We chose P.J. Clarke’s for its proximity to the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center. We were seeing Epiphany, a well-acted confusing, quirky and slow 2-hour show sans intermission about a group who reunited at a dinner party during a snow storm.

Lunch at P.J. Clarke’s wasn’t much better. I’ve restrained myself from writing negative restaurant write-ups since the start of COVID, as my heart goes out to restaurant owners dealing with the pandemic trick-down effects. That said, I have to share.

My dining partner chose a cheese-topped burger with crispy fries ($21); I opted to try their beer battered fish ‘n chips with tartar sauce and malt vinegar ($24.35). Her burger was a tad overcooked but good. My fried cod was dripping in grease.

Molly, our attentive waitress, noticed me attempting to roll the fried fish in a linen napkin to remove some of the greasy fat and asked if she could replace it. I smiled, holding up the “newspaper” it was wrapped in, pouring out the excess oil. The management was rightly appalled and offered to re-prepare the fish. Sadly, although it wasn’t greasy, it was flavorless. They took it off the bill.

If I returned, I would go for a burger and fries, as they do that well.

P.J. Clarke’s-Lincoln Square
Lincoln Center
44 West 63rd
New York, NY 10023