Why does this place have a Michelin star??? I had been meaning to try this place forever, but ended up disappointed. To me, this was just another typical neighborhood Thai spot. The decor is very pretty, but the food was nothing more than your average Thai/Malay restaurant, nothing fabulous, nothing memorable. The "Tamarind" duck I had was dry and bony, albeit a large portion. It tasted exactly like any duck you can grab from one of those Chinatown windows, with a little bowl of tamarind sauce on the side. The Massaman curry was tasty, but the portion was tiny! The apps were good, but Michelin star worthy? Non. Nein, Niet, No. Don't get me started on the service. The person was clearing all the plates while I was still eating! She was literally standing there, waiting for me to finish my last bite as I choked it down. The restaurant had 3 tables seated. It wasn't like they had a lot of tables to service. WTF?? Give your customers space and time to finish their food, and NEVER EVER take away my companion's food while I am still eating. Totally a Meh experience for us all around. If you can't get food or service right, why bother? read more

I went here with my husband to celebrate our wedding anniversary on August 7, 2014. I was craving for spicy Asian food so I was hoping Laut could satisfy that. I called them at noon to make reservation for two at 6:00pm. It was confirmed by a lady. I walked in 5 minutes before 6 and checked in with the host, she couldn't find my reservation. Great. But she took me to our seat nevertheless. My husband arrived 5 minutes later. We were given the menus and had to wait for 15 minutes for our server to take the order. My husband ordered chili crab and I ordered beef rendang. The food came out quickly. The chili crab was nothing like Singaporean chili crab, very mild and westernized. My beef rendang tasted good, thick curry sauce but not spicy like Indonesian beef rendang. Our server took our plates away once we finished. I was looking forward to enjoy sticky rice with mango for dessert. Our server (he), came back with our check!!!! We didn't even ask for our check! I was about to order dessert.... Anyhow I told him, we are not ready for our check. He shrugged and gave us dessert menu. Then we were told the sticky rice wasn't available. Okay.... We took the check and paid and went out. So disappointed. I then sent email to the restaurant manager to their email address: info@lautnyc.com the next day, but until this review is posted on yelp today, there is no response from Laut. We will never come back with such bad service and so-so overpriced Asian food. read more

Not very authentic at all. Hainan chicken was so far from what it should be. Why would you serve roast chicken and call it hainan chicken? Great atmosphere and decor. read more

the food here is ok, nothing special nothing bad. the place reminds me of republic around the corner - so so food, loud music, and crowded. it always makes me chuckle when i see an asian style restaurant throw in sushi into their mix. of course i have never tried the sushi here and never will. they basically make ok malaysian food. it would help if the food came out piping hot instead of luke warm. when i come with friends they love this place though. i guess i'm spoiled from having eaten so many yummy malaysian meals at taste good and nyonya. read more

my friend from Malaysia took me to this restaurant. she grew up and lived in malaysia for all her life and told me this is the only Malaysian she'll eat in NY. teh tarik - hand pulled tea leaves with milk. i absolutely loved this! i love all kinds of tea and in the middle of bitter winter this warms you up. tasted like a black tea with a unique flavor - in a good way. roti canai - this is what we started with. i thought it was spiced well but on the expensive side($9) in comparison to other malay spots. the curry didnt have any potatoes or chicken in it either which is my favorite when having this dish. asam laksa - she ordered this for me and i killed it. the pineapple slices add a delish citrus sweetness to it. the fish broth wasnt pungent. dont forget to squeeze fresh lime onto it. the noodle texture reminded me of a cambodian dessert called luat which is made of hand rolled rice noodles. unfortunately this isnt prepped the authentic way due to restrictions from the health dept. but i would have this again for sure! hainanese chicken - in most places this dish is a perfectly boiled chicken but warning here it was fried. i wasn't expecting it however it tasted good. read more

The prices are higher than your typical $$ restaurants - $14 for a bowl of mediocre fried rice, $9 for 3 tiny (finger-sized) spring rolls (cut into halves so it's 6 pieces). Overall I'd say both the taste and the portion are underwhelming. Also watch out for the 20% tips included in the check - they'd come back and question you if you give them ~18% but not 20%. read more

Worst restaurant I have been to. Over cooked, no flavor and to top it off, service was just as bad. DON'T waste your time or money. You'll get a better meal at McDonalds. read more

Ordered from here for work lunch and my boss said she felt sick from her Pad Thai. I felt fine and enjoyed my Basil Fried Rice. Went to the restaruant with a few friends and realized it had a B rating, but decided to stay anyway. My friend go the Green Curry and it was extremely unnatural looking with a weird green color, later she said she felt sick from it. Had Pad See Ew that time and it was fine, but I don't think I'll come back here again. read more

I really enjoyed my meal here. I had a work meeting at lunch and it was quite at noon and got full shortly there after. It looked and sounded like a lot of people where there for meetings. read more

Loved the atmosphere and all the dishes we ate. It's a bit pricey but I guess that's normal for NYC.

i think generally speaking...Malaysian food isn't anything so exciting that makes you go... OoooOooOo and Aaaaaaahhh.... it's just...ah. OK. now that we've got that out of the way.... Laut gets 4 stars from me....for the following reasons: GREAT service (we love you steve! will you marry stacey?) an abundant variety of foods to choose from, which makes it harder to figure out what you want....but go for the roti kanai. AMAZING pancake. relatively cute and clean space and decor. minimalist at its best. I've tried their tom yums, noodles, soft shell crab... and all was pretty tasty. again, i didn't have the wow factor i was looking for....but i was happy with the food. happier with the amazing service we had. we will definitely be back .... i haven't found a favorite dish yet...but really diggin the soft shell crab! YUMMERS in my tummers! read more

Came here with a group for dinner. I've never tried Malaysian food but I was up for the exeperience. The restaurant is small but nicely decorated. We had a variety of different dishes brought to us, basically family style so everyone shared. Everything was absolutely delicious! I had no idea there would be curry anything so I was pleasantly surprised to encounter those West Indian flavors and they actually be executed correctly. The roti dessert at the end of our meal was massive and nicely presented. It was also very delicious, thin roti with a light drizzle of simple syrup OMG so good! Finished off with a round of saki bombs, I will definitely be returning. read more

As of late, I've been really craving some Thai but every place I been has been sub-par. I was skeptical but it looked nice and kind of empty. Then, Laut got loud. As in bar loud, crappy pop music pumping, but without the usual bar crowd. For a Sunday night, my friend and I were perplexed with the ambience, but very pleased with the food. I had the "Drunk Man" (Drunken anywhere else) noodles which had enough sauce to enhance the dish without overpowering it. My friend wad pleased with her Pad See Ew with tofu. The tofu seemed fresh and not so overly deep-fried like many other establishments with tofu dishes. You know what I mean? All in all, I'd go back because they gave me hope that amongst the plethora of Thai/fusion places out there, you can still find one that treats these dishes right. Service was good and pretty prompt. read more

Arrived there early, and there were hardly any people so we were seated quickly. Food was good, service was good, but the fact that the portions are so small and the price so high is the reason I couldn't give this place more that 2 starts. With the type of food they serve, it's worth going someplace else. read more

Came here for a late lunch with a couple of girls and we ordered Hakka chicken, which resembled chicken nuggets, but better and spicier. Next up, we had a half roast Hainese chicken and it's got a nice salty and sweet kind of flavor, it went really well with the dipping sauce. This dish came with a bowl of soup, which added a nice addition and the rice was fragrant and flavorful. Also, you get a real generous portion, yeah, so come hungry. I had Char Kueh Teow, which was very similar to the Thai drunken noodles minus the spiciness. The dish was well prepared and it really had a stir fry effect... if you know what I mean. Overall, everything was well done. Did I mention that it has a Michelin recommendation? What can I say, the food is good, so it's a yes for me. Definitely will be back. read more

Very cramped crowded and mediocre food. We had reservations and the lady hostess ended up asking to vacate our table even before we had ordered dessert cod they were overbooked. Very rude awful service. Don't spoil your evening read more

Some say it is Malaysian food, others call it Thai food, I call it delicious. I had the spring rolls and some meat dish. It was very good. The service was great too. It is in a good location, I will eat there again. There is exposed brick walls inside, I bet if I draw a nice picture of myself with some chalk they will give me a free dinner. It is just an idea, I would not have any idea where to buy chalk anyway. Third grade was a long time ago. Thank you Laut! read more

This food here is delicious!! I was not very familiar with Malaysian food at first but our waitress did a great job of explaining the different menu options, as well as most popular/recommended dishes. Restaurant is pretty small in size so I would plan ahead if you want to come with a big group. Decor of the restaurant is also very interesting- each wall has unique artwork that's mismatching all around. I highly recommend trying the Indo Nasi Goreng and the Nasi Lemak. Definitely go on an empty stomach- these dishes are very filling! read more

I had nasi lemak. It was cold. Literally, cold. Best thing at the table probably night market noodles. Also, not good choice if you are interested conversing with your fellow diners. Ie, TOO NOISY. Can't recommend. read more

This was a great spot to catch dinner and catch up with one of my good friends. It wasn't crowded, the staff was alert but not too fussy. They gave my friend the wrong wine by accident, and exchanged it for the right with without any tantrums when he told them about it. Oh, and did I mention my food was redonkulously good? Yes, 'redonkulous' - use it and love it people. I had the Malaysian curry with tofu, and it had the BEST okra in it. Yum!!! I can't wait to dash back sometime to try out the rest of their menu! read more

Awful. Waited an hour for our food. Then it comes served cold. They kept saying it was coming when clearly they totally forgot. Never going again. Should have left. read more

We weren't too impressed with the place, but it's kind of cute and the food was what I would call "perfect lunch food". The service was great though and we didn't have to wait when we wanted to pay and leave. read more

Ordered approximately $200 worth of food for delivery. We are a company and order regularly. One item appeared to be missing. Called and asked for it to be sent over, only to spend upwards of five minutes having to argue with an employee who claimed that they had given us all that we ordered. It did in fact come with the original order, but did not meet its description, and was unrecognizably small/sparse for a $9.50 item. This is not the first time we have experienced poor customer service. Food is DELICIOUS, but this repeated experience has turned us off Laut. read more

Best Malaysian/Singaporean food I've had outside of Asia. Nothing else in NY even comes close. Everything was A++ and totally worth the wait. read more

I haven't even eaten here yet and I'm annoyed. Got a Groupon deal and called them for a reservation. They told me I didn't need one and could just walk in. Really? On a Friday night?? Way to underwhelm... Then when I get there, they won't honor my Groupon until Monday because that's when they are "starting" the deal. It doesn't say anything like that on the Groupon. Lame. read more

Personally shocked to know Laut has received 1 Michelin star in 2011...really shocked. It is nowhere near average...but there are multiple locations so that could be it. This location, however, does not deserve a Michelin star. Service - was almost non-existent...constantly had to look around during my meal to make sure I didn't miss the staff when they were around - waited a long time for water....then I gave up and had to ask for water myself.. - finished plates were not removed from the table when the waitress came by Food - Roti was off in taste and texture, the curry was more watered down and almost tasteless - the entrees my group ate were all very average at best (pad thai, pork chops and fried rice) Would NOT come here again. Would NOT recommend to anyone. read more

Amazing place to have dinner. We really enjoyed the food, atmostphere and the service were awesome. It is better if you booked the table before going since it will be very crowded. read more

Probably won't go back here. The staff was so obnoxious, seriously came by so much and kept being pushy about ordering. It's one of the those let's feed you and get you out of here restaurants. The food was decent, but it definitely seemed a little pricier for what it is than most thai places. If the staff isn't good, I won't go back, and this place was just crazy to me. read more

Thoroughly underwhelmed by Laut! I wanted to love it, as it's one of the few places in Manhattan that even attempts to do Malaysian/Singaporean food (which I miss and crave after multiple trips there), but it's neither particularly authentic nor well-executed fusion (and definitely not deserving of a Michelin star). My dining companion and I had the fresh spring rolls and roti canai to start, followed by the chili crab and tamarind duck entrees. The appetizers were ok, and the roti (fried bread) at least approached the proper texture (but wasn't as flaky and tissue-like as the roti you get from hawker stalls in Asia). The entrees were really disappointing -- sauces were far too sweet and lacked the complex pungency and spice profile that underpins good Malaysian/Singaporean food. The duck had a nice crisp skin but was plopped unceremoniously on a bed of overcooked Chinese broccoli. The desserts were particularly unfortunate -- ice cream mochi from a box, and the mango with sticky rice came with approximately 2 tablespoons worth of chopped mango (half of which was seriously under-ripe). On the positive side, prices are reasonable for a sit-down restaurant so near to Union Square, and the service was very friendly. It might be worth a quick drop-in for some noodles or the like, but would not pay full price for anything else! read more

Are you in Union Square and want to blow $25+ a person for great Malaysian food? Then order a limousine and head to Chinatown or Queens--Laut serves terribly unimpressive food that is both overpriced and not authentic. Roti Canai - the roti was decent, curry was watery, and there is no meat Chili Soft Shell Crab - decent, but only 3 crabs (all cut in half) Hainanese Chicken - I was most offended by this version of Hainanese chicken. The chicken was obviously not prepared with flavoring at all and simply sauteed (as they explained), with sauce added as an afterthought. This restaurant is very much overpriced. I understand that they are not in Chinatown, but they should knock the prices down to reasonable $8-12 entrees rather than $15 and up. You will get better versions of their dishes in Chinatown for 1/3 of their listed prices or less. It is a shame that Michelin has no clue what good Asian food tastes like and are easily tricked by fancy plating and expensive menu items. I'm not the only one who has this opinion; a simple Internet search will find plenty of outraged foodies: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/742172 read more

The first time I came to Laut a few years ago, I left with a good experience and wanted to return. My second trip to this restaurant was a completely different experience. The dish I ordered was too salty. The atmoshphere of the restaurant was nice and I really liked the Asian pop music they had in the background but the food was lacking. read more

Nice decor. Char kway teoh was excellent. Sotong and roti were ok. Chicken satay was bagus. Chili crab was terrible and rendang beef lacked curry. But always good to get some tastes of south east Asia. Friendly staff also a plus read more

Went here for lunch this past Sunday and I couldn't be more disappointed. I went here open minded not having read up about them other then knowing they had been 1 Michelin Star two years in a row. So I was fairly excited when my companion told me she had a Groupon to use (should have been more of a red flag - how many other Michelin Star places need to advertise on Groupon to get foot traffic? Of the ones I've been to none). Regardless the best part of the meal was the appetizers. I had the five spice pork rolls which was tasty. Followed by a mediocer Chilli Crab dish. The reason for the 2 stars is I believe in the total package when I go out. So when a Miechelin Star restaurant to hands me a dirty dish for my appetizer just isn't acceptable. I'm not talking about a few water marks on this saucer. I'm talking about dried up pieces of rice, noodles and sauce on this bad boy. Also when I ordered a hot tea just as the waitress is handing me my glass she coughs on me, the glass and in the drink. She turns around without saying a word and I'm stuck with the glass in hand. I would expect and welcome this kind of service if I were in Chinatown but not in Union Square. Again I would say a huge red flag would be why a Michelin rated restaurant would need to use Groupon to bring in customers. For me this place just isn't worth the trip. The food was ok but there is better tasting fare in Chinatown if you're looking for Asian or the Lower East Side. Sadly this place does not live up to it's 1 Star rating. read more

Waited about 25 mins to get my lunch Togo order! They apparently messed up my order. But no one showed they were sorry about that. They seem to have a lot of business from some food subscription website and cares more about orders on that list. It was a bad idea to come directly to order togo... read more

Started off badly: Thai iced coffee at room temperature (with warm milk). Maybe something to do with global warming. I don't know. Roast duck salad with huge cubes of pineapple and no duck. After that, you'd think redemption lay in the entree. It didn't. Went to see Argo afterwards and Ben Affleck's beard helped take my mind off the whole sorry affair. read more

i have a high expectation before i go to this place since yelp has average 4 stars. To my disappointment, the food is no way close to the M'sian food standard in bay area. I had a Char kway teow, Roti and Thai Ice Tea. My rating for -roti is 3 stars and costs $7 - Char kway teow is 2 stars and cost $13 Portion is so small that I still feel hungry after the meal read more

Tried out this restaurant because of groupon deal and I have to say I was disappointed. Like the other review from Wendy G. I find my dishes (papaya salad and drunken noodles) to be really sweet. I imagine if you are a typical American that never had REAL Asian food you might like their dishes. However, for somebody from a Asian background, this is nothing more than a less greasy version of food court American-Asian food. I would strongly discourage anyone from invite their Asian friends, especially homesick ones, to this restaurant. read more

* (( Rating scale from lower score: A, to higher score: AAAAA )) Must eat: Basil Fried Rice (except it is wet some time, which is not good for fired rice) & Drunk Man. Taste: AAAA Interior design: AA Clearing: AAA Service: AAA Price: $$ (Tasted on Oct, 03 2012) read more

I'm a Singaporean, and I'm pretty critical when it comes to sampling Southeast Asian/Malaysian/Singaporean food outside of Asia. Laut is not perfect, but it is the closest you can get to the real thing, without taking a flight. Laut satisfies my Singaporean cravings. The teh tarik is on point, so much so, that they always run out. It's that good. Service is great, and the servers are really friendly. I feel like home away from home here, and I strongly recommend this place to other Singaporeans/Malaysians looking for a good hearty plate of Nasi Lemak or Hainanese Chicken Rice (which I love!). The ayam panggang is perfection too. This place is a clear winner compared to the "fake" Singaporean/Malaysian restaurants in Chinatown read more

Food was really great. Atmosphere was great, its a great place to go for lunch. They have a reasonable lunch special. Get there early because around lunch it gets packed. read more