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.

This restuarnt specializes in Korean small bites. During my trip to NYC they may have orchestrated…read moresome of the best dishes during the whole trip. The environment is very laid back, with dim lighting. The servers were very attentive, and the chef would bring it the dishes and explain them to you each time. The food here that we had was absolutely fenominal. We started with their house made truffle potatoe chips. Nicely flavored, just perfect amount of saltiness with a great crisp. The star of the show was the oyster mushroom tacos. By far the best single bite or dish of food. The flavor profile is so robust, with different textures, it was a true delight. I highly recommend their black sesame bread pooding as well. The bread pooding was so gooey, and crispy and melted, it was the perfect balance of sweetness, and paired amazingly with the cold ice cream. Highly recommend if you are interested in a true fine dinning experience.

Food was tapas style We were party of 2 ate 4 dishes plus…read moredessert. Good Portions. Ambiance a bit loud but fun. The mac and cheese chicken was excellent & The Bread Pudding was the best to end the night! Highly Recommend... would definitely come again. Come early they fill up quickly and no reservations but worth the wait!

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 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!

Debajo had delicious tapas in a relaxing upscale environment…read more They are tucked away in nomad, down a set of nondescript stairs. But don't let the basement level dissuade you; they really turn their location into a strength. There's a covered "outdoor" section with lots of natural light, and the inside is spacious and modern, with a semi-open kitchen that makes it feel like you're in a place twice its size. The tapas we tried were great. Patatas bravas were crispy on the outside, with a fluffy inside, and maybe a touch too much salt. The hamachi crudo was excellent, with a unique coconut and mango sauce that gave it a touch of sweet to go with the zest. And the pulpo was great, the octopus was well prepared and the sauce was hearty without dominating the taste. The half chicken was the most memorable dish; our server recommended it, and it's clear why. It was unbelievably juicy and tender, with plenty of lemon flavor in every bite. Lots of meat, don't expect a small plate like the other menu items! All in all a good experience in a nice atmosphere, definitely staying on the list for tapas in the future.

Vibe/ambiance: casual vibey Service: attentive…read moreReservation: recommended Items ordered: Beef tartare 9/10 Scallop diy 9/10 Pork belly 6/10 Spicy fish stew 9/10

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.

A very unassuming cute cocktail bar. We got the pigtail and a stirred dirty martini and both were…read moremade perfect! The place is very cute and has a nice backyard that couldn't enjoy bc it was raining but we are already planning to go back soon. Nice and attentive bartenders.

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!

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!

Please make sure you have your card!!! They do not take tap to pay because they are saying people…read morebuy and they report as a fraudulent transaction. Perhaps they guy only said that to me. Regardless he said they prefer cash or a physical card. Got the avacado toast The French toast Side of fries The food was nothing too special as Gibbs expected. The bar tender who was a lady. She was very nice. They also have outdoor seating which is cool. My to go order took about 20 minutes which wasn't too long.

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

I am so glad, that I decided to dine at EZ Paella & Tapas. The restaurant is small, but do they…read morepresent AMAZING food, drinks, and dessert. As soon as I entered, I was greeted by the owner, Lorena. She was very cordial, attentive, gave magnificent recommendations, and added to the enjoyment of the meal. I started with a glass of Red Sangria and was blown away by the size. The glass was almost the size of the Bryant Park fountain, the Sangria was sweet and refreshing, and the fruit was abundant. I ordered two tapas: Croquetas de Jamon Serrano (Ham Croquettes) and the Albondigas (Meatballs). The croquettes were nicely presented, I enjoyed the sauces that adorned each croquette, they had a slightly crunchy outer layer, and the serving was four. The meatballs were amazing. Each ball was flavorful, the serving was EIGHT!, and the accompanying sauce was succulent and was enough to fill every piece of bread. For dessert, I had the EZ Flan. This Flan was LARGE enough to share, thick, and the sweet syrup at the bottom of the plate was delicious. The final item was a Cafe con Leche (Coffee with milk). EZ Paella skyrocketed to my #1 choice for tapas and cannot wait to return with friends, so they can echo my adoration of this eatery. P.S. - Please, do yourself a favor and read the history of EZ Paella, which is on the menu. They made it through COVID and have enjoyed consistent success, since.

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.

I made a reservation here about a week out. When we arrived the staff accommodated and added a seat…read moreto our group, and never rushed us through the meal. Everything's shareable, and the wine list is excellent. The Japanese tahini sweet potatoes were the table favorite, with the beef and pork entrees close behind. It's a spot that feels upscale without trying too hard.