There are very few bars in New York City that are packed to the brim by 6:30PM on a weekday evening, even in New York’s corporate Midtown and Downtown areas. However, Park Avenue Tavern, located in Midtown East, is a bustling spot for after-work drinks and dinner. Its prime location next to Grand Central makes it easy to get to by subway, and the tavern is very popular with the Midtown corporate crowd. The upscale American cuisine is delicious and there are plenty of options for everyone; in fact, there is an entirely separate gluten free menu. Plus, the staff is super knowledgeable and accommodating when it comes to allergies and dietary restrictions. The only problem at Park Ave Tav is picking out what to order…and I think that’s a good problem to have!…
My friend and I added dinner to our post-work drinks last week, and to start, we ordered the cheese board and fries. The cheese board consisted of three yummy cheeses with grapes, honey, and jam. You definitely can’t go wrong with ordering the fries as well! If you’re in the mood to snack, the marinated olives are also a perfect supplement to your appetizer. For my main I ordered the Tavern salad with seasonal greens, fennel, red onion, parmesan, and lemon-truffle vinaigrette, with the addition of salmon. My friend ordered the roasted pork chop with broccoli rabe, sweet potato croquette, and peach ginger jalapeno jam-a gluten free dish that she claimed was pretty amazing. If you’re in the mood for something spicy, go for the pepper-jack stuffed Amish chicken breast with tequila-jalapeno sauce, and if you’re a vegetarian, you should try the beet and goat cheese salads with pistachios! Finish your meal off with the lemon curd with berries, or the creme brulee from the dessert menu, and you’re in for one heck of a meal.
Park Ave Tavern is the perfect spot to grab a drink and shmooze with fellow young professionals. They are open until 4am so I’ll definitely be back for some late night eats… especially for more of those french fries… With good food, a great post-work scene, and a cool crowd, Park Avenue Tavern should absolutely be included in your rotation of Midtown hotspots.