Black Duck

I chose the Black Duck for my fiancee?s 30th birthday dinner. I called and spoke to the manager to ask that the hostess wish my girl a happy birthday. Not only did the hostess do this, but we also had a private little table in the back of the nearly empty restaurant. The table was covered with rose petals and just about every employee stopped by the table and gave a birthday greeting. The food was superb. We started with the crab and shrimp cake appetizer, which was excellent. She had the halibut and raved about it. I chose the surf and turf. The espresso rubbed filet was tasty and cooked perfectly. The sesame crusted wasabi tuna was very good with just a bit of bite from the wasabi. For dessert, our waiter brought out that evening's dessert special. It was a chocolate cup with a passion fruit, cheesecake type filling. Not only was it very good, but it was also presented on a decorated plate with a personalized birthday wish. The drinks were good and the bartender pours deep glasses of single malt scotch. Towards the end of the meal, a 3 piece jazz group began playing live music. We moved from our table in the back to the bar and finished our evening there. When we were given our check, neither of us could believe how reasonable the cost of an evening like this. We have both eaten at some of the finest restaurants in the country and this was one of the finest meals and dining experiences we have ever had. This restaurant should never be empty. Pros: Great service, great food Cons: A little hard to find more

I had an enjoyable Wednesday night dinner here. There were hardly anyone there. The location is somewhat hard to find because it's just a flag w/ a Black Duck on it. The number system on that block is confusing, but I finally got it. The place has a nice romantic feel. The food was good, not outstanding. I had the shrimp/crab cake appetizer which was delicious, it was light. Had the Espresso rubbed filet mignon but can't really taste the espresso, but it was still very good filet mignon. I also ate the fish, which my friend thought was a little dry. Overall, it was a pleasant place to come for dinner. Pros: Nice atmosphere Cons: A bit on the pricey side more

OK so i read the other reviews...I'm not sure these people went to the same place i did...Not only was the food delicious,but it was well priced..And believe me i have had my share of dissapointed meals..\r The only downfall would be the desert...But HEY my fat butt REALLY shouldn't be eating anything with chocolate anyway...lolol..The staff was VERY friendly.. which tends to make me nervous sometimes...lolol..BUT HEY with the JAZZ playing and the bartender making those KILLER WHITE COSMOS...My homegirls and i had a really good time... Pros: Good food for the price...Cute little place for a date or to hang with the girls... Cons: Desert menu needs work more

Reservations early on a saturday night, was seated next to the servers station although the restaurant was empty, impersonal service, inappropriate music ( rock) made the room noisy, main course was delicious\r but dessert was not very good. With proper management this could be a great restaurant. Pros: Excellent and delicious entrees Cons: poor service, noisy rock music, skip the dessert more

One of the other reviewers mentioned the owner is from Miami Beach and this is the first restaurant in NYC . . . that shows. This place has the chance to be a true long term hidden gem but something is off. It is a restaurant on paper but there is no love here, no feel of a truly welcoming place. The food and selection is fine, but people come out to a place like this to blend into the environment a bit, here it's a little vacant. Pros: nice physical space Cons: no one is home more

I'd heard of Black Duck and then, while searching CitySearch, found it and was impressed by the reviews here. As a bona fide foodie and NYC restaurant maven, I looked forward to the experience. Unfortunately, we were pretty disappointed. We were there on Christmas Eve, looking foward to a quiet and romantic evening but were, instead, treated to blaring electonica-club music and attitude galore, compliments of the not-so-competent staff. The Jude Law-look-alike at the bar was airheaded and brusque, ignoring our requests to select a different kind of music (not only because it was Christmas Eve... but because the restaurant's ""space"" is one that hearkens more toward jazz (they have live jazz here, for God's sake!) and/or something less trendy. The hostess was even less helpful, preferring to gaze into space rather than to help customers. The server was a Dieter-like and unfriendly robotron as well. What a waste, given that this restaurant could and should be poised for greatness. When I spoke to the front desk manager, he informed me that the owner lives in Miami Beach and that this is his ""first"" place in NYC... Alas, it's more like Miami Beach with the surfer dude 'tudes and the disco ball music blaring than it is the upscale, polished, and elegant place it could -- and should -- be. (The food, by the way, given the annoyances previously mentioned, didn't warrant the time.) more

I recently had dinner with some friends and had a wonderful time. This was my first time there. I had the crab cake which was light & flaky, lobster ravioli which melted in my mouth was scrumptious...Kudos to the chef & the wait staff for being attentive. Tasted their Pear martini which was to die for. The waiter made wonderful suggestions. Will definately visit again... Pros: Great food, cozy, quiet & inexpensive. more

Unsuccessfully tried to convince some friends to go to Novita one recent evening, and was a little miffed at their insistence that we all go instead to some ""Brown Goose"" place or whatever that I'd never heard of. Luckily, it's good to be wrong sometimes - I'm duly humbled. We ordered the calamari appetizer, Park So. salad, the salmon, filet mignon, halibut and 2 desserts. All very nicely executed and delicious, served by a cordial but not effusive server, in a relaxing, unrushed romantic atmosphere. The only niggles: while the wine list is adequate, it is ""just"" so (although bottles are well-priced), and you need a GPS navigation system to find your way to the restrooms and back, as they are ""whimsically"" tucked away in the corridors leading from the adjoining hotel lobby. Pros: Lovely setting, great value, polished service Cons: Limited wine list, Osama bin Laden may be hiding in the restroom more

The Chef is really talented at cooking fish, which is among the most difficult skills that a Chef can have. Besides Le Bernadin, the best and most expensive seafood restaurant in New York, The Black Duck serves the most phenomenal fresh fish ever. It's really fresh, not over-cooked, and has the most wonderful combinations of ingredients that compliment the dish. Anytime someone comes to town, I take them there. I've eaten at The Black Duck about 6 times over the course of a year. It's also very romantic because of the size of the restaurant, the booths, and the fireplace (in the winter). The staff is not snobby, yet very knowledgeable and friendly (but not too familiar). When the check comes, you won't have a heart attack, it's reasonably priced. Bon appetit! more

My wife and i stumbled upon the Black Duck two Thursday's ago, and what a wonderful suprise.\r At first we had to navigate through the lobby of a hotel, and just past the front desk we saw it. At first glance you may think that your entering the same old lounge/bar; but you're not. We were seated quickly, and a very nice young man took our drink order. My wife and i had Martini's. They were made to perfection! We sat and chated and went over the menu, which is small but very diverse. I had the expresso rubbed Filet, and My wife the had the Halibut. The steak was cooked just as i asked, and my wife's fish looked so good i wanted to trade my plate for hers. After dinner we both had a chocolate lava cake. The chocolate filling inside of the oozed all over the plate, and if I were not in public i would of cleaned the plate with my tounge. In closing i would like to say that my wife and i plan to make th Black Duck our secret little dinner spot.. more

My husband and I head up to the Black Duck (from Battery Park City) every time his coworker's jazz trio plays and we're so glad to be introduced to this special, hidden gem. The atmosphere is low-lit and cozy with a beautiful bar, though you may have to search to find the place - signage is virtually nonexistant. We've occasionally brought friends and no one has ever been disappointed with the food. The staff is always top-notch, especially bartender Frank. The Duck is great for both intimate, romantic dinners as well as larger gatherings (nice big banquettes in the back corners). Pros: Warm atmosphere, nice (free!) jazz, super food & service Cons: We don't live closer. more

Never written a review before, but after Black Duck accommodated our last minute Saturday night reservation, I had to. The service was friendly and timely, the food was great...I had the Surf & Turf which had a perfect portion of filet and seared tuna and my fiancee had the striped bass which was lite yet flavorful. Ambience was cosy and romantic and the live jazz was a nice touch and not overpowering. A new favorite...and the price was right...shared appetizer and 4 glasses of wine...$100 more

I have lived in Gramercy for four years and have never been to the Black Duck, or even heard of it. I happened upon it after work this past Monday by accident and ended up staying for the entire happy hour and then stayed for dinner. The bar was amazing, and surprsingingly full for a Monday night. It has a beautifully lit marble surface, a fabulous bartender (named Matt or Marc?), excellent drinks and specials and great food. The bar bites weren't anything special (we had calamari and wings, very ordinary), but our dinner was phenomonal, as was our service. The bartender is almost excessively knowledgable, and their wine list is small but decent. Go for the Surf and Turf or the Strip Steak. Anyway, I don't know why this place is such a secret. The decor isn't sleek, but it's background. My girlfriend and I are now hooked! Pros: Food, Bar, Service Cons: Decor, Bar Bites more

We had planned a night in the city for my friends birthday we booked a room at the giraffe hotel.We got to the hotel around 9:30pm they were overbooked so they sent us around the corner to the Park South Hotel which we never heard of so we were annoyed but when we got to the hotel it was actually nice. While checking in we heard live music so we asked where it was coming from they told us from the restaurant. At this point we needed food and drinks so we checked in and headed down to the restaurant. We sat down for dinner and when our waiter found out it was my friends birthday he quickly came back with glasses of champagne to wish her well. We had a great time. Thank god for the giraffe being sold out I never would have found this place other wise. Pros: staff, music, dinner more

I was in great anticipation of my visit here, since it was so highly rated and dubbed ""NY's best kept secret"". After my visit, I can't say that this secret isn't worth keeping. Though the lounge area in the front is cute, nothing here is really impressive. In fact, it's borderline average. Even though the food was more seasoned than many other places, my salad, my chicken and my friend's duck were all SALTY! Service was average, decor - average, risotto - average, clam chowder - average. Bottom line - you won't be missing out on anything special if you skip The Black Duck. Pros: price, front lounge area, location Cons: decor, salty food, service more

It's a cozy restaurant, food is good and they make good litchee martinis but as the waiters spend more time chatting with each other than taking orders, it's very hard to get served. more

Found this amazing new restaurant called the black duck. The food was delicious, I had the wasabi tuna which was the best I ever had in New York. For the entree I had the expresso rub filet which was just to suck your fingers. The atmospher and the service was great, staff was very pleasant. There was such a cute bartender. You have to go and check him out. I think I over heard them call him frankie or something. Just overall great experience. I would definitely recommend this spot to anyone. Pros: good service, friendly staff, fun crowd more

i went to the black duck after work one night for a drink...the bar was amazing...the underlit marble added a great ambience to the restaurant. the staff was friendly...and the service was great...i loved the live jazz band...it was so great i brought my friends there a week later for dinner...there was about ten of us and we had a great time...the food was awesome. i definately reccommend the Black Duck for drinks and for a lovely dinning experience more

This is a beautiful little hotel bar and restaurant. I lived next door and loved to go down for a drink at their uplit marble bar under the beautiful lighting or sit by the fireplace when the live band is not playing. Never eaten dinner there, but plan to soon. more

Who knew? I stumbled across The Black Duck Wednesday of last week. The menu was a pleasant surprise.. I ordered the crab cake appetizer with an amazing apple salad (it was the best crab cake I ever had), my entree was the espresso rubbed fitet mignon.. which was cooked perfectly.. it was one of the best filets I've had in NYC. The service was friendly and efficient.. after dinner my friends and decided to stay for a drink because of the live jazz. We sat on the most comfortable, burgundy velvet couch sipping on Mojitos. I had a great time and I'll definitely go back!! Pros: friendly service, great atmosphere, excellent food more