Before the holidays, my mom came out to visit me for a girls’ weekend in the city. As is typical for a girls’ weekend, we did a few fashion-y activities, and saw a Broadway show, but mostly we ate at fabulous restaurants and just enjoyed spending time with each other.

One of those restaurants is a favorite lunchtime spot of mine, Bryant Park Grill.

It probably comes as no surprise that Bryant Park Grill is located right along Bryant Park, so you have gorgeous views of the park right outside the windows.

Or, if you sit outdoors, gorgeous views everywhere you look.

Since Bryant Park Grill is in the heart of Midtown, most of its lunchtime clientele are businessmen and businesswomen who don’t have the luxury of lingering over their meal. So the food is served quickly and efficiently, and you can take as long or as little of a lunch break as you’d like.

My mom and I weren’t in a rush, so by the time we left the lunchtime crowd had already cleared out.

I mean really, when you’re sitting at a perfect table like this one, why would you rush?!

For starters we both ordered the Clam Chowder which was on special that day. My mom and I love clam chowder, and consider ourselves connoisseurs, so we have a lot of expertise behind us when I say that we weren’t particularly impressed with it. It was much too runny, and didn’t really taste like anything.

For my main course I selected the Chicken Pot Pie which was also a special that day.

Sadly, it wasn’t that great either. My favorite part about chicken pot pie is the crust, and how gooey it gets when soaked by the filling. This dish completely skipped the best part!

My mom’s main course was good, however.

Ever since we went to Park City and ate here, she’s loved crab towers. So she ordered the Seafood Salad Parfait off the menu. This dish comes with sashimi tuna, smoked salmon, shrimp, jumbo lump crab, cucumber, avocado, smoked tomatoes, spicy tartar sauce and a grilled baguette.

I normally enjoy the food at Bryant Park Grill, but I didn’t like the specials I ordered this time. So maybe that’s the key – if you eat here, make sure you order off the menu, like my mom did, because those dishes are tried and true!

Regardless, it’s a beautiful location for a restaurant, and a great place to pop into during your lunch hour, or to spend more time at when you have out-of-town visitors.

To find out more information about Bryant Park Grill, and make a reservation, click here.

~A