Chinatown Brasserie
(212) 533-7000
380 Lafayette St
New York,
NY
10003
0
0
Neighborhoods: Downtown, NoHo
What People Are Saying About Chinatown Brasserie
The Editor
Justin Hartung
Citysearch
Chinatown Brasserie re-imagines the 1940s Chinese banquet hall as downtown hot spot. Large parties of on-the-prowl singles focus their attention past ivory columns, ornately decorated screens and oversized red-and-white lanterns in hopes of glimpsing each other over a mai tai. But all this overlooks the real value of Chinatown Brasserie, which is as a showcase for the art of dim sum master Joe Ng, who makes thousands of the delicate treats every day by hand, in addition to overseeing a menu of classic Cantonese standards like roast pork, sea bass with black bean sauce, e-fu noodles and other elevated versions of familiar Chinese dishes.
User Reviews
yippee
March 20, 2009
My first visit there, all went well. I was more impressed with the decor than anything else though...but it was so nice that I didn't mind the so-so food. My 2nd visit was not so good: We went to the lounge area first. The waiter mentioned something about Happy Hour...something about $5 drinks...he listed a few wines. I said I'd take a cabernet. A bit later we went to our table and ordered. Out of the four items we ordered, they got three of them wrong and we had to wait for them to bring us the correct items. (It didn't seem that they got our entire order mixed up with another table. I think our waitress just totally messed up. She barely apologized for the mixup. Then the bill came. I saw that I was charged $14 for the wine I got in the lounge, and NOT $5. When I brought it up with the waitress she said "cabernet is not a happy hour drink...I can show you menu..it's $14." My friend and I both looked at each other dumbfounded, as we both understood the other waiter as saying the cabernet was $5. I told the waitress that it didn't matter what the menu said ...that the other waiter made a mistake (and that the restaurant should correct the bill!) She asked me to describe the waiter from the lounge. She then took the bill and my credit card and walked away; naturally we assumed she was going to get the bar waiter to straighten everything out. But no.....she returned without the other bar waiter, said nothing to us, and left us the exact same bill with the full charge made to my credit card. By that point I was tired of "complaining" (due to all the problems with our orders, and then the bill), so I just signed the bill, left a 10% tip, and decided I would never return to this restaurant. It's such a pity, as the decor is truly first class. But with service like this, and charging the prices they do for Chinese takeout-quality food, I certainly won't be coming back!
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Capestrano
March 17, 2009
I think it's disgrace to charge $6 for a small lemonade and $6 for a coke. They fill your glass with half of a can (12 ounce) and ice and charge you full price for refills. You can't tell me that's right - more like under handed behavior. And don't be fooled by restaurant week because your portions and service represent the deal. Nice place but probably good for the housewives of new york.
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gripdxd
January 29, 2009
Large restarant, nice bar, modern decor and trendy. When we arrived it was empty, but quickly filled up (make sure you make reservation). They have special cocktails which I'm sure are great, but I didn't indulge. The food was okay and I didn't think the price was worth the "tastiness" of the meal. We've had better chinese elsewhere. Service was good, but I could barely understand some of them. I would only go back again for drinks, not to eat.
read full reviewThe Details on Chinatown Brasserie
What to Drink:
Cocktails like the Ginger Dragon are mixed on the sweet side. Order instead from the sizable wine list, conveniently divided into sections like "crisp" and "fruity."
Where to Sit:
Can't get a table? Try the downstairs lounge, just past the koi pond, which serves a limited, dim sum-heavy menu.
The Extras:
Skip the disappointing desserts and take a five-minute walk to one of the bakeries in the real Chinatown.
Know Before You Go:
Unfortunately, Fez often creates an atmosphere of chaos and tension at the door, whether through faulty guest lists or filling seats before reserved parties have arrived.
What to Drink:
Cocktails like the Ginger Dragon skew overly sweet. Order instead from the sizable wine list, conveniently divided into sections like "crisp" and "fruity."
Where to Sit:
Can't get a table? Try the downstairs lounge, just past the koi pond, which serves a limited, dim-sum-heavy menu.
The Extras:
Skip the disappointing desserts and take a five-minute walk down to one of the bakeries in the real Chinatown.
Category:
Restaurants, Comedy Clubs, Lounges, Cabarets, Bars & Pubs, First Run Movie Theaters, Nightclubs
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Private Rooms, Lunch Spot, Special Occasion Dining, Brunch, People Watching, Family Style Dining, Business Dining, Group Dining, Bar Scene
