Gurumé on Restaurant Row was a recommendation from a New York native and I have been back twice…read morenow. The bar this kitchen sets has not wavered between visits (even though my visits have been about two years apart). It is Korean tapas style, meant for sharing. Their menu makes that easy because almost everything on it is worth ordering. The black sesame bread pudding is the dish I think about after every visit. Comes out warm with ice cream on top, savory and sweet at the same time, and it is the perfect way to close the meal. The kimchi fried rice is a standout, packed with flavor and that crunchy quinoa on top adds great texture. The mushroom harvest bowl comes with a soft onsen egg on top and is one of those dishes that surprises you. They also had a raw beef dish on the menu that was equally impressive, similar to a tartare preparation, and worth ordering if it is still available. One thing to know going in: when this place is busy it is loud. My last visit was a Thursday around 7:30pm and having a conversation at a two top took some effort to hear each other. Earlier in the week closer to opening is noticeably quieter if that matters to you. Either way the food is worth it. Put this one on your rotation.

My friends and I decided to grab dinner after work at around 7:30PM on a Thursday and were luckily…read moreable to make a reservation day of. It was fairly busy, but we were greeted quickly. The restaurant itself wasn't too large, so the tables were a bit tightly spaced, but we didn't mind that. The options looked great, and we decided on the following: 1. Brussels sprouts - I loved these! They were a bit on the saltier side, but I don't mind that at all. They were perfectly crisp and perfectly seasoned. 2. Crispy corn and cheese - I've been wanting to try corn ribs, and really liked these! They were fun to eat and were seasoned nicely, but on the sweeter side. 3. Mushroom harvest - Loved this dish as well! Lots of mushrooms and tasted really hearty. 4. Pork and radish bossam - The meat was so tender and flavorful. It wasn't a standout dish, but it tasted good! 5. Steak and Potatoes - The steak was nicely cooked as well, and so were the potatoes! 6. Chicken wings - perfectly crunchy and flavorful. We opted for the soy garlic 7. Yukhwe - this was definitely similar to a tartare, but it tasted great! Overall, I had a really good experience here. I wouldn't mind coming back, all the dishes were a hit! For 3 people, the total came out to $174 including tip.

We came here on a whim, and it was one of the best meals we've had while visiting NYC…read more We didn't have a reservation but we got on their waitlist and waited about 20-minutes. Once seated, we already knew what we wanted to order. The edamame dumplings, the lucky noodles, and popcorn chicken. The standout dishes for me were definitely the lucky noodles and dumplings. The dumplings had so much depth in terms of flavor, one of the most unique bites I've had in a while. For the noodles, it's not your traditional noodles, the flat noodles were in smaller pieces and it had amazing texture. The sauce also blew me away, not too spicy and everything blended so well together. 10/10 for both dishes! If you are in the area, this is definitely a spot I'd go to over and over again!

Came here for dinner on a Monday night around 6:45pm for 3 people and there was no line! The staff…read morewere incredibly attentive, kind and service was very quick. The inside is very cozy and inviting. To drink, I got the turmeric ginger tea which was so refreshing and comforting. To start, we got the edamame dumplings which are an absolute must get. The filling is so creamy and well worth the hype. We also got the heirloom tomatoes which were fresh but would skip these and the asparagus which were drenched in a delicious sauce. For our mains, we got the tuna tartar tacos which are filled to the brim and absolutely delicious. The standouts for me though are the truffle mac and cheese and the steak. The mac and cheese was so cheesy and perfectly al dente. The steak was cooked to perfection and paired perfectly with the grits and veggies. To end the night we got the popcorn ice cream which was super refreshing, not too sweet and has a nice crunch with the popcorn bits. Will absolutely come back, especially for the edamame dumplings, mac and cheese and steak!

a great neighborhood restaurant in the basement of the Made hotel. staff are so welcoming and…read morefriendly and the food is delicious. croquettes, squid ink pasta, wagyu paella all great picks.

A Bright Spot in the Heart of NYC…read more After a long work day in New York City, discovering Debajo was exactly what I needed. The dusky, inviting atmosphere, chill music, and intimate vibe immediately made it feel like a little escape from the energy of the bustling NYC nightlife. And then there was Bernadette, my server, who deserves a special shout-out. She was friendly, knowledgeable, attentive without being overbearing, and genuinely brightened my day. Sometimes excellent service is more than simply getting the order right, it's a little bit of encouragement and warmth someone can bring with their authenticity. The food was fantastic. The Patatas Bravas arrived piping hot with an irresistibly crispy exterior. The smoky paprika was bursting with flavor and brought just the right amount of spicy heat, while the creamy garlic aioli rounded everything out beautifully. The Jamón Ibérico Croquetas were another highlight: crispy panko breading encasing a creamy, savory ham interior. The black garlic aioli added another layer of flavor, while the candied lemon peel gave the dish a wonderful burst of freshness. The Pineapple-A-Go-Go, was bright, refreshing, and perfect for keeping my palate fresh between bites. There's something special about a restaurant that gets the food, atmosphere, and hospitality right--and Debajo checks all these boxes. Great food, chill vibes, a beautiful atmosphere, and exceptional service. And Bernadette, thank you again for being such an encouragement and for turning the end of a very long work day into something genuinely enjoyable. You made my evening!

One of the best bites I've had in New York…read more Everything was an absolute hit. Espeically the black cod, which is limited. If you can get it I HIGHLY recommend. I usually think black cod has been done to death with a miso blackened flaze. But I like how this was different, nicely steamed(?) with a delicious sauce. The vegetables with it were also nice, soft, and flavorful. One of the most tender pieces of fish I've ever put in my mouth. A 10/10 dish The Yook-Hwe was also amazing! Nice playful flavors, nothing too overpowering but seasoned greatly 9/10. the Dolsot Al-Bap may be one of their most viral dishes, but overall I'd say it was mostly okay compared to the other two 7/10. Still amazing! But would encourage you to look past the virality of it and to the rest of the menu a 9.5/10 experience. The service was also great our waiter made sure we were aware of all the details of the dishes and finding a reservation didn't seem too hard for some place so great. The restaurant has some moody lighting, you can dress casual but it definitely still feels nice, the front door is a workout though so be prepared!! I know I can't wait to come back and try more, and I do implore everyone if they can to try it out too

Everything here was so tasty, and with fast impeccable service as well!…read more - Definitely get the scallop gimbap along with the uni and shrimp add-ons - Crab cake is a winner - Duck bulgogi is fun and unique, not something you see in other places I don't think you can go wrong and it would be great to come back and try more stuff that I didn't get to try the first time.

Balzem is such a cute spot in NYC! The decor immediately caught my attention -- cozy, eclectic, and…read morefull of little details that make the space feel really inviting and fun. The Greek salad was a standout for me, especially the dressing. It was so flavorful and honestly made the whole salad come together. The meat was also tasty and well-seasoned, although it was a little on the dry side. Overall, a really charming place with great vibes, delicious flavors, and a beautiful atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a spot that's as cute as it is satisfying!

We popped in for a mid week dinner. We had a reservation but it didn't seem too busy but also not…read morequiet. The restaurant had a fun vibe with wine bottles and art on the walls. We shared a brunch of food, starting with the mezze dips. The chicken skewers were nice and moist and well seasoned. The burger was good but they charge extra for cheese which was a bit odd. The Dubai cheesecake for dessert was great.

Arancini were light and delicious. Sage Saint gin-based drink was very good. Mushroom crostini were…read moremy favorite, followed by carciofi alla guidia. Recommended. Noisy inside. Three two-tops at the back that are good for conversation. Outdoor/back area that I didn't explore.

Cute place with cute drinks and really nice bites! The staff was really friendly and let us in a…read moretiny bit early before opening :) Gorgeous backyard space ! Get there early before a concert and game to grab a seat!

My family and I enjoyed a delicious meal at the restaurant Wednesday night. We came to celebrate a…read morespecial birthday. We selected a number of tapas from the menu and all were delicious. The service also was quite good. The restaurant was very busy when we were there, with a cool vibe. Although there were a lot of people there, we didn't have problem with conversation or service. One disappointment was that we included in the reservation that we were celebrating a birthday, the General Manager emailed me that afternoon and asked if we were celebrating anything and I said yes, a birthday, and the host asked before we were seated if we were celebrating anything and we said - yes, a birthday. Then we were seated and no mention was made of the birthday or any sense that we were celebrating a special occasion. (A simple "hey, I understand someone here is celebrating a birthday today" by a server or manager would have been nice.). After the meal, the bill came and I paid it. I told the host that I was disappointed that the restaurant inquired repeatedly about our special occasion and then didn't acknowledge it in any way to the celebrant. He asked me if I wanted a free piece of cake to go. I emailed the General manager after the meal and asked why they ask repeatedly if you are having a special occasion and then, when you respond "yes" three times they don't acknowledge it, but I've heard nothing back. But, as I said, food and service were very good.

I recently organized a team dinner at Boqueria for about 15 people, and I can't say enough good…read morethings about the entire experience from start to finish. From the very first point of contact, the staff at Boqueria were an absolute pleasure to work with. They were incredibly communicative throughout the planning process and were happy to offer thoughtful suggestions whenever I asked -- which took so much of the stress out of organizing a group event. The day of the dinner, they seated us in a semi-private room that had a full view into the kitchen, which was such a fun touch. My team loved watching the action behind the scenes -- it added a really cool energy to the evening. The service throughout the night was prompt and friendly, and the food? Absolutely delicious. We went with a family-style spread that included a variety of appetizers, entrées, and dessert tapas. Honestly, the food just kept coming and coming! Even though the plates were on the smaller side (as you'd expect with tapas), don't let that fool you -- there was more than enough food. By the end of the meal, every single person at the table was completely stuffed and raving about how good everything was. And I have to mention the sangria -- they had a wonderful selection of different sangrias that went down very well with my team. It was the perfect complement to the meal. If you're looking for a spot for a team dinner or a smaller group occasion, I would highly recommend Boqueria. They truly bring Spanish hospitality to NYC. You won't be disappointed!

super friendly staff -- lorena (the owner) was the first to greet us and was very attentive in…read moreassuring that everything came out quickly and that we were satisfied. food was delicious -- we opted for two tapas (croquetas espanolas and yuquitas) and the seafood paella). the tapas were both delicious and savory without being too heavy, and the seafood paella was rich and flavorful. i also had a virgin strawberry sangria which turned out to be super large in addition to being refreshing and the right amount of sweet. would love to come back again and support their business

Having moved a few years ago, we forgot that every restaurant on 9th Avenue is packed, pre-theater…read more It was a Saturday evening, and we did have theater tickets, but thought we'd go to one of our old haunts for dinner. "Slight miscalculation!" So this place wasn't quite full, and we were able to get a table. Ordered a sangria to share, I didn't want to fall asleep in the theater, and it was huge! More than ample for 2 or maybe 3 light drinkers like us. I'm a sucker for paella, but if and when we get there again, I think tapas are the way to go. My husband had the veggie paella and I ordered the veggie Caribbean paella, theoretically spicy but it really wasn't. It's not served in the traditional cast iron pan, but in a large bowl and it's a large portion. Tasty enough! The rice was just a bit mushy for me. I was looking around and most of the tables had lots of different tapas plates. The couple at the table next to us just kept ordering them and exclaiming, so I think that's the way to go. We shared the flan for dessert and that was very good! Service was excellent and friendly. I'd go back when we are in the area.

Super cute spot. Was in the neighborhood and saw that they had happy hour from 4pm to 6:30pm. Once…read moreI walked in I was pleasantly surprised by the decor and the huge backroom. Very nice. I loved that the HH menu has wine flights for $13. I opted for the dry whites. I then ordered the short rib cavatelli pasta for $20. This was so so good. The right amount of meat. Good flavor. I asked for red pepper flakes but didn't really need them. I do wonder if the dinner portion of the pasta is the same size because that cost $25. Ideally $36 isn't a true happy hour to me per se but I was pleasantly satisfied and want to check them out again especially for their brunch pre-fixe.

Nothing better than finding a hidden gem happy hour spot - and this is just that!…read more Great food deals for options that are more elevated than your typical bar food ( the croquettes and baked brie were delish!) The wine flights are the biggest appeal, offering 3 decent wine pours for only $13 (4 different flight options)! If you are looking for a new happy hour spot - add Aunt Bernie's to your list!

Ruffian is a cute little wine bar with a deeply impressive wine menu. I tried their Greek wine…read moreflight, which was absolutely delicious, along with two of their tapas that did not disappoint. Berkshire Pork Shoulder (4.5/5): Very tender, and the sauce paired well with the meat Smoked Duck Breast (4.5/5): I'm not usually a fan of berry-style sauces on meat, but this worked well with the duck. The smokiness really pulled through and balanced everything out.

Very intimate space - great wine selection. Food and service was nice…read more Would love to come back and try the Fava beans if they still have it.