Black Duck

Came here for birthday dinner and the place is underrated. It was empty on a saturday night but nice that it felt intimate. Jazz band was nice. The food was really good — highly recommend the mushroom risotto and the duck. The mussels were good. Endive salad was standard.
The food is good enough for me to come back.

This is a really solid spot for a nice traditional dinner with a modern twist.
I was looking for American cuisine last night and somehow came across the black duck while searching. It’s one of those places I’ve always kind of wanted to try but never really had a compelling reason to go. Last night I wanted something reasonably close, but different, and the Black Duck fit the bill.
I was hoping to get the short rib, but it wasn’t on the menu, so I had their short rib burger, and it was awesome. This is actually their regular burger, they don’t explicitly market it as a short rib burger, but they do say in the description that the meat is short rib. It was a nice touch, i really like short rib meat as it’s packed with flavor, and when ground up it has a really nice consistency. The bacon had a satisfyingly fragrant smokey flavor, and the cheddar had a nice sharpness without overpowering. Great quality ingredients, definitely one of the better burgers I’ve had in new york.
The burger came with a side of sweet potato fries which were well done, and not oily. I was a huge fan — definitely get the sweet potato fries! They came with a great chipotle sauce too.
My girlfriend got the salmon, and it was really well cooked, also a solid dish.
The brussels sprouts were ok — you could skip them.
For dessert we got the cast iron oatmeal cookie — it was awesome! Don’t skip dessert, I know a $ 9 cookie sounds outrageous, but this is not your run-​of-​the-​mill cookie. It’s pretty big, and it’s a cross between a cookie and a cake. It’s topped with ice cream and great for sharing, I would definitely recommend it if you’re up for it! The oatmeal cookie had a consistency halfway between granola and a cookie.
Oh, and by the way, live piano and cello!
Totally underrated, a really nice spot for a solid traditional, yet inspired, american dinner.

I went here for dinner with my boyfriend on February 15^th. The dinner was off to a rocky start when I asked the waiter which of two cocktails he would recommend. I made my decision and then he came back a few minutes later to let me know that they were missing ingredients for both the cocktails I was asking about. Given that there were only 5 drinks listed on the cocktail menu, being unable to prepare 40% of them was a little annoying. However, the cocktail I ended up getting (the daiquiri) turned out to be quite good so that was a plus.
We went on to order the mussels for an appetizer, which tasted the way low tide smells. They were hands down the worst mussels I’ve ever had. I tried a couple (my boyfriend tried one and couldn’t even swallow it) and then we had the waiter take them away. The couple at the table next to us actually thanked us when we sent them back because they said they could smell the awful stench as soon as the waiter took the cover off and placed them on our table.
At this point, the manager came over to apologize but also made a point of telling us that they had been serving the mussels all night and no one else had complained (good thing the couple next to is reassured us that we weren’t being crazy). My boyfriend brought up the issue with the cocktail menu and again the manager apologized but pointed out that they had a very busy night the night before (apparently Valentine’s day being a busy night for a restaurant came as a surprise).
Anyway, the rest of the food turned out to be pretty decent but there isn’t really a way to come back from bad mussels and a half ass apology.

Went here with a small group for a team dinner. First good sign was that they set up our table in a way that made it easy for everyone to converse with each other — the table was more like a big square then the usual long thin rectangle. Then a nice surprise was that they offer half price on all bottles of wine on Sunday and Monday, so of course we ordered up a few bottles. Well worth it.
There were some really tasty appetizers like the flatbreads, but they were somewhat small. Selection of entrees was somewhat limited, but the people in our group all enjoyed what they got.
Only downside of the visit was caused by one of the members of our party who had a little too much merriment, but to the restaurant’s credit they were very patient.
I would definitely go back.

Went here with a group of 6 on a Friday night, and it was just perfect.
Live jazz was lovely, but otherwise the ambiance was cozy but not much to write home about. However, the food was fantastic.
I had the half chicken with truffle mushroom risotto and every single bite was just wow. Each bite better than the last. Heavy on the truffle, but it worked. The chicken was perfect and another person at the table who ordered the same thing shared my experience bite for bite. Everyone loved their meals. One person ordered the signature duck and was basically speechless and not interested in sharing a single bit. So put that down for a rave review on that one.
I’d happily return, the entire menu looked delicious.

Black Duck is located on 28^th Street between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue. As such, you’re in a neighborhood with lots of young workers, some older neighborhood folk and also you’re smack in the middle of Curry Hill. On my first visit, I saw outdoor tables set up outside. When you step inside, you don’t see a host, however, you’ll need to walk 15 feet where you will see the host «podium» to the left. We were greeted warmly and taken to our table to the back of the dining room. The restaurant if formatted as a long rectangular space, with lounge tables up front, a bar to the right, and regular dining tables at the center, back and far back right.
We arrived on a Friday night, expecting a well lit dining room based on what we saw online, but on this night, there was a jazz band playing with the lights turned down. Being a fan of jazz, I was delighted and felt that these guys were good enough to play in West Village clubs. They weren’t overly loud and I easily had a conversation. I noticed that people mostly drank wine here and the crowd was a truly mixed crowd of young, middle-​aged and older. It was overall a nice higher class vibe.
As for the menu, we ordered only three items: the Jumbo Lump Crab and Rock Shrimp Cake, The Pat LaFreida Burger, and the Berkshire Pork Chop. We felt the Jumbo Crab and Shrimp Cake was easily the best part of the meal. This was nearly 8 ounces of sweet crab meat shaped in a cylinder shape placed over a delicious seafood sauce which I couldn’t identify. There was barely any shrimp in the cake, but who cares when you’re getting this much quality crab! They didn’t even put filler in it like bread crumbs, so it was a hit with us.
The LaFreida Burger was good, a solid 8 out of 10, with a fresh, soft brioche style bun and tender meat. It was served with fries with just the right amount of crisp. My only complaint here was that I ordered medium-​rare, but I felt it came out medium-​well.
As for the Berkshire Pork Chop, we had another hit. The pork was nearly ¾ to an inch thick, very tender, grilled and served over a bed of potatoes and veggies. There was also a poached pear on the side. The provided sauce was a mustard-​type sauce. The bone-​in provided extra flavor!
Overall, the upscale atmosphere, friendly waiters and the intimate atmosphere, made for a good place to take a date. I saw some larger tables that were full, so I guess it’s also a good place for groups. In fact, I felt there was an even distribution of tables that were already set up for various-​sized groups. Prices for dinner entrees range from $ 19 to $ 26 so I would consider Black Duck to be a mid-​tier priced restaurant in my book. Even though not cheap, the Cheap Guy recommends Black Duck!

Knew someone staying in the attached hotel (Park South) so I came here for drink for the happy hour one night and dinner another.
On Sunday nights they offer half price bottles of wine!
The dinner was great. We started with sweet potato fries, which they put truffle oil on, and these were delicious!
I then got the burger with the mushroom risotto as my side. The burger was ok, it was over cooked so much drier than I would have preferred it. The risotto was delicious!
My friend got the ragu and also really enjoyed this.
In addition the waiter was very nice and helpful. He was great at making recommendations and our food came out quickly.
I’m already looking forward to my next dinner here!
Apparently there is jazz on Saturday night, so I will have to come back to try that out.

Restaurant week review.
Flat Bread with Goat Cheese, Bacon, Dried Figs, Fresh Herbs: A-​ok. I think it’s.a little heavy for an app. The flavor of the bacon didn’t really lend itself to the flat bread unless you ate a chunk. Aroma was predominantly of the figs.
Seared Espresso Rubbed Petite Filet: while it came out perfectly medium rare, juicy and tender, this was a bit of a disappointment because I didn’t really get that espresso. The filet had zero crust, and I think I got more of a cinnamon flavor from the supposedly espresso butter. Garlic mashed potatoes and spinach were both standard.
Lemon Cheese Cake: This is probably what I liked most about the meal. It’s a very light fluffy cheese cake with a thin caramel flavor crust topped with a dollop of cream. The plate’s drizzled with caramel… I’m not sure if the slightly burnt flavor was on purpose or intentional, but it was a good contrast to the sweet cheese cake.
Service is very friendly, all smiles, which was awesome, and pretty quick with water refills.
Atmosphere is warm and cozy without being crowded. The noise level isn’t too loud and I think it’d be a good place to grab a drink and have a chat, but I don’t know if I’d come back soley for the food.

I am writing a belated review because months later this place still lingers as the worst dining experience I ever had, and I felt it should be put on record.
I came here with a Travelzoo voucher (mistake #1) on a holiday weekend (mistake #2) for my birthday (mistake #3). The place was empty except for some tourists from the hotel above getting drinks (I should’ve taken this as a cue to turn around and run). I suppose the stars were not aligned in my favor, but god damn the food was just downright HORRIBLE. Not fresh, bitter or bland depending on the course, and completely unoriginal. One Unilocaler who, like me, also had the cod correctly noted: «I usually finish all my food even when it’s tasteless, but I found it hard to swallow the cod and it almost made me want to vomit.» AMEN, SISTER. My bf’s food wasn’t any better. The sole jazz player playing his sad tunes only highlighted the painful experience. If I wasn’t a look-​on-​the-​bright-​side person, my birthday would’ve been ruined thanks to this really bad restaurant.

I actually had a wonderful dining experience here with my boo.
The service was great even and the food was delish. I really enjoyed my burger. I had it medium rare, and it was cooked to perfection. Most restaurants I’ve been to usually overcook the burgers, but BD cooked it juicy and pink in the middle.
The atmosphere is also warm and inviting.

So I very much meant to review this back when I went, October 2012, and never got around to it. Still, the service we experienced there was so excellent I felt compelled to write this, even if it was a bit delayed.
I went to Black Duck for my 25^th birthday dinner, with a group of 10, Halloween weekend. Most of my party arrived on time, with some a few minutes late, and we were seated immediately. Fairly early into our night a friend of mine mentioned to our waiter that it was my birthday and, unprompted by me, asked if I could get a free glass of wine. He readily complied — this was unexpected and, at this point, I would have been happy for the night.
The impeccable service did not stop there. Without provocation the manager came over to our table with a (free!) champagne toast to celebrate my birthday. They brought over a small desert later as well (for me, not the table) and the fun, atmospheric jazz band played Happy Birthday to me. During the night the manager thanked us as well, I assume for bringing a large (very hungry) group in that night.
I should note, the food was great as well. I am notoriously picky amongst my friends, and I tend to skew toward a small, plain menu. Because of this I went out of way to pick a place with a more eclectic, grown up menu. I had the free range chicken, which I loved! Between the 10 of us we probably ordered three quarters of the menu, and there was not a complaint at the table. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed everything, from the food to the drinks, and the feel of the place was great. Classy, but not boring, busy, but not overwhelming. The lighting is on the darker side, but it fit for Halloween weekend.
I had gone back and forth over my dinner decision for awhile, and am so glad I went with the Black Duck. I would recommend it to anyone, especially for a special occasion since they really went above and beyond for us.

Another restaurant found through Unilocal that was exactly what I was looking for.
The live jazz trio set the mood at this awesome little classy joint.
Our waiter was awesome. Great service and honest recommendations.
The grilled romaine salad was absolutely perfect, and easily shared between the four of us along with the mussels, which were equally good. Super garlicky with tons of shallots.
My fiancé and I split the chicken and the duck. They were both amazing. Fairly small portions, but that’s how we like to eat.
Will definitely go back for more!

Posh place with great service. I had the burger with fries, a side of the spinach and some crème brûlée (yummy sugar!).
They have a lot of deals (we used a
certificate) so definitely check up on that!

We went here for restaurant week. The food was pretty good, but a bit pricey.
The cucumber gazpacho was refreshing but could have used a little more salt. The salad was decent but could have used a little less salt (and a little more cheese and other various toppings). The calamari (which we ordered off the non-​RW menu) was pretty good, but not enough calamari.
The hanger steak was cooked a bit dry — more medium than medium rare as we ordered. The duck breast was pretty good though.
Finally, the key-​lie pie was very good and very well plated.
The service was also very good.
3.5 is the more accurate rating.

Black Duck continues to be one of my favorite restaurants in NYC. Note this review is for brunch.
Yours truly is turning 24 and wants to host a brunch with 25 friends. I called around a couple of brunch places and settled on Black Duck because Richard, the manager, is pretty amazing and super accommodating. Instead of making me settle on an overpriced prix fixe brunch menu for a party my size, he suggests a la carte, which means all my friends pay ~$ 20 each including tax and tip. He also was really helpful with printing menus, coffee/​tea service, and cake cutting.
Plus, they have someone playing the piano in the corner.
Thank you for helping me make my birthday perfect (again)!

Came here for dinner with my friend. Our total bill– $ 50.
I ordered Grouper with bean risotto $ 25, which was special of the day. My grouper was cooked well and the beans were quite tasty, but that was it. I would have liked something fresh to balance the savory fish and beans excluding the 1 sprig for garnish.
My friend had their duck $ 25 and was disappointed. It wasn’t crispy when the name itself was crispy. She liked the sauce but that was about it.
Our waiter would go missing and we had to flag down another waiter to ask for the check and to take out check away.

I want to take the credit for picking this restaurant, but my boyfriend actually was the decision maker for this one.
This restaurant is addressed as being INSIDE the Park South Hotel, and indeed it is. Just know that when you’re walking into the hotel, you’re not actually lost. The restaurant is tucked away behind some velvet curtains in the lobby.
Once you get inside though… Oh my, it’s beautiful. It’s nice and dimly lit, very close but not *too* close to the point where you feel like you’re sitting on top of other patrons. There is a nice wood touch to everything and there’s a ‘stage’ like area where they have a live Jazz band on Friday nights. (Which we had privy of being an audience to. That alone was absolutely lovely.)
The waiter seated us a bit in the middle of the restaurant, but my boyfriend and I were looking for a bit more privacy, to which the waiter immediately moved us to a corner table.
We started with the crab cake appetizer, and I ordered the halibut with sweet corn risotto and steamed spinach. The boyfriend ordered crispy roasted duck with parsnips in an apple reduction.
I have to admit, that part of me was a bit… ‘concerned’ that this would be the kind of experience where I go to enjoy the food but at the sacrifice of feeling full. I’m not one to usually order fish dishes in restaurants — one because you just never know how fresh the fish is going to be, and two because it’s usually so tiny that it tickles your appetite and teases you for something more filling.
The crab cake when it came out, was AMAZING. Seriously. I haven’t tasted a crab cake that fresh, flavorful, and delicious in a long time. It was topped with an apple slaw and a remoulade that made me wish I had more of it on my plate!
The halibut dish was too, so so good. It was cooked perfectly and the sweet corn risotto and spinach were just such a great pairing. It filled me up but at the same time, it was really light and refreshing.
My boyfriend LOVED his duck dish — I mean LOVED it. Like, if we were home, he probably would’ve abandoned the knife and fork and just went to town. The parsnips that came with it were chilled, but somehow it worked well.
For dessert we had the chocolate molten cake with caramel drizzle and coffee ice cream. Really delicious, and the perfect portion for the two of us.
I’d go back here again in a heartbeat. If you’re looking for something that’s romantic and not your typical trendsetting restaurant, definitely find your way here.

This is such a hidden gem inside the Park South hotel (note you need to gain entry through the hotel). I think a lot of tourists eat here but NY foodies don’t miss out! The space is really small but intimate. Apparently they can accommodate large groups but I only saw maybe 2 – 3 6+ seaters. All in all, Black Duck is an intimidate affair with dim lighting, old American décor (with weird mermaid chandeliers) and a swanky bar.
My bf and I came on a quiet Sunday around 8pm. Not many people were here — it was maybe 75% full. We made a rez for 8:30 but they sat us early. The hostess/​coat check girl was super sweet. Our waiter was sweet too– he wasn’t pushy considering we had a
deal for $ 25 off $ 40 min. and 18% tip… and that we didn’t order alcohol. Our waiter made good recommendations and food came out really fast. His top 2 dishes were the duck, and the halibut (per Unilocal also) but sadly they only had the duck confit that night (not the breast, as the menu says) so he was honest in saying skip it. Apparently the breast is the highlight.
Instead, I got the halibut. It was really good– nicely roasted to give off a crusty, yummy flavor. It wasn’t overcooked at all. Atop really yummy sweet corn risotto, which was… really sweet! In a good way. Risotto done nicely. And sauteed spinach which was really nice and not overly done (just right). $ 28.
My bf ordered the burger, done medium rare. He said it was more rare, and juicy. It came on a wheat bun (cheese is optional). Instead of fries, he got extra salad, which they had no qualms with. Didn’t try as I don’t eat beef but I take his word that it was yummy. $ 15.
I would have liked to try the tuna tartare appetizer but we just weren’t too hungry. I wasn’t blown away by the dessert selection (and not hungry enough) but they had brownies with vanilla ice cream, berries and sorbet, crème brûlée, and chocolate molten lava cake (but not that night). All were $ 8 ish.
My bf ordered peppermint tea– which is kind of pricey here. $ 4 but you get 3 cups worth and they have lots of flavors.
This is kind of normal new American hotel fare for me but done well so I had no complaints. They were also showing Golden Eye so that was a plus… a little entertainment on the side. Apparently they had live jazz sometimes but I have no idea where the band would play. I probably wouldn’t come back just because there are so many other places I’d like to try, but I recommend this place. It seems like they change up the menu for RW, which is quite the opposite from most places, which showcase their weakest dishes on RW.

Yes, yes and yes again. Everything about my brunch at Black Duck was excellent and I am so happy I ignored some of these poor reviews.
First thing that impresses me about Black Duck is it’s modest branding. No where do you read «Black Duck,» but instead the restaurant is labeled with a pretty little black duck. Details get me sometimes…
Anyway I personally ordered the crab cakes eggs benedict. The crab cake was fresh, tasty and perfectly cooked. The whole dish itself was excellent right down to the breakfast potatoes. I sampled some of the banana foster (s) pancakes and they were also pretty good. What I enjoyed about the Black Duck brunch special was the bottomless free coffee, the alcoholic breakfast beverage with any entrée (mimosa, prosecco or bloody mary) AND the little orange smoothie sample that was prepared on the house the day I was there. You’d also expect that the beverage with the entrée would be small but it was nothing of the sorts! It certainly wasn’t cheap with the alcohol either.
The service was excellent, our waiter was great; pretty sure his name was Henry. He was very attentive and sweet. The ambiance of the place is nice and something a little more upscale for brunch still staying within a similar price bracket as nearby brunch specials.
Honestly to those going to nearby options and spending a fortune for cramped space/​crowded atmosphere you are really missing out on Black Duck’s brunch in a relaxed setting. Great food, good service, no crowd… yet.

Black Duck Benedict was solid. Everything else was underwhelming. I went to a birthday brunch at Black Duck. The restaurant wasn’t our first choice, but it was a nice save when our initial reservation didn’t work out.
The restaurant has a very traditional feel, this is not a trendy spot by any measure. The wall is covered with paintings of boats, think Christopher Columbus and the American Revolution type of boats. There was some type of jazz /​piano playing in the restaurant. I’m uncertain whether it was live, although I didn’t see any performers, it was quite loud.
We were a pretty large party — 16, but there were only two other parties in the restaurant. Despite the fact, the service was extremely slow and disorganized. For example, rather than bringing out a basket of muffins and breads, they arbitrarily gave each member of the party one of each type. Then they got the hint, about a half an hour later, and brought out the basket of all the breads. Then another half hour later, they brought out butter and jelly. Our dining experience was filled with puzzling little things like that. We conjectured whether the one or two parties was their typical crowd and they were like, «oh sh*t, people are actually eating here, how do we do this again?» Yep, it was that bad.
Anyhow, the food was okay. The presentation was lackluster. It looked like food you made at home, put on your own plates and ate in front of your television. I had the Black Duck Benedict — which is a crab cake benedict. I enjoyed it. It wasn’t amazing, but it was solid.