First off this place is so cool. Perfect for date night. Dark and cozy with movies showing via projector. They have a nice long bar with seating as well as the tables on the floor. The food and service here were wonderful! I got the pork curry katsu (sorry didn't get a picture) and the portion was big! The flavors were amazing. My cocktail was just ok. read more

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DELIVERY REVIEW I work in nightlife and sometimes I'm able to come home before 3am. When that happens, I'm queuing up my ichibantei order on my phone. I cannot express how much I appreciate being able to order a hot meal at that time that isn't Taco Bell or some other fast food. They're mostly consistent, even that late at night. I only ever order the chicken nanban. Out of the 20 or so times I've ordered, I think I've only ever gotten one or two pieces of chicken that were a little on the stringy/tough side. I will say, I wish they gave an extra piece of chicken given how expensive the dish is on Uber Eats, for $15 in store it's a great portion, but for $22 delivered, it's not asssss good of a deal. That being said, I clean the plate everytime. The side salad the nanban comes with is fresh and crunchy arugula, my favorite! The dressing for the salad is actually so delicious, I just wish I could order more of it but I'm not sure what it's called, or if it's even on the menu as an option to order extra of lol The chicken itself is juicy, not so crispy after delivery but it's not caked in breading so it being softer doesn't make it any less enjoyable. The chicken is sort of on the sweeter side, but it's balanced very well with the nanban eggs, especially if you combine your bite with the salad. Thank you to this business for being open so late and serving quality food. read more

Writing a review for my experience last night. I stopped by since I knew a couple of friends were there having dinner and a few friends and I wanted to check out the spot. We had some drinks and appetizer and dessert and to our surprise when we got the bill we saw a 25% tip added automatically. My group was told that we were not going to be billed under the same bill as my friends party since they had a lot more people, and we sat in a different table next to them. We were also there after having dinner so knew it was just gonna be a drink for fun, and we got there a lot later. I thought that was kind of sketchy they did that and surprised to see the charges. I didn't know sitting next to my friends meant we were automatically charged as a larger group and to be forced to pay that tip felt off, it would have been helpful if they told us and i would've totally sat at a different section if i knew about it walking in. (the other groups host had a dinner event I was not a part of) We were also okay getting a separate table with our group of 4 and we was just gonna go say hi to our friends, it's so weird this is how they're doing business and expected us to pay more for the tip. Surprising because I would have just said, I want to sit at a different section and not have to be charged extra. Honestly, I just hate not having the option to choose what we want to tip and that it felt forced. Otherwise friendly staff, good earl grey panna cotta and passion fruit cocktail, but that tip situation threw my experience off. Didn't know what else to say besides feeling like we've overpaid. Ooh also the bathroom was gross. The first one closer to the reception lady walking in is a little bit cleaner. The second one by the staircase is really disgusting and smells disgusting. I don't know how they're cleaning this restroom... it's so dark and just... yuck! The whole vibe of this place is really dark. Not my type of place to go. Won't be back again for sure. read more

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This is a nice spot for casual japanese. The food was above my expectations because of the portion sizes quality and price. I thought the tuna was nicely cooked rare, but could have had a slightly better crust. The salad had a nice dressing slightly sweet and not too tangy or acidic. The cheeseburger steak was seasoned well and went well with the rice and miso soup. If you're looking for something simple, affordable and clean for dinner, it's a great spot that I'd go back to again. read more

Ichibantei - Tuna salad and cheeseburger steak - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

The service was pretty good and the ambience was also really nice. The lighting was dim and they had a movie playing in the background (Harry Potter). I liked what I ordered, which was the steak and rice. I preferred the takoyaki over the shio takoyaki, but they were both a little softer than the ones I was used to. read more

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The restaurant has been relocated. The new spot is much more luxury and modern with black wall. Screen playing is cool but could play better things. Our waiter was really friendly :) Ordered Gyu-Don. Was really tasty! They open until 3am. Will come back for another meals! read more

Ichibantei - Gyudon kizami-wasabi - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I'm obsessed with this place. I used to live in Japan and everything tasted authentic like a regular Tokyo izakaya. I went with my friend and the temptation to order everything on the menu was strong. On a Friday night they were packed so I recommend reservations. The vibe is really cool too great date spot! read more

Ichibantei - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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the food was alright but the portions were large and the vibe inside was sort of incredible. they had a huge project playing ghibli movies the entire time so it felt cool and kitschy lol read more

Ichibantei - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Ambiance was good, something unique with the screen playing, 7/10. Service was good, as expected nothing over the top, 5/10. Food was decent, I'm vegetarian so there weren't many options and they said they couldn't sub meat for vegetables on some dishes. Also didn't get my miso soup until after the food was finished, 5/10. (The others liked their food though!) read more

Ichibantei - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Cool concept, dark and theater like ambiance, but everything was very salty ): For appetizers, we got yuzu shishito peppers and it was SO salty, we could barely eat it.. The agedashi tofu was probably our favorite as its texture and flavoring was very good. The karaage was kind of unique as the chicken was very thick and stiff.. not the typical type of chicken(?) you would get for karaage. I got the chicken katsu and once again, the chicken was not tender and it was very stiff and thick! It was once again like a different part of the chicken than the typical chicken katsu that you would get. The sauce was also pretty soy sauce(?)/salt heavy and I did not end up finishing my meal.. Service was okay! Staff seemed pretty tired/not enthusiastic as she talked to us and took our orders. read more

Ichibantei - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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My brother and I found ourselves at Ichibantei for a late dinner after a nearby concert. He took lead with picking the place as I had made arrangements for the concert; since he had been here before with good things to say, it seemed like the ideal spot to try - so off we went. Ichibantei sits on 3rd Ave and 13th Street. Walking in, I was really surprised by the size; the space is huge with a large hall/waiting area towards the front which gives way to a decently-sized dining room that also houses a bar. I noticed some stairs as we were making our way to our table - not sure if that led to another level but regardless, there's a lot of space here. The decor is modern with low lighting and a dark color scheme paired against colorful art hanging on the walls. The mellow music playing completed the feel. The menu is mainly Japanese, with a good selection of apps, rice bowls, curries, and entrees. We decided to start with a few apps - namely, the shio takoyaki, Ichibantei fries, and gyoza. I enjoyed all three - the gyoza were my favorite as they were crispy with a lot of flavor. I'm not really into takoyaki but these were topped with a tasty sauce; the fries were good too - steak style and seasoned well. For my main I got the chicken katsu curry - this was really good. The chicken was fried well without being too greasy and the curry was flavorful. I must say, portions were very generous - both with the apps and the entrees. They're open late so I can totally see this being an after hours spot when hunger calls. Service was good, we were seated promptly despite being early for our reservation and food came out at a good pace. Overall, I had a great experience at Ichibantei - food and aesthetics were a yes and I wouldn't hesitate to return for another meal. read more

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We had been searching far and wide for katsu curry, and we came upon Ichibantei. I gotta say, a little underwhelmed by the experience. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. I really like the dimly lit interior and high ceilings. The intimate vibes are very cozy. The drinks were good, nothing special about them. My boyfriend got the rum and ginger and thought it was too tart. It needed something to balance it out. The katsu itself was pretty good! The breading was crispy, and the meat was juicy enough and had some great fatty parts. The curry was a bit disappointing though. It was kind of grainy and a bit thin. It also had a slight sour aftertaste that I didn't love. I've definitely had better curry, and at a much lower price point. For $26, I was expecting to be wowed, and I just wasn't. read more

Ichibantei - Pork Katsu Curry - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Delicious food and amazing vibes!! They have a movie projected on the wall & servers were quick and attentive read more

Ichibantei - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I checked out Ichibantei because I wanted to see how the chicken nanban compared to my home-cooked experience in Japan. The chicken did not disappoint. It was juicy and flavorful and had a unique tartar sauce that pulled the dish together with the rice. I did enjoy it. My husband's curry was just OK, but was a good portion. The salted edamame appetizer was not very good. It seemed microwaved and certainly overcooked. The service was decent, but in no way justified the suggest 25%-35% tip on the card reader. This place is much more of a bar than a restaurant, and it has a grimy feel to match. Nightmare Before Christmas playing on the big screen around Halloween time, FYI. read more

Ichibantei - Chicken nanban - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Ichibantei used to be a cozy Japanese soul / comfort food spot in the East Village off of First Avenue. in 2023, it moved into a much larger building where it is still resides currently...still in the East Village on Third Avenue. came here on a busy Saturday night (before the big snowstorm) to pick up a takeout dinner. ordered a "Katsu Curry Rice" platter, but it was actually "Karaage Curry Rice"--but i sorta knew this because the app i ordered through had a pic, so i knew i was getting fried chicken chunks (karaage) versus a fried Panko-breaded sliced chicken cutlet (Katsu). assume it's just a error or glitch. anyway, either way i was getting fried chicken pieces, an ample amount of Japanese rice, curry sauce, and pickled radish as a takeout order. the current larger Ichibantei space is sleek, modern, and feels very Japanese pop culture with a touch of NYC versus the previous Ichibantei space which is was way more intimate and casual. Ichibantei's entranceway has seating to wait; there is hostess station to check in for your reservation or to pick up orders, and beyond that is the large main dining low-lit room + bar (you can eat at the bar). on one of the dining room walls, they screen movies throughout the day and night. "Bambi" was playing when i was there that night. there are more floors with seating options, but i didn't check them out. anyway, the restaurant was slammed as they had a full house and what seemed like a never-ending stream of delivery people picking up orders. so my order was about ~25-30 minutes late, but it wasn't a big deal because I was in no rush to head back in the abyss of a freezing winter night. when ready, my order was packed neatly. got home quickly as i was hungry and the food smelled great even through the bag. the food? very good. everything was very warm, so my food didn't sit too long. the karaage was crispy potato-starch-coated fried-chicken-thigh chunks on the outside, but juicy and flavorful on the inside. so good. the Japanese rice was right amount of soft, sticky chewiness to complement the karaage and curry sauce. the curry sauce is thick-ish, seasoned-well with layers of savory umami-ness, nice and aromatic but not spicy, but more mild with sweet notes. combined all together, it makes for satisfying comfort food calories. Ichibantei is open for both lunch, dinner, and stays open late--serving up tasty Japanese soul food for hungry spirits. read more

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Such an underrated Japanese restaurant in NYC. The vibe inside is stunning, it's very clean and food is high-quality. I will definitely come back. The dish I got was the Niku-udon with yuzu. read more

Ichibantei - Niku Udon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Super spacious very cool movie-theater(???) themed restaurant with japanese rice/udon dishes. udon was so good, noodles were cooked well and niku broth was so flavorful (we were a fan of the raw beef). I was also just a fan of the vibes in general, and the servers were nice as well. read more

Ichibantei - Beef Curry Udon, Niku Udon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

On the surface, this place seems promising - atmosphere is set in a dimmed room with silent films and jazz playing over them. But the food was nothing what we hoped it to be. Nice ambiance. The pan fried gyoza was mushy and bland inside with an over cooked, almost burnt skirt. we couldn't stomach eating it. The chicken kastu was plated beautifully but tasted average. The miso soup, cabbage and seaweed which came with the katsu was tasty. Also ordered the cold ramen noodle and not good. In fact, it has a terribly off-putting flavor. The seervice was mid... when expressing dissatisfaction with the gyoza, the waitress was not concerned. 4/10. read more

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I got the cheese hamburger steak and although it was good, I feel as though the flavor of this particular cheese they use doesn't complement the meat. The regular hamburger steak looks good though! My friend tried the wafu hamburger steak and it was just topped with radish. The sets are really filling- it comes with a side of veggies rice and soup There were a few times when I couldn't spot any staff members when I needed them but overall good experience. read more

Ichibantei - chew - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Came here on a whim a few weeks ago for dinner on a busy Friday night and we were seated right away! The vibe inside is kinda cool, a little dark, but the gigantic movie screen projection is a nice add. Not too loud and I'm not gonna lie, major plus points these days when you can hear yourself talking to your friends...Anywho, we shared a few items and I got my own entree but I will say the menu was pretty expansive so there's a ton more to try! We went with the agedashi tofu, dashimaki, and garlic edamame as apps along with something else I'm forgetting the name of. All were pretty good though I will say I think I preferred the dashimaki. For my main, I went with chicken katsu - the entree was fairly large, the curry flavorful, and the chicken well-seasoned. I can't say I'm a discerning palate for Japanese cuisine but I enjoyed the meal overall. For dessert, we tried the earl grey panna cotta as well as the vanilla panna cotta with mixed berries and both were great - the earl grey was unique and a nice touch that it was served out of a tea cup! Would definitely recommend giving this place a try, especially if you're looking for a last-minute spot for a small group! read more

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Came for brunch/lunch using a pulsd deal voucher. Two entrées and bottomless sake cocktails and select beer/wine on tap. For the deal that I got, definitely do think it is worth a visit and five stars. We got the tuna don and cold ramen (added pork belly - extra cost). The tuna don was a little bit different than other places as the tuna was marinated in a sweet soy sauce and had a very gelatinous consistency... but overall the flavor was not bad. The cold Ramen was better of the two. They had multiple flavor options for the sake based cocktails (yuzu, peach, calamansi, lychee, passionfruit, etc) but do take note that they added a substantial amount of the syrups for each so it is quite sweet. read more

Ichibantei - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

price - $300 with tax and tip for 9 people food - 3/5 ambiance - 5/5 service - 3/5 overall - 3/5 overall, the food was okay. there wasnt anything from the menu that stood out to me. however, the ambiance was AMAZING!!! definitely a nice date spot!!! read more

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The first time I came, the food was alright. The second time I came everything was a lot better. The cocktails were decently strong. I wish the curry was more hot, it came out lukewarm so it didn't taste as good. The udon was good and loved the fries. The service was good as well, pretty attentive. They also play a movie whilst you're eating and I believe they played glee. It's very dim inside so perfect for a date. read more

Ichibantei - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I've been wanting to come for ages because of all the good reviews. The chicken katsu don ($22) did not disappoint. The chicken katsu was not crunchy because of the egg on top but it still had so much flavor that I did not mind. I preferred it to the minced katsu entree ($20) which was super crunchy but had a meaty/gamey taste. The karaage ($12) came with 4 pretty big pieces but the overall quantity still seemed small compared to other restaurants. I liked the flavor even though it was a little too salty. The deep-fried gyoza ($12) came with 7 pieces that I didn't dislike but I've had better. Note: For parties 6 or greater, they automatically apply a 25% gratuity. But they informed us when they sat us at the table so it wasn't a shock when the bill came. read more

Ichibantei - Chicken katsu don (comes with miso soup) - $22 - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

The green salad was really good and we really enjoyed the sesame dressing it came with. I liked my grilled beef udon a lot and the yuzu lime topping added a really great flavor. It is quite dark inside with a huge movie screen on one wall which was cool to watch during dinner. read more

I had an incredible very late night dinner here. I procrastinated all day on choosing somewhere to eat. I finally chose a spot and to my suprise it was closed when I arrived. I was so hangry and couldn't seem to find anything good near by. I finally stumbled upon Ichibantei and I had the most incredibly delicious meal. The ambiance was beautiful & great vibes, light music. Not too loud where you can't conversate. As a solo diner I really appreciated that they were playing a movie projected in the wall. It gave me something to look at other than my phone. It felt so cozy. I ordered Kumamoto cocktail, another spontaneous decision as I don't often drink whiskey, but It was delicious. Perfectly balanced, refreshing, and I love the crunchy ice they have here. I ordered the pan fried dumpling which came with a beautiful golden brown crispy edges. The flavor was great but the filling was a bit soupier or loose than I would've preferred. I ordered gyu don I beleive if I'm not mispellling the name, which was rice and ribeye and I added the ontama egg. The rice was so subtly flavorful with sesame and soy. The rib eye also thin yet juicy with marinade. The egg I ordered was cold, which was unexpected. I mixed it in with my rice bowl and was a little dissapointed that it made my dish colder overall. I was hungry and not thinking straight lol. I ended my meal with a yuzu flavored sake. A little too sweet but the yuzu flavor tasted so fresh & natural It almost tasted like freshly squeezed juice. I had great service, all smiles, and great suggestions from my server who was a young lady, I didn't catch her name but my receipt says Emeri. Incredibly grateful to have found this cozy spot, I will definitely be back soon! read more

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My friend was craving a steak so we came for their signature dish & I will say it didn't not disappoint ! Service was quick and the restaurant has a nice, dark ambience that was perfect to rest and cool off for dinner after a long day of shopping in NoHo/Soho. I got the sukiyaki Don and finished every last bite ! I'm not from the city & it's definitely a place I'd recommend to anyone visiting. I have it a 4/5 simply bc pricing is a little on the high end. For the portion size and taste though, I think it's definitely worth it ! read more

Ichibantei - Beef Sukiyaki Don, Ichibantei Steak 11oz - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I thought the ambiance and service was great. They had an amazing attention to detail. It's a very dark and almost romantic energy in the space which is really nice. The food looked great. Everyone in my party felt blown away by the flavors as well as presentation. Everything looked exquisite. The drinks were great. You can tell the bartender knows what they are doing. read more

Tip: come during happy hour when they have the BOGO deal on drinks; super worth! (We came on a Sunday around 1). This place is a bit hidden, but has some pretty good prices for large portions. The udon wasn't mindblowing, but the flavor was solid and I was happy with what I received given how much I paid. Service was friendly and fast. read more

Ichibantei - Niku Udon - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Surprised when we entered - dark inside, lighted mirrors, and with reggae music playing which I didn't mind at all . Service is great. Menu prices on their website are not the same as their actual menu (which is more $, QR code on the table). Food is good but reminded me of food we get from Mitsuwa Marketplace - a bit better in quality and plating but pricier version. Some tried the takowasabi and liked it, not slimy as it looks. The minced katsu is beef and pork- have it with the sauce but the japanese mustard is a must (like wasabi, they give such a small amount though). 3.5 read more

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Hidden gem in EV! I'm almost hesitant to write a great review because I don't want this place to be too popular that I can't get seatings. Lol I actually followed them from the original location on 13th Street because their food is just SO good! I love all of "teishoku" style food. It reminds my of mom's cooking at home. Very reasonable price for Manhattan too. The ambiance is definitely "club-like" hip joint. The waiters are very attentive. read more

Ichibantei - Hamburger steak - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

WOW! Total hidden gem find!! My parents were in town briefly for a concert and wanted to catch up afterwards over a quick bite. The timing was a bit rough between it being Halloweekend and nearly midnight! My dad stumbled upon this place as we were walking and talking and we were immediately drawn to the ambience. It's super classy inside--dimly lit (but not too much, so we could still see one another and chat!) and beautifully decorated. Our server Tomo was out of this world fantastic!! Not only super knowledgeable about the place and menu, but also incredibly kind, genuine, and positive. We need more people in the world like Tomo haha!! We also interacted with another server (though I didn't catch his name!) and he was also wonderful, helpful, and kind. I ordered the teriyaki chicken entree to share with my family and it was delish and a hearty portion with salad, rice, and miso soup all included for $15-highly recommend! We also got some grilled veggies and loved that japanese onion sauce!! All around delish. My only pieces of feedback are as follows... - the music was amazing, but a tad too loud a times. It was a bit hard to have a full on convo at times, but it wasn't like club or bar loud. - the chicken was a taaaad too fatty for my liking, but the flavor was so good, I'll excuse it! We will be back 100%! Check it out! They're open till 2am! read more

Ichibantei - Teriyaki Chicken - yum!! - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Yes, it's true. They had a movie playing. We went at 1 o'clock for lunch and we watched Barbie. The food was great and I enjoyed myself. It was dark and moody inside the restaurant and the service was prompt. read more

Staffs were friendly. Karaage (four giant pieces) and dumplings (5 pieces) were very crispy. Highly recommend the karaage and dumplings. The oyakodon was ok, they did a good job separating the meat & egg from the rice when we took the food to go. Would highly recommend! Food: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambience: 5/5 read more

Ichibantei - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I have eaten ichibantei udon at least 10 times in the last 2 months. And it's July. So that's saying something to get a hot soup when it's a million degrees out. Truly I am obsessed with their udon, specifically the deluxe udon which is a combination of the niku and kitsune udons. The combination of the deep fried tofu and the tender beef comes out of to be sweet and savory. I seriously LOVE this dish. I'm craving it right now. By far the best udon I've had in the city (recognizing ramen is different). They have a ton of other options and I've had a few that were each good. The interior is like a nightclub (I think it used to be). This place would be great for group dinners, so many fun drink options. But seriously, if you do nothing is, get the deluxe udon ideally when the winds of winter start blowing read more

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I highly recommend Ichibantei for anyone who LOVES Authentic Japanese food! Tastes like home cooking with an atmospheric dining experience! A true New York gem and the coolest place in the East village! The space is SO cool and every dish feels like a warm hug with every bite! The ingredients are so fresh and they are also gluten free - so Definitely try the fried chicken! Great staff and friendly service! read more

Staff were very friendly the Ambient is nice and clean the bar is very tidy and organized The food we ordered was excellent feel like everything make fresh to order and take a little time but for the quality it's worth the wait We ordered kurobuta Ichibantei sauce TonKatsu and Cheese burger was very good both perfectly cooked and flavorful I love Earl grey panna cotta is amazing definitely will be back read more

Ichibantei - Earl grey panna cotta - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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If you're ever around Union Square, go to Ichibantei. It is a cozy and chill restaurant for a quick lunch. I had the Oyako Don (first time trying it) and Ichibantei didn't disappoint. It was a well balanced dish and extremely flavorful. Service was excellent and welcoming. Definitely would come back here and highly recommend it. read more

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I don't know if I can just specify one bad thing because honestly speaking everything was terrible starting from the awful service to the RAW and severely undercooked chicken that could've easily led to food poisoning. My friends and I couldn't finish our food at all and asked to speak to the manager who apparently wasn't there on a Friday night. The chicken literally had blood coming out of it...how is this okay? The waiter literally said "well it wasn't me who cooked it." Okay, great...on top of all this, a drink was added to our check that we didn't order. I still left a tip because I'm not a bad person and we all have to make a living but my god this place needs to fix many, many things including I don't know serving edible food? read more

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I recently dined here, and it was a major disappointment. The eggs, cooked sous vide, were cold and the egg whites were not set, which made them extremely unappetizing. Additionally, the curry was far too sweet, completely overwhelming any other flavors. Unfortunately, this experience fell well below my expectations. When I told the staff about the issue (having not eaten more than a couple bites of my entree) they insisted that they simply insisted that they didn't add sugar to the dish. I never said that they did, and suggestion that the heavy amount of onion could be causing the issue. They did absolutely nothing to remedy the situation and left me feeling like they simply thought I was an idiot and was "wrong". I've had the dish over a hundred times, this was the only rendition that was inedible. read more