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    Kabawa

    4.3 (47 reviews)
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    Coconut Turnover
    Annalise W.

    Overall this was a very memorable meal that I recommend trying. Dinner felt like an experience, service was impeccable, and many of the dishes I've never had before. The only reason not for 5 stars is one of the mains was under seasoned. But with that said, I'd come back in a heart beat. Ambiance/ Service: elevated casualness, but lively and high energy, fun. Definitely try to sit at the counter if you can - it's so fun to watch them cooking and really adds to the experience. Even though it's casual, this is perfect for a date night or celebration. Service was amazing. Shoutout to the male bald waiter with glasses! Food: prefix menu but you can order à la carte additions for an extra cost. It's only 3 courses, but servings are pretty generous and there are some additional sides & bread so you won't leave hungry. Got the below between two people (we added one first course): -Pepper Shrimp: I should've known - it was soooo hot. If you have a low spice tolerance like me do NOT get lol. But other than that it was good. -Breadfruit Toston: the best first course. Loved this. A must order. -Cassava Dumplings: enjoyed. Warm, hearty. Dumplings reminded me of gnocchi. -Cobia: citrusy, refreshing sauce. Fish was a bit under salted though. -Goat: best main for sure. This feels like a must order. -Coconut Turnover: omgggg. Just order it. I will dream of this. It's basically a light doughy cinnamon roll in loaf form.

    Cute hook in the bathroom
    Shannon S.

    Saw an article on Kabawa in the WSJ and was so intrigued by the concept of a fine dining, three-course tasting Caribbean experience. I made a reservation for two on a weeknight -- a couple weeks in advance. As soon as we stepped from the alleyway in East Village and through the doors, we were transported to the islands with deep, rich earthy hues, tropical patterns, and vibey music. The open kitchen takes center stage and the majority of the seating is at a giant wooden counter surrounding the kitchen. However, there are a few table seats available along the front wall of the restaurant. We were seated at the countertop and enjoyed the view of the kitchen in action. The menu is a three course prix fixe, but you can add dishes on for an additional cost. We each got different dishes so we could try a bit of everything: pepper shrimp (note, this comes raw!), mushroom pastel, cassava dumplings, duck sausage, black bass, and for dessert, the frozen treat of the day (coconut sorbet). Everything was absolutely fantastic from the service to the flavors to the presentations. There wasn't a dish I wouldn't get again. It took everything in me not to scrape the bottom of my plate to get every last morsel. The meal also included a roti appetizer to start with 4 different sauces/dips such as plantain mash, chickpea curry and chutneys. The entrees were accompanied by a spread of four different sides including, rice & beans, sweet potato and a fresh salad. The fresh tamarind in the shell was a surprise palate cleanser and it was super fun to eat! The staff were all very friendly and welcomed all guests with open arms. The cocktail and wine options are equally on theme, innovative, and high quality. Overall it was quite a flavorful feast and I enjoyed every single second of it!

    Cynthia B.

    Definitely deserves their title of best in NYC! I absolutely enjoyed everything from their tasting menu but my favorite dish was that coconut dessert, my goodness how I dream about that dessert! Beautiful chefs table design. Highly recommend!

    Taylor Z.

    The wine pairing is so fun! The somm was really knowledgeable and it was really fun to have choices and try so many different things. Felt like you were at a friends place. The food is quite rich and you'll leave absolutely stuffed. They do not skimp on portion. Favorite was the goat and the pepper shrimp.

    Renee C.

    One of the best meals I've had in a really long time. The pepper shrimp was delicious and they give you this bread platter that includes bammy and roti!!! I ordered the goat, and I loved it. I also got the monk seal drink, and the coconut milk gave it such a creamy feel. I really loved the coconut turnover for dessert; it was so big but I could have eaten one on my own, that's how good it was. I'll definitely go again.

    Hunter S.

    Kabawa isn't a restaurant. It's an experience. It's 145 dollars prix fixe. You sit around the kitchen at the chef's counter (though there are a couple of traditional tables) and watch the chefs cook. The chefs interact with you and tell you about each dish. They are extremely affable and kind. The servers are also amazing, keeping your water filled, keeping your space clean, dishes bussed. You start out with a tray of dips and roti. The dips are all so different and taste great. They are light and a great starter. The first course can be plantains, cash sofrito, pepper shrimp, breadfruit toston (octopus with dog sauce and capers), mushroom pastel (steamed green banana and mushroom picadillo), or cassava dumplings (strewed with creole sauce and cucumber). I had the cassava dumplings and it was light, savory, and the cucumbers were just the right amount of refreshing. The entree course offers legumes, cobia, black bass, jerk duck sausage, skirt steak, chuletas can can (pork chop including loin, ribs, belly, and skin, brined, roasted, and deep fried). I had the goat, which was fall apart moist and tender and flavorful. For dessert I had the coconut turnover, which is made for two. It's HUGE. I could only finish part of it. Other choices are matrimony (citrus fruits and condensed milk), flan, or the frozen treat of the day. I also had their gin martini (very crisp, clean, strong). The swanky panky, made with mezcal, pineapple amaro, and limewash, Smoky. I also had the sorrel daiquiri made with rum, hibiscus, lime, and spices. It was also smoky and complex. I loved the experience so much that I went next door to Bar Kabawa (reviewed separately) to enjoy more cocktails.

    Goat (top right) and white fish (I think it was madai? Can't remember the name exactly, top left).

    Some of the best food we've had in NYC. The ambiance is largely unchanged from the former Momofuku restaurant that was in the space, it's slightly industrial, large and open and dimly lit but not too dark. The server did not lead us astray with the food at all but I would say she wasn't the friendliest either. Not necessarily a bad thing

    Coco bread
    Nathaniel P.

    Pretty good! Had some high expectations for this place, not sure if all were met but I would definitely come again. Menu was 3-course prix fixe for 145. Came with a friend and we shared so got to try two things for the app and main, then we got the $10 supplement coconut turnover for 2 for dessert. Mains came with rice and beans, salad, and sweet potatoes. I think my favorite course was the bread service. Probably the best roti I've had LOL and I loved the guava chutney and curry chickpea that came with it. I loved having reimagined Caribbean food, however, I'm not sure if there was anything I had that made me feel compelled to return. Also the palate cleanser was just a tamarind. I guess it's a novelty for most patrons but I grew up eating them. Nostalgic for sure but I wish they did something with it for that $145 we were paying. Coconut turnover was just okay to me as well. It reminded me of a common dessert in the Philippines called pan de coco - sweetened, grated coconut-filled enriched bread. Was their coconut turnover better? It had a cream cheese icing on it, but I don't think so. Bread was kind of tough. Service was really the star of this place. Laughed with our server and they genuinely make you feel like they love having you there. I would come back just to hang LOL

    Desserts- Birthday Flan- Caramel and sprinkles. Small but very nice textures. Tasty
    Glenn C.

    I was at this very hard-to-get-into Caribbean spot a week ago or so with four others last Thursday. The place is small with a good amount of bar seating around where they cook, along with three flat tops (with us sitting at the larger one,) with the servers being professional and also knowledgeable about the menu. To drink, I had a Sorrel, which was $7 and nice (though my Jamaican coworker makes a better one, of course,) with someone else having a cocktail. They only serve one thing, which is a tasting menu for $145 a person, not including some large add-ons, with us ordering the entree and dessert add-on. To start, they give us two large plates as our amuse. The platters had Roti (another person presumed packaged but still tasty) as well as some Bami/Bammy, a cassava flatbread with a fun chewy texture. The breads were served with four dips: Pepper jelly with butter, plantain ginger chutney, curried chickpeas/channa, and a mango chutney. They were all well varied in flavor, with my preference being the excellent pepper jelly, which had a bit of a kick, along with the plantain chutney, as there were some nice warming spices. The curried chickpeas were nice, though I have preferred the more flavorful ones from some spots in Crown Heights, and the mango chutney was a tad sweet, of course, but was different than what I've seen before with larger pieces of mango. My favorite of the appetizers and possibly my favorite thing of the night was the Pepper Shrimp, or raw royal red shrimp with sorrel, scotch bonnet, and thyme. Outside of looking pretty due to the purple sorrel, the dish had a kick from the scotch bonnet, but not too much, along with some fruitiness. The raw shrimp texture went wonderfully with everything, and I would highly recommend this. The rest of the people loved the comparatively much larger Breadfruit Tostón with octopus, dog sauce, and capers, which I had to avoid due to my allergy. The Cassava Dumplings stewed with creole sauce and cucumber was also tasty and the lightest of the dishes, with the slightly chewy dumplings almost being mochi-like, and the chew was nice with the tomatoes and onion flavor. Finally, there was the Mushroom Pastel with steamed green banana and mushroom picadillo, which was fine. Though the mushrooms were well-cooked and it had an interesting texture with the plantain, the flavors sounded more interesting than it actually tasted. For main dishes, we ordered four, as one of them was an add-on for two people for an extra $75. The main dishes came with a few sides consisting of some sweet potatoes glazed with pineapple, some cooked-down tasty beans, a simple salad with a nice citrusy dressing, and some very tasty rice. My favorite of the main dishes was the Goat with spicy scallop creole. The goat was very tender, lacking any gamey flavor, and the sauce was delicious with habanero, dried scallop, and curry. It had a bit of funk, a lot of heat, and a lot of spices, and was perfect with the rice, and I would heavily recommend it. The add-on was, of course, the massive Chuletas Can Can served with recaito, which I would only really recommend if you have at least three people, as it is gigantic and a bit one-note. This consists of several different cuts of pork and includes a massive bone, which someone very much enjoyed munching on. This was very rich and fatty, with some pieces having a bit too much of a chew, and I think in general, it needed more acidity, such as how Crispy Pata is served with habanero vinegar in Filipino spots, with the only reprieve being the small salad to help cut down the richness. The remaining two entrees were a bit less notable but still pretty tasty. There was the "Jerk" Duck Sausage with poblano, which had some nice spice but was comparatively a lot smaller. The Skirt Steak with onions and green olives was also fine. The steak was tender with a bit of chew, as expected for the type, but the lack of sauce made it a tad boring outside of the olives, which was a fun twist. Finally, we split all the desserts (after munching on free tamarind,) with one of them being an add-on. Said add-on was my favorite of the bunch, which was the Coconut Turnover with caramelized coconut and cream cheese, which is an extra $15 for two and is very large. The soft texture of the turnover reminded me and someone else of the Chinese coconut pastries, with the filling being lightly sweet and pleasant, while the frosting wasn't too rich. This paired nicely with the Sorbet of the day, which was coconut as well, which was small but well prepared. The Birthday Flan with caramel and sprinkles was also well-made. It wasn't the largest piece of flan, but the texture was excellent. Last was the Matrimony, or a variety of citrus fruits and condensed milk, which was the lightest. The mix was a tad boring with a bit too much grapefruit. Out of review room. Not everything worked but I'd recommend if you can get in.

    Eric K.

    Kabawa is probably one of the most hyped restaurants in the city currently, so I obviously had to give it a try. Yes, it is a bit overhyped, but overall I had a great experience here. I dined here with a friend and together we got to try many dishes from their menu. The flavor profiles are not subtle here and they are not afraid to use spice when they want to. I think everything was quite good to excellent. The least memorable dish for me was probably the pepper shrimp although I know many people consider this their favorite. I personally didn't like the texture or the aggressive seasoning. However, I really enjoyed the roti (bread) course, the black bass, and the coconut turnover for dessert. It's definitely not a cheap meal but the food is plentiful and service was on point. I would come back and definitely plan on trying the bar next door.

    Shauna R.

    We would come back here any day, the experience from start to finish was out of this world. Their attention to details is impeccable and the food choices were amazing. We love the way the menu is setup to choose one from each section while also giving extras to make the meal complete. It was way too much food since we were enjoying it all. The environment is also so fun with the staff in front of you and the fun vibes all around. I hope everyone can see how great this spot is!

    Cellar sips
    David R.

    Had a great time dining here last Thursday. Revisiting the NYC 100 best restaurants in NYC, and picked this place as a go to spot to catch up with a friend. The Prix Fixe menu isn't cheap, but it seemed very reasonable for what you get and the vibe. We decided to split the big sips wine pairing at the Sommeliers' recommendation, and tried two cocktails on top. Overall it was a fun experience, and I believe is deserves a spot on the top 100. I'm glad I went, and would go back. I would give this 5 stars except for the up charging. There are a lot of upcharges and some of them really don't seem worth it. Cons: Up charging. We paid the cost of almost a half another person to upgrade an app and a desert. The $50 extra for plantains seemed unbalanced (caviar is expensive, but there was not enough to justify the cost). It was tasty, but not a lot of caviar for the price. The 15$ extra for the coconut turnover seemed the most egregious. While very nice to look at, I wouldn't pay more than 15$ for the whole thing. The fact that there is an upcharge, and you have to split, means it is essentially the price of 3 desserts. The other free deserts looked yummy as well. Pros: The entrees were both spot on. I was worried about getting the duck sausage because I thought it might be too greasy, but it was well balanced and what I was hoping for, not what I was afraid of. The wine collection is pretty solid since it inherited from Momofuku's space, and the big sips wine tasting was fun, but a lot of it was wasted on us, as cheaper wine would have done the same trick. The quantity was as stated about 3 glasses for the same price as the main. However, the opening champagne was a highlight and both my friend and I looked into buying it for ourselves after. Details: I cam with a friend and we decided to split everything to try the most possible. I had the corn whiskey drink (Mam-Akasan) and my friend had the Sorel. He liked mine, and I liked his, so let's call it a wash. The were both well made. Overall the cocktails were solid and I would order more in the future. I used to pick breadfruit in Hawaii, but haven't seen it since, so was excited to try the octopus breadfruit tostadas. We also started with the plaintains with caviar. The mains were Duck sausage and the Goat Curry. Finally we split the Coconut turnover for desert. All paced well facing a chic open kitchen design. The Breadfruit Tostada, was tasty, but a little too fried for me to really taste the breadfruit. The octopus was well prepared. The Plantains with caviar were yummy. Plaintains are usually delicious, I am not sure the caviar adds that much depth too it, so caviar with plaintains won't be my new go to, but it was fun to pair, and went well together. The roti platter with different sauces came out, and hit the spot. Only one thing really stood out. My favorite was the fried casava cubes. The roti and dips were all solid, and the presentation was nice, but not something I would travel for, e.g Shukette's bread etc. I do prefer Malaysian style roti, but roti is delicious. Pro tip I learned later, ask for more roti to sop up the curry if I had planned ahead. The sips from the cellar started to flow by this time as well. I asked if there was a preference, or a tasting combo, and was told that it was just an open type of enjoyment. Not really catered to the food, but just good wines they are enjoying. Everything besides the desert was on the drier side, which I liked. The Champagne to start was the highlight. The Sommelier clearly enjoyed his job and I believe he was enjoying sharing wines he picked with the guests. The entrees are what stood out to me. They were both excellent and really brought everything together. The goat curry was just awesome. Nothing really to comment on. It was well balanced presented well and tasted great. The duck sausage was also excellent. They said there is a whole duck in the sausage, so I was worried it would be unctuous, but it was crisp and tasty. I really enjoyed it, especially as I almost skipped it worrying that it would be to fatty, and the safe dish backup would have been bass. The penultimate dish was a added palate cleanser, fresh Tamarind on ice. I have read others from India and Asia less excited about this, because it is much more common there. However, this was the first time I tried it fresh, and the first time is always more of an experience (same thing with finger limes at EMP). Tamarind is surprisingly yummy on its own. The final dish, I saw others getting and was glad we ordered it. The coconut turnover. It looks great. But taking the spot of 2 deserts, and with an up charge, it really needs to shine, and tbh, it just didn't. Maybe the most disappointing dish we had there. It was tasty enough, but didn't shine in anyway besides presentation. It tasted like a yummy coconut loaf, but not so elevated it is hard to find elsewhere. I would go back. I might avoid up charges. Pork looked great though!

    Breadfruit Tostón
    Brittany W.

    I had a quick 24 hours in NY and my friend informed me we had dinner reservations at Kabawa. I live in Texas so this restaurant was not on my radar and, I happily chose not to research as I wanted to be surprised. All I can say is WOW! This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time! From the moment we entered Kabawa everyone was curteous and kind! Every single person I encountered. We were a bit early to our reservation so we went next door to Bar Kibawa. What I loved is if you start there with cocktails, someone will come get you when your table is ready. Also, whatever you order transfers to your final bill so need to close out. We had seating at the bar which, I think is preferred as you get to interact with the staff preparing the food. Did I mention how kind everyone is? The menu is prix fixe with multiple options for each course. Kabawa is Caribbean cuisine meets fine dining. I opted for: pepper shrimp, goat, and birthday flan. My friend ordered: breadfruit tostón, black bass, and the sorbet of the day (coconut). The presentation and the flavors were PHENOMENAL. And it may not sound like we ordered a lot but there were delicious surprises along the way so bring your appetite. Again, everyone was kind! Jody our server, Denzel in the kitchen, and the gentleman from Haiti (forgot his name) that made sure we ate to our hearts desire!

    Coconut turnover

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    Ask the Community - Kabawa

    What time do they release new reservations?

    14 days in advance

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    Dear Irving on Broadway - Josephine Room

    Dear Irving on Broadway

    4.5(35 reviews)
    2.8 miMidtown West

    Finding a good cocktail bar in NYC is not that difficult for most, but I find that my friend and I…read morehave become a bit of cocktail snobs lately, as we always look for something specific during our travels. We are tequila and mezcal drinkers so a lot of places, we've found lately, so not have as big of mezcal selections. This was the exception. We wanted to go to the location that wasn't in such a touristy area, but it was so cold that we didn't wanna walk so we just did this location. The aesthetic is super warm and takes you to somewhere luxurious and almost even tropical with the light shades and all. The bartenders are actual mixologists so if you tell them what you're thinking of, they'll likely be able to execute. Our bartenders were very attentive and enthusiastic in creating the drinks we had in mind. All we had to do was give them a brief idea and we got these wonderful drinks back. I wish I had pictures, but the drinks were flowing and the conversation was so good. We were thoroughly impressed. Great program they're running here, their mixologists know what they're doing!

    I was here for an event, so didn't order entrees/mains. We did have some appetizers and finger…read morefood, which wasn't the tastiest...the best thing there were probably the lobster rolls and sliders. The drinks were very delicious, though! The bartenders were nice and made the drinks very quickly. There was one who was consistently friendly, as opposed to the blonde lady there. I'd go back again on a date night because the interior had major sexy vibes.

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    Dear Irving on Broadway - Cocktails

    Cocktails

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    Cocktail

    Dear Irving on Broadway - Smoky & spicy cocktail it was ;-)

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    Smoky & spicy cocktail it was ;-)

    Sunken Harbor Club - Shallows drinks

    Sunken Harbor Club

    4.5(115 reviews)
    2.3 miDowntown Brooklyn
    $$$

    I've been trying to go to Sunken Harbor for over a year now. I don't know how it's possible but…read moredespite being local it always seems to have a private event whenever we have plans to go. The stars finally aligned this winter and I had the opportunity to try it out. The vibes are perfect. Fog and bubbles, sea noises and all of the art go together seemlessly. Drinks were great. We had three and left suitably sloshed for the night with no aftereffects. We didn't have too many bites but the food was very good for a bar. I'm excited to go back and I hope we have just as much luck getting in next time.

    This is a "speakeasy" above Gage and Tollner. An undersea Tiki style adventure with a sexy mermaid…read moreheading up the bar. Nautical theme throughout with weathered leather, ropes, fish. Cocktails are made with various types of rum and ingredients like grapefruit, maraschino, wormwood amaro, falernum, thyme, Assam tea, spiced lime, allspice, coconut, cucumber, nutmeg, sour orange. All the drinks keep with the tropical, fruity taste with a hint of spice. They are also broken up into categories (dry land = no alcohol, shallows = average amount of alcohol, and abyss (larger amounts of alcohol). The abyss section has some cocktails that are limited to two per customer. They have some bar bites like fried green tomatoes, shrimp toast, broiled oysters, ricotta, dumplings, sliders. I had the French fries with kimchi ranch, which were underwhelming. Bartenders were cool and kept the drinks coming. I got in immediately without an issue or a wait, but it was right after a snowstorm. I've seen some people struggle to get in or have a long wait.

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    Sunken Harbor Club - View of the bar

    View of the bar

    Sunken Harbor Club - Mary Pickford - IG @bougiefoodieboi

    Mary Pickford - IG @bougiefoodieboi

    Sunken Harbor Club - Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner

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    Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner

    Dear Strangers - Such a nice cute bar!

    Dear Strangers

    4.3(28 reviews)
    0.7 miGreenwich Village

    Dear Strangers is a wonderful hidden gem! We celebrated Valentine's Day there last night and while…read morethe restaurant was incredibly busy, we never felt overlooked or underserved. The owners were milling around making sure everyone was well taken care of and the wait staff were kind and personable. Now the food...AMAZING!!! Every bite we took was wonderful and so surprising with creative combinations and gorgeously presented. The restaurant itself was hip and refined and seemed to be the happening spot of the night. We will certainly be back!

    Met up with friends here for dinner before a show near Washington square. It wasn't super crowded…read morewhen we arrived around 6pm (maybe due to the extreme cold that day) but started filling up gradually. I loved the ambiance and decor, very cozy. As for food, there were some true hits but most of the food was good but basic. The highlights for me were the wild mushrooms & rice cakes as well as the Caesar salad - loved the use of nori in the salad and would definitely come back for the mushrooms. The chicken cutlet and chicken dumplings were fine but I probably wouldn't order them again. The wait staff weren't super attentive nor super warm, but they were efficient when we asked for water refills, etc. There was ample standing room at the bar while we waited for our friends, but the table/booth that we sat at was super narrow, I was knocking knees with my friend all night and generally felt squished.

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    Dear Strangers
    Dear Strangers
    Dear Strangers - Smoked chicken croquettes

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    Smoked chicken croquettes

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    Attaboy

    4.1(869 reviews)
    0.4 miLower East Side
    $$

    Attaboy has my heart and soul, especially after crafting, curating and creating my dream drink that…read morewill live forever in the memory of my taste buds unable to be erased from my brain's footprints. Our friends raved about this place and we of course were excited (and a bit skeptical at first) to try it. The concept: no menu + no lights + a few questions = the ultimate cocktail experience. The speakeasy vibe and the dark ambiance really makes this place feel even more exclusive. With just a few tables and the bar setting, you're in for an experience you won't forget (unless you answer the wrong questions and really end up with a drink you don't like HA). This wasn't my case. Of course I described my two favorite things: Negroni + mezcal. The obvious answer would be a mezcal Negroni, but that's not why one comes to a place like Attaboy. Our amazing curator came by to ask us all a few questions, write down a few words in the napkins, and mix up the perfect drink that our master bartender crafts, curates and creates. My drink came as I couldn't possibly imagine. It looked like a Negroni smelled like Oaxaca, with all the smoke simmering up and preparing my sensory experience, leading to the best first sip. Ladies and gentleman, I introduce you to The Devil's Backbone. A perfectly balanced drink I'll never forget, one that is sipped slowly and enjoyed thoroughly. It's sexy, it's smoky it's sipped. Attaboy gave the best mixology experience and we can't wait to be back. Pro tip: be sure to be as vocal as possible, even with ice, so you don't end up with a tiki drink if that's not your vibe.

    This is one of the must-try bars in NY. You describe the flavor profile of the drink you want and…read morethe bartender whips up something for you. I only said I wanted something "floral" and I got the best water lily drink curated for me - never had anything like it. Others in my group asked for "something spicy", "something smoky, nutty, and creamy" and something "refreshing". We were all extremely impressed. Our bartender was Steven and he was awesome! He even chatted with us for a bit after to tell us more about attaboy. I'm rounding up to 5 stars but I will say our experience with the "bouncer" was a bit unpleasant. He called us to let us know our table was ready but we missed the call (our fault). We returned the call immediately and got there within a couple minutes anyway. We were ready to patiently wait for the next availability but were met with some attitude and unnecessary comments from him during the waiting experience. Regardless, we had a great time inside to make up for this. Highly recommend, but just be sure to make a reservation or be on alert and on time when getting off the waitlist.

    Photos
    Attaboy - Small space but good vibes

    Small space but good vibes

    Attaboy - Interior bar seat

    Interior bar seat

    Attaboy - The Orange Moon

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    The Orange Moon

    The Dead Rabbit - Scotch eggs

    The Dead Rabbit

    4.2(2.1k reviews)
    1.8 miFinancial District
    $$

    The "coconut milk was off" cocktail was soo good. All the cocktails (electric momisette and miso…read morecolada) were fun, creative, and delicious. The food (dingle pie and spice bag chips) were also really good. The spice bag chips seasoning was really good. We walked in Wednesday 8:30 PM and they had a couple of high chair seats at a side bar in the parlor room available. Really fun decorations and ambiance.

    If you're looking for one of the best Irish pubs in Lower Manhattan, The Dead Rabbit absolutely…read morelives up to the hype. Tucked into the Financial District, this spot blends old New York history with some of the best cocktails in the city--and it's easy to see why it's been named "World's Best Bar" more than once. The name itself has a wild backstory, inspired by a notorious 19th-century Irish-American gang from Five Points. It adds a layer of character to the place, but what really keeps people coming back is the atmosphere and the drinks. The space is split into two levels: a two lively, sawdust-floored Taprooms downstairs and a more refined Parlor upstairs if you're in the mood for a quieter, cocktail-focused experience. Drinks are the real highlight here. The Irish Coffee is widely considered one of the best in the world--rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced with whiskey, coffee, and fresh cream. They also get creative with variations like a frozen version and even an Irish Coffee martini. If you want something different, the "Act Naturally" is a standout, mixing Irish whiskey with Guinness and fig in a way that works. Food is just as impressive for a bar. The lobster deviled eggs (topped with caviar) are a must-try, and the menu leans into elevated comfort food. Overall, The Dead Rabbit nails the balance between historic charm and modern cocktail excellence. The D.R. is one of those places that is never boring and consistently delivers.

    Photos
    The Dead Rabbit - Irish Coffee

    Irish Coffee

    The Dead Rabbit - Jingle All The Way

    Jingle All The Way

    The Dead Rabbit - Irish coffee

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    Irish coffee

    Apotheke - Apotheke Bar Chinatown

    Apotheke

    3.8(1.6k reviews)
    0.8 miChinatown, Civic Center
    $$$

    Apotheke was one of my first experiences with a hidden speakeasy a number of years ago, and it…read morestill remains the OG in my vast encyclopedia of experiences. :) Strolling down Chinatown's busy and gritty Doyers Street, looking for any sign of Apotheke is a fond memory, then finally figuring out where it was, and entering through the mysterious and otherworldly threshold resulted a transformative experience that made me feel like I time traveled. Mood lighting, comfortable seating, great drinks in a cozy and Victorian-inspired space are the perfect blend of unique and. I always felt like I was part of something special the few times enjoyed creative, delicious, and strong libations from the pros at the bar. While it has always been pricey, I do feel like the excellent service ambiance, and drink quality warrant this, but may prevent more folks from becoming regulars so to speak. I love the clever and compact bathroom design, too. IYKYK Long live Apotheke!

    Fifteen years later and Apotheke is still one of my favorites!…read more You will walk past this hidden speakeasy several times before finding it. I could tell you to look for the blue beaker sign that says "Chemist" but the better tell is the random guy sitting on a stool outside. He'll be the only person on the street, so no worries about missing him! The menu has changed over the years, but the quality has not. The bartenders are social and personable. And the prices are in line for the area. My bestie and I loved the vibe. One of the best speakeasies she's had the pleasure of experiencing. Don't miss out on this place!

    Photos
    Apotheke - The bar

    The bar

    Apotheke - Live Band

    Live Band

    Apotheke - Beautiful bar

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    Beautiful bar

    The Up & Up

    The Up & Up

    4.2(617 reviews)
    0.6 miGreenwich Village
    $$

    Cool vibe. Super nice people…read more Speak easy atmosphere Love the West Village neighborhood

    Serious attitude here. The cocktails were very tasty but the service and vibe were so off-putting,…read moreI will never go back. I made a reservation in person more than 24 hours in advance. I wanted to treat an old friend to a quick birthday toast before a show she was attending nearby. Later that night, another friend became available to join but, because they do not actually have a phone that takes calls (only offers an announcement to go to Resy or email) adding another person was not at all easy. I would have had to cancel and rebook and wasn't sure I'd be able to (reservation was for a Saturday night) In most places, a table for 3 easily accommodates 4. But not here. When two of us arrived, they made it clear this was a big problem. I would have walked out right then but I would have been charged $90! We decided to stay and make the best of it, which was a challenge. For a speakeasy, the vibe was aggressive, not relaxing. Very loud music and not great acoustics.) Too cramped to be comfortable, proving that small does not necessarily mean cozy! We asked if we could take a chair from the table next to us, which was empty (it was only 6 pm; I told our server we'd be gone by 7 because my friend, the birthday girl, had to catch a show.) We were told No! To say the waiter was cold, unfriendly, and indifferent is generous. He was totally rude. He literally told my friend she couldn't sit in a chair that was otherwise empty, knowing we'd be leaving momentarily. Then he had the gail to hand me the bill with a 22% tip pre-selected...and watched over me while I signed it! Definitely the least satisfying $100 I have ever spent. Disappointing. It was good to see my friends, but I so wish I hadn't picked this place. Never again.

    Photos
    The Up & Up - Screen Door Slam

    Screen Door Slam

    The Up & Up
    The Up & Up

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    Kabawa - caribbean - Updated May 2026

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