Help! Any recs for an upscale Chinese?

[alfresca]

Anyone know of an upscale Chinese for a grand birthday celebration for a multi-generational family including 2 young children? I would have picked Shun Lee, Palace or West, but someone in the group "doesn't like it anymore" That person chose Wa jeal but it doesn't look like a celebratory kind of place and the food may be too spicy for little ones.

[kathryn]

BTW, everyone, this thread is from 2012. Hopefully they found somewhere.

[Bob Martinez]

It's a shame they never reported back.

[alfresca]

Wow chowhounds! I can't believe this thread started back up after a year! It's fully one year later..
We went to SL West and they put us in the cafe room, not even the main dining room..that said, we had a splendid time, the little ones ran around somewhat, crawled under the table and also sat sometimes, dining on who can remember by now, nothing exotic to us but it was to them, and mainly the ingredients were fresh and tasty and they ate as did the grownups who also imbibed bottles of delicious wines brought by the oenophile among us. The restaurant seemed not to have any issues with us byob! So it was kind of a private chinese banquet and all was well..
Thanks for all your inputs, want to try them all tho maybe not with little ones..
So the year ground on and then there was Sandy...kid's house in Red Hook trashed... Now the birthday will be pizza in the rental in Prospect Heights.. But not to worry, life goes on!!
We eat to live but also live to eat!!

[Lau]

haha i didn't even realize that b/c i just looked at the responses, so i figured it was a recent post

[Bob Martinez]

Me too. I also saw the March 12th dateline and figured it was new. If I saw August I would have been tipped off.

[Jay F]

The teeny, tiny type in gray makes it hard to notice dates.

[alc]

I like Tang Pavillion on West 56th.

[Monica]

I am going to vote for Land of Plenty in midtown east...just because it's my favorite Chinese restaurant right now.
The waiters are pretty darn sweet too.

[Bob Martinez]

Good call. While not as upscale as Hakkasan (and far less expensive) Land of Plenty has a very nice ambiance.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8353/8285542101_2f94c0c5b5_z.jpg

I wrote it up a few months ago.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8215...

[diprey11]

After all those years, still Sichuan Gourmet. I had a simple spicy (ma la) chicken dish there last week. It was properly done, the uniformity--and level of competence--that is not easily found even in Flushing.

To be slightly negative, if the chef doesn't do the basics right, you are in a wrong restaurant. I have a simple dou miao (豆苗) test: come to a Chinese restaurant and order that sauteed vegetable dish with garlic. Only three (currently open) restaurants in Manhattan have passed so far.

I got to trust a real chef to the point that I may come and order for the occasion and let them figure out the menu as well as the price. You simply can't question a real chef (read: an artist) at that level of execution. And--no, I got no multi-hundred dollar meals.

[jimmyray]

Red Farm is the answer except that they don't take reservations. The food is tremendous, both traditional and modern, and run by real pros. The place is relatively small and with not taking reservations the only way to do it is be there when it opens at 5pm or you will likely have a serious wait (1-2 hours). Although this may be particularly early for regular dinner time it is worth the change of dinner routine.

Enjoy!

Red Farm
529 Hudson Street
http://redfarmnyc.com/

[kathryn]

It depends how big their group is and when they wish to dine. While the ambiance is nicer than most places in Chinatown, it's not really "upscale" in terms of being luxurious or comfortable. More like reclaimed this-and-that, hipster-y decor. Also the place gets loud.

"Parties of 10 or larger can book a large party reservation, if they order a set menu from us. The available time slots for these prix-fixe reservations are 11 AM during brunch, and 5:00 PM or 9:30 PM (or later) during dinner."

[Jay F]

How is Mr. Chow?

[Lau]

Mr. Chow's is basically like sort of high end americanized chinese food, but I don't even consider it chinese food really.

most foodie type people get up in arms about it, personally I don't think its horrible or anything, but its not amazing by any stretch and not something i'd really go get

[Jay F]

What I'm really wondering, though, is how well it would work as "upscale Chinese for a grand birthday celebration for a multi-generational family including 2 young children."

[Lau]

Jay F - go to Hakkasan, its better on all accounts. The food is better and the place is cooler

[diprey11]

I'd try to reserve Sichuan Gourmet @39 St for the occasion, if you like it spicy: they have a seriously talented chef. Hakkasan is so East Coast (of China)

[Bob Martinez]

Beyond awful. Frank Bruni wrote one of his funniest reviews about them. It tells you everything you need to know.

http://events.nytimes.com/2006/06/28/...

[Jay F]

Thanks, Lau and Bob. I hope the OP reads what you've posted.

[kosmose7]

If you are really serious about fine dining Chinese cuisine, like those fabulously subtle and delicate dishes with seasonality found in Hong Kong, there is no such thing in New York. That said, the closest place will be Hakkasan. Shun Lee has drastically gone down the hill, but I find Shun Lee East still a bit better than S.L. West.

[Lau]

agreed

[sweettea05]

It's a totally throwback, but I loved Mr. K's. You feel like you are in a time warp back to the 80s, but everything I had was great. It's formal fancy - not buddakan fancy. Try and find some pictures.

[Lau]

sorry not to shoot you down, but the food at Mr. K's is terrible

I'd go to Hakkasan if you're looking for upscale chinese

[kosmose7]

+1.
I was taken to Mr. K's by a business client of mine for lunch and I almost took his name off my contact list.

[UES Mayor]

Food at Mr. K's is disgusting!!! I was taken there by my brother and scolded him for not doing research first!!!

[Bloombee]

Perhaps Hakkasan, 311 West 43rd (btw 8th and 9th). the things I can vouch for there is the steamed veggie dim sum and Pipa Duck.

[foodwhisperer]

Lotus Blue would be special. As far as atmosphere and location and good quality Chinese food Peking Duck House (midtown not Chinatown ) is perfect. I have been to several "events' there. Another suggestion, that definitely warrants mention is Buddakan , in a space that had a $12 million renovation.

-----
Buddakan
75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Peking Duck House
236 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022

Lotus Blue
110 Reade St, New York, NY 10013

[peter j]

I just had dinner at Shun Lee West (not my choice) and can't recommend it.

Wa Jeal is decent. I can't think of any other traditional Chinese restaurant that would be more "celebratory" in terms of atmosphere and decor. Maybe Chin Chin but I haven't been there in years. Or perhaps Chinatown Brasserie though I didn't think the food was that memorable.

-----
Chinatown Brasserie
380 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Chin Chin
216 E 49th St, New York, NY 10017

Shun Lee West
43 W 65th St, New York, NY 10023

Wa Jeal
1588 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

[michele cindy]

Chinatown Brasserie is closed.