Colleen's chicken pot pie came out so hot that she was still burning herself on it 10 minutes later. By the time I got a bite at the end of the meal, it was warm at best, and it was really, really good.
Colleen's order outscored mine across the board that night. This P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson review covers everything we ordered, with scores, from our Saturday night dinner during our 3.5 days in New York City with a toddler.
We had a 7:30 p.m. table for eight with RT and his family, right after One World Observatory and the 9/11 Memorial pools.
P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson Review: Is It Worth It?
It depends on what you order. Colleen's Sunnyside mocktail and her chicken pot pie were the best things we ordered. My Cadillac burger and my spicy cucumber margarita scored the lowest, and I would not order the burger again.
Here are our scores:
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Sunnyside mocktail (Colleen): 8.4/10
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Country chicken pot pie (Colleen): 7.6/10
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The Cadillac burger (John): 7.1/10
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Spicy cucumber margarita (John): 6.6/10
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Chicken fingers and fries (Johnny): probably a little better than Junior's, though he did not care much for either
Where Is P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson?
P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson is at 250 Vesey Street in Brookfield Place, in Battery Park City. It is a short walk from One World Trade Center, and you can get there underground through the World Trade Center Oculus.
It is the downtown location of a New York institution. The original P.J. Clarke's is on Third Avenue at 55th Street, in a building that has been a bar since 1884.
How Is the Cadillac Burger at P.J. Clarke's?
I gave the Cadillac a 7.1/10. It was a definite second place to the steakburger at Junior's, and I do not think I would order it again.
The Cadillac is $27 and comes with double smoked bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion, with sea salt fries. The name has a story behind it. The restaurant credits Nat King Cole with calling it "the Cadillac of burgers" back in 1958, and the name stuck.
For burgers, I always ask how the chef recommends it, because it varies from kitchen to kitchen. Here the recommendation was medium rare, so that is how I ordered it.
The fries were a miss. They were skinny, and they were not even warm when they got to the table.
By the end of the trip, the Cadillac had also been passed by the burger at Tavern on the Green. I ranked all three in our NYC burger ranking.
How Is the Chicken Pot Pie at P.J. Clarke's?
Colleen gave the country chicken pot pie ($27, with a cheddar cheese crust) a 7.6/10, and it was good enough that the score is about heat, not flavor.
She would have scored it higher if it had not come out nuclear hot. Even after 10 minutes, she still managed to burn herself on it. I had a bite when we were all done, when it was warm at best, and it was really, really good. Her score sounds about right to me, and if you order it, give it some time before you dig in.
What Are the Best Drinks at P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson?
Colleen's Sunnyside mocktail scored the best. It is a zero-proof drink made with grapefruit juice, spicy agave, lime juice, and tonic, with a Tajín salt rim. She gave it an 8.4/10, the highest score of the night.
I went with the spicy cucumber margarita, made with Curamia Blanco tequila, triple sec, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, jalapeño, and cucumber. It was just a bit too spicy for me, and the heat overpowered the flavor of the drink. I gave it a 6.6/10. I would order it again myself, but I would not recommend it as the drink to get here.
How Were the Chicken Fingers?
They were probably a little better than the chicken fingers at Junior's the night before, but Johnny did not seem to care much for either.
Johnny ordered chicken fingers at almost every meal on this trip, and I ranked them all in the chicken finger wars.
Would I Order the Same Things Again?
Not all of them. I would not order the Cadillac again, and if I wanted a burger, I would rather go back to Junior's. If I did come back, I might actually order the chicken pot pie for myself, but I do not think I would come back just for it. I would order the margarita again myself, even though I would not recommend it. If you are downtown after the observatory or the memorial, P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson is right there, and it was able to seat our group of eight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson?
P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson is at 250 Vesey Street in Brookfield Place, Battery Park City, a short walk from One World Trade Center.
What is the Cadillac burger at P.J. Clarke's?
The Cadillac is P.J. Clarke's signature bacon cheeseburger, with double smoked bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion, served with sea salt fries for $27.
Why is it called the Cadillac burger?
P.J. Clarke's credits Nat King Cole with calling it "the Cadillac of burgers" in 1958, and the name stuck.
Is the chicken pot pie at P.J. Clarke's good?
Yes. The country chicken pot pie with a cheddar cheese crust earned a 7.6/10, and it would have scored higher if it had not come out so hot that Colleen still burned herself on it 10 minutes later.
Can you bring kids to P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson?
Yes. We ate there with our 2.5-year-old, who had chicken fingers and fries.
How old is P.J. Clarke's?
The original P.J. Clarke's building on Third Avenue at 55th Street in Manhattan has been a bar since 1884.
Final Thoughts
Some restaurants win on the thing they are famous for. At P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson, the famous burger was the part I would skip, and Colleen's pot pie and Sunnyside mocktail were the best things on the table.
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