My cousin told me about this restaurant and based on the reviews that I saw on here, Google, and…read moreInstagram, I was down to try. When it comes to ambience, this place checks off every box. I loved the decor, lighting, furniture, and music. It's very spacious, and I really liked that they have separate areas for dining, large groups, and if you want do hookah. Our server was great and tried to accommodate as best as he could. We were very disappointed with the food. I was bummed they were out of the oxtail eggrolls. The items we ordered lacked flavor and just didn't hit. We ordered the chicken satay, the peanut sauce was a bit too thick and in our opinion didn't compliment the chicken and the chicken tasted pretty greasy. I ordered the shrimp dumplings and really enjoyed those. I also ordered the sea bass. It was a bit bland and the rice that was served on the side was hard. My cousin enjoyed the spice kung pao chicken. For drinks, we ordered the sidecar and lychee martini. I thought my drink was pretty good. If I'm ever in the area again, I think I would try it again just to see if I didn't choose the right options.

The drinks were excellent -- I had an espresso martini with Baileys and it was perfectly made. The…read moreyellowtail was fresh and good quality, though it wasn't served in the typical ponzu-style sauce I'm used to, so it tasted different than expected (not bad, just unexpected). The spring salad was delicious, and the chicken lettuce cups were amazing -- definitely a standout. The rock shrimp was also delicious, and both the fried rice and lo mein were very good. I wasn't a big fan of the fried dumplings; they didn't have much flavor in my opinion. I also ordered the filet mignon -- it looked more well-done when it came out, but it was actually cooked perfectly medium to medium-plus. Overall, a great experience with a few highlights and only a small miss.

The food is always great, looove the pad Thai and the vegetable dumplings oh my god so good. Also,…read morethe place itself is super intricate, so much detail put in, definitely creates a great atmosphere.

TAO Downtown never disappoints…read more Our group recently enjoyed Sunday brunch, and the experience was just as impressive as the space itself. The atmosphere is stunningly dramatic, elegant, and uniquely New York. The buffet offered an incredible variety, from sushi and dim sum to desserts and brunch favorites, with something for everyone. Standout dishes included the bao buns, ribs, sushi selections, and the beautifully crafted cocktails. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. What made the experience even better was the attentive service. Despite being a busy brunch, our group felt well taken care of throughout the afternoon.

This restaurant offers great Thai food, and a very flavorful and "saucy" Pad Thai is a highlight…read more The dishes are served on disposable plates, making the meal informal, but the quality of the meals is very good and always enjoyable.

I've seen the LoveMama food truck in Williamsburg many years ago but never got around to trying it…read more I knew about the restaurant but also have yet to try it until yesterday. They have a great lunch special for $13.99 entree & drink. Very nice deal. I ordered the Nasi Lemak with chicken and the calamansi honey jasmine drink. As a Malaysian, I can confirm that the Nasi Lemak was good. I would just recommend that they give the rice and curry a few minutes to cool down before serving. This dish should never be served piping hot. This is a lukewarm or room temperature dish. I would also recommend peeling the cucumber completely which is the authentic way. The peel had a bitterness which wasn't pleasant. The calamansi drink didn't have any jasmine flavor and needed more calamansi, but still refreshing. I ordered a mango sticky rice to go. It was just ok. Overall, I'd come back to try more things. Service was friendly. Fyi there's a fee for credit card payments.

Ambiance (5/5): The establishment is extremely ornate and decorated in theme from top to bottom. I…read morelove how much detail and elegance they put to each room (not to mention the 16-foot buddha statue in the main dining room!) Be aware that the lighting is dim and the background noise is loud! The front bar room is so loud that you have to shout with your guest. Our party of 6 was seated in a tiny booth which we had to ask for an additional chair to accommodate us. Service (5/5): We were able to get someone's attention to order and we were refilled on water often. The food was organized by appetizers and entrees that arrive all at the same time. The wait between ordering and food felt reasonable to short. The waiter also specified that certain dishes quantity (i.e. potstickers) could be increased to accommodate our party size for an extra cost. Food (5/5): TLDR; every dish was honestly SO good; I was surprised and will rank the items by 'must get' to skippable: Short Rib Bao Bun (3 pc): The short rib was so tender and flavorful. The bao bun was soft. The sauce was thick and worked well with the short rib. Pork Potstickers (5 pc): I preferred this over the lobster and scallion dumplings. The exterior skin is pan-fried with a nice glaze, hint of truffle. The bite was umami from the creaminess of the Parmigiano Reggiano. Chicken Satay (3 pc): The 3 pieces of chicken were relatively large, very tender, seasoned well. They were well complemented with the peanut sauce that is worth keeping to dip into other things! Don't sleep on the side of spicy cucumber salad, which was so well balanced in tartness and flavor. Pad Thai: This is one of the best Pad Thai I've ever had! The flavors are bursting, with a balance of sweetness, nuttiness from the peanuts, and tartness from a squeeze of lime. Peking Duck for 2: This dish is definitely more than enough for our party of 6 and appeared to be a half serving of the whole duck. The duck pieces are pre-cut for us to self-assemble into the wraps (not the usual bao bun but like thin tortilla wraps). I think I counted 8 wraps? Triple Pork Fried Rice: The rice has a lot of depth and generous chunks of pork. The rice is thicker than regular jasmine with a more chew which I liked. Dragon Tail Spare Ribs: Although this has a nice flavor, handling with your fingers makes them super sticky for your whole dining experience. The restaurant should give out wet towelettes if this dish is ordered!! Meat was tender and easy to chomp off the bone. Tuna Tartare: A small quarter-sized tartare dollop is served atop a small cube bread. The fish was fresh, presentation was beautiful. Was hoping for more tartare for the price point but it was very good. Overall, the dish was not filling so would skip if the party is hungry. Lobster and Scallop Dumplings: Great flavor with reasonable chunks of meat inside. Just preferred the potstickers a lot more! Bok Choy: Pieces were chopped in half and cooked with a nice crunch. Topped with something that gave it more texture. The garlicy taste was forward (in a good way). Rainbow Roll: While it was fresh and the individual pieces were large in portion, this felt like any other sushi roll. Skip this! Side of White Rice is $9?! That's theft and is skippable The amount of food ordered was probably a little more than what we needed but glad we ordered as many as we did.

This restaurant has such a beautiful atmosphere. I was truly amazed by the giant Buddha altar and…read morefelt very peaceful paying my respects. I especially loved how it was placed elevated above the floor -- it gave such a calming and respectful feeling. Even with the hustle and bustle, the place still felt relaxing and serene. As for the food, it was decent. We ordered a few different chicken dishes since we don't eat pork or fish, so our options were a bit limited. One thing that did make me feel uncomfortable was the hallway near the downstairs bathroom where a picture of a Buddhist monk in saffron robes was displayed. Personally, I felt it was not the most respectful placement. Overall, I still enjoyed the experience and would love to come back again to see the beautiful giant Buddha.

Dinner for one at Buddakan turned into one of those rare experiences where the setting is nearly as…read morememorable as the food. Located within the historic Chelsea Market building--a former Nabisco factory where Oreo cookies were first produced--the restaurant feels theatrical in the best possible way. The soaring ceilings, dramatic lighting, and energetic atmosphere create a sense of occasion from the moment you walk in. It feels less like simply going out to dinner and more like stepping into a beautifully staged production. I started with a Botanist Gin Martini with a twist, which paired wonderfully with the meal. The surprise star of the evening was the new Cucumber Tiger Salad. The balance of flavors was exceptional: bright acidity, a pleasant touch of heat, and just enough mint to make each bite feel fresh and exciting. Every so often the mint would come through and suddenly all the flavors would click together in a way that made me immediately want another bite. This is a dish I would happily order again. Next came the Edamame Dumplings. They were delicate and comforting, especially when enjoyed with the accompanying broth. The broth adds depth and richness that elevates the entire dish. My only suggestion would be the slightest touch more salt, perhaps even a finishing sprinkle of black volcanic salt for both flavor and presentation. I also found myself wishing there were a bit more of that delicious broth because it contributes so much to the overall experience. For my entrée, I ordered the Glazed Alaskan Black Cod, and it absolutely lived up to its reputation. The fish was rich, buttery, and perfectly prepared. What impressed me most was how thoughtfully the accompaniments were composed. The pickled cucumbers brought brightness, acidity, and crunch, while the black bean and eggplant relish delivered deep savory notes and unexpected complexity. I'm generally not an eggplant fan, but this relish was outstanding. The cucumbers and relish sit at opposite ends of the flavor spectrum, yet both somehow make the cod even better. Looking back, I think a glass of Sauvignon Blanc alongside the cod would have been the perfect pairing. I finished with the Miso Caramel Milk Bar, which was spectacular. Decadent, sweet, salty, and touched with just enough umami to keep every bite interesting. The chocolate crumble underneath added a wonderful crunch that contrasted beautifully with the creamy ice cream and luscious caramel sauce. Every component worked together perfectly, creating a dessert that was both indulgent and sophisticated. From start to finish, the meal felt polished, thoughtful, and memorable. Thank you!

The vibe and food here is great! It's also very good for larger parties. We were a group of 10 and…read moreI was able to make a reservation without dealing with a pre fix meal or being put into a private room which I appreciated. We went family style for our dishes which worked very well. Everything we got was delicious, but the garlic fried rice, kung pao monkfish, crab rangoons and wok fried xo cheung fun noodles were my favorites. I also tried the Blush cocktail which was similar to a lychee martini. I loved it and it was perfectly sweet. Overall it was on the pricey side once we split everything, but the vibes were great for a nice night out.

Amazing Thai food. Our party of 4 was able to get seated very quickly even though the restaurant…read morewas packed. Beware of the strong AC inside and bring a sweater if dining in. Will definitely be back to try more dishes! Would recommend: Yum nuer Yum kaw moo Soothr jeeb dumplings Moo dang puff Pad si iw Mango sundae

One of the best kao sois I've had since I was in Thailand -- curry flavor, noodle texture and…read morecrunch, and spice level. Soothr's kao Soi has it all The pad Thai is also referenced as "the best", but I would give it a very very good. The noodles are on the wetter side, so you have to prefer that to really enjoy it. The peashoots were really tasty but a bit tough. Dessert was fire. The servers weren't overly friendly, but were on it with service and water refills. I give Soothr a strong 4.5.

I went to this moderately fancy, pretty popular Pan-Asian spot with one of my groups a while back,…read morewhere, as usual, we split a lot of main dishes. They are a sister restaurant to the even fancier Chinese Tuxedo, with a menu that leans primarily towards ASEAN/Southeast Asian countries. The place was slightly loud and somewhat dim for photos, but thankfully, we were in a separate room, so the noise was muffled. The food was overall pretty good, though I prefer some other spots. This is especially given the price point, but it is nice to have solid representations of food from many different countries. To drink, I remember not being in the mood for a cocktail, so I went for the $14 Fiery Forge with Pathfinder hemp spirit, Lyre's Italian orange, pineapple, five spice, and pomelo soda. It had mild spices and a lot of citrus, and it was decent. The first dish that arrived happened to be the best, the $38 Crispy Lamb Ribs with a Cambodian sweet & sour sauce. The ribs were crispy on the outside while remaining very tender inside, with the fat properly cooked as well. I was also happy that they weren't overly sweet either. This was very tasty and one of our easy favorites. The Roasted Duck Breast for $32 with Chinese celery, Thai basil, dragon eye fruit, and plum dressing was also solid. The duck was cooked nicely, being tender with a mildly fatty texture, and the dressing was thankfully not overly sweet. I do wish there was a bit more dragon eye fruit/longan, but it was solid. Also tasty, but the most expensive, was the 'Crying Tiger' Grilled Sirloin Steak for $46 with aromatic herbs, spicy tamarind dressing, and toasted rice. I have had this dish, also known as Suea rong hai, in many Isan/northeastern Thai spots, and this was solid. The steak was cooked nicely, and the dressing had a mild kick, with some roasted chilis for those who want a bit more heat. My only complaint is that I wish this were also served, as per usual, with sticky rice, as it's already a pricey version of this dish, and even cheaper places serve this traditional accompaniment. The Newton Circus Sambal Stingray, for $28, with roasted skate and sambal belachan, was alright. It was comparable to most Malaysian and Singaporean spots serving this dish, though I preferred a slightly stronger sambal at some spots, and the fish was cooked better at others. The portion size was also daintier, although at least we didn't have to deal with the fish bones. For a better version at a reasonable price, I highly recommend Wok Wok nearby, on Mott Street near Confucius Square. Last and least was the Singaporean Chili Crab Fried Rice for $28 with hand-picked Jonah crab and lobster oil. This is famous here, and I don't really see it. I liked the fried rice's seasoning and crunch. However, the sweet chili sauce overpowered whatever little crab there was. For a similar price, I would recommend the nearby Phoenix Palace, which had more crab flavor and was more balanced. The food overall was good. If this were in another neighborhood, I would probably recommend it more, but there are other spots for ASEAN food that are a bit more reasonably priced and of better quality. It's still good, though, and certainly better than many other Pan-Asian places. This would be another 3.5, but that doesn't exist, so I'll round up.

I was there a week ago with a group and we were taken care of by Sarah …read more She was Amazing without her we would have been lost . Every thing she recommended was so on point and she was soo lovely !! Will definitely return .

TLK was excellent! I got the grilled lemongrass chicken and vermicelli noodles as part of a work…read morelunch order. Even through delivery, the dish was excellent. The chicken had that classic "grilled" taste, really nicely prepared. And the veggies and noodles in the dish all tasted fresh, without a ton of sauce to cover up the flavors (though the sauce on the side was still good). It can be tough finding lunch options that split the difference between (relatively) healthy and still delicious. TLK did that, I definitely will be coming back to try more of their menu!

Ordered delivery. Tasty with a nice portion of veggies, protein isn't worth it. I ordered the spicy…read morechili garlic ho fun with tofu. The tofu was an extra 6$ and the dish only had 6 rather small pieces of tofu. Ridiculous. I'd order from here again, but I'll add the protein myself.