting next to an elderly lady sipping her drink and she said " This is the best thing that's happened in this neighborhood". I understand she comes in 2 or three times a week and she lives in the neighborhood. I couldn't agree with her more.

Pros: good food, good music too

Posted 06/03/04

I think the bugers here are much better than at Corner Bistro. Flavorful, juicy, inventive... i like the chicken burger...
the new bar on the roof-- Rare View is STUNNING!! a must see... amazing view... great drinks...

Posted 05/22/04

The only thing hotel about this burger joint is the entrance. With a dark, sexy ambiance and buzzing small bar chatter, the atmosphere is surprisingly sharp. Tight quarters when your table is ready, although not uncommon to the Manhattan dinner crowd, and an impersonal wait staff may ruffle the feathers of the particular guest. The burgers are big and juicy, with a variety of flavors and opportunities. The female I was with was disappointed in the Frickles (fried pickles), thinking they were going to be "french fry pickles", when in fact they were more like fried pickle dumplings. To be fair, we went after a stressful day at work, and although we enjoyed ourselves, we would probably have been better served at a more quiet, intimate location. Definitely a must stop on the Manhattan burger circuit. The Rare View bar on the roof of the hotel...magnificent outdoor venue.

Pros: Thick Burgers

Posted 05/19/04

This is a great restaurant. Problem is some people complain about service. This place is hot and service can be slow.. Actually the wait is worth it.
Every good restaurant in town has slow service when they're busy. Be prepared for slow service on a busy night. But enjoy the ambience , the music etc etc.. I love this place.. Best hamburgers in town, best atmosphere, Best ambience.. Owners and managers are very obliging and care about you.. You must go to the roof, for a pre dinner cocktail.. (Rare View) I love Rare and my compliments for a great neighborhood "watering hole" Keep up the good work. I'm a "happy and content come on back patron"

Pros: Good food, Nice atmosphere, Nice owners

Posted 05/15/04

This was by far one of the best meals I've had in NYC. As a frequent visitor, because of business, I am continually looking for an affordable, yet comfortable restraunt/bar in the city.

The best turkey burger I've ever had was at Rare and I would highly recommend the sweet potato fries. Not only was the beer cold, the service great and the food out of this world - but the atmosphere is casual, yet sophisticated.

This will be a spot I frequent.

Pros: great service, outstanding food, nice atmosphere

Posted 05/14/04

The burgers at Rare are great as well as the basket of mixed fries. However, the service could use improvement. I didn't enjoy waiting half an hour for the fries as an appetizer and I surely did not appreciate being rushed out of the restaurant and then asked to leave the moment the restaurant picked up. That was pretty rude considering we spent lots of $$$ of beers and food. If you like burgers, eat here, but eat fast!

Posted 05/03/04

A great, convenient neighborhood spot for a lite bite and a beer!

Pros: great food, great bar, cool rooftop!

Posted 04/26/04

Given the high prices, I'd expect much better. My boyfriend and I went early on a Tuesday night and asked to sit at a 3 person booth. The restaurant was empty, yet we were told they were expecting a rush and only parties of 3 could sit there. Twenty minutes later they seated another couple there, and when we left much later the so called rush had never come. As for our waitress, she only had 3 tables to watch, yet did an excellent job of ignoring all of them. We spent half the meal waiting for a side of onion rings that finally came after our entrees were finished. The food was pretty good, but I will never go back as they treat their fictional customers much better than their actual ones. This place needs a reality check or else it certainly won't last.

Posted 04/22/04

I might not eat meat but I can proudly say the best veggie burger in NYC is at Rare! And if I were to eat meat again, I would have a burger from Rare. My friend who ordered a burger, never put it down on the plate! The beer selection rocks too!

Pros: Cute Bartender!, Great Prices!, Big Beer List

Posted 03/31/04

Rare is one of the rarest things: Affordable food in a neighborhood not known for affordable options. The service here is great and the decor is cozy. They have interesting sides like the frickle (fried pickles) and a fried fry sampler featuring 3 types of fries and sauces.

Pros: Great service, Affordable prices, Cozy decor

Cons: Average food, Need burger varieties

Posted 11/23/03

After eating at just about every burger place in New York it has become apparent that Rare Bar & Grill blows the other burger joints away. A sexy atmosphere with great service will make this my new home.

Pros: great music, moderately priced, good service

Cons: crowded

Posted 11/14/03

RARE is more of a small sports/hotel bar with a dimly lit dining area. I was expecting a trendy or upscale restaurant after reading reviews in CitySearch & TONY. The $21 "All American Protein Meal" is acclaimed - a Kobe beef patty w/ mushrooms and garlic sautéed spinach on the side. I thought the meat was perfect, but that was it. The spinach, side of fries, and house salad were all disappointing. However, I will try it again b/c I am such a meat lover.

Pros: good quality meat, cooked to perfection, excellent waiter

Cons: sports bar ambiance, lame house salad

Posted 10/23/03

Man, the guy who posted before me can't spell to save his life. But anyway, I had a good experience at Rare. The burger, to my taste, was quite good, and was helped by the excellent roll on which it was served (I think the menu said the rolls are from Eli's). I probably wouldn't do the roquefort-stuffed again--it was a little too rich for my blood--but the burger itself was perfectly cooked. Atmosphere was cool too--no complaints at all about that. Burgers were under $10 (at least the non-fancy ones were), so why all the griping on here about price? My personal fav for burgers is still Wollensky's Grill, but Rare can hold its own. Only complaint: Sweet potato fries were bland and greasy.

Pros: Tasty burgers, Well-cooked, Pleasant atmosphere

Cons: Bland s.p. fries

Posted 10/01/03

WEnt for a nice lunch with a friend. The waitress was really nice and helpful. The burgers were really good especially the salmon burger. Mouth watering. Nice burger joint.

Posted 09/23/03

I LOVE rare so much I'm actually afraid to post anything because I don't want too many people to know about it. But seeing as they should be doing MUCH better than they are currently (lots of tourists at night, empty during day), I'll do my part to clue other red meat lovers in on this great new burger place.

I've been going here since it opened and am never disappointed. The salads are great -- try the caesar, it's a meal in itself. The burgers are fabulous -- I usually get the Rare Classic with mushrooms and sautéed onions. Big and juicy with perfectly cooked top-quality beef.

Another thing I love about this place -- it's really really comfortable. Their booths are huge and soft, and there's enough space between them you don't have to listen to anyone else's conversation.

Pros: Awesome burgers, comfy seating, quiet

Cons: Can be dead at times

Posted 09/19/03

Good place for burger in midtown..worth the price.Atmosphere and service very good.

Pros: food, atmosphere

Cons: dark room, expensive

Posted 09/17/03

I have the Mexican burger with guac, salsa and a black bean spread. The burger was pretty good, but I still contend Island Burger is simply the best NYC has to offer. Still worth trying if you're into burgers.

Posted 09/17/03

Went here on a quiet weekday afternoon.
The burgers really arent that special. I had the RARE classic burger, which was just a typical burger. I heard good things about the burgers here and expected some sort of amazing taste....but it was just a burger like you can make at home. You can get anything you want on your hamburger, but the base price starts at $8 and goes up once you start adding anyhting to it. So you end up with a hamburger that costs over $10.
The atmosphere is ok, service decent.
If you love hamburgers, then go here.

Pros: sweet-potato fries

Posted 09/07/03

The food was excellent, I practically licked my plate clean. Although their specialty Frickle was weird (don't try it, it's a battered and fried pickle). The crowd was a bit mixed, ranging from older folks to tourists (probably because it's inside a hotel) and the music was easy-listening style. We went for a work dinner and I would have preferred a younger, hipper crowd and atmosphere but for a nice dinner with tasty and relatively inexpensive burgers, this place is really good.

Pros: yummy burgers, atkins-friendly plate, inexpensive

Cons: mellow atmosphere, touristy clientele

Posted 08/18/03

Calling this a burger is a stretch, but eating it is a dream, and one that you should have. Couple that w/a super friendly and attentive staff (both waiters & bar keeps), and excellent prices, and you're in for a great treat. Imagine hitting this place by accident and being treated to this wonderful experience, well that's what happened to me and now I want others to hear about it too!

Pros: Food taste, staff, prices

Cons: some times loud

Posted 08/12/03

What a treat! no nonsense just great burgers and fries and salads! and the nicest welcome in the neighborhood.

Pros: Food, service, good value

Cons: noisy, noisy, noisy

Posted 07/26/03

Great burgers! great welcome, Good service! we had a ball!

Pros: great Burger, Fun Atmosphere, great welcome

Cons: Noisy, Noisy, noisy

Posted 07/26/03

I live in the neighborhood and just discovered a gem of a place. I first visited rare a couple weeks ago and have been back 4 times now and never disappointed. They have one of the BEST Turkey burgers I have ever eaten(and trust me im very picky about my turkey burgers). The restaurant is beautiful and the staff are friendly and delightful. I will keep coming back because this is a "RARE" find!!! KKO

Pros: Sexy room, great food, excellent service

Cons: none

Posted 07/03/03

It is RARE for me to find a restaurant that combines food and atmosphere...

Let's start with the food: Hands-down, the best burgers in the City. I went with a group of friends, and we were treated like royalty (I think it is connected to the Shelbourne Hotel). It might be a crime to miss out on the burgers.

This place will easily become a neighborhood hot-spot, although as it becomes more popular it might have to deal with being TOO popular (good for dates, business, groups etc.). I'm RARELY impressed - but this is my new favorite place north of 14th Street. Can't go wrong by going to Rare...

Pros: Trendy, Great Value, Terrific Burgers!

Posted 04/23/03