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A review on Harry's New York Bar at The Helmsley Park Lane Hotel
should of course start with Harry Helmsley himself.
There he is, above!
We wish he joined us but feel he was there in spirit.
We wish he joined us but feel he was there in spirit.
Harry's was first featured in Tasty Tidbits:
We are delighted to announce it has joined the ranks of Peachy's Picks.
The impeccable service and people involved, the strong wine and cocktail list and the pleasing cuisine have earned it a spot in this category. You should know that of course we do dinner reviews, not lunch or breakfast, and that the Park Room Restaurant is not open for dinner, so we were happy to instead frequent Harry's.
When you walk into the Helmsley Park Lane from Central park South, you can either take the elevator or the stairs and you will see this sign on the second floor. Follow it!
Restaurants are on the second floor.
Then you will see this doorway.
Walk through it!
Now you are at Harry's.
We had to check out the big dining room that we were not a part of.
This is what it looks like out the window.
That's what it looks like at a table.
And that's the dining room that's not open for dinner, but still beautiful.
The wine list at Harry's is indeed commendable and the Cabernet Sauvignon Carpe Diem was exquisite and flawless in Peachy's humble opinion. Full-bodied and deep, this is a go-to Cabernet that we like to drink with everything.
We enthusiastically sampled Mrs. Helmsley's salad: Lettuce, Dates, Goat Cheese, Olives, Tomatoes, Pine Nuts, Onions and Oregano Vinaigrette:
It is crisp, refreshing and delicious for spring. The winning combination is a creative classic unique to Harry's and we immediately felt welcome. Richard Min, assistant food and beverage manager, and Parvez Ahmed, waiter, were perfect gentlemen all evening and were the consummate professionals.
Not normally a dinner item, we were next presented with pan-seared fois gras garnished with berries and arugula in a balsamic reduction. A nice touch! We liked the berry involvement which was a winning accent.
The Sliced Smoked Salmon was Peachy's favorite dish. Caviar, fried capers, Red Onion, Chamomile Creme Fraiche was delicately arranged in a fantastic combination. The salmon was fresh and sliced at just the right thinness and the caviar was divine. If you are going in for just a drink, you absolutely should order this as well.
Richard has created quite the cocktail list (but it is missing one! and just guess who it might be named after) and Peachy tried the Purple Rain, which she would order again. Composed of Chambord, Pom Blueberry and Champagne, it was crisp and bubbly with just the right amounts of Chambord and Blueberry to accentuate the flavors.
As an entree, Peachy Deegan opted for the Grilled Chopped Steak with sauteed crimini mushrooms-which were excellent!!!-and celery root puree and Madera glace. The final touch was a slice of Mrs. Helmsley's Key Lime pie with Raspberry Coulis and the experience was complete.
Our esteemed panelist adds:
Nestled on the second floor of the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel, the entrance to Harry’s Bar is not immediately obvious, but the trip to the second floor is worth it. By day, Harry’s serves breakfast and lunch overlooking the park but by night it’s a much cosier affair. With wood panelling and mood lighting, Harry's offers the ideal spot for a quiet catch up with a friend, an intimate casual evening with a partner or even a place for an informal business dinner.
While not extensive, the menu is varied, and innovative in its selection. Mrs Helmsley features heavily, and her signature salad and key lime pie are two of the most popular choices. The salad – which has been on the menu for 40 years – includes dates, goat’s cheese, pine nuts, and olives, a combination that is light and substantial at the same time. Alongside the salad, I enjoyed the chilled seafood cocktail which comprised of mussels, shrimp and crab. Fresh and zesty, this was a generous portion of seafood and very reasonably priced at only $18.
For main, I stuck to the seafood theme and enjoyed the Atlantic Salmon Burger sliders, an original twist on what has become one of New York’s favorite dishes. Presentation was excellent and the salmon tasted as good as it looked with hummus and tomato relish offering a tastier and healthier alternative to the usual heavier condiments.
While Mrs Helmsley’s Key Lime Pie was tempting, I opted for the Homemade Pistachio Crème Brulee as recommended by our extremely efficient waiter, Parvez. It didn’t disappoint and provided the perfect round off to a flavorful, relaxing and well-priced meal.
While I didn't get the view of the park I'd hope for while I dined, the signature Park View cocktail shown below - made with vodka, ginger and fig jam - provided a more than adequate substitute and I'm looking forward to returning for lunch when I can enjoy both at the same time!
Peachy Picks Harry's New York Bar at The Helmsley Park Lane Hotel!
Harry's is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.