Harrie's Cafe and Bakery

by Adina B.

Midtown Manhattan is chock full of bakeries, delis, chain restaurants, etc.  But is honestly nice to find just a diner, especially in the theater district/times square area. I ordered lunch from them the other day and I was pleasantly surprised. It came within a few minutes ( I also happen to work next door) and the price was really quite reasonable.The only reason I don't give it five stars is because I found the woman who answered the phone rude and I don't like their bagels. Other than that, its a nice place.

by Kendall C.

So of cource I find out that I am plaining my friends party the day of the event, and no one bothered to buy a cake or even figure out where to get one from.  Yelp was surprisingly unhelpful in this quest ,so I set upon googlling it.  After making some calls to find out which bakeries could fulfill my needs (some required a days notice, while others had few choices) I settled upon "Harrie's Cafe and Bakery".  I had little to go upon other then they had the kind of cake I wanted and could have it ready ( with the kind of frosting and name written on it) in two hours.  Also because they were the only place that I called which offered a Strawberry short cake (or something other then then chocolate for that matter).The cake look good enough, but I would have to wait until after dinner to know if I deserved praise for my my short notice acquisition.Dinner at "The Hudson River Cafe" was OK but the cake stole the show.  The restaurant cut 6 large pieces, which up until the first bite everyone complained were just to big but the cake was angel light, the cream not to sweet or overwhelming and the strawberry filling tasted like it brought its own flavor to the cake as opposed to that jammy taste that is usually associated with fruit fillings.  In the end it might not have been the best cake ever or even the best one I could of brought, but for a last minuet purchase I was far more satisfied then I expected.

by Barbara C.

I work nearby, and I decided it was time to finally break away from Pax and their over-priced (yet tasty) lunches.  I'm always a little scared to try a new diner (see my review of The Square for my perfect diner experience)--diners can be so shitty and over-priced...and if I wanted over-priced, at least I could know that Pax would feed me healthy yummy fare.But, yay!  This diner was very nice (oh yeah, it's definitely more of a "diner" than "cafe", btw)!  The interior is surprisingly new and clean.  The decor is very retro diner--but more in that Johnny Rocket's way and less in the we've-been-in-business-since-WWI way.  So, while the cool nostalgia feel is lacking, there's something equally nice about squeaky clean.  Our service was very friendly and *very* fast.  My friend and I had probably said about 15 sentences before our sandwiches and fries arrived.She ordered the fried egg, ham and cheese sandwich; I had a turkey pizza burger.  They were exactly what you would want them to be--horrible for your health, but oh so delightful for your taste buds.  We split a side of fries and had a lovely meal.  Everything was just the right size and cooked just right.  So, if you're looking for a nice, clean diner that will quickly whiz your tasty food over to you in record time, check this little gem out.

by Richard S.

The best thing about this place is the mysterious layout and the fact that you can enter it three different ways that I'm aware of - maybe there are more - maybe you can come in via a secret tunnel from the basement or in through the second floor dining, somehow. The low-key entrance is off West 38th Street, near Seventh Ave., and there's also a way in through the lobby of the 1407 Broadway building. But the best way to make your way into this wonderland is by the main bakery entrance on Broadway. I enjoy this because of the blazing lights and bustling activity, like it's someone's wedding day and Easter and a bar mitzvah all at once. Then there's a massive buffet that just keeps going and going. It's the last place in the world I could imagine even imagining with a noon-the-next-day hangover, much less lunch, but then you take a magical left turn, go down a few steps, and you're in the cafe part of Harrie's, which is a safe haven from light, madness, and other people. What's fascinating is that this place has entrances on two separate streets but it doesn't inhabit the corner space, which makes it L-shaped, like most of the best things in life. The lighting is subdued and the booth backs are high, protecting you from your neighbors, at least visually. There is enough privacy for a lunchtime tryst even, and the multiple exits make possible a quick getaway. There is also the potential for comically missed connections or an unintended rendezvous. Not a bad place for lunch either, though the decor makes you think of a half-assed hookah bar or a Midwestern cathouse. When you order they bring a plate with some genuine pickles and that perfect, creamy-sweet cole slaw that is fast disappearing from Earth. The meal might easily go downhill from there, but when doesn't it? Considering it's midtown New York, the prices aren't bad, and one of the waiters looks exactly like Clive Owen. And the portions are for two; I had a tuna salad once that just kept going and going and going.

by Rashid M.

I go here for breakfast quite often. They have a nice selection of food. Their prices are not way too expensive like some of the other places in the neighborhood. Overall the quality of their food is average, but it's convenient for those like me who work in the area.

by Jason A.

Apparently, dropping off my uncle and his family's coats after the left them at my house made me some kind of hero. This was evident to me by the fact that my aunt demanded to take me out to lunch to show her appreciation, even though to me, it was no big deal. We started walking to a Pret A Manager, when she jumped for joy when she saw Harrie's. She went on to give me a history lesson on how famous and delicious it was. I offered to go there instead of Pret, but she still wanted to check out Pret first, even though I knew she really wanted to eat at Harrie's. After all, the second she found any excuse not to eat at Pret so we can go to Harrie's, she took. (In case you are wondering, it was the fact that she didn't want to wait for a table to open.) We walked into Harrie's ready to eat and got a table in the back. There is a main counter to the left as soon as you walk in and a large salad bar to the right. It didn't look any different than any deli place in NYC to me. We took our seats and looked over the menu, the breakfast part looked really good, but they stop serving breakfast after eleven, so we couldn't order anything. However, I did see that they had Challah French Toast on the menu and the thought "+1 in K-flex's book" popped right into my head. I ordered a Grilled Chicken Sandwich on whole wheat with honey mustard, lettuce and tomato and replaced the french fries with a baked potato, for a $1 extra. My aunt ordered a turkey sandwich after consulting with the waitress on what she preferred. Note: The turkey is deli turkey, not carved turkey. The waitress didn't seem that friendly, but my aunt gave her the benefit of the doubt saying "she probably doesn't get asked for her opinion a lot." When my aunt asked for a straw the pimp bus boy provided her with two in case I wanted one two, which impressed her dramatically. I notice these things now because I'm a Yelper. It's like I've become everything I've ever hated for saying that. After ordering, the waitress brought out pickles and coleslaw for us, living up to the standards of a Jewish deli/diner. The food came out pretty quickly and looked very fresh. The chicken kind of tasted plain, even though it was supposed to have honey mustard on it . However, it was nice to see that they didn't skimp on the chicken by any means, since they gave me three solid pieces. The tomato was pretty good as well. They probably get it from New Jersey, since besides being famous for our guidos, and housewives, we have a strong reputation for tomatoes, in case you didn't know. The baked potato was nothing out of the ordinary, though. My aunt thought her turkey was great though, although I didn't try it and she really enjoyed the coleslaw it seemed too. Going over topics such as Karen, careers, Big R, Yiddish and Jewish things, high school reunions, technology, and my aunt catching up with friends she hadn't seen in 32 years was the perfect compliment to a chill, casual lunch. Jew talk over Jew food is always a good thing, especially when the bill is really cheap. That's like a double bonus. Although I didn't ask her, I'm pretty sure that if she had to rate Harrie's she would have given it either a four or five star review. Yet, another example where if Yelp had half stars it would make things efficient, cause she would probably give it 4.5 stars. Me? I would give it 3.5 stars, but it wasn't good enough to rate a 4, so I'm rounding down. Give me my half stars already Yelp!

by Ani V.

One would think when visiting Manhattan that the only option is fast food or expensive restaurants. But there are moderately priced diners that have a plethora of dining options in Manhattan also. Harrie's serves plain good food. From pasta, to sandwiches to Gyros. It is clean, well lit, spaced and priced. You have the option of having a sit down lunch or taking out. And the wait for either is not long.

by danny m.

I have went here a few times from a recommendation of a friend. The sit down diner food isn't bad.  I liked the bullet sandwich, its grilled chicken with cheese and a ton of bacon.  The burgers are pretty sad thou.  The guy forgot my bacon as well as my friends.  When I got back to my office I noticed it and was really sad.  When you are expecting something and its not there its a big let down for me when it come to food!  So I called to complain and the woman wasn't very accommodating.  I told her they messed up my order and I wanted to talk to the manager she said the manager was the guy who took my order.  Sad management I guess.  I wont be back.  A lot of places in the area really know how to mess up a burger.

by stephen p.

I'm glad to be in the company of locals who work in the neighborhood when I say it was hard to find a spot to eat that wasn't a takeout bakery. After i dawdled in Bryant Park watching the yoga bunnies (as my sister calls them) I was hungry, but the Bryant Cafe was closed. So I walked about 3 blocks before I bumped in this place.The set up is a bit unclear as there are 3 seating areas. I think the salad bar has one seating area and the dark, gloomy basement seating area can only be for people who don't want to be seen or who want to see the inner workings of this diner (not really a cafe).There is a vast diner menu and the hash browns are perfect and crispy, but sell out by 1pm (I took my folks here for lunch after my breakfast and no more hash browns). There is a hot food selection under hot lamps towards the back. Service is good and the food comes quickly. I had 2 eggs, sausage, delicious hash browns and later, at my 2nd seating wiht the folks, the French toast and strawberries and banana. I'd come back again when I'm staying nearby.

by Jim B.

Harrie's was never a regular stop for me but I know two  guys who will go nowhere else for lunch.  The downstairs (aka basement) space is nice enough, good service, decent burgers and sandwiches.  Just a little pricey.  But usually I am the guest so who cares.  I have tried the upstairs cafe for breakfast on weekends.  Quiet; decent eggs and omelets; good coffee.  I have not stopped during the week but I would expect it to be crowded.