Joe Allen

A cozy restaurant w great food! Restaurants next to time square can be pretty basic, but this place was great! I highly recommend the lobster roll, it was GREAT!

I’ve been here twice in the past few weeks. The first time a good friend took me here, and it was great, good food and wine, excellent service, a great experience overall. That first experience is the only thing keeping this review from being one star. My second visit with some girlfriends this past Saturday evening around 8pm was a huge letdown. They told us when they sat us that they had a reservation for that table after us, we said we that was okay, we didn’t plan to linger.
On my previous visit the waiter was friendly and polite and gave us detailed descriptions of some of the highlights of their frequently changing menu.
This time our waiter was markedly unpleasant. I asked it there were any specials, since I had been enticed by them last time, and received a very snippy, «It’s all on the menu» as he apparently couldn’t be bothered to describe their dishes.
At one point he brought bread to the table and told my friends and I to «try not to make a mess.» We all heard him and it was so rude and unexpected we were all shaking out heads wondering what this guy’s problem was. My only guess is the guy was worried about flipping the table quickly in time for the next reservation.
I get it, this is New York, rent is high, flipping tables fast is important and no one likes to arrive and hear their table isn’t ready. But that’s no excuse for being rude to the paying customers you agreed to seat.
Thankfully midtown is full of dining options. I work in the area and take friends and business associates out in midtown on a regular basis. I will take my business elsewhere in the future.

This place from start to finish, was excellent! Beautifully quaint and cozy. Atmosphere was perfect. We were seated and catered to attentively an with swiftness, without being made to feel pushed out.
Not to mention the food. Apps were delicious as well as out dinner. I had the short ribs and my husband had the meatloaf both were beyond good! I know meatloaf doesn’t sound crazy but this was. My husband and I rarely venture outside of what we normally go to but this was beyond worth it, and we will be back!

This quickly became my favorite little neighborhood restaurant in NYC. There are fancier places but not as warm and comfortable. I almost wish I could find a reason to give them a bad review because I don’t want it to get any more crowded lol.
The liver plate is simply the best I have ever had. I needed up addicted and eating there almost every night I was in town and I lost weight because the food has quality ingredients and it is so satisfying.
The bar tender worked hard to find a wine I could drink with my sulfate allergy. I settled on their house Pinot and I felt perfect.
I can’t wait to go back for liver next week.

Excellent after theater spot for dinner. The meatloaf was very moist and flavorful as was the escargot. Star gazing was an extra benefit.

Never fails to deliver: creative menu, value, attentive service, all focused on getting you to your Broadway show on time. A quintessential NY experience.
First visit 1980′, most recent Nov 2 2015, just 3 minute walk from Broadway
Perfect cocktails. Be sure to make reservations

This was a revisit after two years and last time I tried their dinner, so decided to give a try on their brunch.
Apparently they were just opening up when my friend and I got there, however they still welcomed us warmly! A selection of brunch items were offered and we chose salmon with scrambled egg (with muffin) and Cajun chicken sandwich. The fries accompanied the chicken sandwich was so crispy! Only thing was that they do not offer skim milk here so I settled myself with whole milk.
I’d love to come back given the amid ambience and delicious food. There are just so many good restaurant around this neighborhood and I felt so lucky!

Nice place close enough to eat before a Broadway show. I ordered the meatloaf and while it was good, I think I’ve had better before. Mashed potatoes and spinach sides were also tasty. I wouldn’t necessarily come back as their menu choices was pretty slim.

Back to Joe Allen as it gets you good food fast. We had tickets for Hamilton and wanted to dine close to the theater district. There were three of us and we had a few different items from the menu. The two soups were excellent. One was a flavorful rich black bean and the other was a vegetable white bean. Both were hot and delicious. The veggie soup was filled with an assortment of fall vegetables and was served piping hot. Two of us had burgers. The burgers were good but the bread was a mediocre white bread bun that was a bit hard. They gave us each one piece of lettuce, a small slice of onion and tomato. Talk about skimping on the toppings. They offered me cheese but I skipped that one. The fries were hot and crunchy and came unsalted at our request. The third diner had a chipotle chicken sandwich on ciabatta with chips. He ate it all and told me it was fine. Then we indulged in one piece of banana creame pie. It was divine. The chunks of real banana were sandwiched in that luscious cream with real whipped cream decorating the top. All in all a good lunch.
Our server was efficient and checked on us a few times. We were in and out on time and walked to our show across the street. One last item is the bread basket. I try to avoid bread but Joe’s real sourdough is so good I can’t resist. It made up for the hard burger bun that they used on the sandwich which I avoided eating. If the bread isn’t real avoid it like the plague.

After going to see an awesome Penn & Teller show while in NY for the weekend, we stopped at Joe Allen for a meal. While this restaurant is in the theater district on restaurant row, it was disappointing. I am used to going to NYC at least once a month to catch a show and went with my bf for what we had hoped would be a good meal. We were both disappointed.
From the time we entered the restaurant until the time we left, I thought that we were invisible. The host took his time in seating us and then the waitress took her time to take our order after we arrived at the table. The appetizer, which was buffalo wings were bland in warm. I had a pasta dish which was not very flavorful. The pasta had shrimp in it and I could count with one hand the number of shrimp in the dish.
This place is a place that I will never visit again. If the food is being given out for free, you won’t find me in that line. I have had so much better at several restaurants on restaurant row.

I’ve had so many disappointing meals around the NYC theater district and now I can add Joe Allen to the list.
The service was slow and the waitress seemed uninterested. The wings tasted like heated up frozen food. The meatloaf dish was just average as well as the pasta. Nothing interesting for dessert. And the tiny cramped bathroom is not a nice experience either.
This is another restaurant living off it’s prime location. Sigh…

Came in before a show. AWESOME food, more at service, great prices, great quality! Perfect pre-​show restaurant.

Looking for a late dinner after our play let out, I found Joe Allen on Unilocal while waiting for the play to start. Nearby, open late, good Unilocal reviews, and they take Open Table online reservations. Booked a 9:45 pm, made it over a few minutes early. Nice place, larger inside than it looks from the street.
Food: Interesting menu with diverse choices. You’ll find Tofu next to Meatloaf and liver. We ended up ordering the Lobster/​Crab roll, Pan Roasted Sea Scallops, and the Calf Liver. Now I don’t eat liver often, I can usually take it or leave it but our server said it was very popular here. Who am I to argue so I order the Liver, I’m taken aback when he asked how would like it done. I’ve only had liver prepared one way. breaded and fried till the inside is dry as a bone. Never knew you could prepare it medium or medium rare. went with Medium as I can’t even image a medium rare liver. Food doesn’t take long to get the table. Scallops are seared nicely and served on a bed of quinoa. The lobster/​crab roll has a generous portion served on grilled bread with a house made chips. Now my liver. sliced thin covered in a rich demi glacé next to mashed potatoes and steamed spinach. Interesting. not breaded and not fried. I cut off a piece, the first thing you taste is the sauce. Rich, slightly sweet, perfectly balanced. Then texture of the liver, not mealy when you get a thick piece cooked past well done. This texture was soft, creamy but there is still a slight snap to the meat. Finishes with a taste that lets says «Hello, remember me, you’re eating liver». A little bitter aftertaste that lingers for a few seconds, you definitely know what you are eating. You get two large thin slices so it’s a good sized portion. Would I order it again if I were to eat here in the future. probably not but I am not sorry that I tried it this time. It’s just that there were other interesting things I’d want to try here. Oh. and the bartender makes and excellent Manhattan which I guess a bartender would have to master working in Manhattan.
Service: Good service, our waiter was wonderful, offered us recommendations, saw to and met all of our dining needs. All of the staff we interacted with were energetic (this was after 10 pm) and friendly.
Atmosphere: Nice place, interior was relaxing but that was past 10 pm so I’m not sure how it is earlier in the evening. One thing I noticed. that had to be one of the smallest men’s room I’ve been in! Clean so I guess I’d choose clean and tiny versus filthy and huge. it’s just a very small space!
Value: It’s near Times Square so you know it’ll be on the pricier side. In line with other establishments, the cocktail prices are reasonable.
Overall: I’d come back to try their brisket sandwich or meatloaf next time. A good place that’s a perfect place for a late dinner or dessert after a show.

I came here for the second time last night before seeing a show and had good experiences both times. We walked in without a reservation and were seated immediately. We had a pasta dish, the Cajun chicken sandwich, and the grilled chicken entrée all of which were delicious.
This is definitely a great spot to come enjoy some cocktails and dinner before seeing a Broadway show.

Classy place.
the staff is very nice and pro.
They have a very nice dining room, candle light, quiet and romantic.
The food is good, well cooked but a little over priced.
I gues they make you pay more for the location of the restaurant and because of the classy atmosphere.
the burger is tasty and big, it is the only thing I had the chance to try, everything else was a little too pricey.
The experience was very nice, but I would go back there not for the food but only for the romantic place.

Ruhiges und gemütliches Ambiente als angenehmer Kontrast zum wilden Trubel am Times Square. Die «New York Steak Strips with fries» (34 $) waren vorzüglich. Freundlicher und schneller Service. Hauptmenü zwischen 15 $ und 34 $. Preislich für New York also ok.

My family and I went before going to a show, and I was pleasantly surprised. Although this is a NY institution, it’s not snobby or stuffy at all.
— Guacamole: this was surprisingly good, given this is so not a Mexican restaurant and I was shocked to see it on the menu.
— NY strip steak: this was perfectly cooked, and the fries were delicious
— Meatloaf: my sister got this and she loved it. The spinach was amazing.
— Hot fudge pudding cake: obviously delicious
Our waiter was very nice and they paced the dinner perfectly for us to be able to relax and make it to the show on time.

Sometimes the simplest things are the best.
On a pre theater birthday lunch for my mom we stopped in and were treated like royalty. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We started out with the carrot ginger which was the soup of the day. It was very tasty and delicious. My mom selected the free range chicken salad and I had the new England lobster and crab roll both of which were very delicious. A great place to stop in before or after the theater.

This is a hard one. So the ambiance is cozy and staff was on point. I opted to eat at a table solo since I am on business. Anyways I order the chicken and kale salad. I had a good presentation but fell short on flavor. It was good don’t get me wrong but over all it was kind of boring. Had I not been trying to eat well I might have opted for another dish. So since I have limited data on this place BUT the staff was good the look was good I give this a place a 4
Seems solid and worth a try

I was here a few months ago on a Monday, which turns out to be «Mexican Monday.»
I had been in the city awhile, missing Mexican food in CA, so thought why not.
The steak tartare is always great, but I was astonished that their special mushroom quesadilla was so good. And that green salsa was so good I had to ask for more twice!
The banana cream pie is a must and I haven’t had any since last winter, so I suggested a friend meet me here since I will be at the Laurie Beechman to see two shows tonight.
She’s been in the city years and herself a writer (teleplays, fiction, plays), but thought it was a tourist trap and said she’d never been.
No! Solid food with lots of comfort dishes and favorites.
And yes, the banana cream pie just defies words.

Joe Allen is a dark subterranean bistro two blocks west of the Theater District, and a great place for Happy Hour and/​or dinner any day of the week. As with most restaurants in the area it has something of a reverse tide at dinner. Many customers come in early to have a very good meal before the 8 o’clock curtain. Thus, if you arrive for dinner earlier than that, you will witness the floor empty as the appointed hour approaches. By the bells it is mostly empty, except for those who understand the ebb and flow and are here to enjoy themselves sans theater that night.
So it was on Wednesday when we settled into the cool darkness. Chris was our server, and he greeted us warmly while handing out the daily printing of the menu. He assured that everything described therein was available to us. We opted to share everything and requested everything be served together regardless of its place on the menu.
We went with the Large Caesar Salad, Pan Roasted Scottish Salmon, and a side of Roasted Broccoli with Lemon. There was plenty for the three of us. The Salad was loaded with fresh Romaine, Tomato, Red Onion, Peppers, Croutons and an excellent Dressing. The Salmon’s Teriyaki Glaze was sweetly tart, and the fish itself was moist, yet firm. Obviously, it had been jumping rapids not long before. It tasted of its life. Under it was an Asian Slaw with a mild Vinaigrette, Peanuts, cold String Beans and Sesame Seeds, that we continued to eat long after the main ingredient was gone. The Broccoli was deep green and bursting with its subtle flavors highlighted by the Lemon. It was one of those meals where everything complemented the other, and the meal took on a magical quality between great food and great companions.
Not wanting the moment to end, and feeling no rush from the staff to settle up and leave, Chris returned with the dessert menu and a sly smile. He simply said, «If you’re feeling it, go for the Banana Cream Pie.» We knew he knew.
Out came three forks and the largest swag of BCP I had ever seen. It stood at least 6 inches high; 2 inches of fresh cream topping, 3 more of cool delectable Banana Cream, and the bottom layer of sliced Banana and firm Graham Cracker Crust. I took a photo, but the image was not as powerful as the treasure before us.
That it was orgasmic is an understatement, but will have to do as it was a pleasure best kept within to relish, rather than attempt an inadequate description.
Thanks Chris, and the whole Joe Allen crew for a job well done, and a fantastic evening.
5 Estrellas.