I found Lai Rai Wine Bar + Ice Cream just by passing it while walking around Chinatown one…read moreafternoon. It was beautiful weather out, and Lai Rai was a small bar instead with plenty of small tables outside. My friends and I grabbed a bottle of their Rose to split, and shared some coffee and banana leaf ice cream. The ice cream was slightly different texture from normal ice cream, but both flavors we tried were delicious. Additionally, we sat outside, and the place was perfect for an evening in NYC, with a bunch of opportunities for people watching. The vibe was chill and laid back, and it was a nice, relaxing end to our busy day filled with walking around. I will definitely be stopping by again on my next trip to NYC.

fish sauce caramel ice cream ($7) - dont be alarmed by the…read morefish sauce because this is probably the most unique ice cream ive had for the year that's quirky but also done well - the smell might throw you off a bit BUT it WAS CERTIFIED DELECTABLE; it was a blend of savory, umami, and sweet coffee ice cream ($7) - pretty standard coffee ice cream - im a fan bc i love coffee and its flavor Hana Makgeolli, Sagwaju - BTB ($76) - makgeolli esque type wine - forgot how it tasted but it was pretty good rating: 4.5/5 - I LOVE; im kinda dying to go back because the ice cream was so unique and yummy; it was a little bit pricey but the quality and presentation were on point; wine was super yummy too - im also biased because i like the concept of wine and ice cream, which not a lot of places do - although it's a bit small, crowded, and seats can be hard to find, once you find a spot and get situated the vibe is immaculate; it's casual yet cozy, cute, lively, and intimate; it's a perfect spot for dates and with friends - quick service; was really busy inside and we didnt order food so nothing much to note there - hoping theyd expand their store - definitely going back in the future IG: @nom.noms.only

I came here one Monday evening to enjoy their jazz session at the back of their restaurant (if you…read morecome on Mondays, their jazz sessions are free!). Service was good and ambiance was nice. My friend and I got their omurice and spaghetti to share and both were so yummy and huge portions. I loved how the spaghetti (which was Japanese style) was slightly sweet, had lots of veggies, and had sausages in it. Meanwhile, my friend loved their hayashi omurice because of the flavor and delicious beefy sauce. Cocktails here were also good! Would love to come back and try their brunch sometime--I've heard so many good things about their matcha hotcakes!

Stumbled upon this ADORABLE japanese cafe located in East Village!…read more I got the Hayashi Omurice. It was my first time trying omurice, and omg did it live up to the hype! This was the fluffiest egg I've ever had. It was so soft and creamy and paired perfectly with the hayashi. I really liked the mushrooms, but I wish they were more generous with the amount of beef. In general, the portion size was HUGE though, I couldn't finish it. I liked how they used short grain rice, it was really good. It came with a soup/broth thing. I wasn't exactly sure what it was, but it tasted really salty, so I couldn't finish it. Overall, a very very solid spot. I want to come back to try their other options! Everything looks very yummy. It was really busy on a Saturday lunch, so don't be surprised if there's a wait. Interior is SO adorable and cute and homey, I loved the ambiance.

Co Lac was both refined in taste yet homey in experience and that is a real winner in my books…read more The inside was beautifully decorated, the servers were super warm but both carried an air of elegance! The food was overall great. I especially loved the banh ram it because it was so crunchy and salty. The pho stir fry was also very tasty. The steak was a bit dry unfortunately, but would still come back and try the other dishes!

I enjoyed dining here! Very chill atmosphere, excellent service and great food…read more Came in the evening with a reservation and the staff was very welcoming and accommodating. My friend hasn't arrived yet and they kindly seated me anyway. I ordered a mocktail and checked out the menus. There was also a letter explaining a bit more about the restaurant and the concept which I appreciated. We shared scotch eggs and for the main I ordered Canard Saigon. The duck was glazed in 5 spice sauce, there were some veggies and saucy noodles as well. Presentation was perfect! It was all very beautifully arranged and thought out...I appreciate the artistic quality of the food. It also tasted so good with all the flavors profiles. The restaurant itself is excellent but I think it doesn't make sense for a neighborhood like Alphabet city. It's casual and relaxed there and a high end approach doesn't truly fit. If this was a tier down spot then people would absolutely come and enjoy the fusion Vietnamese concept like Co Lac.

Came here for dinner with one of my friends and we had a great time! This Sichuan spot in EV is…read morecozy and has super sweet and friendly service. We ordered their suan cai fish fillet and eggplant and both dishes were so yummy. Portions were good and prices were affordable for the portion sizes and quality! We were also given complimentary tea and it was so refreshing to have at the end of our meal. Had such a lovely time here, and I would love to come back!

My friend and I went to take advantage of their $24 lobster promotion on Thursday and had a great…read moreexperience. The interior was small, but it was cute and lively. It got very loud because the table next to us was participating in their AYCD menu, so it was very tough to hear my friend sitting across from me. You can really taste the salted egg flavor in the lobster dish. I found the rice cakes to be a bit overcooked and lacking the bouncy texture. I really can't complain given that it was only $24 (normally it is $34, which isn't bad either). The staff was very nice and checked on us regularly. One of them recommended the eggplants over the string beans, but I found the eggplants to be way too oily and lacking in actual flavor.

No complaints! Stellar food and service - my friend and I came here on a Saturday night to grab…read moredinner before a movie nearby. We got the Charred Pork Jowl and Betel Leaf Wagyu to start for apps, followed by the Hanoi Classic Bun Cha. The pork jowl was some of the best I've had - so tender and went so well with the okra and savory sauce they had on the side. The betel leaf wagyu was a bit difficult to eat (would prefer easier to wrap veggies, or maybe it was user error) but just as delicious. The bun cha was spicy, flavorful, and subtly sweet. LOVED this and wish I could eat more. Vibes were immaculate. Absolutely incredible food and experience! Service was excellent - very attentive and kind. Loved everything!

Went here off of a whim! It was a really solid spot. We ordered the pho and the bun cha…read more The pho was pretty good. I have no complaints. The meat was tender, and the noodles did their thing. The broth was refreshing but was also light with flavor. The bun cha was really good maybe a tad sweet for my tastes but overall was good. The pork and beef were a nice touch and the fish sauce flavor combined with the meat was pretty darn good. I would have liked more noodles though just to enjoy it more. 9/10 worth a visit. Really really solid spot. Wish I could put 4.5 / 5. Just nothing was truly unbelievable, regardless the food was executed really well and sometimes thats what counts.

My sister and I came on a Sunday evening after watching a show. We made reservations ahead of time…read morewhich is highly recommended especially if you don't arrive at opening. They have a happy hour during their opening hour for limited wine and cocktail options. The restaurant has sit down tables on the left and bar table seating on the right and some special private rooms in the back. We opted for the bar table because we like high stools and were planning on just getting drinks. Upon seating, we were provided the happy hour and regular menu and were asked if we wanted sparkling, still, or tap water. After reviewing the menus, we decided to try one of the specialty cocktails instead of something on the happy hour menu since they were more unique. However, we could not decide which to get as there was a huge variety! Luckily, the bar tender came to help! We told him what kind of cocktails and flavors we normally liked and he provided his recommendations and explanations on each type of drinks. I got the Bee-Bop which is one of their top drinks that won an award. It consists of brown butter washed barr hill, lemon, grapefruit, honey caramel tuile, and egg white. It's a very unique flavor and considered one of the lighter cocktails. My sister got the Princess Mononoke which consists of siete misterios, derrumbez, ancho pepper kabosu, agave, yuzu kosho, and shichimi rim. It spicy and reminds me of a margarita. Of course, after getting our drinks we realized we actually need some snacks. The bar tender highly recommended the Radagon Chips. It came pretty quickly and it was devoured even quicker. We had to another another one. It's basically sliced lotus root sprinkled with the house curry salt. My sister and I were a bit hungry so we decided to try one of their larger bites. I was stuck between the carpacio and croquette and my sister chose the croquette. The Kani Cream Croquette comes with 2 pieces and is absolutely delicious. It's filled with snow crab, mushroom cream and a tartar sauce dipping. Absolutely melts in your mouth. Then, the bartender recommended another bite which is the Wagyu Toast. It's Tokachi beef with house made tonkatsu sauce, shiso, parmigiano-reggiano, and milk bread. It comes with 2 pieces and it's sooo good. Will definitely be back to try more light bites and drinks. And amazing service!! FYI - There are two unisex restrooms in the back for customers.

Came to celebrate my birthday and we were easily able to make a reservation for about 8 people on a…read moreweeknight. It's very cute inside and perfect for a date night. There are lots of fun cocktails that were presented very well. The food is pretty solid (think Japanese food with a fun twist) although definitely on the pricier side. The servers were very attentive and everything came out relatively quickly.

Finally made it to Ha's Snack Bar! Maybe the recent opening of Bistrot Ha is making it slightly…read moreeasier to grab a reservation here? I paired my meal with a delicious glass of red wine (Beaujolais), which was served chilled. I don't know that I'd agree with the sentiment that this is more of a wine bar with snacks. There's good wine for sure, but the focus seems more on the food. Ordered: -Chicken liver pate with pickled rhubarb on toast: Good, but this could be a skip unless you're obsessed with pate or you have low iron. The vinegar/acid from the rhubarb kind of brightened up the dish. -Gulf shrimp with melon and shiso: Overall, I loved the flavors of this summery dish, from the ripe, sweet cantaloupe to the fresh bites of shiso chili-pepper spice that sneaks up on you but then adds an ever-present, warm buzz. But the shrimp were a bit rubbery. -Rice salad with green chili, peas, and herbs: This was maybe my favorite dish of the night, which was a surprise because we hadn't even considered it at first. Lots of umami flavor and the peas made it summery. The herbs on top were so fresh. -Snails with tamarind butter: Really interesting and different. The intense sweet-spice flavor of the decadent tamarind butter is memorable. The snails were tender. I wish we'd been given a little more bread to sop up the buttery goodness. -Plum and mint chip sundae: This dessert was soo good and refreshing! It was made of half plum ice cream (quite tart), half mint ice cream, with big, flaky chunks of semisweet chocolate, whipped cream, and mint pieces on top. And I think there were actual plums in there as well. The space is really tiny, one small room that was jam-packed with people on a recent August Saturday at 9:30 pm. The AC wasn't on, or it was broken, and the room was pretty warm and stuffy. It cooled down as people started to leave. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I was very excited to try this place because of all of the hype. I think it's important to note…read morethat this place doesn't have a full kitchen, it should really be for good wine and light bites. The portions are pretty small and we ordered a lot on the menu. The standouts were the zucchini and bacon toast, shrimp and melon salad (perf for the summer), skate wing, and snail in tamarind butter (their staple). FYI The snail is supper buttery

I always take out-of-towners here! The vibe is effortlessly cool and very "elevated New York…read moreunderground" without being too loud or scene-y. The food is consistently amazing, and truthfully, they make some of the best cocktails I've had in the city. Everything is incredibly thoughtful, from the design to the service, and it's owned by genuinely great people.

Come for the impossibly cool, tucked-away New York energy, stay because somehow they turned popcorn…read moreinto one of the best cocktails you've ever had. The popcorn drink alone is worth the trip, but everything here feels considered, surprising and genuinely special. One of those places I'm almost reluctant to recommend because I'd like to keep it to myself.