Chow Bar
(212) 633-2212
230 W 4TH St
New York,
NY
10014
40.734
-74.003
Neighborhoods: West Village, Downtown
What People Are Saying About Chow Bar
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
A bamboo dividing screen, Chinese calligraphy, and paper lanterns, as well as low red lighting, dark wood veneers and loud music, create the ideal ambience for flirtatious groups and first dates. Seats are easy to come by early in the evening, but Chow Bar fills up fast with a mix of locals and curious tourists.
The Food
The menu is better suited to the snacking at the long bar than dining in the compact dining area. Ginger chicken is perfectly complemented by chewy peanuts and chili peppers; wok-roasted baby clams come bathed in a flavorful sake, scallion and cilantro sauce. But more filling dishes, like lobster noodles in an overly thick coconut sauce and an uninspired roast duck, are less satisfying. Short ribs and Szechuan steak are tasty but just a spice or two removed from their Western counterparts.
User Reviews
babycarrot
April 25, 2009
We go here a lot, and i think it's time this place gets a better rap. I don't know about the mickey and minnie thing... that's a little much, considering i've i know the wait-staff and they've never said anything. ANYWAY, go here, and if you do you, try to grab one of the Diner's Decks to shave off the price a bit. My wife and I got the Manhattan and Brooklyn/Downtown decks this Christmas and have been the best little things ever. You can get $10 off at 52 restaurants around Manhattan (and Bklyn) and it solves the ubiquitous question “Where should we eat tonight?” So glad Chow Bar was in the deck. We’ll be back. Oh, and check out the Diner’s Decks. It’s a must . www.cityshuffle com
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Anonymous
August 22, 2008
The drinks here are totally awsome! But their Sichaun French Fries are really great. They were wonderful at the bar and really nice and fast. The prices were worth the great drinks!
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raxs
April 27, 2008
A few of my friends and I ate at Chow on Saturday night and the experience was below average and the manager needs to take a swift intensive course in customer service. Up until our main courses the experience was good. I have to praise our waitor for exceptional service and our starters of ribs were very good. Then came the mains....All of them were just not good. Tasteless and watery chow mein, over cooked steak, dry wasabi mashed potatoes without the wasabi, sickly reduction sauce and the list goes on... We mentioned to the waitor that our dining experience had not been the greatest and it was a shame. He suggested that we speak to the manager. We calmly and nicely presented all the facts to the manager, good and bad, but he was not having any of it. Apparently in eight years of managing the place he has not had a complaint, I think he shold take a little look at this website! When we described the downsides to the dishes on of his responses was "chow mein is supposed to be watery". He was just absolutely defiant that the food was not good. He explained that his partner was the chef so I think he was taking this as a personal attack on his boyfriend. At the end of the day it was supposed to be constructive feedback to improve his establishment, however you obviously can not help some people. Quite frankly our whole encounter with the manager who acted like a little child left the foulest of tastes within our mouthes. I certainly wil not be recommending it to anyone....not unless they have a passion for watery chow mein!!
read full reviewThe Details on Chow Bar
Cocktail List:
Go for the delicious house signature Green Dragon apple martini; it's the best of a surprisingly bland (but powerful) bunch, creamy Tokyo Colada aside.
The Extras:
Also try Chino's. It's Chow Bar's smaller sister restaurant.
Category:
Restaurants, Bars & Pubs, Taverns
Payment Methods:
American Express, Cash, Visa, Discover, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Late Night Dining, Food Delivery, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene
