Buddakan
(212) 989-6699
75 9th Ave
New York,
NY
10011
40.742
-74.0048
Neighborhoods: Chelsea, Midtown
What People Are Saying About Buddakan
The Editor
Erin Behan
Citysearch
The cacophonous front lounge bursts with suits and slinky skirts balancing martini glasses as harried staff seek the next table. The interconnected dining rooms seem to multiply: The crown jewel being the sunken ballroom, with soaring ceilings, impossibly large chandeliers and a 30-foot-long communal table. Small touches--stuffed birds, bright porcelain vases, and Buddha icons--help personalize the 16,000-square-foot space. Happily, the Chinese fusion fare (ranging from sweet chili rock shrimp to a king crab hot pot) resounds louder than the din from that nearby table.
User Reviews
JBlahnik
June 10, 2009
The food was great, and the drinks were great. What i loved most was the gorgeous atmosphere and the classy sophisticated vibe from the people there. The service was very good, our waiter was engaging. Great for dates or a night out with a group. Some dishes are a bit pricey but it's well worth the money.
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shert
April 24, 2009
I've been here twice. Once to dine and once just for cocktails. The food is just good, nothing spectacular, but it's definately an event to go here. The atmosphere is very cool New York, fancy, night out on the town feel. Cocktails are tasty but a little pricey.
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tadevosy
April 03, 2009
Ok, maybe I don't really get the whole New York glam thing. However, I cannot help but be annoyed by this place despite the fact that the insanely good duckling and its generally inventive take on Asian fusion keeps me coming back from time to time. For starters, getting a reservation is a pain in the neck unless you're willing to namedrop a bit. I'd like to think that at some point a place starts appreciating return business without you having to do that unpleasantly NYC thing. The greeting staff is rude and standoffish, acting as if they are guarding a gateway to heaven. The bar area is impossibly crowded, loud, and difficult to navigate. I strongly dislike their system of having you stand there while a frazzled hostess rushes from group to group asking what the last name is on the reservation. For the past three visits, my request for a table downstairs has not been honored, and we've had to reiterate and wait.... The space, while unusual, is certainly uninvitingly grand, over the top industrial chic, and I do not get the dead stuffed birds as decor. All of this, however, seems to be the requisite purgatorial experience to enter a culinary nirvana. The food is very good, albeit somewhat predictable at times. I am not a huge fan of their take on steaks but do enjoy the dim sum and the seafood dishes. The wine list has an admirable range from very inexpensive to very expensive, well represented in each category by accessible bottles from around the world. The service is attentive and generally friendly, if a bit frazzled and frantic at times. If you go, do not miss the duckling, the fried rice, and the stir-fried veggies. The scallion pancakes are positively addictive. So are pretty much all the dumplings with the exception of the edamame ones, filled with a green, unsavory-looking paste of weird texture. Generally, a caricature of what a film-version of an outsider's perspective on what truly "New York" may mean in terms of the scene and the bridge-and-tunnel crowd decked out in their Sunday best. But I keep going back for the food.....
read full reviewThe Details on Buddakan
What to Drink:
Experiment with sake: Harushika's sparkling Tokimeki is a cross between sake and champagne and makes an excellent opener. End the meal with one of Buddakan's exotic teas, such as Silence, a lightly scented South African tea that's caffeine free.
Where to Sit:
Request a seat in the quieter downstairs "library" room if the catacomb-like upstairs rooms aren't to your liking.
When to Go:
The cocktail lounge stays open until 2am Sunday through Thursday and Friday and Saturday night until 3am. Expect it to be as crowded as a nightclub after 9pm.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard, Travelers Check
Restaurant Special Features:
People Watching, Special Occasion Dining, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene
