Food, drink, service and ambiance are all to perfection. The MaitreD-Patrina is very professional and attentive. We walked in without reservation but Patrina was able to accommodate us and personally escort us to the table to be sure we are seated comfortably. Our wait staff Miles was very friendly and kind, attention to details. We wanted to start of with some white wines but could not decide which one, he gave us some recommendation and introduced the wine sommelier- Joe who is very knowledgeable and professional. We really enjoyed the wines he recommended and it paired beautifully with the seafood we ordered. The oyster and uni cold starter was a wonderful kickoff, and they surprised us with a compliment starter which was really refreshing! It's thine sliced salmon sashimi dressed lightly with yuzu and sesame oil. It's delicious and it's free who doesn't like that! We had chicken wings as hot appetizers, it was done just right! The divers scallop was also super light and delicious but the sauce was on the heavy side. We finished with the black cod clay pot which was a great wrapped up. We were full and really had a great time enjoyed the food and wines at the 53-nyc. My friend's already asked me info about the restaurant and I highly recommend this place! Thank you Patrina, Miles and Joe! read more

Sometimes the best stops are the unplanned ones. After spending the afternoon at MoMA, my husband and I ducked into 53 to escape the heat and enjoy a cocktail before continuing our day. What started as a quick break turned into one of our favorite moments of the afternoon. We ended up chatting with the bartender for quite a while, swapping recommendations for speakeasies and cocktail bars around the city. It's always refreshing to meet someone who's genuinely passionate about their craft and happy to share local favorites. The cocktails were excellent, and the conversation made the experience even better. This wasn't actually our first visit--we celebrated my birthday here about three years ago, and I still remember how impressed we were with both the food and its presentation. It was nice to return and be reminded why we enjoyed it so much. We also learned that 53 has opened a speakeasy downstairs that's open on select weeknights and features live jazz. Needless to say, that's already on our list for our next trip to the city. Whether you're stopping in for a full dinner or just a well-made cocktail and a break from the Midtown bustle, 53 is well worth a visit. read more

Holiday season of 2024 tried to eat here but was closed or mostly booked for private party. Finally just came on random Tuesday and restaurant was packed and bar was packed soon after we arrived but got two seats at the bar before that happened as once again upstairs had private event. Best way to describe this is luxe Asian or bougie Chinese. If you are fan of top Chef it would be called soigné. We had three of the hot apps, Foie gras, lobster shumai with caviar and morel mushroom with spinach crystal dumplings. After that we're deciding between the quail and beef tenderloin wok dishes. Since the quail was spicy went with tenderloin which came with small serving of rice. All the food was great. I felt the crystal dumpling needed a kicked and they brought Out there house soy and hot vinegar sauce. For drinks I tried there mix of a classic martini with an old fashioned and after discussions with there somm who nicely recommended a more affordable bottle that would meet our needs got the Chardonnay by glass as a bottle. Enjoyed the meal though likely spent 5 times what usually spend on Chinese place mainly due to cost of alcohol. Place is well designed with a look similar to Butter downtown with the arched ceiling mixed with with the sound dampening feature of similar design of bar Boulod. Will return to try the quail and the lobster spring rolls and if they keep to this standard will increase rating to 5. read more

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This time I came here for dinner . I was a tad disappointed that I reserved the dining room vs the bar as I walked into a very fun atmosphere by the bar area ( noted for next time ). There were 3 of us and shared a bottle of wine , Shumai, Xiao long bau, lamb ribs ( that tasted like normal ribs to me ), skate ( liked the sambal taste ), bok choy and fried rice. Serving sizes come on the smal ish side. It was enough if you're not that hungry especially if dining later in the evening. We didn't opt for desert . The overall experience was ok . It was pretty busy with groups and it's lively . The food alone will not motivate me to come back but the whole package makes me more desirable . read more

53 NYC - Asian Fusion Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here for drinks on a Friday night, been here before for dinner. I remember the dinner was absolutely amazing. Their speakeasy at the time was not opened yet and was only available for private events. Since my friend and I were in the area, we decided to check this place out . It's called basement. This place was very intimate and cozy, lovely cocktail lounge with live music. I was surprise it was not busy on a Friday evening and we got there around 10pm. I got a Moscow Mule, pretty pricey at $30 and my friend had a beer at $18. Service was ok, I enjoyed the live music, maybe it was an off night. I would go back. Cool spot. read more

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This contemporary Chinese restaurant in Midtown located near the Museum of Modern Art appeared a lot more captivating online than it did in person. The chic lounge to the right of the hostess booth looked impressive with sweeping golden curves and well spaced out tables but was for some reason closed and empty on a Saturday night. The dining room downstairs where we were seated was too dark to appreciate the architecture of the space and the tables were way too close together for such an expansive area. The hostess did not heed our request to move to a different table despite there being many empty seats available. The menu items were obnoxiously overpriced for the quality of the food. The mizuna salad featured briny water greens with sliced mushrooms and crushed hazelnuts. It was entirely forgettable and too salty but somehow cost $32. It should cost $14 at most. The xiao long bao consisted of only three soup dumplings with chicken and Burgundy truffle and barely had any soup. It cost $28. A complete ripoff. The crispy wontons with shrimp and chicken were no better than Chinese takeout but somehow cost $24. The only memorable item was the lobster spring roll filled with cabbage and warm lobster meat served on a bed of dried chili. Even then, $39 for this appetizer was still highway robbery. The cocktails were overpriced and forgettable. Will not return. read more

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Stopped by on a Friday night for dinner with my best friend. The place itself is gorgeous, moody, and very architecturally pleasing. To start, we had the lychee martinis. It's not your typical lychee martini. It has Aperol and pineapple, which gives it a great flavor. My only note is that I wish it were a bit stronger. For appetizers we had the yellowtail, which is a must get. It was delicious. We also had the lobster spring rolls, another great dish, and the crispy wontons, which were good but not my favorite compared to everything else. For our entrée we got the beef tenderloin, another must get. It was amazing, super tender, and melts in your mouth. We had it with the fried rice, which was solid. For dessert we had the ice cream sandwich, which was different in the best way and extremely delicious. It wasn't too sweet and the cone "buns" were perfection. Overall, this place is gorgeous and the food matches. I would definitely return. The service was also great, the perfect balance of letting you do your own thing and truly enjoy your evening while still checking in. It is pricey. We each paid $184 including tip, but it's definitely worth it for a special occasion or to spoil yourself a bit. read more

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I came here to celebrate my birthday. Great spot to come with friends as the ambiance and the food were great. The service could've been a little bit better for the amount of people or tables that were reserved. I guess they should hire more staff. I can see how they won all the awards that they did such as the best new restaurant in 2022, the gold key award in 2022 and the design award in 2023. Anyways, regarding the food I was impressed with how everything came out. My group of friends were as well. We ordered from each section of the menu such as the cold, hot, steam, grill, wok and clay pot. We decided to order the oyster and uni which came with yuzu and trout roe. Got the crispy squid which was calamari and chili peppers seasoned with salt & pepper. The lobster rice in lotus leaf was very delicious. The black cod was suggested and it's one of the most popular items off the menu and I can see why it is. Overall, I would come back again to try more items. read more

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Nice ambiance!!! I really enjoyed the food I had and my waitress Amber. The drinks were also good and the ice cream was as well. Food is limited and mushroom seems to be the main competent to every dish. I'm allergic to mushroom so I only ordered a few things. If you're a seafood lover give this place a try. read more

53 NYC - Asian Fusion Near Me - New York, New York

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I enjoyed my recent lunch visit here. A friend had suggested for their lunch special (Always love a good lunch prix fix!) and it was thankfully in close proximity to the office. The restaurant is stunning and sexy. It's makes up for their largely subterranean space with beatiful architectural and design details. A gorgeous barrel vault detail and clerestory windows where you see pedestrian traffic from any interesting perspective. Plenty of hidden lighting panels for flattering light. I could go on and on but I digress... The prix fix is three savory items for $58. I opted for a mizuna salad, shrimp and chicken wonton and the claypot rice with black cod. The salad was surprisingly good. paper thin shavings of truffle were a treat, as were the roasted chanterelles. The crispy wonton arrived with what I assume was a piquant sambal and lemongrass flavored chili sauce. The claypot arrived hot as promised, and added crunchy morsels to the rice mixture. A bit like bimbimbop, but with fewer vegetables. This was satisfying and delicious. I would do this again, I have my eye on their newly opened speakeasy for my next office adjacent outing. read more

53 NYC - Clay pot rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - New York, New York

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Stunning establishment. Great food. Tasty drinks. GET THE KALE SALAD. I don't care what you heard - GET THE KALE SALAD. We ordered a ton of apps. Personally, I have the cod clay pot. The cod was good but the rice has burnt ends that I didn't like but I could get past because all the apps were so great. All the staff were also very friendly. My friends and I are late, always. So late, we close the restaurant lol and as sorry as we were the hostess and our waiter still didn't rush us and encouraged us to take photos; even directing us on the best lighting in the restaurant. Very nice, posh. read more

53 NYC - Indoor, lower level dining area - Asian Fusion Near Me - New York, New York

I was here with friends while in NYC. There were service issues, since after giving my friend's name, we were told to wait for someone to take us downstairs. While waiting, we watched multiple groups who arrived after us walk straight in, and the host that finally walked us in called us by the wrong name. Two men before us was offered coat checks but not us, and we were seated at a larger table with cold air blowing at my friend and refused to reseat us at a different table when requested. We also had servers that lay our food far away from our reach and we had to stand up to reach for the food. Food is terrible, since the rice dishes that were served had a dry hardened top layer that were clearly pre-scooped and left out for too long. About the food, the truffle eggs I've ordered had clams that had sand in it, and the oyster and uni dish had a rusty taste to it. The lamb rib was terrible, as the smell was of an extremely strong gamey metallic pungent flavor and I felt like puking before eating it. The black cod clay pot was stirred by the server once and walked away without mixing the portion for us properly, and the entire top is covered with cilantro while lacking a similar amount of other ingredients. Food is 3/10, and rounding it down for the terrible service we've received. Definitely not worth us fishing out $400 for this restaurant. read more

53 was a dream!! Service was excellent, the drinks were well-balanced (highly recommend the Famous Monk and Lychee Martini) and the vibe was immaculate Pictured are: 1. Lychee martini with aperol, luxardo, pineapple 2. Famous Monk with mezcal, scarlet japanese amaro, green chartreuse, absinthe, lychee, lime 2. Lobster shumai, black kaluga caviar 3. Kung pao quail, snow pea, cashew 4. Duck clay pot, five spice, thai basil, cilantro read more

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53 NYC is delicious!!! I brought in my 30th birthday with a delicious meal. Upon entering, the restaurant is beautiful. They also accommodated me by placing me at a larger table. To start, we ordered drinks (French 75 and Old Fashion). The drinks were tasty but pricey. The menu is meant to be shared so we ordered a cold, hot, and 2 clay pot options. For our cold + hot plate, we ordered the lobster spring rolls and oysters. The lobster spring rolls were filled with lobster (must order). The oysters were good as well but not worth the price imo. We ordered the black cod and duck clay pots. They were pipping hot and so good. For my birthday, they gave us a complementary dessert and we ordered a dessert. I'd recommend 53 and definitely get the lobster spring rolls. read more

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The best asian fusion dinner I've ever been to! Highly recommend. This is what we ordered: Salmon carpaccio- absolutely fantastic, melt in your mouth fresh and flavorful Seaweed salad - interesting mix of flavors and textures Lobster spring roll - good amount of lobster Xiao long bao - the best soup dumpling ive ever had Halibut- honestly my least favorite dish, nothing fantastic; probably the only thing I wouldn't order again King Prawn - smokey and delicious Beef tenderloin- the most tender meat i've ever had, good with the fried rice white rice Fried rice - boring on its own but good with the other dishes Black cod - love love love the clay pot cod Our waiter was super knowledgable and gave great recommendations where needed. He was very honest and helpful. The restaurant ambiance was colorful, modern and sexy. Highly recommend this spot. I'll be back soon for more! read more

A memorable evening 53 NYC makes. Stunning contemporary interior. Impeccable service. Delightful zero proof cocktails, including their Singapore Spring Fling. Beautiful modern tasting of classics. Love at first bite with their Eel Club; Hainanese Chicken; and, Guava Sorbet this evening. Without a doubt, I'll be returning many times over! CHEERS! read more

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The New York dining scene is among the best in the world and I am always excited to try new spots. The ambiance, the food, service and overall experience were good. I found the food interesting, unique and tasty. Would give it a 3.5, rounding up for the service and ambiance. The mango pudding was to die for. read more

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Food 5/5 Service 4/5 Vibe 5/5 Chinese Fusion spot in NYC close to the fifth Ave, definietly a hidden gem. You won't even notice them walking by the restaurant. If you're somewhere close to MoMA or shopping around the area, greats spot to try out. Bar is super cute, def able to get some cute pics. Food wise, I highly recommend the mushroom or duck clay pot rice. And of course the foiegwa toast was literally GODS TOUCH. I don't think food are too too pricy, but I would say if you don't wanna spend too much and want to be full. Maybe grab a quickly before stopping by, so it's more like app + drinks rather than a full on meal (as portions) are relatively smaller. read more

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My fiancée and I dined here for the Kichi Kichi event and had a great experience. The food was delicious and Chef Motokichi put on a great show. This was all extremely soured by the fact that I was charged $1,100 when I got home for the 4-top next to us. The receipt clearly had 4 pre-fix menus and several orders of sake, cocktails, and sodas. We tried calling 53 several times throughout the following week and received empty promises that a manager would get in touch soon. They never called or emailed and never provided an update each time I got in touch with them. Managers were either "not in yet" or "they're all in a meeting unfortunately." Not once was I able to talk to anyone but the hostess. 53 is run by hustlers and scammers with zero intention of providing quality service. read more

53 NYC - Asian Fusion Near Me - New York, New York

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A very good dining experience: ambiance, service, drinks, food, and quality. So why only 4 stars then? I'd say it's a solid 4.5 stars but the deduction is because the prices don't match the portions. This is a beautiful place for any date night or special occasion, just be willing to spend. A group of 5 of us went here to celebrate a friend's birthday. She fully enjoyed it so it was worth the pretty penny spent. The cocktails were pretty decent. The only drink that wasn't reordered was the "electric feels". DRINKS WE HAD: Ruby voyage $27 - 5/5 Lychee martini $26 - 4/5 Electric feels $25 - 3/5 Pinot Noir Tesselaarsda $32 (pricey glass of wine) We were not at all disappointed with the quality and flavor of the dishes we ordered. Everything came out hot and fresh and the flavors just blended perfectly. Since we were a group of 5 and most of the dishes are served with 3 pieces, it was really cool that our waiter offered to customize the dishes to 5 pieces (at a charge of course). Only dish we did not care for was the kung pao quail- it just tasted like general tso chicken and was not worth $42. FOOD WE HAD: 1. Oyster and Uni $34 - very good! 5/5 2. Duck Pie Tee $24 - sooo good! Eat it in 1 bite, it's like a burst of so many flavors. 5/5 3. Chicken wings $25 - it's deboned and has seasoning (like scallion) INSIDE. 4/5 4. Xiao Long Bao $26 - good soup dumplings. 5/5 5. Diver Scallops with XO sauce $34 - they were pretty good but small. I've had better. 4/5 6. Lamb Rib $36 - SOO good! Came right off the bone and was velvety soft, didn't even have to chew! 5/5 7. Lobster Rice in Lotus Leave $55- good but portion not worth $55. 5/5 8. Kung Pao Quail $42 - eh! We collectively agreed that we wouldn't order again. Mostly cashews lol. 3/5 9. Tiger Prawn Curry $45- YUM! Very good! Only complaint is it's only 2 prawns for the price but flavor was amazing! 5/5 10. Mango Pudding $20- we loved! not too sweet 5/5 11. Ice Cream Sandwich $22- decent. 4/5 read more

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A very delicious Michelin recommended restaurant. When you walk in you feel like you stepped into an airplane hanger. Very cool vibes. The service he had was absolutely fantastic I have literally 0 complaints!! The staff went above and beyond. The food was also equally as delicious! read more

Went for lunch last week and had a great experience. The matrix and all the servers were extremely friendly and accommodating.. The restaurant was very modern and chic with a lively ambience. We went with the Premium Lunch Set Menu. We absolutely enjoyed everything we ordered. We started with the seaweed salad. This wasn't your traditional Japanese seaweed salad. It was far better, more unique and incredibly flavorful. For the next course we had the Crystal Dumplings. Again, totally on point and very tasty. For our entree we ordered The Black Cod ClayPot. The black cod with rice, and vegetable's was excellent. For dessert we both had the mango pudding. So good! Hands down one of the top restaurants in Midtown Manhattan. I can't wait to return for another delicious meal. read more

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Not sure where all the good reviews come from, as my experience was mediocre at best. The hostess had an attitude, both when trying to locate my reservation and when I asked to retrieve my coat from the coat check. The food was also below my expectations. The eel club was excessively fatty compared to other foie gras dishes I've had, with oil literally dripping off my fingers. The lamb ribs were underwhelming--the main flavor seemed to come from the sauce, while the lamb itself didn't appear well-marinated and lacked depth. Overall, the flavors didn't feel well balanced. The duck clay pot and chicken satay were decent, but honestly, I've had better versions at non-fusion Chinese or Thai restaurants for half the price. I'm also curious to know who gets to sit on the first floor since most people seem to be guided to the basement floor while most seats on first floor are empty. read more

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Service and server were exceptional. Ambiance extremely gorgeous, dim lit. Drinks and food were on the high end. Was expecting more flavor from the food. Drinks were delicious. read more

53 NYC - Asian Fusion Near Me - New York, New York

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If you're craving incredible Chinese food in Midtown, you have to visit 53. From the moment we arrived, Val and Kimberly welcomed us so warmly and made sure we had the perfect booth to celebrate my mom's birthday. We started with the Faux 53 mocktails delicious, especially if you love honey and the lobster spring rolls, which were a great portion. The standout dishes were the black cod, fried rice, and the beef all absolutely fantastic. I also want to shout out Amanda, who was both professional and genuinely personable, which makes such a difference. She even surprised my mom with the most amazing coconut sorbet for her birthday. We'll definitely be adding 53 to our regular rotation. Thank you to the whole team for making the night so special. read more

The interior so chic: dim lighting, arches, and sleek seating. Everything on the menu looked interesting, so it was hard to choose! I ordered the Lobster Spring Roll, my friend ordered the Chicken Sate, and we shared the dishes. Both were mouth watering. The ambiance, service, and food couldn't have been more enjoyable. read more

53 NYC - Dessert - Asian Fusion Near Me - New York, New York

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Have been to this spot multiple times now, and every time I've had a great time. Giving it a four star because it's so pricey, but honestly the food, the vibes, the service is immaculate. Delicious. It's Chinese fusion, but slightly less fusion. Mostly in the appetizers - loved loved the eel club. Their clay pots are also very delicious. Just wish someone else could get the bill. read more

Great place to have dinner date. The environment is new the service is good. A must try read more

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Had a great dinner at 53. I sat at the bar area--it was fine, nothing special, but still comfortable enough to enjoy the meal. The vibe overall was laid-back but stylish. Tried the oyster with yuzu and uni, which was super refreshing, and the shumai with caviar--really delicate and well-balanced. The duck pie tee was crispy and flavorful, definitely one of the highlights. The black cod clay pot was delicious, especially with the crispy rice at the bottom--so satisfying. Ended with the mango pudding, which was sweet and light, a perfect finish. Service was friendly, and everything came out at a good pace. Only downside was the slow internet and spotty phone signal inside. But overall, it was a solid spot--I'd come back. read more

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Visually captivating upon walking in. Service was beyond exceptional and it showed from the host to the busser, runner and especially server. Dishes were well curated (faves - cucumber salad, steak, duck clay pot, bok choy, veggie curry and basil sorbet). I unfortunately was less impressed with the drinks, while being buzzy I didn't find anything that truly caught my eye. Vibes are fine dining with a trendy twist, meaning you can put your best on and still not feel stuffy. FYI be prepared to spend a pretty penny here $$$ read more

53 NYC - Noodles, wouldn't recommend - Asian Fusion Near Me - New York, New York

The waitlist we got was not personable. Not even the slightest. I sensed a lot of fake smiles and it just came off like he didn't want to be there. I came on June 26th for dinner so I don't remember his name. Anyways, on the food: the lobster spring rolls were pretty good, just oily. The Salmon Carpaccio was a 10/10. The oysters with uni tasted good until it didn't, a little fishy after taste so after 1, I was done. That first bite hits but the aftertaste isn't pleasing. The coconut shrimp was DELISH. My favorite thing from the night for sure. If you don't like the taste of coconut, although it wasn't overpowering, don't order. The aesthetics are beautiful. Got some good photos and videos inside. Not too keen on coming back but it wasn't a horrible experience. read more

The food was very good , service was in point . We had the rice and razor clams and snow pea leaves .

It is quite hard to dock 53 NYC on anything. From the moment you enter the space to the moment you leave the staff treats you so well, taking care of you each step of the way. Recommendations were all good, and at no point did I feel like there was too much interruption or as if I were forgotten. Service while gracious was also kind and warm - not something you see everywhere, and because of that you walk in feeling welcome, and you walk out feeling welcomed back, albeit with lighter pockets. The space is also extremely appealing - the upstairs is a beautiful bar that feels modern and elegant (fitting for it being basically attached to the MOMA), and the downstairs feels like a sleek dining room you would find in a movie. The booths are extremely comfortable and great for a date, the tables perfect for a business lunch. That corporate card will definitely come in handy here. The food was overall very good. I don't know that there was a single dish that blew my mind, but the lamb chops were absolutely stellar and a new take on lamb chops. The salmon carpaccio and seaweed salad were both very fresh and tasted heavenly - if you want something light you cannot go wrong with either. The duck pie tees were so good, and again an unexpected dish. The Quail Kung Pao was very tasty and sort of hard to stop eating, though didn't feel unique or special except that it had quail in it. The duck clay pot could have been better - we had some pretty dry duck in there, the duck pie tees were way better. We also had a seasonal uni truffle tartlett that was quite small and overpriced...which is saying something for this menu. Every single item was pricey - if you're eating here do not expect to get out at any reasonable price point. As a matter of fact, good luck at feeling like you can safely judge the quality of food, because the uni tartlett was $42, the clay pot I believe $47, those two items wouldn't have come close to filling me up, and with some nice $28 cocktails, you're looking at easily $150 a person for a decent meal with drinks before tax and tip. Now, the food is good, but if you want to go for impressive large format meats, that number is going to jump a little higher. I wouldn't not eat here again - I just would be ready to drop $200 a person to feel full and good about my meal. If you want to do that, this honestly is more interesting than Quality Italian or a lot of other midtown spots. It however is not the Modern Dining Room. I'll be here the next time I'm at work and we decide instead of a casual steak, we want some casual, fancy asian food, in a vibey setting. read more

53 NYC - salmon carpaccio, duck pie tees, seaweed salad, and uni tartlett - Asian Fusion Near Me - New York, New York

Had a great evening with a couple friends here exploring the diverse menu. Everything was delicious and the service was great. Order a bunch of items and share everything. The space is also beautiful. read more

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(Overall: B) - The service at was quite good -- the staff are trained to describe each food with incredible detail that is quite impressive. The atmosphere downstairs gives a very luxorious secret bar vibe that makes it quite cozy. For the food, I found some of their dinner menu to be questionable in technique and price, but their lunch is great in my opinion. (Salmon Carpaccio: A) - The marbling on their salmon looks great and the ponzu tanginess comes through to contrast the fattiness of the fish. The salmon was incredibly fresh and flavorful. (Crystal Dumpling: B) - Keeping the mushroom and spinach whole in the dumpling was smart to keep the textural integrity despite being tender and delicate. The dumpling looks good overall but felt that it was missing a sauce that could add some flavoral complexity to the dish. (Black Cod Claypot: A+) - The black cod was incredibly tender and paired well with the abundance of herbs for a soothing fresh aroma. The rice had both crispiness and tenderness, embodying a perfectly made claypot rice. The flavor was incredible intensely developed, although, perhaps a bit too salty, but otherwise is well made. (Duck Feast: D) - I'll preface this by saying that the duck was indeed nicely cooked. It was interesting that the staff deliberately went at length to describe this dish not as a peking duck but as a DIY taco; regardless, I felt that the critical difference between this feast and a peking duck was that the skin to meat ratio was different -- peking duck primarily focuses on the crispy skin, which is the most integral part of the dish as it adds some much needed texture; without it, it's just kind of a boring the dish. The duck was also mentioned to be dry aged for 72 hours, but perhaps that is a bit too short as there was no real intensity that could be tasted there. Overall, I just felt like this dish did not do a good job of editing from the original. (Eel Club: C) - The eel club was an interesting conception of foie gras and eel on top of toast with a slice of cherry. While each bite did taste good, I felt that ultimately something was either missing or off tune about this dish -- perhaps it could be the ratio of bread to foie gras where there was significantly more fat than bread, or the ratio of acidity via the cherry to the fatty component of the dish, I cannot quite put a finger on it. At $47, I also found this three bite appetizer to be a bit expensive. (Emperor Delight: F) - The concept is a chinese classic served table side with a luxurious twist with caviar. To be honest, I'm not sure how many people saw my face live but I was absolutely floored when the server dumped a spoonful of caviar into the mix and then violently mixed it into the food. I vividly remember watching an episode of Masterchef where they mentioned it is a cardinal sin to cook caviar so I'm genuinely confused why that got mixed in. After cooking the caviar, they were hard as a rock and flavorless, so it was quite strange. (Singapore Cocktail: A+) - This cocktail is beautiful with the cracked iced giving a crystalized look and an excellent gradient. I love the fruity and tropical notes of the drink, which completely dominates the alcohol to the verge being a bit too sweet. (The Expat: B) - The custom ice block is a delicate design and adds sophistocation to the mix of whiskey and fruit flavors. Personally, I found the foamy presentation to be a bit bland, but otherwise the drink tastes great. (Lobster: B) - The premise here is an elevated lotus sticky rice, with the rice cooked in a fragant lobster broth alongside tender pieces of half a lobster. The ikura adds some impactful saline bursts for some complex flavor development. My only complaint was that the tableside work was rather sloppy and it would've definitely been better if I did it myself. (Pea Shoot: A) - This pea shoot was quite the interesting vegetable dish. Each pea tendril was tender and there were no particularly fiberous leaves. The shrimp paste added some umami flavor that qas quite unique. Besides some presentational plays that could've been beneficial, this was a solid dish. -- Food: E Presentation: E Price: -1* Atmosphere: +2 Service: +1 Menu: +2 Overall: +4 B* -- IG: @amei.eats read more

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Visited 53 for a holiday team lunch. None of us had ever been but a couple of our bosses recommended it. It's very close to Rock Center and right next to the Moma. When you first walk in, there is a larger bar/lounge area on the first floor that would be nice for after work drinks. It did not seem to be open during lunch hour. The main dining area is downstairs. Despite being below ground, the dining area felt very bright and it was very spacious and comfortable. There's a decent sized bar on this level as well. We were surprised that the place was not more busy during lunch hour. It is on the newer side so maybe word hasn't gotten out on it yet. 53 offers a $53 price fix lunch menu (how fitting) which we all opted for. For my selections, I did the seaweed salad, crispy wontons, and the black cod pot. Everything was really tasty and bigger portions that I was expected. We also got an order of the kung pau chicken and fired rice for the table. The chicken was awesome; fried rice was nothing special. We also tried dessert- the mango pudding and the butterscotch gelato. The pudding was tasty and different (although not sure if its worth $20). The butterscotch gelato was divine. We also ordered a bunch of cocktails - I stuck with the Singapore sip since it was really awesome. I'm not sure how often I would dine here if I were coming on my own dime. The cocktails will really drive up the cost of the bill - they were between $25 - $35+ dollars each. It is a cool place though for the neighborhood and I will certainly recommend it for work dinners/drinks meetings. My only complaints were that it was a little TOO warm inside and the main doors to get inside are SO heavy to push open. read more

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Had great prix fixe lunch here. The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. Very nice service! Food was delicious. I have nothing bad to say about this place! read more

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The food, service, and ambiance are exceptional. One of the coolest interiors I've seen. I would highly recommend this place for a special occasion where you don't care about the price. The food was all amazing but quite expensive. The highlights were the black cod clay pot, the shumai (expensive but delicious), and the salmon carpaccio. Both the milo icecream and mango pudding were exceptional. The mango pudding was the perfect level of sweetness. I don't think the non alcoholic beverages are worth it at $16 for a lemonade. I would consider coming back for a special occasion. read more

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53 is truly a culinary delight! Had the pleasure of dining at this fine establishment in December, and booked another dinner as soon as I came back to NYC to this month! It is an interesting combination of flavors with an Asian fusion inspiration, that leaves you with a smile - and several moans as you eat. Not kidding. The service is outstanding, and the waiters really are very skilled at describing the food. Book it, quick! read more

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When you're paying $28 for a cocktail, I expect something somewhat decent. My cocktails were full of ice, overly sweet, and had zero complexity to it. I couldn't even finish them. They tasted like someone threw random fruity syrups together and added a dash of alcohol. If I wanted to eat ice I would have just walked into the CVS around the corner and bought a bag there. I'm not sure how this restaurant is getting away with the biggest finance bro tourist trap I've ever seen. You're paying 16$ for a cucumber salad. 26$ for THREE, most mediocre Xiao Long Bao I've ever had. If you want to come here to blow money and show off to your date, I totally understand. But if he or she says they enjoyed the food I would reconsider pursuing them because either they're a liar or they have really bad taste. If you're coming here expecting good fine dining food, I recommend seeing the gorgeous space, maybe take a picture to show off on insta, and then leaving. read more

53 NYC - Cocktails - Asian Fusion Near Me - New York, New York