Freds Madison Avenue

We have only stopped here for a drink while shopping so cannot comment on the food.
The service has always been good and the wine by the glass selection is better than most with many interesting choices.

Excellent food, service and atmosphere. From Tara at the hostess stand to Aggie as our waitress we always leave overjoyed at our experience. They make our time in NYC so special and we appreciate them like family.

Good food but I feel like it should be better for a restaurant in barneys. I also feel like the waiters can be snobby.

This classic Manhattan restaurant has seen better days. The industry is brutal for longevity. So when you have a good thing and can charge your guests pretty much any price you want there is no room to be mediocre.
I enjoyed the shrimp salad, huge portion lots of jumbo shrimp the dressing had little taste the eggs Benedict with caviar was a bit cold as well as the rest of the side items, spinach and potatoes.
All this I can deal with but the condition of the room were awful. Leather bar chairs ripped and torn, extension cords and cables showing, plastic jugs of Mary mix behind the bar, no music ect… if this was a dive bar then cool.
This is upper east side for gods sake get a grip baby! I don’t mind dropping $ 100 for brunch but I don’t expect to have to bring my own furniture! Best to you on your way to the middle.

My friend and I ordered Fred’s Chopped Chicken Salad.
Both our salads emerged from the kitchen within minutes after our order was placed.
This immediately brought to mind that they were possibly massed produced. Well, what we surmised appeared to be valid. The salad fixings were warm and the chicken which adorned the dish were rather large and tasteless — in fact were of a slimy nature (reminiscent of rotisserie chickens dripping with fat in Brighton Beach delis years ago).
We summoned the waiter and he was quite accommodating and replaced these salads with Chicken Caesar Salads. By virtue of the fact that it was listed as containing «grilled chicken» we figured that this would be a safe bet. Well, this order came out as rapidly as the first salad offerings. The bed of lettuce was warm. Moreover, it did not contain the crisp Romaine typically found in this classic salad — rather, what was presented was a bed of dark green leafs with a nondescript dressing. Most alarmingly, the Chicken resembled the large Chicken chunks contained in the Fred’s Chopped Chicken Salad with minute traces of grill scoring. Suffice it to say, we could not stomach this either. One of the managers waived the check fee. Nonetheless, we did tip the waiter.

This place is okay… Maybe I would think more highly of it if BG Restaurant wasn’t right around the corner for me to compare it to.
The décor is hip and modern, but the vibe is a bit cold. The wine list leaves a lot to be desired and, for what the bottles are, is overpriced.
Not terrible, but not great either. A bit disappointing, really. I’d expect something great from Barneys.

Fred’s is great! Pizza yummy! Wine list is great! Busy Sunday Funday and we were not rushed a bit. I have been here many times and will return. Such a scene. lol

I went here for a late lunch on Saturday (⁴⁄₃₀) to catch up with a friend!
I’m going to keep it short and sweet! Fred’s is beautiful! We had a great table with a fab view. However for a $ 180.00 lunch (before tipping) the food and service left much to be desired. Our waiter was borderline mute (I’m not even being funny — he was) and kept disappearing. Fred’s wasn’t even crowded for service to be so slow! We started off with calamari and pomme frites for appetizers and had 2 glasses of «The Blush» ($ 20 each) which was tasty but my entrée was just alright. I ordered the Fettucine Pomodoro and I wasn’t wowed at all.
After we paid for our $ 180 lunch we did some shopping and I ended up buying a new pair of Louboutins so those drinks surely hit me LOL.
Definitely go to Fred’s at least once! It makes for a good story and some good shopping and at the very least a really pretty IG photo!
You may see a celeb spotting or 2! We saw Kylie Jenner while in the shoe department. Go to Fred’s check it out. Don’t go expecting to be wowed by the food. Go for the atmosphere!

I wasn’t expecting to be swept off my feet here, given that this is just a department store restaurant, but the service at the bar was awful. The bartenders were rude and inconsiderate. After one bartender consulting the other about whether they could make an Aviation, the other bartender just said «nope». It’s is Gin and 2 other ingredients! They didn’t apologize, offer a reason or an alternative. After that, we had to prompt them for everything. Silverware, bread, the check. There were only 10 people at the bar, so they can’t blame their lack of attention on being busy. I expect an adequate level of service when paying $ 20 for a drink and $ 30+ for a meal.

Worst service ever at the bar. I never review anything but had to. Waited 1 hour for my pizza and it wasn’t even busy

Short and quick visit to NY decided to give this place a try as it was highly recommended. The place, the food and the staff definitely met and exceeded our expectations. Started with some Margherita Pizzas which were perfect taste not to thick but just right to get our group started. We also ordered a Hamburger and Chicken Parmesan. Absolutely delicious. Followed with some dessert sampler and coffee. I was really impressed with the desserts all made in the restaurant fresh and crisp flavored. Would definitely consider returning and recommending to friends. Thanks!!!

In the late ‘80s and throughout the ‘90s, department stores and specialty retailers wised up and followed Barneys’ lead to hipper marketing and merchandising. For some reason though, they forgot an important piece of the puzzle, which Barneys had (and continues to have) down pat: a good restaurant that can be a destination in and of itself. All these years later, despite the success of Freds at Barneys, it seems that retailers still haven’t figured this out.
It would seem obvious that as customers shift to on-​line shopping, bricks-​and-​mortar retailers have to figure out a way to get people back into their stores. A fun, good restaurant, among other in-​store experiences, can be a huge lure. (In my opinion, in Manhattan, in addition to Barneys, only Bergdorf Goodman has succeeded in this, with their wonderful restaurant on 7, and their more casual cafes throughout the building.) I hear that Saks Fifth Avenue, so long in need of a truly good and «buzzy» restaurant, has at last added this goal – in the form of L’Avenue – to its current five-​year plan.)
BUT, as usual, I digress, Back to the issue at hand, the terrific Freds at Barneys New York…
What could be better than spending a day shopping or browsing at Barney’s, and lunching (and cocktailing and dining) upstairs at Freds? Managing Director Mark Strausman knows what his diverse diners want. Incorporating fresh, local ingredients when possible, and satisfying the demands calorie-​conscious, vegans and comfort-​foodies, Fred’s offers up flavorful fresh salads, pastas, sinfully perfect fries, and the mainstay, Estelle’s chicken soup.
I crave it all: The famous Madison chopped salad, with Italian tuna; the warm lobster salad with new potatoes and haricots verts; the classic lobster club sandwich; the excellent «artisan» (yep, that overused adjective) pizzas. On cold winter days, I recommend the sinfully perfect lasagna bolognese, or the rustic spaghetti and meatballs that would do any nonna proud. Of Sapore di Mare, Coco Pazzo, and Campagna fame, Mark knows, and revels in, down-​to-​earth Italian.
He also knows Jewish comfort foods. For Sunday brunch, Mark’s homemade bagels and bialys, challah french toast, and smoked salmon can’t be beat. And the pancakes! Kids love coming with their families for this meal. The desserts: cheesecake, tiramisu, and gelatos. I like to take home Freds cookies to console myself late at night when I’m still fixating on that Saint Laurent leather jacket that didn’t fit – my body or my wallet.
During the day, Freds is for people-​watching, but, please, no uncool staring. It bustles with models, actors, designers, buttoned-​up businessmen, and normal people like me having a SatC-​ish girls lunch. Families pack in for Sunday brunch, and, in the evenings, it is calm and more intimate. If you are lucky, you will secure a table by a window, able to gaze down at Madison Avenue or 60 Street. You won’t feel out of place eating lunch by yourself at Freds. For that, I would recommend a seat at the bar, where the bartenders are efficient and welcoming. From that perch, you will enjoy a nice view of the crowd and hustling waitstaff.
Having seen the new Freds in LA, which is light-​filled and spacious, it makes me realize that Manhattan Freds could benefit from a sprucing up, or renovation or/​and expansion of its own. I’m not sure that I could deal with a temporary closure of the restaurant for construction, but I guess I could venture a few floors down, to the more casual, high-​tech Gene’s. Things could be worse.
Freds provides takeout and catering, and the room can be rented out for parties, I wish they could add on a little food market – produce, prepared foods, fresh pastas, baked goods, specialty items, olive oils, etc. Perhaps it isn’t practical… In addition to the Freds at Barneys in Beverly Hills, there is also an outpost in the Chicago store. I’m spoiled and wish for one at every Barneys location I visit, particularly the one in San Francisco.

Still the best linguine with clam sauce in the city! Wine selection is fantastic, service is great :) I don’t know what people complain about?! it really is a superior meal in a fantastic store! I’m so happy I dine here!

Bad service, tastless food and exorbitant prices. There are hundreds of better restaurants in NYC than Freds. Don’t bother.

Fun atmosphere, cool style and building. The risotto was delicious, tuna tartar amazing, fresh, and spicy, & the thin prosciutto pizza was to die for also! Great service and delist food. It was a nice break during our exhausting shopping spree

Pretty restaurant with some tasty dishes.

What. The. Hell.
OK, so we came in large part to try the bagels rated the best in town by Serious Eats. Serious Eats is completely wrong — the bagels were like grocery store bagels. Meh. The rest of the food was fine.
But seriously, don’t come here unless you want to waste money.

Frequenting Fred’s in the past, I would have posted 4 – 5 stars. My recent visit. Much different experience.
A friend visiting from CA, staying in the area, I suggested we meet here. I made our reservation and thought we would catch up over a great lunch.
Crowded, the usual, no problem. That’s Fred’s vibe. We were seated to the far right, an area that felt more like a living room, than a sophisticated high energy lunch scene.
Then we were greeted by a Rude, in a mad hurry, Weathered Waitress… Lunch was over before it started. I politely told her that we needed a minute to look over the menu. She came back to take our order 5 times in a period of 5 minutes. She insisted we order, as the kitchen needed time to prepare our meal. We ordered elaborate salads. No surprise, our meal was delivered to our table in 1 nano second.
Our reservation was at the latter part of lunch and Fred’s was emptying out. No need for the rushed service or the attitude.
My friend had The Club Sandwich. She loved it… Huge portions as always. Fries crisp & cooked to perfection.
I had the Chicken & Avacado Salad… Loved it… Fred’s grilled chicken is the absolute best. Moist & delicious.
We swallowed our meal and we were out the door. Never ate so fast in my life. This was far from enjoyable.
Next lunch will be at Il Mulino, Lavo, Tao, Philipe, anywhere but Fred’s!
A shame … They have their Niche. But better think about who they hire for Wait Staff! The thrill is gone

A department store establishment embracing ladies who brunch. Think specialty salads with a side of no-​fat dressing and artisan pizzas made with whole wheat crusts. You can’t go wrong with the Chopped Chicken Salad and Estelle’s Chicken Soup. The tuna tartare photographs well with the natural light at Fred’s — I had to include that bit considering the audience here. It’s all mostly for a poised, SATC vibe.
Saturday brunch hours ends at 1:30 but extends to 3:30 on Sundays. If you’re in the building to shop, have your meal first so you’re not lugging around shopping bags.

The Fries are good.
We were starving and I told the hostess that we needed food asap. Then they let us sit there for (I timed it) 26 minutes without any word from the staff — even though I was desperately trying to get their attention.
I got the vegan pasta with the vegan cheese they put on the pizza. Oh, I wish I hadn’t. I am a vegan and I’ve had omni places do wrong by me, but that was just penne with some sauce and very few ultra chopped veggies and the weirdest vegan cheese I’ve had. My grandmother got the vegan salad and I ate most of that even though I didn’t think it was great either. My mom left ¾ of her chicken caesar salad on the plate.
If you want expensive fries and you can wait all day. By all means come here.

Had a delicious lunch with friends. Our server, Aggie, took phenomenal care of us. Love Madison Avenue salad. The house — made bagels and bialys… mmm

One of the WORST dinning experience ever.
Let’s start with the NONE-​EXISTING hostess. A waiter showed us to our table, somewhere tucked in the back, even though there were plenty of other tables available in the main room. Why? All because we did not fit the typical WASP type. After all, we were only two ASIAN financiers in NYC. (That’s right, for all of you Asians that are thinking of going there, think again.)
Food. Two stars at best! My pasta was bland, except for overwhelming ketchup and salt flavor, that is if you call it flavor.
Service. NONE-​EXISTING. Again, I believe it was because both me and my friends are ASIAN, because our server was perfectly warm and welcoming to the table next to us, a group of WASP looking couple. We asked our server for water, NEVER came. We asked for bread and butter, the busboy brought them over as we finished our meal.
In fact, our server said only 6 words to us. and they were «What would you like to order?» Not even a proper standard greeting you would give to a stranger. All again, because, I believe, we were both ASIAN. Because our server was perfectly capable of greeting the couple next to us, even small talk.
Again, if you are of Asian heritage, Freds is not a place for you.
At last, our busboy brought our check to us. And so that was our one and only dinning experience at Freds at Barneys.
Like I said, if you are ASIAN, and you want to waste money on subpar food and non existing service (for ASIAN only), then go on ahead. Otherwise, go somewhere far more deserving.

Sempre uma ótima opção para almoçar com as amigas! Adoro a seleção de massas e saladas! Preço justo e gente bonita!

Delish, overpriced, fun place to go. Definitely an experience to have, though I’m not sure if I’ll be running back any time soon. I’m definitely not an «uptown» kinda girl :)

This place is horrible, period.
The food is so bad, we couldn’t stay past the soup course, we ordered the cheque and moved to have dinner some place else.
It all started with no host/​hostess being available at the entrance, and then the snobby waiters and their attitude. Plain and simple, if you’re not WASP-​y looking enough, you will be brushed off. We were never given our bread and butter basket and when we asked for it, we never saw it up until when we left.
Trust me, we are a very well-​dressed crowd and regular shoppers at Barney’s, but unfortunately this place is a disaster.
Word from the wise: only stop by if you drop dead tired from shopping and need that caffeine jolt to continue the journey elsewhere.

Decent lunch spot. A bit too overpriced for their food though but it is in Barneys. I had the Wild Hens of Mushroom salad and the Salmon. The salad was bland. The mushroom helped but I think they need to put a bit more balsamic glaze. The salmon was good. I like the crunchy skin paired with the salmon. Salmon was a bit overcooked. Overall, decent place.

WHAT is all the fuss about? Don’t get me wrong, the food was very good, but the service was awful. Two of us went for lunch on Friday — we waited for 45 minutes and our waiter had zero patience, was not helpful and did not come over to ask us if we needed anything else or how our meal was, not even once! Plus, we had to change seats because our first table was by a window, but it was extremely drafty and cold. We were luckily able to move.
We ordered the pea soup (it was a soup special), which was hearty and delicious, and the lobster salad. This, too, was excellent, with generous amounts of lobster meat. Just make sure to ask for it with only a little mayo or it will be drenched.
I understand that there’s an occasional celebrity spotted, but that’s not enough of a reason to go… The restaurant has little ambiance, but the food is good, So if you aren’t in a rush and don’t mind rude wait staff, by all means, go.

I forgot how much I liked this place. Must be revisiting it because it’s Mercury retrograde time. It’s perfect for my palate. Excellent and interesting wines by the glass and a stunning half bottle selection… simply stunning. Great Chardonnays, Pinots from Oregon and lovely Burgundy’s as well as the requisite Big Boy Italian to round out a well thought out selection… yum! Some really great cocktail concoctions too. I certainly love my Saint Germain.
The menu has a little bit of everything. It’s very easy to be upscale vegetarian here. Very easy. Great appetizers, interesting salads, delectable pizza and pastas along with fish choices. They even offer a vegan pizza and a vegan pasta bolognese. And, they gave me no qualms about ordering off the brunch menu despite it being past that hour.
A very pleasing place to dine. Oh, and if your solo or prefer to be more casual, the bar is an excellent spot. I never knew it existed before. It’ll likely draw me back more frequently.

I love Barney’s. This we all know. (Please see my review of the department store.) Yesterday was my birthday and my parents wanted to take me out to lunch. They made a reservation for us to dine at Fred’s. I was, as always, running a few minutes early and had a chance to people watch. I can hardly judge the other clientele for not being at work on a Thursday at 1pm, as I personally was using a PTO day, the men appeared to be on corporate power lunches, and some of the families there seemed to be coming directly from Rosh Hashanah services. However, you could tell there were plenty of ladies who lunch, quaffing bottles of wine together.
The place was PACKED. And LOUD. My parents and I could barely hear each other, though the banquette we were given was quite nice and had a window for us to look out of. The service was prompt.
The food is honestly expensive. A chicken Caesar salad, even if it is as tasty as the one I had yesterday, should not be ~$ 30. The portions are gigantic, though, and the quality of the food is impressive (esp. the focaccia).
This is a good place to go if you’re looking to splurge and/​or at Barney’s and feeling ravenous. This is not the place for you if the idea of the cheapest menu entrée (some sort of pasta) being over $ 20 at lunch boggles your mind. However, if you have a Barney’s credit card, you can apparently get a free glass of wine.

Perfect place for a fun business lunch.
Definitely enjoyed one of the best salads of my life (I had the madison avenue chopped Tuna salad), but at over $ 20 for a salad — not cheap. However, the plate was huge (I definitely could have split it with a friend). All of the ingredients were very, very fresh and tasty.
The service was quick, and we were able to dine in under an hour.

Walking into Fred’s at Barneys I felt like I was «in» a Gossip Girl episode… this is definitely where all those fabulous Upper Eastsiders go for weekend brunch and mid-​shopping lunch breaks. Everyone looks so casually chic, and every woman has a fresh blowout. I didn’t quite fit in, but I think I faked it well enough.
Though it doesn’t seem like a restaurant for kids, there were definitely a lot of children for brunch. And I have to say, they were all pretty well behaved. But mostly, I was keeping an eye peeled for a local celebrity or a socialite or even a Real Housewife. No sightings to report.
As mentioned by other Unilocalers, the portions are very generous, and I highly recommend the Mushroom Ravioli… delish! My sister’s Blueberry Pancakes and my friend’s Linguine with Clams also both looked amazing.
I would definitely go back for a little splurge with girlfriends or lunch with my Mom the next time she’s in town.

Super edles Kaufhaus mit den angesagtesten Designern in sehr ansprechendem Ambiente. Labels die es bei uns in Europa nur sehr selten und schwer gibt, best geschultes Verkaufspersonal. Schnäppchen gibt es hier jedoch beileibe nicht sondern sehr hochpreisige Designerware. Aber ein Kurzbesuch dort ist empfehlenswert.