November 26th, 2007
The Algonquin Hotel
The Alonquin Hotel is truly one of New York’s oldest and most exclusive hangouts. A favorite spot for some of this country’s most illustrious literary minds of the 20th century, it is also legendary and full of history. To this day, no one can mention the name of famous writer Dorothy Parker without immediately thinking of the Algonquin. The history that surrounds this phenomenon goes something like this:
Shortly after World War I, Vanity Fair writers Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley and Robert Sherwood began lunching at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City. In 1919 they gathered in the hotel’s Rose Room with some literary friends to welcome back journalist Alexander Woolcott from his service as a war correspondent. The lunch was intended as a . put-down of Woolcott’s pretensions (he had the annoying habit of beginning stories with, “From my seat in the theatre of war … “), but it proved so enjoyable that someone suggested it become a daily event. This led to the daily exchange of ideas, opinions and often-savage wit that has enriched the world’s literary life and its anecdote collections as well. Literary icons George S. Kaufman, Heywood Broun and Edna Ferber were also in this august assembly, which strongly influenced writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Though society columns referred to them as the Algonquin Round Table, they called themselves the Vicious Circle. “By force of character,” observed drama critic Brooks Atkinson, “they changed the nature of American comedy and established the tastes of a new period in the arts and theatre.”
Today, the Algonquin retains that air of privacy that made it so famous and such a perfect venue for these extraordinary thinkers. A welcome, quiet spot amid the raucous noise of downtown Manhattan, the hotel is barely a few steps away from Times Square, Broadway shows and some of the world’s finest shopping.
Walking into the hotel’s lobby you can quickly notice, and appreciate, the preserved Edwardian decor of its 1902 opening. Mornings at the hotel are peaceful, with mellow jazz in the air and the ubiquitous smell of coffee. A popular spot for business people, the hotel’s lobby usually thrives with professionals meeting to discuss publishing projects and with guests reading the daily newspaper or magazines. By early evening, the hotel regains its legendary, trendy “bohemian” aura, attracting a well-varied, if mostly jet-set type of crowd.
The Oak Room, the hotel’s only restaurant, sits at the far end of the lobby, and it features the famous “Round Table” as its centerpiece. But what makes this restaurant unique is that dinner comes complete with a cabaret show. During its regular cabaret season, September through June, performances are held Tuesday through Saturday at 9pm, with a dinner seating at 7pm. An additional late show on Fridays and Saturdays is held at 11:30 p.m., with light fare available at 10:30. Expect to see cabaret-genre icons Andrea Marcovicci, Harry Connick Jr., and Michael Feinstein among the stellar lineup. It’s a rather complex dining arrangement that offers a fixed price dinner and a show, all bulked up into one. The menu is well worth the money, and it features appetizers such as Chilled Tiger Shrimp Cocktail and Atlantic Smoked Salmon. We tried the Salmon and were convinced we had made the right choice. It made us all the more eager for the entree, which includes Pan Seared Filet of Beef, Roast Duck Algonquin and Black Striped Sea Bass among others. We sampled the Pan Seared Filet, which came with buttermilk mashed potatoes, caramelized onions and sauteed broccoli. The meat was aged and cooked to perfection; the mashed potatoes and the onions were truly to-die-for, but the broccoli was a bit too crispy for our taste. Still, it was delicious, and it was all served with class and distinction by the restaurant’s apt and friendly staff. A cover charge of $50 is usually- charged per person, along with a dinner charge of $60 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Dinner is required for early shows on Friday and Saturday, other times a $20 minimum is required.
The rooms at the Algonquin are a far cry for the typical, Vegas style “mega-rooms”, with lots of space and new gadgets. Instead, the Algonquin has retained its classic turn-of-the-century atmosphere and character, which makes for a much more intimate experience. Standard rooms are, by all modern standards, considered somewhat small, but they are decorated with handsome, understated furnishings designed to be as restful to the eye as the body. Modern amenities have been added in order to ease the burdens of 21st Century travelers. Still, if you are traveling with company and can afford the upgrade we highly recommend the two-bedroom suite at the very minimum instead. A special piece of American lore, The Algonquin Hotel is definitely a unique hideaway worth visiting on your next trip to the Big Apple. Check it out!