On another one of our ~besties brunch dates~, Loy, Brian, and I decided to head to Refinery Rooftop at the Refinery Hotel after a day at the Central Park Zoo. I had been there a week earlier with my family because taking them to a rooftop restaurant was a fun, very New York thing to do. We all loved it and I immediately thought of how much my brunch pals would also appreciate it.
The aesthetic overall was amazing. Brick walls and arches, a movable glass ceiling, hanging greenery, and an outdoor patio, with stunning views of the Empire State Building from almost every seat. Even if the food isn’t worth going back for (which it is), the vibes of the restaurant are enough to make anyone want to return.
Both times I went, we got the Pepperoni Flatbread as a starter to share. I admit I never expect much from pizza at non-Italian places, but this one is so worth getting. Pepperoni, spicy honey, and peppers all on a thin, crispy, crust with the perfect balance of cheese and sauce. It’s small, but perfect to share as a starter (or get one for yourself as your meal).
My rating: 9/10
For my main course, I repeated again and got the Quinoa and Kale Salad, and added a piece of roasted salmon at extra cost. (I also got it without coconut because I’m not the biggest fan). The portion of salmon was large and the salad was overall perfectly filling for a meal. I’m not one to normally order salads when I eat out, but Refinery Rooftop does this one very well and it’s great for lunch. The cilantro-jalapeno-lime dressing is the perfect zesty touch to bring it to a rounded, flavorful dish. I asked for extra my second time there because I loved it so much.
My rating: 8/10 (which is pretty high for a salad in my opinion; it was really yummy)
Not feeling too hungry that day, Brian went for an appetizer as a meal and got the Buffalo Wings as an entree. His review: “Very good. Crispy and tender with a good Buffalo sauce. More on the medium side, not too spicy. Great to share or as a meal if you’re not starving.” They did appear to be pretty tasty, but it’s not a super difficult dish for a restaurant to get right. The crispiness is what really gave them the bonus points.
Rating: 7/10
For her meal, Loy went with the Fried Chicken Wrap, complete with ceasar dressing and parmesan, making it kind of like a caesar salad wrap. She noted that it was super filling and she was only able to eat half of it, but she still enjoyed every bite. Rating: 7.5/10
To share, we also got an order of yucca fries. Yucca is a starchy vegetable similar to a potato and common in Latin cuisine. I usually turn up my nose at anything yucca, but these fries are so freaking good. The perfect crispy yet soft texture and a slightly different taste than regular fries that makes them oh so special. Served with chipotle mayo for dipping they were the best little addition to our meal.
My rating: 7.5/10
The drinks are where we really put a lot of our focus that day and the Refinery Rooftop drinks menu does not disappoint. Some of their cocktails come in a large format for $85, which sounds like a lot but it has six servings, and a singular drink is $18, so it definitely made sense for us. We ordered the large format of the Baby Doll, which was vodka, watermelon juice, pineapple juice, and lemon juice. It was the perfect refreshing summer cocktail, and we finished it in no time. Brian and Loy also had a few margaritas and I had a rose spritz, all of which were delicious. I don’t think they have any happy hour deals, but if you want drinks with a view, you would absolutely be satisfied coming here. My rating: 7/10 because it was pricey and nothing too special.
Overall, Refinery Rooftop was a restaurant so nice, I literally visited twice. And I would go again if someone needed a good lunch or brunch spot. It’s part of the hotel, so if you’re staying at the Refinery Hotel you’re lucky to have it only a few floors up. It was definitely one of my favorites that I’ve been to, just based on the satisfying food, the views, and the aesthetic. The service was also friendly and great, making it an all-around awesome restaurant find.
Overall rating: 8.5/10
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