Hudson Cafeteria
“The space itself is huge, and some tables have chairs, nay thrones, at the end.”
“Soaring ceilings, brick walls, cavernous interior — it's rare to have a restaurant on this scale in NYC.”
“you can shoot some pool in the library cafe or play a game of chess, then go outside and sit on on the sofas or lounge on the bed.”
Hudson Cafeteria
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
5 reviews
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Casual and fun dining concept for the hotel. I was there for dinner and thought it a little odd that the menu felt so formal in the space. Breakfast was better, would suggest using this for casual dining needs and save the formal dinner slot for other places.
Not too crazy about this place. We (party of 5) got seated on this really long table (reminded me of a park bench – except it was painted black). Uncomfortable to sit with no chair backs for 2 hours.
Service was good. Limited menu. Nothing appealed to me. I ended up getting 2 appetitizers : Crabcakes and Tuna tartar.
Crabcakes were ok. Nothing out of the norm. The Tuna tartar was good. They served it with pureed cucumbers, which was new and creative. It was also very refreshing. Other than that, nothing out of the norm. Back music but it wasn't too loud because we were able to carry on a conversation with screaming too much.
I think I'm reviewing the correct place; I knew this as Hudson Cafeteria (as the yelp listing states) but the website has renamed it Hudson Common. Regardless of the name, this is how I remember it when I visited:
This was one of the places where I enjoyed a mid-day meal before I moved out west. I wasn't even staying at The Hudson this time around, but had read some decent reviews on their adjoining restaurant and figured I'd give it a try since I was in that part of midtown.
As someone had described, this was reminiscent of an Ivy League cafeteria-which I wouldn't know since I never spent any time in one-with its high ceilings, brick walls, tables and chairs in a dark shade of wood. I'm sure the food here was much better than your weekly meal plan, even for the Ivy Leaguers.
The chicken/mac-n-cheese dish-simple as it sounds-was really good, so much so that I still remember it to this day. No truffle or bacon, just home-cooked taste that you can't find anywhere else but home. When I went to check their current menu, it looks like a lot has changed where that is no longer an addition to their entrees. I guess good things can't last forever.
The photos someone posted from 2009 are what I remember, so it looks like the high back end chairs and benches still exist; but the chairs running along the counter are now stools, and there is now some brown leathered couches thrown in to make this a lounge/cafeteria. Looks like the reviews are a hit or miss now as well, but I'll have a fond memory of that comfort food.
If you go to the Hudson Cafeteria, try to sit outside on the roof patio (do not attempt this during December-April). The food isn't THAT great, but it's decent. However the atmosphere in the hotel, and especially on that roof deck, is really fantastic. I do think that if I ever go back, I will order the Macaroni and Cheese, which sounds really good. I ordered a Mixed Green Salad which was fine, a Roasted Chicken that was very juicy but nothing really special, and a Chocolate Milk Shake that did bring me back to my childhood years.
Ok, it is a bit dark in Cafeteria, alright is is really dark in the whole hotel. Let's just assume they are doing it not for trendiness, but rather to be green and reduce their carbon footprint. Service at the tables (all communal tables) is a bit hit or miss and is kind of pricey. I say sit at the small bar, where the service is much better.
Get the cheeseburger, it is excellent, I mean really excellent. it is served with a salad on the plate and with fresh fried potato wedges. If you have cojones, order the garlic fries, they are fantastic. For desert, get the chocolate cake. It is really unbelievably good.
In short, sit at the bar, stick with the basics and you will have a great meal.