Outdoor seating
Yes
Elmo in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Service options
Delivery
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Highlights
Great coffee
Yes
Great dessert
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Offerings
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Happy-hour food
Yes
Healthy options
Yes
Late-night food
Yes
Quick bite
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Amenities
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Crowd
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
University students
Yes
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Yes
Accepts reservations
Yes
Phone: +1 212-337-8000
Site: http://www.elmorestaurant.com/
Site: http://www.elmorestaurant.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:11AM–11PM
- Tuesday:11AM–11PM
- Wednesday:11AM–11PM
- Thursday:11AM–11PM
- Friday:11AM–12AM
- Saturday:10AM–12AM
- Sunday:10AM–11PM
Elmo in other cities:
Comments (199)
After reading the reviews I was skeptical, there are a lot of negative reviews and the restaurant was rated fairly low. I ordered takeout anyway. I ordered the truffle fries, fish tacos, and the nicoise salad. The Salad did not come with any dressing, which was a negative, and the truffle fries had a substantial amount of cheese, so they were very messy. Overall the food was very good, and I would order here again.
Elmo restaurant is the Cheers of Chelsea! They have a great menu, impressive bar with a fun drink menu and their downstairs lounge is edgy cool fun! Bob and his team are a consistent win! I highly recommend it.
Customer service was on point BUT drinks and food were very underwhelming. I got the spicy marg & my sister got the lychee martini 👎🏾👎🏾 we also ordered the popcorn shrimp, truffle Mac & the guacamole. Guacamole was good but everything else was Eh …
It’s not the best and it’s not the worst but it’s a great comfort knowing Elmo is still here. The interior could use a little love (the ceiling brown spot continues to disturb…) but the food is consistently filling.
As an individual in the field of service; in the restaurant industry to be exact it is very rare when I critize servers or bartenders. I know how it is when its busy and overwhelming as well as shirt staffed. I will say that coming here... was an experience not all that great. I was sat promptly as you can tell the servers are hosting as well and when it is busy I totally understand the wait but when it comes to me sitting and waiting 18 mins not even greeted by the server or having an introduction was annoying. I had already looked over the menu and knew what I wanted to order. I had to stop some one ehen 2 servers had passed me more then 3xs for them to take my food order. He did stop prior but just to take my drink order.. never asked if I was ready to place an appetizer or entree order. I may add that I am on a tight schedule because I to work this evening. Any who after this paragraph its pretty evident im annoyed with the service. I will say that server that did end up taking care of me ( super grey blondish hair) was sweet and was helpful. The food was good but the entree i had was okay. Grilled salmon salad with noe eggs or olives .. has potatoes but they were cold which was odd to me. The salmon over all was flavorful which I cant complain about 2 much .. the salad itself was the okay part. They will get 3stars from me. I just hope this is helpful in anyway to the owner or management .. to anyone else please come and experience for yourself. Everyone has different experiences
As we were walking by we stopped to eat here at their outdoor dining because we witnessed the table being disinfected and that even included the vase. When they explained the contact free ordering and the waitstaff even offering us hand sanitizer before we touched anything, we knew we had found the right place to eat out at during this crazy time. Coronavirus or not, Id certainly go back for the burger and drinks. The fish taco needs some seasoning but all in all it was a good meal and great service.
Food is consistently good. I enjoy sitting outside and people watching. Always a great place for good food and good drinks.
I recommend this place. The food has been so tasty and creative, no matter if is breakfast, lunch or dinner. Oh and it has good drinks!
Great atmosphere. The grilled chicken club was amazing. Lychee martini was 6/10. I would go back!
The food was great!! Drinks were great too!! Very friendly atmosphere and the employees were great as well. You would think the food portions are little but it was A LOT. Very filling and scrumptious food. I went for brunch, and its definitely going to be my go to place for future brunches. I had the steak and eggs!
The service herr is amazing! The waiter came back multiple times to check on us and refill our water. The food arrived shortly after we ordered it. Nice seating areas. Bathroom was clean. The food was good. I got their meatloaf. I also had truffle fries as an appetizer which were amazing. For dessert I had their funfetti cake.
Great location on 7th Ave! The service and food quality were both excellent, with ideal portion sizes. The bar offers specialty cocktails and I recommend the apricot sangria. Our server was extremely attentive, responsive and friendly, in addition to being knowledgeable about the menu offerings. Tasty dishes that were well prepared and a variety of selection. The restaurant itself features muted lighting and a sizeable space so that tables dont feel cramped. Pricing was also very reasonable for the quality.
Stopped in for lunch with some friends after a day at the Rubin museum. The food was fantastic, as was the service. The chicken fried chicken was a delight. Ill definitely stop by again if Im in the neighborhood.
Really good food. $200 for 4 people with a lot of food. Thats a great team outing. And the service was really great.
I’ve been to this place twice now — in the past month. Both times, I sat at the bar. I was treated with outstanding service, great food, amazing drinks, and best of all, respectful customers. A lot of their customers seem to be regulars, which means a lot to me (as a new customer). I can tell why folks continue to return — I intend to do the same.Try the frozen margarita — even if it’s cold outside!
The atmosphere is nice, and the French toast is great…. However, we also ordered Salmon Eggs Benedict - I have literally never been served something so cold that was supposed to be hot… our waiter was nowhere to be found and never once asked us how our food was or if we wanted another drink (which we did)… I will not come here again nor will recommend to anyone else.
It is a very nice place with very good music
Great Service, great food and amazing cocktails! Love Colin the barman and Rob the waiter.
Amazing staff, atmosphere and food. Whole staff - bartenders, waitstaff, kitchen and managers just terrific
We wanted to love this place. The service was great, the vibe was ubermo, and the place was just a fun venue. The food was another story. Our rotisserie chicken was dry and the salmon was a paltry piece of fish that needed help from a side or anything to make the plate more palatable.
Food sucks. Drinks lack alcohol. Waiters are cute.I came in with friends for a weekday dinner. We ordered and had to wait for more than an hour for our food to come. Moreover, I specified that I wanted the salmon (from a salmon salad) well-done, as I have dietary restrictions. However, when the salad came it was barely cooked. I had to send it back to the kitchen and wait even longer.Even with the salmon fully cooked, the salad lacked taste. If you pay for the food - you normally expect it to be something better than you could have made yourself. Unfortunately, this was not the case. My friends orders were average as well.The cocktails we ordered were very light and had more juice than actual alcohol.This place is getting 2 stars only because our waiter was very accommodating.Nevertheless, we are never coming back.
Really cool restaurant! My fish tacos were delicious. My server was very energetic and friendly. Overall fun experience!
Loved coming here for about 20 years. Friendly staff, great selection of food for any taste, and cool cocktails. 😎
I went to this place at night and the food is great, the tacos where full of flavor and I didnt regret it, not too expensive, fairly normal restaurant prices of $15 to $20 dollars. But there is a more menu of various items.The atmosphere was a bit loud for me and a bit dark, but that is just me, because it was more of a club feel to it that day. But the place is nice and I would recommend it to those who want some good tacos especially~
Very friendly & attentive staff and great food & beverages!
Extremely solid restaurant with excellent cocktails in the heart of Chelsea!Wait staff isn’t extremely aware of food allergies, so be careful.
Ive been here with colleagues a few times because its so close to the office. The tacos are excellent. The steak sandwich is also very yummy.And the fall grain bowl (i added steak) was DELICIOUS. One of my colleagues sent the tartare back because she didnt like it but... Ive never had anything that wasnt above average here.
A Chelsea institution for the see-and-be-scene crowd. Not to take away from the consistent and wide selection of dishes. Friendly staff at reasonable prices.
Please don’t waste your money at this abhorrent restaurant. Here’s why: 1) Terrible food. 2) Rude management. 3) Place has been closed for over a month because of COVID-19 but left their outdoor seating barricade out that blocks more than half the sidewalk making it impossible to keep 6 ft apart from someone when walking by. When I asked the owner/manager today who was there painting the place why it hadn’t been moved, I was told it’s because he pays $ to rent the space and can do whatever he wants. JUST TO BE CLEAR THE PLACE IS CLOSED AND THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLES LIVES AND WELL BEING AT RISK BECAUSE OF $$$$$ AND A SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT. Do yourself a favor and eat at one of the hundreds other (AND BETTER) restaurants in Chelsea. This place doesn’t deserve your hard earned money and deserves to go out of business for acting so shamefully when everyone else is going out of their way to be considerate.
The drinks are amazing and the chicken fried chicken was very good. The funfetti cake was a little dry but overall I would certainly recommend this place
Attentive and friendly staff in a well decorated, neighborhood staple. Complete with yummy cocktails and familiar classics.
For dinner you should skip. The wine is cheap quality. The chicken for two was painfully dry. Meatloaf was good. Drinks are fine. Atmosphere is fun. Stick to what its known for, brunch.
Great food. Friendly atmosphere. My one two punch drunk had a great amount of alcohol. Burger was really good too.
Had a wonderful experience here, the waiter was so sweet. The decor of the venue for itself is pretty nice & as a person who loves pasta (especially with cheese) it was my favorite thing on the menu along with their watermelon martini. I’ll definitely would come back again to try their burgers which was really good aswell.Their calamari aswell was really fresh & had a nice crunch to it
Always great food, great drinks, and great service!! We visit often! The Steak Frites with truffle fries is AMAZING! The Chicken Fried Chicken is my favorite!!
Very friendly environment. Great food and drinks. Wonderful decor. I love this place!
Very nice looking place. The welcome was warm as well as the hostess and manager seemed nice. The Sunday Brunch tasted good and the eggs were cooked pretty good. The service was adequate, as the waiter only talked to take our order and the we did not see her again until she asked us (at the end) about a cocktail drink refill. She never asked if everything was ok outside of that. Getting dry toast with no butter when you order scrambled eggs is highly useless. She wasnt even around to ask a question until the toast was the only thing left on my plate. I was over it by then and just wanted the check. Maybe they can improve next time. But it wont be my choice to go.
Great atmosphere, reasonably priced and the food was great! I had the Lobster Mac & Cheese and the Mahi Mahi Tacos.. very tasty. My friend had the Lasagna and that was really good!
Excellent customer service, laid back atmosphere, nice ambiance. The Maryland crab cake is a must try.
This is my first time coming here. It looks quite nice but what i noticed the most is that of the staff is white or latino or white passing Latinos. How come the staff is not more diverse?
Very cute place and Restaurant .. not to expansive, friendly service and host... but if i say raw was my meet medium ????
Service, ambiance food & drinks - AMAZING. Can’t wait to go back! A good spot for a night with friends
Eggs Benedict with salmon, smashed potatoes, salad. Baked eggs & bacon. Unfortunately the dishes were served cold and my tomato was so hard I couldnt cut it.
Great food, service, drinks and vibe. Perfect spot to grab dinner and drinks.
Fun place. Great for people watching. Pros: ambiance. Cons: you don’t go there for food.
This place has a great vibe but the food is just ok.. They call it comfort food but my medium rare steak was grey throughout. The arugula greens were nice but very derivative.The Duncan Hines cake was hard and dry. Likely fresh from the freezer.However lots of eye candy and nice drinks so if youre willing to drop $100 per person for that and average food its a good place to hang. Just skip the chocolate cake which is a misery.
This is one of my neighborhood restaurants. I love the chicken fried chicken, it is my favorite comfort food here and I always enjoy the Tuna Tartar. I have been going to Elmo since I moved into the city in 2008 and the food and service has always been consistent.
Always loved this place. Never a bad meal. Recently had pan seared salmon. Burgers are my fave also. Service is always good w pleasant wait staff
Dined here yesterday for a busy lunch. Service was good, food was just ok, drink list needs to be updated, it’s lacking something but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Would definitely dine here again.
Amazing atmosphere, incredible entrees, and in a bustling but cozy part of Manhattan. Great for a first night out in the city if youre looking for a delicious dinner that wont break the bank!
Super delicious salmon BLAT sandwich and really solid drinks. Enjoyed the ambiance and the service was good!
Very modern, moody, and lively vibe. Has a lounge downstairs and warm ambiance inside. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Frozen margaritas were amazing and the food was a bit pricey but good. Great place for groups!
Great music Great service Great food! We were all very happy with this restaurant! French toast hands down the best thing here! Would highly recommend
I really love the atmosphere in this place. Trendy but not over the top and not too loud. Very friendly staff. Defiantly a place to come with a group of friends to chill.
Great service excellent drinks and good food
Same as always... whatever food and bad services with the worse drinks. Always looks sticky & damp. I always forget how bad it is.
Very friendly staff. Fast service great and fresh food.
I had been a regular patron at Elmos prior to the pandemic. I returned when they reopened. Their food and specialty cocktails are worth going there for, and there is a server that goes above and beyond to offer good service. Its so important for an establishment to appreciate a steady patron, and Elmos certainly does.
I’m not even sure where to begin with this review! Last night(Saturday the 17th), I had a group of eleven people and we were all famished. I called Elmo and the host informed me that they would be happy to accommodate us. We arrived shortly after and were seated immediately. I will say, the weather may have helped our luck a bit, but I’m still very happy.Gabriel was our server, I cannot say thank you enough to Gabriel! The level of attentiveness, the energy, it all really made such a difference in our experience. Everyone was satisfied with their food and drinks, and we all left talking about how we want to come back!Another thing I noticed that really won me over, especially as someone who has worked in hospitality for over ten years, was everyone’s attitude. I’ve never been in a place where everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there. So many smiles! Thank you everyone who took care of us last night, we’ll be seeing you again soon!10/10 would recommend. If you’re on the fence about going to this place, stop being silly and just do it already :)
Good food but it’s a little loud to have a conversation with whoever you having dinner with.
Absolutely delicious dishes!
Food was delicious! Mimosas were on POINT. Thank you!
Food was right on tasty and served HOT. Great meatloaf and butternut soup. Service/server was excellent! Should of went sooner.
The atmosphere is a lot of fun and the food is good. The staff seem to really enjoy working here and if I was them, I probably would too. While you may see them chatting amongst themselves, dancing, and even the occasional shimmy; you won’t find the service lacking or their attention to customer service suffering as a result.The food is good. It isn’t great. Cafeteria across the street puts Elmo in its place and that’s second. A distant second, but that’s not to say the food is bad. It’s not, but I spent the last 3 weeks dining around Manhattan and this was the first meal I’ve had to add any salt or pepper to. A little more flavor across the board in the attractive menu and Elmo would be phenomenal. The drinks were, unfortunately, the same. The blood orange martini is meh and the spiced apple old fashioned was nearly sent back, but I didn’t trust any cocktail at that point. My gorgeous date and I also decided to get dessert elsewhere.Nonetheless, the service and atmosphere truly had me smiling. I’d come back and visit the bar for a beer, but I with better dining options available I won’t return for food.
Terrible food, tried to call them after getting sick from the bad empanadas, but it went straight to VM. Steak was bland. Powdered mash potatoes, freezer fries, poor quality all around on the meals we had. They masked it in parmigiana cheese. So it tasted slightly sour. Got real sick after. Dont recommend this place.
When I moved to Hells Kitchen, I kept returning to Chelsea for Elmo - excellent for dinner in/outside or relaxing at the bar.
The chicken paillard was perfect for a nice late lunch. Our server Andrew was very personable and attentive! Not the first time going there and definitely will not be the last.
Great place. Service is good even during peak hours. I suggest trying the pork chop. It has a cornbread with pecans that is bomb and tastes like Thanksgiving.
(M, 28)Elmo has such a positive vibe and environment. Their chips and guac are amazing. I will always recommend the Eggs Benedict, substitute the meat for cured salmon. Ill be sure to take photos next time, but I always dive right it when it hits my table! ^-^
Good food, nice interior, but service have ruined all impression. Our waiter wasnt attentive at all, I literally had to go to the bar to ask for water. Also, whats totally unacceptable, he didnt bother to clean the table, so all guests were sitting with extremely dirty table. I understand that tips were already included, so he would get them for sure, but how about hospitality?I hope management will take an action in regard to the staff and improve their service.
A fun place in Chelsea! Fun crowd and great margaritas 🍸 the food nice, nothing fancy but good. Will definitely, if only for the watermelon margarita :)
Ive come here plenty of times and I have yet to be disappointed. The food is really good, the employees have the best upbeat attitudes. Its a nice spot to just eat comfort food and chill.
I come to this special place many times as I enjoy the good mood that is outline this restaurant. The staff is very friendly and professional. The service is impressively efficient. Needless to say, the food they cook is great. I came often and I was always pleased. The rate is reasobable. I recommend this restaurant to to all.
Had a fantastic time at Elmo’s. My girlfriend and I went for a drink and a few bites and weren’t disappointed. We let them know we were in a hurry and despite the hustle and bustle of a Friday night the service was fantastic. Their cocktail options were delicious and the Elmo bites appetiser deal did not disappoint. Loved the atmosphere and the music, highly recommend.
This is one of my lovely friend top favorite restaurant in NYC and is also my top favorite NYC restaurant too. I am so glad he chose this one. As we walked in, the Aura of the place was very romantic, the air said Love and Romance, there was so much harmony in this place a unique ambiance. The decoration was lovely, a very classy high end restaurant with a casual touch and reasonable prices.The 5 stars are well deserved for the first visit, the food was amazing and tasty. The mash potatoes were for me, the best one I had so far, I can do the mash potatoes every day here. I had the fried chicken which was delicious, and my friend gave me a taste of his steak which was super delicious and on the spot with the flavor and seasoning, just when I thought that I had the best steak, well, the steak here was also one of the best, good thing I am always trying and tasting new things and places, what an amazing eating experience.The Brownie was excellent, and you know, not every restaurant can produce a good one.The service was very attentive and friendly by everyone. This is just one of the best places to eat in NYC and will be on my list to bring special friends for the best eating experience.
Had Brunch here. The food was a bit bland. (I had a grain bowl that ended up being an arugula salad) Drinks are good and reasonably priced at $9.
Cool spot for dinner that is extra welcoming for LGBTQ clients, but not over the top. The service was super friendly and although the tables were close, you still felt like you had privacy. I really enjoyed our meal and the cocktails are perfect.
I have been going to Elmos for over 10 years, but with a huge lapse in time, had two dinners there recently and was happily surprised that not only did things stay the same, they actually got better!!!! The food was absolutely amazing last night. My party of four ordered the steak, Chicken Fried Chicken , The meat loaf, Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese, Truffle Fries and Mac & Cheese. EVERYTHING was spectacular. They even sang happy birthday to the birthday girl. Although they still have a heavy gay clientele, especially at the bar, breeders and all other would be totally comfortable with the food, the ambiance and decor. Hats off to the management and kitchen for keeping a great thing and continuing to make it better!!!
Consistently good for brunch, lunch or dinner especially in warm months when you can sit outdoors. Eating indoors if busy is too noisy unfortunately. Service is hit and miss. Servers range from quite cold and doing the bare minimum to moderately friendly and efficient. Ive been dozens of times for brunch and have never once been offered a coffee refill.
Amazing place and very helpful with gluten free options. The roasted chicken is 1/2 a chicken. It was huge and so yummy.
Everyone at the table had a great dish, from the burger, to the fish, to a salad, to the sweet potato fries, to the cheese quesadilla.They had several beers on tap, as well as a bunch of interesting cocktails. Service was great, and very attentive. We will definitely go there again, when in the neighborhood.
Al Fresco was wonderful. Had a great chicken sandwich, while my niece had 2 huge waffles. Will definitely visit again. Price was very reasonable for the amount of food we received.
Really great food and drinks. I love the spinach enchiladas with a skinny margarita. Note: My friend and I wanted to eat outside as we have in the past, but their outside seating was full. Its quite busy in a Friday evening!
Wonderful service! Great food! Lots of fun if youre a happy person.
Good portion sizes and friendly atmosphere. Their in-house made sodas are lovely. Had the tuna burger and it was a little more bread than tuna than I would have preferred, but still yummy. My friend had the steak, and wow that was so delicious!
Decent brunch place in Chelsea with friendly staff! We waited just about 10 minutes and got a nice table outside, which we were delighted with. Their drinks are reasonably priced and the food is pretty decent as well! Would come back!
Service was very good, waiter was attentive and gave great suggestions. Cocktails were strong and flavorful. Eggs Benedict was very good and the hollandaise was tops. English muffin was very tough though.
Always a great place to visit for consistent meals. Love the fried chicken sandwhich, and of course the parmesan truffle fries. Great people watching as well and a cute and friendly staff. Elmo is always on the list of places to eat in NYC!
First time eating at Elmos in more than a a decade and first time eating in a restaurant in over three months. Great skinny fries. Burger ordered medium-rare and delivered well done. Waiter never stopped by to check on food. What a disappointing experience.
I asked my waiter, Joey, for a recommendation. He said that meat loaf and fried chicken were the 2 most popular dinners. I couldnt decide and asked him to order for me. He sent the chicken. It was amazing! It looked so good it started a conversation from the table next to me. Great food and unexpected friendship.
Went in for brunch on Saturday and it was great. Great atmosphere and John was our waiter he was great as well. I had the Elmo big breakfast and it was amazing. It was just the right amount of food for this plate. I thought it was going to be overwhelming but not at all, i had a little bit of everything. I will be back soon. Great service. Thanks! You must try!
This place is fine. Not more and not less. The food is ok, eatable. But cocktails are pretty good. Anyway the price and quality match. So they are not showing off that they have best kitchen in NYC :) if you want to have a drink with your friends and a couples of bites, so it’s a right place if you are in the area
Great brunch. Excellent service and wonderful view of the street life. Perfect before a matinee at The Joyce Theater.
Reasonably priced and pretty good food. Big space - good for bigger parties, especially in An area where it’s hard to fit a group bigger than four. The truffle fries, chicken wings and the mussels are delicious - great to share. The apps were better than the entrees.
I was exploring the restaurants on Teddys guide and this one was near my area so I went to check it out. The food and drinks are great. The portions are just the amount you need. The customer service is amazing. I really enjoyed my time.
We stumbled across this restaurant after the restaurant we were expecting to go to was full. We were happy to find Elmo. The atmosphere was vibrant and had great art pieces. Service was very attentive and VERY friendly. Food was FANTASTIC!! Lobster mac n cheese actually had nice chunks of lobster. Chicken club, chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes were excellent. I cant say anything negative about Elmo. We would definitely return when in NY again!!
One of my favorite tried and true Chelsea spots...that are still standing! I always get the salmon BLT with at least two blood orange cosmos! This place NEVER disappoints me. Waiters are also pretty cute ...so its a win-win situation.
Had the Watermelon Salad - refreshing and delicious. Chatted with the woman next to me who owns a burlesque restaurant here in the city. Thats another review. Elmos is a 10.
The host was super nice and friendly. Although crowded, we didnt have to wait more than 2 minutes to be seated. We had the mac & cheese and the truffle french fries, and a strawberry and a pomegranate lemonade: everything was amazing! Our waiter David was great too.
Weve been coming to Elmo since 2006 and we have never been disappointed. The food and service have always been consistent. It really feels like the 1950s with the furniture...in a good way. The breakfast burritos are so good! I always have to tweak it and tell them no crumble cheese. The guac and tomatillo that comes with the burritos is delicious. The mac is so good! When here with buddies, we usually order the tower...thats such a cool way to do apps. I suggest getting the half chicken entree; its so delicious.
We ordered the classic Mac and cheese and a sampler plate consisting of onion rings, sweet and spicy wings, and a cheese quesadilla. The food was really tasty and wonderful. The vibe is really excellent. It was nice when we were there, the ambience is just fantastic. One of the best restaurants on the Seated platform.
Elmo does not disappoint! Ive been here several times a month the past year with various parties (dates, friends, business associates, visitors) and, whilst each experience is different, the food is consistently delicious and the service impeccable---not just Disney impeccable, but Three-Star Michelin Restaurant Rating impeccable. Case in point: Ricotta Pancakes. I can always taste the Ricotta. Deliciously fluffy and filling. As a bonus, the maple syrup tastes like, well...REAL MAPLE. Clearly makes other places offering the same dish look like a budget hotel breakfast bar. We never wait long for a drink to be offered or refreshed. In fact, one waitress recently noticed my mimosa looking dark and took it back to get one with more champagne. Water never gets fully empty; always refilled. This attention to detail plus the awesome food will keep you coming again and again. Wouldnt be surprised to see an Elmo open in a high-end casino in Vegas some day.
Cute place for dinner before going out. Good energy, very gay. It could be a little loud, so keep that in mind. Great American foos.
Love everything here. Great staff, the best food and great location Ive been here for brunch and for dinner and Everytime I come I try my best to order something different. The truffle fries are something I get Everytime though- so delicious. Staff gives great recommendations and gave my friend cake when we went to celebrate her birthday. Drinks are pricey but strong and delicious.
Always love it here. Great atmosphere and staff. Love the 🍛 food and drinks too! ❄️Winter they bring out the Bleu cheese stuffed olives...yes...for my 🍸🍸🍸 Martini(s)! What better way to ward off the chilly NYC air?!
Good service tasty food, good drinks, friendly staff, especially to server Krystal who found my ear bud, she definitely did the extra mile in customer service. A very pleasant place to have dinner with friends . I really like the ambiance. FRANCISCO V
This is a great spot for brunch in Chelsea, with a huge gay clientele.The drinks are good - even a bit to the strong side, and the food is generally good, although I have to recommend steering clear of the pancakes. Theyre rather dry and thick, not fluffy like a pancake should be. On the other hand, the omelettes are excellent.The service can be spotty, but its generally friendly.
This place has gotten better over the years as Chelsea has become less popular in general. It used to be a mad house getting a table, the music was too loud, and the service was just ok. But now that much of the clientele has moved to HK, this place has had to step up. Its much easier to get a table, and the food and service is a lot better. The music is really understated, and my table of three had no trouble hearing the our conversation. Sometimes no longer being trendy or popular is a good thing.
Incredible and friendly service for a party of 17! Incredible food and drinks, I got the black & blue mojito to drink and the truffle fries with the chicken tacos all off the charts. Also tried the tuna tartar, short rib, lobster Mac&cheese and the wings, literally all incredible! Highly recommend to anyone.
Always a fun spot. Good food, good drinks, good staff, and good atmosphere. Highly recommend for a fun night out.
Food was very good. Service not so. Asked for the check to be split and that was well above the waiters capabilities. After identifying which food was to be charged to which card (name and last 4 digits of card), waiter still got it wrong and I ended up paying the higher amount. And then when I saw it on my credit card, it was even higher. Seriously, maybe dishwasher is a more appropriate job. Anything that doesnt require basic math.
I went here with some friends for a dinner. Overall great experience! Wine is inexpensive for the bottle and pretty good quality. Entrées were all delicious- I got Lobster Mac n Cheese and it was amazing. Service was also friendly and attentive. Would definitely recommend!
My husbands drink got spiked here. Wont be going back in a hurry.
Meatloaf Elmos in Chelsea. 😋If you live in the Tri State area Elmo is a trendy LGBT restaurant in the heart of Chelsea. The food is always amazing and the vibe is always electric while music is playing in the background. The meatloaf is a classic at Elmo and served over mash potatoes in a delicious glaze.#christianfrazier #4thofjuly #4thofjulyweekend #nyc #chelsea #manhattan #newyorkcity #nycrestaurants #nyceats #ongooglemaps #lgbtcommunity #lgbtqinfluencer #lgbttravel #travel #restaurants #sundayvibes #sunday #brunching
Beautiful art, both upscale and comfort food. Delicious drinks and friendly service. Elmos does have restrooms (they are down a flight of stairs). The walls open up on those perfect summer evenings, mixing indoors with outdoors while still being comfortable.
Love the restaurant and the food service is great
Great service and a beautiful day. Sat outside and had brunch. Wife had Avocado toast, which she said was delicious and I had the Açaí bowl which was so refreshing and tasty. Will return next time during evening for drinks. We were there early afternoon 8/26/18.
Great place , host greeted me I said I reserved a table with my name , he was quick to seat us, seconds later waitress was their to serve us with helpful tips and we enjoyed our meal. Fresh , tasty , and good size portions for the right price. I enjoyed my experience here. Good service , great food and a quick experience with no wait at all. Thanks Elmo on 7th! I will be coming back again.
I like! While the menu is limited, the options vary in flavor(just right), textures, styles and, generous portions. The atmosphere was mildly eclectic 60s/70s/80s and positive. Pleasant staff was not as concientous as expected but did make a couple of visits to assure we werent in need. Well return on our next visit.
Havent been here in a while. After my experience, I remember why I should not patronize Elmo.It appears to be a crowded restaurant/lounge. There are long waits for tables, even if you have a reservation. The ambiance is dated and lackin considering how close the tables are together. Not a place to come for a meal. Or an intimate date.The price for food is not reflective in the service my party received. Our server was inconsistent at best. She appeared to be new as she didnt know the basics about the food or cocktails.Nobody seemed to care - patrons or staff. Which is how I feel about this visit. I dont care to ever return.
Came here last night before heading to Gotham Comedy Club, my partner and I were seated almost immediately. The place started out sparsely populated, but became more popular as the night went on. As for atmosphere, Elmos gave off nostalgic chic vibes of the 60s and 70s. Nothing really stood out to me on the menu, which surprised me because I am not usually picky. I asked the waiter what he thought I should get and he was helpful in assisting my choice: I had the fish tacos, my partner had the steak frites, and we started out with the short rib empanadas. I liked the empanadas, but not enthusiastically. My dish was so-so, tasted like something I could get anywhere else (and better), but my partner enjoyed theirs--- to me, this place is nothing to go tell everyone about at home or recommend unless someone is on a budget (this place did not have outrageous prices) or is really finicky with their meal as the menu choices include nothing very interesting. I would not go back especially when there are so many other places with so much more to offer, maybe a more daring menu or, should their menu be all safe items, at least have the ingredients be more exceptional or include something that just adds that last kick to make the dish stand out. I imagine this place is popular because of location and the atmosphere vs the actual execution of the concept in entirety.
A delightful, inconspicuous secret, hidden in broad daylight. For years they have had an impressive menu selection, awesome appetizers and cocktails that will have you ordering a second. Ambiance, music and service have always been excellent, day and night. Keep this spot on your goto when friends come into town or to just have a romantic evening.
Food took a bit long but the waiters were friendly and attentive and look like they came off the front cover of mens fitness. All in all great ambiance and good times. Also the food was delicious. Id recommend you visit here.
Local gay spot in Chelsea...one of the last few left. The food is just ok and the drinks are fine. Really wish they had better wine options by the glass that listed where the wine was produced. Overall, there are better restaurants within a block or two to choose from.
Food is dry and overcooked. Asked for a burger medium and it came well done and terribly dry. To top it off, the bun must have sat out for a couple days, it was rock hard even after sitting in dressing and burger grease. My pickle was limp and discolored and the salad with house dressing was tasteless. Sorry, never again; $19 burger should taste better than fast food at very minimum. Saw previous posts where owner replies to negative comments, suggests they had an off day, Due to that you can see there is no accountability, even after many poor reviews. Change is needed before I choose to return, even tho it is on the same block I work :/Avoid until change.
Tables are a bit crowded, so you get a little of everyone elses conversation and only about half of your own. The service and food were good, though.Id go back, after happy hour somewhere.
My husband and i used to go here often when he lived in the city several years ago, weve also been here once in a while with friends and had a great time. Last night we decided to go here for dinner since we had tickets to a comedy show down the street and thought is would be a good place to grab dinner beforehand. Honestly we both left feeling underwhelmed. The food wasnt that good and was overpriced. I got the endive and pear salad to start and it honestly wasnt fresh tasting. The endive had a wimpy texture and the gorgonzola was gloopy (not crumbly like i expected) The flavors didnt marry well. My husband got the tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons (sounds amazing right?) Well honestly the soup tasted like it was from a can and the grilled cheese croutons were soggy. Our entrees were good, I cant speak for my husbands dish which he said was ok, but i got the salmon with butternut squash purée. It was actually delicious, however the squash was cold and the salmon piping hot.. and there wasnt much food on the plate. It came with brussels sprouts which i love, but there were probably a total of 20 leaves on the whole plate... no actual brussels sprouts which was disappointing. Not a $24 plate if you ask me. Anyway the bill came to $170, and my husband left in a bad mood. We can get a much better meal other places in the city for that (or in Montclair NJ which is where we came from). I cook almost daily and i know what fresh good food should taste like. There are much better restaurants in the city so dont waste your time. Overall, not up to par. We will not come back.
Food is ok. The chicken on the grain salad was dry and seemed old. Their solution to that was to add more sauce. The service was good, but I couldnt help but feel like the staff wasnt thrilled to be there or excited to be serving customers.
So fun. Good food. Fabulous food, drinks and staff. Wish there was one in LA.
Truffles fries were the only good item we ate. Lobster salad was tasteless, too much mayo. No seasoning on fish in fish tacos. Nice waitress ( hence 2 stars)
Was here last week for brunch. The service impeccable. Some food was good and some not. The burger patties seem to be overcooked but my eggs benedict was perfect. A lot of eye candy.
What a great place. Service was exceptional and food was delicious.
Love this place. Extremely gay friendly, the food is very good and the wonderful ambiance make it the perfect spot for a Sunday brunch. Highly recommended.
Good food, some unique items, knowledgeable and professional wait staff. Generous portions.
Fantastic American Food. Great service and atmosphere
Pretty meh all around. Dont get me wrong, it wasnt bad by any means, but theres nothing exceptional about the food I had here. It does have a cool club-ey feel to it, though. And, no complaints to be had about the service.I started with the Brussels sprouts as an appetizer. They were fine, just really typical, oven-roasted Brussels sprouts. They were a little soggy, I usually like my Brussels sprouts to be fresher, with less oil and still firm. For an entree, I had the short rib. Again, it wasnt bad, but it wasnt exceptionally delicious. The food just seemed to lack any unique flavor.The cocktail program could also stand to have some new life breathed into it. I had the spicy pear margarita and the apple sidecar. Both were, again, just meh.Overall, its not a bad place, really. Its got a nice vibe, but I wouldnt spend my money on dinner here. It seems to have a pretty active bar, so any return trips Id make would just be for that. The food just needs to have some new flavors brought into it. I could get a similar meal at a diner for half the price. In a market like NYC, restaurants really have to stand out, and I guess I just dont get what makes this place unique or special?
I love the ambiance. The food was amazing and so were the drinks. The staff is so sweet and attentive. I definitely will be coming back here!
Pleasant. The food was good, the service unobtrusive, the decor simple elegance with a touch of modernism.
A lot of healthy options for dinner and to share, chicken burger was very flavorful and came with a large side salad. Drinks were good (blood orange cosmo) so overall a good dinner out.
The atmosphere is trendy casual. Brunch is lovely here. It is a beautiful space for a restaurant and the food is very good. There is a downstairs lounge for entertainment on Saturdays. Mostly gay clientele observed
Fried calamari had light, crisp batter. steak (of steak frites) was nothing special. chicken fried chicken was quite good, with-again-good batter. good coffee but dry chocolate cake. service was above average and friendly. very very loud. but fun.
Exceptional food and drinks! Will definitely go back!!!
Decent food, if a bit over priced. Everything was good enough for an enjoyable meal, but not really memorable enough to recommend. And this goes for the cocktails as well as the meal. It also felt loud inside and was not an ideal restaurant to be able to have a conversation over dinner.
I went to Elmo on two separate occasions for my trip to NYC and I cannot recommend it enough. The service was amazing and the food and drinks were great!
Food is great, service is very good, beer was nice and cold! Pleasant afternoon!
This place is nothing more than okay. To start with, tables are way too close to each other to the point you have to pull the whole table out to be able to sit down.As for the food, we had the meatloaf and chicken breast. The chicken breast was really dry and taste less and was basically a chicken salad and for 19 dollars. A huge flop.We had cocktails and they were fine. Nothing to write home about.We went there on October 2016
Its a nice place, drinks around $ 15-18 food was decent. Its a friendly alternative.
Went there for lunch! The bar staff, the wait staff, and the menu options were perfect for a leisurely catch up! The food was very tasty and the menu options were very diverse
Delicious food, awesome terrace and nice employees. However, limited vegetarian/no vegan options on the menu unfortunately.
Great staff. Very helpful and kind.Food was fresh and tasted great 👍 👌
Very good fresh food ! took the Chicken paillard, it was very good but leaving you a bit hungry. If you look very good food it is usually the case.The wines are really good but too expensives. The food price is good for what you eat!Waiters are really nice and effective.
Just hosted my surprise engagement party at Elmo! David who manages the lounge is incredibly kind and considerate and worked with me to make sure my event was successful. I had over 80 guests and not one complaint. The lounge was set up perfectly, the blood orange cosmos were excellent, and the meatloaf and mac and cheese were a big hit! The DJ was attentive and client focused and ensured everything ran smoothly. So glad that I picked Elmo for my special day and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Terrible service. Took an hour for appetizers and they forgot one of the groups main dish. No check in on how we were doing so we had to flag somebody down to tell them. Finally got his dish after 2 hours then they forgot about us again and we had to chase someone down again to pay. Food was mediocre.
I have been here too many times to count for work and Im not particularly a fan. However, I love love love their Harissa Crispy Cauliflower. I recently went by because I needed to have a quick lunch meeting and I actually suggested this place against my better judgement. The meal was subpar as usual and the service was slower than I have ever experienced (30 min for two salads?) but the real kicker was that they changed the recipe for the cauliflower completely and made no mention of it. When I brought it to my waiters attentions, Im looked at like Im crazy. Seriously it would have taken a second to say FYI we changed the recipe. That was the only saving grace of this place for me and now I really have no reason to come back (unless forced by work). Oh and if you were a fan like I was of the cauliflower, please note that it no longer comes with the breading thus no longer making it the Harissa crispy cauliflower you may have loved but instead a bowl full of whole cauliflower chunks that are not bite sized sprinkled with Harissa.
Busy, noisy but food and staff are very good, look good and efficient. No lazy waiters or servers here. Food is pretty good for an establishment and has kept pace with the clientele for many years
Great restaurant in a perfect location. Amazing service--Victor is a Rock-Star waiter! The restaurant has an upscale feel with casual decor. The food is amazing, and portions are large. A great place for large groups.
They were not busy. Service definitely could have been better. Saw our server kn his cell phone while we had empty drinks. Food was good and quick.
Food was great. Service was great. Presentation was great. No wonder its busy. You might think its noisy, but thats because people are enjoying the place. A must try.
An really great brunch experience! I had the fried chicken sandwich, and it was delicious! Service was very fast, and the staff were friendly and accommodating, without being overbearing.
The food is excellent and the service not bad, but sometimes I have felt like I wasnt cool enough to be there, and the service reflected that. If you like hip places, though, this is a good one. Its a bit on the loud side.
Great spot for drinks and apps. The truffle fries were delicious!
Cute place. The food is good and there are a few cute waiters. Love the music they play. I also enjoy their drinks!Overall-- Easy breezy place that has some class to it!
Vey cute restaurant! the brunch is pretty good and amazing atmosphere. The staff is super friendly!
Great food, swift and friendly service just the way you like it on a busy Summer Sunday. I had a bloody mary and the eggs nova and it was delish! Honestly one of the better brunches Ive had in all of NYC.
Always a solid choice in Chelsea. Reliable food and well crafted drinks at affordable (for Manhattan) prices.
Cute restaurant!! Awesome location. Great food ,and service.
The food is good and simple, and the signature cocktails are amazing. Along with that, there are pleasant servers and an enjoyable atmosphere.
Great service, amazing drinks and food. Very cute staff
This is my go-to spot for a date night, dinner w friends, birthdays--anytime we want good vibes, yummy cocktails and great food. The wait staff are also 🔥😉
We brought a co-worker here for a birthday lunch. Pricey for a lunch spot but the food was tasty. Good drinks as well and they werent watered down.
Great food. I went in for late breakfast and it was awesome. I had the lemon ricotta pancakes- incredible. Would definitely go back to this chic spot... Id love to try dinner.
I ordered a burger with no sauteed onions and add bacon. My burger came out with onions all over it and no bacon, after what seemed like forever our server came over and asked how is everything? I pointed out what was wrong, he said sorry I will fix it. Amazing how fast my new burger came out in like 2 min, so I looked under the bun, it was the same patty, only scraped off old cheese and onions, then put back on the grill!! It was burnt . After about 10 minutes he came and checked to see if this was ok( I knew he was avoiding me, hoping I would just eat it) I expressed my displeasure and unprofessionalism of the whole situation and he asked me would you like a fresh one? Yes I did , like 40 min ago! Will not go back, no Mgr came to check on us, this is an NYC nightmare.
Attended a friends bday party in the downstairs private lounge. Great dance floor with cozy conversation areas and small bar. A good time was had by all!
Always great food and staff
The blond waitress was fantastic, wines by the glass not even drinkable, I trie the Cab first and was oxydased and old, once sent back the Mabec was even worst... Food was so so but great ambience.
Very loud. And THEN the do started playing music! Had a hard time hearing my dinner companions conversation. Food was good. Recommend the Elmo Bites feature for appetizers.
Great place to have brunch, restaurant staff are very friendly and cute as Wells as Costumers, a lot of good lucking men
I love the vibe here and the French fries! I just wish they had more vegan options. Just 1 main dish would be exceptional!
Friendly staff, stiff drinks and delicious menu options, always a good time!!!!
Randomly stopped in for brunch. I had huevos rancheros, a pear Bellini and a bloody mary. The pear bellini had a good flavor but was fairly sweet. The bloody Mary was excellent. They dust the rim with a chili lime seasoning that was delicious. The huevos rancheros was good. The potatoes were a tad overcooked in my opinion and they also fry the tortillas for the dish. I typically prefer soft corn tortillas for this dish.
Elmo is a pretty popular restaurant in the Chelsea area....too bad the food & service do not live up to the hype. The service at the bar is sub-par and the food tastes pre-made. I recently went here for a birthday party and was extremely underwhelmed. I recommend checking out Cafeteria instead, which is 2 blocks away.
One of my favorite spots to hang and drink. Great Bartenders all super friendly. Amazing atmosphere with a good mix of people. Def a try
I ate everything on my plate! I got the steak frites and the steak was perfectly cooked and juicy. My waiter was gorgeous and also a gentleman. Such a great meal.
Drinks are on the expensive end but the food always pleases. A popular brunch spot for the gay locals, especially during the summer. Chicken fried chicken is delicious.
Upscale diner food with bad service and higher prices. Waited 15 minutes for waiter to acknowledge us. Never refilled water unless we asked and then we had to wait and wait. We had to wait more than 15 minutes for a check too. The place was t busy so no excuse for bad service
Good spot, great waiter
Been here for a few date nights. Dinner is good with generous portions. The environment is relaxed and casual. Try the chicken plate with quinoa. Theres a nice lounge in the basement.
It was a bit pricey compared to other similar places Ive been around there but it was very confy and staff is nice. The strawberry lemonade was too sweet for my taste so Id recommend another drink :)
Great friendly atmosphere, LGBTQIA community restaurant. Very warm, cozy and inviting. Good staff here, good drinks and appetizers!
Total reviews rating 4.3
199 Reviews for Elmo 2023:
Review №1
2022-03-10Amazing food, amazing ambiance, and amazing service. We took a chance on this restaurant while walking by it on a cold Sunday evening. As soon as we walked in we were impressed with the decor and ambiance. I ordered the grilled chicken club and my fiancé ordered the salmon nicoise salad. We both loved our food and agreed that we definitely had to come back with friends.
Review №2
2021-10-27Enjoyed every bit of it. Went there for brunch (available on weekends) and loved the whole experience. The place has a very modern chic vibe and the food was great too. Their French toast is the show stopper so it’s a must try. Taking off a star because the service was a bit slow. The place was quite busy so it could be that but it did seem slow ‘cuz at one point it seemed we were waiting for quite some time to get the entrees.
Review №3
2022-01-01Wonderful food, ambiance, and Gorgeous wait staff. One of my favorite places to eat.
Review №4
2022-07-04Great, upbeat Chelsea staple. New American fare with a diverse menu. Speciality cocktails were good. I ordered muscles in white wine. Great tasting and large portion.
Review №5
2022-03-14I had the salmon, BLT and it was so yummy. Difficult to eat, but that only made it better. The staff were friendly and attentive. My partner had a burger and fries. I dont think that burger touched his plate once once he picked it up. He ate that thing so fast I almost forgot what he ordered. So it definitely hit the spot.The tables were close, but not 6 close which was nice as well. So it was crowded without being packed, which is a big deal to me.I would definitely go back for all of it.
Review №6
2021-11-12Service was good, food very bad and mediocre. I got the chicken fried chicken. Worse chicken i had in my life. Unseasoned, very soggy, gravy was disgusting. My friend got the meatloaf. Decent nothing special about it. The place is beautiful but horrible menu.
Review №7
2022-04-30Cool vibe, friendly servers and a great mix of comfort food, seasonal and healthy options. Never had a bad meal here. The only dilemma is deciding what to order — tuna tartare, Cobb salad, burgers, fries, fish tacos, branzino all great. Really grateful it’s in the neighborhood and survived the pandemic.
Review №8
2022-07-10Excellent service. Great music Motown, 80s, and 90s selections.I enjoyed my 3 cheese mac and my order of apple sausage. I put together a yummy brunch by pairing an appetizer with a side order.
Review №9
2021-06-15We were celebrating my daughters 30th birthday. We had a great time. The food and drinks were good and the wait staff excellent. I didnt take many pictures, everyone else did.
Review №10
2022-07-12Sweet spot. Ambient lighting. Great menu options but my serving wasnt enough. I would return to try another option. I ordered salmon and my friend had the fish tacos