i waddled out of traif. oy vey i did waddle, because i ate so much tasty, and rich food. here's what i really like about traif: the grape arbor the puckish server the owner-chef who is having a fantastic time creating the tastiest of dishes! when each little dish is created with such earnest enthusiasm, and so much emotion, this of course translates into good food. my favorites are still the sweetbreads. the sliders were excellent. if i were to quibble, i think a firmer bun would be in order. perhaps an arepa? my favorite desserts were the budin and the bacon doughnuts with coffee ice cream. my drinks were also fabulous. the lapsang souchong infused booze smokiness, combined with the cointreau was perfect and i loved the added touch of the myer's lemon slice. the vietnamese coffee was refreshing. best of all, mr. sin suerte enjoyed his father's day meal immensely! read more

The combination of the dishes were quite "unique"... but it's just not my thing... If you're willing to try something different , this is it!!! read more

After taking heed to Traif's trending on Yelp for an obscene amount of time, my investigative palate needed to understand why. Fellow Yelper Sandy C. was nice enough to score a 10pm reservation for 6 of us, some two weekends ago, and helped answer the call to experience an epic meal at Traif. Traif's interior is what you expect to find in areas of Brooklyn where many hipsters and yuppies can be found. That being, an ethos of Bohemian chic, augmented by low lighting, contemporary furniture and, interesting artwork that was most likely procured from the local community of visionary artists. As the lithe wait staff serve you by bringing you plate after plate of not-so-tiny portions of tapas dishes from another world, you begin to appreciate the concept of Traif's menu and comprehend the sentiments of the many reviewers effusively declaring it's 4 or 5-star worthiness. We were told that the menu changes often but the common, daily thread is Traif's construction of lighter fare to heavier dishes as you move along the very substantial list of options. A fellow yelper had warned me that many of the flavors here are bold and unapologetic; his experience was not as outstanding as others, and I recall him telling me that the flavors are not for a delicate palate. With this information in mind, I was not expecting much finesse, instead I assumed I would be having food that was more brazen, with the intent on completely assaulting my taste buds. But what I actually found was contrary to this. On the one hand, I do agree that there are a few dishes here that are heavy and laden with strong flavors. But the standouts for me, were spectacularly airy and delicious. Flavorful, yet delicate, these dishes were just brimming with modesty and skill that they totally, and impressively, surpassed my recollection of the heavier fare. Amongst the six of us, we shared about 13 dishes (not counting dessert), which enabled us to try a good chunk of the menu that night. My favorites were definitely on the top end of the menu with such dishes as the Carpaccio (menu did not specify the fish), which was cool and buttery, dressed in some sort of sweet but tangy yuzu-like sauce, this was heaven and pure love on one plate. I also enjoyed the broccoli rabe and the fresh mozzarella and beet salad. These were so refreshing and in stark contrast to some of the bolder dishes we had ordered such as the strawberry-glazed pork ribs, which for me resembled Chinese takeout. The glaze was a bit too thick and gelatinous, and even though there were bits of the crunchy pomegranate that were nice, I didn't get too much of the strawberry flavor which would have truly made it interesting. Someone had remarked that a few of the dishes seemed a bit like "Orange Chicken"-esque because of the heavy sauces. Unfortunately, I can't recall all the components of the many dishes we had, but everyone seemed to have really taken to the calamari, the hot pot, and steamers. We also had an order of the pig tails, which I didn't think I would like, but the one bite from my boyfriend's plate proved that the meat was crunchy and moist, not disappointing in the least. The wings were excellent as well. The presentation is beautiful and the portions are actually bigger than what is typical of tapas. (Sandy C. had her handy camera is tow to snap pictures of all of the food we ate. Hopefully her yummy photos can be found somewhere on one of her social network feeds.) Dessert was in the form of two orders of bacon doughnuts and a slice of keylime pie. Many may disagree with me, but I didn't think the bacon doughnuts were the best thing ever. I have been to other restaurants where their doughnuts were much more impressive and simply better sans the bacon. The keylime pie was quite nice but paled in comparison to Steve's keylime pies in Red Hook. As a whole however, this dinner at Traif had more wins than fails. It's probably best to come here with a large group so that you can order as many of the dishes as you fancy, all while defraying the costs. We split the $223.42 bill 6-ways, setting each of us back about $37/pp. A few of us even had some glasses of wine, meaning, indulgence at Traif may not break the bank. To end, if a restaurant is trending this much on Yelp, it is definitely worth a visit for a spin around it's carousel. read more

I saved this place for 400th Review! Since then I've been here twice and love it. Every person I've brought here says the same thing, "I gotta bring my family/friends here." That's when you know a place is great and worthy of sharing with others. So this place isn't a secret anymore and it's not so hard to get a table either. Service is awesome and plates are served visually stunning and appetizing. They also got a back yard garden now. It's very small and quaint, but relaxing to sit next to if you get a table near the back. Each time I go, my purpose is to try something new. But unintentionally I reordered a few items. I guess these are my favorites, so give em a try! 4 dishes for 2 people is quite filling, especially if you want to save room for dessert. They recommend sharing their plates because they are somewhat small for 1 person. It's a great concept, but keep in mind these servings are also not your typical Tapas size. Spicy big eye tuna tartare, tempura eggplant, kecap manis - I love how the mildly spicy (could be spicier IMO) sit on top of the puffy pillow like tempura eggplant. The drizzled reduced balsamic sauce just tops it off. Strawberry cinnamon glazed baby back ribs - A very unusual pairing of seasonings, but it really works! It's not overly sweet as I expected and the ribs are fall off the bone amazing. They thought of everything, even a little bowl with wet towels to wash your hands from the saucy mess. Seared scallops, creamed corn, sage-pistachio brown butter risotto -Maybe it's the risotto that makes this dish extra special. It's so good, I've attempted to recreate this dish at home. It's so good that my Fiance who isn't a fan of scallops named it his all time favorite dish at Traif. Every time we visit BK, I want to stop here. I try and make an excuse to go to WillyB. I even once considered riding a bike there all the way from Queens. That's how much I love this place! I'd make the trek just for the Bacon donuts...*does the Homer drool* mmm...do'nuts. read more

My meal at Traif was lifechanging. My (very very smart) boyfriend took me here for our one-year anniversary. He called ahead for a reservation, and mentioned on the phone that it was our special night. The host, manager, our waitress, and another random waitress all wished us "Happy anniversary" at different points in the night. The atmosphere inside is intimate and buzzing, with a sort of industrial exposed-brick-exposed-beam-exposed-kitchen vibe. It's fun to watch them cook while you wait for the restroom. The garden in back is really cute, but we sat inside. Our waitress was super enthusiastic, friendly, and generally perfect. She had extensive at-hand knowledge of the wine list, never missing a beat as we asked her about four or five wines. She described them in depth, and let us taste a few before deciding which glasses we would order. My boyfriend and I are a waiter's allergy nightmare, as I am allergic to all dairy and he is allergic to some legumes, as well as cooked fish (but raw is fine? don't ask. however if you are a yelp-ophile allergist reading this and have any idea what is going on please tell us because it's the mystery of the century). Our server reviewed everything on the menu with the chef for us, finding out which allergens were present in what, and came back and circled all of the dishes we could both eat. It was very kind of her, and really indicates the Traif staff's willingness to go above and beyond. For wine, we ordered a glass of the rose and a glass of the German Gysler. They were both refreshing and crisp, good accompaniments to the rich food. We ordered the following dishes (and these 5 were exactly enough for the two of us sharing). -Arugula and berry salad (blackberries, raspberries, pomegranates soaked in some kind of wine) with possibly pomegranate vinaigrette? Very refreshing salad. -Mixed green salad with port cherries, almonds, bacon, and truffle vinaigrette. this was REALLY truffly. In an excellent way. -Spicy, bigeye tuna, tempura japanese eggplant, kecap manis. Served as four small discs of tempura eggplant each topped with a heap of chopped raw tuna and delightful spices/sauce/something. I think the kecap manis was a sort of molasses. This dish was a great transition into the heavier fare. -FAVORITE: Seared foie, fingerlings, ham chips, sunny egg, maple, hot sauce. LISTEN TO ME: This dish is life-changing. And I don't even like liver normally! You will actually never be the same after you try this. You will now put maple syrup and hot sauce on EVERYTHING YOU EAT. You will crave seared foie gras at all times. I can't describe the succulent amazing combination of seared fatty liver, sweet maple, crunchy ham, tangy hot sauce, you'll just have to come here and order it yourself. -Strawberry-cinnamon glazed baby back pork ribs. Comes with four meaty ribs, and this sauce is absolutely phenomenal. The very unusual combination works so perfectly. They also started us with complimentary watermelon gazpacho, and I don't even like gazpacho normally but I was in love with it here. They also brought out chunks of watermelon with pomegranate molasses and lime zest as a complimentary dessert at the end. Traif, thank you for making our anniversary dinner so special. Everyone on Yelp: do yourself a favor and eat at Traif as soon as humanly possible. read more

I love love love Traif and their food. The service is also top notch. We ordered about 8 dishes to share amongst 4 of us and it was perfection. Their cocktails and wine selection is super too. However the thing that needs work ASAP is the noise level and the amount of people they allow for reservations. They had a few large parties and they were yelling so loud that we literally got a headache from them shouting like crazy. They need to install some foam on their ceiling or something to bring down the noise level bouncing all around.... its also a small space with low ceilings with no air circulation and it just gets overwhelming. I will come back for the amazing food but hope it wont be as insane as it was last night. read more

after the Yelp Event last night at BK Winery, about 20 of us Yelpers relocated to Traif. unfortunately, i was too full from dinner before the party, so I didn't try any of the main dishes. however, i did try the bacon doughnuts, which were really good! funny, cause i'm usually not a fan of doughnuts OR bacon.. but together, it made an interestingly yummy combo. i also ordered a drink, forgot what it was called, but i LOVED it. it was some combination of whiskey, green tea, mint leaves... (if i remember correctly). another funny one, cause i don't like whiskey, but i am finding myself to start liking whiskey cocktails. so i gotta give Traif a thumbs up for having me try three things i dont generally like, but giving it to me in a version that i loved. and of course, it was great hanging out with fellow Yelpers! read more

Holy mother of pork, the food here is fucking phenomenal. Thank pork that everything is in small-plates format (but even for small-plates they give you a decent sized poriton) because the prices were reasonable enough to order almost the entire menu. strawberry cinnamon glazed baby back ribs- the glaze was terrific, cooked PERFECTLY. seared scallops over creamy leeks and cherry tomatoes- PERFECTION. and i generally LOATHE scallops. but i loved deez. brussels sprouts with puffed rice- a tasty, PERFECTLY refreshing option amongst our manly meat buffet. foie gras with fingerlings, A FRIED EGG, bacon and maple- rich and PERFECT. deemed breakfast for spoiled brats. pork cheeks with figs over polenta- hearty, substantial and comforting. not to mention the flavors that danced gracefully and PERFECTLY on my tongue! sweet spicy chili calamari- This dish found that PERFECT sweet-spicy-sour-savory-crispy-tender balance everyone wants deep, deep inside. bone marrow w/ steak tartare- natures most naturally PERFECT food, enhanced by some PERFECT accompaniments. bacon donuts- come on. DESSERT PERFECTION. key lime pie- the most PERFECT, tangy and sweet key lime pie with a buttery (extra buttery) crust. PLUS, the chef's mom makes it! I find this to be cute. P.S. Thanks for not putting sugar in the whipped cream. Most places don't know any better and poison me with sugar-overload. panna cotta- A PERFECT option for those who don't want a sweet dessert. nutella mousse- layers of PERFECTLY light nutella mousse and fresh berries topped with whipped cream and homemade chocolate bark. LET US NOT FORGET: the staff. guys on the line are masters at working in an open kitchen, with a full house. total sports... even as we harassed them in their awesome mooninite hats. and heather, the hostess, was a complete doll. loved her! pork is god. traif is perfect. can't wait to come back! read more

Totally overhyped! Unless you like candy-sweet drinks, you will be very disappointed in Traif's cocktails. We were hoping the food would makeup for our starting drinks, but the dishes continued to disappoint. Foie gras was not seared evenly, the ribs were (again) candy-sweet. The best dish was the fried oysters/green tomatoes, but def. not returning for just that dish. read more

Eating at Traif was a delicious experience! Love the fact that each dish is for share, so you can try more new things. Our waiter Adam was really great and thoughtful, he made our time in Traif even more exiting. I especially enjoyed their shrimps, the balance of flavors, spicy and sweet taste was perfect, wouldn't change anything in that dish. Tuna tartare was literally melting in your mouth. The presentation of those dishes was so good, that I thoroughly forgot to make pictures, we were just digging in immediately. Really like the ambience of this place, with kitchen that you can take a peek. We will definitely come back! read more

It pains me to write this review, but the experience stuck so sourly (or shall I say, the taste of the food) that I must share. I used to enjoy Traif at it's very beginning, for both brunch and late night dinners, and continued to go for years, even sending all of my out of town friends there and recommending them to anyone looking for a nice, affordable, culinary experience in BK. I moved away and hadn't been to the place in over a year. Took some friends the other night, raving about the food and ambiance all the while to get there and leave sordidly unsatisfied and disappointed. First of all, we called in an hour before to get a res for four of us, to which the hostess said it wouldn't be a problem and that she would make something work, to when we arrived, keeping us waiting in the front area, whilst making us feel like we were a huge hindrance. Mind you, I work in the service industry on the weekends and we all know that the hostess is the first and last person you see, the beginning and ending of a dining experience. Well, lets just say again, the taste was sour after insisting that we actually didn't want to go down the street to their sister restaurant (if we did want Mexican food, we would have stayed in Bushwick where I can find the best) and were finally seated. Might I add that the restaurant had a slew of empty tables. We ordered at least 15 plates, none of which were memorable, sadly. The complimentary shots of soup that they are known to give are sometimes some of the most tasteful bits of the experience in between courses. This time, it was an overly cinnamon seasoned soup of sorts. The short ribs were dry and uneventful with bits of random strawberry slewn on the side of the plate. The tuna tartar was overly doused in mayonnaise (one of my fav condiments) that really, it could have been anything but tuna. Bacon wrapped dates were dry and shriveled, no taste of bleu cheese to be tasted. Pork belly was okay but again, used to be one of my fav dishes and was not at it's usual. There was one breaded dish of a unknown protein with a lentil like paste beneath it that tasted and smelled off. The prawns and rabe were enjoyable. Bacon doughnuts were not a balanced flavor of salt and sweet as they should be. The two bottles of pricey wine were the best part of the meal. Service was friendly but contrived and cheesy to the point of cringe and food took a very long time. Left hungry and embarrassed for having raved so passionately about the food beforehand. Will not be going back to Traif nor recommending it to anyone, ever again. There are many other restaurants in the area doing the same thing with much better ambiance and quality, affordable food. I think the hype got the best of the quality of the food, unfortunately. Another one bites the dust (dollar). Adieu Traif read more

I rarely dish out five stars, but the meal I had at Traif was outstanding and I can't wait to go back. The service was fantastic. Our waitress couldn't be more friendly and inviting and had some helpful suggestions with the menu. She recommended just the right amount of food for two people. The atmosphere was also very creative and intimate. We started with the green salad, which had just the right amount of crunchy bacon and the vinaigrette was light and fitting. Then... the cinnamon/strawberry ribs - divine. Fell right off the bone and the glaze was delicious. The scallops were huge and cooked perfectly over a sweet corn risotto. The spaetzle was good as well, though not as memorable as some of the other dishes. Lastly... the duck confit over israeli cous cous. I was so full at this point, but couldn't help myself. It was one of the best duck dishes I've ever had, and a generous portion for sharing as well. Go to Traif (but make a reservation). There is something on the menu for everyone and it's a unique family style dining experience, perfect for a small group. I need to try the bacon donuts next time... read more

Try their chef testing menu. It's $50/person. I was a bit worry that they will turn out bad cause they don't have a set menu for that so you will never know what you'll get, but the waiter said we can request a thing or two. After went through the menu, we decided to go with the chef testing menu and we requested to have their foie gras and no pasta. Below the list what we tried and comments (not in order they arrived): 1. soup on the house, you will get it even though you don't order the testing menu ** I think it was ok 2. salad with apricot and bacon, I think this is the first item on their menu ** LOVE IT 3. tuna tartar with eggplant ** I hate eggplant and this is the first time I can say I love eggplant. Good job chef! 4. scallops ** just perfect 5. baby back ribs ** the sauce was too sweet for me, it's a no no 6. sweet bread ** amazing 7. pork belly ** eeeh it was ok it has blue cheese ~ I don't like blue cheese 8. foie gras with sunny side up egg ** interesting mix, not my favorite but it was good 9. shrimp ** so flavorful so yummy 10. sliders short rib ** ahhhh they just melt in your mouth. delicious! 11. penne cotta ** too sour and too milky for me 12. bacon donut with coffee ice cream and more bacon ** THIS IS THE BOMB! I can't get enough of it 13. strawberry ** very nice touch to close up the whole experience I didn't take any picture cause we were too busy eating and drinking. If you could get a table in the back I think is better more quite. The only thing I wish they could do better was the baby back ribs. I suggested them to add chili seeds or something spicy to bring the flavor and bring a kick to it. Otherwise it was waaaaay to sweet. read more

I bookmarked this place a while ago. Never had the chance to try till my friend wanted bday dinner ideas. Listen up guys. They have a 2 hour limit for your party. Also, they make you do pre-fixe. Their 2 hour limit is no joke. About a third of my party was missing but they were serving out the food anyhow. The pre-fixe consists of the following for $55/pp (note that it is all sharing tapas style): - Hampshire pork belly - no complaints - although one of these dishes came out with hardly any pork belly fat (lacking some consistency here!) - Strawberry-cinnamon glazed baby back ribs - very interesting flavor; if you like strawberries, you will definitely like these ribs - BBQ, braised short rib sliders - the smoked paprika aioli definitely saved this - Scallops with risotto - this was yum; i remember licking the dish off - Deep fried asparagus with pistachios - this was normal - Potato chips w/ burrata cheese - this was delicious; especially the salty meat bits/sauce they put on top of the cheese - very fancy cheese meat dip - Seared foie gras with potatoes, bacon and sunny side egg - not a huge fan of foie gras so not loving this - if you are not a huge fan, do pair it up with the runny yolk, bacon and potatoes for a better texture - Key lime pie - solid dessert, not too sweet - Bacon doughnuts w/ coffee ice cream - calories worth it; coffee ice cream awesome- pair them together and you get yourself a lovely savory sweet dish - Fatty tuna with risotto - tuna was amazing; risotto was as well - slurpped all this up - Some brown sauced finger size pasta - this was good, sucks that I forgot the name - I couldn't find anything similar on the menu Will be back to try their other menu items (not with a large party). I don't want to be restricted to dining for only 2 hours. read more

best small plates joint ive been to... we didnt know how "small" the small plates were going to be, so we ordered 3 each among 3 people.. which was way more than enough... two would have been suffice.. plus dessert... heres what we ordered: - pork belly - yummy bursts of flavor.. crispy.. but not the usual melty buttery pork belly goodness i was expecting - steak tartar and bone marrow... delish and buttery.. - squid in ink - by far my favorite.. so effing good.. cant stop thinking about it.. the one i just had at tia pol does not even come close... - hamachi carpaccio - good! - tuna tartar on eggplant - loved it.. best way to serve it! - mozz with strawberry and pomegrante - surprisingly delicious!! - pork cheeks - moist n meaty! - sweatbreads - honestly couldnt enjoy this.. we were way overstuffed by the time it came out, but came with these yummy fried lemon slices - cant recall the last one... mustve been one if the specials.. unfortunately.. sadly.. regrettingly.. we were so overstuffed that we did not get to try the rockstar bacon donuts.. we did watch other people eat them.. they were smiiling and nodding and digging into their plates like they have never been fed before... i plan on making a repeat trip just for the bacon donuts alone... the best place for small plates for quality.. flavor.. the amount of food.. and the menu variety (one of my friends gave up meat for lent, but still left stuffed!).. cant wait for my next visit..! read more

Every time I come here I leave completely satisfied. Amazing food and concept! Service matches the food. If you were wondering if it's worth a shot, stop and just go there you won't regret. One of the best restaurants in Williamsburg and my favorite there. read more

This place is a hit or miss. I had friends who loved it and others who were super confused as to why there's so much hype around this place. To be honest I can see why. I had the soft shell crab for bunch. Wasn't impressed. The bf had the smoked salmon salad and it was banginnnn. So basically I think it's all coming down to what you get. read more

Just came back from dinner here, and wanted to share with the world how much I enjoyed my meal there! Showed up with husband around 9:00pm, no tables available until 10:30 (what!) but we managed to get two chairs at the bar. Do try their Rude Little Pig cocktail: it's delish! We also had a Scottish beer that was beautifully layered with caramel flavor. We had the beet salad with mozzarella and pomegranate seeds; crispy-glazed confit chicken wings with five-spice/hoisin/sriracha glaze, braised short rib sliders, and seared scallops with apples and cinnamon. O.m.g. wow. Food was so good. Who ever knew that pomegranate seeds could complement beets so beautifully? The only semi-negative comment I have would be that the wings had no sriracha flavor at all - but maybe that's because five-spice drowned it out? Anyway, it was still delicious. But o.m.g again, the braised short rib sliders were so damn succulent and lovely, and again, who ever knew that apples and cinnamon could taste so good with seared scallops? It was definitely like having apple pie with scallops, but it worked, oh my lord did it work! And, despite what other reviewers may say, we found that the portions were pretty ample - even the wings were more than enough for us. And trust me, we like to eat, and eat well. I much prefer to pay for a meal like this where you're able to try a variety of items, rather than spend 2/3 of the bill on one entree. We skipped dessert because we were full, but did receive a little genius piece of pineapple topped with lime zest and some caramel - lovely!! And who doesn't love a little free food :-) I can't wait to go back. read more

Saturday, July 10, 1:30pm. I meet my friend for brunch. He texts me to say, "I'm here, waiting for you in the backyard! We have the place to ourselves!" Wait, what? We're somehow escaping the brunch crowd??? I wasn't even in the vicinity of Traif, and I already loved it. I arrive at the restaurant with a simple outdoor decor. It's right under the BQE, which initially threw me off. But once you walk in, you completely forget where you are. My friend was already waiting at a table in the patio, which is covered by real grapevines. We ordered drinks from the brunch menu. I had the Moroccan Whiskey; he had the Lavender Mimosa. Both were equally delicious and quite strong. I also had a side of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice and a Vietnamese coffee. For our meals, I ordered the Costanza, which is scrambled eggs with lobster and mascarpone, and my friend ordered the Egg-In-A-Nest, a grilled cheese with brie and portabello mushroom- all the ingredients super fresh and super tasty. Okay, for a restaurant named after a Hebrew word meaning "not kosher," "dirty," or "vile," this place is anything but! It undoubtedly beats any brunch I've ever had in Manhattan. There wasn't much conversation during the meal, which is a tell-all sign that the food is good. The flavors were absolutely savory, mouth-watering, and leaving you wanting more. And more we got! We topped off the meal with bacon doughtnuts served with a side of coffee ice cream... ...Seriously, the end (well, it's the end after you sit down on the rocking bench in the back garden surrounded by bamboo and flowers to digest the heavenly meal you just had). read more

There's a REASON Traif has over 1500 reviews and 4.5 stars. It's. Really. That. Good. My go-to menu items are the strawberry cinnamon glazed ribs (MUST), salt and pepper shrimp (another must), and the short rib sliders. And the bacon doughnuts. Even their salads (which normally, I'm not excited by) are delicious. Just do yourself a favor and go to this place. You won't be disappointed. read more

I love Traif. The concept makes me giggle, and the execution is flawless. The strawberry ribs taste like the meat version of French toast. The creamed corn which accompanied the perfectly seared scallops almost made me forget my name. The sweetbreads (served with asparagus, maitake mushrooms, and artichokes) were goddamn magical, like fried chicken flavored marshmallows. It was undoubtedly the best meal I've eaten in months. Jason Marcus is a genius. read more

Completely disappointed in our 130$ meal. First upon arriving 10 minutes early for my reservation I was told that I had to wait in the entryway. I said I'd like to get a drink at the bar and was told the bar seating is reserved (there were 4 empty stools as well as empty tables) so I said I'd stand, to which she said no I can't do that but that I could go out in the pouring rain again to their "sister restaurant" for my drink. um ok? Really odd. But my date arrived we were sat and here is where things really got shitty. I have never felt so RUSHED in all my dining experiences. From the moment we sat our server was rushing us, throwing menus down and coming back literally 30 seconds later to take a drink order...um you just threw down an extensive cocktail menu and a menu with a bunch of wine on it, can we have maybe a minute to decide. Same thing with the food ordering. ABRUPT AND RUSHED. (BTW the place was not busy, the 6 top by us remained empty the entire time we were there, and when I went to the bathroom I noticed there were also 2 empty 2 tops which really irked me since we were being so rushed). Now to the food: we were told to order 5 dishes (it's shared plates) so that's what we did. Beet salad: underdressed if it were dressed at all, except for the few beets it was flavorless Salt and Pepper Shrimp: awful, my one shrimp wasn't even deveined. And I was expecting salt and pepper style and it was more sweet and sour. no crunch , the breading was all mushy. short rib sliders with sweet potato frys: this was the best thing we ordered which isn't saying much, tasty but nothing to write home about. Burrata: ridiculously small portion for the price, we weren't keen on the sauce either, again not much flavor. Gnocci: this maybe disappointed me the most, just very bland, obviously rolled out then cut - not how they should be prepared but I guess they must be rushed in the kitchen too. Donut: give me a break. 4 little crispy cream chunks that didn't even add up to a whole donut sprinkled with bacos and a spoonful of coffee ice cream. a joke. Now as I said we were rushed all the way through the meal. waiter rushing our ordering, bussers trying to take plates away we were obviously still eating from. And then the gnocci came out so late that we had even forgot we ordered it, if you are going to rush customers then at least have the food come out in good time. And as a final note we were starving after the meal and so we literally went to another restaurant to get a burger after. totally ridiculous. read more

traif (noun) \ TRAF \ 1) a needlessly long monologue about how a menu works which actually requires no explanation (Example: "Why did she give us such a traif? I'm not an idiot, I can select food for myself.") (verb) \ TRAF \ 2) to be patronized when not ordering as much food as the waitress would like you to order (Example: "Oh my god. Were we just traifed because we ordered 9 plates instead of 12? Girl's gonna get her 20% regardless. I guess those few dollars mean a lot to her.") 3) to ask the same exact question, I mean *verbatim*, of your customers four times regardless of the stage of the meal (Example: "She kept traifing, 'How is everything so far?' but it was pretty clear she couldn't care less since we'd disappointed her with our sensible appetites (see #2).' " 4) to hope that the service was an isolated incident and not a consistently self-righteous, pushy, and gluttonous attitude that the management of a restaurant condones, or worse, encourages because one would maybe like to return there one day because the food was, by and large, very tasty (Example: "I'm traifful that better experiences await me there. Because damn, those scallops...") read more

It's good. Would I come here again? Probably not because I think I tried their prized possession dishes and the rest was not as entertaining. Reservation when the restaurant opened, seated immediately. There were about four hungry couples who waited without reservations when the place opened and were also seated quickly at the bar (hint for anyone who wasn't able to score a reservation). Ambiance was casual. Come here in stilettos if you want to look awkward. Things I loved: * Braised short rib sliders with sweet potato fries (delicious meaty goodness soaked in more meaty sauce... extremely satisfying) * Scallops + corn risotto (scallops were cooked perfectly and served in a bed of risotto... also extremely satisfying) * Bacon doughnuts were doughnuts sprinkled on top and filled with little bacon bits. I enjoyed this but for whoever though it was a nice thick slab of bacon, you will be sorely disappointed. Things I did not love: * Kale salad (it was literally a bunch of kale, with olive oil, few scattered pomegranate seeds for good measure? This is the kind of salad that I can make, and this is the reason why I hate eating salad at home because I feel like I'm eating mouthfuls of greens and oil.) * Pork belly with... raspberries?? Oh my goodness I loved the pork belly with my whole heart it was fall of the bone great and soft and yummy delicious wowowowow BUT WAITAMINUTE WHAT ARE RASPBERRIES DOING IN HERE? This isn't Chopped, we don't need raspberries on top of delicious pork, oh gosh, take it out, please, please please. Things that are meh: * Quail and biscuits: The quail was cooked but for so little meat it did not make sense to fry it. It seemed more delicious in theory. The biscuit was also a little dry. It was a little bit more effort to get out here than locals, since we live in Manhattan. I don't think I will come here again just due to transportation and we tried the 'popular' items on the menu. I can understand why it's popular if you live nearby or have a car. I am also not sure if it's $$, more like $$$, just a forewarning. read more

I really hate doing this. In fact, I don't think I have ever done this. I hated Traif. I am in literal shock about the 4.5 stars. Are people being followers or do they really feel this place lives up the hype?? Service-- pretentious, flighty, midwest transplant hipster girls with those stupid plastic glasses and hipster bun, mom jeans and sweaters. I'm not judging but this stereotype never fails...they suck. My server told me nothing about the dining style just assumed I was aware. I was. Good for her. After she took our order she never plated us...so I'm sitting with my first dish in front of me and no plates and silverware. When I asked another server for them she rolled her eyes and got them. COOL. Also, the genius forgot to put our last order in and came up to us and asked us if we had received the pasta, we said no, she said it would be a while. That's it. Actually, she said: Ok, it's going to be a while, do you want more drinks?" NO, WE DON'T. How about you offer us a round because you're an idiot? I HATE that service like this assumes they will be receiving 20% tip just for taking an order. I wish I could have given the tip in cash to the busser who was the only positive part of the service. Food-- Flavorless and disappointing. Friends of mine who raved about the restaurant told me we must have went on an off day. That may be true but WOW, it was awful. I think at the price point for small portions, they aren't allowed to have an "off day" I do have to say it was a monday or tuesday night but in my opinion that gives all the more reason for the food to be more quality and seasoned. I don't even have the patience to list the items we ordered and describe the bland nonsense I ate. I don't get. & ,again, for the record I don't like bashing a business but wow. Everyone should just do themselves a favor....skip this place and head to Do or Dine. read more

Can't even tell you how perfect this place was from decor to food. I would move to Brooklyn just to be close to Traif. For starters, what a cocktail menu. I had the Rude Little Pig. That Little Pig was far from rude, quite the contrary, quite delicious!! 5 stars for the drinks alone. My boyfriend got the Dark Horse beer and mumbled something about nice menu choice of beers. I didn't really hear him, I was too busy talking about which would be my next drink. It really is a nice drink menu. Okay, on to the food. I had the baby back ribs. They were strawberry glazed. I've never had this, and OMG would never want it any other way now! My boyfriend had the scallops and he said that they were amazing! Don't miss the bacon donuts. It's a life changing experience. So in review, sometimes when a friend makes a suggestion on a restaurant and says it's worth the ride, listen to them! Thanks Audra you were right. Come here try the cocktails, the food and the donuts, it is worth the ride ! Thank you Traif! read more

I thought the apple slices that went with the fondue were too thin. That was literally the only thing that I'd have changed about my meal. Everything else was amazing. A great meal ignites the senses and feels inspirational. Traif is very high on my list places to recommend when they simply want a fantastic meal. It reminded me why I go out to restaurants in the first place. The creativity, the execution... everything. read more

Traif is one of those places that my wife had wanted to go to for a long time, but if you don't plan it far ahead, it's going to be tough sledding getting a seat - it ain't that big of a place. Even though we showed up right on time, we ended up taking a seat at the bar until our table was free, and then we shimmied our way over to our little spot. With the kitchen right behind the bar, you can hear the sizzle of the food over the chattering, and the colorful artwork on the walls really makes you feel like you've stepped into a bit of a different world. Our waitress was fantastic - took our order fast, advised us to dial back a little on the number of plates, and gifted us bacon donuts for free (not sure what we did to deserve it!). The cocktails here are excellent as well, and the beer selection is decent too - although for a place of culinary imagination such as Traif, it could have been more interesting. That was perhaps the only downside, though - everything else was absolutely divine. We started off with a zucchini soup as our amuse bouche - a warm, clean start to the meal that helps to set the stage for the art to be displayed on your palate. Of our four dishes, the foie gras was the first to arrive. The terrine isn't as rich as other spots I have been, but it had more nuanced flavors, and the copious amounts of fruit - blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries - made it a sweet rendition of a classic European dish. What was innovative that I really enjoyed was that slices of lightly toasted corn bread were used instead of your typical brioche, giving the dish a bit more heaviness but also a breath of summer as well. Next up were the strawberry and cinnamon-glazed spare ribs...wow. I've never had ribs slathered in anything fruity, but this really hit the spot. The savory and sweet combo works perfectly here, and we ate these up extremely quickly. We then took a bit of a detour and had the clams, which were served in a Southeast Asian-inspired manner, with slices of jalapenos, cilantro, and basil making it seem like you just needed some noodles to have a bowl of pho. The clams themselves were good - especially with the spiced broth - but the bread chips were a bit extraneous, and overall, I would say this was probably the weakest dish. We then came to the duck, served in a rich au jus but also with strawberries and some strawberry sauce. The duck was excellent - cooked just the right amount - on its own, but I really enjoyed the bold infusion of fruit into the dish. We capped it off, as mentioned, with the free donuts - and what a treat that was. The donuts were great, but the slightly burnt bacon bits on the outside added a wonderful contrast that I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did. Traif really excels in making opposites work as complementary figures on the plate. Pairing the sweet with savory in nearly every dish made it a truly unique experience, and it's a testament to the fact that the one dish that was more straightforward was the one that was the least memorable and enjoyable from a flavor perspective. It's hard to classify what kind of cuisine Traif falls under, but you can definitely classify it as delicious - and definitely well deserving of its Michelin star. read more

walked in (waited for 30 minutes in a bar near by), place is packed! i had to try... i was surprised how good this place is! and more from their tiny kitchen. the dishes were great.. with nice wine selection. i will be back! read more

I was pretty disappointed in what turned out to be a mediocre meal after reading all the hype. Granted I dined during their rush, but even considering that. I ordered 6 dishes - none of which were truly excellent. Word I unfortunately have to use to describe my dishes are: oversalted, overcooked, and mushy. Nothing was overtly bad, but I wasn't impressed at all either. Service was decent, but I was never asked how anything was. I'm not the kind of guy to send food back for no reason, but a few dishes were disappointing enough that I would have requested replacements. My dishes: Asparagus: B Tuna Tartar: B S&P Shrimp: C Buffalo Frog Legs: C+ Pink Prawns: C- Ribs: B I was really hoping for a spectacular meal but everything lacked execution. Doubt I'll go back unless someone I'm with really wants to try. It was very reasonably priced at $90 with a cocktail though. read more

Hands down one of the best restaurants we have experienced during our visit to NYC. We sat at the bar and ordered the Chef's Tasting Menu...Keshia our server was outstanding. She guided us to order this amazing course dinner and we were so grateful for her recommendation!! Traif nailed every course... The scallops, sliders, cinnamon glazed ribs, gnocchi, to-die-for desserts ... we are still blown away from our dinner experience. The Chef and his team are incredibly talented and the service from Keisha and her team was outstanding. We will never forget our perfect dinner at Traif. We wouldn't be surprised if we don't see their Chef on Top Chef or somewhere on the Food Network. It was that good!!! read more

Took 2 hours to get 3 dishes. No apologies from staff. The food that did manage to come out was good though. Go here when you already ate and have time to kill. read more

i suspected that i would love this place when i walked in the door - depeche mode playing, mixed crowd (not too hipstery, not too fratty, couples, a big group celebrating a birthday, etc), relaxed ambiance. one sip of my cocktail confirmed - pure happiness! i'm not sure anything could replace the red bell pepper lemonade of yore (Tailor) but the burning bush has come close. and, they have xingu black beer from brazil! small plates: marrow (must) butterfish carpaccio (flavors didn't hold up) larger plates; gemelli blue crab pasta (must; pasta overcooked but it was still delicious) sweetbreads (loved the sides/sauce, would try something new next time). dessert: bacon donuts (i was skeptical but they were tasty, small fluffy glazed donuts w/ bits of candied bacon on top - coffee ice cream was a lovely counterpoint) i'd come back in a heartbeat, and would definitely consider having a group! -- does not take amex. at 9 o'clock on a thursday, the wait for 2 was ~30 minutes. not bad. and dram shop is just down the street to grab a drink/wait if the bar is full. read more

I personally would like to rent space out in this restaurant. I would like to be served breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food is that GOOD. I plan to go back until I've eaten every last damn item on the menu. Shoots I hate key lime pie and Traif has turned me into a believer more like an addict. I mean panna cotta is my favorite dessert it would have been the last meal I would ask for if I were to ever be in that position but damn the key lime pie makes you want to holler. I swear somebody's grandma is behind the conspiracy. Ok let me move on to the other small plates the pork belly, prawns that i ate like i was at home, fingers dirty and all ... who needs a knife & fork i am not trying to impress anyone. The short ribs sliders, I was rendered speechless it made me do the happy dance in my seat. The sweet potato fries to die for. Like seriously, this chef is a genius. Dude, I am looking for you on the Next Iron Chef! read more

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Great meal! My friends took me here for my birthday. We had a party of 8 and they said for large parties they would have to do the chefs tasting menu which was $45/person. About 10 dishes or so and they were savory and delicious. They were able to accommodate for the pescatarian of the group. The pacing of the dishes was just right without long pauses. The only issue that I later found out about was that they refused to serve out the small cake that my friends got for me - not terrible but just to let you know. Our server was awesome. She was so excited that this was my first time at Traif. Looking forward to coming back next time to try some of the other meats on the menu. read more

First time here. First time trying American tapas. 5 out of 5. Food is great. Service is great. Ambience is great. I would definitely come here again. I recommend the chefs special. It's $50 and the assortment is great. For our appetizer: Pea soup, Grape salad. For our entree: Pasta pesto, Tuna tartare, Bread w/ butter & Bacon marmalade, Pulled Pork sliders, Spicy sausage w/ cheese, mussels, baby back ribs, soft crab, pork belly. And for dessert: key lime pie, caramel mousse. Bacon doughnuts and Pineapple pomegranate ON THE HOUSE. Everything was really good. I'm not gonna get into details because everyone has a certain palette - I couldn't complain about anything. Like most reviews, there's seems to be a resounding, 'yes.' Overall, a great spot in all facets of what a restaurant should be. read more

Came here on a whim on a tuesday and the place was packed (always a good sign) The hostess told us the bar down the block at Xixa (sister restaurant) had a good election of drinks and that they would call us when a table was ready... about 30ish minutes later called and seated (awesome) So i am totally a fan of small plates to share and trait does this perfectly! The short ribs w strawberries, try them.. to the desserts everything was delicious! The service was great very attentive... I would recommend this place for a date night... Deff going back to try the tasting menu! read more

I had really high expectations after reading all the glowing reviews on Yelp, but sadly, I have to say that once again, Yelp has led me astray. The food is good, but not mind-blowingly good like you would expect from a place with 4.5 stars. My companion and I had the lamb chops (meh), hampshire pork belly which was pretty good but it's reaaaaally hard to mess up pork belly, chicken liver (so-so), and baked muenster cheese (our favorite of the bunch). I would come here again if I'm in the area and am with friends who've never been, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. read more

Ummmmm I'm not sure what just happened... but I think I just woke up from a dream of food. My fiancé and I had the chefs tasting and it was beyond spectacular. 11 dishes (some of which were very large), of the most flavorful things I think I may have ever had. Worth every penny. The drinks were great too! We sat at the bar and the service was pretty standard. The food made up for it x10. Don't miss this place (looks abandoned from the outside). read more

One of the best meals in 2011. The tempura eggplant topped with spicy tuna appetizer and drizzled balsamic was insanely delicious as was the duck confit, the best I've ever had. As other reviewers have noted, get the pillowy soft and oh so delicious donuts. In terms of portion size, I couldn't tell they were "small plates" since I think of the portion size at Casa Mono and these were noticeably larger. The value really cannot be beat. I can't watt to go back! read more