Due to the much heralded opening of The Edition Hotel’s new upscale British eatery, The Clocktower, I decided I had to check it out immediately. Twice.

The first time, we arrived at what I was sure would be a bustling brunch. It was brunch, all right. Just not bustling. Not a creature was stirring, in fact.

The brunch items seemed a bit dull. I wasn’t excited by any of them but everything we ordered was quite tasty, regardless.

The space is quite handsomely decorated, with dozens of framed photos and lots of dark wood. There really weren’t many people there for brunch, but the clientele at lunch consisted of pretty much nothing but conservative businessmen.

BRUNCH:

Breakfast Sausage

Eggs benedict 18

Almond Waffles with fresh berries

LUNCH:

The best part of our lunch was the fantastic IPA beer bread and butter. Holy crap, was that good!

Now, onto the famous fish and chips. The portion was adequate; the presentation, exquisite. They were good, however. Not great.

The fries seemed a bit mealy, and not as crispy as I would have hoped. They were shockingly hot to the touch, so that wasn’t a problem.

The fish was perfectly cooked, but the texture was a bit stringy, I prefer a more flakey halibut. But it was still nice. The coating was super thin, meaning the lemon and vinegar I squeezed on top ended up creating a bit of a sogginess issue. Not major, just a minor flaw.

The flavors were on point, and I did enjoy the minted mushy peas.

The lunch prices are definitely what one would expect for dinner, so be prepared. Probably why this is better suited for a business lunch, when whatisname is footing the bill.

5 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10010
b/t 24th St & 23rd St
Flatiron
(212) 413-4300
theclocktowernyc.com

Complimentary IPA Beer Bread

DILL OR NO DILL $16
beefeater gin, fresh dill, smashed cucumber,
lemon juice, elderflower syrup, smoked salt solution

Roasted king salmon, young leeks, potatoes,
oyster, cucumber and chive emulsion – $34

Fish and chips, mushy peas,
triple cooked chips, tartar sauce – $23

Complimentary Sweets (shortbread, peanut butter toffee, salted caramel toffees)