NazmusAshrafi/MAMS_ACSA_SETFITABSA huggingface dataset:
It's got above-average diner and italian fare, and it's right near the subway.
The small bar is always packed with people, and you have to constantly contend with waiters asking you to move as they navigate through the crowd to make it to their tables.
After making reservations almost a month in advance, I was very disappointed to be seated in a secluded area for dinner next to the sushi bar and KITCHEN!!!!!!!
I mean no disrespect to the owner, just constructive criticism - improve the decor and dine-in service, but DON'T change the portions or the recipes.
Recommended to those who want to try a different setting for a diner.
Although the waitress had clearly our reservation on her book, she told us somebody arrived one minute ago and being first to arrive, he could have our table.
He did do the service part well enough -- brought the food, etc.
it is too bad because the food, ambiance, and drinks were great but they need serious help on the service.
Hey - What better excuse to sit at the bar and try another one of their fantastic drinks.
Come in the evening, sip a glass of wine, or two, and enjoy the great live jazz along with your dinner.
Hunan Delight has one page in their menu full of Vegetarian dishes.
Starting off with an excellent carafe of Cotes du rhone suggested by the waiter, we soon ordered a few appetizers like the steak tartare, the escargot and the goat cheese tart.
Although there were many open tables, the manager insisted my party wait at the bar for over one hour.
it would be better to place the bar closer to the front of the restaurant and away from the tables.
We tried the Tasting menu', and the manager offered to select the items to be served after taking inputs from us ( Choice of meat, allergies etc.
After they were done poking and prodding our food, the waiter took it right from their table and tried to give it to us.
I have worked in the restaurant industry for 5 years, and so am understanding of things out of my server's control, and I have never experienced such poor service!
Don't go for the decor or the location, go for the food!
The hostess failed to inform us of that the restuarnt was hosting a private company party when we made the reservation.
We waited forever for our orders, our drinks came out AFTER our food, we never got refills on water, we had to ask like three times for extra dressing, and our waiter was rude.
We asked the chef if it was possible to have two different tasting menus, to which he was quick and eager to comply.
The service was very rushed and as we were finishing our drinks and paying our bill, the owner asked us to leave so he could seat other people at our table.
Our waiter was great and we even got drinks and some food courtesy of the cheff- maybe because it wasn't so busy when we went.
The manager very politely told the drunk man that he could leave and then gave everyone on the resturaunt a free glass of port for having to witness it.
Oh, you should have seen the look on the waiter's face when we told him we didn't want any coffee after the meal.
All the dishes that we had at our table were consistently good, although not great (nor poor, either).
Delivery portions are bigger and 2 can easily share 1 entree.
No specials and no crab limited the menu choices, and the toast for my (very average) foie gras arrived 5 minutes after the rest of the food, and was cold and burnt.
If I went back, I'd have dinner in the bar--better service and even better atmosphere.
We felt the waiter and captain rushed us through our meal.
The worst occasion, and the final straw for me was when myself and four friends were told that we could have a table if we moved away from our stools at the bar.
Servers are layed back, but food arrives rapidly.
Wine has had C-Tails at the bar(SUPRISE!!!)
I went there for lunch a couple of times but whenever I went there (even though we pinpointed our order on menu), waitress messed up our order and they never said sorry.
Xunta's tapas dishes were great though a little pricey for small plates.
Their Billy-Cheese steak sandwich is very good, too, but last I was there it wasn't on the menu, at least not for dinner anyway.
We had the tasting menu -- which was not a meal!!!
We had a very nice and entertaining waitress who was very much on top of our table.
Portion was just a bit small compare with other restaurant but the price was lower than usualy as well (7.
We actually gave 10% tip (which we have never done despite mediocre food and service), because we felt totally ripped off.
We sat soaked in red wine for 20 minutes eating our meals w/o the wine b/c the server saw us like that but did nothing until we stopped him.
I've eaten at this Zen Palate location a few times, and each time have had the same reaction- I feel the food's sub-par, but decide to give it another chance and order something else.
Diners at the bar watch busy chefs scoop lobster salad onto warm brioche rolls.
The food and appearance of Alfama is quite nice but the menu is a bit deceptive in that my grilled shrimp (Peri Peri) consisted of an entree plate with three shrimp, no veggies or starch.
My vegetable Napoleon was good; although i first got the veggie burger because the waitress mis-heard and stood my friend up for another 15 minutes of waiting to have it served.
Went with a large group of 7 ladies before a show, and the staff was extremely obliging, even when one person was late and we had to wrap up her dinner to take to her.
A cocky, arrogant and shockingly condescending manager (all of 22 years-old) then told us we should leave the restaurant if we wouldn't move to the bar.
Then the huffy hostess when we asked to be seated at a table not directly on-top of another couple.
Our waitress left halfway through dinner, without explanation, and was replaced by another waiter.
Service during either brunch or dinner could be quicker and more attentive at times.
You can undoubtedly get better food and service for the price at other places, but certainly not with those views!
Not including the tip for our server, who we saw twice in an hour?
Other than its impossible reservation (no matter how many months you call in advance, the only available time slots for dinner on a Saturday are always 4:45 or 9:45), Peter Luger is worth the drive over to Brooklyn.
Reservations are no guarantee of prompt seating, have a pre-game drink, pop a xanax and you can handle the drama of having a res and getting no love from the hostess.
They were out of cherry, so we got a few slices of apple and one key lime.
I have no complaints about the wait or the service but the pizza was not at all something to write home about.
and you have to order through a pane of bulletproof glass, but the fact of the matter is, after a night of hard drinkin', college style, nothing hits the spot like a big box of inexpensive chicken and fries.
The snooty manager asked us to leave and gave us our check in the middle of our meal.
Maybe go there for the view, but don't bother eating there, go to the bar.
Service was prompt, although at times the waiters seemed to be spending more time dealing with the overflow from the bar than the diners (ever heard of cocktail waiters).
Its good to go there for drinks if you don't want to get drunk because you'll be lucky if you can get one drink an hour the service is so bad.
My companion went to the bathroom and overheard the waiter singing near the back of the place The cappuccino machine is broken, It's broken.
I am vegetarian - so this review applies only to the veg portion of their menu.
after such a strong showing, dessert was a letdown per our waiters recommendation, we ordered the raspberry softie the coconut-stuffed apricots the softie tasted like a mixture between cough syrup a starburst, whereas the apricots were extremely sour.
Asked for wine recommendations and the waitress told me her favorites and described them in detail - I don't encounter this much in NYC.
That being said, they do have a nice lounge area downstairs where you can just hang out, have a seat, and relax (no more waiting out in the cold or at the crowded bar).
Just expect to wait a good twenty minutes before they take your order (even when the restaurant is half empty), you'll have to ask at least 5 waiters and a manager for coffee before they bring it to you and when they bring your orders out wrong, expect the manager to side with the chef and not you.
We were not seated by a hostess (and as a result didn't receive menus or water for a good while) and were rushed out as the restaurant closed an hour after we arrived.
Seconds after we permitted our half-eaten fattened goose livers to be whisked away, our waitress materialized, bearing two cold drinks and the chef's profound apologies for the dish - a completely unneccessary but vastly appreciated gesture.
When one of our party brazenly asked to substitue a flavor of gelato for one of the desserts on the menu, the waiter snobbishly told us that, Mario and the chef don't like to do that.
Remember the 80's when you have to wait 1-2 hours for a table even though you have a reservation + the wait staff treated you like the idiot that you are for paying $2-300 per head for this treatment, then you should definately come to experience this jewel!!
While the place looks rather small and undecorated, I will definitely go back just for the food.
I love the complimentary hot salsa and fresh chips that they put on the table !
After ordering our food was brought to our table very quickly despite the huge crowd.
I guess Mars 2112 keeps the food bland for the family fare, but it only serves to detract from its overall experience.
We had a plate of smoked meats, some stinky cheeses (that's how they were described on the menu), delicious marinated anchovies, and crostini with various vegetable toppings.
A good restaurant would have at least comped desert or sent over a round of drinks for such a long wait -- we didn't even get an apology from a manager.
Actually, upon being seated in the tea room, we weren't even offered the tea menus and had to ask for it.
The Scene Behind the often-fogged windows at this small restaurant is a homey atmosphere, full of smiling employees and Filipino families crowded around simple red tables.
The staff was knowledgeable about the cuisine and answered my dining questions with professionalism and style.
I like to drink a variety of teas, but I've had some here that are really weird that I would avoid next time.
Sit at the bar, order a glass of wine, and grab an appetizer: they'll also bring you olives, parmesan cheese, a huge loaf of delicious bread and 3 dipping sauces.
We recently went for dinner with two kids and the staff were very accomodating even without reservations.
Service was slow (20 minutes wait time before they came back with our drinks, not including 10 minute wait for them to take our drink order).
But, as I said, it's a dive bar, so it's not someplace you'd take a high-maintenance individual.
sometimes i've just ordered arepas and empanadas for my meal; other times, i've split a dinner entree and an appetizer with a friend and been satisfied, since the portions are so huge.
Go there for dinner this time and find it unusually bad in taste and not pleasent service at all.
my table of four was not totaly neglected, but there was a lag in how promptly we were being served.
The waiter was constantly puching us to have drinks, he told us that we were not ordering properly and insisted on bringing to the table his recommendations.
Avoid this restaurant on a busy night at all costs -- they have yet to learn how to make the appropriate number of reservations; the front of the house and the managers are amateurs.
When we finally had to see the manager because I had lemon juice spilled on me from the waiter- she even took over 10 minutes to come to the table.
Worth the trip and the wait (and the higher than average price)?
The journey may be long and the wait may be longer, but there is nothing that could keep me from this pizza.
My friend ordered the scallops which were served in a light red sauce that was complemented very nicely with atichoke palms.
Service is not particularly warm, but I've gone back again and again (for dinner) over the years on an almost monthly basis.
However, another server kept hovering over our table, wanting to take our half-finished plates away.
When questioning our server about a certain dish, she kindly brought over the Union Sq.
Instead of going to a fun lounge after dinner, as planned, everyone had paid so much, that we went to a dive bar for the rest of the night for cheap drinks.
The Food The versatile Austrian menu, fused with French and American, rewards both high and low-end appetites: rich, cheese-laden onion soup, grilled Gruyere and country ham sandwiches and big-bunned burgers are as satisfying as velvety liver terrine with kumquat-cranberry compote, speck and sausage charcuterie and inexpensive cheese plates.
Bar has, french fries, bunch of different vegs and fruits, sushi, ribs (not great, wait for the waiters that come around with the meat).
The waiter seemed astounded that I ordered no wine or alcohol -- just water -- with my meal.
The food and drinks held up to eatery's rep and the service was just as good if not better.
Those who choose an omakase (chef's choice) menu will be happily surprised with accents of jalapeno or swaths of homemade sauce cleverly accenting rolls and sushi alike.
As for the food, apart from the Chef's Omakase, the appetizers and rolls are just below mediocre for the price they charged.
Not only did they refuse to give me any milk but they charged me full price ($9) for plain udon noodles - no broth, veggies, or meat just wet noodles in a bowl.
When the ice cream cake I ordered didnt hold up in their regular freezers temperature, Giovanny immediately had a server run out and got an identical cake in 15 minutes.
I went on a Saturday night on the recommendation of the new General Manager, Mike who also did Cheetah Club and Le Souk.
I definitely liked the vibe in the restaurant - the food is good with enough variety to please everyone - i'd say the portions were quite skimpy where it counts - meat whether fish or steak- and for those prices this is very irksome.
At one point, I spilled my water glass--when I informed the waiter of this he said he would clean it up--he never got around to it.
Ok, it's not greasy steak and juicy burger good, but it's a light healthy fare, if you are into that kind of stuff.
The food had a somewhat elevated price tag but but fair considering the Nobu origin - The cocktails highly recommended including the spide and lobster roll - we were well plated and did not encounter any arragance from the staff - maybe the other student reviewers are used to cafeteria service.
The only bad thing was that the third alien was so friendly and took a lot of time at the other tables, so she didn't come see us.
After being seated outside by the host, a waitress came over and yelled at us for taking a table that belonged to people waiting at the bar.
Summary good service, bad food!
We were able to get a table right away on Friday night, but we only saw our server twice and he failed to give us the specials, we overheard him tell the table right next to us after we had ordered and were already into our salads.
People will literally spend their entire lunch break waiting and for what - an average fastfood burger.
huuge portions, which made it much easier paying the $350 bill.
The Food Brasserie favorites are prepared by the book: Onion soup gratinee bubbles with a thick layer of Gruyere cheese, and grilled shell steak is served medium-rare, with a side of crisp shoestring potatoes.
Unfortunately, as we were finishing up, the manager hovered around us and asked us to go to the bar to finish our drinks because there were other people waiting.
I adore Zen Palate - and both the formal upstairs dining room and the crowded, counter-style cafe downstair, have their pros and cons.
The last time I went to the restaurant, the waitress made me wait to take my order, then left me without anything to drink throughout the entire meal.
There's very little on their menu if you're trying to avoid cheese and oil - not many grilled entrees at all.
The entree menu is not diverse, but the items on it are all very good.
Our waitress asked us if we wanted anything else, we said only the check - she quickly scooped up our not-yet finished food.
The upside of Zen Palate is the open kitchen, which allows you to watch the cooks at work and removes fears of who only knows what the chefs are doing in the back.
Waiters had to reach over people to deliver food.
The bar bites weren't anything special (we had calamari and wings, very ordinary), but our dinner was phenomonal, as was our service.
It took the waiter over 30 minutes to get our food because the order was misplaced.
This seems to be a big hit and draws a large crowd, so be prepared for a wait.
The Scene Though this looks like any other sushi counter, with purple vinyl booths and a koi pond in the small dining room, there are glimpses of superiority.
One of my favorite places to get a cup of tea or to have a casual brunch with the newspaper.
(The booths remained unoccupied throughout our meal, unless you count the not-very-busy waitstaff.
95 all-you-can-eat lunch is tooted as a good deal but a the ambiance is dreadful and you can get a terrific meal, also kosher vegetarian, in peace with service just around the corner for $2 more.
The place was very crowded usually it is a good indication that the food would be worth the delay.
Low-fat and low-carb options (such as flatbread) lure in health-conscious diners, while everyone else can sink their teeth into warm, crispy baguettes piled with mesquite chicken or smoked turkey, Philly cheese steaks and more.
Our server seemed to be new because he continually had to go back to the kitchen to check on menu items.
I finally cancelled our order, the waiter came back in 5 min with our plates.
The menu has many dishes that one can't find anywhere in the city.
Called to complain and the response was well, we didn't charge you for the falafel sandwich we shorted you.
I ordered the strip steak medium - the waiter or the chef reversed our requests.
The tasting menu was delivered at a break-neck pace, leaving no time to enjoy the wine or even digest the food.
The owner himself one time came to our table to clear our dishes when our waiter didn't show (a rare occurance, but it was late at night).
The food is really great but the service is absolutely horrible!
I went back a different night, once again I can't remember which, probably Friday and the place was a ghost town, with a corny DJ and a waitress who couldn't get my friend's drink right after several tries.
My next thought was god i could use a few drinks and a bathroom.
When asked to compare between two dishes, the server said whatever you like.
Start by enjoying the atmosphere while having a glass of wine at the bar and we you are ready, go and enjoy your food!
Apparently the same hostess was also trying to kick out a group of women having drinks at a table and giving them a hard time for holding up a table.
Needing a sugar fix, my husband and I walked in here to find a wall to wall adornment of delightful confections.
One of our diners didn't like her fish and both the waitress and the manager insisted on replacing it.
My friend and I were the ONLY 2 people in the entire place seated for dinner and after sitting there for 15 minutes, I had to walk over to our surly waiter and ask for menus.
The tables weren't bussed and they forgot to make my chai tea, which wasn't all that delicious, not was my friend's coffee.
Don't miss the crema catalana the waiter recommended us for dessert.
The place is a little over-priced for brunch but it is a nice restaurant so that was expected Food (i had the omelette with cheddar, mushrooms and herbs), service, coffee, atmosphere were all fantastic.
I went for an early dinner the other night and encountered the worst service i have experienced in a long time.
The hostess told me she could accomodate my group without a reservation but we ended up waiting nearly an hour and were seated in the smallest cramped area.
Super friendly neighboorhood atmosphere where even a lady can go alone and have a drink and feel comfortable.
If coming to Tea and Anthipathy (yea u heard me) during conventional dining hours, expect a good long wait on the curb till tables open up.
Thought I didn't have reservations, the hostess politely informed me that it would be a 45 minute wait and we were actually seated in 40.
the staff is great, but the food is just ok.
And Mondays fajita are half price all night.
The staff is very friendly too~  Everything is wonderful about this place except for the bathroom.
To make matters worse an hour into our dinner we see a waiter take mojitos to another table.
Bringing a large group on a busy Saturday night ,I was afraid quality of food and service might not be up to par, but we were seated promptly and the service by our waitress was fantastic considering how busy it was.
Fifteen minutes later, when we asked about our drinks, another server went to investigate and found that they'd run out of one of the liqueurs they needed and had gone out to get more -- which is fine, but it would've been nice to know.
We were also seated promptly at the time of our reservation and the service was very quick and professional.
After 45 mins of waiting in an sans air conditioned bar, we grew tired of paying for over-priced drinks.
PLUS the best wine can be found in the bar but they refused to sell us a bottle!!
I recently attended a celebratory dinner here and I just want to warn everyone that the service is the worst I have ever experienced!
It's very cheap, food is great you can bring your own bottle of wine (saves sooo much money) The waiters will uncork it bring you glasses too !
The Scene Inconspicuous Bottino is an ideal stop for a light lunch or full dinner while gallery-hopping through Chelsea.
Our lovely waiter sent us off with scones for breakfast the following AM!
Our waiter took his sweet time bringing the menus and telling us the specials and it wasn't until almost 10:15 that we put our order in.
On the menu, there are many inexpensive snacks, drinks and meals to choose from.
The presentation was clever, and the food tasty however the service that accompanied it was so slow it made us feel neglected.
I especially love the korean dish's they add into there menu consider its 2 for 1 its hard not to resist with asian cuisine being so expensive in all in New York.
While the people here were nice and the service was very good, the food was not very good - it was extremely greasy, the place did not offer alternatives such as egg whites and PAM spray instead of oil, coffee was average Crystal Rock Office Flavored Coffee - not the good coffee.
SQC is great in the evening, the light is excellent and it's perfect to sit at the bar, eat oysters on the half shell and have a glass of wine.
great trendy spot for a night out but to be honest the food was not worth the cost.
I would have told the wait staff if anyone had asked me if I enjoyed my meal, but no one asked.
Upstairs they have an entirely separate hostess, as if it was a different restaurant all together, where after being asked once again if we had a reservation we were seated in a small seat, in the corner, of a practically empty room.
And although I've noticed that the prices have gone up a little since they opened, it's still a great menu.
Service was a little but flawed, (they brought us beers without the glasses brought the main course out before cleaning off the appetizers) but nothing that would ruin your evening.
With only 2 tables occupied in the whole place, the waitress spent her time behind the bar and only came to help us when we got up and asked her to.
As we attempted to digest our meal and browse the dessert menu, the same staff members approached us to move along our order.
I went there for lunch with co-workers and found the service to be prompt and very friendly.
They moved us upstairs to an area where they were setting up for a private party -- we had no server, and had to flag down people setting up for the party to get us drinks, silverware, water, etc.