Peacock Alley
“It's hard to imagine anywhere else I can get all-you-can-eat caviar, beef Wellington, lobster tails and oysters of uniformly excellent quality.”
“You have giant lobster claws & tails, a guy shucking fresh oysters and clams non-stop & 3 kinds of caviar!”
“I wasn't expecting Oscar of the Waldorf at a Sunday buffet, but I wasn't expecting Oscar the Grouch either.”
Peacock Alley
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Coat Check: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
8 reviews
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I really really wanted to love this place, and I am happy I got to experience it, but I just expected more. We made a reservation on open table that we had to secure with a credit card a couple of weeks in advance. We had a 1230 reservation for 4 people and arrived on time, but still had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. The host who was taking people's names wasn't as friendly as you would expect someone to be in this kind of establishment.
Once we were seated our server came over and gave us some coffees and told us we were free to go up to the buffet. The buffet has a great array of food, from salad, soups, meats, cheese, bread, seafood, breakfast such as eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, eggs Benedict, and than lunch/dinner foods such different cuts of meats, pasta, a few selections of Asian food, and a massive dessert section.
I started with the Waldorf salad, cheese and crackers. The Waldorf salad was delicious, and my favorite thing there. I also tried an egg white omelette that is made to order and some of the best thick cut bacon I've ever had. I tried a piece of beef Wellington and pasta which was ok. The beef was dry and the pasta was lukewarm and tasteless, but after this I was sooo full I had to rest before I could even think about dessert, which was okay because the other people I was with were still eating.
The dessert table was great. The selection of desserts they had could satisfy anyone's cravings. I took a little bit of this and a little bit of that to taste as much as I could. My favorite thing was the chocolate fondu fountain, but the churros they had to go with it were so stale. We were able to get one slice of red velvet cake before they ran out, which sucked because we heard that's what they are known for, so not everyone was able to try it.
All in all, it was a nice day out, but I wouldn't rush to go back. After the first time our server came by we would go long intervals of time without seeing him, and the food was good but nothing out of this world. When the bill comes to over $500 for 4 people, you just expect a bit more.
Expensive drinks, slow service, over-cooked burger.
The lobby at the Waldorf can be a pretty busy place, and the Peacock's prime location in the lobby makes it a target for several visitors. I recommend using OpenTable to make sure you have a reservation for seating and get you a table more quickly.
After being seated, it took approximately 15 minutes for attention from a server. In defense of the restaurant, they were busy, so maybe it was warranted. However, the slow service experience continued through the entire dining experience. Typically, I can judge by the fact that as soon as the server stops by to check in I'm asking for the check in the interest of not being held hostage at an establishment any longer than my current captivity.
Cocktails here are expensive. Glasses of wine are over $15 and cocktails are around $20 each. They're signature cocktail "The Peacock" is light and refreshing, garnished with an apricot. My wife was a fan of this for her liquid lunch. Price for value is off, but it's New York and it's the Waldorf, so it can pretty much be expected.
Since I'm a fan of a more substantial lunch, I ordered their burger. Since I must avoid gluten, they were able to substitute the bread for the gluten free variety. However, I was unable to get a clear answer on whether or not the fries came from a shared frier from my server. I'm assuming they're safe based on the lack of breaded frier items on the menu, but you know what happens when you assume. Moreover, I requested the burger to be cooked medium and it met all the requirements of well-done, which is a disappointment, but I ate it anyway. As my mother says, "there are starving kids in the world."
Peacock Alley has the location-location-location thing nailed with the captive audience in the historic Waldorf Astoria, but failed to offer much more in terms of service and experience.
Peacock Alley is located in the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria so you can see the grandeur and activity of the hotel lobby. The service was good even though it was busy. There was a very good singer/pianist playing on the night we were there. We ordered a couple of Old Fashioned. The drinks and environment made it feel like stepping into an episode of Mad Men. The sliders and duck tapas were well prepared. It was a great place to have a drink and a bite before we headed to the jazz club for the night.
Living in New York City for the past decade plus, I've often passed by certain landmarks without ever actually exploring them. So when I was invited to a breakfast meeting at Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria hotel, I was really excited to have an excuse to poke around in such a legendary NYC establishment.
The restaurant is located on the main level near the lobby, across from the registration desk. It is an open space, presumably so one can "see and be seen," but still provides some privacy for business meetings and private conversations.
We were seated in a half booth in the front of the restaurant and had a very nice waiter, who provided excellent service throughout our meal. I very much enjoyed my Scrambled Eggs and Crispy Bacon, and understand that the restaurant serves a massive (and pricey) Sunday brunch. I will have to put that on my bucket list, just for the experience.
If you want an over the top, expensive, glitzy, old New York experience….this is the place. We came for the famous Sunday Brunch. The price is $100 a person and that does not include alcohol. You do get what you pay for: lobster, crab, clams, oysters, caviar, filet, beef wellington, gourmet cheeses, lobster mac and cheese, bisque, omelet station, and a dessert bar that will knock your socks off. Our waiter was very attentive and we had the pleasure of listening to a professional harpist play during our meal.
For $125/person (not including gratuity), I was expecting a large selection of high quality food. I could've taken that $125 and brunched like a king elsewhere. The selection was disappointing, the seafood did not taste fresh, the lobster bisque tasted sweet/caramelly, the Waldorf salad was mediocre, and the mini pastries were disappointing. I really looked forward to trying the Sunday brunch at Peacock Alley, but the brunch buffet was not worth $125. Brunch is my favorite meal of the day and this place just made me very sad.
Stopped by for a drink before dinner with friends before heading out to dinner. Some of the most expensive cocktails I've ever seen ranging from $18-$25 a pop, but at least they were enjoyable.
My wife had the peacock and I had the Robert Burns, which was blended scotch whisky, cinzano rosso sweet vermouth, benedictine liqueur, emile pernot 'vieux pontarlier' absinthe and was a boozy drink in the vein of a manhattan or old fashioned.
Not a destination, but nice cocktails if you're nearby.
If you've ever wondered where the "posh people who are inexplicably still bartenders" work, it's here…at Peacock Alley in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. Twelve bucks for a beer and a sneer.