As an ABC, I thought this place was decent, but it's probably not somewhere I'd return. The highlights of the meal were definitely the salt and pepper tofu and the shake shake fries. The tofu was well-seasoned; some people might find the seasoning a bit strong, but I really enjoyed it. The shake shake fries were absolutely worth ordering. The portion was generous enough for us to snack on throughout dinner and still have leftovers to take home. They were perfectly crispy and generously coated with the seaweed seasoning. At around $14 each, both appetizers felt fairly priced. I was also excited to try the chicken sandwich after seeing so many photos and videos online. The scallion bread added a nice touch of flavor, and the sandwich came with two pieces of chicken, making it huge. I assume that's how they justify the $32 price tag...for a chicken sandwich. That said, the chicken itself was flavorful, so I wasn't too upset about ordering it. The fish was probably my biggest disappointment. I'm not even sure I'd consider it Chinese food. Personally, I think it would've been much better served with tartar sauce instead of the "sweet and sour" sauce. The sauce tasted more like ketchup, which didn't pair well with the fish in my opinion. At $45, I expected more, although I had already seen several reviews mentioning the same issue. I still wanted to give it a fair chance. We also ordered the scallops with glass noodles, which were $24 and another dish that felt worth the price. It came with three scallops and a generous portion of noodles. The flavors were mild but well-balanced, making it a comforting dish that wasn't overpowering. We dined here using the Chase Sapphire Reserve OpenTable dining credit, so we'll be getting $150 back. Our total came to about $230 including tax and tip. Honestly, if we hadn't had the dining credit, I probably would've rated this place lower because I don't think many of the entrees justify their prices. The cherry on top was the $3 price point for a bowl of white rice (compared to anywhere else ) Overall, I'd recommend coming here for the appetizers and drinks. The starters were easily the best part of the meal, but the main courses felt overpriced for what they offered.

Melinda L.

Came here for dinner. Ambiance and service were great! Food was good and flavorful. I was genuinely surprised by the portion size. I thought it'd be smaller but it fed our group of three and we had leftovers. Here's everything we got. Snacks - Razor Clams: This was my favorite dish. The puffed rice was a nice addition and the flavors and textures were all unexpected, yet meshed really well together. Highly recommend. Starters - Sticky rice: I'd skip this. There wasn't much texture to this other than mushy and the flavor was very underwhelming. It tasted like an over steamed version of what you would get at dim sum. - Little rice noodles: I feel like this is a bit overpriced but it was tasty and the XO sauce made it yummy. - String beans: Can't go wrong here and glad we chose this as our veggie dish. Mains - Sweet & Sour crispy fish: Fillet that was quite large. I liked the flavor and it was very crispy. - Salt & Pepper pork chop: The flavor was solid, but also very intense and sour. I did really enjoy it but couldn't eat too much at once cause it packed quite a punch. Would recommend with rice or a carb. I'm glad I tried it but this is definitely a one and done type of restaurant for me!

David T.

Very fusion and trendy Chinese/American cuisine. LOVED the shake shake fries and chicken sandwhich. So much fries... good crisp, lots of seaweed flavor. Chicken sandwhich was ENORMOUS and the flavories of spicy blended into it very well. The presentation on crispy fish was phenominal (how did they flip and fry it??), but the taste was a bit muted so that was kind of dissappointing. Also got the salt and pepper tofu, which was perfect. Overall, not my cup of tea (due to price), but glad to have tried it!

Kat Z.

This place is marketed as elevated chinese but it's so meh. Located near chinatown and more american & expensive takes of better food I can get in chinatown. Wayyyy too overpriced for what it is. The ambience is not great either. So dark, table so small, it doesn't look modern/beautiful. Service is ok, slow though. Would not recommend or go back - nothing was AMAZING out of service, vibes, food, price.

Wendy B.

3.6/5 Unfortunately didn't love it. The Shrimp Toast was too greasy and not much shrimp in there. Wood Ear and Cucumber Salad was refreshing. Water Spinach was very very spicy, which was fine but I think the menu should be more clear. Crab and Gai Lan Fried Rice was good but basic. Fries was so so. Very Chinatown Vibe but menu price is relatively high.

Pri W.

Incredible gem on Canal St- cozy, intimate with delicious food! We made a reservation ahead of time and got seated right away. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the different wine pairings and helped us select the Haart Reisling which was a perfect choice. We ordered everything to share and tried a variety of dishes. Standout dishes were the salt and pepper tofu, noodles with their special sauce, and the seaweed fries!

Rebecca C.

We arrived at opening without a reservation and were seated as the 2nd party, and soon after the restaurant filled up. I thought the dishes are quite unique compared to other Chinese restaurants in the city - particularly the rice noodles in XO sauce & the sweet and sour crispy fish. The rice noodles were extremely pillowy, and the crispy fish was cut into diamond pieces which made it really easy to eat. The string beans with minced pork were also cooked perfectly. The only thing we really didn't like was the dessert. Of the 2 options we got the milk tea bread pudding that came with grapefruit and black sesame ice cream. As you can imagine, it was not a cohesive dish and was like they plopped 3 random things on a plate. The bread pudding tasted heavily of cheese? Anyways, if you come, come for everything but the dessert.

Kim C.

This is easily, easily, the best food I've had in my entire life. We got the salt & pepper tofu- soft and crunchy at the same time with the best coating of salt&pepper and a spicy sauce to dip into. We got the shake shake fries- the perfect little "snack" to have in between every bite of food- there were so many in the bag and it was like fancy fries. The XO noodle werr a complete hit- I really enjoyed the unique texture with the delicious sauce it was coated in. Hands down my favorite dish was the crispy fish in sweet and sour sauce- it is more tomatoey than sweet and sour but it was the best version of sweet and sour and the fish was perfectly crispy and soft. Lastly we had the duck noodles. I'm going to be honest, I was stuffed at that point so we took it to go and ate later but it was an interesting taste. I could go without it but I didn't have it for real since it was the day after. we had a dessert with matcha ice cream and this red bean Japanese milk cake- oh my gosh it was the best thing ever. I almost threw up after being here because I couldn't get myself to stop eating. I would give 6 stars jf possible, so so so delicious

Brent H.

Went to this restaurant right around when it opened. Hearing its relation to Parcelle made me skeptical since Parcelle is quite mediocre, but I'm willing to try any new spots in the neighborhood What I experienced was pretty much as expected -- mediocre. Some reviews say the portion sizes are "decent" -- maybe if you're an ant? Ramekin-sized dishes. The waitress recommended trying a bunch of starters, so we got the mouthwatering chicken, cucumber and wood ear salad, rice noodles, the bean curd with shishito peppers, and the seared scallop for our "main." The size of the main was more or less the size of the starters. Everything was just okay. Nothing particularly interesting with the flavors. I think back when it opened and everything on the menu was $30 or less, maybe it would've been a smidge more excusable, but now nearly half the mains are over $40 and that seems ridiculous Ambiance is... interesting. Kind of industrial linoleum dungeon-core? Bright grey floors, cushions secured to metal rings on the walls with leather straps, metal chairs... no soft surfaces anywhere, not super inviting As a long-time resident of LES, I feel like the "Dimes Square" meme is an unfair representation of the neighborhood, but restaurants like Tolo (and Parcelle) perpetuate that meme by prioritizing being "sceney" over actually being good. No amount of paid reviews from Yelp Elites are going to make the food taste any better

David H.

When you are able to snag a table at one of Esquire's "Top Restaurants of 2024", you don't say no. Especially on a Friday night, at 7pm. This small and sort of hidden restaurant is a few steps away from the subway (F) at the end, or beginning, of Canal Street. The inside is pretty small, and the tables even smaller. Manipulating the tableware when food arrives is a task for Magnus Carlsen....sort of. They do have a coat rack, but you might be better off using your chair. The hostess was bubbly and our server was quite helpful. On his suggestion we ordered 3 apps, Salt & Pepper Tofu/Hong Kong Prawn Toast/Rice Noodles w/XO sauce, and 2 mains. Typhoon Shelter Style Fried Chicken, which might be better in a hurricane, and Beef & Broccoli (everyone's go-to, Chicken & Broccoli was not an option). Out of the 5, the Rice Noodles was the best. Something that "Xi'an Famous Foods" wish they could make. Their version of Beef & Broccoli used high end meat and was not drenched in thick sauce. Winner !!!!! The least favorite was the Fried Chicken. Extremely close to "Shake & Bake" boxed seasoning kit, without the flavor or seasoning of any kind. We should have ordered the duck. We had two desserts (they only have two). Bread pudding and Sago Pudding. Their version of the Bread Pudding was creative and quite good. While the Sago was extremely bitter, and needs to go back to the drawing board. All in all, I'd go back. The table next to us told us they had been two or three times. A little pricier than I expected. But I guess that's how it is these days

Jayna H.

I'm posting this review 2 months late and I am still thinking about this meal. Tolo is a hidden gem that is going places! The space is small with limited seating, a small outdoor patio, and an open kitchen with bar seating. A reservation is a must because of the small space but they do have limited walk in bar seating if you are okay with a wait. It's worth it! We started with the duck confit spring rolls, little rice noodles with XO sauce, shake shake fries, cucumber & wood ear, and string beans with minced pork. The spring rolls, XO noodles, and shake shake fries are all a MUST order! The spring rolls are amazing and are served with a sweet, umami sauce that I could bathe in. Perfectly crispy and flavorful. Get them! The rice noodles and XO sauce were also mouthwateringly delightful and let me wishing I had ordered another. The shake shake fries omg. So good! I could have made a meal with just the apps. If I were local I would be here for happy hour every week. The sweet and sour crispy fish was good but I found the breading to be a bit too thick. The sweet and sour sauce was great though maybe too overpowering as the fish is swimming in it. The table next to us got the duck breast and were raving about it giving us the feeling we should've ordered the duck! Next time. Service was great! The food came out quickly as well. The only problem I had was with the size of the tables. They are so small that you have to make sure to course out your meal or you won't fit it all on your table.

Elyka A.

Came here for dinner with a couple friends and tried several items. I don't know how gluten free friendly they are so did not bring my husband who has an allergy. One of my friends has a nut allergy and we were able to order around her allergy no problem. The service was good, they didn't have something I wanted to drink and the server offered to go across the street and buy it for me. The location isn't really convenient for me so I probably won't come back

Annie L.

Tolo is a wine bar with character and delicious small plates. Vibes were spot on, wine selection was amazing, and attentive service. The chef is from Parcelle and I can definitely see the parallels. If you like Parcelle, you'll love Tolo. Here were the dishes we got as a group of 6: Salt & Pepper Tofu: There were maybe 6 tiny squares of fried tofu in this dish. Was not worth $10. Would not recommend! An entire block of tofu at the supermarket costs $2. Tuna Tartare: Also tiny bite sized portion. The amount of fish could've fit in one soup spoon. Sticky Rice: Loved the Chinese sausage in this, but again, small for the price. Little Rice Noodles: This was my favorite! Fried rice rolls in XO sauce had nice texture and chewiness along with some charred bits. Bean Curd Skin: This is a pretty standard Chinese dish. It was a tad dry. Seaweed Shake Shake Fries: Their take on Hong Kong McD's shake shake fries. Fun for those who know it, but does not compare to the OG! String Beans: Second favorite of the night, you can't go wrong with string beans and minced pork! Duck Breast: The black garlic really made this dish. The duck was cooked well and the endives elevated it. However, it felt a bit out of place with the rest of the dishes we got and the group did not love it. Fried Rice: Standard, solid fried rice. Nothing special. Sweet & Sour Fish: Tender fish fillets and a tart sauce to cut through the deep fried oiliness. No complaints on this one! We loved it. Wine: What I loved about the wines is that after your dinner, they send you an email with the wines you had for the night. I usually always forget or have to take a photo, so this is so smart! Would recommend the Lazio Bianco 'Roscum' 2022. Overall, if you're looking for affordable Chinese food, your best bet is to hit up Chinatown. Tolo will disappoint you. On the other hand, if you're looking for some flavorful bites and vibes, they sure packed the flavor in those small plates. It would make for a good date spot but definitely don't come hungry or expect to leave full without ordering half the menu.