Vong
(212) 486-9592
200 E 54th St
New York,
NY
10022
40.7582
-73.9689
Neighborhoods: Midtown East (Turtle Bay), Midtown
What People Are Saying About Vong
The Editor
Allison Austin
Citysearch
The Scene
A typical midtown mix of loose-tie professionals and casually dressed tourists dine in the luxe exotica of this David Rockwell-designed space. Gold leaf-kissed walls, bamboo scattered about, tiny dishes of colorful spices and fresh orchids on every table--it's high-end tiki kitsch. Service is casual yet professional.
The Food
From the crab spring rolls to the slow-baked salmon with galangal sauce, dishes lack the bright, vibrant flavors indicative of Thai cuisine and instead, taste washed out and watered down. Bean curd lacks its promised crispness and lolls in a thin, nondescript pool. Duck, though cooked perfectly to medium-rare, is served with limp, cold bok choy. The one standout on the regular menu is the foie gras with grilled mango and bits of ginger--it's technically perfect and simply wonderful. Desserts are the best part of the meal, especially the piquant passion-fruit souffle.
User Reviews
thegreatestates
April 24, 2009
I like Thai food but this restaurant's food is not Thai food!!! Appetizers, I had Sushi look a like but it was too big to put it in my mouth so I had to yank the piece from my mouth to eat by small portion. Appetizers weren't that bad. What really bad in this restaurant is the chicken with one of those green stuff. I am sorry, but I just could not eat more than a half of spoonful!!! It was the worst Thai French Mud food I have ever eaten. I love Thai and I love French food but just don't mix it. I wonder who the chef in this restaurant is and I wish I can tell this person to change the menu. Yak!!!
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meowgirl
January 30, 2009
Hubby and I came for restaurant week and were hoping that the food would be something amazing and innovative; we were sadly disappointed. First they sat us in the table right by the emergency exit--very drafty, but switched us to a slightly better spot when we complained. * Appetizers--I got the chicken and coconut soup; definitely the best savory item of the evening; nicely spiced and not too over the top coconut. I'd suggest using the dark meat of chicken instead of breast since it was a little on the dry/tough side. Hubby ate the tuna spring rolls; he said the diakon wrapper was a little overpowering though and didn't get the full flavor of the tuna. *In addition to the prix fix menu, we also ordered the lobster and diakon rolls; unfortunately these didn't come out until AFTER our entrees. The diakon totally overpowered the lobster and the single piece of watercress was just sad. The waiter comped them, which is a good thing because it would have been hard to have to pay for something we didn't eat. * Entree--We both ordered the prawns; they came out (before the additional appetizer, remember) looking like orange and green slop ladled side by side. The prawns themselves tasted a bit off, though the sauce was good. The accompanying cabbage was just sad, wilted, and bland. There was no rice or any other starch served with the entree; my husband was still hungry. * Dessert--This redeemed them, somewhat. I ordered the warm chocolate cake, which was very rich (it reminded me of one of those microwave brownie bowls). Hubby got the crepes with orange sorbet. It tasted fine, but wasn't anything to get excited over. ***Overall, very disappointed. They rushed us through the meal, the waiter forgot an appetizer, and they are obsessive about changing the silverware. It got annoying. The decor was also awkward--what's with the $20 entrees, but no tablecloth? Plastic placemats? Really? Bathroom was a disgrace too. Overpriced--don't waste your time.
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LizP283
January 26, 2009
My husband and I were visiting from out of town and needed a restaurant convenient/ central to meet up with some friends. We were also celebrating a friend's recent engagement so wanted a place with a good atmosphere. Vong fit our criteria perfectly! We sat at the bar and asked for suggestions from the menu. The bartender knew the menu perfectly and could really suggest items that fit out individual tastes. Our group of 4 had a sampling of a few items from the menu - from spring rolls to Pad Thai to chicken satay -all were delicious and the peanut sauce was perfection. Finally we asked because the weather was terrible and it seemed so quiet - if there were other customers since it seemed all attention was focused on us. Turns out there was a dining room filled with guests. We never would have known because of the fantastic attentive service we received. I plan to visit Vong on my next trip to New York.
read full reviewThe Details on Vong
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Online Reservations, Special Occasion Dining, Prix Fixe Menu
