Compass

The seafood and wine is excellent here. I'll keep comming back. Alittle pricey though, but thta's the upscale manhattan.

Pros: great service

Cons: wait

Posted 07/17/09

We went in for dinner after reading about their "lobster special" in the NY Times - a grilled 3 lb lobster is $39.It was more than we expected. My friend had the prix-fixe menu for $35 which is an amazing deal, and I had an apple and endive salad and the lobster. Everything was delicious, we received our food in a timely fashion,our server was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. It was great to see that the restaurant was full during such tenuous times...Good for them, I will be going back soon !
PS: They will be running the lobster special throughout February. Great deal !!!

Pros: wonderful food and service

Cons: waited 10 minutes for a table

Posted 02/05/09

we only came here for dinner, we had a wonderful dining experience. both my friend and i ordered the prix fixe dinner. not only was the food amazing, but the service was outstanding. we will definitely need to come back for other dinners. can't wait
.

Posted 12/09/08

The Compass is wonderful :). I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience. And it was very good for the price. There's a $35 pre-fix that is a very good deal.

Out of 10:
Roasted Heirloom Beet Salad: 10 (amazing)
Chefs Selection of Soup: Cauliflower Puree: 8.5 (I'm personally not much of a fan
Crispy Skate Wing: 10 (amazing)
Vanilla Panna Cotta: 100000 (omg this is wonderful)
Pistachio Parfait: 7 (not really a fan)
Atmosphere: 10
Service: 10

Pros: Everything. Especially the little surprises you get throughout your meal.

Posted 10/28/08

After reading the reviews, we went with an open mind on a friday night. The place was half empty and the service was half hearted and WAY below our expectations. the food did not make up for the average service.

Pros: Empty on a friday night

Cons: Bad food and service

Posted 06/13/08

I was there yesterday with my boss and we could not believe such a poor service with such a good food. It's easy: the manager have more attitude than a French Union representative during his 14 of July speech!!!
However, their way a threating staff doesn't seams better as we heard them insulting a boss boy in a very rude and disrespectful way.
Too bad the food is lovely, I can not support and promote such an attitude and poor service!!!

Posted 06/02/08

I recently moved to the upper west side and had my parents visiting on a monday night. I'm not totally familiar with many of the restaurants in the area but had seen Compass simply from walking around. Please don't let the simple exterior fool you, this place is fantastic. Everything we ate was incredible, the service was fantastic. I had tuna carpaccio to start and had venison as my main course with macaroni and gourmet cheese as a side. Everything was made perfectly. They also gave us a salmon tartare taster. Just an great experience and I can't wait to come back.

Pros: Service, Food, Ambiance

Cons: Location

Posted 03/03/08

Really enjoyed the variety of offerings. Loved the First Course Spice Crusted Tuna Carpaccio w/ Green Papaya Relish and Ponzo Vinaigrette and the Pan Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras. The Main Course selections of Maine Diver Sea Scallops and Crescent Hills Farm Pan Seared Duck were exceptional. The waitstaff was attentive without being overbearing. The only complaint was that I never received a requested refill of my coffee with dessert, and the Key Lime tart was too delicious not to need a second cup. Definitely deserves a return visit.

Pros: unique combinations with subtle complimentary flavors

Cons: Bartender did not know how to make a Sazerac (I'll live)

Posted 02/15/08

My friends and I visited Compass for the first time and I can't wait to go back. The decor of the restaurant is both chic and relaxing and the table arrangements allow for a great deal of privacy - particularly if you're in a booth or one of the many private dining rooms.

The service was great; our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and provided excellent recommendations. We all enjoyed our meals. My friends ordered from the $35 Prix Fixe menu and I went A La Carte.

I devoured my Tempura Soft Shell Crab appetizer (delish!) and enjoyed the Pan Seared Scallops I had for my entree. My friends' dishes were quite nice as well - the hanger steak was perfectly seasoned and the monkfish was absolutely delicious. If you closed your eyes you would have thought it tasted like a lobster tail.

We shared two desserts (from the Prix Fixe menu) amongst the three of us. I'm a chocolate lover so I was disappointed in the chocolate cake (as was one of my friends), but we loved the Panna Cotta with mango sauce (yum!). And much to our surprise we were treated to a lovely amuse-bouche and received a delicious muffin to take home and enjoy the next day - which I did!

I have a friend coming into town next week from Dallas and I think I may have to go take her there for dinner. If not I'll definitely return in the coming weeks.

Pros: Excellent food, great service, attention to detail

Cons: None

Posted 09/18/07

I admit, John the last chef can cook, but like all the others he too has left Compass!!! When are they going to be able to keep a chef. I also heard the GM left and the new Somm is soooooo pretensious. When are they going to call it quits?

Pros: Its in the UWS

Cons: Food, Sommelier, Service

Posted 07/11/07

I've lived on the UWS for 10 years and I work downtown in a restaurant myself. It is rare to find a good place to dine in this neighborhood. I'm not sure where the other negative reviewers have eaten before, but my experiences here have been quite wonderful. The atmosphere is relaxed and the service is extremely good. It is rare to see an NYC restaurant so accomodating with special needs- they really go out of their way to show you a good meal. The food is very good and I'm glad they've held on to this new chef. He is a keeper. I highly recommend Compass for a romantic date, business dinner or out for a celebration- I've done all and they have come through again and again. Their staff is so friendly and want to make sure you are pleased. Brunch is also quite good- can't beat their $26 prix fixe- you will leave full and satisfied! If you truly want an enjoyable meal, you should try Compass. Start with a drink or glass of wine (they offer many) in their cozy lounge area first- they also have a nice lounge style menu that's great!

Pros: great service, great food

Posted 02/10/07

Think of Compass as Abstract Food - ingredients thrown together on a plate that generally look better than they taste. I have visited most of the top restaurants in NY and this is not one of them. The ambience is modern and sophisticated and we were seated promptly. We opted for the restaurant week selections and asked for recommendations from our waiter. He suggeted the fluke served with a small salad. The fluke was rubbery and contained a mishmosh of tastes that were far from good. The shrimp entree was overcooked. Dessert was mildly palatable until we were served white chocolate covered pork rinds. Medium prices for NY, decent service. But the food... I would rather eat a painting than the food served here.

Pros: nice atmosphere

Cons: INEDIBLE FOOD

Posted 01/23/07

In the UWS where many restaurant are bland or overpriced, Compass has original cooking, a nice decor, good service and it is quiet. I like it a lot for that, I will stop by when in the neighborhood. as far as the food is concerned, it's OK, it's better to precise, with any food they make, "not too greasy, not overcooked" ... unless you like greasy and overcooked of course!

Pros: Good looking place, staff and food. Quiet.

Cons: Slow service sometimes, a bit on the greasy side.

Posted 11/20/06

Although I'm not too crazy about the food, the restaurant was quite impressive. Dim lighting, looked very clean, and can be romantic. The grilled sword fish didn't have much flavor. Desserts are nicely presented but not that big on taste. Oh, the girl at the front was extremely rude and obnoxious. We made reservations and was asked to follow a waiter to be seated and she had the nerves to say,"Hey- where the hell are you going"? Can you believe that!? I totally ignored her and walked right past, but my friend was nice enough to explain to her that we were being led to our table by our waiter. She didn't even apologize, all she said was "Oh". I'm not sure if she's still there or she got fired or she quit on her own. But she definitely gives the restaurant a bad name.

Pros: can't think of any

Cons: girl at the front, food

Posted 09/05/06

We enjoyed a quiet dinner at Compass with friends. The atmosphere was excellent - there was plenty of space and not too much noise. Two of us ordered the prix fixe menu and felt that the chef added one too many ingredients to each of our courses. The starter, a goats cheese tart with beet, was served with mache interlaced with onion, the onion unnecessary. The duck main course was delicious and properly cooked, but the fennel on the plate was limp and flavorless. The dessert, a chocolate cake, required neither the apricot and maple flavors added nor the olive oil drizzled on the plate and flavoring the ice cream. Overall, we felt that the chef made a valiant effort but delivered one too many ingredients, detracting from our overall enjoyment of the food. We will not rush back.

Pros: Wonderful wine list

Cons: Flavor combinations that do not always work

Posted 09/03/06

After hearing many friends rave about Compass we gave it a try. Not only did it hold up to the high standards I was expecting but it exceded them. We went during the Summer 2006 Restaurant Week. The food is spectacular. The Rock Shrimp Gazpacho apetizer was great, the Duck entree was the best duck I have ever eaten and the chocolate mousse desert was really rich and delicous. Others had the trout and thought that it was fantastic as well. Service was very good and wine selection was amazing. There are few restaurants in NYC I would recommend more.

Pros: Food, Service, Wine List

Posted 07/18/06

You enter off the street through majestic doors, frosted on the bottom and a dramatic "runway" like hallway illuminated with candles and spot lights which show you the history of New York around Central Park. You are welcomed by friendly managers and hosts at the front door with a smile and warm sense of sincerity in their voice. You can eat at the bar, in the lounge, the main dining room or in one of the private dining rooms depending on the size of your group and your personal preference.

The service, food and beverage service is 100%. John Frazer works with local produce such as Satur Farms on Long Island and highlights what is "in seaons" which allows for flexibility within the menu as items come and and out. There are staples and signature dishes Mr. Frazer keeps on for repeat customers and sometimes you will receive an extra "mid-course" as a thank you for your continued patronage. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the food and almost any other topic you might ask them. And, after dinner and dessert-which you should pass on Vera Tong continues to surprise-you are presented with little treats from the pastry kitchen and pecan crusted coffee cakes to take with you. They are great on the walk home, in the cab on the way home, for a midnight snack or for breakfast the next morning.

Try eating at the bar when one of the handsome bartenders is on. They will seduce you into a great glass of wine or tantilate you with a homemade cocktail.

In a word: GO!!!

Pros: Ambiance, Service and personal touches. Great spot for private parties.

Cons: No parking for those visiting from out of town with a car. No big deal

Posted 07/13/06

The food is excellent and the portions are a decent size. It is rare that I leave these kinds of restaurants full, but Compass does not disappoint.

Posted 07/02/06

Chef John Fraser, since his arrival in March of 2005, continues to amaze diners who come to Compass. Seasonal changes allow for a variety within the menu of dishes that are staples and pleasing to both the eyes and the tastebuds. The extensive wine list both by the glass and by the bottle is arranged not to be overwhelming. The attentive and knowledgeable staff complete your visit to Compass Restaurant. You will come back again and agian.

Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Steven

Posted 05/25/06

I cannot disagree more with the previous two reviews. I went to Compass this weekend and I found both the food and the service excellent. I went with a large party and we were immediately greeting by the hostess and seated without delay. Our waiter was friendley and helpful when recomending dishes and wines. My entire party agreed that the restaurant was beautifully decorated also. Some of our favorite appetizers were the Hamachi (soooo fresh), the sea scallops and the crispy skate. In terms of entrees you cant go wrong with the duck and the poached lobster. Just make sure you save room for dessert, they had a pineapple cheesecake that was to die for. I heard they have a great sunday brunch also... thats where i'll be this weekend!

Pros: amazing food, friendly service, great location

Posted 02/05/06

Despite high hopes and a nice facade per my architect companion, dinner was impressively disappointing. Where to begin...Service: poor when present but often absent. We had to ask for the wine list and then waited eons for our server to reappear. Food: The crispy skate so highly touted by the NYTimes reminded me of something I might heat up out of a Ms Pauls box freshly extracted from the freezer. The kitchen seemed to be experimenting with salt using none in dishes where it should have been and an excess in others to the point that they were inedible. Merely adequate desserts were the high point of the meal. Compass fails to impress in every way.

Posted 01/27/06

6 of my coworkers and myself decided to try this rest out for rest week b/c one had heard such great things about it and I don't know who left the rest of these reviews but it must be investors or ppl that work there b/c this place was without a doubt A WASTE OF MONEY thank god it was rest wk. It took us about 3+hrs to eat b/c the waiter only came by once an hr needless to say the service was horrible and the food was mediocre at best. You would expect a nice place like this not to have mounds of fat on their meat. Their portions are very small and not rich in taste at all. Only thing I have nice to say is the decor is nice and the dessert was ok.

Pros: dessert, nice bathrooms

Cons: food, service, price

Posted 01/26/06

For whatever reason, this place is very excellent and never crowded. The large bar/wine bar area is a great place to chill; they have 30 or so wines available by the glass, tapas and dinner menus available, and the prix fixe menu (with or without pairings) is the best deal I've seen in a while. Just don't tell anyone :-), would hate to see it overrun like so many others in this neighborhood

Posted 01/01/06

Took my gfriend for her bday last Friday. We were blown away. The prix fixe w/the pairings is one of the best deals in NY. Every dish was executed perfectly: Salmon tartar, duck cavatelli, hake and short ribs. The pairings complimented very well and the pours very generous. I could go on and on. I highly recommend it.

Pros: Food, Decore , Ambience

Cons: None

Posted 12/12/05

The beautifully plated delicious masterpieces prepared by the staff of the chef John Fraser are expertly matched by the sommelier Edward Allen with wines from the Wine Spectators Award of Excellence collection. Ask for a tasting menu and, if you lucky, enjoy a dozen of courses of the innovative delight. Or try these appetizers: Pan Seared Sea Scallops, Black Truffle Risotto, Lobster and Kumamoto Oysters Rockefeller; and the entrees: Free Range Chicken, Braised Sturgeon, Seared Breast of Long Island Duck and Braised Leg in Pastilla. Do not pass on desert!

Sophisticated, contemporary appropriately lighted, airily and cozy interior, welcoming professional staff. Terrific food and service, great value. Enjoy!

Posted 11/03/05

I was there late with a group for a birthday get-together. It took forever to get the bartender's attention. That's fine...they only had one for our private room and the main room. I ordered 2 cranberry/club sodas which they said they would put on a tab. About 1/2 hr later, they bring over the bill, not at our request. Okay, I thought maybe the waitress was ending her shift. The total was $8.99...alright, so it was overpriced. I looked closer at the bill and realized they CHARGED GRATUITY ON 2 NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS! Not only was it charged, but it was 20% of the total after tax. After another hour, she comes by to announce "last call". I will never go to this restaurant again and plan on telling all my friends how terrible their service is.

Cons: Expensive, Terrible Service

Posted 08/13/05

had dinner at Comapass last night. Heard about the new chef coming from French Laundry and so my expecatations were very high and I was not disappointed. Amazing!!

Pros: new chef, ambiance, price

Posted 04/30/05

the service was excellent, and the food was great - highly recommend - new chef is creating excellent dishes - the cod is very good - and so was the lobster!!! - grilled scallops to start was a great choice - I would try the tuna tartar next time!! heard it was also a great dish!

Posted 03/22/05

Luckily for me I think my friends and I ended up at the best table! It's the one in the picture with the centerpiece. The food was good and the service was great. I liked the fact that we were able to sit at a round table, which I find few restaurants have.

Posted 02/15/05

I had a great experience with my party yesterday. The service and the food were exceptional! I would highly recommend it for big parties or a romantic getaway. The staff is very attentive as well as helpful! Thank you Julio for making our night just so much better. Expect us back!

Pros: Food is Delicious, Helpful staff, wonderful ambience

Posted 12/02/04

Never did I expect that this would become one of my favorite restaurants!

I was warmly greeted by the restaurant personnel. The service was efficient and courteous from beginning to end.
I was much impressed by the quality of the food. I can't say I've had a finer porterhouse and the appetizers were exquisite. The desserts we ordered put a fine finish to the meal.

But how we felt walking in the restaurant, how we were treated, and how we felt leaving left us aglow on the way to the opera, and we couldn't have asked nor expected more.

I will return many times, I'm sure.

Pros: Service, Porterhouse, Desserts

Posted 11/21/04

I love Compass, and have gone to eat there once a month since it opened. The food is great, I've never been dissappointed, and the desserts are even better. Service is crisp and for the most part timely, and they always make me feel right at home there.

As for those people who claim their waiter didn't know anything about wine I have a suggestion: Try asking for the Sommelier! That's what a wine steward is for, and Compass has the best wine man in the city. NO waiter is expected to have tried and memorized the upwards of 500 wines Compass offers!

Pros: Food, Service, Decor

Posted 09/22/04

had dinner with a friend on a friday night... the place was pretty empty and got emptier as the night progressed (ie popularity has diminished greatly). the decor was nice, but the food was so-so. what did we have? tuna tartar was yummy, steak was decent-good, duck was blah and tough, chocolate soufflé and ice creams were tres yummy. similar to the other reviewer's experience, the waiter had no idea about the wines and tried to BS his way through it. we did end up having a $50 bottle of cote du rhone and it was great. bottom line... not a great value for blah entrees.

Pros: yummy dessert, good service

Posted 09/18/04

Came here looking for fine food and a good wine list
Great NY decor, great feel walking in
Wine list was impressive - shame nobody knew the wines
Good wines below $100 hard to find
Wines by the glass uninspired
Food was flat - expensive, and dull
Prix Fixe looked good value - went a la carte - clearly a mistake
A decent bottle of cote rotie, an overcooked steak, tough duck we left $300 lighter
All in all a dissappointment
The night improved - some great jazz at the Zinc Bar
If you're into wine and find food - I would suggest Cru

Posted 09/15/04

We heard lots of great things about the food at Compass, which was all true! However, I went to dine there last week with my husband; the french server almost spoiled the wonderful "compass experience," as he called it with his arrogance. Please, not everyone is there to be impressed by you, so don't try too hard. I'm sure most of the other waiters are ok, we just had a though luck with ours!

Pros: Great Food!, Great wine selection!, Great atmosphere

Posted 09/05/04

I dine here at least once a month. The food is excellent and the service is great! I do not live in NYC, so when I do travel in, Compass is the place that I go. If you are looking for a great restaurant on the Upper West Side, I highly recommend Compass.

Pros: Great, Great, Great

Posted 07/08/04

Been here before w/o a problem, but after this time I will never return. Service was slow and while the waiter made an error with our food, we were not upset about the mixup until he became defensive and combative about it! Later, as our large party began filtering out, I overheard our waiter discussing the menu mixup to about 5 members of the staff, blaming us. In addition, he made some very hurtful comments about some of my group members! I was so hurt and disappointed with my experience. I urge you not to dine here - there is no need for such rudeness at such a high-class restaurant. And while the manager did offer an apology, I cannot ignore nor forget the hurt and shock I felt upon hearing the waiter insult my group..while we were still there!

Posted 06/08/04

Great space- big rooms that would be ideal for private parties- great food - had the chicken, short ribs and skate- the apple struedel was delicious.

Good wine list- but the apple martini tasted distinctly of Windex.....

Our lovely waiter sent us off with scones for breakfast the following AM!

Pros: food, wine list, space

Posted 03/22/04

Our group of 6 had an 8pm Friday res'v. We were seated around 8:40. Menu looked promising, but since there was a new chef (2 weeks old), the waitress didn't know it very well. Then came the delays including about 40 minutes btw. appetizers and entrees. This despite our telling the staff that one of us had to leave by 10pm. Most of the entrees shows up at 10:05 - except one of two halibuts, which still wasn't ready, and the lamb chops, ordered rare, were cold and barely more than raw. Sent 'em back. They comped our dessert, but by then the damage was done what was supposed to have been a low-stress celebratory evening had turned into a cause for fretting. Too bad, too, because once the food did arrive, it was pretty good. And the room is lovely.

Posted 02/27/04

Based on what I read here, frankly I wonder if they speak of the same restaurant. I dine @ Compass frequently and there is a reason why my friends and I return. Good food and warm friendly service.
The staff is actually very accomodating. go and make a decision for yourself. Try the rack of lamb....it's devine.

Posted 02/23/04

If you don't mind being cold, having dirty glassware, waiting 45 minutes to be seated after arriving first at opening, waiters who can't satisfy the most basic tasks (warm coffee, lemon slices, drinks arriving before the meal) then this place is for you. No accomodations were made when we asked to have our cold coffee included in the cost of the prix fix lunch (who's ever heard of coffee not being included in a prix fixe lunch). Bottom line, avoid like the plague (boils to be specific).

Posted 02/21/04

Can't believe the 9.1 rating. We had 8p reservations & were seated at 9:40. We were told the table was beeing set but of course it doesn't take 100 minutes to reset a table. Reservations seemed appropriate it did not matter. They knew my wife was pregnant and this did not seem to help. The manager offered a round of drinks but my wife couldn't have alcohol as she was pregnant. The service and food was awful--we sat at the table for a good 15 mintues before menus were brought over. My seared tuna was freezing cold. I asked to have it warmed, it came back cooked all the way through. My wife had the sea bass which was bland and dry. Not remotely close to a $100/couple meal--there are much better restaurants, in every respect, that have much food, service, ambience and value. Two thumbs down. Save your money.

Cons: , Service, Value

Posted 02/12/04

I ate at Compass Dec 20 before going to the Met. I was pleasantly impressed by the service, the food the wine list and the sommelier (Eddie). The staff made you feel right at home and made sure to check our satisfaction at the appropriate times throughout the meal. The service was attentive without being obtrusive.
There was a lo-carb menu which was great and was suited my wife's diet.
I would highly recommend this restaurant before a Lincoln Center event or just anytime.
I read some of the negative comments on this website regarding the service at Compass and all I can say is in my experience Compass scored a 10 out of 10 for service.
Next time I will go with friends and get a booth.

Pros: Good wine list, reasonable prices

Cons: None

Posted 12/27/03

Expensive menu; EXTREMELY slow service; awful waiters - the salmon was disgusting and nothing was worth the extremely high price of waiting forever for nothing.........go somewhere else.

Posted 10/24/03

This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in quite a while. To begin, the restaurant itself is truly beautiful. I found it to be warmly elegant. We were greeted and seated promptly and courteously. Our waiter was very attentive, but never annoyingly so. The food was exceptional. I had the pea/lobster soup (light & delish), lamb shank (big enough for Henry VIII), and apple strudel (a must must must have). My friend had the $30 prix fixe (what a bargain)...risotto, chicken & apple strudel. She was stuffed and had to take the strudel home (so good, she couldn't leave it behind). The dinner ended with out waiter offering us a small shopping bag of cranberry scones for 'breakfast tomorrow'. I can truly say this was one of the best restaurants I've been to in quite a while...and I definitely have made the rounds.

Pros: food, atmosphere, service

Cons: prices

Posted 09/11/03

I am a little surprised at some of the reviews written here. I dine out frequently and found my experience @ Compass most enjoyable. The $30 3-course dinner was frankly amazing. Great value. The staff beginning with the tall gentleman at the door, waiters, etc. were as friendly and helpful as some of the best restaurants in town. Take a look.

Pros: food, service, design

Cons: a little loud

Posted 08/20/03

I was having small gathering and wanted a private room. Well they moved me from one room to what sounded nice the "wine room". well theres a huge pole in the middle so that no one could talk to eachother. The salad with duck was horrible, the filet was probably one of the worst i ever had. Service was OK. The good thing was the apple strudel and the decor. GO Somewhere else.

Posted 08/17/03

We went on an uncrowded Thurs. and after listening to the tables on either side of us complain about the delay in their food we too had to ask if it was ever coming. It did and we regretted it. Subpar. We didn't stay for desert (even though it was included in the prix fix) because it wasn't worth the hour wait. DO NOT GO HERE.

Pros: None

Cons: Poor Food, Poor Service

Posted 07/20/03

Compass is a great neighborhood establishment. Great decor and service. The place is funky and the food great. I particularly enjoyed the price fix meal, which I think was more appropriately priced and the healthier options. Heavenly apple strudel.

Pros: service, food, friendly

Cons: non price fix =pricey

Posted 06/30/03

I had been to Compass a while back and it was a horrible experience. They were out of everything and one by one the server would tell us. The service was very mediocre as if business were so great that they didn't care we were even there. The food was okay, by no means good. I figured I'd give it another try again and I was so disappointed that I will never go back. We sat down on Monday night at 8:00. There were only 8 other tables in there with 6 servers, 6 bussers and 2 men in suits. After 20 minutes of no service, we walked out and the hostess said "bye, thanks". No one noticed. In times like this people need to spend their money wisely and it should never be at Compass. Get it together- there are too many restaurants out there who care about service.

Cons: horrible service, stale bread, bad management

Posted 04/28/03