Bao 111
(212) 254-7773
111 Avenue C
New York,
NY
10009
40.7243
-73.9788
Neighborhoods: Alphabet City, Downtown, East Village
What People Are Saying About Bao 111
The Editor
Allison Austin
Citysearch
The Scene
The room glows a flattering amber; wood banquettes, softened by a scattering of cushy, embroidered pillows, run the length of the room. The space is sultry without being overtly romantic, due in part to edgy touches like art deco-style steel fans and an incredibly long wrought-iron mirror. The neighborhood's mixed populace is represented nightly--you'll see heels, denim and a fair share of tattoos.
The Food
Starters are quite good, including tender short ribs, wrapped around stalks of lemongrass; aromatic five-spice quail; and spring rolls, brought to the table with lettuce and mint leaf wrappers. Soups, perhaps the benchmark of Vietnamese cooking, are excellent, especially the crab and shrimp soup with noodles. Entrees continue the hot streak: Whether it's the fish of the day, the iron-pot chicken or the excellent filet mignon, it's difficult to go wrong. Interesting desserts feature unusual ingredients, such as black sesame and pandan.
User Reviews
kevinrup31
January 12, 2009
GONE GONE BAO BAO GONE>> TOO BAD BAO 111 is CLOSED,, BAO NOODLES ALSO ON DEATH WATCH... EVERYTHING GONE WRONG.... BAO NOODLES IS SO BAD THIS DAY
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ahndh
April 13, 2008
I went when they first opened since my best friend knows the owner. My best friend's Dad is the sake distributor of this restaurant. It was excellent first. But when we went again months later, i made reservations weeks before. They still made us wait nearly an hour for our table! Unacceptable! Also, the food second time around was not as good. I guess the quality lowers down a little over time like most restaurants. Also, the service was totally slow & the food tool a long time to come. I wouldn't go back there again after they made us wait forever for our table after making reservations!
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robomanic23
October 12, 2007
My night at Bao overall was average. The wine list was excellent. The bartender and waitor were very professional but the hostess was sort of goofy and not professional. Everyone was terribly nice though and the restaurant, although beautiful, is very relaxing and has a casual atmosphere. The patrons also seemed very relaxed and non-pretentious and on a Friday night at 9pm, there really weren't that many. I wasn't terribly impressed with the food though I think if I had what was recommended, I would have been. I did have the duck entree (rec. by our waitor) which was excellent-- and I know, because I don't usually like duck. I shared the summer roll and crab noodle soup appetizer which was very lacking in taste and texture. I think Saigon Grill on the Upper West Side is a much better bet for Vietnamese. Overall the service and atmosphere was very good and the proximity of bars and lounges is very convenient. I liked that there was the option of dining at a table outside in front of the restaurant.
read full reviewThe Details on Bao 111
What to Drink:
Several house-infused hot sakes are offered--expect to see flavors like strawbery, kiwi and spring melon. Also available: a very good selection of by-the-glass cold sakes and unusual Vietnamese beers, including Beer 33 and Tiger.
Know Before You Go:
The restaurant is perfect for groups of six or eight, and there's a semi-private table near the kitchen that can seat smallish groups wishing for more privacy.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
People Watching, Romantic Dining, Date Spot, Group Dining
