Dine Out : The Clocktower

The Clocktower, The Clocktower Review, The Clocktower Restaurant Week

When I first read about The Clocktower, I was admittedly intrigued by it's location within Ian Schrager's Edition Hotel which just happens to be in the iconic Met Life Tower building. Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Jason Atherton is behind the menu of seasonal contemporary British style cuisine in the stately David Rockwell designed space which is apparently a close replication of Berners Tavern, a popular establishment inside London's Edition Hotel.  You have to go through the lobby of the hotel and up a spiral staircase to access the restaurant which has a decidedly traditional and clubby sensibility both in decor and atmosphere. The walls of the dining rooms as well as the bar and billiards room are all lined with classic framed photographs of various creative luminaries which create quite a point of visual interest while you're dining or waiting for your table.

This was one of our Summer Restaurant Week picks because a selection of their regular menu was on offer for the event. That's my biggest RW tip btw.  Check out the menu and make sure the restaurant's usual specialties are included. We started off with the liver parfait with port, celery and pine nuts and fluke which I  had settled on after finding out the the stone fruit salad wasn't available. We went with the fish and chips and dry aged burger for our mains.  The burger was exceptional. It was dressed with Churchill sauce, a mayonnaise ketchup blend that was a flavorful complement to all the components. The fish had good taste and crunchiness but it was a tad overcooked which was a little disappointing. The mushy peas and chips were enjoyable though. We ended our meal with cherry cheesecake and compote with cocoa whipped cream and chocolate sponge cake and a coconut panna cotta with shredded mango, lime gel and piña colada sorbet which I can't really recall what we thought of. I'm really not kidding when I say that dessert has never been a priority for me. The service was very cordial and attentive. In particular, I really appreciated when a member of the staff took note of how I was shivering under the air conditioning and offered to turn it off above our table. This was a pleasant enough dining experience though it didn't exactly make much of an impression.

The Clocktower
The New York EDITION
5 Madison Avenue
New York City
212.413.4300
$$$ -$$$$

The Clocktower, The Clocktower Review, The Clocktower Restaurant Week
The Clocktower, The Clocktower Review, The Clocktower Restaurant Week
The Clocktower, The Clocktower Review, The Clocktower Restaurant Week

Clocktower Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

31 comments

Paola Lauretano said...

Wow, such a chic food presentation!!!
Kisses, Paola.

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Anonymous said...

DESSERT!

*drool face emoji*

Beauty Unearthly said...

Nice selection! I wish you happy day! xx

Jackie Harrison said...

I'm intrigue by everything this restaurant has to offer the decor outstanding the food presentation amazing I bet delicious. Great pictures.

Lilli said...

The food looks very tasty and delish, I like how is served too, very chic! Kisses Rowena xo

Coco said...

This place looks very... English doesn't it? What a peculiar choice of dishes, remarkably cooked J must say! Baci, Valeria - Coco et La vie en rose FASHION & BEAUTY

Pilar said...

This restaurant looks very upscale and that Dessert looks delicious!

Lena L said...

I went to Clocktower last year for brunch once. This restaurant left me with a similar impression - nothing to fault but nothing amazing that I'd come back for more. I hear this place is still quite popular for power(?) business lunch.

FASHION TALES said...

That's too bad about the overcooked fish. Seafood is the easiest to cook but also the easiest to scratch up. Aside from it generally being a tad underwhelming the interiors look quite inviting. I love pea mash, very traditional in that respect. Thanks for sharing, Rowena! x

little luxury list said...

Yum, I'm craving a good burger now! I love restaurant week and this sounds like it was a great pick. I didn't even realize there were restaurants in the Met Life building!

Miharu Julie said...

amazing photos
the food looks yummy

new post
www.miharujulie.com

Emmylou said...

Oh wow! Look at that presentation. That burger does sound/look pretty fantabulous, Rowena:) And I'm really digging the decor of the restaurant itself, and that's great to hear that the service is pretty good as well. Admittedly, I am not really a food connoisseur, as I'm happy eating at fast food places most of the time, but if I will indulge, this looks like a good place to go to:D

Kasztanowy Domek said...

Lovely post! Kisses:)

xxBasia

Anonymous said...

I can read between the lines that you have mixed feelings about this experience. The food looks nice though!

ANOUK

Unknown said...

I love Restaurant Week! It's the perfect time for me to try out pricier restaurants I wouldn't normally be able to afford. This place sounds amazing! I was drooling when you mentioned the burger and got even hungrier when I scrolled down to the photos lol

Mili | Sharmtoaster

GlamourZONE said...

The foodlooks so delicious
I love love the pictures

ALLIE NYC said...

Well I have to say the presentation is beautiful but food has to taste good too. That is disappointing. And air conditioning in winter?? I HATE that I have gone to places that do that I will not return.

Allie of
www.allienyc.com

Shyscout said...

Your writing about the food had me drooling, funny that it didn't make much of an impression. The photos of the food are lovely, however :]

Shireen L. Platt said...

I love it when the restaurant staffs are attentive to little details and good for him/her to notice that you were cold. It's the little things like that which make a whole world of difference to the whole dining experience.

Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

tr3ndygirl influencer e fashion blogger said...

very chic place
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Lenya said...

Sorry to hear it was disappointing, overcooked food is nothing one should expect in such a beautiful place. Bad thing. But the place looks inviting, that's for sure. Happy holidays, Rowena.
xox
Lenya
FashionDreams&Lifestyle

sonia // daring coco said...

Well that's service. I don't I've ever been somewhere and felt annoyed by air con only to have staff offer to turn it off. Shame the entire experience didn't wow. The burger sounds delicious though and being a total dessert fiend those photos have me drooling.

Sxx
www.daringcoco.com

Jo Rashi said...

Such a comfy place and food looks delicious. Wonderful post! Have a great day!
Beauty and Fashion Freaks

Effortlesslady said...

As always you capture the food well. looks so yummy!
www.effortlesslady.co

Blackswan said...

Fabulous ambience, dear! Happy holidays! xoxo

Gabrielle said...

Ah, I've lost count of the amount of meals I've spent shivering haha - how nice of them to notice and turn off the air conditioning above you! The decor of the place looks very special, though I'm sorry to hear you didn't find the experience spectacular. The burger sure looks tasty though ;)

aglassofice.com
x

Elle Sees said...

Looks nice but looks like I'd skip it!

Gingi said...

I just LOVE your photos.. they capture the feel and atmosphere of the place so perfectly! <3 - http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com

Kelsey&Kenecha said...

The design of this place is stunning!

Merry Christmas doll x
Florals&Smiles

Lindsey Elyse said...

Wow that place looks amazing and the food looks even better. It's a hard thing for a chef to get a michelin star, so that's really saying something!

Lindsey Elyse | lindseyginge

A Very Sweet Blog said...

The decor is lovely! Sounds like it was just ok. Which is ashame. There food should be above par.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/