First off, this brunch chain has always been solidly up to par. I still remember visiting the very first location, which was tucked away in an alley and surprisingly hard to find. Even then, the wait was long--and that alone said everything. People were lining up because the brunch was that good. The formula was simple but executed exceptionally well: quality ingredients, a lively brunch atmosphere, and genuinely good service. Those three elements, when done right, are really the backbone of any successful brunch spot; and they nailed it early on. So I familiar with the Friedman of the early days. Fast forward many moons later, and here we are at a newly opened branch that feels both familiar and refreshingly unexpected. What truly caught me by surprise was the thoughtful blend of Asian and Western influences woven into the concept. It is usually not something you immediately associate with brunch, yet somehow it works beautifully. Who would've thought brunch could cross cultural boundaries so effortlessly? Well, here we are!!! Secondly...and this part matters: this place was an absolute saving grace on a day when nearly every downtown brunch spot was overflowing. We searched everywhere. We walked into multiple restaurants. We called ahead. Five or six places later, the answer was always the same: completely booked, long waits, no availability. Hard pass. It was a day with nice weather and free time for many of us New Yorkers. Lo and behold - Then we found this spot. Relief. Immediate relief. Now that I'm letting this little secret slip, I almost feel conflicted because I kind of want to keep this hidden gem to myself. But the whole point of Yelp (and honestly, humanity) is to shine a light on businesses that truly deserve recognition. And this is one of them. If you're looking for quality brunch, a unique twist, and a place that might just save your weekend plans, this one absolutely deserves a visit. Ample seating (at least for now) as it extends to the outside, too. It is under an structural awning, as part of the building - an it is away from the street pollution, or reduction of it. You will love this place!! Service is great, as usual but most importantly, ample seats (oops, I already said that.) read more

I wanted so badly to like this place. I've given it two chances and tried the beef and broccoli as well as the fried chicken sandwich. Both times, food came out very quickly. Food seems to be prepared with cheap ingredients as the meat was fatty on both occasions and not an enjoyable experience. The broccoli (beef and broccoli was so hard I could barely bite it). Flavor overall of both dishes was not great. Service is good and is it a beautiful restaurant. read more

Went here today for breakfast and it was okay. It's not bad but I don't really feel like it's worth going out of your way to try. Service [4/5]: The store was busy when i walked in with there being a lot of people sat but when i finished eating and started getting ready to leave the restaurant started looking empty. The servers quickly asked me what drink I'd like than about a full minute (60s) later someone else asked me what I'd like to eat, I didn't have much time to browse the menu but thankfully I saw this place on tiktok and previewed the menu anyway. Other than that the staff was friendly. Ambiance [5/5]: Very spacious and a lot of seating, I didn't get a lot of photos of the dining room but there are a good amount of booths, and many many tables! Food [3/5]: Now while there was nothing generally wrong with the food it was honestly pretty bland. When I go out to eat I like eating food that has a mesmerizing taste. The food here wasn't nasty but it just wasn't really worth trying it's not something I'd say "oh i remember that tasting...etc" it's just bland. Lemon Ricotta Pancakes [3/5]: They were okay, the lemon cream was fine it's not really necessary other than that it didn't taste any different from an ordinary pancake. Pretty bland. French toast [3/5]: Another ok one. Wasn't really memorable just tastes like normal french toast nothing special about it but at least the presentation was nice. Other than that no exciting taste than makes it better than others. Potato hash [2/5]: Mushy and kind of hard to eat. It wasn't that good for a side I'd say get bacon or eggs instead of that. Tldr: Overall, the food isn't the nastiest but it's not the best it's just okay at that. Wouldn't recommend unless you're just starving nearby or you prefer more simplistic tasting meals. read more

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I've been to Friedman's several times for their weekday happy hour, and it's easily one of the best in Manhattan. Happy hour runs Monday-Friday (excluding holidays) from around 3:00-6:30 PM, with great specials on drinks and appetizers--and even half-price sushi rolls. Friedman's (including the Battery Park City location) is a privately owned, family-run restaurant, which really shows in the consistency and care. The food is solid across the board--standouts for me are the Korean wings, spare ribs, and sushi rolls. Wine and well drinks are very reasonably priced for the area. Service is always warm, attentive, and professional. The vibe feels like a casual but polished diner--comfortable, welcoming, and easy to enjoy. read more

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Visiting this Friedman's was a pleasant surprise for me. We were a large group dining in for a colleague's farewell at the company. Upon entering, the space was bright and very crowded since it was prime lunch time. Though I've been to another Friedman location (there are several in Manhattan), this one had a thematic twist--East Meets West. Yes, they serve brunch items such as eggs and Pancakes, but this lunch menu was loaded with Asian options. I was thrilled! Service was very efficient considering we were a group of 14. We all opted for the lunch specials--- with half of the group ordering Bento Boxes and the other, the 2 or 3 Maki Roll special. I fell in the second category. Selected my 3 rolls: Eel Avocado, Crunch Spicy Tuna and Yellowtail Jalapeño. The rolls were accompanied by either soup or salad. I chose salad and the rolls were fresh and delicious. The Bento Boxes looked very good too. Were the Sushi or Chinese entrees authentic or better than an actual Japanese/Chinese restaurants? No, (maybe close?), but I quite enjoyed my lunch. This location is spacious and fun. I already know their brunches are good and I'd definitely return here for either lunch or dinner. Very nice! read more

Friedman's - 3 roll lunch special $21 - Sandwiches Near Me - New York, New York

Nice restaurant. Upscale without being expensive. Great service. This place has plenty of gluten-free options and the food is fresh and tasty. read more

A sit down "fast food" spot that provides an array of foods to choose from. Both Asian cuisine and American cuisine is available here. Food was really good and the servers were really attentive. I would definitely visit again. read more

Friedman's - Grilled Chicken Swisswich - Sandwiches Near Me - New York, New York

I was a bit confused at their menu since half of the menu is giving cafe/breakfast vibes and the other half is giving upscale chinese vibes. We ordered the beef chow fun and spicy scallop sushi roll. The sushi was delicious - nothing bad to say about it. Nice fish to rice ratio! The chow fun was good, definitely on the greasier side but its chow fun so it's expected to be greasy, but it also lacked a bit of flavor. The portions were good for the price. Service was friendly and quick. Would come back but not in a rush to return any time soon. read more

Friedman's - Beef chow fun and spicy scallop sushi - Sandwiches Near Me - New York, New York

They have a variety of different cultural cuisines. California rolls and avocado rolls at happy hour were fresh and great. Pastrami Reuben is very tasty-really like the rosemary fries that came with. And their Chinese food like Singapore noodles is good! Kung pao chicken was excellent- great quality chicken, with great flavor, that's not greasy, and generous portion. It came with fresh either jicama or apple--not sure exactly, but delicious. Very generous portion. Also really enjoyed the Dan Dan noodles, which had a fragrant chili oil that wasn't too overpowering or overly spicy. Hash brown, good portion and yummy. Soup dumplings not bad. Nice decor and clean bathroom. Service is good. read more

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I love Freidman's so in my friend recommended this combo spot for lunch so I had to try! My favorite was definitely the rice cakes with pork, it was a solid portion and cooked perfectly. The hot and sour soup is also good and a very large portion. The general sales chicken was gluten-free, which was amazing, and had a solid flavor to it! Service was quick and the restaurant was not super packed on a weekday afternoon with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. I would definitely come back to try more of their menu (and maybe also get a tune out, which is my favorite at the location in Midtown) read more

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I wish I would've liked Friedmans better, but unfortunately it was snafu after snafu! We went for brunch and restaurant was moderately busy. There were definitely many tables filled. Service was attentive. However the food and preparations need more attention. We order several dishes to share, including the 3 piece fried chicken, fish and fries, rice cakes, and a beef with hot peppers dish. So we definitely had a mix of asian fusion + American dishes. The first impression was with the 3 piece fried chicken, first the chicken pieces were very small and to top off, hubby picked a piece where the chicken was not fully cooked and it was bloody! He had to send his piece back! Sadly it was not what we had hoped for. Definitely do not order the fried chicken dish. Overpriced, small pieces, and not well cooked. However the other dishes were a hit, the rice cakes were delicious, fish and fries were also excellent, and the beef with hot peppers. Only complaint is that I was quite swollen after this meal, which is not a good sign. While I am sensitive to sodium nowadays, I do believe this meal was either heavily salted or worse, had MSG that was not disclosed on the menu. We will absolutely not be returning. read more

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Delicious food! We had the wonton soup, shrimp sushi roll, and gluten/seed oil free burger and everything was delicious!! Wonderful service and lots of seating. Ricc was a great server and very attentive. Highly recommend checking out! read more

Went out with some colleagues for lunch. They've been there but it was my first time after working in the area for last ten years. The ambiance and chill was very surprising. There was a sense of calm in the restaurant. I had the spicy general tsos chicken which was scrumptious. One colleague had beef and broccoli which was pretty big and smelled good. The other colleague had a bento box which seemed like a lunch special thing which looked cool and gave him a variety of things in small portions. The prices were not bad too. Service was prompt and friendly. read more

Something of a hidden gem was this restaurant. I had noticed their extensive gluten free offerings, and decided to give it a try. It was brunchtime and I liked that my wife had a lot of choices. She was interested in the fried chicken, but aettled on the poke bowl. I was interested in burgers bit ended up with meatloaf since I was without for so long. We were immediately greeted and seated in the spacious and very nice looking dining area. As we sat enjoying our meal, more customers filled the tables. They were well staffed as our water glasses were promptly filled, even as a bottle of water was left on the table. I like the popular music playing over the sound system. The meatloaf with mashed potatoes and string beans was a nice portion. I enjoyed the tomato sauce it was prepared in. Lighter and tastier than the typical brown gravy. I like brown gravy but this was better. We both decided we will return sometime. read more

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Nothing to complain about this restaurant. The hostess sat me down as soon as I entered the door. I only had to wait 2 minutes before the waitress brought my water & menu. I already knew what I wanted so I ordered my food at that moment and it came out within six minutes of me, ordering it. Food, fresh hot and very delicious the way I like it. The price for the financial district of New York is very reasonable. The place is casual yet very trendy and serene at the same time. This place is a definite repeat for me. read more

Friedman's - Fancy sign brought me inside ! - Sandwiches Near Me - New York, New York

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Amazing time per usual. The food was hot and flavorful. The service was quick. It was a busier night but we did not have a wait time at all. Thursday night was a cool vibe. I love this place and will definitely be back again. read more

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A classic for a reason! They usually have seats on a Sunday morning for brunch if you didn't make reservations. The food is really great, the selection is HUGE (the sushi is the best, in my opinion) so there's something for everyone. read more

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Friedman's (formerly Wei West) is our go-to for Chinese takeout! We order at least once a week and the food is always fresh and tasty. The sesame chicken with fried rice, beef with broccoli with brown rice, and General Tso's chicken with white rice were all great. The General Tso's sauce was a bit thick, but still super flavorful. Reliable, delicious, and consistently satisfying! read more

Everything was perfect! Even my parents that are picky eaters enjoyed every bite. There's something for everyone. The staff was incredibly kind and accommodating. The vibe of the restaurant is elevated even as the prices are affordable. read more

This was our last day of the trip and after a late night we wanted some nice, chill place with good food and good coffee. I found Friedmans on Yelp and decided to give it a try. They seemed to just be opening when we got there. Just a couple of tables were occupied so we got to sit immediately at a comfy booth. They had regular breakfast/ lunch menu and brunch menu available that Sunday. And, if you go after 11am their sushi options are available too. I started with a delicious latte and ordered their B.E.L.T (Bacon, Egg, Lettuce, Tomato) and it was exactly what I needed. So good and paired it with their truffle fries that were also amazing. My friends were both equally impressed with their dishes, and in no time we were ready to attack our last day in the city. Really enjoyed this place, it's food and their service. read more

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This place is brilliant. I spent many years in NYC working in finance but it wasn't until my daughter ran the NYC that we discovered Friedmans. We were staying at the Conrad and kept seeing this pop up in Yelp. Wasn't quite sure about the cuisine because I would see pics of sushi next to noodles next to deli food. It's all three - deli, Japanese and Chinese. "East meets West". Perfect for our family or anyone looking for a variety of choices. Food was amazing. Service super friendly and efficient. Great prices especially for NYC. Very very impressed. Only downside is we didn't discover until our last day here. It's super busy so plan accordingly. read more

Went back for brunch and again the broad menu was great. We started with the Tuna Pizza which was terrific and the our entree choices showed the range of items that they have: Nova Benny, Chicken Pad Thai and Dong Jing Rice Bowl - all good! Loved the bright, open ambiance during the day and our server Ava was helpful and friendly. read more

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Interesting that this Friedman's has a GF pan-asian menu, in addition to many of the same offerings as their other locations. This was not a deterrent to getting the same GF pancakes as always. Was happy to see the Lemon Ricotta cakes at this location. It's about a 5 minute walk from the World Trade Center. This particular location in Battery Park was extra empty for Sunday breakfast. 10/10. It's the best Gluten Free breakfast joint in NYC. read more

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Can't recommend this place enough. So many gluten free options! The fryer is dedicated GF, almost everything on the menu was gluten free except a few items on the Asian menu. Felt so safe eating here. Food tasted delicious, one of my favorites gluten free buns I've ever had. Our server Kendyl was amazing. Great atmosphere and music. 10/10 recommend to anyone read more

Friedman's - Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sanwich - Sandwiches Near Me - New York, New York

Avoid this Friedman's nothing is up to par. I've eaten at other Freeman's uptown and the food was much better quality than here. from the deli to the Chinese it's not worth eating and wasting money. It's very disappointing since it's in my neighborhood and would be a go to place if the quality was better. read more

Authentic Chinese Dumplings -- Just Like Hong Kong! Fantastic gluten-free dumplings, exactly like in Hong Kong. My husband and I tried every GF option -- all delicious! Dry-fried string beans and meaty ribs were also great. GF dishes are clearly marked, though check sauces (pink ones may have dairy). Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and Friedman's gluten-free protocols are top-notch. Gorgeous light and airy venue. read more

Meh. Service was good and it's a nice space, and reasonably close to the movie theatre. My food just wasn't very good. I like the menu concept, but nothing I tasted was very...tasty. read more

*this review is for the east meets west menu* Highly recommend everything I ordered: -general tso chicken -scallion pancakes (must have!) -sesame chicken -lo mein -poke bowl - this was very filling and had high quality ingredients. However, it was lacking in the sauce side. Would have appreciated more sauce or additional on side. Service was attentive and quick. We were easily able to be seated on a Friday night for 2 without a reservation read more

Friedman's - Sandwiches Near Me - New York, New York

Giving it five stars for the most delicious Cobb Salad north of the Mason Dixon line. It's so chock full of delicious fresh ingredients I can barely finish it. Haven't ordered anything else as this salad is too delicious to pass by!! Also love the house made dressing! Service is always quick and friendly read more

Friedman's - Cobb Salad - Sandwiches Near Me - New York, New York

This restaurant feels like the perfect escape from my regular routine. The staff coach here deserves industry recognition. They provide friendly attention in a relaxing space. All their food items taste amazing. I absolutely suggest this restaurant! read more

Good glutened... while they claim to have an entire gfree focus, this callous misrepresentation of gluten or gluten-free is is worse than cluelessness. These folks built a business on gluten-free and not on but both of us got sick. I'm not that sensitive my wife Cecilia. This is just totally unacceptable. These people should be shut down this restaurant should not exist. You shouldn't be able to claim that you actually have gluten-free status for celiac and then blow it in such a terrible way, never again last read more

Fun atmosphere felt like being in NY. Prices were a bit high but food was excellent. Staff was friendly but appeared uncertain as to how to make wrap on menu. read more

Delicious GF meal! Everyone at the table enjoyed their food. This will definitely be a staple when in NYC!

The food here is beyond expectations! All employees contribute to the good atmosphere. Their meals demonstrate exceptional quality. The waitstaff was helpful and the restaurant had good energy. I'm eager to go back and taste more selections. read more

Where else can you get a bowl of matzoh ball soup and a spicy tuna roll? Pretty sure this Friedman's location is the only spot where this could become a reality. I came here with a friend who has celiacs before seeing Cats The Jellicle Ball nearby. We'd been to the Friedman's in Times Square plenty of times before, but I had no idea this location existed or that it offers such a varied menu. In addition to all the Friedman's staples like Matzoh Ball Soup and pastrami sandwiches they also have an entire Asian inspired menu with most items being gluten-free. They also have a food and drink happy hour until 7 with discounted sushi rolls, appetizers and drinks which we took full advantage of. I had the matzoh ball soup to start which tasted like it was made with love, then we split vegetable potstickers which were crispy and flavorful. My spicy tuna roll was also delicious and creamy. Service was friendly and prompt, and the restaurant itself is cozy and clean. Would recommend coming if you're in the area, especially if you're with someone who has a gluten intolerance! read more

Do not come here if youre indecisive about what you want - the menu is MASSIVE! Its really nice to have so many options whether you want a burger or sushi they really have it all. Not only is the food great no matter what cuisine you're getting- everything has a gluten free option!!! Even dumplings!! This is a game changer! Standout fave meals are the kung pao chicken, dan dan wontons, chicken and waffles and the friedmans club. Come here for breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, or just a drink. They truly have it all! read more

Friedman's - Brunch!! - Sandwiches Near Me - New York, New York

Came by for a team work lunch just after 12 with a group of 11 people. I had just been to a different location of Friedman's a few weeks prior, so I already had an idea of what I wanted to order. But, the menu here is a bit different from the other ones. This restaurant used to be Wei West, which was a combination of Chinese, Thai, and Japanese. So it seems they merged that menu with the Friedman's menu. I was never a huge fan of the Wei West menu, so I just stuck to Friedman's. I had the Grilled Chicken Swisswich (bacon jam, gruyere, avocado aioli, on ciabatta bread), which comes with a side of fries. I must say, this has to be the best chicken sandwich I've had in a while. The chicken was perfectly grilled, and the bacon jam was SO good. The fries were crispy on the outside but soft on the inside - not a soggy fry in sight. I liked it better than the fried chicken sandwich I had the other location I went to. In true Friedman's fashion, everything was efficient, and the food came out very quickly (but hot). You do end up paying $25 for a chicken Sammie after tax/tip but it's nice for a once in a while treat. read more

Friedman's - Grilled Chicken Swisswich - Sandwiches Near Me - New York, New York

The food is amazing and the choices are just fabulous. In addition, one of my paralegal assistance has a gluten allergy and Freedman has just been a godsend in terms of not only being able to accommodate her, but accommodate her with wonderful choices and options. read more

Sandwiches - pastrami, chicken, burger, and tuna are excellent Salmon entree also very good. read more

Very friendly and attentive staff. Attractive and comfortable dining room. I had the club sandwich with herb fries, and my husband had a poke bowl and scallion pancakes. Delicious all around! read more