Algonquin Hotel Round Table Restaurant Review New York City

Meet Me at the Round Table Restaurant

Walt and Shelley at the legendary Round Table Restaurant in New York City

Walt and I were invited for a lunch and art exhibit to the Marriot Property, The Algonquin Hotel, Times Square, which opened November 22, 1902. The hotel is the oldest and longest operating in the city and is located on historic Club Row, West 44th Street. The Round Table Restaurant, located in the dark oak paneled lobby of the Algonquin, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.  See my review of the “The Algonquin Hotel Celebrates The Tonys As Seen By Hirschfeld, NYC”

While dining at The Round Table Restaurant in NYC, Shelley and Walt share cocktails (the Matilda and the Dorothy Parker) while sitting at current “Round Table” in front of the famous “Vicious Circle Painting” by Natalie Ascencios.

Walt and I tried the famous “Matilda” and “Dorothy Parker” signature drinks of  The Round Table Restaurant. The “Matilida” is draws it’s name from the resident house cat named Matilda. There has been a house cat in residence at the Algonquin since 1920s, when then owner Frank Case took in a stray. You can often find the current Matilda lounging in her perch in the hotel window.

The “Dorothy Parker” drink is named after Dorothy Parker who was a writer and literary and drama critic who wrote for Life, Vogue, Vanity Fair and the New Yorker magazines. She along with many other famous writers and progressive thinkers of the 1920’s formed “The Vicious Circle”, a group that met regularly at The Round Table restaurant. They swapped gossip, opinions, Broadway tidbits, and story ideas.

While at the Round Table, Walt and I had drinks, appetizers, lunch and dessert. Each presentation was genteel and delicious. While craft cocktails are all the rage currently, The Round Table restaurant and the adjacent lobby bar, The Blue Bar have been serving classic cocktails for decades.

The Algonquin’s Blue Bar offers pre-theater dining and all day light fare is available in the vibrant lobby lounge.

Walt choose the Fish Won-Ton Tacos as his appetizer, while I picked the cheeses of the Hudson Valley. While pricey, neither of these appetizers could be faulted for taste, presentation nor quality.

For lunch, I choose the Smoked Trout Risotto and Walt had Fish and Chips. Once again, courses with no disappointment.

By this time, as you can imagine, Walt and I were getting a little stuffed but we did manage to down a delicious Apple Tart for dessert.

Final Impressions:  For a lunch meal: Service 10, Food 10, Ambiance 10

More Details on the Algonquin Hotel

The 181-room property is known for its rich history, famous clientele over the years and is located just a block from the lights of Times Square and steps from the shops of Fifth Avenue.  Guest accommodations include luxury amenities: Beekman 1802 bathroom toiletries, complimentary Wi-Fi and flat screen televisions.  Instagram and Twitter: @AlgonquinNYC. The Algonquin Hotel, 59 W 44th Street, New York, New York 10036. www.algonquinhotel.com.

The Chief Blond is wearing a green dragonfly sequin cardigan from the Loft (similar), crocheted dress (similar), straw hat, and bow belt.

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Blog Note: This Algonquin Hotel Round Table Restaurant Review New York City originally contained a giveaway for $25 Paypal. The giveaway is over and the rafflecopter entry device with 5025 entries has been removed. See Giveaway winners.