American Table Cafe & Bar

5 stars for the location but may be 3 stars for overall ambiance and food /​drinks options. I have been here a few times with a friend for a quick drink at the bar. A great casual hangout for early evening drinks. There is a big glass wall that gives Columbus and Broadway views. There is also a very casual outdoor seating where you can just sit but can’t eat or drink. The downside is they close pretty early. Have never tried food here but I do see a lot of people eating whenever I pass by.

Food is outrageous terrible for the price. I had the coconut rice with lentils– 14 dollars are you kidding me… It taste like uncle bens rice and the hot chocolate taste like some nasty chemically infused pretend hot chocolate. Do not come here and waste your money! Great view!!!

I had respect for Chef Marcus Samuelsson, I guess as a personality and a chef I had read about. I’ve read many reviews over the years of his establishments. I stopped in to his cafeteria at Alice Tulley Hall with a friend and was sorely disappointed. A small lump of smoked salmon on a potato chip (which was wrongly called a latke) came for $ 18. How insulting! A «pecan tart with maple whipped cream» amounted to a small pecan pie with a squirt of Redi-​Whip for $ 8. Screw you Marcus Samuelsson and every time I have to listen to your whiny persnickety judgements on CHOPPED, I will remember what a hack you actually are.

American Table has improved since it first opened. It seems to have more options and variety on offer for dinner dining. I sat at the small bar for a quick meal before going to Walter Reade Theater to see a movie. The hummus was sizable and a good complement to the Caesar salad with salmon. When you sit at the bar you see and hear all the waitstaff business so it took some effort to resist that to get into the food and experience.
It’s a handy location and nicely designed. Not a destination but a convenience in the restaurant-​starved Upper West Side neighborhood.

Nice place, great light. Coffee is a bit pricey. Just remember you’re paying for the experience

A nice ambience to be in but you pay to be here. Just stopped in to get warm on a rainy evening and was appalled that a tea bag ran for $ 4! I’d rather spend my money elsewhere.

Absolutely delectable! I enjoyed the smoked salmon on a potato pancake, it was refreshing and filling, just what I needed. Couple that with a wonderful cup of green tea, a quiet atmosphere, fun music in the background, and a good magazine, I’d visit again.

I went here for brunch and wasn’t really impressed. I tried 3 different dishes:
— granola
— fish tacos
— smoked salmon on potato pancake
The granola was way too sweet and the grapes made everything seem over acidic as well. There also wasn’t anything that interesting in terms of nuts or flavor within the granola itself. The fish tacos arrived cold and underwhelming. The fish seemed like it came out of a can and was flavored with mostly mayonnaise and not much else. The taco shell was like a dried out thin pita. As for the smoked salmon, it was generally a tasty dish but way too small to be considered an entrée or meal of any sort.
On the other hand, atmosphere was quite nice!

The location (ground floor of Alice Tully Hall), atmosphere and natural lighting of this place are wonderful. You wait on line to order, then they bring the food to your table when it’s ready. The line was very short when we visited.
I ordered smoked salmon on potato pancake, which was delicious but NOT the size of an entrée. More of an appetizer. Then I had a bacon cheeseburger, which was delicious. They only have medium and well done (don’t know why), but the medium was not overcooked.
Gave them 4 stars not five because the menu is limited and the food is good but not spectacular.

I’d love to be able to give more than two stars. But that would require them staffing the place properly (both with human staff and appliances) in order to better handle pre-​theater business. Since they do not, my experience led to wasting 15 minutes of my precious pre-​theater time, only to have to run around the corner and scarf down grocery store food while watching the clock.
The space is really nice and inviting. Spacious. Clean. Open. Lovely.
Waiting in line to order is a pain because you’re always having to step aside for passing foot traffic. They only have two kitchen staff… because they only have two convection ovens. The cashier is also the bartender… and I believe also the manager on the evening I attempted to give them business.
Looking around, portions seemed to be fine, considering the price, type of venue, and area.
I might be willing to try the place if I’m in the area with no time limitations. But, with a 15-​minute wait in line followed by a 15-​minute wait for food (which I think was an under-​estimate attempt to keep business, as there were far more orders going in than coming out of the kitchen during my wait in line), I’m far more likely to try the other sit down options within a few blocks’ radius.

Came here before a seeing chamber music at Alice Tully Hall. The place fills up quickly after 6:30 so come early. I ordered drinks/​food at the bar then is served to you via a number you’re given (ala Panera). Beef short ribs were tender and good but not spectacular. It’s good for a light meal before the show. Had two cocktails which were pretty good. Clientele before a chamber music show tends to be older (like over 65 older) but it’s a nice place to sit and have a drink and view the city through glass walls before the show. Expect to share a table if the place gets busy.

I Absolutely love this place!
Great location, atmosphere, service and food.

Braised short ribs and Salmon on potato pancake are the best items on the menu.
Good vine: Gruner Veltliner, Sparkling Gruet Brut
Perfect place for lunch.

Theoretically a good idea (upscale cafeteria style restaurant) but only OK, nothing amazing.
The cashier was actually quite unpleasant and unhelpful after I accidentally spilled part of my drink — he actually laughed in my face and implied that I was clumsy when in fact the whole thing happened because my cocktail was filled far too close to the brim…
I can let that slide, though, so onto the food. Food was good and came in huge portions — tomato soup was served with THREE pieces of grilled cheese. Cobb salad was topped with lots of crab meat but was coated in too much dressing.

Pretty good cold ramen but portions could be bigger. I really like the marinated soy egg in the dish. Nice place to hang out in Lincoln Ctr. you order at counter and they bring dish to you. The tomato soup is pricey at $ 8.50.

Nothing amazing but A-​OK.

Beef brisket, potato salad, and sourkraut — yummo. The portion is rather small so I left still hungry. While the flavor was amazing, my beef was mostly fatty trim with very little meat. Space is beautiful.

The shrimp roll is delicious! Their lemonade is homemade! I loved their spicy tomato soup (with ginger) just the right kick you need !

This soaring, light-​filled space has been our go-​to spot whenever we want a quick bite in the neighborhood. I love that you can sit at a table, at the counter, at the banquettes just inside the entry, or in the oversized red armchairs (good luck trying to snag one of those).
It’s got a limited but tasty-​enough menu. Prices are a bit expensive when you consider that there’s no real table service (you order at the counter, and they bring the food to you). Cocktails, beer, wine, hard cider are all represented.
The staff is nice but slow, or at least very relaxed. Sometimes they forget that patrons are usually on their way to a show.
After what felt like an eternity, we inquired after our food. The annoyed staffer instructed us that it takes 20 minutes to make a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of soup. [Read: Sit down and wait your damn turn.]
After half an hour, we had to leave in order to catch our film. The lovely manager gave us a full refund, but I don’t feel quite the same about American Table.

I love that Lincoln Center has updated their café at Alice Tully Hall and attached Marcus Samuelsson’s name to it. The atmosphere is cozy and the orange accents are a nice touch and reminiscent of Red Rooster.
I had the pulled pork sliders and the minuet cocktail, which is like a gin and tonic with rosemary. It is really wonderful. I also heard from an editor at Grub Street that the meatballs are good, but I didn’t see them on the menu. Service is really friendly as well. I highly recommend coming here if you are going to a concert or event at Lincoln Center and don’t feel like splurging at Lincoln.
I cant wait to go back and try other menu items. Hats off to Charlene B, the chef de cuisine.

I live in the neighborhood and it took me a long time to realize this was an eatery! I stopped in today to get out of the snow and try it out.
You walk up and order at the bar, and then they give you a number and you pick your own table. I wanted to know what the Taco Doro Wat was, and the lady behind the counter took her time explaining it to me (shredded chicken tacos, ethiopian style). I also ordered the lingonberry-​infused tea, which was delicious! The tacos were $ 12, and the glass of tea (despite being so delicious) was a hard-​to-​swallow $ 6.
My food came out pretty quickly, but I’d already downed the tea and had to go ask for a water. The tacos had a lot of meat and were filling. The meat was a little dry though.
I think the place is solid but slightly overpriced on some items. I’ll return soon and if my next food order is good I may upgrade to four stars.