(212) 777-5882

65 Rivington St
New York, NY 10002 40.7205 -73.9902

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Neighborhoods: Lower East Side, Downtown, Bowery

KUTAHOUSE.COM

Price:

$$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Brunch, Prix Fixe Menu

Cuisine:

Pan-Asian & Pacific Rim, Thai, Indonesian

What People Are Saying About Kuta

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Kuta Satay House is many waves away from the surfer's mecca of Kuta Beach, Bali. But island details--menus made of rough-hewn wood, over-the-top flowers--add equatorial flair to the otherwise city-sleek room. Squeezed into the corridor-like space is the expected cast of downtown kids on iPhones. Service, while resolutely friendly, can be strangely scattered. – – The Food – Who doesn't love meat on a stick? Befitting the restaurant's name, satays are top-notch among a menu of Indonesian and Southeast Asian specialties. Flavors are fierce: Intoxicating…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
The namesake satays are priced two to an order and are served with a refreshing cucumber relish.
Prix Fixe Menus:
For $25, Kuta offers an excellent deal: four courses, including satay, starter, entree and dessert.
What to Drink:
Lighter beers like Singha or Tiger temper the spicy flavors of Southeast Asian cooking, as do any of the soju and sake cocktails. Reasonably priced wines by the glass (all are under $9, and no bottle tops $38) include a light but complex Pinot Noir from Les Jamelles.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. The place is a "cozy" size with a view into the kitchen (I always like it when you can peek into the kitchen to see what's going on with the food).
  2. Hip atmosphere, friendly service and great food
  3. The atmosphere was great as well - very relaxed.
  4. The ambiance is very cozy and a great place for a quiet dinner or a romantic date.
  5. This restaurant is perfect for small groups and is very cozy.
  6. It is worth noting the restaurant decor is a combination of old Bali charm and hip restaurant cool.
  7. Lastly, given the portion sizes and great ambiance the bill was very reasonable.
  8. Great atmosphere - a perfect place to go for a night out with friends.
  9. Nice decor, dark woods and exposed brick give it a nice atmoshpere where you hang out with friends or bring a date.
  10. It has a warm and inviting atmosphere
  11. Great food and cozy atmosphere, ideal place for a romantic date.
  12. Small, but a really warm and romantic ambiance, it's a great place to go with a girlfriend and catch up or on a date.
  13. As far as atmosphere, the place also has that cozy exposed brick and wood feel and the staff are helpful and friendly.
  14. It was a great cozy place to eat and dinner was phenomenal.
  15. The atmosphere is intimate and cozy, the perfect place to meet up with friends, or to go out on a first date!
  16. The singapore mai fun was delicious and the service was polite and prompt.
  17. We all enjoyed the food, the friendly staff, calm and relaxing atmosphere at a reasonable price.
  18. highly recommend Kuta to anyone who enjoys authentic asian cuisine with great ambiance!
  19. You can get great food, great wine AND great service with a warm and intimate decor to set the mood.
  20. It's close to the train so it was a convenient location to drop by after work.
dessert
92.30999946594238% positive
  1. The dessert was amazing also, and he kindly brought us a dessert wine along side of it.
  2. Some ice cream as dessert really sealed a pleasant dining experience.
  3. In addition, they have one of the best crab cakes I've had in a while (quite difficult to find in NY unless you're paying for the $20 one at your local steak house) - they're huge, moist and delicious, and loaded with crabmeat.
  4. The crab cakes came with a spicey hot sauce and I don't like spice so I didn't enjoy it as much as I might have but it was still good.
  5. All the skewers tasted great and the crab cake is one of the best things on the menu.
  6. The ice cream dessert was awesome.
  7. had the fried ice cream for dessert and it proved a very enjoyable treat.
  8. Krakatoa & some hazelnut ice cream - absolutely delish~ BONUS: Can't beat the price!
  9. must say I was a bit skeptical about ordering a crab cake from an Asian restaurant, but this by far is now one of my favorite crab cake in NYC.
  10. My favorite dish was the pad thai and the lime cilantro ice cream which was excellent.
  11. The menu has a good variety of selections from different ethnic foods (korean kalbi, thai pad thai, malaysian curry chicken and even your standard crab cakes and hamburger).
  12. And the chocolate banana gelato was also really good.
  13. ordered from the Prix Fixe menu and thought the crab cakes were great as well as the pad thai.
drinks
71.4300012588501% positive
  1. Great local spot to wine & dine to impress with a twist of Asia.
  2. While there is not a full service bar, the wine list is very comprehensive.
  3. The dessert was amazing also, and he kindly brought us a dessert wine along side of it.
  4. and for those of you who like to drink, they have amazing sangrias!
  5. You can get great food, great wine AND great service with a warm and intimate decor to set the mood.
  6. We sampled a variety of their x-tinis drinks which were good as well.
  7. Though there is not a full bar, I was more than pleased with the selection of Asian import beers as well as the wine list.
food quality
97.91999816894531% positive
  1. We all enjoyed the food, the friendly staff, calm and relaxing atmosphere at a reasonable price.
  2. highly recommend the drunken noodles (if you like spicy).
  3. The food is fantastic, especially the green papaya salad and the burger w/ spicy sambal.
  4. The food there is tasty and authentic.
  5. You can get great food, great wine AND great service with a warm and intimate decor to set the mood.
  6. We had also had the bass and drunken noodles which was both just as good.
  7. It turned out to be one of the most delicious meals I have ever had.
  8. just got back from a 3 week trip to Southeast Asia and I have to say that the food at Kuta is very authentic and just as good as anything I had there.
  9. What I had were all very authentic Asian dishes, not of the "fusion" variety found in may other downtown spots.
  10. The Bandung duck salad was a wonderful contrast of duck and goat cheese.
  11. must say I was a bit skeptical about ordering a crab cake from an Asian restaurant, but this by far is now one of my favorite crab cake in NYC.
  12. love Indo/Thai food and the Pad Thai and tofu dishes are great.
  13. The food is consistently good and the service is excellent.
  14. Definitely recommend this to people looking for an unpretentious place with very tasty and interseting food.
  15. ordered from the Prix Fixe menu and thought the crab cakes were great as well as the pad thai.
  16. must say that the satay was tasty and tender that two skewers were not sufficient.
  17. My favorite dish was the pad thai and the lime cilantro ice cream which was excellent.
  18. In addition, they have one of the best crab cakes I've had in a while (quite difficult to find in NY unless you're paying for the $20 one at your local steak house) - they're huge, moist and delicious, and loaded with crabmeat.
  19. spent a lovely Thursday evening sampling the delicious menu.
  20. Great food and cozy atmosphere, ideal place for a romantic date.
  21. We had the chicken madura which is out of this world, the spicy shrimp (WARNING - it's spicy) but its so delicious and the pineapple mushroom - amazing.
  22. have been to Kuta about 4 times now, because I can't get enough of it and every time, the food has been excellent.
  23. There is a wide variety of dishes, all of which are extremely authentic.
  24. had a really nice time here- the waiter was wonderful with making recommendations, I had a steak prepared in some type of sauce that was delicious, as well as a very nice bottle of pinot noir.
  25. Hip atmosphere, friendly service and great food
  26. The singapore mai fun was delicious and the service was polite and prompt.
  27. Exceptional service, great meal
  28. Service was excellent - we found out at the end of our meal that our "waiter" was also one of the owners and a former chef from Rain!
  29. Having spent my honeymoon in Bali I can say the food is a refreshing take on Indonesian fare with a few other Asian inspired dishes added in.
  30. My favorite dish was the duck.
  31. We ate at Kutu Satay our last trip to NYC which was recommended from a good friend, and the food was awesome!
  32. highly recommend Kuta to anyone who enjoys authentic asian cuisine with great ambiance!
  33. Great value for my money and I am looking forward to going back so I can try some of the other dishes.
  34. And did I forget to mention, that the food is very affordable and you get alot for your $.
  35. The food was amazing, especially the shrimp skewers and crabcakes.
  36. Great food.
  37. As for th food, the pad thai noodles is as good as I've had anywhere, including Bangkok.
  38. If you're looking for a nice, small place to eat great food without any attitude, Kuta is a good choice.
  39. All the skewers tasted great and the crab cake is one of the best things on the menu.
  40. The crispy duck and crispy fish are also must haves and generously portioned.
  41. would highly recommend this place to others and would love to return again soon to try other dishes.
  42. Order a glass of Verdecchio to start, it will go perfectly with the chicken or shrimp satays.
  43. The menu has a good variety of selections from different ethnic foods (korean kalbi, thai pad thai, malaysian curry chicken and even your standard crab cakes and hamburger).
  44. Great value for the money, tasty food and good service.
  45. Delectable asian cuisine!
  46. Great food, good service, reasonable prices, what more can you ask for?
  47. The crab cakes came with a spicey hot sauce and I don't like spice so I didn't enjoy it as much as I might have but it was still good.
  48. The place is a "cozy" size with a view into the kitchen (I always like it when you can peek into the kitchen to see what's going on with the food).
menu variety
90.0% positive
  1. The menu has a good variety of selections from different ethnic foods (korean kalbi, thai pad thai, malaysian curry chicken and even your standard crab cakes and hamburger).
  2. There is a wide variety of dishes, all of which are extremely authentic.
  3. What I had were all very authentic Asian dishes, not of the "fusion" variety found in may other downtown spots.
  4. spent a lovely Thursday evening sampling the delicious menu.
  5. We love satays and ordered a variety of them.
  6. have tried most of the menu and everything is fantastic.
  7. ordered from the Prix Fixe menu and thought the crab cakes were great as well as the pad thai.
  8. All the skewers tasted great and the crab cake is one of the best things on the menu.
  9. We sampled a variety of their x-tinis drinks which were good as well.
  10. Though there is not a full bar, I was more than pleased with the selection of Asian import beers as well as the wine list.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Small, but a really warm and romantic ambiance, it's a great place to go with a girlfriend and catch up or on a date.
  2. The ambiance is very cozy and a great place for a quiet dinner or a romantic date.
  3. If you're looking for a nice, small place to eat great food without any attitude, Kuta is a good choice.
  4. It was a great cozy place to eat and dinner was phenomenal.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. would highly recommend this place to others and would love to return again soon to try other dishes.
service
90.0% positive
  1. The service was excellent!
  2. Hip atmosphere, friendly service and great food
  3. Exceptional service, great meal
  4. The waiters were extremely friendly and accomodating.
  5. The service has always been very attentive.
  6. The singapore mai fun was delicious and the service was polite and prompt.
  7. Combine this with down home friendly service and music reminiscent of Bali beaches, Kuta is a great reason to make your way down to Rivington.
  8. While there is not a full service bar, the wine list is very comprehensive.
  9. You can get great food, great wine AND great service with a warm and intimate decor to set the mood.
  10. Definitely recommend this to people looking for an unpretentious place with very tasty and interseting food.
  11. Great value for the money, tasty food and good service.
  12. The service was good as they seemed to really appreciate the business while the prices are very reasonable.
  13. The service was excellent, I would highly recommend!
  14. had a really nice time here- the waiter was wonderful with making recommendations, I had a steak prepared in some type of sauce that was delicious, as well as a very nice bottle of pinot noir.
  15. We thought the service was a little slow and the entrees were nothing special.
  16. As far as atmosphere, the place also has that cozy exposed brick and wood feel and the staff are helpful and friendly.
  17. Service was excellent - we found out at the end of our meal that our "waiter" was also one of the owners and a former chef from Rain!
  18. We all enjoyed the food, the friendly staff, calm and relaxing atmosphere at a reasonable price.
  19. The food is consistently good and the service is excellent.
  20. Great food, good service, reasonable prices, what more can you ask for?
value
100.0% positive
  1. We all enjoyed the food, the friendly staff, calm and relaxing atmosphere at a reasonable price.
  2. And did I forget to mention, that the food is very affordable and you get alot for your $.
  3. It is worth noting the restaurant decor is a combination of old Bali charm and hip restaurant cool.
  4. Krakatoa & some hazelnut ice cream - absolutely delish~ BONUS: Can't beat the price!
  5. Great value for my money and I am looking forward to going back so I can try some of the other dishes.
  6. Great value for the money, tasty food and good service.
  7. The service was good as they seemed to really appreciate the business while the prices are very reasonable.
  8. Great food, good service, reasonable prices, what more can you ask for?
  9. In addition, they have one of the best crab cakes I've had in a while (quite difficult to find in NY unless you're paying for the $20 one at your local steak house) - they're huge, moist and delicious, and loaded with crabmeat.
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. We thought the service was a little slow and the entrees were nothing special.
1 Star Rating: Poor

09/29/10

Food okay, but watch where you step

by rocketmonster

Went for a private family party. First of all, the food was ok, can't complain about it but wouldn't go out of my way to run back there. The restaurant was tiny, which I know is expected on the LES, however, the single bathroom was literally inches from where food was being served. This was a complete turnoff. This gathering had adults as well as small children and we were dumbfounded by the negligence exhibited by the personnel in leaving the sidewalk basement access doors wide open DURING the party while young children were playing about!! We asked repeatedly to close the doors but minutes later, much to our disbelief would find them reopened and totally unsupervised. Well guess what??!! I fell down the very steep, steel stairwell, OUCH!!! After emerging bloodied and bruised I declined my relatives persistance to get medical attention in that I didn't want to make a scene. However, soon thereafter when I tried to get in touch with the owner (Rudy) to get compensation on some damaged clothing, I was totally blown off!! I've had my own business for some 30 years and would never treat a customer with such disregard, especially if physical harm was done. I personally cannot support an establishment in which the owner is void of principles and lacks any common courtesy. This guy is a creep!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

02/01/10

A Standard in my Restaurant Rotation

by Bethany Leddy

You can almost miss Kuta as it is unassumingly tucked away just West of the corner of Rivington and Allen, but rest assured that a stop to this Indonesian Satay house will not disapoint. Order a glass of Verdecchio to start, it will go perfectly with the chicken or shrimp satays. Don't miss the Curry Puff which is a light, crispy delight. My fav is the Jakarta Mei Go Reng and my friend's is the Cashew Chicken, but whatever you order you will be pleased.

With a reasonable pre-fixe you can have a great date night and still have enough left over for brunch the next day.

  • Pros: Great reasonably priced date spot
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/02/08

Tasty Fare at Reasonable Prices in a Cozy Atmosphere

by th47

Whenever my Indonesian girlfriend starts missing home, Kuta is always the answer. The creative take on southeast asian flavors leaves you wanting more. Combine this with down home friendly service and music reminiscent of Bali beaches, Kuta is a great reason to make your way down to Rivington. Make sure to have the Batavia and the Indonesian Madura, and indulge in the Chocolate Explosion, which clearly deserves its name. Highly recommend for a casual destination dinner and group events.

  • Pros: Creative take on Indonesian fare that works, Music, Friendly Service
  • Cons: NA
3 Star Rating: Average

09/11/08

it was ok

by sallyfin

I took my boyfriend to Kuta and we weere a bit disappointed. We love satays and ordered a variety of them. The satays were on the expensive side and did not have alot of flavor. We thought the service was a little slow and the entrees were nothing special.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/06/08

Undiscovered gem!

by nifalflo

I went to this place for the first time recommended by some friends. It was excellent. I used to live in Asia so can be very critical of asian food but this was excellent. The atmosphere was great as well - very relaxed. Definitely recommend this to people looking for an unpretentious place with very tasty and interseting food.

The Details on Kuta

Place Categories:

  • great indothai food
  • excellent service
  • great ideal place
  • great cozy atmosphere
  • recommend restaurant
  • great ambiance
  • reasonable prices
  • delectable authentic asian cuisine
  • friendly staff
  • helpful exposed brick
  • great dining experience
  • nice decor
  • great pad thai
  • extremely friendly waiters
  • great satays
  • favorite dish
  • favorite crab cakes
  • recommended kuta
  • amazing mushroom
  • recommend definitely
  • creative take
  • good variety
  • amazing ice cream dessert
  • full service bar
  • good pad thai noodles
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