Onda Restaurant

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donflagg

Joined 4 years ago

Love this place- Food is so good. This restaurant is such a welcomed addition to the neighborhood. They really offer something different than everything else around. Not noisy like Nelson Blue, Not Stuffy like Stella Marie. Just casual and good.

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pbouk

Joined 4 years ago

Amazing and original dishes, great service. My wife and I have been to this restaurant several times. Each time it has not disappointed us.

The ceviche dishes are all expertly prepared. They have a crab salad and an avocado salad that are both quite amazing. The soft shell crab entree is ridiculously delicious. They grilled a whole bass that was moist and cooked perfectly. We have yet to find an item on the menu that we did not devour. Their daily specials are definitely worth checking out also. Very original and wonderful stuff going on here.

They have great cocktails, and a selective list of decent regional wines from Argentina, Chile and other areas that are not terribly marked-up and very interesting.

The place is decorated warmly. It has a feel of some old place in Havana. The bar is very cool and comfortable. A great place to go after work. There are a couple of sidewalk tables which are usually taken so you have to time it well if you want to sit outside while the weather is still nice.

The staff is attentive and responsive. The owner is personable and pleasant and has always been great with menu recommendations. We've been there with our infant daughter and they made us feel right at home. A welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Highly recommended and a rare find in New York.

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AmeliaPA

Joined 4 years ago

Delicious food and wonderful staff. My friends and I heard about Onda and went to try it. Started off with some mojitos - not too sugary not too minty: just right. Then ordered the curry chicken empanada and malanga chips with dip; the chef sent a complimentary order of ceviche with a dollop of guacamole of the perfect consistency.

Our waiter was very friendly and allowed me to test out my "restaurant Spanish."

The staff allowed my friends and I to enjoy the dishes and checked in on us at appropriate times. The decor had a Latino/Caribbean feel with somewhat New England cottagey furnishings blended in - for an overall homey feel.

For entrees some of us had the soft shell crab entree. The crab came on a bed of whipped sweet potatoes and salad greens with mango and beet cubes in a most exotic salad dressing - spicy yet not over the top. My other friend had the salmon with a spicy glaze which was also delicious.

The chef is from my home country - Guyana. He knows his food and is talented at pairing things well with absolute flair. Enjoy!

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raymanfu

Joined 7 years ago

Great meal, well worth making the trip. Onda was a little quiet for a Sat night, but I only ever judge on food - not atmosphere. We decided to give it a try and are so glad that we did!

The food was staggering. With a party of 5 we got to try a little of everything. Without exception the food was phenomenal. Some of the tastiest, freshest ceviche I have tasted in ages. The meat dishes were also great. I shared a meat sampler platter with a friend and it was all delicious. We also greatly enjoyed an Argentinian Malbec from the wine list that paired well with everything.

If you are in the area you should definitely put it on your list to try. It is going on my list of restaurants worth crossing town for!!

Doesn't Recommend

kiity

Joined 4 years ago

cute neighborhood spot, but dissapointing service. I was excited to try Onda as there really isn't much in the financial district. Unfortunately my friend and I could not get over the terrible service from the bartender. For example, we ordered the taro chips appetizer with 3 dips. It was not described on the menu much so when it came we asked her what they were. Her response was " I think this one is a tomato thing and that one is a garlic thing and I don't know what that one is." We expected her to come back with an appropriate explanation, but instead asked us if we had figured them out. I'm sure the chef would not appreciate his food being described in that manner. The food seemed promising, but good food cannot overcome poor service in my opinion.

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prmanonymous

Joined 4 years ago

Fun, Relaxed, Friendly Staff, Great Drinks and Yummy Food. The place had a great vibe from the start. The staff was very friendly and gave me good tips on drinks to order. Hint: the Mamacita has an almond ingredient in it that may turn you off at first but is delicious and surprisingly peachy tasting. The Spanish fries were great as I promptly devoured the entire plate, and the main course of vegetable paella was delish. Great place for a date or after work drinks. Suggest this place to friends and family and you will seem very "in the know" about what is up and coming on the New York restaurant scene.

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bogartmv

Joined 4 years ago

A New Understanding why to now go Visit South Street Seaport.... ONDA- I was awaiting the opening of this lovely and trendy new restaurant in South Street Seaport as I was familiar with the other restaurant venues the owner (s) are affiliated with; definitely am a huge fan. Everything about ONDA expresses a warm and clever elegance in it's decor, vibe, and it's cuisine. The assortment of ceviche dishes are absolutely amazing and striking to the taste buds; the pork belly entree... no words can be said; And my favorite- the gargonzola french fries which is a side dish.. yes, that was my favorite and it's a great palate break from all the other dishes. Everything chosen for this menu can easily be placed together and therefore no matter what you want to try , appetizer/entree/dessert/side dish, it's not a concoction, but it's an equation that fit well together in different combinations and variables. The decor has a very simple, sleek, and colorscheme to bring out the latino quality- from the colorful iridium-like bottled chandeliers to the vibrant red painted armoires placed behind the bar as a background drape to set off that latino roots. Next, the warm welcome from the staff... you receive that smile and yes, you want to stay. Lastly, the selection of music matches the crowd the comes in vs. the day of the week it is... (it's uncanny), and just makes you want to move to that beat. In conclusion... ONDA is a must and you must taste and see.

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jennifernyc17

Joined 4 years ago

Tops for Drinks, Yummy Menu. I read about Onda in the NY Post--so I definitely wanted to give it a try.

I must say that it was quite worth the trip to the Seaport, Onda is really colorful and lively in every way. (they had these super-cool light fixtures made from cobalt--)

We ordered a round of the Pisco Sours and an order of the Spanish fries. The Spanish fries were perfectly cooked, made with cheese, onions and peppers--my friend and I practically fought over the last bits on the bottom. We then moved on to a second round of drinks, I had the Mojito, (delicious and pretty!) and my friend had the El Diablo--she loved it, (especially given that its made with beer.)

I ordered the mahi-mahi for dinner--I really liked it as I have a great sweet tooth. It is served with braised oxtail in a wine sauce. It was just salty enough, which was just the perfect complement to the sweet coconut taste. The portions are a generous size too--(though I made a sizable dent in it...)

For dessert, I ordered the chocolate vibe cake with the full intention of taking most of it home like I normally do. Didn't happen. It reminded me of a lava cake, the outside is crisp and warm--complemented with vanilla ice cream, pineapple and mango. When you put your spoon in its super rich with melty goodness--I practically licked the bowl clean.

All in all--Onda has a great vibe, tasty food, and awesome cocktails--I would definitely recommend it.

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goldfried

Joined 5 years ago

very cool, very delicioso. Onda is just off of the South Street Seaport on Front St., one of the most picturesque (and hidden!) cobblestone blocks in all of the city. I really couldn't imagine the interior being better designed, great layout, perfectly weathered bar (very important). And the food was spot-on. The ceviche and whole branzino were fresh and wonderfully presented. Really friendly owner and the bartender was nice and sassy. Great drinks too. Gotta end the night with the guava cheesecake. No complaints, all good.

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cyl81

Joined 4 years ago

Relaxed Happy Hour. I went to Onda recently for after work drinks with co-workers and had a very nice time! They had a variety of latin american cocktails for half price and the appetizers were delicious. I had a mojito and it was perfect. The staff was also very courteous and prompt. A very good experience for a brand new restaurant and a good addition to the cluster of restaurants and bars growing on Front Street.