Soom Soom is genuinely a perfect restaurant. I am amazed at their offerings, especially the…read moreeggplant and cauliflower shawarma. Service is always great, and the entrees are reasonably priced. I adore the cauliflower pita, and it gets loaded with every yummy topping you can think of! The perfect mix of flavors, including a little spice. The space itself is small, with just a few tables inside to each (and a couple outside as well). I highly recommended Soom Soom for everyone - there will be something for you! My new go-to lunch spot on the UES!

I ate at Soom Soom two days in a row ordering the cauliflower pita day 1 and the falafel pita the…read morenext day, I didn't make it back for day three to try the eggplant pita. Both pitas were good, filling, and as others have mentioned, I also forgot to ask for sauces they offer only if asked, which might have taken the pita from a 4 to a 5 (unlikely). Solid spot for lunch and it gets busy, so get there a bit early to avoid the line and the rush when assembling your order.

This was a really cool experience. It starts with how well decorated the place is - it's easy to…read moreforget you're in midtown. Each dish was also presented beautifully. Five flavor plate - a nice amuse-bouche that went through a series of flavors: Hawthorne jelly for sour, yams for sweet - butter melon jelly for bitter, mushroom.and black pepper for spicy, and radish cracker for salty. The bitter melon was my favorite and definitely wasn't that better - it had pleasant spices almost like a chutney. Next was mushrooms in a light cucumber sauce, followed by a savory and thick 18 vegetable soup. This was a nice back to back contrast of light and simple with rich and hearty. The next three courses were aiming to imitate meat a little more. The first was a grilled mushroom over fragrant green millet. Then, sweet and sour tofu skin, and another grilled mushroom covered in a curry sauce. Of these, the tofu skin was my favorite as the bright course in between the savory ones. Next was rice in a savory broth with peach jelly, and then a nutty noodle dish with a smooth and creamy sauce with a nice blend of spices. These helped round out the meal, and the noodles were especially tasty. To end was a dessert made from berries and sweet potato, almost with the texture of ice cream. Reservation is required and the meal is prepaid except for tip. The whole thing came to about $130 each after tax and tip. I found the meal to be less heavy than most other tasting menus and very creative.

Bodai Vegan serves imperial-style Chinese cuisine on Midtown's east side. The food is light and…read moreclean; the chef prepares ingredients minimally so you taste the natural, earthy flavors. Served as a progressive prix fixe menu, dishes arrive one after the other. We started with a delightful five-flavor plate--each bite focusing on a different taste profile--plus cucumber-sauced mushrooms and a grounding Bodhi Buddha soup. Rich matsutake mushrooms and sweet-and-sour riblets followed, paired with bowl-steamed rice and noodles, before finishing with a refreshing sweet potato dessert. Service is smooth. Our server, Hannah, paced the courses briskly and professionally, perfect since we had a show afterward. Still, block out at least an hour and a half to truly enjoy the thoughtfully curated meal. The space is fully wheelchair friendly with wide pathways. Because it is strictly reservation-only, plan ahead. It works beautifully for celebrations or a romantic evening.

Vibe/ambiance: some seating, cute yellow themed Service:…read morestandard, there is a bathroom Items ordered: - breakfast burrito: the burrito crisp was 9/10; the filling was 7/10 (weird pickled jalapeño); salsa was 6/10 (oddly goopy)

Might be best to dine in? Place might be new and trying to get its bearings together? Tried out…read moredelivery and was a bit disappointed given what I paid. I was excited about the turkey meatball bowl, but it was cold and btwn the pomegranate seeds and stale pistachios just presented too many hard bits. The lentils and rice were also a bit dried out as well. I also tried the kale salad and subbed for salmon amounting to $30. This salad is unfortunately nowhere near justifying that price. Not to mention the kale was not 'marinated' or even massaged for that matter (see pics) Given the minimal ingredient inclusions and tough nature of the roughage, it definitely needs some work. I love beets and were excited for them but they weren't remotely sweet, which was a bummer. The turkey sandwich included was not as the menu described and contained avocado, which was for the one guest who does not like avocado. Gentlemen who answered the phone was nice therefore and extra star

Wow I really enjoyed this. I made my own bowl of chicken, salad, guacamole, tzatziki, rice,…read morecucumber salad,and broccoli. Eating whole food has been troublesome bc I'm not sure what to pair my veggies with. But this was delicious!

Wish it was less expensive but they have so many great options here. The establishment is clean and…read morehas lots of open seating, and the staff is nice and very quick with making your order. I come here often to get a quick meal that is gluten free and healthy.

Food was amazing thank you for the experience…read more I highly recommend the seafood option for its spice

As I warmed up my leftovers this afternoon, I realized I did not write a review for this impeccably…read moredelicious meal. The service was pleasant, friendly, efficient and helpful from the minute we walked in without a reservation. The ambiance and decor was gorgeous and took me out of NYC for a moment. The phenomenal taste of the first sip of the Thai Iced Tea that paired so well with the rest of my meal is the reason behind the first picture I took. For the apps we ordered my favorite- Chicken Curry Puffs and Chicken Satay. The Chicken Curry Puffs were soft and perfectly mashy on the inside and had a perfect crisp to the layered outside. The Chicken Satay was so different here and yet so savory served with this soft garlic bread. The sauces were so fresh, vibrant and distinct and added to both the appetizers. The peanut sauce had crushed peanuts and was such an accompaniment to texture. For the mains, we had the Chicken Pad Thai and the Braised Beef Short Rib in Penang Curry. The Pad Thai was a great standard and tasty with the crisp sprouts and zesty lime. This Braised Beef Short Rib is where it is at! One of their house specialties- the decadent flavors and textures of this dish is something that will be memorable and just the right touch of spice. Lovely bright orange sweet potatoes and beautiful green beans went so well together with the beef and curry. Looking forward to trying more of their menu and not defaulting to my usual. Warmed up Chicken Pad Thai on the pan over the stove today in a little bit of butter, this was as delicious as it was going to get today. I missed one of the most exquisite Thai Iced Teas I've had in a while, it truly set the tone of how great this late lunch was.

A local mom and pop owned vegan, gluten free (select items) and vegetarian haven in the hood. Rare…read morefind with authentic Cantonese style cooking methods and seasoning. Asian fusion variety on the menu so there's definitely something for everyone. Been here a few times already for dinner with a friend and we always try to sample something new. The seitan skewers were fun and you don't miss the meat. It was quite hearty. I personally love and recommend the pumpkin soup! Most dinner entrees come with soup so do ask for the pumpkin if it's available. The spinach dumplings were tasty but a tad over steamed. The dough fell apart when we tried to pick it up. That shouldn't be. My friend recommended the cold green noodles with peanut sauce. For the peanut fan, you'll enjoy it a lot. As for entrees, I thoroughly enjoyed the vegetarian duck and the vegan black pepper beef with mushrooms. Both come with green veggies and the underlying sauce is oyster sauce when they stir fry it. Great texture and flavors, you don't miss the meat! That's what makes this menu great. Don't forget the vegan desserts! You won't believe it is...my go to favorites -- coconut cake, the brownies and the peanut butter whoopie pies.

A really nice vegan place with great food, healthy portions and fair prices…read more I stopped here on a trip to Manhattan, as it was close to my hotel and all vegan. Everyone on staff was super friendly, I really liked the vibe. My favorites were the general tso's chicken and bean curd skins. Soup came with the meal and I added on some steam buns that were delicious too. I felt like I got a lot of food for my money, especially considering this is NYC. I only have positive things to say about Ginger Root. I'll definitely come back the next time I'm on the East Side

The owner, Jenny, greeted us when we arrived. 80% of the menu is vegan, and I'd searched for places…read morenear NY Presbyterian Weill Cornell since I was having a procedure and wanted my first food after to be close and yum-o. The place is super inviting and totally my style, with exposed brick and art. Mother ordered the Honey Garlic BBQ seitan wings and the char sui bao buns. I got the Beyond vegan burrito, and both had green tea + peppermint tea blend. I also prefer the char sui bao, spinach bao, and mushroom bao to go, as well as a lemon mousse cheesecake to go. Will edit this after I try those! If I'm ever in the neighborhood again, I'll definitely go back. EDIT home, and have tried the rest of my food. The spinach bao were light and fluffy and I loved the char sui bao (which was something I really liked before I was vegetarian then vegan). Quite tasty!

I had the most delicious banana walnut pancakes here! My sister was under the impression they're…read more100% vegan and I just took her word for it... turns out they're not. Their menu is incredibly vegan friendly, but you definitely have to double check! I realized this when I got scrambled eggs and chicken apple sausage and was like hey... this isn't vegan, is it haha. Their breakfast is all day and they have some fantastic lunch and dinner options, like tacos and sandwiches. And their juices??? Omg. I had this absolutely refreshing juice with beet, pineapple, and some other fruits. It's a trek from where my sister lives, but for anyone who is curious to try vegan food or enjoy delicious food in general. You ABSOLUTELY must stop by here.

Great spot for a quick, casual lunch. The menu has plenty of options, the staff at the counter was…read morehelpful, and I had no problem finding a table at noon. The burrito bowl was delicious. I would absolutely go back and recommend it.

Loved this spot. I stopped by to treat a friend to dinner as a gift and ordered two of the Pasta…read moreBolognese, along with a cookie and a brownie. Richard, our captain, was incredibly warm, welcoming, and gave excellent recommendations that made the experience even better. My friend had the pudding for dessert and said it was delicious. The Pasta Bolognese was rich, hearty, and full of flavor. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The space itself is cute, cozy, and has a charming atmosphere that's perfect for a casual meal or takeaway. A lovely experience overall. I'll definitely be back.

Definitely a hidden gem for the upper east side. It's perfect for a casual drink and apps with some…read moreclose friends. It's a little tight inside, but in a cozy good way. And what I love is that you can actually hear each other talking. A good tip my friend let me in on is that you can email the day of to try to get a reservation.

So, I am so pleased to discover the Best Lobster Mac! Not only did the dish impress me with the…read moreperfect textures, but flavor too. Freddy was everything wonderful. I felt like I could open-up in conversation with him and be myself. I felt right at home. Thanks. :)

Amazing service and very peaceful restaurant! Would highly recommend the Pad Kee Mao and crab…read morerangoons!

This is the cutest spot for a girl's lunch, where the moment you walk in you find a space filled…read morewith flowers. I've never tried Thai ramen before, but I got one of the chef recommended dishes and the flavors and crab meat were delicious. The Thai tea was also a pleasant surprise, almost like a slushie texture that was perfect for the warm day. I loved the shrimp and crab Rangoon appetizer, and it was my first time trying fried ice cream. Honestly great food, great service, and great ambience