Essex
Steak house · 124 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002, United States · United States
★ 4.8 on Google · 8,934 reviews · View on Google Maps
Manipulation score
Review DriveCompleted Jul 19, 2026 · 573 reviews flagged
How this score works
The score estimates how strongly this place's review record matches known manipulation patterns, from 0 (no signs) to 100. Verdicts: Clean below 40, Suspicious from 40, Likely Manipulated from 70; Review Drive when the flags are mostly staff asking customers for named reviews. It rises with the share of reviews flagged and how suspicious each one is.
- Burst
- — an abnormal spike of five-star reviews in a single day compared to the place's usual pace.
- Low activity account
- — the reviewer has almost no other reviews, photos, or Local Guide history; throwaway accounts look like this.
- Duplicate text
- — the wording is nearly identical to another review of the same place.
Verdicts are statistical estimates based on public review patterns, not accusations. Full methodology, signal definitions and known limits →
Case conclusion
What the numbers say
1,000 reviews examined
- Google rating
- 4.8★
- Not-flagged average
- 4.3★
- Flagged
- 57%
- Coverage
- 11%
All reviews shown by Google
427 examined reviews
573 of 1,000
1,000 of 8,934 Google reviews
“Not flagged” means no configured Revdict signal matched; it does not prove a review is genuine. Data fetched Jul 19, 2026.
Review brief
What reviews not flagged by Revdict say
Reviewers report that Essex offers a lively atmosphere and standout bottomless brunch options accompanied by attentive service from specific staff members. However, many visitors experience significant inconsistency with food quality, long wait times, and high noise levels. Opinions on the overall value and execution of dishes vary widely.
+ Repeated strengths
Bottomless Drinks & Service
Reviewers frequently highlight fast-flowing bottomless drinks and praise specific servers for their attentive and welcoming hospitality.
3 supporting reviews
4★ · 2025-06-28
Helll naaaa was the best waitress
2★ · 2025-08-03
Food wasn’t good service was great
5★ · 2025-12-07
Helena was phenomenal. We went for a birthday brunch and she provided amazing service.
Atmosphere and Decor
Many guests describe the interior as gorgeous, stylish, and well-suited for group celebrations and weekend brunches.
2 supporting reviews
5★ · 2025-07-09
Had such a great time here! The ambiance was really nice—relaxed, stylish, and perfect for a weekend brunch. The mimosas were absolutely delicious, and the eggs Benedict were perfectly done—rich, flavorful, and just the right portion. Defin...
5★ · 2025-11-30
Nicole was phenomenal!! Very attentive and pleasant, and her hospitality goes unmeasured. As for Essex itself, the restaurant’s ambience was so cozy and welcoming!
Selected Menu Items
Specific dishes like the burger, steak, mac and cheese, and calamari receive frequent praise from satisfied diners.
2 supporting reviews
5★ · 2025-09-11
Love the food and the atmosphere of Essex! It’s a great spot to dine with friends after a long day of work! Love the Mac and cheese and the Essex burger with fries-it’s super filling! The salmon is really good too! The mango mojito mock-tai...
5★ · 2025-12-21
Everything was so great especially Helen!! Food was 10/10 and service 10/10!
− Repeated complaints
Inconsistent Food Quality
Reviewers report overcooked meats, cold dishes, and flavorless or disappointing plates that fail to match the hype.
2 supporting reviews
1★ · 2025-08-03
Our “medium” steak was cooked to well done, worst chicken sandwich I’ve ever had in my life, you can even go to KFC for a better one. Food was really bad, ok service.
4★ · 2026-03-05
Definitely good 👍
Slow or Poor Service
Multiple guests complain about extremely long kitchen delays, forgotten orders, and dismissive or rushed staff interactions.
3 supporting reviews
1★ · 2025-08-09
Honestly, very disappointed. I expected more from this place. This restaurant ruined my whole brunch experience. It literally took 1 hour for only my appetizers to come out. It was loud and only from ppl talking could barely hear the music....
2★ · 2026-05-03
Kitchen was closed not soon after we got there, waiter waited until all the food was brought to the table to let us know one of the entrees are out of stock. Waiter also forgot items, left items he said he would compt on the receipt there w...
1★ · 2026-07-18
If I could give it a negative star, I would. The service was the worst experience of mu time living in NY. The food was ok. The entire time they were rushing us to order, to eat and then to leave, literally taking our plates without our per...
High Noise Levels
Reviewers note that the restaurant's acoustics and loud music make it difficult to hold a conversation.
2 supporting reviews
3★ · 2025-05-31
The bottomless drinks are worth it. Refills were quickly attended to. Acoustics lend to echo and amplification of noise. I was disappointed about the fact that in the quinoa and kale salad I ordered they tried to pass off sunflower seeds as...
3★ · 2026-03-01
The best thing about Essex was the service, which was excellent. Despite going there within a big group, all of the staff were extremely attentive and organised! If you're going there to talk with people instead of just take photos, be prep...
Good for
- Bottomless brunches with friends
- Celebrations and birthday parties
- Groups seeking a vibrant, energetic atmosphere
Avoid if
- You want a quiet environment where you can easily converse
- You expect reliably executed food and consistent kitchen timing
- You are sensitive to loud music and tightly packed seating
Review anatomy
Reviews per month
| Month | Reviews | Flagged |
|---|---|---|
| May ’25 | 14 | 6 |
| Jun ’25 | 65 | 36 |
| Jul ’25 | 56 | 30 |
| Aug ’25 | 83 | 49 |
| Sep ’25 | 31 | 13 |
| Oct ’25 | 68 | 51 |
| Nov ’25 | 104 | 73 |
| Dec ’25 | 109 | 64 |
| Jan ’26 | 99 | 45 |
| Feb ’26 | 50 | 21 |
| Mar ’26 | 62 | 42 |
| Apr ’26 | 115 | 95 |
| May ’26 | 85 | 23 |
| Jun ’26 | 24 | 0 |
| Jul ’26 | 35 | 25 |
Rating distribution
Evidence
-
review drive
22 occurrences — worst: 46 five-star reviews on 2026-04-11 vs avg 1.2/day, 31 of them name a staff member
weight 0.5
Show all 22
- 27 five-star reviews on 2025-06-28 vs avg 1.4/day, 23 of them name a staff member
- 15 five-star reviews on 2025-07-19 vs avg 2.3/day, 9 of them name a staff member
- 22 five-star reviews on 2025-08-02 vs avg 1.8/day, 12 of them name a staff member
- 19 five-star reviews on 2025-08-23 vs avg 2.0/day, 13 of them name a staff member
- 15 five-star reviews on 2025-10-04 vs avg 1.0/day, 13 of them name a staff member
- 8 five-star reviews on 2025-10-11 vs avg 1.4/day, 5 of them name a staff member
- 11 five-star reviews on 2025-10-12 vs avg 1.6/day, 9 of them name a staff member
- 14 five-star reviews on 2025-10-19 vs avg 1.9/day, 9 of them name a staff member
- 19 five-star reviews on 2025-11-15 vs avg 1.5/day, 11 of them name a staff member
- 20 five-star reviews on 2025-11-22 vs avg 1.7/day, 12 of them name a staff member
- 29 five-star reviews on 2025-11-29 vs avg 2.3/day, 19 of them name a staff member
- 29 five-star reviews on 2025-12-06 vs avg 3.4/day, 21 of them name a staff member
- 27 five-star reviews on 2025-12-13 vs avg 4.6/day, 21 of them name a staff member
- 22 five-star reviews on 2026-01-24 vs avg 2.3/day, 13 of them name a staff member
- 18 five-star reviews on 2026-02-01 vs avg 3.2/day, 11 of them name a staff member
- 15 five-star reviews on 2026-03-07 vs avg 1.3/day, 12 of them name a staff member
- 22 five-star reviews on 2026-03-14 vs avg 1.8/day, 15 of them name a staff member
- 46 five-star reviews on 2026-04-11 vs avg 1.2/day, 31 of them name a staff member
- 19 five-star reviews on 2026-04-12 vs avg 2.7/day, 17 of them name a staff member
- 22 five-star reviews on 2026-04-25 vs avg 3.1/day, 15 of them name a staff member
- 5 five-star reviews on 2026-07-05 vs avg 0.8/day, 4 of them name a staff member
- 19 five-star reviews on 2026-07-11 vs avg 0.9/day, 12 of them name a staff member
- burst 9 five-star reviews on 2025-09-27 vs avg 0.7/day weight 1
- low activity account 285 reviews flagged weight 0.8
- generic account 1 reviews flagged weight 1
Flagged reviews
Showing the 10 most suspicious of 573 flagged reviews.
Grace Hayden
1 review
★★★★★
2025-09-27
Great food, quick service, our waiter Sofia was amazing!!!!
Cinthya Callejas
1 review
★★★★★
2025-09-27
Sophia is an amazing host and very attentive! She made the experience at Essex Brunch phenomenal
Nadia Kiridly
2 reviews
★★★★★
2025-09-27
Sophia who served us brunch was amazing and kind she was so attentive!!!! Best waitress ever
Hayley OBrien
1 review
★★★★★
2025-09-27
sophia is the best!!!!!
nick pol
42 reviews · Local Guide
★★★★★
2026-07-01
Really enjoyed the food here. The steak was cooked perfectly—juicy, tender, and full of flavor. It was honestly one of the highlights of the meal. The calamari was also really good, with a nice crispy coating and great taste. Everything came out fresh and well-prepared. Just a solid, satisfying meal...
Aidan Mitchell
49 reviews · Local Guide
★★★★★
2025-09-27
Olivia Maniscalco
3 reviews
★★★★★
2025-09-27
sophia was a very attentive server. we came for bottomless and she was great at refilling our drinks we never even had to ask! great place great food
Alexis S
4 reviews
★★★★★
2025-09-27
Sophia was a great server!
Brian Rafferty
3 reviews
★★★★★
2025-09-27
SOFIA IS AMAZING!!! Had brunch for my friends birthday and she made it so special!! The food is great and she always topped us off on bottomless! Loved it here!
Thrifted Thornes
7 reviews
★★★★★
2025-09-27
I love this place. Nice people such a great deal for bottomless. It’s a place I love to go to <3
Report generated Jul 19, 2026. Reviews change — you can request a fresh investigation.
More investigations in United States
Triad Heating & Cooling, Inc.
48Greensboro · United States
Suspicious
Southern Homes Heating & Air
26Stokesdale · United States
Clean
Fast Air Repair
31Ocala · United States
Clean
Nūdl
12Bedford · United States
Clean
Safeguard Roofing
63Bohemia · United States
Suspicious
Right Angle Roofing & Siding
61Patchogue · United States
Suspicious