I got the vegan tasting menu, and not a single thing disappointed! Service was great and attentive without being intrusive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great for a date night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was elevated but not pretentious. When I asked the waiter how best to enjoy things, they usually said go with what your heart tells you. For a more orthodox person, that was a little distressing but I came out the better for it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Super cool bathroom too, but I wish they had better lighting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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I came here for the Pay What you want dinner summer series in June on Wednesday. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have very limited table and this place is quite small and intimate.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] While the service is fantastic, my partner and I didn't quite understand the combination of ingredients. I know the idea is to be innovative and fun but it was certainly not fun for my taste buds. read more

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My partner and I just tried Hags For the first time. (It was a birthday dinner during Pride weekend so it seemed only fitting.) We were very impressed with the menu's meat and plant-based options, all of which were excellent. But the biggest standout to me were the fantastic wine pairings, which not only introduced me to some excellent small batch producers but really made the food sing. I strongly recommend HAGS. read more

I was at this unique restaurant a couple of months ago with one of my groups for their PWYC Farm Dinner Series, which featured a changing five-course menu each week and featured produce from the Union Square Farmers Market. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The staff were friendly, and I liked the design inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The menu was as stated PWYC (Pay What You Can,) and an abridged version of their standard $165/$125 prix fixe, with a suggested price of $100, regardless of whether it was the Omnivore or Vegan version. The vegan version changed the black bass below for tofu and the quail for tempe, and all four of us got the omnivore version. There was also a suggested wine pairing for an extra $55 (with three different wines,) which none of us got. Instead, I went with a Yesfolk hojicha non-alcoholic kombucha for $13, which was delicious. In general, the portions were rather meek, so I'm not going to mention this, or else I'd be repeating every course. The first course was Marinated Spigarello with charred balmuda potatoes, tarragon, and dashi. Spigarello is similar to a milder broccoli rabe, and the few pieces had a light herbal flavor from the tarragon. The dashi was very light while the potatoes were lightly fried. This was fine, though the flavors were a little bit too mild for my taste. The next course was the Polenta with ratatouille. The polenta itself was both silky and a bit gloopy. The vegetables had a mix of textures, though I didn't find that any of them paired well with the polenta. There was also something which I'm pretty sure was pimento cheese, which was a unique and fun idea, even coming from someone who isn't the hugest fan of said condiment. The dish was alright, though desperately missing a sauce. For instance, at a Mediterranean/Italian place I went to a few months prior, with a very similar dish, there was a bright tomato sauce that added some depth and helped mix the fresh vegetables and polenta better. Next was the Black Bass with grilled pole beans and golden tomatillo. While not the largest portion, this was presumably one of the mains and the largest dish, with the fish cooked nicely. While another person felt that it could have had a bit of char or firmness, I liked the texture and how soft and buttery it was. The beans had a lightly firm texture that went well with the fish, while the tomatillo had a pleasant sourness. This was my favorite dish of the night, being well-balanced, and I would pay for a more standard-sized filet of the same dish if it were à la carte. The fourth course was the Quail with sweet potato greens, hazelnut, and okra. This dainty dish consisted of half a quail with a leg and some meat next to it, with some greens on top of the meat and some on the side with the okra, which I believe was pan-fried. The greens had a similar texture to cooked spinach, which was nice with the small bit of quail, though I couldn't taste hazelnuts in any of the dish. The bit of okra was nicely cooked and went well with the greens. Aside from the listed ingredients, there was also a slightly dark green sauce on the side, which I believe was yuzu kosho, a fermented condiment used in some Japanese cooking. This added a slightly punchy flavor to the dish, which was otherwise pretty light, and was a much-needed addition. This was also good, and I'd likely pay around $30 at a similarly fancy spot for a whole quail version, though I am not sure if the greens would work well enough for an entire dish/if the flavor would get boring after a while. The final course was dessert, which was a Plum Cobbler with lemon thyme and jalapeño. The cake itself on the bottom had a peculiar texture, being soft, thick, and slightly chewy, and it didn't really remind me of any cobbler I've had before. I'm not exactly sure if I liked it, and the others weren't particularly happy with it either. The dish was on the bitter-sweet side, being very citrusy with a bit of spice from the pepper. Otherwise, the ice cream on top added a slight sweetness to the dish. I personally thought that this was fine, but others disliked it. While I like and fully support this restaurant's messages and themes, I didn't think the food was worth the price point (we paid $78 each, or $60 + tax/tip.) We left half full, and I would be hesitant to go back and try their much more expensive tasting menu, as some of the flavors just didn't really work together either. read more

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A fun pay what you plan brunch experience with friends! The place is small, cozy and intimate so I'm glad we were able to snatch a reservation because there was a wait by the time we left. The food overall is very tasty and we love the concept, but the portion is extremely small. Our mains which the suggested price is around $18 each came out and we thought they were sides at first because of how tiny the plates were. Literally finished my tofu dish in a few bites even though it was very yummy. It felt wrong not to pay the suggested price but the portion was also insanely small for what you'll be paying for and we do want to support the business at the end of the day. We did enjoy our time and hopefully they'll be serving slightly larger portion in the future! read more

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My wife really wanted to check this place out because the concept intrigued her. I didn't realize the menu leaned heavily vegan, so that caught me a bit by surprise. We went for brunch, and I was also surprised that the only protein options were fish. The food was creative and thoughtfully presented, but it's not something I would personally go back for. The "pay what you can" concept is meaningful, but I found it a little uncomfortable--I wasn't fully satisfied with the meal, yet I didn't want to underpay and feel like I wasn't supporting the space fairly. In the end, I treated it as an experience and an opportunity to support a queer-owned establishment, which I appreciated. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]I thought this place was cute, service is friendly, and the food was pretty good albeit not super memorable (though the mushroom grits was excellent).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Two key problems: - Way too expensive for the amount of food that you get. $160 for a tasting menu and you get chicken (I don't like chicken, and I don't really think it belongs on a tasting menu because it is just very bland) on it doesn't really feel right. Also the plates are pretty small - [[HIGHLIGHT]]Way too deep in the East Village (1st ave) to be charging these prices. There's a reason it is pretty empty and we got a last minute table on a Saturday night easily. There are Michelin-starred places in better locations (e.g., Jua) that are cheaper.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Now, the prices actually include service so it's not too bad but the American consumer is just not geared to think of it this way so you'd get sticker shock looking at the price and the bill (also you have to read the fine print to know that service has already been included...) [[HIGHLIGHT]]While I appreciate the queer-friendliness and the pronoun pins, it seems a bit gimmicky. The entire NYC save for a few pockets is a queer-friendly place. No one living around 1st ave is going to go to a high priced restaurant to make a political statement, at least not more than once.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They would be better off changing to an a la carte menu and adjusting the prices. read more

Exquisite dining experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It feels like a fancy restaurant without all the hoity toity.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Highlights include the leeks with chili crisps, yolk, and caviar as well as the chicken and lightly fried skin. Service was on par with some of the fanciest restaurants. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Intimate enough to feel comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The omnivore tasting menu at Hags is exceptional. The warm Carolina gold rice brioche with warm apple butter to start was the perfect beginning, their yellow corn grits with mushrooms was a dish where I wanted to lick the plate when I was done. The duck course was another outstanding one and I did all this with an inventive wine pairing with offerings I've never experienced before that had me snapping photos of bottles as Camille talked passionately about each pour. Now for the desserts, they were each so unbelievably wonderful that I want to return for another dessert tasting (which they do if there's seats available at the last seating of the night). This restaurant is a must experience in NYC. read more

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This place might be my new brunch obsession, and I'm surprised it's not more popular. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is small but homey and cute, and the servers are so warm and welcoming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The concept, second of all, is so interesting - HAGS brunch is pay what you can. The menu has suggested prices but there is absolutely no obligation to follow what's written and the staff are great at making you feel comfortable actually paying what you can. The menu changes a bit per week, and you never quite know what you'll get. The menu has gluten free and plenty of vegan options as well. The plates were a bit small, but every bite was so delicious and we left feeling the perfect amount of full. I thought the potatoes were an absolute standout too - the tomatillo added a perfect touch. I can't recommend this place enough! read more

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Came for brunch with 3 friends today. The restaurant is very small and 4 is considered a "large party". The decor is great- thoughtful and cute while still being creative, artsy, upscale and vibey for any time of day. Love all of the handmade ceramics and vintage dish ware. We opted for a la carte ordering and shared a few plates, each getting a couple bites of the dishes. Generally I found the food to be very delicate. The flavors good, and quality of the food itself was excellent. I loved the Dijon flavor in the bowl of dusk hash which I expected to be on the dry side but delightfully had a bit of drippings. The duck was lean, too. I could have eaten 10x more of that and may attempt my own version at home ;) Overall- I felt was more of a culinary experience than somewhere I'd go back to if I was *very hungry* but I left satiated and feeling good. The coffee was excellent- not too strong. We enjoyed the interesting glaze on the coffee cups which make them look like they've been drank from with red lipstick. The crowd that comes out was cute, love the queer focus and love to support a queer business when possible. Having our brunch be pay what you can was helpful to a gaggle of broke bushwick artists and what attracted us, but we definitely worried about not compensating enough. Service was 10/10, smooth, kind, prompt, seamless. Thank you! read more

Small, cute spot for delicious food - and bonus, you can bring your vegan friends. I went for their Valentine's Day event, which had a menu that isn't too far from their normal one, although the chef did say that they evolve the menu every couple of weeks so it always has the freshest ingredients. Every course was delicious and flavorful. What made the food unique was the amount of flavor put into each bite. I opted for the omnivore tasting menu and was definitely full, but they do have a vegan menu as well. I also liked how they offer some unique wine selections or a pairing if you wanted. Overall it's a cozy space with only a handful of tables and bar seating, so you get amazing interaction with the staff and chef -- all of whom were very kind and informative. This spot is definitely worth checking out! read more

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This is as good as it gets. I don't want to post pics of the beautiful and tasty dishes because I don't want to ruin your experience here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Design and feel is consistent through the interior design and all the dishes complement the atmosphere aesthetically.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food is sophisticated, playful, meticulously plated, service is up to the level of the pickiest of people. Well done, I have not enjoyed a meal so much in so long. Fine, I'll post one food pic. But go in for the experience! read more

Hags - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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What an incredible evening! I had a pre-dinner martini which was a mistake because I wouldn't shut up but Julianny was extremely kind to me at the bar anyway! The food was all delicious I was really blown away by what chef Telly did, and the new dish from Jacob the sous chef was my favorite first course I've had in forever. Shout out to Lars the pastry chef for the vegan desserts that knocked my socks off and a cashew brie that tasted like the real thing. The rest of the servers were incredible too. The service really made the experience special. I'm always happy to support queer businesses regardless of whether or not they're any good (because unfortunately in this capitalist hellscape if we want equity we need to put our money where our mouths are), but HAGS was delightful. read more

Hags - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Interior: 10/10[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food: 9/10 Service: 10/10 Overall HAGS is a solid place for a dinner night. I got the omnivore diet which came with the most tender pork I've ever had. It literally fell apart in your mouth without too much chew. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive and you can tell they really enjoyed being there. The interior was so cute and nicely decorative with muted pastel colors! The bathroom was just as trippy. read more

I love the explicitly queer focus of the restaurant chef and staff...and the way it invites and creates space for everyone and also highlights or at least posits what a queer take on food creates new ways of approaching ingredients and flavors can create. Food and service were excellent and inventive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is comfortable and friendly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It is pricey, and we had some sticker shock...but our fault as we didn't look at the cost per drink every time a person ordered a drink...though personally ignoring the costs (after knowing the base cost) is usually one of the joys of going to a prixe fixe restaurant. I would certainly go back for special occasions and for the celebration of life! Thanks for creating this jewel of a restaurant. read more

A really special experience. Many of the employees were delightfully awkward and the sommelier was an absolute wizard. The absolute must-try item is the seitan, which was literally the best I've ever had. Some of the menu items were less impressive others, but the overall experience was great. read more

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Really delicious food, and vegan friendly in an impressively, seemingly effortless way. I enjoyed every bite - from the daily focaccia with thin sliced beets, to the beautiful merengue-like dessert. Stand-out dishes were the cabbage and agnolotti, and I also enjoyed a bit of mole with the carrots. Everything was thoughtful and complex, without being fussy. I love the values and mission of this restaurant as much as I love the food - can't wait to go back. The staff was amazing, which made for a perfect experience. read more

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I straight up cannot say enough nice things about my dinner here on Tuesday night. Start to finish, no notes, it was so so so good. The restaurant is super small with only 5 tables as well as seats at the bar so the space is very intimate. The service was absolutely exceptional while not feeling stuffy or formal. We had a 6:30 reservation and left around 9:30 so be prepared for a leisurely experience. I ordered the vegan menu while my friend ordered the omnivore and we were both delighted. When they give you the option for the cheese course before dessert take them up on it! The vegan cashew cheese was so interesting and honestly really good. I did not opt for wine pairings but my friend said that they were great. 100% recommend! read more

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This is now the best meal of my life so far. My best friend took me here for my birthday and we both did the vegan tasting menu with beverage pairings. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with genuine warmth and the utmost hospitality. When we sat down, we were given a little dish with pronoun pins (the sweetest and most thoughtful touch!), a bottle of hand sanitizer that smelled like watermelon, and our menus were individually stamped with "Happy Birthday." So as you can imagine, by this point I'm practically welling up, the whole experience feels so personal and lovely. Now the food. Oh my god the food. I will need to go course by course here. And although I know nothing about wine, the one thing I can say is that every pairing made perfect sense and tasted like it *completed* each dish. They also have the loveliest selection of alcohol free drinks! 1. Snap peas A few bites of the purest springtime. Crunchy, sweet, perfectly seasoned. The amazing produce is the star 2. Sunchoke The most unexpected but delightful combination of flavors and textures! With the basil and the quince?! Divine. 3. Sea island red peas Comforting, hearty, with the most incredible saffron sauce 4. Cabbage We did add the black truffle... no regrets. I don't know how it's even possible to get this kind of flavor out of a cabbage but it was gorgeous 5. Tempe This was my favorite dish. The combination of the coconut flavor with the tangy, savory tempe was an amazing surprise 6. Extra dessert- not on the menu! Because they knew it was my birthday, they brought the cutest little dish of kabocha crème brûlée with apricot! I wish I'd taken a photo, it was so lovely and festive!! 7. Upside down cake For the finale, the cake with butter pecan ice cream and sea buckthorn berries... the perfect balance of malty, sweet, tart and tangy. Every server who helped us seemed genuinely invested in making sure we had an amazing time. They even offered to take a Polaroid of us and gave it to us as a souvenir! I cannot wait to come back for many important celebrations, and bring everyone who visits me to this wonderful little haven. read more

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Went here for brunch on Sunday, and it was outstanding in every way! Every dish was perfect, the wine was excellent, and the service was superb. Excited to be back! read more

Love the concept, design and most of the food. The interior is well executed, the service is really great and I love how inclusive this entire restaurant is. I really cannot commend this staff and owner for creating such a warm, inviting space such as this. Because really, this is a space for celebration to be who you are and to also enjoy food. The cross between the both is a really lovely middle ground, and I was really happy to be able to dine there. I went with a friend and she got the vegan tasting and I went with the omnivore tasting. The menu does seem to change often and the omnivore seems to typically lean more fish heavy (I happened to go last year when this was less seafood dense). All of the plates were incredibly imaginative and boundary pushing. I will say, if I were to return again, I feel like the more successful dishes between the veggie/omnivore were the vegan options. These flavors were balanced better and married in the mouth more successfully. Our server did recommend adding on the focaccia and I'm glad we did because this was incredibly delicious. Keep in mind, this is definitely a more intimate experience. This space only houses a few tables and a small bar. With saying that, I understand that it is their responsibility to up-sell to keep the doors open however, I felt like every given opportunity there was some form of upgrade was pushed. This did get a little exhausting to keep saying no on a tasting menu that was already quite a splurge for me ($160 & $140, 6 courses, no drinks). That's really my main critique. Other than that, I would say this is a great experience for those who celebrate diversity and love a tasting menu- especially if you are veggie forward. I would say- based on food alone this review would probably sit closer to a 4.3 for me, however the concept and execution really pulled this up to a 4.6 for me. 4.6/5 read more

"HAGS is a tiny restaurant in the East Village neighborhood of NYC, by Queer people for all people." I was interested in visiting HAGS after my favorite pastry chef posted that they work here; I knew that it must be good if they are here. Happy to say that HAGS definitely did not disappoint. It was my first time eating at a fine dining restaurant. The team was so welcoming and the experience was perfect. Definitely opt to do the wine pairings which complement the dishes. The menu is a la carte in comparison to other fine dining restaurants with their preset courses. They just rotated their menu for spring and I hope to come back to try out their new offerings. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Delightful food, excellent service, cute atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] High end queer dining needs more representation in this space and Hags delivers. Will be a mainstay on our list! read more

No words to describe how happy I am to have a place like this in this neighborhood! It's a queer friendly place with incredible vibes and delicious food! Haven't been able to get a reservation for the tasting menu here but every Sunday they do a pay what you can a la carte menu which rotates every week that's on a sliding scale so you can pay what you can! My roommate and I both did everything from the menu and it all was phenomenal. The potato salad dazzled me since I'm typically not a big fan but the flavor and texture was like nothing I've had before! The watermelon was also soaked in hibiscus tea and has such a refreshing and interesting combo since there was a little sweet and salty happening. The BLT was incredible and so was the peaches and cream - I was so pleasantly surprised by all of it! Not to mention the service is incredible - E was so hospitable and the vibes were just delightful. It's a small place inside so I would get there 10 min early or so since there was a line to be able to sit down and eat. The views of the owners on how they want to transform the restaurant world and do good in the industry is very inspiring and I'm excited for this restaurant to pioneer the way! read more

Hags - menu - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

My wife and I got food poisoning from the clearly undercooked chicken. And on top of that, all of the food was absolutely not even close to worth the price - just trying to be interesting for the sake of it. read more

Dining at HAGS was such a wonderful experience. I'm not someone who usually gravitates towards a lot of fine dining restaurants, but went to HAGS to celebrate an anniversary. First of all, the service was incredible right from when we walked in - the space is cozy and welcoming and decorated in a more funky way than you'd typically expect a fine dining restaurant to be (which I loved). We got the vegan tasting menu and each course we tried was beautifully plated, unexpected and delicious. We also opted for the wine pairing and the wines we tried were so unique - I loved hearing about the origins of the different wines and the small businesses that produce them. Everyone we talked to was so incredibly kind - I highly recommend HAGS for a special occasion, it's truly such a refreshing take on fine dining. read more

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What a wonderful and personal experience with a lot of thought, care & love put into each dish/wine from the owners/staff. Worth every penny & would do it all over again! read more

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We could not have picked a better place to celebrate our silver anniversary. Both the vegan and omnivore tasting menus were uniformly delicious and beautifully presented. The service was wonderful - all the staff took such good care of us. And their music playlist is awesome ( we were shazaming all evening). read more

Hags - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Hags is definitely a unique dining experience. It's teeny tiny and very east village. As soon as we walked in we were like "yeah this is classic east village" because it's the smallest space ever but adorably maintained and decorated. You're first greeted by some pronoun pins which were cute and set the tone of this very niche fine dining establishment. It's not le bernadin so don't come in with those expectations - it's very unstuffy though refined. Classic trendy fine dining. Before the tasting menu starts they give you some fresh focaccia which is really tasty. Just fyi there is no real hard liquor- we had a wine based negroni sfagliato. Food rundown: Tasting menu - it's very well balanced and delicious. The vegan one is also very well thought out and provides a great and accessible dining experience no matter what your dietary restrictions or food prefs are. A lot of homage paid to all ingredients whether meat, fish or veggies. Overall very impressed and I enjoyed the experience food and ambiance wise a lot. The only note I would make is portion sizes are small (see photos). If you're really hungry and/or want to save money and need a real bang for your buck, then go get halal or pizza on the corner. This is an experience so go into it with that expectation. read more

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I visited HAGS alone for dinner at the start of a Mother's Day staycation weekend and it was such a nice splurge. Everything was excellent from start to finish. The vegan tasting menu led with inventive, vegetable-centered combinations of ingredients - a true delight in each bite. Nicely curated list of non-alcoholic beverages. The service was flawless and the staff warm and thoughtful. I love the proposition behind the restaurant as well. Can't wait to return with friends and family! read more

Hags - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

10/10!!! Unique and very small little place in the East Village. They only had capacity for 16 people (?) and do just two seatings per night. Servers are so knowledgeable and check in often but not in an annoying way. They had an AF paring option, which was phenomenal. Every single thing was amazing and I was sad when each dish was over. I will definitely be back for their vegan menu. Menu was, focaccia, scallop, carrots/uni, lobster, fluke, quail and chocolate cake. read more

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Congrats to HAGS! Michelin recognized! So well deserved. There is so much thought in everything they do. Literally everything. The food is experimental (I tried both menus - hope you like fish!), the wine pairings are thoughtful and diverse, and the service is phenomenal. I would go back in a heartbeat just to be around such positive energy. read more

Everything here was terrific, from the food to the service and atmosphere. Prices are a bit high: $300 for two with tax and tips and $40 for drinks with the four course menu. The food is creative and delicious. read more

We had dinner at Hags this evening and in every single way it exceeded expectations. The food; the wine pairing; and service were all exceptional. Highly recommend. They also now offer both 3 and 5 course dinners with pairings so it is very much a lovely choose your own adventure experience. read more

Had the best dinner in a wonderful, welcoming environment. Spouse and I enjoyed the omnivore menu and daughter tried the vegan menu and we shared all the dishes. We loved it all - staff were lovely, music was just right, perfect meal! read more

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It has been a while since the last time I remember enjoying a restaurant like this. HAGS was amazing! From the super friendly staff, that made us feel so special, to the food that was spectacular. Do not skip the delicious house-made focaccia. All dishes were exceptional, appetizers, mains and desserts. I had a locally sourced steelhead that couldn't taste fresher. The chef really knows what they are doing. It's a bit on the pricier side, but totally worth it. Definitely coming back! read more

I went for my anniversary. This was the best meal out I've had in a long time. The dishes were bright, creative, and delicious. The service was high-touch without being overbearing. The restaurant is intimate and cozy. It has special touches without being cheesy or cliche. It truly feels like the restaurant wants to deliver an unforgettable night. Highly recommend. read more

Good food. Great service. It is a prix fix six course menu either vegan or omnivore. Our table had both and enjoyed it. Service is really top notch too. read more

I have worked in hospitality for over 25 years and Hags is somewhere after dining there(over 7 time in the past couple of months,) that were I still in the industry, I would be fighting to work there. The food makes an imprint on you, and for me if I can remember the taste of a dish vividly months, years later, that's the greatest signifier of its impact on me, already with several so far the list is sure to grow. The meal is unpretentious and at times letting the simple beauty of the ingredients being the star or an umami powered combination, Dan barber meets David Chang. Besides chef Telly's skills, her partner Camille has built a wine list, with a focus on female low intervention grower producers, that is concise but with great breadth. As equal is her genuine warmth and hospitality, shared with the rest of the staff. Having been in the same field as them I can spot disingenuousness a mile awhile, and not a one is. I'm sad that it is become harder to get a spot but happy to see them evolving, changing, and growing as a place and in popularity. read more