CHOICE Kitchen & Cocktails

Good menu, poor execution

Pros: outdoor seating, brunch menu

Cons: quality of food and service

A little late with my review but here it is nonetheless. I had a birthday party here in Nov. '09 with abt 70 people. I worked with the party coordinator, John, who was very accommodating with the menu. I had quite a few small children there and wanted something they could eat and he threw in some pizzas & mozzarella sticks. I thought I would have to sacrifice one of my menu selections but didn't have to. The atmosphere is nice & casual. Someplace you would come for a nice brunch on a weekend and I plan to. My friends loved the place and thought the food was very good. I would definitely do another party here!!

Pros: Very easy to work with (JOHN), good food and atmosphere

I was referred to this bar/restaurant by Shecky's. What a great referral. I had my birthday party in the Choice Room & Brick Room. Everything was perfect. Music, food, staff, and mangers were great. The open bar package was reasonable and they were not stingy with the finish time (they extended the open bar for 20m at no additional charge). I would recommend Choice as they really do a fantastic job planning, hosting, and sticking to their promises. My friends loved the place and I am sure they will get repeat business from this party.

Pros: party service is fantastic, great bartender (Denise)

I'm always looking for places to go with my three children when my parents come to town. We tried the Brunch at Choice (table of 5 kids and 12 adults) and were pleasantly surprised. Although it looks sophisticated, they were more than accomadating to our large party. The food was amazing, and the stuffed french toast was the best i have ever had! The staff was friendly and patient...it would be nice if they had a crayon or two to occupy the kids...I will be back!

Pros: great for groups

Cons: more highchairs, crayons for kids

Choice was an awesome place to have my birthday party. The stuck to everything they said they would, private room was really cool (after midnight we moved to the main bar), appetizers were delicious. Upon first arriving, Katie gave all my guests a free glass of champagne as a toast to me. My friends and I had a great evening and I will definitely recommend having a party at Choice. P.S Our bartenders Felipe and Sheryl were a riot and did a fabulous job! Thanks again, great night.

Pros: manager followed through, DJ was great, cool place

Cons: hung over

After having to make a last minute change of venues for my daughter's Bridal Shower, we chose this restaurant sight unseen. The event coordinator and her staff went out of their way to provide everything we asked for in this attractive restaurant. The food was excellent, the service professional and courteous, and the price reasonable. They were very gracious with me trying to plan an event while living hours away, working with people I didn't know, and a place I had never seen, with food we had never tasted. But they provided everything we agreed upon, and it exceeded our expectations. Our guests raved about the food, the service, and the accommodations.
I would highly recommend this restaurant.

Pros: Decor, Excellent Food and Service, Reasonable Price

Thank you John, Katie, and the staff of Choice for a fabulous party. Your suggestions and planning made the event effortless on my part. The appetizers, entrees, and drinks were delicious. We were 10 people short of our guarantee of 150 guests. The owner did not charge us the difference; I thought this was a very nice and classy gesture. You?ve earned our business and trust. Great job.

Pros: great party planners, space is beautiful, nice staff

I had a huge corporate event held at CHOICE. The food was amazing, drinks were amazing, and the customer service was incredible. Everyone said it was the best food they've ever had at a Corporate Event. I highly suggest CHOICE, whether youre having a huge event or just a fun night out.. Great venue, great times!

Pros: Best Customer Service Around

My daughter wanted to have her Sweet 16 Birthday party in New York with her camp friends and we live in Washington DC. I actually found Choice on the internet after reading the reviews on Citysearch. I spent hours and hours calling restaurants in NY and Katie at Choice was the nicest one I spoke to. (In fact some Catering Managers I spoke with were down right rude!). Katie was helpful, accommodating and a pleasure to deal with. She even helped me find a bakery for the cake and offered to pick it up the day of the party. It so happens that Katie was out of town the night of my daughter's party and Eric, the manager was in charge. He was very patient with all of my last minute phone calls, questions and basic nuttiness. We even had the waiters at Choice change the floor plan 5 minutes before the guests arrived. Eric allowed my daughter to blast her music from her ipod (the speakers were for the entire restaurant) and the kids had a great time dancing to their music. The food was yummy-- we went for a very kid friendly menu--spinach dip (the best I have ever had), chicken and beef skewers, caesar salad, tomato and mozzarella, hummus and pita etc.... but the way they served it on beautiful/funky square platters made the menu very upscale! All in all, my daughter loved her Sweet 16 and I think her friends had a great time. Eric, the manager (and Eric the bartender serving sodas and "mocktails"), thank you for everything!!!!!

Pros: Great for a Sweet 16

We always have an outstanding dining experience at Choice Kitchen. The food is great, the staff is attentive and friendly. the setting comfortable.

One of the best meals I've had in the New York City. Each course (and between course) was delicious and artfully prepared. The service was top-notch professional yet not stuffy. We were made to feel welcome all evening long."

"Amazing food , amazing and knowledgeable staff, beautiful dining room and just overall lovely place to eat. Celebrated my birthday here and could not have asked for anything better"

Thank you to John, Eric and Katie for managing such a fabulous party from start to finish!
My son's college graduation party was on Saturday,
June 20th. The food was great! The service was over the top!!! It was perfect. The college kids stayed aroung the huge bar and the family members stayed in the back where there was plenty of seating.
The bartenders were on top of their game. Thank you to Lauren, Nadine and anyone else helping at the bar and
buffet. Judging from comments made to me at the party and phone calls the next day commenting on the fabulous event, I am sure you will be hosting many more parties! Thank you again for making this event a memorable one!!!
Hoping to see you soon!
Maureen

Pros: Everything was fabulous!

Cons: I honestly can't think of a negative comment!

To the Bartenders, Jon & Erik-

I can't thank you enough for everthing you did. The party was a hit..food and drinks were great..and you were a pleasure to deal with.. No doubt..your crew was over the top. much thanks- j&t

Pros: great bar for a birthday party, Jon & Erik were so nice

My girlfriend received an email through this website called "Groupon" which sells you discounted gift certificates for dinner in NYC. We've never done this but it seemed like a cool concept to try out brunch - it was $10 for a $30 gift certificate. Once we got there we were told that they do not honor the GC, and then after I showed them the small print they said they would only accept it during dinner.

Classic bait-and-switch. We walked right around the corner and went to Blue Smoke which was outstanding, as always. I would recommend not giving Choice Kitchen your business - they clearly do not understand the business-client relationship.

Pros: looked well furnished

Cons: rude, inconsiderate staff

The have an insanse special on Sunday and Monday nights for their 3 year anniversary. $10 bottles of good wine and $2 beers. The wines they offered were pretty good, probably cost the same at a wine shop. Get there early on Sundays if you want to sit outside. Apps were really good, but ten dollars for a bottle of wine, I'd can't be beat. Plan on going back with a larger group this time, 6 bottles for the table please!!

Pros: cool deal, great outside, nice peeps

Cons: wish the special was on friday or saturday

I had a birthday party at Choice last year in the private room and my friends had such a great time, I decided to have a joint birthday party. We had too many attendees for the private room and had the party at the main bar and island bar. Katie and Jon took care of everything. The food was great, the space was perfect and DJ Dom was great at keeping the party going. Everyone had an amazing night and your attention to all of my concerns [and phone calls, sorry Katie:) ]was greatly appreciated. My friends have already asked for your info.

Pros: Katie , Jon& the DJ, fun bartenders, & great set-up

John and Katie were both a pleasure to work with! They were incredibly responsive, a huge help in setting up a beautiful room and table, and did everything they could to make my husband's 40th birthday a special celebration!

Customized packages make it affordable. Everyone had a great time and the privacy of our room and table along with the great energy at Choice made it a lot of fun! Would highly recommend for anyone thinking of throwing any kind of party here!

Pros: Excellent party planners, great food, and customized package

We hosted a party for 100+ people at Choice on a Thursday night. Planning was easy, the staff was great, and our guests enjoyed the food & drinks. The place was packed on a Thursday night. Highly recommended!

Pros: Great venue, super food & staff

Alliteration aside, you will not find a nicer, more easygoing set of people to coordinate an event with. I worked with John and Dan in planning a fundraiser for a scholarship in memory of a college friend of mine, and it really could not have gone any better. They were genuinely supportive of our cause and as flexible as we needed them to be. I've organized events like this before, and John and Dan were by far the best people I've ever collaborated with.

My experience with Choice Kitched & Cocktails was a pleasure from start to finish.

Really good and consistent food. We have never been disappointed. A classier bar scene with-out being too stuffy or self impressed. Great wine list and plenty of appetizers to choose from for a late night snack. The majority or the places in this area have horrible food and are way too fratty (there are more people throwing up on Third Avenue at midnight then at NYU hospital). Choice always seems to have a nice crowd and their happy hour is great. We occasionally meet up with friends here for dinner or to just relax; the back dining room is very conducive for groups. You can actually talk to other people with-out a speaker pounding in your ear or some boozed up kid bumping into you every other minute. We live in the building next door and are so happy we found this place.

FYI to the owners- we passed Choice tons of times (and didn't stop), try some kind of neon sign or illuminated banner (the front kind of blends into the building and does not stand out) and why don't you open for lunch?

Pros: great and consistent food, good for large groups, happy hour, classy place

I just wanted to thank Katie, Jesse, and Chris for an exceptional job on my finance's surprise 30th this past Saturday. All the guests raved about Choice and had a great evening. The food selections, drinks, DJ and service were outstanding. The private room was beautiful and tastefully done. Greatly appreciate you over the top attention and advice on planning the party (thank you for your attention to all my annoying emails and calls).

Pros: party planner was great, service & food were outstanding, beautiful room

My family and I actually went to Choice by mistake. Our reservations were for the restaurant next door, Coppolas. My father-in law insisted that we were in the right place. We spoke to the hostess at Choice and she said there was no reservation for us but she would sit our party of eight as soon as possible. This infuriated my father in law (he was the one who messed everything up). He spoke to the manager, Jon, and berated him on how his restaurant could screw up such as simple task as a reservation and how his night was ruined. We were quickly sat (probably to avoid any further scene). After reviewing the menu, my father in law admitted that we were in the wrong place. We decided to stay and what a great decision. We had a great evening and a fabulous meal. Love the feel of the dining room and thought the place had a very warm feeling. My "tight walleted" father in law even offered to by Jon a drink as an apology for his overreaction. The staff handled everything perfect and we will be back (intentionally this time). Choice is a great little family run place in gramercy, you will not be disappointed.

Pros: understanding manager, great food, nice people, pretty dining room

Just a great American restaurant & bar to visit when in Murray Hill. Simply good food, nice staff, and a great happy hour value. With such limited choices (no pun intended) in the area for a nice dinner, Choice does fill a much needed void. Can't believe they keep opening bar after bar in this area (burgers and wings), this is a nce change.

Pros: tasty entrees, diverse wine list, nice place and friendly workers

I had a holiday party here on Dec 21. Everything was wonderful. Great food, service and atmosphere. Everyone had a fantastic time. Thanks Katie and John.

I picked this restaurant for my friend's mom who was going back to hometown the next day on Nov, 6th. I read some reviews and i thought it would be an excellent brunch spot.

We first got a round table, but they told us they have a party so moved us to some bar tables. We didn't care about where to sit ,but we expected good service and food. However, it took about one hour for them to prepare our omelettes,Benedicts and bagels.

The food was decent. Not right atmosphere for brunch.The waitresses were ok too. they had no idea why the cooking took such long time either.

If you are happen to live or work around these area, you can try this place. But it is not worth to go there especially for meals.

Went with a group of friends for the first time. One of our group recommended it. We had a blast. The food was excellent - the service great and the atmosphere was perfect. Loved their shrimp cocktail appetizer.

This is the best brunch deal in the area. 2 drinks plus a good meal.. after all is said and done it should only be $20 a person. Not bad!

Choice: You should be proud! Your waitresses (Michelle, alley, & thi), Cate, and bartenders did a spectacular job hosting my son's engagement party. Everyone had a great evening. From beginning to end, our guests were impressed. We will recommend you. I know it's a recession, but turn the lights up, us old folks can't see. Joking aside, a sincere appreciation for your efforts

Pros: Fantastic party venue and great service

Cons: Turn the lights on

Here's the deal with this place. One of our go to places, along with aticca and the new place across the street (next to amber), the difference is the other's are good for a frat scene (not a bad thing), but Choice is the real deal. Truly great food and has a great feel to it. All the b/s aside (as a former BRG slave), these guys do not take anything for granted You guys threw a great party for our "chef" away from home party. Great food, service was k/a, and as you know, as a group, we always leave happy. You guys run a top notch venue...

We always have a very nice evening at Choice and appreciate their willingness to accommodate our group at a moment?s notice. Our monthly dinners parties are always very well done; attention to detail is excellent, food & wine selections are delicious, and service is wonderful. Both John and Kathleen (managers) consistently treat our dinner parties and social events as a top priority. There witty appreciation for our patronage does not go unnoticed.

Pros: Consistently great dinner parties,charming hosts

Cons: none

This place is pretty much the opposite of how they try to bill themselves. It is not a chill neighborhood bar - I live on 30th between 2nd and 3rd so yes, this is my neighborhood. It's stuffy and cold and has the excitement of warm milk. Most people think of a neighborhood joint as warm and inviting and bustling - this is none of that. If you want to impress someone who's never been to a city or a wine bar before, I guess this place would work. But if you want relaxed fun, smiling staff, a chill atmosphere, and a place you'll feel comfortable just drinking, talking, and laughing with friends; keep walking down 3rd Avenue, because this place isn't it.

Pros: Food Menu

Cons: Atmosphere, uninspired cocktail/drinks menu,

Our birthday dinner party at Choice could not have been better. We all had a great time. Our waitress (Casey) was AWESOME and Katie (manager) made sure very part of our party package was perfect. Their dinner/open bar package is a great deal; yet very upscale. My guests praised the food and martinis, dj was brillant (however only strange thing was there was different music playing in the dining room and main bar area; might have been a mistake, but not a big deal). Just wanted to thank Choice for making our night out great.

I came here with a large group for a friend's birthday brunch and was incredibly disappointed. We arrived at 12pm, didn't get our menus until 12:30pm (after having to ask for them) and ordered at 12:50. Our food, which was cold and mediocre, didn't start arriving until an HOUR after we ordered. It came out in groups of 2 or 3, and our server let the food sit on a nearby table for several minutes before actually serving it. Some people were almost done with their food by the time others got theirs. We kept asking about the status of the food and our server brushed us off, saying it would be out soon. I know we had a large party, but the restaurant was empty when we arrived so we should have had our food before all the other customers arrived. The worst part was that the server didn't care and kept tending to other tables. The restaurant was understaffed and I would have complained to the manager, but I had to eat my food in five minutes and then run out because I was going to be late for an appointment. I have never had such poor service ANYWHERE in NY and would not recommend this place under any circumstances. Worst brunch experience ever - stay away.

Pros: Not too expensive

Cons: Service and food

My husband and I found Choice randomly as we were looking for a place to host a post-wedding celebration. We wanted a bar that was nice but not stiff, comfortable but not trashy. We could not have had the party at a better venue-- Katie (the event planner) was warm, welcoming, easygoing, and reliable. We wanted a relaxed event where we did not have to organize or plan anything, and she took care of every detail, from arranging the DJ to setting out candles and flowers. It made the party awesome for us. Even when the DJ called in sick, Katie had brought her own iPod as backup-- which turned out just fine. I know that our friends and family loved the venue, as well-- the food was delicious, the service was quick and friendly, the drinks were great and flowing freely, and the layout of the restaurant made it easy for people to talk in small groups without having to either shout or feel isolated. In addition to all of this, we found their prices to be extraordinarily fair.

Cheers to Katie and her team for a terrific night!

Pros: Great service, fair prices

My company hosted a small event at CHOICE on a Wednesday night and things couldn't have worked out better -- the staff was accommodating, the food was excellent and space perfect. They had us in the back room which is big enough to fit at least 40 people, with our own bartender and even though we ran over the pre-set time limit, they didn't kick us out. Extremely reasonable pricing, good music, and great service. Highly recommended for anyone hosting an event or just to stop by for drinks - in the heart of murray hill but one of the nicer bars in the area.

Choice is one of the few bars where you are able to hear yourself from the next person. We love going here because of this, the staff is friendly and they have a good wine selection.

Pros: Friendly Staff, Semi-quiet Bar

their food is great!, and the place is def. a hot spot fri. and sat. nights love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pros: in-expenisive, has a lil bit of everything on the menu, great for lunch or a night out

Cons: none!

We came to choice for dinner, and had a really great experience! the ambiance/decor is fabulous, the service is great and the menu is extensive (and very reasonably priced!). It's also a fun place to just grab a drink at the bar- their drink menu and specials are fun. Love it!

Pros: great vibe, reasonable and tasty food, fun ambiance

The staff and managers at Choice went out of their way to make my husband's party a huge success. My husband's sister made a DVD of him for his birthday. I asked the manager, John, if we could play the DVD on the back TV. He said no problem, but we would have to bring our own DVD asked, as they did not have one. We arrived at 10:00 to decorate and set everything up. We forgot to bring the DVD player and this was a big part of the surprise. John called up his brother and he came down in a 1/2 hour with his own DVD player. I could not believe how nice of a gesture this was. The stores were closed, we are from Westchester, and we were out of luck. I can not thank you enough.
From that point on we could not be happier. The appetizer table and platters were delicious and very appealing. The bartender was hysterical and the open bar option was awesome. We all had a fantastic time and can with-out hesitation say we will have future parties here.

Pros: very accommodating, delicious food and cool party room

Cons: none

It was a party of 12 for a birthday and we had such a great experience. Our waitress Ty was so sweet and so accommodating. We did the prefix menu and it was such a great value. Everyone at the table enjoyed the food and experience. I highly recommand this place if you wanted to have a nice group gathering.

Pros: Good food & Service

Cons: None that I can think of

I never write reviews on this site but this one I just had to! I went there last night and my initial thoughts were that this was a nice place with a good selection of bar food. Great for a quick bite during the weekday. Well, my friend ordered grilled chicken breast sandwich, simple enough right? Wrong, the chicken was pink and uncooked....than to top of the evening a rodent scurries across the dining room in the back. I notify the hostess as I was walking out and she simply shrugs off the fact that we saw this creature while we were eating. Now, we all know these rodents exist in NYC restaraunts.....but I have never actually physically seen one run across the room while I was eating my meal. Gross! Will never go back there.

I decided to have my boyfriend's bday here just this past weekend based on some reviews I had read. I wanted to stay in this area of the city, so this seemed like a good choice (no pun intended). Contacted Katie, the event coordinator, to arrange a table for Saturday night at around 7pm for 10-12 people. I had a little trouble getting people on the phone so most of this was done by email, which was fine. She was really helpful and accomodating to us all. We had a great table set up in the back of the restaurant for 6:30 which was early, but I'm glad we did it earlier rather than later. By the time we had wrapped up dinner (to go have drinks at a few other places) it was almost 9:00 and the place was really busy.

Dinner was great. Debbie was our waitress and really did a great job of keeping our drinks coming and taking our appetizer and dinner orders (plus some of the guys thought she was pretty cute, so I'm sure that didn't hurt!). Food was good. Had appetizers, sandwiches/entrees/salads. I cannot speak for everyone but most people liked their food just fine. I LOVE the $5 happy hour...really nice to not pay a fortune all night for drinks and to catch a break at least for this part of the evening. We also had a cake from a local bakery and they were good enough to keep it cold for us and bring out plates and silverware to serve it (didn't want to do bday candles and the whole song and dance thing, but I'm sure they would have done it if we had wanted to).

The whole bill came to $450 for 10 people, with PLENTY of drinks, food, appetizers, etc. I think that's really affordable! Gratuity was of course included. They were really great and I appreciated it all. Oh, and Katie even brought out shots and did one with us! That was really thoughtful.

I'll most definately go back here for just dinner with friends or another function. I would highly recommend this place!

Pros: Great attention to service, food, everything!

Cons: No complaints. Probably hard to get in on a late Sat. night with no reservation.

Had Sunday brunch with a few friends.... restaurant is fairly large and was not very crowded (maybe 30% full) when entering prime Sunday brunch time. The brunch menu is the usual eggs and stuff... but the deal is great with 2 free drinks. Service was fine, but we are talking brunch... so it's really only 1 course. The food, though, was nothing fabulous... and pretty average.

Pros: good brunch deal, large space, no need for reservations

Cons: average food

I went to choice 3 weeks ago for Sunday brunch with a family friend and ordered an egg white spinach and tomato omelette with sausage on the side. The coffee was good (I had better but most restuants do not have great coffee anyway). We did not wait long at all and the food came out so delich!!! I couldnt get enough of my omelette--done exactly how I like it. It was not soggy at all. I do have to say the only reason I am giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because my sausage was not fully cooked and my waitress accidentally spilled a glass of water on the table. THe rest of the staff was so friendly and kind. I definitely would come back here for the value! I was also thinking about planning a friends bridal shower and one of the managers (I forgot his name!!) was so friendly and professional. He was great! He gave me a tour and really gave me a lot of options. Definitely considering hosting the bridal shower here! Will definitley be coming back!1

Pros: great food for the price

Great appetizers, and drinks for a reasonable price. Dinner service was a bit slow and can be a bit loud, but great for groups.

I'll start by saying that the place is nice and the food is really good.

I don't know if they had a bad day but my friends and I (there were 7 of us) went for brunch for which we were promptly seated, however, after we placed our order, we waited almost an hour for our food, had to ask for water, twice, as none was brought out, didn't receive some of the items ordered (they forgot a couple of things i.e. bacon, toast, butter), the waitress was confused (she didn't know who ordered what), they had no white bread at 2:30pm, they brought out condiments towards the end of our meal when we didn't need it anymore. We heard more glass breaking than anything else.

I made reservations here as they had good ratings for food and service(?). I felt like I was being served by kids in High School, mind you the restaurant wasn't full. So sad.

Pros: Food, cleanliness

Cons: Service not good

My birthday party at Choice went relatively flawless. The staff, managers, and the host did a great job. We had a pre-fix bar deal set up w/ an open bar and an appetizer spread. Everyone was very attentive and the place is really nice (really cool design). The only problem that I encountered was that the manager insisted that everyone "participate" (paid) for the open bar package because it was difficult to stop friends from giving others free drinks. I guess I can understand. He was polite and no one seemed to mind.

The food was delish!!! and they were definalty not chintzy. . We had both the back private room and the front window space. With over 100 friends attending, everyone had a blast. The DJ was good and both the bartenders were a lot of fun. We had a great experience at Choice and appreciate the attention from all the staff.

Pros: very nice decor, great party deals, delish food, good tunes

Cons: not many

I have gone to Choice many times now and have never had a bad experience. Sitting among many other restaurants and bars, Choice offers outdoor seating, a fantastic menu (try the goat cheese quesadilla with steak, or the goat cheese salad) and just a great place to chill. I highly recommend this for a date, a night out with friends or for any occasion really. It is definitely one of my favorite neighborhood places!

Pros: Great menu, service and ambience

Cons: none

I just had my daughter's Bridal Shower here and I cannot say enough of what a beautiful job Katie [the party manager] and the staff did . The food was excellent,presented beatifully and the brunch menu was diverse . Katie puts a special personal touch by allowing you to help make decisions, yet incorporating her expertise into the planning. The menu is especially designed with the name of the bride. White flowers were put on each table to enhance the decour.
This party was difficult for me since I live in Brooklyn but Katie took charge of everything and after my initial visit to the place, the rest was done through phone conversations.
The place is charming and trendy and a great time was had by all. The staff is wonderful! Anyone who wants to take pride in their party should consider Choice and feel confident that everyone will be happy!