The Grill

Step inside the iconic Seagram Building in Midtown East and you’ll find The Grill, a restaurant that transforms dining into an unforgettable performance. The space itself is steeped in history—this was home to The Four Seasons from 1959 to 2016, the very birthplace of the “power lunch.” Today, dark wood paneling catches the glow of dramatic lighting while the rhythmic sound of cocktail shakers fills the soaring ceilings.

The menu here is built around spectacle. Multiple courses arrive with tableside preparations that blur the line between dinner and theater. The antique duck press from 1901 extracts rich, velvety juices from bones right before your eyes, transforming them into a luxurious pasta sauce. The prime rib arrives on a cart, sliced to rosy perfection at your table. And the martinis—poured from impossible heights into oversized goblets without spilling a drop—are a physics-defying act worth the price of admission alone.

Unlike some of its harder-to-book Major Food Group siblings, The Grill typically has tables available for those struck by a sudden urge to splurge. This accessibility makes it perfect for spontaneous celebrations—lottery winnings, closed deals, or simply deciding that tonight is the night to pretend money doesn’t matter. The vibe attracts everyone from families marking graduations to executives nursing their third midday martini.

Come prepared to linger and indulge. Order the Seagram crab cake (practically pure crab in a crispy potato shell), say yes to the grated horseradish with your prime rib, and absolutely close with the Baked Alaska. Watch the flames dance, take a moment in the powder room to convince yourself you’re royalty, and hail a cab home. This is celebrating done right.