(212) 598-0500
212 Avenue A
(13th Street)
New York,
NY
10009
40.729745
-73.980848
Neighborhoods: Alphabet City, East Village, Downtown
Hours:
Sun, Tue-Wed 5pm-3am
Fri-Sat 5pm-4am
Last updated 8.16.11
Category:
What People Are Saying About Forbidden City
Featured Review
Contributor
Contributor
The Scene – This sleek Asian lounge entices with soft lighting, sea-blue walls and niches filled with art and artifacts. An oblong bar dominates the lounge in front, where the welcoming owners keep the sake and liquor flowing. A laughing Buddha separates the bar-lounge from the comfortable, matter-of-fact dining area in back. – – The Food – The kitchen here whips up ample, greaseless portions of Asian tapas and dim sum for a mixed crowd. Preparations are minimalist and delicately flavored. Salt-dusted Atlantic salmon comes infused with lemongrass and ginger; aromatic…
| ambiance | 100.0% positive |
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|---|---|---|
| drinks | 95.64999580383301% positive |
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| food quality | 93.33000183105469% positive |
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| menu variety | 100.0% positive |
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| overall | 100.0% positive |
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| return potential | 0.0% positive |
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| service | 89.13000106811523% positive |
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| value | 83.33000183105469% positive |
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| wait time | 100.0% positive |
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Fat Buddha isn't Forbidden City - Get it right CitySearch!!!
by djseoulnyc
After repeated attempts to let CitySearch know that this is a NEW venue under NEW management with NEW menu since mid August, they still haven't made the change.
Feel free to add a review of the new and improved space. Check Yelp or Menu Pages to see the updated information.
Thanks!
Neighbordhood Gem
by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor
Honestly after knowing the bouncer here got shot right outside, I was a little deterred to come back here. However, that didn't seem to stop the crowd. I stepped in only to find a whole room packed with customers.
The DJ was playing 80s, 90s and current hip & hop and pop music. This is more a lounge than a dance club. Nobody was dancing, really. People were just drinking, chatting, and some of them eating. (They serve Asian cuisine)
This is a good venue for birthday parties and they have great Happy Hour daily. I just hope no more gunshots incident!
- Pros: Good music, fun crowd
Great food, fun atmosphere
by desieclipse
I've been to this place several times in the evening & once for a concert by a local band "Happy Fun Smile". I love coming here, but I especially loved it when HFS played because it was Japanese eclectic pop fusion & the energy was great. Food & drinks here are excellent as well as friendly service. It's a little tough to get their attention sometimes when you are at the bar because it's an immense bar space (considering the place is tiny). I definitely recommend sitting at the bar, as the tables are in the back and there's more energy up front. A great place to have a drink or an app or pre-game before going out. I recommend the dumplings and the sake menu.
- Pros: upscale bar food, reasonably priced, neighborhood
- Cons: small space, only 2 bartenders for immense oval bar
Great Birthday Spot!
by holleratanerd
I had my 30th Bday party here in Dec. It was between Forbidden City and another asian influenced restaurant/lounge venue. The reason I chose FC, and so glad I did, was for 2 reasons:
1. Cost - great dinner and many drinks, $60 pp
2. Manager - Ron
As most of you are aware, birthday dinners get expensive. Not just the dinner, but primarily the drinking. And at most of these venues with fun cocktails the cocktails are $10 a pop or more... FC not withstanding... BUT... Ron (night mgr) worked with me on a HAPPY HOUR RATE on the cocktails for a few hours - $7 Stoli cocktails rather than $10!!! He was very accomodating and just reassured me that we would have a great time. And we absolutely did!
Plus the food was inexpensive and delish. And its the perfect food for a bday party that was going to continue all night since they have mostly light dishes and a great selection of dumplings & apps. MUST GET THE CALAMARI!
The venue itself is more restaurant/bar then restaurant/lounge with a casual fun asian decor and bar nightlife. They allowed us to have fun without being all pretenious and stuffy like I knew the other more upscale venue would be.
So that is why I'm SOOO GLAD we went with FC and I had an GREAT BDAY!
- Pros: Price and Friendly Staff
- Cons: Only 2 bathrooms and weekends are busy
great staff
by iris_sky
first time coming there ,looked it up on the net ,great reviues ,wanted to try it..My friend loved the music as soon as we got in,had reservation so were seated promtly. I guess they are short on staff , it took a lil while for the food to come but it was delicious( the smoked duck,friend had a chicken salad ,!!!! i had the short ribs (liked it a lot ), just as someone mentioned ,portions are small but yummy).They had my faivorite beer which gets me soooooooooo drunk :ASAHI, huge bottles .They have it by my house in these huge cans too ,so i was extra happy). Very nice waitreses(one with highlights, and the taller one too), when we had a lil problem with our order , they brought out these shots of apple tequila, without question to make up for the problem ,plus eventually they took the drinks of the tab, great people that really know how to run a business( i want to say thank you guys!). Music was really good , a bit loud and thats exactly how i like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. atmosphere rocks ,small portions but goes well with liquoer .More of a bar than a restaurant and if you look at it like that be prepared to drink ~! good times.
- Pros: everything
- Cons: short on staff,but its ok
The Details on Forbidden City
Place Categories:
- great tapas style food
- great date place
- great music
- good esp lychee martini
- friendly staff
- great service
- great fun atmosphere
- loved cocktails
- very good many drinks
- good diverse crowd
- great people
- cold beers
- better brands
- recommend dumplings
- fun employees
- great spot
- recommend sake menu
- really nice bartender
- love good sake
- great lychee martinis
- good ribeye steak
- full bar
- good seaweed salad
- warm decor
- friendly owners



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