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

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

You enter off the street through majestic doors, frosted on the bottom and a dramatic ""runway"" like hallway illuminated with candles and spot lights which show you the history of New York around Central Park. You are welcomed by friendly managers and hosts at the front door with a smile and warm sense of sincerity in their voice. You can eat at the bar, in the lounge, the main dining room or in one of the private dining rooms depending on the size of your group and your personal preference.\r \r The service, food and beverage service is 100%. John Frazer works with local produce such as Satur Farms on Long Island and highlights what is ""in seaons"" which allows for flexibility within the menu as items come and and out. There are staples and signature dishes Mr. Frazer keeps on for repeat customers and sometimes you will receive an extra ""mid-course"" as a thank you for your continued patronage. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the food and almost any other topic you might ask them. And, after dinner and dessert-which you should pass on Vera Tong continues to surprise-you are presented with little treats from the pastry kitchen and pecan crusted coffee cakes to take with you. They are great on the walk home, in the cab on the way home, for a midnight snack or for breakfast the next morning.\r \r Try eating at the bar when one of the handsome bartenders is on. They will seduce you into a great glass of wine or tantilate you with a homemade cocktail.\r \r In a word: GO!!! Pros: Ambiance, Service and personal touches. Great spot for private parties. Cons: No parking for those visiting from out of town with a car. No big deal more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Never did I expect that this would become one of my favorite restaurants! I was warmly greeted by the restaurant personnel. The service was efficient and courteous from beginning to end. I was much impressed by the quality of the food. I can't say I've had a finer porterhouse and the appetizers were exquisite. The desserts we ordered put a fine finish to the meal. But how we felt walking in the restaurant, how we were treated, and how we felt leaving left us aglow on the way to the opera, and we couldn't have asked nor expected more. I will return many times, I'm sure. Pros: Service, Porterhouse, Desserts more

I love Compass, and have gone to eat there once a month since it opened. The food is great, I've never been dissappointed, and the desserts are even better. Service is crisp and for the most part timely, and they always make me feel right at home there. As for those people who claim their waiter didn't know anything about wine I have a suggestion: Try asking for the Sommelier! That's what a wine steward is for, and Compass has the best wine man in the city. NO waiter is expected to have tried and memorized the upwards of 500 wines Compass offers! Pros: Food, Service, Decor more

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

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