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    Decoy

    4.2 (459 reviews)
    PriceyChinese, Bars
    Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated a few days ago

    Decoy Photos

    DECOY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Decoy

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    Reviews With Photos

    Duck Dinner
    Darya K.

    Always great food and a great time. The cocktails are superb. Staff is friendly and accommodating. The food is delicious. Our favorite duck in NYC

    Frank A.

    Glad that Decoy is finally back, although the duck is not as good as it used to be. The other food is good too. All and all a fun and, relatively, inexpensive experience. The vibe at the communal table is great.

    Nectar of Wukong.
    Emma G.

    ***4 1/2 stars*** After watching a generational stage talent hone her craft (cough cough Sarah Snook in The Portrait of Dorian Gray cough cough), a nip was in order, and I had zero interest in lingering anywhere near the Broadway/Times Square area. My top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality and I initially Ubered over to nearby Orient Express (one of my faves), but it was too crowded so after walking past a few other packed establishments, we saw this - a subtle basement-level bar with a small handful of customers. My kind of jam. It also feels like being in a basement, in the best possible way. There's a lot of wood paneling that felt like the merging of my grandparents' finished basement from back in the day, but with a lot of modernist touches. And of course, oodles of art featuring ducks, the go-to decoy for waterfowl hunting. Very into it. It's dark so if you're looking for gorgeous lighting, I'd keep walking, but I think you sort of know not to expect that going in when it comes to basement bars. The cocktail situation here was excellent and very innovative. As with the bar food, there was a distinct Asian influence, which isn't something I encounter regularly so it was a pleasant change of pace (though my favorite wine, gewurztraminer, has those vibes by virtue of its lychee notes). We tried a few items on this menu, but the best was probably Golden Yuen, which my chum LOVED, and she's pretty picky especially when it comes to tequila-based beverages. It had a sweet yuzu foam on top, and the ginger paired really well with the tarter fruits in it - you had a long of strong flavors that were kept in check, which was impressive. Really strong item. I also opted for a Nectar of Wukong, which was as close as I could find to a bourbon-based drink (it was scotch). Decent with a solid presentation value; per the accompanying pic, it had a bubble on top that was reminiscent of the toadstools from Mario. Little too sweet for my palate though. The food rivaled the drinks, which is saying something. I wasn't insanely hungry but had bypassed dinner so the compromise there seemed to be some dumpling action - I'm always down for a dumpfest. The menus were a little confusing because it's basically a Venn diagram of this specific bar (Decoy) and its restaurant sibling upstairs, RedFarm. In fact, they inadvertently gave us the wrong menu initially, which to be fair was pretty much the same as the correct one, with a few slight alterations. We ordered multiple dumplings, including the Five Flavor Chicken (the bartender's recommend), the Pan Fried Lamb, the Shrimp/Snow Peas, and the Oxtail. We diverged considerably on our opinions here, but the Chicken probably WAS the best, though it was very peanut buttery - not something I'm always in the mood for. That's not to say I had a negative opinion of the other dumplings, but they were all pretty much on the same playing field for me, tasty and flavorful, but not quite to the level of the Chicken. Honestly, the only negative, and it's definitely a "your mileage may vary" situation, is that it's pretty pricey. The cocktails were all hovering in the $20 range, and the dumplings were close to $25, despite only having four each in an order. We ended up spending over $200 here, which is fine and something we're both willing to do on a city excursion like this, but it's arguably not worth the price given the portion sizes. I thought the price point for the cocktails was the more reasonable of the two, when you considered how high quality they were and that you're in the West Village - this stuff is just going to cost a few more dollars than it would in the suburbs. Really solid recommend overall. The service was excellent, and we both really appreciated that the staff let us linger and didn't try to push us out despite our being the only customers there for a significant stretch (I think they were still technically open the entire time, but the foot traffic was going into the nearby Alehouse - hard pass for me). And who doesn't like sipping on a cocktail whilst gazing at a duck portrait?

    Oxtail Dumplings (4)
    Michael C.

    First time to Decoy but have done to a Redfarm in the upper west side many times...The Peking duck was just amazing, perfectly cooked and the most lean and tastiest duck I have ever had and easily best in the US!

    Menu

    We ended up at Decoy's Bar late on a Friday night after not being able to get a table at Dante, and it turned out to be a great find. The space was quiet with a charming vibe, and it felt like the perfect place to unwind. Service was excellent and attentive without hovering. What I loved most is that we could actually catch up with friends without shouting over blaring music, which is rare in the city. Definitely a solid late-night spot if you want good drinks and conversation.

    Hannah H.

    IF I HAD TO CHOOSE A LAST MEAL, this would be it. Decoy sits beneath RedFarm and is a hidden gem. You have to make reservations but trust me it's worth a stop when you're in NYC. It's a cozy small restaurant with a long bar and communal table in the center. When you make reservations you'll want to tell them you want the Peking duck so they can do the prep work in advance. Once you arrive you'll get to choose a few appetizers. I got the shrimp and corn dumplings which I may have inhaled in two bites and the foie gras which sat in phyllo dough and had a delicious strawberry purée on top. They also give you fried fish skins which are super salty and briney and delicious! When the duck comes out, it's a true treat! It's an entire Peking duck, three sauces, homemade scallion pancakes, and various toppings. When I tell you the amount of flavor in everything is ONE OF A KIND. Everytime I'm in NYC, I come and have this meal and it will always be my choice if I had to choose a last meal!

    Peking duck
    Stephan M.

    Not only is this a NYC staple in my mind but it's also one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at! I could list a million reasons to eat here but at the end of the day the only reason you need is the Peking Duck!! When you make reservations here you will want to reserve a Peking Duck for you're table(or 2 if you're me) because it's absolutely amazing! It is served in the traditional way sliced very thing with the crispy skin piled on top! Whether you're visiting NYC or are a local, this is a must!

    Peking Duck
    Jacob K.

    Decoy is a standout if you're after top notch Peking duck. Their old menu no longer exists and they've combined menus with their sister restaurant right above it, RedFarm. So now you can still get the Peking duck but the menu options around the duck are now from the red farm menu. The Peking duck, which you generally have to reserve in advance, was excellent as always. One of the best you'll find in NYC. We got an order of dumplings to start which were very good as well as a fried rice which was also great. Everything is always good here but come for the duck.

    Kerri O.

    Finally made a trip to Decoy and I love this restaurant sooo much!! I came with my friends and we did the $80 per person peking duck pre fixe menu. For $80 per person we got a whole duck, three appetizers, whole seabass, fried rice and some house made pickles etc. im very picky with my peking duck and I prefer thin pancakes over buns so im super happy that they serve the duck with thin pancakes. The skin was perfectly crunchy with the right amount of meat on it. The seabass was boneless which was a huge plus!! They also serve us this duck broth which was just a flavor explosion in my mouth! I hope to go back there again soon as I cannot stop thinking about the food!!

    Fish skin
    Elsa C.

    Heard they have awesome Peking duck! Make sure you book in advance. They only offer certain amount of pecking duck each day. It was $79.95 per person. For the group of 1-5 will share 1 duck. And depend on how many person, you will get different amount of plates 2 of us got to choose 2 small plate, and 1 from rice or sides. Plus a whole duck. First they serve complimentary fried fish skin with pickles. That was delicious. 1. Foie gras strawberry tart: this plate was cute! foie gras was amazing, but I felt strawberry was bit too much, and strong. 2 oxtail dumpling: I wasn't expect the taste was so different than I thought . It was not like traditional dumpling at all. More like beef stew inside. I really like it! 3. Peking duck: AMAZING!! Crispy skin, not fat, not oily at all. And the meat was juicy and tender. Everything combine so well with the pancake. 4. Crab scallops fried rice: simple but wonderful. Whole meal was pricey, but totally worth it. Portion was big, and service with high quality of food!

    Fruit after dinner
    Frank T.

    This restaurant knows what it does well, and sticks to it. A very special place for a discovery. We were a party of six, which wasn't easy to accommodate. Rezies were made weeks in advance. There is only one long communal table with some tuck away nooks by the bar. It's in the West Village so the location helped set the decor expectations. It's cramped, busy, but oh so worth it. For virgins, like me, it's helpful to understand the menu. You get 4/3/2/1/1. Four starters, three mains, two ducks, one veg and one rice. All at price fix of $80pp. Service was "ok" on availability but super knowledgeable. We had two people with food allergies which they handled perfectly. On to what I remember we ordered on Tuesday... started with the Kobe and kimchi, moon-something shrimp, incredible dumpling with a great presentation, shoshito peppers stuffed with shrimp. For our mains we did the sea bass, bone-in strip, and angry lobster (requires supplements). I was angry that the lobster had too much truffle oil in the garnish. Everything was great in the mains department. But we are all here for the duck. The duck, duck.... goose? Super crunchy skin, succulent meat, and the hoisin, wraps (both lettuce and rice) were incredible.

    Peking Duck
    Scott L.

    Came here after hearing good things about their Peking duck. If you want to try their Peking duck, you need to call ahead and ask to reserve one with your reservation. I got to try the Peking duck and the also the chicken and mushroom dumplings to start. The dumplings were really good; a lot of umami from the chicken and mushroom filling. The Peking duck was also very good. The skin and crispy and the ratio of fat and lean meat was on point. The Peking duck comes with 10 thin wrappers and 3 different sauces to use. It also comes with shots of duck consomme which was interesting and unique. Overall a pretty pleasant experience. I would recommend coming to Decoy with a party of 3-4 and trying their Peking duck along with some of the other appetizers. The seating is a little awkward; there is one giant table in the middle to seat most of the guests so it can be difficult to arrange for parties of certain sizes. The duck is really good though.

    Peking Duck
    Cheng C.

    I'm giving a mediocre score for the taste. The service was actually great. Everything is way too salty, therefore masking any taste of the food. Food were also served in strange orders, for example Peking duck soup is always served after the duck, it's supposed to be light and fresh, with tofu and cabbage in it, should be a white broth. So it's like a break from the greasy and savory duck wraps. It helps adjust the tasting paces, which is important for any nice dinner. But here it's a shot of over salty soup before the duck, shadows the taste of duck, just adds more burden to the tasting experience. I'm not against creativity with food but it should either taste better or be healthier, unfortunately all the adaptations are against these two simple criteria. Fancier? Maybe, I have reservations for that as well.

    Menu

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    Decoy Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Decoy

    Is it possible to order the Peking duck as a single diner eating alone? Would they accept a reservation for one person?

    if you're paying i don't see why not

    Can I order a half Peking Duck?

    No you cannot, but it makes for delicious leftovers!

    Is there outdoor dining available?

    UThe has been v

    Hi, does the restaurant do take outs if I want to take out the duck? Thanks!

    Call them

    I am going to NY for a work trip and would really like to try this place. Would this restaurant allow single-person dining? Would I still be able to order the duck? Also, are walk-ins available or do I need to make a reservation?

    It's a toss up. You might get a table. Plan for 2nd choice.

    So is there a set price for getting one duck or is it based on the number of people eating? For example, if two people were eating one duck would it be $79.95 or $159.9?

    Jasmine, the set price is $79 per person. Each person will get approximately half a duck. If it is two people, the total is $159 for one whole duck. You will select two appetizers AND either fried rice or side.

    So , i'm going to bring my family there , and it will be 6 peoples , we need to order the $75 per person or we can order just like 2 duck for the table and then share... because my family don't eat too much, thank u?

    If you want Duck you have to do the set menu.

    For 2 people dining at a 5pm reservation, is it likely that the whole dining experience can be done in 2 hours? Will be catching a show and would like to get to the theatre by 7:30pm.

    We had a similar schedule when we visited back in July. It's doable, but I really recommend you be able to take your time at dinner. Especially if you're having the Peking Duck. You'll want to take your time with that.

    Does the amount of food you get depend on the number of people in your group? For example will a party of 2 receive the same amount of wrappers and same size duck as a party of 5?…

    The amount of food is based on your party size. My party got 2 ducks and a few mains whereas a party of 4 would likely have one duck

    View All 10 Questions

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    Excellent Dumpling House

    Excellent Dumpling House

    4.1
    (873 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    As the name implies, it really is an excellent dumpling house!…read more Me and my buddies were in Jersey and New York for some hockey games, and wanted to go to a deli, get some Chinese food, and a slice of pizza. Got off the E train and when we looked for Chinese food, this place popped up with good reviews and it was just a short walk from where we got off the train. My buddies ordered the special lunches and we also got two types of xlb's, beef chow fun, and some fried dumplings. The special lunches come with a little fried rice, cold garlic flavored noodle, choice of egg drop or hot and sour soup, and main side. My buddies all enjoyed their meals. The beef chow fun was also really good and beef was nice and tender. The xiao long baos were excellent and is comparable to any place in California like DTF. Nice and juicy and great with some ginger, soy sauce, and spicy chili. Friendly service and food comes out pretty quickly. Credit card is accepted. Bathroom was also very clean, which is sometimes rare in some Chinese restaurants I have been to. If you're looking for a good Chinese meal, stop here when you're in the Chelsea area.

    We started out in Chelsea, aiming for Chinatown. The bus was twenty minutes off. "Is it worth…read morewaiting?" I asked T. "We can go someplace else." "How 'bout there?" he responded pointing to Excellent Dumpling House. It was directly across the street. I pulled up Yelp, saw good reviews and readily agreed. At 3:30, the restaurant was empty. There were a few takeout orders, but we were the only people sitting down for late lunch. And y'know ... it was pretty good. Wonton soup is what I'd expect in Chinatown. Wonton wrappers were thin -- my preference -- the stuffing delicious and the broth flavorful. They were generous with the beef in our chow fun. Good, but the noodles needed a jolt. So I asked for soy sauce which was sort of a solution. Shrimp with vegetables was great. A lot of shrimp, too. There are lunchtime specials on weekdays, reasonable prices, and nice people work there. Next time it makes sense to try dumplings since it is, after all a dumpling house.

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    Sizzling Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
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    Buddakan

    Buddakan

    4.1
    (4.9k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$$

    Dinner for one at Buddakan turned into one of those rare experiences where the setting is nearly as…read morememorable as the food. Located within the historic Chelsea Market building--a former Nabisco factory where Oreo cookies were first produced--the restaurant feels theatrical in the best possible way. The soaring ceilings, dramatic lighting, and energetic atmosphere create a sense of occasion from the moment you walk in. It feels less like simply going out to dinner and more like stepping into a beautifully staged production. I started with a Botanist Gin Martini with a twist, which paired wonderfully with the meal. The surprise star of the evening was the new Cucumber Tiger Salad. The balance of flavors was exceptional: bright acidity, a pleasant touch of heat, and just enough mint to make each bite feel fresh and exciting. Every so often the mint would come through and suddenly all the flavors would click together in a way that made me immediately want another bite. This is a dish I would happily order again. Next came the Edamame Dumplings. They were delicate and comforting, especially when enjoyed with the accompanying broth. The broth adds depth and richness that elevates the entire dish. My only suggestion would be the slightest touch more salt, perhaps even a finishing sprinkle of black volcanic salt for both flavor and presentation. I also found myself wishing there were a bit more of that delicious broth because it contributes so much to the overall experience. For my entrée, I ordered the Glazed Alaskan Black Cod, and it absolutely lived up to its reputation. The fish was rich, buttery, and perfectly prepared. What impressed me most was how thoughtfully the accompaniments were composed. The pickled cucumbers brought brightness, acidity, and crunch, while the black bean and eggplant relish delivered deep savory notes and unexpected complexity. I'm generally not an eggplant fan, but this relish was outstanding. The cucumbers and relish sit at opposite ends of the flavor spectrum, yet both somehow make the cod even better. Looking back, I think a glass of Sauvignon Blanc alongside the cod would have been the perfect pairing. I finished with the Miso Caramel Milk Bar, which was spectacular. Decadent, sweet, salty, and touched with just enough umami to keep every bite interesting. The chocolate crumble underneath added a wonderful crunch that contrasted beautifully with the creamy ice cream and luscious caramel sauce. Every component worked together perfectly, creating a dessert that was both indulgent and sophisticated. From start to finish, the meal felt polished, thoughtful, and memorable. Thank you!

    The vibe and food here is great! It's also very good for larger parties. We were a group of 10 and…read moreI was able to make a reservation without dealing with a pre fix meal or being put into a private room which I appreciated. We went family style for our dishes which worked very well. Everything we got was delicious, but the garlic fried rice, kung pao monkfish, crab rangoons and wok fried xo cheung fun noodles were my favorites. I also tried the Blush cocktail which was similar to a lychee martini. I loved it and it was perfectly sweet. Overall it was on the pricey side once we split everything, but the vibes were great for a nice night out.

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    Buddakan
    Buddakan
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    Philippe Chow

    Philippe Chow

    4.0
    (304 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$

    Yeah Id say that was a pretty splendid meal. Shared everything thank goodness…read more Started with the wok fried beef dumplings which were good on their own but had this fire ahh spicy honey mustard wow. Then the scallion pancakes which were crispy and airy paired with this very interesting sauce that was clear but tasted like sweet and sour sauce. For mains we got Kung Pao Chicken which was pretty delicious but my star of the show was the Crispy Beef. It was crispy asf and skinny too I didn't know you could make beef skinny like that. Sauce was super tasty and thick. On the side was broccoli which was fine and eggplant which was fine on its own and good with the chili sauce. Split the Fortune Cookie Red Velvet Cake which okay I thought there would be more creativity with adding fortune cookies somewhere in the cake but it was just a cake with fortune cookies on top. Also they put 2 when we had 4 people like lowkey they couldve just put 2 more on there but anyways the cake itself was pretty tasty so can't complain there.

    Philippe Chow is why Yelp exists. You would otherwise never know that this upscale Chinese…read moreRestaurant blasts club music and mandates 20% gratuities. The food is all over the place but the main theme is that everything is over-seasoned to please the crowd of people who all were gulping down colorful sugary cocktails with dinner while wearing athletic clothing. Peking duck (for 4-5) had great accompaniments (rare to actually get bao with it) but it was a lackluster portion of duck. Salt and pepper shrimp were offensively salted. Special "mignon" was great. The hand-pulled noodles *gasp* weren't hand pulled. "BBQ" chicken in the other noodles was very dry. Sea bass portion was very small. Scallion pancakes were good. Shrimp dumplings were the highlight. I recommend skipping this restaurant.

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