I have eaten at this restaurant several times always with Jay and Rita and a couple of times including Debbie. It is one of Jay and Rita’s favorites. On my most recent visit it was just Rita, Jay and me for lunch on a Wednesday.
The restaurant is fairly narrow and as you enter there is a greeting station immediately to the left. Immediately to the right is a four top. The restaurant is fairly crowded and seats 85-90 people on 2, 4, and 6 tops. There are five small tables outside on the sidewalk. (There is a substantial awning, so even though it began to rain during our recent visit, those at the sidewalk tables continued eating as if nothing was happening.)
The restaurant opens at noon. On this occasion I arrived about 11:30 a.m. and various folks were still putting silver, etc. on the tables. I asked one of the folks if I could have a chair while I waited and had no problem.
When the maître d’ arrived at the greeting stand just before noon, I told him I was meeting Jay and he took me to a table he said was Jay’s favorite.
Jay and Rita came in shortly after noon and it became clear that they are regulars. The restaurant started to fill up.
Rita had as her only course an appetizer portion of Buffalo Mozzarella, Roasted Tomato and Avocado. Jay and I shared three orders of Octopus Carpaccio.
I could not resist ordering a slice of Risotto Cream Cheese pie.
The Men’s and Ladies’ Rooms are at the back of the restaurant next to the kitchen.
The Men’s room is one of the smallest I have ever seen. In fact, there are commode stalls in other restaurants that are larger than this room. The white ceramic washbasin and the white ceramic commode are separated only by a large covered waste receptacle. The floor is covered by large grey square ceramic tiles and the walls by smaller rectangular tiles. One of the walls is painted a light blue. While the room is well worn it is clean enough.
Amaranth Restaurant
21 East 62nd Street
New York, New York 10065
212-980-6700