Today me and my girlfriend came to the Lowery and it has a nice, comforting atmosphere which makes…read morethis restaurant spot ideal. Especially for today, as there was a World Cup game playing. The volume was on and at an appropriate level which was appreciated. Despite it being busy, Malena our server was really attentive. It was a bit hot in the restaurant, which is to be expected in the middle of a heat wave. The food was good, we ordered the mac and cheese, Irish Spice Bag and Spicy Chicken Sandwich. There was a mixup with the first sandwich we got but our server and the manager were able to fix it quickly. First sandwich was also on the drier end (aside from the mixup) but the replacement they gave us was well made. Drinks were well made, sangria was balanced, not too sweet but not too strong. Extra points for the manager and server being attentive and generous. I would definitely recommend this spot.

1st Time customer…read more I did read the reviews about the food before coming here. The buttermilk fried chicken sandwich was meh. I think they leave the seasoning for you to do so you should add salt and pepper before you bite into the sandwich. The side salad was okay. It didn't need the chopped scallions. I appreciated that the salad was lightly dressed. The winner was the green gimlet. I really enjoyed it. Fresh and slightly sweet. The staff were polite and friendly. Bathroom was clean. Sink outside the bathrooms. Restaurant is close to the subway line.

What a cool concept, a Michelin quality tasting menu at a secret location!…read more I recently discovered this group via Instagram, their menu is always rotating but the price was really good for NYC - 6 courses for $130 (which includes, tax, tip, and wine pairings)! Since the concept was so interesting and the pricing was really good, I decided to give it a try and booked a reservation for 2 people for a Saturday night dinner. Following my booking, I was emailed instructions for location a few hours later as well as what to expect. The dining location for my dinner was in a rectory house, which still serves priests! It was a bit of a trek to find but it's a fun part of the experience :) The food: each of the six courses were served in timely cadence and I really appreciated that the chef offered such a thorough explanation of each dish both from the ingredients perspective as well as the inspiration behind it. The entire meal was also paired with 4 drinks, one cocktail and 3 wines, which was included in the total price of the tasting menu already. My favorites: -dragonfruit granite: this was a refresher between the "apps" and the "main courses" dishes, the colors were so vibrant and the flavors were nice and cool, great way to cleanse the palate before the heavy meat dish -hamachi crudo: this actually reminded me of ceviche, which is one of my favorite things to eat. The sauce was particularly yummy, it had just the right mix of creaminess that was complemented by the zesty-ness of the lime Overall, really enjoyed this unique dining experience. The food was yummy, the chefs were super fun and the price was a great value! Would definitely recommend dining with Chez Nous :) p.s. For more visual nyc food content, check out my Insta: @alice.likes.food

Greatest dining experience I've had since March 2020 - incredible food and even more delicious…read morecocktails. Cannot wait to be back as soon as there is availability!

Came here with a friend for weekend brunch. They do have $28 bottomless mimosas but we don't drink…read moremuch so deferred from it but probably something to consider if you like mimosas. We got a few things and felt like they were mostly just ok. Not bad! But not the best we have ever had. The French toast was covered with a healthy amount of whipped cream. Sweet but on the denser side - not very airy. The burrata was nice. My friend seemed to like it a lot especially with the red wine reduction. I think it was fine. The lobster roll was also fine. The lobster pieces seemed to be on the tougher side. Overall, convenient and nice spot for brunch if you're in the area. I wouldn't go out of my way to try it, but the service is nice and relatively quick at least when we were here. You can opt to sit in our outside.

Grabbed a reservation for a Friday night same-day and had a good meal here. The highlight was the…read moreshort rib risotto and asparagus, but I also enjoyed the house-made pappardelle with lamb ragu and ricotta pistachio cake for dessert. Chill spot - would try the brunch!

Ok this place is a hidden gem!!! I don't know why I was never here sooner. The prices aren't so bad…read moreeither. My cocktail was delicious! It was an oolong tea with whiskey and some peaches. I will admit it is a small place. If you like your back then don't come here. I didn't see any stools with backs. I thought it was funny they had a little area where the chefs were. My friend purchased a sandwhich and it was pretty good. I don't really remember what music was playing. It was more of a talk to your friends kinda place. This definitely is a good place to end a night of bar hopping.

4.5 stars! It's a great oyster hh place! Pretty good options…read morefor hh drinks, only 1 white wine, 1 red wine, and $2 off of cocktails. But the killer is def the oyster, $1! The place is alright, nothing fancy but cozy. Great service! Recommended!

Monkey Bar became one of my favorite Midtown restaurants because its modern history ran almost…read moreperfectly alongside my years in New York. I arrived in 2008 with very little, and when Graydon Carter revived the restaurant in 2009, I was beginning a rise of my own, first at a large global bank and then, to my astonishment, at one of the city's most powerful investment firms. The suits were daily, the walls were gold, and the pressure was so consuming that even success could feel like a form of attrition. After a few years, I moved to a smaller firm with Southern roots, where the culture was more humane, the work gave me greater autonomy, and I produced some of the strongest results of my career, even within an industry still governed by fear, greed, and status. Inside, the red booths, low lighting, generous spacing, and hand-painted monkey murals made lunch feel ceremonial without becoming stiff. The room was timeless and handsome, with polished service, quality food, and the subtle assurance of a place where you could be proud to bring someone important. I especially remember sitting in one of those booths with two mentors, each only a few years older than I was and therefore close enough in vintage to feel relatable, trustworthy, and genuinely within reach. One had entered my life after I left the larger firm and helped me understand an earlier chapter that had also ended abruptly and, at the time, felt deeply unfair; the other had guided me through the smaller firm where I finally found a more sustainable way to work. Over that long lunch, I introduced them, we discussed several promising ideas, and for a moment my career seemed to have reached the point where relationships, experience, and opportunity were finally converging. One of those ideas consumed an extraordinary amount of my time and energy, and I believed it might become the foundation of my next chapter. Instead, the arrangement eventually turned on me, the role I thought I had earned never materialized, and the business itself sputtered. My professional life, financial footing, and pride all collapsed just as COVID was beginning. Then Monkey Bar closed in 2020, which made the ending feel almost unnervingly complete: the restaurant, the city, and the version of myself built around New York finance all went dark at once. For years, I experienced that ending as devastating and unfair; now I can see it as wisdom delivered through an unnecessarily rough process. The restaurant's later revival by a Chicago hospitality group feels fitting because it still honors tradition and ceremony while allowing the old forms to evolve into something healthier, looser, and more current. I have not been back since that lunch, but a return now would feel like visiting the museum of my past, not reclaiming a life that asked too much, gave too little, and finally lost its hold on me. Even now, I remember Monkey Bar as a great Midtown lunch in a memorable room, surrounded by the residue of old ambitions and the gratitude of having survived them. The cocktails were sharp, the service was impeccable, and the dining room carried that glamorous old New York energy without feeling trapped by it. I remain deeply fond of the place, partly for what it was and partly for what it witnessed. Some restaurants become attached to a chapter of your life, and Monkey Bar holds mine with unusual grace.

The truffle monkey bread while a total carb and calorie bomb was delicious and left a lasting…read moreimpression. It featured a crispy, sugar-glazed exterior and a soft, chewy interior, topped with truffle cheese and served with a truffle butter dip; the pairing was superb, and it tasted great both on its own and with the dip. For the main course, I ordered the miso-glazed black cod. The flavor was flawless, and while the portion was small (which was acceptable), the pool of broth accompanying it was completely unnecessary; it was inedibly salty, so what was the point of serving it? After finishing the fish, I was left with a plate full of broth, rendering the plate unusable. Plus, it was overpriced; for this dish, you're better off going to Strip House Strip House remains the undisputed king of this dish in New York. A friend ordered the chicken parmesan. It was just average. Another friend ordered the short rib stroganoff. The flavor was decent, but it was far too rich and heavy. As someone whose palate is split 50/50 between Western and Chinese cuisine, I could manage only five bites at most. If you have a palate that prefers 100% Chinese food, proceed with caution on this dish. Friends ordered sides of mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. These are dishes originally meant for low-income Americans to fill up on cheaply; there's no limit to how good they can be, but also no floor to how bad they can get. Both were on par with the average quality found in upscale restaurants. Honestly, these are two dishes I would never order myself. To sum up: the atmosphere was great. It's also hard to get a reservation; the place was packed when we had lunch at 2 PM. Aside from that monkey bread, I didn't feel like anything else justified the price or offered something you couldn't find elsewhere. I don't quite get the hype. Perhaps I just didn't order the right dishes; maybe next time I'll try the burger and the steak.

Went here on a Saturday for a friend's birthday brunch, and it was such a great experience. When we…read morearrived, the hostess guided us to one of their private rooms downstairs, which was spacious enough to comfortably fit around 20-25 people--perfect for a group celebration. We had our own dedicated server, which made everything feel really seamless. They kept our drinks flowing the entire time, and it was a huge plus not having to flag anyone down. For food, I ordered the chicken sandwich and it was delicious. The coleslaw on it added great flavor (honestly, I just wish there was a bit more of it). It came with fries that were perfectly crispy--exactly how fries should be. Overall, I had a really enjoyable time. If I'm ever back in the neighborhood or if anyone asks me for a good brunch spot for groups, I'd definitely recommend this place.

Oliver's Astoria is a great brunch spot. It has a lively atmosphere where they have a projector for…read moregames or watch parties or events. It's a popular destination in the area. Located in one the busiest areas in Astoria. There's always plenty of foot traffic. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. The food was very good overall. It's a bonus that brunch is served everyday until 4pm. For our meal, we ordered the Hangover Skillet and the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes to share. Since there were only two of us, the portions were generous and left us satisfied. While the food and atmosphere were great. I wasn't impressed with the service. It wasn't terrible but it didn't match the dining experience. All in all, Oliver's still a solid.choice for brunch in Astoria.

One of my favorite meals I've had! Everything was absolutely stellar. From the wine to the ceviche…read moreto the king oyster mushrooms to the fish! The ceviche was probably the best ceviche I've ever had in my life. It was blood orange based, but the citrus was really well balanced. The king oyster mushroom dish was soo delicious. The sauce and the texture of the mushrooms were to die for. I've salivating thinking about them right now! The fish was also so amazing. The bottoms were so crispy, it was almost like it was a layer of potato chip! Really great texture, and the fish meat was cooked to perfection. Really sad that they're closing, but looking forward to whatever the chef/restaurant team does next!

Our food experience at Nura was a bit of a mixed bag, but when I think about the total package with…read moreambiance, environment and service, I feel like it earns four stars. It's a beautifully designed space, and we went in the evening so it was dimly lit and had good tunes, contributing to an intimate and cool vibe. The service throughout was good both by our primary server and the rest of the team that was bringing out dishes. For the food, we did not feel that it was a strong start, but the ending was great! The first dish to come out was their cornbread, which we agreed was very light and had a super tender texture, but there was just nothing special about the taste profile to us. The second dish were their prawns. We couldn't put our finger on the off-putting flavor in there, but we agreed that something just wasn't right and almost tasted spoiled. You also had to work a bit to dissect the prawns and remove the heads and skin. To work for it and then not enjoy the taste wasn't a great combo for us, unfortunately. It started turning around with their sweet potatoes, a type I'd never had before that were "baby" and purple on the outside while white inside. They served the potatoes with a gorgeously whipped Greek yogurt that added the exact right amount of tang to balance the sweet potato and the herby topping. The stars of the night were the coconut basmati rice and the lamb shank. My goodness! The rice dish was so complex from a flavor and texture profile and just hit all the right notes for us, and that lamb! Definitely one of the best lamb dishes I've had - Impossibly tender and seasoned to perfection. One other note I'll make regarding drinks is that they did not have a strong wine list. I ended up ordering a red, but later heard our waiter recommend against getting their wine to another table and suggesting their cocktails and mocktails instead. Just something to keep in mind if you're a wine lover!

Amazing service , outstanding flavors, perfect spot for a reunion or a date . Can't miss the…read moredessert on top of all the amazing flavors. 10/10

So we attemted to go to Prung yesterday after seeing the Ertan video and it was as expected it was…read morechaotic...it looks much smaller in person than the video like 3-4 tables very close together more of a take out place vibe...will wait for the hype to die down. Anyway we went to Dawas next door and eqs not dissapointed...I past by like hundreds of times and never been i thought its pretty solid so it worked out. Got Chana & Gwarami Jasha Katsa Chicken sekuwa Laphing

Absolutely wonderful!! Great service, amazing food. Excellent atmosphere. Just a perfect night out.read more

This place is so good that I went twice within a 3 month period and ordered the exact same things…read morelol. Mussels, pork ragu, and carrots. Second time had the brownie as well. My favorite dish here is probably the mussels, great flavor and would probably go well with a glass of wine! The first time I came I tried a cocktail which was very good but because the dishes are very flavorful it might have been too much sugar/salt. The portions here are huge as well so I think for the price its very worth it. It's a cute restaurant as well with open kitchen so great for a date if you're sitting at the bar or if you have a group the tables are pretty big as well. Overall, it's pretty spread out inside which I really appreciate and I have found that it's pretty easy to get a reservation last minute. I'm already looking forward to going again in the coming weeks!

I've been to this spot many times and it's always a good time. The service is always solid, and…read morelast night our server Chris was awesome, super chill, attentive, and even recommended a drink(Boozy Blueberry) that ended up being a new fave. We basically ordered the whole menu: chicken quesadilla, loaded poppers, lemon pepper wings, the Trestle burger on an English muffin (still undefeated), shepherd's pie, and pig wings. Everything was on point, but the wings, the Mac and cheese and that burger are must-orders every time. The drinks were just as good. We had a frozen Arnold Palmer, a coconut mojito and the boozy blueberry. The overall vibe is calm and chill, perfect for hanging out without feeling rushed. One of my go-to spots for a reason.

Was looking for an opportunity to dine at this place. Only in the weekends is this place open…read moreduring the day so today on a Saturday I went. The place is LOUD albeit with good taste of retro, 90's music and not the modern trash that floods the radio waves so I can rock with that. Place is sized pretty well with an outside seating area and plenty of tables inside the albeit dimly lit bar/restaurant. Coming into the place I was greeted by a blonde woman who seemed to be a supervisor of the area. She directed me to a comfortable seating area and a server took my order afterwards. The place was relatively busy so the wait for my food was kind of in the long range, about maybe 15 minutes. I ordered Chicken & Waffles with Iced Tea and the food was definitely worth the wait. That chicken was so good, a bit on the crisp side but it's solid in taste. The Waffle had such an awesome texture with the right measure of powdered sugar, decorated with Blueberries and Strawberries, the entrée was plated very well. The Iced Tea, I didn't know it was unsweetened so that threw me off but some sugar kinda fixed that. Service was also 'A' Tier. The place was busy so it was a tad on the slow side but they were very attentive. About 3 different servers tended to me whether it was about my order, how I liked it and paying for the bill when I was finished. That's dedication and I always give props to that. I enjoyed my visit here.