Went back to Gurume, this time later at night after seeing a show so the restaurant was less…read morecrowded but still lively. Had the Soy Garlic Chicken Wings and the Mushroom Harvest Bowl - both were great and what we come back for. Terrific staff, warm welcome from the host and our server Mario was friendly and helpful. Great also to catch up with Arianna who we know from past visits.

Very vibey Korean tapas style bar with a big range of tasty dishes…read more We had a small wait to get in for our reservation, but it was very busy when we arrived. It got quieter a bit later in the evening (on a Saturday which was surprising. We tried a large range of dishes, and most were tapas size except the ramen which was a large portion, great value, and a good way to end the savoury portion of the meal. The desserts were both worth trying, especially the bread pudding.

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!

Vibe/ambiance: cozy, small tables Service: standard; there's…read moreone bathroom Reservation: no reservations available, walked in Saturday dinner (~6:30, a 10 minute wait) Items ordered: - tuna tartare tacos 8/10 - edamame dumplings 6.8/10 - truffle mac and cheese: tasted like fondue to me 6/10 - popcorn chicken 6.8/10

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!

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.

Finally got into Ariari after months of Resy notifications and I get the hype, mostly…read more The scallop gimbap is the thing. Thin slices of raw scallop, a little bowl of fermented squid, apple kimchi, scallion mayo, and crisp seaweed squares you assemble yourself. Scallop was sweet and firm, obviously good product. The squid jeotgal is what makes it, that salty funk against the sweetness. Order two if you're more than a couple. Ours was gone in four minutes. Seasonal raw fish was fluke, clean and cold, better with the ssamjang than without. Soft shell crab was the surprise. Shatteringly crisp, still juicy inside, and the yuja scallion aioli isn't just decoration. The duck bulgogi was the one miss. Sliced thin and pushed a little past where it should've stopped. Room is the old Oiji spot and I was glad to see they didn't gut it. Wood paneling, brown vinyl banquettes, framed photos of Busan. Very 70s Korean diner. It's loud by 7:30 so don't bring your grandmother unless she's fun. Service was fast and friendly, kimchi refills just appeared. Cocktails solid, the jujube rye one especially. Value is fair for what it is. Most plates under $20, two per person is plenty. Would go back. Wouldn't wait months to do it, but would go back.

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.

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 partner came back from a work trip to St. Louis and sang the praises of the fried ravioli he…read morefound everywhere there. You would think this simple dish would be easier to find in New York but I had to search a bit to find a place that advertised serving them, so to Little Pig we went for these crunchy, cheesey bites. Their backyard is larger than the inside of the restaurant, and we got to sit there on a gorgeous day to take in some sun and enjoy our food. I got a glass of lambrusco, which paired nicely with the arancini, flatbread, cheese board, caesar salad, and fried ravioli we got for the table. They aren't purporting to do anything creative here but this standard Italian-American fare is made well. This menu would be particularly well suited for families with kids, because what's not to like about breaded and fried cheese, meat, sauce and bread? Our server was very helpful in guiding us on how much to order as well. On a beautiful day, whiling away some hours in their backyard is not a bad way to spend some time.

Really great food for the most part! The tapas we ordered were the patatas bravas, ham and cheese…read morecroquets, tortilla, chicken skewers, steak and chorizo montado, and calamari. All were at least warm and delicious (for a tapas place where food is prepared and served as it's ready), with some being incredibly exceptional (the patatas bravas and chicken skewers to name two). The waitress was kind and attentive to our needs. And even though we were sitting outside next to one of the busier streets in midtown Manhattan, the outdoor patio was vibrant and comfortable. Would definitely visit again for a pleasant lunch!

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.