Grand Central Oyster Bar

The Grand Central Oyster Bar at 89 E 42nd Street occupies the lower level of Grand Central Terminal in Midtown East, Manhattan, and has served seafood since 1913. Its setting is among the most distinctive of any restaurant in New York City, beneath the Guastavino tiled vaults that are a feature of the terminal's lower concourse. The cuisine is classic American seafood, with a large menu of fresh oysters from both coasts, shellfish, fish fillets and traditional preparations. The oyster pan roast, a creamy stew of oysters cooked to order, is the emblematic dish, and fresh oysters on the half shell and New England clam chowder are the other staples. The menu also includes fried seafood, lobster, crab cakes and fish of the day. The dining spaces include a main dining room with checked tablecloths, a saloon-style side room and a long counter where guests can watch the pan roasts being prepared, and the counter is the favoured seat for a quick lunch. The atmosphere is bustling, echoing and busy with commuters and tourists, and noise levels are high. Dress is casual to business casual. The beverage programme includes a wine list with white wines suited to shellfish, beer and cocktails. Reservations are recommended for the dining room, while the counter takes walk-ins, and the restaurant typically serves lunch and dinner on weekdays and is often closed on Sunday, so days and hours should be confirmed. Prices are upper-moderate to high, with oysters priced individually and main dishes commonly costing thirty to fifty dollars. The location makes it an obvious stop for visitors touring Grand Central, the Chrysler Building and the nearby New York Public Library in New York City.