This place was AWESOME!!!!!!!! I went for the first time last night. You don't know what to expect when you ascend the long staircase on Orchard street in the East Village. I was honestly thinking that this was going to be another ""typical"" Hotel restaurant. Dim lighting and soothing music greet you when you reach the landing. From the moment we arrived everyone was very attentive and acommodating. My sister and I arrived 1/2 hour early for our 7pm dinner reservation. Our coats were immediately whisked away and checked for us, and we were escorted to the bar to await the rest of our party of four. The cocktails were a little pricy - $15, but worth every penny. I particularly loved the Yen-Yen ( a crisp cucumber vodka blend with a hint of citrus). When the remainder of our party arrived we were promptly escorted to our table. Our waiter was very knowledgeable regarding the Menu and made some excellent recommendations. The Chef himself came out to greet us and inform us of the nights specials. This place is essentially family style, but you can choose to order a - la carte. For dinner we particularly loved the Lobster Curry Bisque Soup, Chickpea Fritters, Braised Beef Cheeks (I know . .sounds daunting but absolutely delish and very tender) and Scallops with Chorizo (had great blend of flavors and a nice spicy kick). For dessert, hands down the Banana Chocolate cake was to die for - think warm banana bread with a touch of chocolate smothered in a caramelized sauce. Mmmmmm. Ok . . .so you'll definitely leave this place feeling as though you've put on a few pounds . . . but hey you should already belong to a gym ;-) I'll definitely be going back. The food was very reasonably priced for the value. NEGATIVE for some: tables are very close together in the dining room; not a problem for me but some people are very picky about such things. My sister and I are already looking into reserving the outdoor space off the bar for a party this Spring/Summer.
Pros: Ambiance, Service, Food, Cocktails
Cons: Difficult Parking, Tables Close Together
more