Falu House is a nice cafe located inside a furniture store. Came on a Sunday around noon and it was…read morebusy, but managed to get a table. Swedish cardamom bun was amazing - definitely one of my new favorite buns in town. Roasted Chicken sandwich was also delicious. I also tried the grain bowl with chicken, which was fine, though that's maybe not a totally fair rating because I ate it on a plane the next day. Will be back for more pastries and coffee!

Super rude cashier. My Google review was deleted a few months back. Food was ok but the service was…read moreappalling

We don't dine out often, so when we do, it really means something. Dinner at Aska was exactly the…read morekind of extraordinary experience we hope for when we choose to treat ourselves. My husband and I have been feeling a bit of Europe withdrawal lately, and Aska absolutely hit the spot. The ambiance, the precision, and the thoughtful pacing all brought us right back to the kind of refined dining experiences we've missed. The tasting menu was comprehensive and beautifully curated. Each course felt intentional and distinctive, yet the progression never felt overwhelming. While the meal wasn't rushed, it also didn't drag on endlessly -- the pacing struck that perfect balance, allowing us to savor each dish without fatigue. From start to finish, it was an incredible evening and a reminder of why special-occasion dining can be so memorable.

4.25 stars. This is assuredly a high end experience that appeared to incorporate numerous…read moreinfluences outside of Aska's Nordic focus. You'll enjoy the minimalistic chic decor, the open kitchen, the excellent service, and of course the food. Let's talk about that last part since you're going to spend a pretty penny if you go here. Like all tasting menus, there will be some variance although certainly there are some dishes that often are the "star" of the proverbial show. I'm not going to mention everything, but here is what stood out: Sea Oak: This is the first item we received, and it kind of looks like a colorful edible twig. There were purple and yellow hues and true to its name it tasted like a fresh dip in the sea. Apparently, they use algae and blue mussels to make this dish. It's fun and creative and a great start to your meal. Caviar: This one looked like a dark cupcake with the base made from kingfish and eel while the top was absolutely overflowing in what was clearly a super high end caviar (certainly memorable at least to me). This was a stunning visual with extraordinary taste. Claw: This dish looks nothing like a claw. Instead, rounded wheels resembling lotus root are flavored with rose and berry. Gently stuffed inside you will find langoustine claw meat. This had really strong Indian flavors and was highly enjoyable. Custard: This was like the Nordic version of chawanmushi except this savory custard was dollops of trout roe, seaweed, and exhibits a strong seafood broth flavor. Hake: This was the best preparation I've ever had of the fish. The sauce is somewhat indescribable to me, and yet what really stood out is the absolute perfect texture of the fish. The restaurant is fairly well know for their hake and it's easy to see why. Quail and Venison: Both of these dishes were well prepared meats that actually served as perfect boats for the incredible mushrooms accompanying both meats. After eating this dish, I could see why Aska is confident enough to boast a full vegetarian tasting menu. Those mushrooms were among the best items of this entire meal. Pear: I really hope they keep this on because this light pear dish accented with cardamom and copious amounts of butter was an absolute delight. Again, the dish exhibited relatively strong Indian flavors and may have been my favorite dish of the entire evening. Why not five stars? At this price point, I would expect every dish to hit and there were a couple that just didn't for me (not too many but a couple). It was probably a bit too seafood heavy for me and I think I prefer omakase if I'm going that route. I will say that the tasting menu, the service, and atmosphere are all wonderful and a worthy overall experience. I'm definitely glad I was able to visit.

I posted this review on February 28, 2026, but it somehow got deleted…read more "This is a cute place. It's rather inconspicuous. No flashy signs or neon lighting; the name of the restaurant is simply painted on the side of the building, but hidden a bit by the umbrellas and outdoor seating. The vibe inside is chill. Tonight's playlist included Sza, Clairo, and Kali Uchis. Everyone in the restaurant appeared to be in their 20s and 30s. There was one waiter who also served as the host and bartender. Additional staff was preparing food in the back. The interior of Smør is small. It's like a café. There were three booths for four people each, three small metal tables for two people each, and the bar could seat four people on stools. We had a reservation for 6:30 pm. Several people came by and inquired about eating inside, but all that was left was exterior seating. I ordered the Danish hot dog. The remoulade was light and tasty, the onions were crunchy, and the pickles were fresh, but not sour. The hot dog had a great snap and the bread tasted homemade. Wonderful textures going on with this. I'd get it again. My husband got the Swedish meatballs. He said it was exactly what he wanted it to be. A great dish for a winter evening. The pancakes are amazing. Swimming in butter and topped with whipped cream and lingonberry sauce. The best thing I've tasted this month. If you come to Smør, get the pancakes; they were the best thing I've eaten this month."

We weren't able to get a reservation but went ahead and stopped by Smor on a Sunday afternoon. Not…read moresurprisingly there was a wait which ended up being a half hour for a table. Smor is probably the smallest restaurant that I have been to and they try to make the most out of the space (there are tables outside which help provide much needed additional capacity weather permitting). Had the Hangover Sandwich (meat was a little dry but the sandwich was good overall) with a side of excellent Salt & Pepper Fries and the Pancakes (very good) with a side of Smoked Salmon.

We came here for something else and accidentally stumbled upon Nordic Preserves Fish & Wildlife…read moreCompany. Looking at their displays, they had an amazing selection of salmon, herring, cod, pickled beets, tomatoes and more. We decided to try their "Lock, Stock+Barrel" sample of 4 different salmon w/ condiments, pickles, raspberries and crackers. You can get a choice of 3-5. Our choices were their Artisanal smoked, Pastrami Cured smoked, Togarashi smoked, and Norwegian smoked. The condiments were a mustard and dill sauce. The salmon was melt in your mouth good! So good, you didn't need the sauces. We did taste both and liked the mustard. Didn't use much of it though. The winner was the Norwegian smoked for both of us and for me, the Togarashi and Pastrami Cured were tied at 2nd. The two people behind the counter were great! Very helpful and made our experience sitting at the counter a fun time! I will be coming here anytime I crave smoked salmon!

My friend and I were walking around the Essex Market before a nearby dinner. We saw Nordic…read morePreserves and noticed that they brilliantly had a perfect snack sized gravlax cup. Couldn't pass that up! Their shop was immaculate and had an awesome selection. The gentleman working in the shop was friendly and professional. The gravlax cup was delicious, fresh fish, crème fraiche, and an excellent bread crisp. Perfect way to get a taste of Nordic Preserves. Would certainly return!

I lived in Sweden for five years when deciding to grab a cup of coffee I couldn't resist a place…read morecalled a Scandinavian house it was fika time. I was treated to wonderful customer service and a multi course meal really good food with an amazing presentation. I never had monkfish before it was pretty good. This place is Lagom. I was tempted to practice my Swedish on someone however I was way too nervous to even say hello. Maybe I'll muster the courage to try it before I go back to Los Angeles.

I came here for my friend's birthday dinner! The staff were nice and it was a very chill…read moreenvironment. There was never more than one other group with us and we were there from 6:30-8:30PMish on a Saturday night. As they don't have princess cakes on the weekend, we called ahead to see if we could bring our own but it would be a $14 fee PER PERSON which I think is ridiculous. For the starters - we got the free bread and butter which was decent, and I got one of their specialty spritz's which didn't seem very alcoholic. We shared everything else family style - Frankfurter sausage potato wrap (7/10) good but probably wouldn't order again Swedish meatballs (8/10) I really liked the potato/gravy/lingonberry combo! The meatballs tasted good but were so soft so it was a little off putting to me Smorgasbord plate (8/10) the Jannsson's temptation was SO GOOD, pretty much a thinly sliced potato salad with little crunchy bits on top Toast skagen (10/10) my favorite item! It was so refreshing I wish we had more of that!

La Cabra has a really nice, intimate vibe to it, though it is definitely a smaller space. They…read moredon't really permit laptop use here, but honestly, that is kind of standard for spots like this in New York. During my stay in the city, I stopped by and just ordered an iced americano. The quality of the shot was excellent, smooth, bright, and really clean. The bar setup itself is super unique and very minimalist. They are running a really interesting under the counter espresso machine where the main bulk of the equipment is hidden away, leaving just these sleek, minimal group heads rising up from the counter. It was my first time seeing a machine of that style in person, and it looks incredibly sharp. I would absolutely come back here next time I'm in the area.

I've been looking forward to trying La Cabra's cardamom bun for months! Last time I was near La…read morecabra there was a long line and by the time my sisters and I made it to the front, they were sold out of the cardamom buns! I came on a Tuesday afternoon and they had some left... absolutely worth it. Delicious! Paired with cardamom latte... yum.

Went to Aquavit for an early Valentine's Dinner and had another wonderful experience. We had the…read moreChef's Tasting Menu and enjoyed every dish perhaps with the Caviar and Wagyu Beef dish standing out the most. Service was impeccable as always in an elegant, comfortable atmosphere.

We went for a belated anniversary dinner and got the chef's tasting menu. Before anything else I…read morejust can't wait to talk about the dessert - the bird's nest. This rating may as well be for just that because it was so so standout. I've never eaten anything so beautiful. And it was one of the most delicious desserts I could ever dream of eating. After the fact it feels like the entire meal was leading up to it. Everything else was of course good, and beautiful, but the birds nest was really just in a league of it's own. Definitely one of my most memorable bites of the year. I love that the kitchen is just beyond some huge glass panes so I could see the movement and mastery (at a distance) before me. Our meal was maybe 3 hours which was perfect because we were able to amble here after watching a taping of the late show with stephen colbert and then run out to meet some friends at midtown. The little containers of sea salt they left us with were also so cute. Unfortunately my bf was still a little hungry but i was feeling great after the meal. The only thing that irked me was just a silly little fly that just kept buzzing around me the entire time we were there.

First cardamom! Didn't know what to expect but it somehow exceeded my expectations. The bun was…read moreairy yet with a nice bite, perfectly sweet & sticky, and gone in 60 seconds. The best little midday pick me up in the city. Staff was a delight. Inside it's warm & cozy, and I could imagine adding a hot cup of coffee to my order only would've elevated my quick stay.

Was in the area wanted something good and tasty to fill my hunger pang. Walked in, and was greeted…read moreby a friendly barista at the front. The displayed showed several Croissant sandwiches and some sweet pastries; I wanted something hearty to go with my Matcha Latte and decided on a Croissant with cheese ($9.75); Barista helped me warm up the Croissant a bit- though the cheese still haven't melted. This bake shop has their own back kitchen that makes all their baked goods inhouse- and of course their most popular is their buttery, flaky croissants. The taste of the cheese croissant and the Matcha drink tasted good, though at $16 for two items is a tad pricey.

Usagi is one of those spots you wander into and end up staying longer than planned. It is part…read moregallery, part bookstore, part café, and the whole space feels open, calm, and thoughtfully put together. I went during the week and it was not too busy, which made it easy to take my time, look around at the artwork, and just settle in for a bit. I grabbed a hot matcha latte and kept it simple. It was great, no complaints. This feels like the kind of place you come back to when you want a slower pace and a change of scenery. I would definitely return.

Cute little place near DUMBO. Came early in the morning on a Sunday to get tea. They're…read moredog-friendly, and I came walking in with a cavapoo, and they were fine. Other people came in with their dogs as well. Very spacious, lots of seating, and lots of interesting books too.

Inside the red hook ikea (immediate right once you go up the escalator) is the restaurant. Best…read morething about the place is its seating area and view. Soda refill machine works well. Pricing is OK but not like Costco dining pricing. Had a birthday coupon for free slice of cake with entree purchase. I went with the chicken thigh, rice, beans and plantains. Cake was red velvet which was average at best. Chicken thigh was solid and it fell off the bone. Rice, beans and plantains were rock hard because left out too long. Good seats

Updates on Ikeas (2 of 2)…read more My memory works fairly well and I could have sworn I had given this Ikea (Restaurant) in Brooklyn - the only one in NYC's five boroughs - 3 stars. In looking at that review, it was obviously the bone-in chicken that torqued me. At the time of the first review, I got a slice of strawberry shortcake for $2.49. I do remember that part. I believe that a small slice of cheesecake is now about $5, but this is Ikea and not a regular restaurant. This review fetches the same 2 stars, but it's about something else. On a recent enough holiday weekend, they were unable to move the foot traffic in the store, employees were not that helpful, and there was a general feeling of slovenliness. The food was much the same. I had a fish platter assembled with potatoes and vegetables as well as a cranberry bar for dessert. My friend, a New York City resident and school friend, had a platter of Swedish meatballs. I'm not a complainer when there's a good price-quality-quantity relationship in the food you order when out and about, but the quality part seems to be dipping at Ikea, and especially at this location. There are some interesting thing about the Brooklyn-NYC store. First, it shatters media generated stereotypes about New York City in that there must be no parking because everyone lives like they do on "Seinfeld" and in "The Odd Couple." The entire underside of this propped up store is one big parking lot. That means people in Brooklyn and Queens, and even Long Island, can easily drive and park here. The stereotype that Brooklyn is overpriced and overrated, however, stands. The other is that there is limited ferry service from Manhattan that is free of charge. We took the ferry over to Ikea, which is scenic, but took MTA back ... the last ferry leaves rather early. The store and restaurant experience was not memorable, but taking the ferry across to Ikea and riding an MTA bus and subway back from Ikea's front door and sassing it up with a trio of Dominican ladies definitely was. However, that won't raise the score for the main reason we came here, which was to get a simple but solid meal.