Where to watch cooking action from the counter.

[Morriss]

When things get stressful, as they inevitably do, I find few things more soothing than sitting at the counter watching the cooks do their thing.

I live in the East Village now, and Veselka and Momofuku Noodle bar are great places for this.

What's your suggestion for contemplating and cooking-watching? It can be anywhere in the city.

-----
Veselka
144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

[UES Mayor]

Joseph and Leonard for sure!!! You will feel you are right in the kitchen! Keep in mind there are only two seats for this-but fun and worth it.

http://josephleonard.com/

-----
Joseph Leonard
170 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10014

[Morriss]

Thank you all for these very inspiring recommendations!

[H Manning]

Tori Shin for yakitori.

[peter j]

I'm not sure if this qualifies as "cooking" but Nuela has a nice ceviche bar where you can watch them prep and plate the dishes.

-----
Nuela
43 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010

[Morriss]

Totally qualifies, it sounds awesome!

[LouisM]

Hearth, for sure. Very instructive, even scary; but seriosly worth it.

[gutsofsteel]

Sitting at the pass at Hearth is very entertaining and fun, and educational. If you go a few minutes before htey open, and ask for the pass, it's usually no problem doing it that way.

[kathryn]

The counter at Shopsin's (3-4 seats)
The counter at Chikalicious
The seats at the "pass" at Hearth (2-3 seats IIRC)
Mercat's chef's counter
Tap Room at Colicchio & Sons
L'Artusi
Dell'anima
Falai
Casa Mono
Kin Shop
Ma Peche raw bar (4 seats I think?)
Chef's counter at Hecho en Dumbo (2 seats, reserve ahead of time)
Brushstroke
Kitchen counter at Beacon (8 seats IIRC, reserve ahead of time)
Chef's counter at Kyo Ya
Chef's counter at Aldea (6 seats or so?)
Momofuku Ko (12 seats, reserve online 6 days in advance)
Degustation
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

-----
Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003

Shopsin's General Store
120 Essex St, New York, NY 10002

Hearth
403 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10009

Degustation
239 E 5th St, New York, NY 10003

Mercat
45 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
57 E 57th St, New York, NY 10022

Falai
68 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002

Kyo Ya
94 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

Momofuku Ko
163 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Dell'Anima
38 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10003

Beacon
25 West 56th St., New York, NY 10019

ChikaLicious
203 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003

L'Artusi
228 West 10th Street, New York, NY 10014

Aldea
31 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011

Ma Peche
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019

Colicchio & Sons
85 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Hecho en Dumbo
354 Bowery, New York, NY 10012

Kin Shop
469 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Brushstroke
30 Hudson St, New York, NY 10013

[RCC]

Hearth has 4 "pass" stools. A favorite spot because Marco interacts whenever he can.
It's just me, but I don't advice watching Shopsins do their thing.

I love "contemplating: when I sit and watch folks at Yasuda do their thing behind the sushi bar.

-----
Sushi Yasuda
204 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017

[uncledunkel]

Do you know which of these you can reserve a seat at the chef's counter (besides Ko/Degustation where the whole space has a view)? For Dell'anima they noted it when I made a reservation and said that they couldn't guarantee a seat there, but that it was very likely -- and we did in fact end up getting a seat there no problem.

[kathryn]

I believe you can at:
Aldea
Kyo Ya

At Hearth, it's tough because the pass is so small.

At Casa Mono, I think reservations are automatically given a table by default, with seats at the counter for walk-in patrons. I bet you could request seats at the counter if you wanted to.

For Hecho en Dumbo and the Beacon, they handle those seats/reservations differently from the rest of the restaurant, so I believe it is reservations-only for both.

-----
Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003

Hearth
403 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10009

Kyo Ya
94 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

Beacon
25 West 56th St., New York, NY 10019

Aldea
31 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011

Hecho en Dumbo
354 Bowery, New York, NY 10012

[RCC]

Only first come first serve at Hearth "pass", as far as I know.

[ellenost]

If you like Momofuku Noodle Bar, and if you really want to treat yourself to a special meal, I highly recommend Momofuku Ko.

-----
Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Momofuku Ko
163 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

[thegforceny]

And any price?

The pass at Hearth
Aldea
The Breslin and The John Dory both do large format meals at the chef's pass.

Do a search for "chef's table" and see what comes up

-----
Hearth
403 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10009

Aldea
31 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011

The Breslin
20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001

The John Dory Oyster Bar
1196 Broadway, New York, NY 10001

[Morriss]

Thanks! Sounds great.

But I guess I had in mind something that's not a private show, rather something more public and messy :)

[gutsofsteel]

Hearth

-----
Hearth
403 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10009

[princeofpork]

The pass at hearth is awesome.

[E Eto]

Here's my Hearth report from a few years ago. Still one of my best restaurant experiences in NYC. It was great to be able to interact with the chef.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/228001

-----
Hearth
403 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10009

[Riverman500]

Kin Shop
Casa Mono

-----
Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003

Kin Shop
469 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

[uncledunkel]

Agree with Kin Shop, also del amina

-----
Dell'Anima
38 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10003

[thegforceny]

For search purposes, it is spelled: dell' anima.