Insider Pages Reviews for Butter

1 Stars: terrible service (by rr2)

rr2 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Why go somewhere nice if the service makes it a low-class establishment? The service was so out of line in many ways: picking on my friends for not being in their "class" and/or PHYSICALLY FIGHTING with them for absolutely NO REASON! DO NOT GO TO BUTTER! TERRIBLE! BAD!!!! BOOO! If you have morals, values, and are a good person with a heart: DO NOT GO HERE!

2 Stars: Blegh - Nice Decor, but the Food was Mediocre at Best (by misstikki)

misstikki — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

With a small group of 3, we had dinner during restaurant week and left disappointed. Butter had been well publicized in the media, so we thought we would give it a try. Walking in, the decor is quite lovely (modern, clean lines, candles everywhere) and the dining room was a good large size... but when it came to purpose of a restaurant - eating - the food was bland and blegh. While the wine list was vast and service decent, the portion sizes and quality of food was subpar. There was no flavoring in any of our small sized entrees and the desserts were just okay. Butter has a lot of hype, but not much else.

2 Stars: Disappointing (by md2059)

md2059 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Our experience at Butter was extremely uneven and, on balance, disappointing. The food was generally terrific, but overshadowed by bad and slow service, unfortunately located table and noise.
My husband and I have wanted to try this restaurant for a while and came on a Wednesday night during restaurant week. The d?cor was lovely, although a bit run-down in places upon closer look. At 8:30 pm, the restaurant was full. We were seated promptly at a table toward the back of the room on the first floor, where six tables were placed together in the middle of the room at an extremely uncomfortable distance of maybe 3 inches from each other, in a space that should not have been occupied by more than four tables. We were the unlucky couple seated at a middle table, with two other parties about 3 inches to our right and our left. In addition to having other diners so close to us, the dinning room was tunnel-shaped, with a vaulted ceiling, and the acoustics were terribly bad: the sound seemed to rise up, and it was not loud exactly, but somehow incredibly noisy.
Although the restaurant week menu was displayed by the restaurant?s entrance, the waiter did not bring it to the table, and we had to ask for it. Once he learned that we would be ordering from that menu, he took our order and did not speak to us again. For the remainder of the evening, we were taken care of by the other servers, who, I at first thought, were also badly trained and inattentive (my water glass went completely empty for a while) and seemed rushed. However, as the evening went on and the restaurant started emptying, the servers became friendlier and more attentive, which made me think that the restaurant was simply understaffed.
The couple at a table next to us ordered from a regular menu, and it was interesting to observe the differences in service. For instance, they received a small amuse-bouches from the chef, while we did not. I found it not offensive so much, as laughable: really, an incremental cost of an amuse-bouches was worth to this restaurant alienating potential patrons who came to try its restaurant week menu? Another difference was that the regular-menu table was offered some bread while they were waiting for their meal, while we were not. To which I say again: really?
Our appetizers took a while to arrive, but when they did, both the shrimp with sweetbreads and the charcuterie plate were excellent. Then came the 45-minute wait for the main course. After about 35 minutes, one of the servers ran by to tell us that our entrees were coming out shortly, and about 10 minutes later, indeed they did.
My duck confit was terrific, but barely warm. It sat outside in the kitchen somewhere for so long that a thin, dry film formed over the jus, and the top of the meat became sticky and hard. At that point I was famished and dared not send the dish back for the fear of another long wait. Even cold, I could tell how well-prepared it was. My husband?s salmon was nothing short of phenomenal.
After the main course, the dessert came fairly quickly. The raspberry beignets (really, jelly doughnuts) were lovely. The one culinary disappointment of the evening was the sour cream-based chocolate cake. I do not know whether it was intended to be served warm, but it arrived room temperature, was a bit hard and simply unimpressive. We were not asked whether we wanted any coffee or tea with our dessert, which, in the end, was for the best, because we could not wait to leave.
Despite outstanding food, this was an uncomfortable and disappointing dining experience (and I am willing put up with A LOT for good food). We will not be going back to Butter and I would not recommend this restaurant to others.

5 Stars: Fabulous! (by DirtyMartiniGirl)

DirtyMartiniGirl — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Butter was FABULOUS!!

I went here after seeing it on Gossip Girl. It's very trendy and upscale. Food was great and drinks were just as good. Our server was amazing, very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I LOVED the ambience and decor. You must visit the bathrooms. They are fabulous and each one is different (I checked them all out!).

I HIGHLY recommend Butter. It was a great experience. I felt like a celebrity!

5 Stars: Great (by JBlahnik)

JBlahnik — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT

The atmosphere is a story on its own. Very classy and trendy place. The food was delicious with perfect portion sizes. Exceptional place for a night out. Service was friendly and attentive.

1 Stars: Worst Experience (by asmasam)

asmasam — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I never write reviews, but was compelled to do so in this case. We had planned my friend's 40th birthday party at Butter last Saturday. We had people flying in from the west coast and had spoken with Alex, the chef and William, the Manager on several occasions about the menu, etc.

When we arrived on Saturday, the host was extremely unfriendly and rude. We ended up having 10 people instead of 15, and within 30 minutes of our reservation time, everyone was there. I went to let the host know, and he rudely said "Why dont you go back and count your guests?". I did and told him we would be 10 for the night. I then saw them give away our table in front of my eyes and we were told it would be 20 minutes before we could get our table.

2 hours later we were seated. I wish they had just told us to leave - it would have been better. By the time we ate, no one was hungry, people had been drinking for 2 hours, and other guests had arrived and been downstairs on their own for at least 1 hour.

It completely ruined my friend's birthday. It was incredibly upsetting, especially when the Manager offered us shots as compensation for waiting for the table.

By the time we finished dinner, the music downstairs was winding down, so we had to leave and in the process half the group dispersed.

I have never had such appalling treatment by any restaurant. I would never recommend this place to anyone. In this economy, they are sadly mistaken if they think they can treat people like this.

I have since spoken with the chef and manager and they have apologized, but its too little, too late. They still insist that it was our fault for reducing our party and assembling them 30 minutes late. Even so, for a special occasion such as this, and spending well over $2000 at their restaurant, they should have treated us better.

Dont go here.

4 Stars: Cool bar scene, beautiful people, thats about it (by LeeLee74)

LeeLee74 — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

The drinks are yummy, Bar is cool, saw several model-est looking people hanging out and the restaurant does have lots of fun funky looking people dining there but at its core the space is only a little better than average, the food is average, not worth the price. But I recommend for drinks

5 Stars: Hip Hop with your Filet Mingnon? (by connoisseur69)

connoisseur69 — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Overall one of our most interactive dining experiences. The food was amazing, portion size was a bit small but reasonable. The waitress was very attentive when present. It was required that we order our appetizer with the entrees. A DJ in a restaurant is a very different concept but the music was surprisingly good and contemporary but a bit too loud. Very hip ambiance with a very native feel. We felt like we were in a giant Mayan hut with a cool DJ. We recommend that when in NY you give this place a try. It a good idea to call for reservations.

1 Stars: Unworthy service, half-worthy food. (by eatcake)

eatcake — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

We attended dinner at Butter on Feb 12. We had Butter's Charcoutrie plate as an appetizer, mushroom ravioli entre and the seared beef entre. The seared beef was delicious but the others were lackluster at best. Butter's service was the real killer. Our server "J...." waited on us like second-hand diners. Among his notable transgressions: forgot to check in when the main course was served; failed to refill our drinks; lost track of our progress (didn?t know if were at dinner or dessert); forgot to take our dessert order. Ultimately, we became so disenchanted with the egregious wait for our server, we skipped out on dessert. It would be easy to dismiss these problems if it was just because our server was overworked but ours was observably TOO busy sucking up to big-ticket tables. It amazes me that service like this can survive in the current economy. I certainly won't support it again

4 Stars: Great service!!! (by 10211)

10211 — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I visited Butter Friday January 29, to experiment their restaurant week menu. From the very start i was greeted by a lovely hostess. We decided to seat at the bar and check out their cocktails and wine list, and I was welcomed by a beautiful brunette friendly bartender, who explained their cocktails and was able to explain the wines in great detail.(SO HARD TO FIND THESE DAYS) Our table took a little while so we decided to eat at the bar, it was the best decision the dishes were amazing, and the bottle of wine the bartender sugested was a great pick. Overall the staff was very friendly, the service at the bar was great and the diversity in the dishes offered for restaurant week would definitely make want to come back.

1 Stars: Very Unprofessional (by Samminyc)

Samminyc — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

So after reading all of these mixed reviews I decided to try Butter out for myself and to my surprise it did not live up to the hype.
Upon arrival I was greeted by a lovely hostess that quickly jumped up from her seat to check us in.
Who sits down at the host stand? ( I want that job)
She quickly made up for it with her lovely smile and demeanor.
After I was sat I took a gaze around and I must say that the decor is very beautiful.
I must say that the bartendar was really good looking however it seems as though he was a little distracted by what seemed to be the manager who was sitting at the bar in jeans and some form of snow shoes at 8:00pm.
The waiter took our order and knew the menu very well. The food was great and came out a little later than it should have but we were enjoying our bottle of nice wine, however they forgot to bring out the bread. ( I hate when I have to ask for bread at a restaurant)
They have a steller wine selection which is a big plus for us.
As the time went on the place got busier and the music got louder.
The waiter seemed a little frazled with the amount of tables that were there and yet that female manger was still at the bar on her cell phone.
I wonder if the owners of Butter are aware that his or her restaurant is being run sooooo poorly.

I have gone to many restaurants in the city and I have never had such a poor experience.

Maybe it was an off night perhaps but Butter is a place that I would not reccomend not return to!!!!!!!!!!

4 Stars: Great night! (by PerkyUK)

PerkyUK — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Had a great night here - great food, great atmosphere!
The waiters were attentive but not too overbearing. The dining room was great and spactious. Will return next time i'm in NY.

1 Stars: amazed they are open? (by dinernyc)

dinernyc — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This "restaurant" is run SO poorly I can not fathom how it is still open. I tried to give it another shot as my first visit was deplorable, And now I marvel at who they pay off to stay open. The GM? pressured us into a bottle of wine and when poured the description was completely wrong- AND was 30 dollars more then the wine we had wanted. His response was the server was an "idiot" and did not allow it to breath. Then to make it up to us he told us to go downstairs to the "private party". How sweet, until the doorman informed us "you will never go down your whole party is ugly" And to top the evening off when we went to find the GM to ask him why he would have led us to believe we were being treated somewhat special, He told us to please leave him alone as he was having a terrible night. Never again. I wonder how no one asks about the intense smell of smoking coming from the downstairs? Is that why we are not allowed to use the restrooms? The food was pleasing if tiny portions, everything else was poor and misleading.

4 Stars: Great food, cool downtown restaurant (by grouchomarx)

grouchomarx — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

We went for restaurant week. We had been meaning to try this place forever. It is hard to find and very inconspicuous from the street. The entrance was quiet and mostly empty on a Wednesday night. We checked in early for an 8:30 res and went to the bar for a drink. The cocktail list is nice and I had an awesome blackberry margarita. Slightly depressed bartender. The decor is cool and interesting, sort of like an underground space age ski lodge. Noise level and the almost empty bar was perfect, but upon entering the dining room the drone of loud techno music is quite striking. You will be yelling or speaking very loudly for your entire meal. Lighting is subdued and nice. Table spacing not too generous but I've seen worse. For reasons unknown to me the restaurant was filled with about 90% young women traveling in groups of about 4-5. Our server was friendly but not terribly knowledgable. She got the job done pretty efficiently but lacked critical info about the menu and food. The food was excellent - cavatappi pasta with lamb sausage, grilled pork tenderloin over smashed potatoes with "house made" pancetta - which I only wish there were a lot more of - and some nice green veg underneath it all. Green veg is definitely lacking from restaurant week menus! Dessert was to die for - some kind of sandwich of rich chocolate cake and creme fraiche and a salted caramel sauce - YUM in the extreme. My dining companion had braised short ribs with some kind of squash puree which was really great but it came with some stringy nasty green veg thing that was inedible. I could not idefntify it and it was like a long piece of yarn that never ended. They offered some specially priced wines for the event ($33) which was nice, I always appreciate that. There are the requisite weirdo bathrooms - unisex, dark, can't tell if people can see you peeing through the frosted glass doors. I'm getting sick of those! Overall I would return again for dinner.

5 Stars: A Lovely Night Out (by lalafoodgirl)

lalafoodgirl — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

My girlfriends and I really enjoyed this place. From start to finish it was a great trendy New York fine dining experience. We made reservations at peak time so we did have to wait a few minutes at the bar which was actually quite fun because we loved our bartender. The specialty cocktails are pricey but very seasonal and tasty. The hosts were helpful in making suggestions as to where we should sit to make the best out of our night. They were right about us liking the downstairs more for this occasion. Girls night out was perfect with a perky male server and a great DJ. The downstairs definitely has a more casual relaxed feel. The food was delicious and portions much bigger than we had expected. Must haves: steak tartare, squid appetizer, filet, and the breaded veal. We were too full to order dessert but really liked that they give you miniature chocolates when delivering the hefty bill that is well worth it.

2 Stars: Lame. (by VeronikaH)

VeronikaH — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I have been looking forward to go to butter for a long time. When i called i asked a table for 11 they said they can only do 10.30 because it was PACKED. When i got there they made us wait 30min FOR A TABLE I RESERVED!. Then the hostess kept feeding me lies " the people are paying the bill" first of all the table should be cleaned out and ready by 10.30. Then they placed us in the lamest spot downstairs , well that doesn't go by me. I demanded a table upstairs and a decent spot. The hostess gave me a rude look and looked me up and down , realizing I'm wearing labels and diamonds she smiled and said it will be done. I found that very disgusting . Then we ordered a round of drinks and the waiter forgot what the drinks were that we wanted. After he brought a wrong drink for my friend . The food is not bad but not amazing. My duck was OK. The salmon is juts not what i like but my friend enjoyed it. The funny part was that we had to wait 50min for our food after the appetizers. Oh and one more thing at 11 half of the restaurant was empty!.

1 Stars: Lousy (by poiluyt)

poiluyt — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

It is inexplicable how this place is still in business, bad food, bad service, high prices. NY is filled with beautifull restaurants. Dont waist your time here.

5 Stars: Great Food (by foodsamplerqueen)

foodsamplerqueen — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I went to this restaurant with a friend for his birthday. The food was great .. I personally loved the Duck..

The food was pricey.. save this place for a special evening you can spend $400 on a meal easily.

The service was good.. the only thing I did not like is that the waiter kept asking people if they wanted Tap water or Sparkling water loudly, I personally don't think that someone should be asked this question constantly.

5 Stars: Great social Spot (by Pamela H.)

Pamela H. — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:21:00 GMT

Up beat , Great place to take a date,or just hang with you crew.The service is out standing. The prices are reasonable. I would total recommend this spot. I will definitely be in the house again.

1 Stars: Treated Like Dirt (by TheRedMan)

TheRedMan — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Usually I don't knock a restaurant for service if the food is good- any server can have an off-night. And the food here is good, even if not quite worth the inflated prices. For $21, the foie gras should not be so mushy as to be indistinguishable from the bread and fruit compote served with it.

But the food and service are not the problems here; it is the management. The downstairs at Butter becomes a "club" at night, which is fine. But the downstairs is also where most of the restrooms are, and after spending over $200 on dinner for 2, I was not allowed down to the restrooms. There is a handicapped restroom near the front door, but it was swarmed by people waiting to be allowed into the "club" who were not customers, and obviously a long wait.

Well-managed restaurants allow their paying customers to use their restrooms, plain and simple. They do not put customers spending $200-$300 in a position of negotiating with a 300-lb bouncer to use a restroom. I would recommend this place only to those who:

-Are insecure and lack self-respect to a sufficient degree where being treated like this is just fine
-Are naive enough to think this shoddy treatment indicates "eliteness" (B&T anyone?)
-Have never been to a real restaurant (again, B&T)

It is too bad- the food really is good, but this city is full of good restaurants who treat their customers well.

1 Stars: Food Melt in your mouth like butter? More like dry in your mouth like chalk (by rsam)

rsam — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

A bunch of my friends and I went to butter last night and we were very dissapointed. The staff was rude, especially the bartenders. The food is sub-par - it really was not impressive at all. My chicken dish was super salty and dry and the fish was dry as well. The waitress was not very nice either and did not serve us well. For all the hype this place IS not great. The decorations are plain, and the restaurant itself is quite small. Dont expect to see any celebrities either..they usually close the downstairs area if there is a VIP guest.

Also,the staff is unprofessional... The crowd is mostly older 30's or 40's stuck up people who watch other people.
All in all, I do not recommend this place to anyone. But, Its your choice. Try it out for yourself and dont be surprised if you are dissapointed.

3 Stars: Hidden charges (by camdenhesse)

camdenhesse — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Martini "up" charge? I have no problems paying $12 or $14 for a martini but to get a separate $2 charge for serving it "up" (how else would a martini be served?) was annoying enough for us never to go back...

1 Stars: Shobs (by nycrocks66)

nycrocks66 — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My wife and I had dinner a few weeks back here and I can tell you its not worth the hype. Staff tried there best and the food was okay for the price but watching the owner and managers go around and breath down there customers necks was painful. I saw a customer complain and the manager told him if he had a problem with the dish that maybe he should leave. They then started to rush us out of the restrauant as they had VIPs coming so we were no longer required for there business which is very sad. HOSPITALITY look at this word and learn it!!!!!!

2 Stars: Go there if you have time to waste time and money (by muldave)

muldave — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My wife and I had dinner at Butter for her birthday. It was a weekday (wednesday, november 28th) and the place was packed. However we were seated promptly. It was extremely noisy and we had a hard time chatting without raising our voices too much.

We ordered the salmon tartare and the foie gras as appetizers. We were served the appetizers 20mn after we placed our order. Salmon tartare consisted of 3 extra thin slices of salmon (cost over $20) and the foie gras was made of FAT (we're not talking duck liver here, it was a block of pure jiggly white FAT).

We waited 50mn (yes you read well, FIFTY minutes) AFTER the appetizers before the entrees were served. I asked twice the waitress if there was any problem with our order and she kept telling me we'd be served in a few minutes. I had the colorado lamb (it was fine but nothing exciting for a $35 dish) and my wife had the pork tenderloin that she liked.

Needless to say we didn't order any dessert. It was our first and last time at Butter.

1 Stars: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE (by kellabell9)

kellabell9 — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I read the other reviews which stated that this place was unpretentious and not snobby, but my party was treated like trash because we were not any sort of celebrity. We were all nicely dressed new yorkers who were looking for a nice night out, but were treated like dirt! Please do not visit this restaurant!!!!

4 Stars: Not Bad (by wellsd)

wellsd — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Very Pretty, Steak is to die for and the drinks are nice. A bit expensive, skip the Kobe and go for the Filet, a much better and cheaper choice. The Maitre' D welcomed me twice as I returned from the bathroom and asked if he could re seat me???? Odd? And our waiter was a bit rush rush at the start of the meal and a tad snooty. But life ain't perfect.

3 Stars: What's up with the place???? (by bethlester)

bethlester — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I was at Butter a few weeks ago, with my business associates for a company dinner. It was a Tuesday night, so I was quite surprised when we were seated at how busy the restaurant was. There were only two servers on the floor. The servers were quite busy trying to accomodate all the people, and the support staff was also busy dropping off food and clearing the tables. While I was waiting to place my order, I took a moment to check out the scene. That's when I noticed an attractive female and an older man watching from the service area at how busy everything was. Were they the owners? If so, wouldn't they be happy that their restaurant was busy versus empty? Most owners are. At that point the woman, took a walk around the dining room with this fierce look on her face checking out everything. I was promptly distracted by my delicious appetizer of scallops and my wine. My entire meal was excellent and my server, although busy was abe to focus and guide my dinner party through some wonderful food selections. She recommended the Venision which was out of this world! Later I asked my server who was the scowling older man and she informed me he was indeed the owner. He had spent the whole time I was eating there with an ugly look on his face from the service area. I feel empathy for the staff at Butter.

1 Stars: Stay Away (by gailgreene)

gailgreene — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

4 Stars: Pretty good food - Cool decor - Excellent Service (by docherf)

docherf — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Butter is a high end place with a somewhat unique decor. You notice the arched ceilings as you walk to your seat - but then all the trees decorating the place gives it a natural feel. The staff was very friendly - with one of the hosts stopping by to give us his picks from the menu. The food was good - I had venison - cooked just like I ordered it - medium-rare. It was tender and a good cut of meat (I would have preferred more spice, though). We also had the foie gras - I am new to this - but I loved it.

Overall - I'd say this was a pretty good place - but didn't quite get to the 'great' level.

5 Stars: What a great spot! (by ngret)

ngret — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Butter is the kind of spot that everyone should go at least once. If you go once you will be hooked. They have great food and a hip atmosphere! It's great for any occasion.

1 Stars: Butter left a BAD taste in my mouth. Avoid (by johnstraus)

johnstraus — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The food was sub-par and during the entree a waiter spilled a full glass of wine on me and also the guy sitting at the table next to me (the waiter spilled the glass pretty hard).

The manager and waitress quickly came over and apologized and the said ?Don?t worry we are going to take care of this.? Thinking that I would get a free desert or more I said that it was ok and that didn?t really worry about it because it was a simple mistake.

At the end of the meal I got my bill and was outraged that the not only was I paying full price for whole meal but they also charged me for the glass of wine that their waiter spilled! (They also didn?t comp anything to the guy at the table next to us who got wine spilled on his shirt.) I was so angry that I paid the bill and said something to the manager on my way out about having to pay for the glass of wine that they spilled.

She said she was sorry and that the waitress was supposed to take the glass off our bill and that I should send her my email address so that she could send me a gift certificate. I emailed her two times and only got an apology.

BUTTER ? For NY city the place has tacky decor (look at the ceiling), terrible desserts but pretty good appetizers and entrees. When you add the wait staff?s nasty attitude into the meal I wouldn?t even think about going back to this place. STAY AWAY!

5 Stars: Well run family oriented and owned restaurant! (by gladicereyes)

gladicereyes — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

There is a man that owns Butter named Simone Akiva who will do everything and anything to make his guests happy. Butter is a very warm, the food is spectacular and Simone is the Best! Me and the girls will surely be back Simone....

5 Stars: Welcoming Staff....a refresher in nyc! (by taylordickensen)

taylordickensen — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I have never been greeted or served by a more accomodating staff, ever! Quality food and drinks are standard among nyc restaurants BUT I find most servers to be just "blah".... uninterested, no motivation and concerned about how much money I spend, not my dining experience. Butter consistently excels at hospitality, way above my expectations!....and I have dined there since they opened in 2001.

5 Stars: Butter is delicious (by laferia)

laferia — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I love the duck egg pasta that I had the other night. I can taste that the Union Square ingredients in the dishes. I was amazed that they have a really great wine list with some good stuff. I was seated on time and treated with respect. The air conditioning could have been stronger. It was a tad warm (I wonder if they were trying to get me to buy more drinks...) The music needs a little help too...All in all a great experience in an area where there aren't many good restaurants.

1 Stars: Butter more like Margarine (by qwikthinkher)

qwikthinkher — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Butter on Monday evening and was gravely disappointed. Had an 8pm reservation and was not seated till 9pm. Hostess was very rude and did not even offer us a drink for our troubles. The menu featured typical american fare and was not worth the price of admission. One thing worth noting that it was definetely a place to be seen and people watch!

2 Stars: Don't believe the hype (by hollys821)

hollys821 — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

After hearing all the buzz and reading the great reviews, my friend and I couldn't wait to try this celebrity haunt. We got there 15 minutes early for our noon reservation. The restrooms hadn't been cleaned from the night before and paper was scarce. Our waitress was very cordial, and attended to us throughout the meal. We chose selections from the prixe fix menu that sounded appetizing, but lacked any taste appeal. The lobster ravioli was generously filled, but the sweet roasted pepper sauce did not enhance the flavor, and seemed like it was out of a bottle. The gorgonzola cheese tart was actually flatbread drenched in rich gorgonzola cream, with a sprinkle of tasteless pesto, and lackluster mushrooms on top. It was rich, yet lacked the sinful taste of great gorgonzola. The dessert, marscapone slathered between chocolate cake, was average. The marscapone filling picked up an unappealing aftertaste from whatever was in the storage case along with it, which was a turnoff. The decor was a modern log-cabin effect with domed wooden ceilings and firewood partitions. A very cheesy lighted forest tree mutal was the focal point of the dining room. Great service, average food, not worth the price. There are way better people watching restaurants in NYC with much better food.

1 Stars: I was lied to by the staff! (by ilikeyouok)

ilikeyouok — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

i made reservations for monday july 30th because when i called a couple of weeks ago, they said the restaurant week promotion was extended until the end of the month. however, when we showed up for dinner tonight, we were told by the waiter that the week was over. the waiter then asked the manager who said the promotion was only going on tuesday and wednesday of this week... random! so not only did they lie to me over the phone, but they were extremely unapologetic about it when i called them out on it. also, when we were there at 8 pm the restaurant was completely empty! so when i asked to be seated in the much nicer upstairs area, i didn't think it would be a problem but i was totally shut down by the hostess. apparently they were only seating people downstairs at the time because later there would be a private party downstairs and they wouldn't be able to sit anyone there anymore, how does that even make any sense!? the downstairs was dark and dingy and had an unpleasant stale odor. plus the cushions seemed really dirty. needless to say, we lost our appetites and left without even ordering. this was the most disappointing restaurant experience i have ever had, hands down!

5 Stars: Great experience (by darial)

darial — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Butter for dinner after a show at The Public down the block. Had the strawberry and arugula salad and the duck. Really fresh. really seasonal. Dessert was just as good. Really surprising find. The waiter was funny and smart. Even more surprising. Unpretentious. Would definitely go back for some more good eats.

1 Stars: Overrated, overpriced (by watchdog_2020)

watchdog_2020 — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

What a disappointment. With all the hype surrounding this place, you would think the food would be at least good.

I got the sense that the manager is extremely profit focused and pushes all the wait staff to focus hard on the bottom line. They were constantly trying to push me to ?plus up? my order. If I didn?t get dessert, they were disappointed. Lame and too transparent. Also a lot of cutting corners. The food is expensive, but the dishes are small. A calamari dish is packed with pinto beans as fillers. The ?bottled water? is unlabeled and suspiciously packaged in reusable bottles. And $4.50 for an espresso? Come on.

I will say the butter was good thought. Just wish the food and service were as well.
Two visits was enough for me to write this place off forever.

4 Stars: Fun, Romantic and Tasty (by mark)

mark — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We had heard and read positive things about Butter and decided to give it a try. First impression was poor as the bartender was slow and she had a bad attiude. The host saved us and offered a new cocktail after he observed her behavior. Our waiter Jesse was great. He offered a variety of suggestions and our meal beat expectations. The crispy duck and aragula salad was the better choice of our two salads and would be ordered again. Our entrees were the Seared Bass and Hudson Valley Duck which were outstanding. Bass slightly better. Our waiter suggested the Chocolate Seimfreddo and I believe it was the best dessert that I've ever enjoyed and this closed the dining experience on a high note. Also, the people dining in the restaurant all seemed to be enjoying themselves which made the ambiance even better.

5 Stars: butter, really did make it better (by jo_se)

jo_se — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

According to the editor, "Butter's dining room is beautiful and airy, with high arched ceilings and a giant back-lit photo of a birch forest. Though sentinels guard the door, the decor is almost enough to reassure you that this is a serious restaurant. Service is warm and knowledgeable, if at times forgetful". I concur.

4 Stars: ...Parkay.... (by listen_up_fools)

listen_up_fools — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Seriously though, Butter is the genuine article. I had a terrific steak and my wife had the shrimp salad. THe well-heeled crowd did a good job of making pretty scenery for us while we ate.

5 Stars: Your pal Al highly recommends... (by your_pal_al)

your_pal_al — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Go to butter. Trust me, after all it's Your Pal Al, and remember, I may not be the best driver in the world but I'd never steer you wrong...mmmm steer.

5 Stars: Beautiful Setting! (by gregory188)

gregory188 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

After hearing Paris Hilton rave about Butter, I thought I would book reservations and give it a try. I booked reservations a month in advance, and while the restaurant was fairly empty at 8pm, by 11 the restaurant was hopping!

There was a clear woodsy ambiance through the restaurant that kept it homey but still very chic. I loved the blend of upscale dining but remaining a caual essence. No one here was stuck up or snobby. Our waitress was happy to help us pick the better of two dishes when we were stuck, and I enjoyed having an actual opinion rather than a liberal waitress. I knew she was telling the truth when she chose the less expensive dish as well.

I had the feature sirlion which was a Kobe Steak with fries, for $75 dollars. Sure it is expensive compared to the specialty cut at Applebee's but this was good steak! We also had Foie Gras, Salad, Lamb, and Salmon. Our bill was around $400 dollars for three people after wine and desserts, and tip. I litereally said "Oh My God" after every bite I took at this restaurant from appetizer, to dessert. Everything was beyond exceptional. This isn't just a trendy restaurant that has peaked and is on the downward. Butter is quality and I know it will be around a long time.

The atmosphere is very cool. There are large trees illuminated with back lights, unique chopped wood arrangements, and birch photography. We were treated to an assortment of butters allong with our pre dinner bread, which was a nice added touch. The seasalt butter was a favourite of mine. Compliments of the chef we also recieved a tasting of a new curry dish wich was interesting, I had never had Indian food before.

Overall I thought Butter was worth every penny, we will most certainly be back for more!

3 Stars: great to party! (by beenie1)

beenie1 — Sat, 26 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

i was with a group last year for xmas and we werent looking for butter in particular but we found it and i dont regret it,we had a great time,the music was great althought the bathrooms werent that clean and the club closed too soon but i would go again,it was cool.

5 Stars: Great Food, Trendy, Fun! (by curlysues27)

curlysues27 — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I love Butter! Food and cocktails are delicous and always GREAT service. I've been here with my mom several times and also with my girlfriends. Downstairs is a ton of fun and the DJ is great! Love it!

5 Stars: A refreshing surprise on Lafayette Street (by doseph)

doseph — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I dropped in on Butter for the first time last night. I found it a little strange there is no signage outside and it makes the restaurant a little difficult to see but I was drawn to the wooden facade. The place is beautiful inside and unique. The food was really solid. I had a Cavatappi appetizer and the Hawaiian fish special. I shared some sides and desserts with my colleague and, from start to finish, I found the food to be very tasty and prepared with surprising care. Our server seemed to know about the food and wine--that's refreshing because a lot of times the wait staff has to check with the kitchen ten times or ask the bartender about the wine before providing answers. Overall a great dining experience.

3 Stars: Try the Carrot Cake. (by icequeen41)

icequeen41 — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I visited Butter for dessert very recently, and there is no doubt that it is not a very beautiful and romantic ambiance. Although I did not eat dinner there, I did have every single one of the desserts on the menu. They are all innovative, generally very tasty (although each can appeal to a different kind of taste), all paired with very good balances of textures and ice cream/sorbets. Our server Gretchen was very knowledgeable on the menu, chef's inspirations behind dishes, wine, etc. I'd recommend taking your date here if you want to impress them with the restaurants trendy and dimly-lighted appeal. And apparently, it's popular with quite a few celebritity sightings. Very unique bathrooms, too.

3 Stars: Not a huge fan (by jassmine_b)

jassmine_b — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The place is gorgeous!! I wasn't a big fan of the food though (porterhouse pork chop) - especially for the price.

4 Stars: Fun Media Party (by watchmesparkle)

watchmesparkle — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I went to a media party recently at Butter for a UrbanEye, and it was really fun! Honestly, I don't go to many media parties anymore- UNLESS they actually go through the trouble of having it somewhere cool and trendy. I think the inside of Butter is very cool; it has this vibe that is somewhat organic...maybe it was the huge tree photograph, but there's also a lot of wood throughout. I haven't had the food there; although the appetizers they were serving were AMAZING, so I can only imagine that the food is equally good. I never saw the downstairs, but apparently its darker and doesn't have the same look and feel as the upstairs area. I personally thought the bathrooms were pretty cool- a little dimly lit, which I guess could irritate those chicks that like to primp in restaurant mirrors ;-) The bartenders weren't terribly friendly, but then again, working a party is never fun for them, since people aren't likely to tip at an open bar sometimes.

5 Stars: Inspiring Chef.... we thoroughly enjoyed it! (by jacky20s)

jacky20s — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We were referred by some friends who reccommended the chef's tasting, and our meal was dynamite! We like Butter because its the only place in the city where you can get a tasting that accomodates your own personal tastes, while is still derived from the main menu. Truly unique experience!

2 Stars: Oh My Gawd (by sbunny)

sbunny — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Expectations were high. We were a party of three. The best part of Butter is the booth we sat in. Comfy and acoustically well situated. Except for the waitress stapling behind us for a good 10 minutes.

I digress...Reservation: Lost? Or bad attitude of the hosting staff - 3 people floundered to find our reservation - should they know we were coming? ... They asked us go to the bar to "wait"...which is odd since it wasn't busy. When no order was placed at the bar our table was suddenly ready.

Service: Very pleasant. BUT our waitress touched one of the guests in a knowing fashion and kept winking at us. Hmmm...if this is a physical condition then my sincere apologies (the winking).

Decor: Upstairs...Lots of details and ideas yet brought together poorly and way overdone. Some element needed to take charge. Going downstairs was like entering a different establishment. Yes there was a DJ and lots o'red lights but where is the congruity with the upstairs? Since you had to go down there to use the restrooms. Very jarring - no elements brought the 2 spaces together. The modern bathrooms were poorly maintained (I was under the impression this was an upside to using modern materials.) Where was I Wenceslas Square?

Food: This being 2007 Restaurant Week it's fun to see what's offered in the city. We ordered from the pre-fixe menu from RW. Sloppy, soupy, slimy, soggy, saute...ahhhhhh I get it now BUTTER! The base ingredients seem to be of quality and handled well: yet were lost on the melange. Tastes were confused and compromised. As they said of Amadeus, " too many notes".

A revisit is not likely.

5 Stars: Imprressive (by jeffy48123)

jeffy48123 — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Hadn't dined there in a few years and was impressed it was still really busy. We just had bar food; a well-sized brea cheese sandwich and beef carpacio from the regular menu. Food was great and the bartender was very charasmatic.

5 Stars: ALMOST Perfect! (by cinamincat)

cinamincat — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We are regulars at Gotham, Daniel, Per se, Gramercy, for years! You name it, i've ate it! Let me break this restaurant down for you; its on par with the best of the best EXCEPT for their coat check system. Seating was prompt, service and food both outstanding BUT my night was ruined by that imbasil of a coat check girl, taking FOREVER to find my coat. That unintelligent woman ruining such a stunning restaurant, I told the management and they said she is out!

5 Stars: Hooked to a restaurant my 18 year old daughter reccommended! (by leefenn)

leefenn — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We live in the area and my daughter had her 18th bday at Butter for about 30 people. They treated my daughter and her friends so well that I decided to give the restaurant a try. I was pleasantly surprised how consistent the food and service were, and the ambience really sells itself. Now I dine there every week with my business partners...and it's always great. I've never been treated so well or received such a warm welcomed at a restaurant before in my life.

5 Stars: New Fav!!! (by katiedunklap)

katiedunklap — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Dined at Butter for the first time last night....the food was absolutely amazing and the service was fabulous.! Highly reccommend this place, best meal I have had in a long long time! Everything was Georg

5 Stars: great spot (by snich83)

snich83 — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Walked into butter after driving in from CT. We wanted to grab a bite before seeing the blue man group, accross the street. We were impressed by everything about our experience. From the the decor to the food, everything oozed with class. We enjoyed ourselves so much, we went back, after the show, for drinks and dessert!

5 Stars: Butter is consistent with all my hotel guests (by giomena)

giomena — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I am the head concierge at Exclusive Resorts in New York and Butter has consistently shown my guests (who are from all over the world) a perfect dining experience since they opened. We have a million restaurants in the city to choose from and Butter never ceases to amaze me... they go above and beyond with each guest that walks through their doors.

5 Stars: Loyal Customer! (by damonmil25)

damonmil25 — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Butter has never ceased to satisfy us. Always great atmosphere, food and service. Their latest cocktails-The Blackberry Margarita and that Wildberry Lychee Martini are to die for. We sometimes go just for their Warm Carrot Cake dessert. Noho is lucky to have them because there aren't really any good restaurants down there, except for Bond Street. They accomodated us for an early dinner on Valentines day, we sat in a booth upstairs and had a great time with our children.

5 Stars: Butter; service A, food A+ (by maxine544)

maxine544 — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I just went to Butter for winter restaurant week. The food was excellent and our server was very friendly and prompt. I'll definitely go back.

5 Stars: Absolutely Positive experience.......just awesome (by stevyhawker)

stevyhawker — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Great food, great service, great ambience.....What else can I say but Greaaaaatttt!!!!! I recommend the tasting menu and wine paring. The chef was very creative as the food had really good presentation and good tastes. The wine paring totally completed the food too. Our server Gretchen had extensive knowledge of the wine she served...she described how each would taste after the first and third sip, and recommended a fabulous bottle of wine. She was just outstanding, right on target with Daniel. This cozy little restuarant is definetely worth a try.

5 Stars: promising (by jennykani)

jennykani — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

What a nice little restaurant that tries so hard to please. Attentive service staff and host. Large beautiful space in the upstairs dining room and the food was very creative. We will definitely go back again.

5 Stars: Simply the best on Lafayette (by jackishivaski)

jackishivaski — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

North of Houston Street there are several great restaurants. Butter is one of them. Great food, romantic, just a great allover dining experience.

5 Stars: Superb Maitre'd (by blakebellinger)

blakebellinger — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I work for Bloomberg and we have our own restaurant review website which I go on every now and then. I had heard consistent positive things about Butter's Maitre'd for the past two years so I decided to give the restaurant a try. We were greated immediately, coats were checked immediately, and I was given the best table in the house. I have never met such a charasmatic individual in the restuarant industry, and the food and service are on par. Great experience!

5 Stars: Most Romantic in New York! (by aarontaylorbaird)

aarontaylorbaird — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend reccommended Butter to me after dining there a few times, so we went for Valentines Day. I'm glad we did! We were both blown away and everything about our experience was memorable. The restaurant is intimate and the service is impeccible. I had the duck with apple and cherbil salad.... beautiful presentation, my boyfriend had the filet and was reluctant to share! The prefix was very pricey but well worth it. Thank you Butter for making our evening so special!

5 Stars: long wait time.... (by scottgerber)

scottgerber — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

There were 5 of us with no reservation and we waited about an hour before we sat down. Service was attentive and food was pretty good too. The chef came out and send us complimentary desserts which was very thoughtful. I would go back if I didn't have to wait an hour for the meal!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Stars: Perfect Valentines (by sandyadunc)

sandyadunc — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Went for Valentines day. Five course menu. Everything was perfect, the food, the waitress, the mood. Did I mention the food! We'll be back!

5 Stars: Great party, Better food! (by dsellcpa)

dsellcpa — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

As a regular at ?Parkay,? Butter?s Monday night party, I?ve enjoyed the space and vibe for years. Monday night that all changed. I decided to take my date for dinner before the party. I don?t know why I didn?t eat there before. I let the waitress pick the wine. I?m not into wine, but she got us a pinot noir, and my date said it was excellent. I love lamb so I got the pasta with lamb sausage to start. Really good, curly pasta, and a creamy yellow sauce. I then had the Lamb Chop. Done medium rare. It?s hard to find a place that knows how to cook meat! It was just the way I like it. We split the raspberry donuts for dessert. There were three, and we fought over the last one. I split it cause I?m a gentleman. My date said her shrimp with eggplant was also cooked well. They were tender and not ?Rubbery.? I think it?s going to be a Monday night tradition from now on. My only regret was that I didn?t discover the food before.

5 Stars: Exceeded expectations (by elenapraskin4)

elenapraskin4 — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Butter during NY Restaurant Week, despite lukewarm reviews on the site. Was pleasantly surprised by the food and service - much better than expected! We had beet salad and goat cheese salad (OK) and butternut soup (great!) to start, grouper and duck for entrees (both excellent) and passion fruit flan (delicious) / apple crisp pie (only average) for dessert. The waiter was caring and helpful - we never felt snubbed, even though Restaurant Week service in other restaurants generally comes with an attitutde. Would recommend this restaurant to others.

3 Stars: Meh. (by ernski)

ernski — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I should make clear up front that my boyfriend and I have no interest in "scene," we're just looking for good food. Which wasn't at Butter. The food wasn't so much BAD as it was just PLAIN. I had a fish dish that involved bacon and even that lacked flavor. How can bacon lack flavor? I was bored, every dish was edible and well cooked... but there was no surprise, no diversity of flavor... nothing that said "here is something passionate."

On the plus side, I liked the atmosphere (even where we sat in the basement) and our waitress was overwhelmingly sweet and helpful.

5 Stars: Can't wait to go back! (by querrellemaitred)

querrellemaitred — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This place was great and the ostridge was tasty, but expensive. Best ostridge i've had in the city!

5 Stars: like butter baby... (by sophisticatedpalate79)

sophisticatedpalate79 — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The service was great, the food was excellent, and the dessert was ridiculously delicious! It was a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable meal. My table had calamri, two fish dishes (halibut and snapper), and two desserts - all of which were excellent. Very fresh. The space is beautiful... I felt like I was in an airy forest in the middle of the city.

5 Stars: Speechless.... (by cliftonmiamicafeteria)

cliftonmiamicafeteria — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Genuinely, I am left with so much to say. It's simply wonderful. Atmosphere, food, service; all amazing.. I was quite excited to go, despite my frustrations about Butter being closed on Sundays, went, and was subsequently perfect including the dessert!

5 Stars: What A Night (by sandrews10035)

sandrews10035 — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Let's get one thing straight, I?ve never been inspired to write a review. After our experience last night, I felt I needed to share. My co-workers and I work around the corner from butter, yet none of us had been. I?m so glad we did. First off, we were greeted by the most gracious host staff, who treated us like celebrities even though we didn?t have a reservation. We were given a comfy banquet upstairs that fit all five of us perfectly. After we ordered, we were greeted with a little spoon with a creamy risotto ball on it. A great way to start the meal. Our appetizers were perfectly portioned. The hands down favorite was the Lobster Roll. Big chunks of lobster, lightly dressed, atop a buttery freshly made roll. As you can tell, I?m a fish lover. My entree was the halibut. A perfectly cooked peice of fresh fish, over grilled asparagus with a light saffron sauce. My friend the carnivore raved about the steak. We ended the meal with a selection of their desserts. The best was a spin on apple crisp. A crispy oat cookie topped with caramelized apples and whipped cream. Served with a milk shake. A MILK SHAKE, that was so smart! Butter ends the meal in style, giving homemade butter rum chocolates. I wanted to buy a box! This was by far, the best meal I?ve have had this year. Anytime I work late, I will be stopping by. This place has it down from soup to nuts!

5 Stars: Twice in one week! (by bjohnson007)

bjohnson007 — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My husband and I went to butter last week for their restaurant week special. We were blown away by everything about it, from the attentive service, to the stunning decor, and of course the food. Normally restaurant week meals are small and not impressive. Not so here. My shrimp appitizer was delightful with a tasty sauce with a hint of nuts. The beef short ribs were perfect for the cold weather. I topped the meal off with a warm apple crisp, that put my mother to shame. We were so thrilled with our meals that, when we had out of town friends in last night, we knew right where to go. Once again butter delivered. Some of the high points, the wine list, the tuna, and the carrot cake. I think we found our new favorite place! My only warning is, this is a true dining experience, if you're looking for a quick bite, look somewhere else. If you're looking for an evening of fantastic food and great service, look no further.

4 Stars: I will be honest (by wedineout)

wedineout — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Out of sheer curiousity I came to butter-
The decor is well done but the bathrooms were broken down
and ratty. A surprise for the price you pay for a meal.
I was ignored by the front desk So i made my way to the
Bar upstairs and was glad i did.
Being a weekend night i was surprised at how attentive- warm-
and charming my dinner at the busy bar was.
The food was.... good- but not great.
What will make me return and tell a friend was
the bartender- that made me feel I can sit there- eat, drink, talk-
and not feel rushed or ignored.
I admit- a nice surprise.

5 Stars: Great Wine list, impeccable service (by joandevine88)

joandevine88 — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

There are so many wonderful things to say about this place. To begin, the atmosphere is breathtaking. We sat downstairs in a comfortable banquet for 3. The place is trendy, but doesn't try too hard. The food is outstanding, I had the braised short ribs which were well seasoned and filling. The wine list is very extensive, perfectly selected, and reasonably priced. The only con is that we had to wait 20 minutes for our table, but we had a few drinks and they have two cool bars.

5 Stars: Best Dining Experience in years... (by joewilliams67)

joewilliams67 — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We were referred to Butter by my daughter who raved about the place and ended up having the best dining experience we've had in a very long time. We were given a warm greating by the maitre'd and our server was so charming, and reccomended a fabulous red wine from Rozak Ranch. The display, portion size, and flavor of the Halibut were dynamic and wonderfully displayed, the best Halibut I have ever had. I found out the chef is from Daniel, and the pastry chef (go for the chocolate cake) is from Per Se, and Butter topped them both, with a casual elegance that I have never experienced anywhere else in the city. We will be back!!!

1 Stars: the waiter was very rude :( (by nc1029)

nc1029 — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I visited butter during resteraunt week. It's decor is beautiful, the food was descent, the shrimp appetizer was the only thing i ate as well as the teaspoon sized apple crisp with a shot of milk. However, the service was undeniably horrible. I suppose the waiter thought he was too good in his over 6 foot frame to serve us. He barely spoke to us nor did he smile. The only time he repeatedly came (approximately every 20 seconds) was when he gave us the check. When we finally had our money ready, he took it from my friend's hand and left without a good night or thanks for coming. Too bad tip was included in the check because for the first time in my entire life i was ready to not leave a tip. Or i just wish i could have given the money to the deserving bus boys, they were sweet and helpful.

3 Stars: Solid NY Dining at its Finest!!! (by helfer123456789)

helfer123456789 — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I had to come home and write this review because I haven't had such a great meal in years. I was especially pleased with the cavatappi appetizer. I know that sausage in general can overpower a dish, but this cavatappi was the perfect blend. The sauce was light yet tasty, and the LAMB sausage was the perfect meat to blend into the pasta. I then ordered the duck, which I almost never eat. However, I felt like I was eating filet mignot showered with cherry demi glace, cooked perfectly. We also sprung for the beef carpaccio appetizer, which melted in my mouth.

To add to my great mood, upon my request the chef/sommelier Alex recommended the Selby Pinot Noir which matched perfectly with the duck and cherry flavors. The meal was topped off with a delicious apple crisp appropriately accompanied by a simple yet satiating glass of milk. All in all, the decor and service rounded off a wonderful dining experience,

If you're looking for fresh ingredients matched with sprawling, earthy , and beautiful environs, this is the place to eat.

5 Stars: Great steak beautiful design (by jcly)

jcly — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I went to Butter last week for restaurant week and was surprised at how good the food was. I always read about it in the paper as being a "hotspot" and decided to fianally check it out with my girlfriend. Although i was disappointed that there werent any celebrities i was delightfully surprised at how good the food was and the service was great too. I highly recommend it. And the design was amazing to boot!

1 Stars: Not Good (by stanjo)

stanjo — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We had a reservation here on a Tuesday night and they made us wait an additional 20 minutes for a bad table downstairs which is the equivalent of a loud bad lounge. If they walk you down there refuse the table. The attitude up front is as if the place is Per Se when it is just a wannabe 'me-too' attempt at a trendy restaurant. The food was fine but the non-kitchen staff are really doing the chefs and owners a disservice.

1 Stars: Service and attitude are a big turn-off... (by cynthiakay)

cynthiakay — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My experience was during the Summer 2006 Restaurant Week. The food was very good but the service was terrible -- up to 20 minutes to get acknowledged, and long waits between courses. No one ever asked if I wanted a drink or coffee. And the temperature was freezing! The worst part was an automatic 20% tip policy. I sent my comments to the restaurant through its website, and in a letter to the general manager. Consistent with their past behavior, they never acknowledged me and my comments. I will never go back.

3 Stars: Avoid monday nights! (by shabu)

shabu — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This Place needs to get a grip. Me and my wonderful boyfriend waited in line to get in on Monday for a damn drink but unfortunately we could not because of the doorman who turned out to be a scumbag. He was letting mainly guys in which was pretty pathetic. I am really mad because this has been my first experience not getting in a New York bar.

New York City is one of the most beautiful and friendly places where people like the doorman(Matt) should not be working in such environment. Making a couple wait for 2 hours in the cold was ridiculous. I know we should have left after 20 minutes of waiting but I wanted to see how long this guy would make us wait. I have complained to the corporate office but unfortunately they were not able to help me. I recommend people Please Avoid this place as I had a horrible experience with this unfriendly location!

4 Stars: Average Food, but Atmosphere & Ambience Make up for it (by ahazelrigg)

ahazelrigg — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The restaurant is absolutely beautiful - wonderful atmosphere and just an overal cool environment. The food was very average, but there was one thing that made the entire dinner worthwhile - The RASBERRY BEIGNETS!!! Wow, our entire table went nuts for these and ordered another round - probably one of the most amazing tasting things I've ever put in my mouth. I would go back if only for those! If you are looking for an amazing culinary experience, this is not the restaurant, but if you're looking for a cool restaurant with a great atmosphere and one of the best deserts ever - this is it.

1 Stars: Not worth the price (by honestk)

honestk — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Butter was a highly anticipated night for me and my boyfriend on his birthday. Much to our delight the Ambiance was pure bliss, the host and waitress were both very nice, but not helpful when pairing the wine with the meals we ordered. In the end my anticipation turned to disappointment. We ended up overpaying for over cooked Venison and unimpressive sides. Dont waste a big night out on a place that wont please you in the end.

5 Stars: WE HAD SQUASH SOUP W/SIDE OF POPCORN ON THANKSGIVING EVE. IT WAS AWESOME!!! (by ctonkovich)

ctonkovich — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

BUTTER WAS AWESOME. THE DECOR IS UNIQUE AND THE SERVICE WAS IMPECCABLE. THE FOOD WAS GREAT AND I WOULD DEFINITELY HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT.

3 Stars: Great place for people watching. (by envymeny)

envymeny — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

A fun, hip place. I wasn't too crazy about the food. Had the pasta and chicken pie as an appetizer and thought it was just okay. For entree I had their grilled halibut, and I tried my friend's lamb. Both were good, but not amazing. I can't remember what I had for dessert but it was something chocolate-like. Not sure if I would go back for the food.

2 Stars: Why is this place so trendy now? (by anon45)

anon45 — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I ate here years ago when it opened and barely remember it. The food was mediocre and the atmosphere was nice, but nothing to write home about. I have been shocked recently to keep hearing that it is now a celebrity hotspot. My experience was that it was a nice, passable restaurant that I wouldn't go back to (too many others in NYC I like better.)

4 Stars: Good ostrich (by farrell_79)

farrell_79 — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

If you can spend a little extra this place really has it all.. From the decour to the food its really a top nich place.. I urge you to try the grilled ostrich its out of this world..!

5 Stars: Delicious! (by nutbut303)

nutbut303 — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The food was delicious. I had the pate to start and the cod as my main course, both were amazing. I also had a sip of my friend's lobster bisque and it was incredible. We ordered two bottles of wine both complimented our food very well. Gratuity was included in the check and honestly for the great service and yummy food we would have paid just as much, perhaps more. I read some of the negative reviews and am amazed to see the ridiculous reasons for the bad reviews. If your party is late YES your table will not wait for you. If you go dine at a nice restaurant YES you will have to pay the price. HIGHLY recommended.

5 Stars: Great experience! (by taga)

taga — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

My girlfriends and I were visiting NY from out of town. We had heard a lot about Butter and decided to try it out. We sat downstairs and had a great waiter. He was very nice and attentive. They have a DJ downstairs playing music - which was nice because it was a Saturday night and we were going out after dinner. It just seems to keep the mood very upbeat and exciting. Our food was fabulous - everything we tried had such an amazing taste. The food is not too light or too heavy. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!

4 Stars: I've had Butter... (by umathurman)

umathurman — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Butter is a beautiful restaurant and is certainly worth a visit. The food is wonderful, ambiance is pretty and romantic and downstairs lounge is trendy for after dinner drinks or late night socializing. The only thing that was sub-par here was the service. Very attentive and knowledgeable at times, and then forgetful and absent at others. Try it for yourself- it was a nice experience but not the greatest dining I've had in New York.

5 Stars: Amazing!...(Long Review, but Worth the Read) (by mts21c)

mts21c — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I went to Butter this past weekend and truly had one of the best, if not the best ever, dining experiences of my life, and make no mistake; I am no stranger to dining. I have visited some of the greatest restaurants in the world--from Paris to Los Angeles, Milan to Chicago and in my very own New York.

I took a special guest to the restaurant on a Saturday night for a celebration, and we decided to partake of the chef's tasting menu. The waitress asked us about our likes and dislikes, as expected, but in a couple of moments Executive Chef Alex Guarnaschelli was at our table side, asking in person our likes, dislikes and preferences. We decided to let the chef take total control and also went with her suggested wine pairings to be served with each course.

What was supposed to be a 5 course tasting actually turned into 7 courses, and my guest and I each had a completely different dish for each course. Over the span of three hours, we had some amazing culinary experiences. I kept uttering, "divine, so innovative and genius." At points I had to close my eyes and completely savor the magnificent flavors being experienced, as did my guest.

After dinner, the chef returned to our table and we had a wonderful in-depth conversation. She was so happy that we found all of intricate hints and thoughts she had wanted to convey. She asked me to take her contact information so that the next time I visited, she could buy and prepare something special.

The staff was attentive, informed, fun and above all completely professional. We were never rushed and never treated poorly.

As for the blast of negative reviews, people are free to form their own opinions, but I would urge one to do so on their own accord, not by reading a review that may have been written by someone who was bent on having a bad time from the beginning of the evening.

5 Stars: Great Restaurant (by abeseg3)

abeseg3 — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I usually dine at Butter about three times a month and have to say, and I really enjoy it! The food is consistenly great, wine and atmosphere... everything.

5 Stars: I have a new favorite (by kathybos)

kathybos — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

We selected Butter for its location, not its reviews. We'd been to Gramercy Tavern the night before. Well, were we surprised to have our favorite meal, friendly service, absolutely beautiful surroundings ...a new favorite restaurant! The food was amazing. And we're foodies, so we have eaten in many of the world's finest restaurants. The wait staff was friendly and there when we needed them, but disappeared when we didn't. I will definitely put this at the top of the list when we return to NYC in July and again in October! This is a "not to be missed" experience!

5 Stars: My best anniversary was at butter, great service, amazing meal (by ryanhag)

ryanhag — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The attractive dinning room and kind, attentive maitre'd made a great first impression, but I fell in love at the first coarse. If it is on the menu (the waiter mentioned that the menu changes frequently to reflect what is fresh in the current market) you have to try the stuffed soft shell crab appitizer. For the main coarse my wife loved the halibit but I couldn't get away from my veal. The waitstaff was extreemly friendly; I couldnt be happier with the service. Ohhh and don't forget to try the butter marttini, it rocked! (I think thats what they called it, maybe the butterttini) It was a bit pricy but worth every cent.

4 Stars: Well worth the wait! (by idatule)

idatule — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Flew in for the weekend from Miami and was referred by the Soho Grand. Butter went above and beyond. We waited about 20 minutes because I wanted to sit upstairs in a more formal setting, it was our anniverary. The Maitre'd granted my request and asked us if we were happy with our table and indeed I was. We were showered with champange and a midcourse, and the filet with the maitre'd butter melted in my mouth. The server acted like she enjoyed working there and was very detail oriented. I have no complaints.

1 Stars: What a disappointment (by dmclaude)

dmclaude — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

It was the worst restaurant experience I have had in the last seven years of living in New York City. We were there 10 minutes early for our reservation. After waiting 45 minutes at the bar (during this time three other couples who came after us were seated) I complained and I was told that this was New York City and I should get used to it. " Have you ever been to Tao?" one of the maitre d' assistants asked me. Apparently they are aspiring to be like Tao by seating their reservations half an hour or more late. Needless to say we just left at that point.

2 Stars: There are alot better places in nyc (by alinoelle78)

alinoelle78 — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

So I decided to try this supposedly great spot for restaurant week. We sat down , decided to order from the ala carte menu since we didnt like anything on the price fixe (which ended up to be the same amount) ordered cesar salad and sea bass (which ended up tasting more like sea a**) cesar dressing was more like mustard dressing , they wouldnt give us any more bread - said they didnt have any more - it took them about 45 min to deliver us our salad- the waiter was nice and bought us a drink but seriously restaurant week or not if you cant keep up in nyc then dont be in the business. The sea bass came finally by an hr and a half later and it was exactly how i said- sea a**!! I never tasted more disgusting fish, it was very fishy - I only ate the sides and proceeded to complain to the waiter who was very nice and only charged us for the drinks we had- but i def dont recommend eating there- the service and food wasnt that great - there are so many other great places in this city =def dont need to go there

2 Stars: Not worth the hype (by biscuit6)

biscuit6 — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I definitely will not be returning to Butter. First, my seven girlfriends and I had to squeeze into a booth intended for 6 - we were so squished our plates touched, our legs touched and our purses were our backrests. Into our appetizer, an adjacent table became available, and we asked if we could use it, but the waiter said it most likely was being used. Weird how the table was empty for the next hour and a half.

Food was good, but the dishes never came out at the same time, and each time we had to remind the waiter we were missing someone's entree, dessert, etc. During our meal, we looked like T-Rexes trying to cut our food with our elbows pinned to our sides.

One of my friends complained to the host after the meal who offered a round of drinks, which was nice, but we had complained to the hostess who had seated 8 girls in a 6 person booth and our waiter and no one came up with a resolution until then? (Btw, we had these reservations for two months).

I can't help but think if my last name was Lohan if I would have had a different experience.

3 Stars: Over rated (by dc008)

dc008 — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Read the reviews about butter before I went there but I decided to go anyway despite the recent mixed reviews. The food was pricey and was mediocre at best. I went with a friend who went to butter in january and absolutely loved it. She changed her mind and said that this was the last time that she would go there. Aparently they changed their menu, possibly a new chef, and the new menu not only was small but the food wasn't nearly as good as it used to be. The restaurant is nice UPSTAIRS, the downstairs isn't that nice so a word of advice when making reservations request a table upstairs. Be prepared to spend alot of money for mediocre food and then kicked out of the bar after dinner. Oh yeah, the bartender somehow lost my credit card and a half an hour later they brought it to my table. I would pass on butter, heard it used to be great but it seems like it is over it's hayday.

4 Stars: The Maitre'd Rocks!!! (by lele22)

lele22 — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

It was my anniversary and first time to Butter and despite the mixed reviews I gave it a try. Not only is Aaron georgeous and dressed to perfection, he knew how important the night was for us and gave a selection of tables on two different floors. "No" was never an option for Aaron. He gave us the whole nine... champagne, midcourse, and anniversary dessert and checked on us frequently in an non obtrusive way. All that and a wonderful wine list for 60 bucks a person exceeded my expectations and made Butter one of my fav's in NYC.

4 Stars: Boo! (by xenkotlc)

xenkotlc — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

We paid over $300 for a meal, just to be rushed through the end of it and asked to please leave b/c they needed to turn over our table. Not recommended if you want a nice liesurely night of dinner and drinking with friends (unless you a huge group of women who are squealing, screaming and doing shots, you're more than welcome, apparently) It was dissappointing. But the food was amazing.

5 Stars: What a nice surprise! (by bromo33333)

bromo33333 — Mon, 29 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

We went to the restaurant despite the mixed reviews we had read, and what a nice surprise! The wait staff was very friendly, the service was prompt and the food was really excellent. We ordered cocktails, and they were done very well - not surprising given the reputation, but still nice. The food was great - and one person in our party ordered the steak - which nearly melted in his mouth (this guy is picky). There were a couple of celebs when we were there, but it wasn't a big hoopla which was very nice. The upper floor is much better than the lower for dining (we were on the upper floor). It got a bit loud and echoey, but not too intrusive. Its location is a little out of the way (near NYU)

5 Stars: avoid the celebs, go for the food (by doright)

doright — Thu, 18 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Most people know butter as a trendy nightclub, but if you avoid monday nights you can experience it for what it really is...a great restaurant. Yeah, it's a little pricey, but i've been there a number of times and had a great dinner and good service. Any fish that the chef cooks is bound to be good, our halibut was amazing. the sides are fun and satisfying (mac and cheese with truffles, crispy artichokes) and they have a nice wine list. And whatever you do, don't skip dessert. Last time my husband and i want to butter we had the chocolate semifreddo and couldn't have been happier.
if you can get a reservation and avoid all the US weekly celeb b.s. this really is a great reaturant.

2 Stars: Worst bar ever (by uwsfls)

uwsfls — Mon, 15 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

We showed up here late one night. The usual throng of wannabes was crowded around the entrance, but despite the fact we were almost too drunk to function, we waltzed right in. Once inside, the decor is nice, but the bar/lounge itself was horrible. We were bored senseless, and after one drink we took off.

1 Stars: My Worst Dining Experience (by colbyruns)

colbyruns — Wed, 03 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

If I didn't know better I would think we must have smelled like an old fish and looked like hobos b/c this is my worst dining experience yet. We left so aggravated after the Hostess who was dressed like a real tart was rude and condescending. The Server took the order and disappeared for the entire rest of the night until we had to stop him b/c the bus boy knocked over our entire bottle of red wine soaking the white table cloth, the seats and our business suits. We sat soaked in red wine for 20 minutes eating our meals w/o the wine b/c & the server saw us like that but did nothing until we stopped him. The food was mediocre at best.

3 Stars: OK but nothing special (by wrascal)

wrascal — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I brought a group of 14 there for dinner. SERVICE: Staff was polite & pleasant, but service was sporadic and slow. They forgot to ask some of us about drinks, and only served 1/2 of the group. However, they were quick to correct, when we pointed it out. FOOD: Helping was small, hypical of this type of restaurant. Quality was average. Seems to be a place for the "Sex in the City" wannabes. Noisy.

5 Stars: Outstanding (by nicki789)

nicki789 — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

our experience at Butter was outstanding. The ambiance was fabulous, the waitstaff impecable and the food was teriffic. You must try the Butter Tini... amazing. This is a trendy place, and a great restaurant to spot some celebs. Make sure to make reservations otherwise foreget it. Overall I give this restaurant two thumbs up :)

1 Stars: Mediocrity (by restaurantsnob)

restaurantsnob — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I experienced mediocre, unimaginative food (to put it kindly) and a waiter that annoyed us, provided sub-par service and was tipped accordingly. He then accosted us at the door about the tip we left consistent with his service!
While the decor is alluring (if you don't mind sitting inside a hall shaped like a canned ham), the restaurant is quite loud. I sat in the center of the restaurant and could hear the people sitting next to me better than I could hear my date. To me, the music was incongruent with the atmosphere - who wants to hear tinny-sounding Motown peppered with commercials at a purportedly "hip" eatery... it sounded more like a midwestern family restaurant.
Maybe the glitterati types are privy to a different caliber of food and service at Butter, but for us average folk, it's strictly Amateur Hour.

1 Stars: DO NOT EAT HERE (by avacanti)

avacanti — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

After waiting over 30 minutes for our reservation (when they said it would be 10) I found bread plates with leftover butter still on it and lipstick on my glass. We were totally ignored by the waitstaff and finally left. The restaurant looks cool, but the way we were treated was appalling. Take your business elsewhere.

5 Stars: Give me some more of that butta! (by erinbear55)

erinbear55 — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I have been here 3 times, and every time has been amazing. The food is superb, the desserts are out of this world (the chocolate cake was to die for). I suggested this place for a bridal shower, and now all the girls know me as the one with great taste and come to me for restaurant suggestions. The service is great, they give you time to enjoy your food, and there is no rush. They leave you alone, but are immediately available when you need anything. The decor is also beautiful.

5 Stars: Incredible (by ashadukata)

ashadukata — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

A girfriend and I went to Butter despite mixed reviews for restaurant week. The food tasty - atmosphere incredible.

5 Stars: Finally a place that lives up to the hype (by mrnewyork)

mrnewyork — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Expensive drinks? check. but they are balanced by the very friendly priced menu.
Good looking people? check. including most of the staff.
Great food? check. not everything...but most things..wow
Solid service? check. well at least plentiful and attitude-free
Butternut squash soup was spot-on yummy. genius. It's worth going here just to see the amazing space and try this soup. Halibut was also outrageous. Veal the portion size..OMG! The hyped kobe empandas were "good" and the pasta so-so. rapsberry biegnets another OMG! 4 of us, just under $200 with tip, and then drinks downstairs in the breathtaking (but hot) lounge. Our waiter was cute & vivacious and all in all a good experience in noho, a wasteland of attitude and poor food.

5 Stars: I would definetely go back! (by gmmas)

gmmas — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

It's clear the food is prepared with quality ingredients at Butter. Last week was my first visit, and I'd love to go back. The prices were reasonable, the service was knowlegeable and friendly, the atmosphere is hip, we walked in and didn't have to wait that long for a table, and the food was great. Have the beef carpaccio--excellent! The calamari was delicious, too. My dining companions had steak and the veal and enjoyed both thoroughly. My cavatappi pasta was well prepared--thank god no mushy pasta--but I would've liked a little more pancetta in the dish. This restaurant is busy, and for a reason that goes beyond hype!

5 Stars: Butter is hot (by jchefconcierge)

jchefconcierge — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

This is one of my favorite restaurants. First of all, there is lots of eye candy: the staff & clientele. The drinks are delicious. The menu changes each season. The food is contemporary American & always inventive, sophisticated & fun. Save room for the raspberry beignets at the end. They also have a hot club on the weekends.

5 Stars: Fantastic! (by fjnight)

fjnight — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Butter has really come along way. I would say it's restaurant and food is at par with its club and lounge, which was not the case when we went there 3 years ago. My husband and I went here for our anniversary and everything was perfect. From the moment we walked in the door the staff were fantastic, really friendly and accomodating. I couldn't choose between sitting upstair or downstairs so they told us to have a look around and let them know when we had decided. We choose to sit in the main level dining room. Our waitress was really good, she went out of her way to research some wine for us. The food was fantastic, I had the duck and it just melted in my mouth. Strawberry shortcake for dessert was just out of this world. I've recommended this place to lots of people.

5 Stars: Great Restaurant (by juliacohen)

juliacohen — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Butter for restaurant week and it was amazing from the beginning when we walked through the door. The atmosphere is great. There is a club downstairs so if you are there late, then you can hang out at the bar upstairs and hear the music from downstairs. Food and service were both fabulous. I highly reccommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone.

5 Stars: I swear, this place is addictive... (by jeffcameron)

jeffcameron — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Every time we go to Butter, whether it's for their incomparable lunch or the genuinely fun and elegant dinner service, we have an outstanding time. To me this is the epitome of a New York restaurant: artistic food ingredients and presentation; a young, very attractive, and knowledgable staff; great downtown location; intelligent and well-maintained design of the space; stylish fellow diners; and an all-around good vibe every time I walk in the joint...a must-go...I know I can't get enough!

5 Stars: Fun Stuff! (by tiffylondon)

tiffylondon — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Having only 2 nights left during our trip to NYC from London and after a tremendous disappointment at the Rainbow Grill the night before a friend suggested we check out the Butter... What a nice surprise. The food was great and service very attentive. The lobster salad for starter was the best I have ever tasted! The warm chocolate cake for dessert - simply heavenly. The dessert wine suggested by the waiter - absolutely spot on, and because we are from London we don't usually tip but I made sure to give him a couple extra dollars. After dinner we were lucky to get downstairs for some more really great cocktails and dancing. The owners were amongst the guests and we felt really taken care of. It was like a great therapy session we needed.

5 Stars: Delicious-Great Service,Ambience (by tmousewins)

tmousewins — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

My experience was awesome! 1st of all, the ambience is pretty damn cool with the trees. I have absolutely no complaints about the service. And I went during restaurant week--while other places this week have treated me like an unwelcome step child and treated me funny for ordering from the rest week menu, butter did not. The Food: AMAZING!! App:arugula salad with warm goat chees, butter croutons, glazed pears. Entree:Gnocci w/pesto, shaved parmesean, portobello mushrooms Dessert:Warm chocolate cake with ice cream. :) And the butterscotch martinie is delicious!!!

1 Stars: Worst dining experience in NYC (by nycgurl055)

nycgurl055 — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Don't waste your time. This place is genuinely terrible. I read the CitySearch reviews and thought, "there is no way it can be THAT bad." But, it was!!

I am disguisted at the level of service, the quality of food, the management and the wait time. I just cannot wait until this place goes out of business.

1 Stars: Believe the reviews!!! This place is AWFUL (by crediblecriticny)

crediblecriticny — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Honestly - if you think you can get away with making someone wait to be served for 2 hours after being seated, bring them the wrong meal on the first try, put personal blame on them for taking a few minutes to decide on the order, then slap a 20 percent gratuity on to the final, un-altered, bill - YOU ARE NUTS! This place is by far the WORST NY RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE ever. After all the drama with our experience, the manager proceeded to tell us there was nothing he could do. This place won't last...so don't waste your time.

1 Stars: Horrible Horrible Horrible... (by margie10977)

margie10977 — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 09:00:00 GMT

BEWARE: 1/2 of our party was 20 minutes late - stuck in traffic - while the other 2 were there. Mind you, we made the reservation 3 weeks in advance. We watched as they gave away our table - and they told us that it would only be 15 minutes until the next table. The rest of our party showed up and they refused to seat us, and proceeded in giving away the next table to a party of 4 that just walked in- no reservation - as the 4 of us looked on with disbelief. Then he said, "sorry - you should have been on time, it will probably be another hour!!!" Long story short... we left and had a great meal elsewhere, but I can assure you, I will never eat at Butter. The staff was just RUDE. Don't waste your money on this one!!!

4 Stars: DON'T GO HERE FOR AN ANNIVERSARY !!! (by budfox)

budfox — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Me and my girlfriend had heard so much about this relatively new and hot spot in NYC. We figured it would be a great place to celabrate our 2 years of happiness together. From the moment we arrived the service from the front was below average. We had to ask to have our jackets taken. We then went to the bar for a drink while our table was being set. It took the bartender a good 5-10 minutes to notice us. FYI-It wasn't even that busy either !! We finially get sat and the hostess who sat us. Gives us the worst seat in the house. Thereafter the night was good. Our server was helpful and attentive. The food was terrific. Overall the experience was a good one. However I would be a little more demanding of the staff and Maitre'D if I was to return to celabrate an occasion.

2 Stars: Disappointing!!!! (by softynk)

softynk — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I had heard soooooo much about this place so we decided to go for dinner last friday. As we were running late (stuck in traffic) called the resturant to inform them and they made us wait for an hour! 1 hour for being 10 minutes late!! When we finally got the food, it was bad. There was sand in the clam chowder, had to return it. The spinach was soooooo salty, had to return that too. Overall a bad expereince, not going back for sure. There are plenty of great places to go to in this city.

1 Stars: User review by nazee14 (by nazee14)

nazee14 — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 09:00:00 GMT

We heard many great things about this place and decided to give it a try. We had reservations and got seated right away in the down stairs room. The room is nicely decorated however, it is simply just too dark in there for dinner. Our waiter was extremely rude, and not attentive at all. The food was aweful, I ordered duck and because it was so dark in there, I put a piece of fat in my mouth. Not sure why there is a big chunk of fat in there in the first place. The waiter rushed us through the last half of our dinner because they were turning the room into a dance floor. I would never go back to Butter again. Way over-rated

5 Stars: Butter (by sousakelly)

sousakelly — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 09:00:00 GMT

My experience dining at Butter was a very pleasant one. My husband & I were wise enough to call and make a reservation beforehand. Anyone who lives in this city should know this. The service was beyond excellent, and the food was amazing. The lower level was a little tight for me...but that's not my scene anyways. Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Butter. One thing I have learned from my dining experiences....if you want great service, try smiling to you're waitor. You're guaranteed a "fine, dining experience"

5 Stars: Frequent Customer of Butter since it opened! (by stacyklein)

stacyklein — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I just read the previous review and completely disagree. The downstairs is unlike anything else I have experienced in this city. It does feel like a lounge, but that's what I want on a Friday or Saturday night with my friends. I have dined at butter since it opened in 2001 and the food, ambience, and service have been nothing but stellar. Good times at Butter!

4 Stars: User review by lindseynagel (by lindseynagel)

lindseynagel — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I think my expectations were a little too high when I walked into Butter. We had a fairly large party and I felt as if we were being rushed by our waiter. We also had reservations, but had to wait around at the bar for about 15 minutes before being seated. The food was pretty good, but I would have preferred to sit upstairs. I think the downstairs area is better if you're just going for drinks... I felt like I was in a dungeon.

5 Stars: Butter is Better! (by alexy567)

alexy567 — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 09:00:00 GMT

There were 10 of us last Saturday for my bachlorette party and the Butter Staff went above and beyond to make sure we had a great evening. Service was excellent, the halibut was to die for, and the DJ downstairs had a great vibe. At the end of the night we had drinks in the lounge and the maitre'd called us in to another club (Hiro). Had a blast at Hiro and no wait! The line was all the way down the street. No restaurant compares to Butter, they have connections and really made our night!

1 Stars: Stay away!!! (by blckscream)

blckscream — Tue, 09 Aug 2005 09:00:00 GMT

We waited over 45 minutes for two people during an off time -- when we were seated we saw tons of open tables and they still made us wait! The food, which took forever!! was nothing to brag about. The waiters were clueless and SLOW!!!! We should have walked out, but we were hungry. Would not recommend and would NEVER go back.

5 Stars: Better than expected (by tommyc55)

tommyc55 — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I took my family to Butter early on a Monday night and the hostess sat us in nice booth in the upstairs great room. They were suprisingly very accomodating with my two girls under the age of 8. The server was very attentive and the halibut was cooked more than I wanted so they brought out a new one and took it off the bill completely. Great place, I will be back.

5 Stars: Wonderful experience (by atdickens)

atdickens — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I will admit I had my doubts after reading mixed reviews, and after were an hour late for my husband's birthday dinner Butter was more than accomodating. We were stuck in traffic and when I called the reservationist she said it would be no problem, and sure enough we were sat right away. I was taken back buy the space, our server courtney was so accomodating, and the food was wonderful. I mentioned it was my husband's birthday, and we were sent a complimentary dessert with candles and the whole 9 yards. Great Place, and next time I will be on time, I promise!!

2 Stars: Overrated and Over Priced!!!!!!!!!! (by andrea726)

andrea726 — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Overall, my impression of Butter was that the best part of the meal was actually the bread and butter. So the name gets and an A+. However, the overall food, decor and experience is just average. A local bar serves better drinks and the service is much friendlier! Not to mention they dont require a 20% tip! The apps and entrees were nothing spectacular and the dessert could have been delivered from Dunkin Donuts. Hopefully Butter does a better job impressing other patrons, cause Ill surely NEVER return! In my opinion, this once critically acclaimed restaurant is turning to margarine.

1 Stars: no (by meyogore)

meyogore — Sun, 03 Jul 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I really wanted this place to be good. Alas, it was not. I went with 3 other people and tried everyone's food so I got a sense of what it was all about. Everything tasted like I had burnt my tongue and couldn't taste anything. Fish was overcooked. Meat was blah. Water was delicious but scarce. What's going on? Why was the restaurant full? I think the crowd wanted to be there because they heard the Olsen Twins ate there once. The waiter was friendly but an idiot. This was like being in some terrible movie about snotty people with no taste. This was the restaurant equivilant of Cats.

2 Stars: Atmosphere is all you're paying for (by stella05)

stella05 — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 09:00:00 GMT

If you want to impress someone from out of town with a trendy restaurant than this is the place - but only by appearances and not by food quality or service. High marks for atmosphere but a ZERO for service. I went for restaurant week June 2005. We were promptly seated but waited 25 minutes to get the waiter to come back around and take our order. Drinks were ordered and those came 20 minutes later. Food was salty and mediocre. I waited 15 minutes for the waiter to take the bill from me and finally I got fed up with him walking past our table I had to start waving the bill in the air and finally some other waitress took our bill. I guess the automatic 20% added service for every party size is a license for waiters to let patrons wait when it's convenient for the waiters!

1 Stars: Butter: NOT WORTH THE FUSS (by bettylou45)

bettylou45 — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I am not one to complain, but I was so frustrated by my experience here that I thought I had to warn others. The dining room was beautiful but that was about the only good thing. The worst part was the horrible service and snobby attitudes. I went here for a business lunch. Our waiter was not attentive, we waited about 20 mins just to order drinks. We decided to do a 3 course meal. The first course was fine, second course was cold and we waited over 30 mins for desserts that never came. I tried to voice my frustration with the wait staff, but they seemed to care less about what had happened. No one appologized and I was completly embarassed by the service since I had taken a business client with me. I will never, ever return to this place again and I wouldn't reccomend it

1 Stars: Butter Is Not Better (by sro798)

sro798 — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I wish I had listened to the reviewers, they were right. Butter has a nice scene, but in my eyes, food and service should always trump scene. We went during June 05 Restaurant Week. Waiter couldn't have cared less what we ordered. Entrees - Mahi-Mahi was flavorless. Short ribs had a crock-pot like quality. Appetizers - mushroom soup was good but all cream, if you like that sort of thing. Carpaccio was just ok. My main "beef" with this place was the aloof, too-cool-to-serve-us waiter and the 20% automatic tip that he didn't deserve. I won't ever go back.

1 Stars: hahaha (by 1newyorkguy)

1newyorkguy — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

um no. just because you think you're cool doesn't actually make you cool.

1 Stars: Pathetic (by jennyanne623)

jennyanne623 — Sun, 26 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Seriously, don't waist you time or money.... After all the hype, we had to eat at Butter, but it plain out stunk. It was bright and cold in the dining room and the service was terrible. They sat us in the middle of the room under a gust of air from the vent. When we asked to move to an open booth, they told us that it was reserved for a bigger party. Needless to say we were pissed when a party was sat with the same number of people as us. The food.... ok. However, the portions are small and overpriced. I had the filet, which consisted of a hunk of beef on a plate. Definitely nothing fancy. That and one drink put me at $51. After planinnig to stay the night after dinner down in the lounge, you couldn't get us out of there fast enough.

4 Stars: A Surprise Ending (by stilastar)

stilastar — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Butter this week for the first time. The space is really interesting and the food was wonderful. We got the bill and saw we were charged a 20% service fee. We thought that was a little bizarre because that's usually added for groups of 6 or more people and there were just 2 of us. We asked the waiter if this was correct and he said yes. I don't recall that being mentioned on the menu and it's the first time we ever had that for a party of two people, and we eat out a lot. I don't recall it being mentioned on the menu, and I wish it had. We wouldn't have gotten up to leave, but it's something I like to keep in mind. Other then that it was a great experience. Oh, get the peach and lychee martini. They definitely don't water down drinks!

3 Stars: Not Impressed (by freethetree)

freethetree — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Personaly I found the decor quite cheesy, the "wood paneling" surrounding the dining room is plastic wall paper wrinkling at the seams. Anyway this is not terribly important as I went for the food but it was hit and miss. The "Kobe" (fake) Beef Empanadas were not bad, the crust was soft and the interior nicely spiced and creamy. The entree of Pan Seared Cod though was very bland, considering the cut of fish was only average they could have made it more interesting. The highlight of the meal was the Chocolate Grand Marnier Cake, it wasn't the best but considering the mediocrity of the previous servings I was pleasantly surprised with the richness. I would have returned to try other menu choices but the all around low quality service (I requested salt which arrived after I finished my appetizer) closed the book for me on this place.

5 Stars: Awsome! (by paymasterb)

paymasterb — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Me and my wife went to Butter while we were in NYC to celebrate our one year anniversary. It took us about 30 minutes after our reservation to be seated, but we sat at the bar and had a very stiff drink with the bartender. We then were seateed and started out with a very nice Romaine Salad with an assorted bread basket which you get with all meals. We then both had the Grilled Prime New York Strip Steak, which was a very nice piece of meat well cooked with Fingerling Fries, Caramelized Onions and a Béarnaise Sauce. We ordered a bottle of champagne and ended our dinner with the Caramel Profiteroles. Our waitress had the chef write Happy Anniversary on our plate which was a nice touch. The service, food, and atmosphere was great and we ended our night by having a drink downstairs in the Birch Room.

2 Stars: very disappointed (by merryt24)

merryt24 — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

This is the worst meal I have had in NY since moving here a year ago...and I eat out ALOT. The decor is pretty and the atmosphere is nice in the dining room, but I have no idea what the hype is about downstairs (except for the sweet DJ set up). The meal was really awful. I got the halibut, which was undercooked, chewy, and smelled fishy. My boyfriend had the beef filet, which was decent, but boring. The service was atrocious (not rude, just non-existant and the restaurant wasnt even crowded). We were going to order another bottle of wine and some dessert, but we had already been sitting for too long, just trying to get more water, so we gave up, paid, and went home.

5 Stars: One of my favorites in NYC... (by nix)

nix — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I always enjoy Butter..whether it's meeting for dinner, a late night drink, or just to chill on a Monday night..Butter NEVER dissapoints...Not too mention, the space is phenomenal..a must see!

4 Stars: Start the night or stay the night (by eaglesjoer)

eaglesjoer — Sun, 17 Apr 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Ate there this Sat and had a decent experience. We had a 9:30 rez and were seated by 10:00 after a drink at the downstairs bar. The menu offered a nice selection of meats and the wine list was good but a bit overpriced for the offerings. We just picked from the app menu and my favorite was the scallops with tangerine. This place is filled with the beautiful and stylish and the downstairs room turns into a small dance club at around 12. Would recommend eating upstairs as it got a bit loud downstairs. Stay tuned for Scott's next installment on the NYC hipster scene when he opens club Home.

4 Stars: Great time (by catstar)

catstar — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I went to Butter with my family for my birthday dinner this weekend and everyone enjoyed the space, food, and service. I was worried due to all of the reviews I read but was happy when I found them to be off the mark. Butter is a fun place to go if you want a trendy scene and good food.

4 Stars: Not too bad! (by babyblue888)

babyblue888 — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I just went to Butter for Restaurant Week...it wasn't so bad. The food was a bit over salted and the decor is very trendy and great for people watching. Our waiter was pretty attentive (we were missing a fork and he brought it over right away.) I also noticed the table next to ours didn't enjoy her dish and they went above and beyond to try to make up for it. Not a bad experience considering the service standards these days!

1 Stars: Nice decor that's it (by geniebean)

geniebean — Mon, 20 Dec 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Gorgeous unique decor. But I really have to suspect the positive reviews here were written by owners/employees/friends of Butter, because I had dinner there last week with some serious foodies and none of us were impressed. My goats cheese tart was just that, goat cheese in a tart, nothing special. My vegetable risotto was burnt, and infused totally in a burnt flavor. Horrible. Here's the thing, you're in the best city in the world for restaurants. Go spend your money somewhere that really wows you. Just because P Diddy had a party at Butter doesn't mean we should be automatically impressed. Keep your standards high.

4 Stars: Food was much better then expected (by suee9999)

suee9999 — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 09:00:00 GMT

After reading all the negative reviews I was a bit hesitant about coming here, but I think the food is much better then the other folks gave them credit for. We had the scallop apetzier which was excellent. The scallops were plump and fresh. I had the duck which was served over mashed yams that were out of this world. We also shared the desert sampler and really enjoyed what I would describe as a warm jelly doughnut. I also had the key lime pie martini which was delicious. I would definitely give this restaurant a try and ignore all the negative reviews.

2 Stars: Horrible Customer Service (by anniec9)

anniec9 — Mon, 23 Aug 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Well, I must say that although this place came highly recommended, the customer service was beyond horrible. We went there to celebrate my friend's person. We had about 40 people present, yet management could not accommodate us. No music, limited bartending service, and a bad attitude all in one place on a Friday night. The lower level was closed and there was no ventilation. Lastly, we were unkindly told that it was time for us to leave at 1am on a Friday night...after they made money off of us. Management needs some work.

2 Stars: Terrible... (by eastcoastwestcoast)

eastcoastwestcoast — Thu, 12 Aug 2004 09:00:00 GMT

As would be expected from the owners' maxi-club backgrounds, this feels less like an upscale restaurant than just another dim-lit, over-priced, over-hyped club with a scary "door guy" and service staff complete with the look (and attitude) of super-models. I would reccomend spending your evening somewhere else, unless you are a fan of "the scene." Something tells me the scene is elsewhere.

4 Stars: Breathtaking Dining Area (by qtgurljny)

qtgurljny — Thu, 05 Aug 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Ask to be seated on the main dining floor. IT's the perfect atmosphere for dinner. Large round booths make it spacious for dining for 2-4. The food is pretty good, roast beef is a standout. Otherwise, everything else is just average. I would go there for top notch service and a great dining atmosphere. Otherwise, if you're looking for a ultra, ultra fine culinary experience, this is not the place. Check out the website for pic.

3 Stars: Good, but... (by andy82)

andy82 — Thu, 05 Aug 2004 09:00:00 GMT

It could be better. The atmosphere is nice and the drinks are good. The food is just ok, not really memorable and not what you expect for the price but I guess the atmosphere is what you pay for. Our waitress had a weird attitdue toward us, it was not really bad per se but somewhat uncomfortable.

3 Stars: Butter Melted... (by restaurantcritic2004)

restaurantcritic2004 — Wed, 28 Jul 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Butter has clearly opted for the quick buck attracting the most trendy, shallow clientele with their VELVET ROPES and surly staff. The space is fabulous but WELL-WORN, with peeling wallpaper, scuffed wood floors, torn banquettes, etc. My last visit, I was thoroughly "checked" by the bouncer before being admitted to the EMPTY dining room for my reservation. Once seated, the service was terrible, the food was average but not inspiring. The waiter kept pouring wine into glasses filled with water. Flatware was dropped on us. The food took forever & when it did come, I didn't have a fork to eat it with! SOMEONE must educate the staff on the fundamentals of service AT LEAST! Overall, we left our $600 bill (be aware that a 20% gratuity is added) with nothing more to think about than how we would have rather been at Joe's Pub... You'd be better off.

5 Stars: the food is inspired (by defiantshopgirl)

defiantshopgirl — Sat, 10 Jul 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Looking around the room, it was obvious that diners were initially there for the scene - but what becomes rapidly aparent is that the people in the kitchen are using the plates as canvass. The determined and unwaivering use of seasonal ingredients and the steadfast committment to high quality is what diners at butter come away with. Whether you are healing your soul with spare ribs cooked with love - or tasting the devine halibut, sturgeon or scallops... you can't go wrong. My reccomendation - don't miss the angel hair with caviar or the friend doughnuts. Enjoy an amazing evening at Butter.

5 Stars: What a Find! (by cjloft)

cjloft — Wed, 30 Jun 2004 09:00:00 GMT

The new chef at Butter has outdone herself. We went for NYC Restaurant Week and were so impressed with our lunch. The food was fabulous and service was wonderful. What a great deal for $20.12. And now that Restaurant Week is still over....the prix fixe continues for an amazing $25. Go! You'll love!

4 Stars: Good food but LOUD!! (by skippyhappy)

skippyhappy — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 09:00:00 GMT

I love the popcorn they serve at the bar, and I really enjoyed the food but boy, if I try to speak to anyone even a person next to me is not possible here. So Loud!!

1 Stars: B-utter disappointment (by joya)

joya — Sun, 15 Feb 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Butter is atrocious. I spent the entire 2.5 it took to get any kind of service being horribly embarassed that I brought my date there. The crowd was totally B&T, the waiter was completely unprofessional and inattentive, food mediocre. I had to ask twice for a wine list, the waiter gave SO much attitude for no reason, a terrible wine selection- nothing from South America or Australia and four pages of "new world" (read "california"). They were trying to pass themselves off as hip by giving the smallest servings possible for ridiculous sums of $. They fried olive tapenade like a tempura... WORST OF ALL WAS THE DJ. think biggie to kid rock to old school mariah to nirvana to bad trance. in that order. it totally killed the mood, more so than the peeling "cedar" wallpaper. ugly birch forest background ruined the ambience. NOT WORTH IT.

5 Stars: Better Than Ever! (by jd411)

jd411 — Mon, 05 Jan 2004 09:00:00 GMT

The review above should be updated...Butter recently acquired a new Executive Chef, Alexandra Guarnaschelli (formerly of Daniel) who has completely revamped their New American menu. I've been a fan of Butter since the beginning and can honestly say that my nights there are always a sure thing for a great time.

3 Stars: Just good, not excellent... (by mara_arm)

mara_arm — Mon, 06 Oct 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Somehow they had a mix-up with our dinner reservation, however got seated. The warm shrimp salad was excellent! Blackened mahi mahi sucked (too many various spices mixed together that did not go with the fish at all! yuck!). The NY steak was great. Very nice design and ambiance was very romantic. On the weekends it gets really crowded and loud.

5 Stars: Trendy/Tasty (by dgb2001)

dgb2001 — Wed, 23 Jul 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I was taken here as a gift, and I had never heard of this restaurant before. I sat in the downstairs area, and it seemed like a preety happening place by the bar on the upper level. Our table was preety small, but the food made up for the slight discomfort. The steak I had was out-of-this-world, definetly one of the best I've ever had, and the crepes I had for dessert were equally satisfying. Lots of eye-candy, and gorgeous waitresses. The room was preety dark, but an enitre wall was transparant, and it glowed red from the wine rack that lay behind it, which was a cool effect.

5 Stars: FABULOUS!! (by rochester)

rochester — Tue, 15 Jul 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Butter for the first time last Saturday. The decor was beautiful, as were the waiters and bar tenders. Service was superb, a plus ten!! I will be back for more for sure!!

4 Stars: soooooo good (by lyric06)

lyric06 — Sat, 12 Jul 2003 09:00:00 GMT

We went to Butter on a Saturday night, it was surprisingly empty. The hostesses were sooo friendly. Sit downstairs for the scene and the atmosphere. Very romantic and a great place to bring a date. It turns into a club/lounge at 10. We had the romaine salad which was awesome and the portion was big. They also brought us some samples from the kitchen of their special--polenta. I got the salmon, cooked perfectly and so tasty. My friend got the chicken which was also very good. Yes, it's a little pricey but worth every penny in our opinion. Everyone was soooo friendly, we'll be going back!

4 Stars: Monday's are cool (by Czar34)

Czar34 — Wed, 25 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Butter on Monday night for a friend's birthday dinner at like 11:00pm, the kitchen was supposedly closed, but we spoke to the manager and we were seated promptly. They had a Monday night party going on, with a nice mix of music, the waiter was awesome, the minute the wine glasses were low he would bring another!!. The crowd was really good looking and the decor is excellent. It was a bit expensive for 2 people, but we did have lots of drinks ( Drinks are very pricey) I would definitely recommend it, Mondays are pretty cool. Then go next door for Karoake night @ Pangea.

3 Stars: Not Like Buttah (by JohnDoe)

JohnDoe — Mon, 16 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I was quite unimpressed with Butter. The menu is boring and very unimaginitive, but we managed to find some things to order. What we did order was just average (my halibut was ok, though a bit dry and my friend's pork chop was ok, though a bit tough). Given the attitude and the prices, I expected more. One utter disappointment was the raspberry beignets. Someone please tell the pastry chef that Dunkin' Donuts jelly donuts can't be passed off as beignets.

The service, however, was superb!

The decor is very woodsy, which offended me to think that so many trees died to make chairs for the lounge (which were cut out tree stumps) and for the cavernous walls and ceiling. How ironic that there was a huge mural of a forest to admire at the back of the restaurant.

4 Stars: Birthday Surprise (by Nelo)

Nelo — Wed, 04 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

My friends took me for my birthday dinner and I was simply in awe by the ambience and design of a place behind a dull outer facade...The food and service was excellent...Definately worth checking out on a weekday to avoid weekend chaos.

2 Stars: A fatman's nightmare..... (by tiuml)

tiuml — Wed, 04 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

So much (expensive) for so little. The table ordered the tasting menu which was a 5 course meal. I swear we came out of the restaurant wondering if we could quickly stop by Cozy's for a burger before the show. My friend's boyfriend was not happy. Decor was really nice. Food not bad, really good sweetbread, better than the one at Babbo's.

4 Stars: Value A Concern (by Albert_Camus)

Albert_Camus — Thu, 06 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

As my divine date traversed the cavernous archway to greet me, her beauty was accentuated by the glorious wood finishes and perfectly lit hallway to the main dinig area. We were promptly seated. Our Aussie waiter was attentive and knowledgeable. Appetizers arrived promptly and met standards. The entree's were another matter. For the price and expectation, they were just ok. My date had the yellowfin, I had the Szechaun filet. The yellowfin was fine, just not spectacular. The filet was requested at medium and was a touch too sanguineous for my taste--but I forged ahead. There was a also a soupcon of an ingredient that just did not seem like it belonged in the dish.The wine list was significant, yet a tad overpriced. By the by, value would be the major concern here. My experienced dinner date thought that the food was an after thought to the scene.......

4 Stars: Good Food, Good Service (by nyc_girl)

nyc_girl — Tue, 04 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Made a reservation here last minute on a Wednesday night with no problem. Seated right away, friendly host and waiter and chicken entree and my friend's bass were both perfectly cooked and the sauces were delightful. Downside to this place is that the tables in the middle of the restaurant (where we were seated) were too close together and it can feel a bit invasive at times. Also, the restaurant is quite small so the noise level can get a bit loud. Would definitely go back for the food.

5 Stars: Buttah (by Sqwurrly)

Sqwurrly — Mon, 03 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Very nice. Very swank. My kind of place. Waitresses were awesome. Bartenders were hot. Nice decor. Good drinks.

1 Stars: BUTTER IS TERRIBLE!!!!! (by frank4450)

frank4450 — Sun, 16 Feb 2003 09:00:00 GMT

We waited an hour for a table even though we had a reservation; the maitre'd was snotty; the waiter was incompetent. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY OR TIME!

5 Stars: Butter Lover (by reddyornot)

reddyornot — Sat, 15 Feb 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I went to Butter on a Saturday night, party of eight, many out of towners, and we all had a wonderful time. Two levels of the restaurant appeal to two different moods. Upstairs is more for the serious diner with a calm ambience and downstairs is more of a scene, dimly lit, and more upbeat. If you have friends that you want to impress take them here. I highly recommend the snapper, sea scallops, and the peppered filet mignon. Make sure to show up on time for the reservation because they have many people to please. Great food and knowledgeable staff! And the kahlua bread pudding is to die for.

1 Stars: Butter Was Sour (by beherenow)

beherenow — Mon, 10 Feb 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The host was annoyingly condescending. I have a stressful job. The last thing I need is a host to give me attitude. Our waiter was completely MIA most of the night. After ordering a bottle of Dom Perignon I got up to use the facilities. Upon my return my glass of champagne and my napkin were missing. I kindly asked him to replace them. 10 minutes later he wasstill MIA. My belief is that if a bottle of champagne is going to cost me $500 after service charges, I believe it should poured for me and I should actually have a glass to drink it from.
If you are looking to try something new and have people actually tell you the specials, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! If you are looking to be treated rudely and get average food, by all means.

4 Stars: Great food despite all the hipsters who (by newyorkexpert)

newyorkexpert — Wed, 05 Feb 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Great food despite all the hipsters who look more like extras from TRL Live bouncing around the joint. -- Seriously, I was very impressed with the food all five times I've been there and I've been everywhere in the city. Clearly the chef has talent, but the front of the house is run like a wanna-be version of Bungalow 8. Or a low rent Bungalow 8 I should say. The result is that you might have to wait outside or in the lobby just to convince the door person that you in fact are there to give them your money for dinner.

5 Stars: Classy (by fitwork)

fitwork — Tue, 31 Dec 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I have visited Butter several times and with each time it gets better and better. The food, despite the editoral listed, is as exquisite as the atmosphere. I feel comfortable and welcomed at this new hot spot. I only wish more people didn't know it existed!

4 Stars: Sexy But very Smoky Dinner (by CuteReviewer)

CuteReviewer — Wed, 11 Dec 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Have been to Butter a few times and my opinion changes every time I visit. The best experience I have had was when I went with a large group of girlfriends and sat upstairs. I like the upper level better since it is smoke free and just nicer altogether. Good food though a limited menu. The skate is a wonderful dish and would reccomend to amy diners who have yet to visit. Downstairs is cool too since you can smoke at your table (which I do) However it gets very very smoky which isn't really pleasurable while eating and since it has become a hot spot to hang out at, It's a bit over crowded lately. Liked it better before anyone knew about it.

5 Stars: Great Experience (by sunflower01)

sunflower01 — Sun, 03 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Butter the other night after it was recommended by two friends and had a great time. We had reservations and were seated promptly--which is unusual in NYC. The staff was very nice and liked how we got the complimentary wine samle along with an h'orduerve. Great atmosphere as well--downstairs is a little loud, so do not recommed eating down there. I will defintely go back!

2 Stars: Obanxious service (by igor41)

igor41 — Fri, 01 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The service was really crappy - so we left a small tip.. little did I know, a few weeks later after receiving my credit card bill I noticed the waiter has written in an extra digit to the tip.. This is an outright fraud on top of the fact that the service has been very bad and the food mediocre for the money..

4 Stars: Fine dining (by changc05)

changc05 — Mon, 28 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Despite many unassuring reviews, I had a fabulous time at Butter. The food was excellent, the waitstaff was attentive and the service was quick. However, the appetizers were more tempting than the entrees. Definitely try the gnocchi with truffle sauce and the portabello salad. The wine list was extensive. The diners were mixed, but the bar goers were definitely dressed to impress. After dinner, it was only a short walk downstairs to the swanky, more dimly lit lounge. Altogether a very fine dining experience.

4 Stars: Buttery smooth (by jaja171)

jaja171 — Mon, 30 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The room is eyecatching - cylindrical, long, and paneled in cedar with a view of a forest at the far end. soft lighting and comfortable seating. The food although a little pricey is outstanding across the board - salads, the lamb, the bananas foster dessert - all superb.

5 Stars: Slide right into Butter (by luciacameron)

luciacameron — Fri, 27 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The space was quite beautiful. Feeling of being in a forest. Friendly service and good food.
Great for impressing and looking fabulous.

1 Stars: Oozing Mediocrity (by reillyp16)

reillyp16 — Fri, 20 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I will never understand why a staff finds it necessary to portray a haughty attitude when the substance of the venue (food, service, wine list, hostesses) are mediocre, unprofessional and bland. Our hostess was more concerned about the appearance of the banquets than wether we had the right menus. The wait staff has little knowlege of what is coming out of the kitchen except you need to eat quickly to make room for the club crowd expected later. It is too expensive for all this. They should be trying to entice customers back not act as though they are lucky to be there- this place will soon meet the same ending as its predessesor Belgo.

4 Stars: A great place if you're not hungry (by berson)

berson — Tue, 27 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

While the decor and atmosphere was really cool, and good for people watching, one would expect better food for this price level. Not that it was *bad* per-se, but rather unimpressive. The scallops appetizer was interesting and tasty, but they serve *two* scallops! I had the duck, which was slightly bland and uneventful; my fiancée had the sautéed skate, which was a better choice. Despite the negative reviews on this site, the service from the Maitre d', bartender, and our waitress was not a problem at all. In summary Butter is acceptable, not exceptional, and for this price range I expect to be impressed.

2 Stars: Over Butter!! (by EddyUpchurch)

EddyUpchurch — Tue, 20 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Have been twice and both times decent food, cool physical space has been massively overshadowed by a lame crowd and some even lamer service. Perfect spot if you are looking to log some time w/ a crowd of pretentious wannabe Hampton socialites coupled w/ a healthy dose of Bridge and Tunnel tradgedies.

4 Stars: MMM, Good (by Iceman4)

Iceman4 — Wed, 14 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

After reading the reviews for Butter, I had some reservation about trying it myself, but man was I surprised. It was awesome. Sure it reeks of Hamptons aristocracy, but that is why it is a 'beautiful people' place. I love the the vaulted ceiling upstairs and the cozy lounge downstairs. The staff was nice and I had a great waitress. The service was timely and the food well above par. Plus the eye candy was amazing. A group of 5 hotties frollicked to my left and a stunner sat at the bar with midrift showing. I was in heaven.

5 Stars: "SWEET" as Butter (by BLUECRAB7)

BLUECRAB7 — Tue, 13 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

"BUTTER" was just great, despite all the negative reviews. I went there on Aug 9, 2002, from the start I was impressed. First, by the prompt seating ( even though we had no reservations), the very pleasant staff and not to mention the very cozy decor. Our waiter was helpful and friendly. Food and wine from appetizer to dessert was great too!
For such a "styish " restaurant the portions were "right on the money". I loved everything and would recommend to everyone.

2 Stars: Beware! Melting Butter... (by nasa)

nasa — Fri, 26 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I have basically tried all the places in the east village, and Butter is mediocre in comparison. The food is fairly good, but everything is spoiled by the OVERALL experience. I recommend Industry (food) instead.

1 Stars: I cant believe its NOT butter (by veruka)

veruka — Fri, 26 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

screwed up our reservation had to sit 3 ladies at a table for two when we reserved a table for 4. The owner lied to me when i asked where our food was 1 hour after we placed the order - he said oh your friend said you were not ready for it. Basically it was so bad that we got them back and we dined and DASHED - thanks for the free meal BUTTA. I will say the food was good but hey when its free it always tastes better right?! he hehehe

1 Stars: Hey, Butter, you are not BOULEY! (by Trixietime)

Trixietime — Thu, 25 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I should have listened to all of the poor reviews on this website...but I had faith. For a new restaurant in a bad economy they sure have a boatload of unecessary attitude. The maitre 'd is particularly full of himself. I have been to almost every top restaurant in the city and I have never been treated with such snotty service. Go spend your money somewhere else.

1 Stars: Give Me Olive Oil (by Neli)

Neli — Wed, 24 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The service is absolutely terrible. I waited 45 minutes just to get a bottle of a wine placed at the table. The wait staff is incredibly inattentive and rude. We were immediately seated (the restaurant was no where close to being packed, surprise, surprise) There are very few selections on the menu and the food is not that great and the dining experience at Butter is completely overrated. You're better off walking down half a block and going to Serafina or across the street to the Time Cafe. I give this restaurant one year, one and a half maximum, before it shuts down.

1 Stars: "Butter Choose Another Restaurant" (by annapoet)

annapoet — Tue, 16 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I was looking forward to this dinner - the reviews were great, the venue looked amazing. But, alas, the service was TERRIBLE. The management the most ungracious in all of New York (and that takes some beating). We were hassled from the beginning. The booking was made for 8. We were asked to sit down at 7.55. We were then asked again at 8.05, and again at 8.10. Our last party member arrived at 8.11 and we were told to sit or else we would loose our table - there were 3 other people in the restaurant! We were also told that we would have to leave at 10pm (this was not mentioned at the time of making the booking!). We left at 10.15 with only a quarter of the restaurant full. NO SURPRISES THERE. And all this grief for a bill totalling more than $1,500!

1 Stars: Is it Butter or Margarine? (by eventz)

eventz — Fri, 12 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

It looks like Butter's architect designed a space that ultimately the owner's could not afford. The entrance is a bit unwelcoming, after you pass throught the glass doors you enter a cedar rich hallway and the woods at the entrance and downstairs are rich, but to my horror the main dining room is wallpapered in faux wood veneer making it look like a bad episode of trading spaces. The flowers also fake seemed to match only the bad wood wallpaper. Reservations were for 9:00pm,. we were sat at 10:30 then rushed through our dinner because "the kitchen is closing" menu is limited and overpriced $30.00 for chicken. The only saving grace were the desserts, which were excellent. The scene downstairs is exactly that a scene with a mixture of bridge and tunnel and east village meets holly go lightly. I give this place two years and that is being optomistic.

5 Stars: Better at Butter (by fse425)

fse425 — Mon, 01 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Went there with some friends on Sat. night. Our waitress was so friendly and helpful it set the stage for a great evening. Great atmosphere and vibe. Food was delicious - definitely try the tuna.

3 Stars: i was bitta at butta (by treetree516)

treetree516 — Thu, 20 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

we had an 8.30 ressie for my friend's bday party in the lively room downstairs. we were bumped so jay-z could have the table intended for us and were not seated until 10.30 (2-hour wait!) in the quiet room upstairs. the stuck-up host had the audacity to tell us the wait was due to him trying to give us the best table they have (puh-leese!) we didn't get bread til nearly an hour after we were seated and that was after we asked for it. we did not finish dining until 1.30. if not for the fabulous hot sauce and super delice spicey dijon mustard AND, of course, our lovely waiter (he looked just like pee wee herman and was ADORABLE!), the night would have been a bust for sure. needless to say, i am no longer buying jay-z CDs nor will i be dining at butter. i'm still bitta.....

4 Stars: Pleasant Experience (by asardinas)

asardinas — Fri, 14 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I've been to Butter one 2 seperate occasions and both times I was pleasantly surprised by the food and atmosphere. The staff was attentive. I was seated right away both times I've been. The food was superb. I particularly recommend the Black Bass w/ Fois gras and smoked ham.

2 Stars: Insist on "the Room" (by slowhand)

slowhand — Fri, 14 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The food was ok. It's all downhill from there. If you choose to go, insist that your table is up the stairs in "the room" otherwise you will be forgotten. If you are given a table in the entryway, do not politely ask to be moved, be rude. The table to my left and right were accomodated after bitching, I was not. The service was terrible, waiter did not poor the wine correctly, my water glass was never refilled even after asking. There was a half-hearted attempt to accomomdate my requests but it seemed I was being a terrible dinner guest. Place is awful.

1 Stars: Obnoxious Experience (by Downtowner)

Downtowner — Mon, 10 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I was very disappointed when I went to Butter this past weekend for dinner. The service was extremely snotty and there was tremendious attitude. We were not even given a wine list when we were seated. We had to ask for bread and BUTTER five times...we were finally given bread well after our entres had arrived. For the prices that they charge the service should be amicable. Although the food was tasty, it was not worth the aggrevation of this very unpleasurable dining experience.

5 Stars: lives up to the rep (by kcrew)

kcrew — Fri, 07 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

After a string of trendy new restaurant/lounges raised my hopes only to quickly deflate them (i.e., Smith, Suba, Chateau and Industry) Butter is finally the real deal we have all been waiting for. A great scene, fantastic food and friendly service. The street-level non-smoking room offers a breath of fresh air (smoking is allowed downstairs), and the room is gorgeous, with raised ceilings and a huge white stainedglass window providing an ethereal soft-sunlight ambience (even at midnight). Noone will get away with wearing all-black here. We arrived 30 minutes late, but were seated promptly by a smiling, friendly (and beautiful) hostess. When our food arrived a barely-noticeable 5-minutes late, we were given a free round of drinks and dessert -- such desire to please is unknown in NYC hospitality. Black-olive seared tuna w/ lemon risotto was memorable, I can't find anything to complain about -- even the bathrooms were immaculate.

5 Stars: Like Butta (by mjdick2)

mjdick2 — Tue, 04 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I really liked this restaurant. The entrance is a bit hidden from the street, though I was informed that it is not yet complete. I love the decor of this restaurant as well. Unfortunately, the high ceilings and bare walls make for a very noisy dining experience. A big plus is no smoking in the dining room.

I really enjoyed the service and food was excellent. Our server was extremely friendly and very knowledgeable. I expected a bit more pretentious staff from a restaurant that only hires gorgeous people.

I thought the food was excellent!! Definitely not a place to eat if you're a vegetarian. They serve up a killer dessert with raspberries and fromage blanc. Another plus, they serve food until 4am.

The birch room located downstairs is more of a bar lounge area. More cozy but have to talk over the loud music.

I highly recommend this restaurant.