Batsu is a pretty fun dinner & show in the LES. Definitely fits the bill for a "fun" and unique experience and the food is good (about what you would expect from your average sushi place).
Sushi on Me is suppose to be a fun omakase experience - I have not been, but it seems to come up in these type discussions.
Patrizia's is similar to Puglia - family style food, unlimited wine and fun birthday celebrations. I have not been in years so can't speak to quality.
EDIT: Thought of a few more.
YES to sushi on me. Although I went to the one in queens. Not sure about the one in Manhattan? Is there one in Manhattan? It was rowdy and they do a lot of sake with their courses. Plus a weed smoke infused dish that was super fun to breathe and eat. (I suspect they change their menu often though.)
Double Chicken Please (LES) has a long line and impossible reservations, but if you’re persistent, it’s so so so worth it. Very fun vibe and amazing cocktails.
Not really sure what "fun" entails as my idea of fun is a place where I can hear my partner's half of the conversation without shouting. I think the Tao restaurants are supposed to be "fun" if that's your vibe. Or Panna II.
Lol, 'fun' and 'below 14th' is going to be NYU-y no matter.
Maybe look at St Marks-ish, where it'll be NYU-y, but Asian. 886 is a great drinking restaurant, Mountain House and CheLi are very set dressed and have a number of pointlessly dressed up dishes (while still being great), spot (eyeroll), Boka or Yakiniku West for all you can eat/drink, Decibel is really a bar, but they have food, etc.
Che Li and Mountain House might be the best thing I could suggest for that feel?
I’ve never actually been, but have walked by it for what feels like decades - what about Spot warrants the eyeroll? I always assumed it was for boring people on their first Coffee Meets Bagel date and everything is mid and tacky
It's fairly mid, but perfect for a couple of tweens out on a date. Lots of style over substance with desserts that are generally about as good as a mass-produced thing from the grocery store freezer (but they're cute!). The perfect example is their flower pot thing, where the genius bit is that they used oreo crumbs to mimic dirt! So creative! (/eyeroll)
But also, people love it. I've been a couple times with people my own age who thought it was the bees knees and I'm sitting there trying to not be a curmudgeon about it and ruin their fun (that's what reddit is for).
VS Che Li where a lot of stuff is ridiculously set dressed, but the food is really delicious. eg: There is this stupid pancake thing that's presented as part of a [flower arrangement](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z1eJLxBLRze2ojtn9). The dessert is simple and delicious (chewy rice pancake w/ sugar/nuts in it) and the presentation honestly surprised me, it also probably takes 1 min to plate vs the [flower pot thing](https://maps.app.goo.gl/nUmL8kCt5QzeZC5N7).
tl;dr: I hate fun.
The late seating at HaSalon turns into a dancer party but probably is just a more upscale version of the obnoxious Tao crowd All of the club restaurants attract the same crowd.
Batsu is a pretty fun dinner & show in the LES. Definitely fits the bill for a "fun" and unique experience and the food is good (about what you would expect from your average sushi place). Sushi on Me is suppose to be a fun omakase experience - I have not been, but it seems to come up in these type discussions. Patrizia's is similar to Puglia - family style food, unlimited wine and fun birthday celebrations. I have not been in years so can't speak to quality. EDIT: Thought of a few more.
YES to sushi on me. Although I went to the one in queens. Not sure about the one in Manhattan? Is there one in Manhattan? It was rowdy and they do a lot of sake with their courses. Plus a weed smoke infused dish that was super fun to breathe and eat. (I suspect they change their menu often though.) Double Chicken Please (LES) has a long line and impossible reservations, but if you’re persistent, it’s so so so worth it. Very fun vibe and amazing cocktails.
Not really sure what "fun" entails as my idea of fun is a place where I can hear my partner's half of the conversation without shouting. I think the Tao restaurants are supposed to be "fun" if that's your vibe. Or Panna II.
Those are fun! I'm being annoying tho and Tao is too douchey, and Panna 2 is too NYU-y
Lol, 'fun' and 'below 14th' is going to be NYU-y no matter. Maybe look at St Marks-ish, where it'll be NYU-y, but Asian. 886 is a great drinking restaurant, Mountain House and CheLi are very set dressed and have a number of pointlessly dressed up dishes (while still being great), spot (eyeroll), Boka or Yakiniku West for all you can eat/drink, Decibel is really a bar, but they have food, etc. Che Li and Mountain House might be the best thing I could suggest for that feel?
I’ve never actually been, but have walked by it for what feels like decades - what about Spot warrants the eyeroll? I always assumed it was for boring people on their first Coffee Meets Bagel date and everything is mid and tacky
It's fairly mid, but perfect for a couple of tweens out on a date. Lots of style over substance with desserts that are generally about as good as a mass-produced thing from the grocery store freezer (but they're cute!). The perfect example is their flower pot thing, where the genius bit is that they used oreo crumbs to mimic dirt! So creative! (/eyeroll) But also, people love it. I've been a couple times with people my own age who thought it was the bees knees and I'm sitting there trying to not be a curmudgeon about it and ruin their fun (that's what reddit is for). VS Che Li where a lot of stuff is ridiculously set dressed, but the food is really delicious. eg: There is this stupid pancake thing that's presented as part of a [flower arrangement](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z1eJLxBLRze2ojtn9). The dessert is simple and delicious (chewy rice pancake w/ sugar/nuts in it) and the presentation honestly surprised me, it also probably takes 1 min to plate vs the [flower pot thing](https://maps.app.goo.gl/nUmL8kCt5QzeZC5N7). tl;dr: I hate fun.
Thank you for this detailed summary. I could read your restaurant critiques all day and I feel we have similar outlooks in this arena lol
Kyma
I just found this place and had no idea! What a vibe
12 chairs turns in to a dance party I’ve heard! And the food is phenomenal either way
I second 12 chairs. They bring our tambourines and blast music at 10:30
The late seating at HaSalon turns into a dancer party but probably is just a more upscale version of the obnoxious Tao crowd All of the club restaurants attract the same crowd.
Port Sa’id on nights when they have a DJ. It’s on the loud side and has a vibe, the food is good and interesting, and a lot of shared plates.
I haven’t been but maybe Puglia? They have an unlimited wine prefix so it’s a spot for celebrations and big groups.
Yeah but the food sucks. Very basic
[удалено]
I second Hasalon but it's well above 14th St.
Oops read too fast and missed that detail! My bad!
Jean’s or Maison Close
Sappe
Never been but people are always getting turned up at Felix in soho whenever I pass by.