Food was straight up amazing. You can tell they actually care about quality. Great spot to eat, relax, and enjoy some seriously good food. Ridwan and agnes good excellent serviced

The establishment was clean, cozy and not loud, save for a few rude guests behind us who were taking a business call during dinner... Our server was polite, and came by often to refill waters and ask how we were doing. The food: Salt and Pepper Squid - 3/5 - Tender and crispy the shrimp could have been great, but I felt like it was under salted and could have even used additional spices like white pepper or some of that pink peppercorn in such a dish. Tangy Glazed Shrimp - 4/5 - nicely sweet and sour, this Shrimp came in a good portion and had a nice bite to it too. It came on a bed of these jelly noodles, which seemed unnecessary, and were too slippery and too tender, slipping out of our chopsticks or breaking. It did carry the orange flavored sauce decently well though. Black truffle steak cubes - 5/5 - Great dish, you can taste the black truffle and onion sauce, the steak was tender enough for me, although could have been a bit more tenderized somehow. It came with mushrooms and snap peas that were great in breaking up the flavor and texture. Crispy fried chicken - 5/5 - another great dish, the skin was flavorful and crispy, and the meat tender. Not much more to say other than the chef did a great job with the prep and plating, no bones in the meat and pre sliced akin to Peking Duck. Sesame ice cream - 5/5 - simple tasty refreshing. If you like sesame you'll love this. Fried milk custard - 5/5 - served with some sticky condensed milk, this blew my mind. Crispy on the outside but with the texture of flan or custard inside. I don't know how they did it but the condensed milk added the perfect sweetness I will think about this dessert for a long time to come.

Came here with a friend for lunch and had a wonderful experience. The restaurant has a cozy, homely vibe (at least to me)—clean, comfortable, and welcoming. We sat by the window, which gave us a great spot to enjoy both the food and some quiet, natural light. We ordered the double-cooked pork belly, which was rich, savory, and had just the right touch of heat—paired beautifully with nutty purple rice. The cucumber salad with garlic gravy was one of those deceptively simple dishes where less truly means more: crisp, refreshing, and appetite-opening. We also tried the jellyfish salad. It was light, delicately seasoned, with that perfect chewy texture that makes it such a satisfying cold dish. The service was incredibly friendly and courteous. We were even treated to lychee ice cream on the house, which was a lovely surprise! I ordered the tea-smoked duck fried rice to go, and the waiter thoughtfully came back to confirm whether I wanted the regular portion or the lunch special (which I did)! A small gesture that showed real attention to detail! I truly appreciate this level of care and hospitality. Great food and great service! I’ll definitely be back!

I noticed a $14 lunch special that was too good to ignore. A main dish, white rice, two mini egg rolls and a side of pickled cucumbers—what a fantastic deal for NYC. That sign is what pulled me into Twilight Lounge, a newly opened Sichuan and Cantonese restaurant in the East Village that’s already showing serious promise. For the lunch special, I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken, which came with white or purple rice, egg rolls and pickled cucumbers. The chicken was tender with just the right amount of wok-seared edges, tossed in a glossy sauce that struck a nice balance between sweet, savory, and just a hint of spice. Crunchy peanuts gave it texture as well as the egg rolls w plum sauce and the cool, vinegary cucumbers on the side refreshed the palate between bites. For $14 in Manhattan? A steal. I came with family and we ordered a few dishes off the regular menu to share. The Spicy Cumin Lamb was a standout. Sliced thin and stir-fried with whole dried chilies and cumin seeds, the dish had a smoky, earthy depth that lingered in a good way. It packed some heat, but it was the kind that builds slowly—warming, not overwhelming. The real surprise for me was the dry-style Sichuan Beef Noodle. I usually expect something heavier or soup-based, but this version came tossed in a savory, umami-rich sauce that clung beautifully to the chewy noodles. The marinated beef slices were flavorful and tender, and the overall dish felt comforting yet bold. It’s the kind of meal you could crave on a rainy day—or after a long one. The Twilight Fried Rice also deserves mention. Unlike typical fried rice dishes, this version arrived with a crispy bottom layer—almost like a socarrat from paella—adding a delightful crunch to each spoonful. It was savory, aromatic, and loaded with bits of egg, scallions, and diced vegetables. It's a clever and satisfying twist on a classic that I didn’t expect to love as much as I did. We also tried dishes like the beef pancake roll, which was like a scallion pancake rolled around savory beef slices, the wife and husband sliced beef in chili oil, spicy shrimp, and the spicy fried fish filet, both of which leaned on the hotter side, so be warned if you’re spicy –sensitive (or tell them to adjust the spice level). I found the lotus root stir-fry refreshing and light, with its mix of squash, wood ear mushrooms and lotus root slices. And a special shoutout to Jonathan, who took care of our table with warmth, efficiency, and always with a smile. Twilight Lounge an East Village gem that brings the heat, flavor, and hospitality. Definitely one to watch.

So happy this place opened up. We love Sichuan-style dishes but don’t always feel like waiting for a table to open up at some of the bigger places up at St. Marks. Great food, we got the crispy sichuan chicken, cumin lamb and the green beans. Authentic, great flavor with a good spice level. They serve beer/ wine too. Love the vibes, I plan to visit again with friends and family. The owner JC was friendly too.

This was one of the best Chinese food spots I have been to in a long time! Everything was so good. The beef pancake (perfectly juicy meat and the outside was crispy) and duck fried rice were especially memorable to me. Highly, highly recommend this place to anyone!

Franscio Ramos

Anthony is an amazing bartender! From the moment we arrived, he was fast, attentive, and incredibly friendly. His conversation was great, the energy was on point, and every drink he made was perfect. He didn’t go a single minute without checking on me and my friends to make sure we were taken care of. Service like his is rare. If you’re looking for a bartender who really goes above and beyond, Anthony is the one!

Eugene To

It had been a while since we’d visited the city together as a family, and we decided to stop by for dinner with our daughter before heading home. The pizza was just as delicious as we remembered, and the team went out of their way to make us feel welcome, from opening the door for our stroller and offering genuinely thoughtful service throughout our meal. Their kindness helped turn an ordinary dinner into a small but unforgettable family moment, perfect for a low-key birthday celebration. And the music? Absolutely spot-on. Shout out to the staff at this location!

Ari B

Fantastic gluten free pizza! My wife is ‘t gluten free and loved it! Detroit style :)

frogga1551

I took 4 teenagers here and I gotta say, they all were satisfied. From pizza to burgers to wings we enjoyed all. By the end of the meal, they all were knocked out and satisfied. Was a great spot to find last minute, would definitely come back.

Daniel Bullock

All pizza fans, if you enjoy a quality experience with excellent food and service, head down to Emmy Squared in the East Village. The vibe, service, and food (try the Ezzo and the Emmy pizzas — delicioso!) are unmatched. Beth was amazing and made the experience top notch. Good people all around; 5-stars all the way!!

Angela Forbes

GF deep dish pizza will make you question whether or not it’s GF. Such good pizza with crispy bottom. Yum!!! I will crave this when I go home. We also had a great server who was warm, friendly and attentive.

N K

Chyna is the sweetest! Pizza is bomb with just the right amount of crunchy and chewy

Ryan Tammaro

Loved the MVP pizza with sesame seeds on the crust and nice blend of sauces on top with some spice added

Isabella Grandic

The GF pizza does not taste gluten free at all it is so so so so good!!!! The small one is big for 1 person but kinda small for two hungry people. It was a bit oily (but really liked the Hawaiian!) They have a comedy club situation too, which I am sure is actually quite fun and a good pairing w their pizzas.

Cass

The gluten free pizza is actually unreal. I didn’t even believe it was gluten free. Maybe it wasn’t lol? It’s perfectly chewey and fluffy. Deep-ish crust pizza that’s absolutely perfect. It’s just indulgently fatty and delicious. All the toppings tasted super high quality. You can order online for pick up and it was only a 20 minute wait on a Saturday night. My only complaint is that it was a bittttt too oily. A small gluten free pizza (fed 2 ppl) was $31 after tax and tip.

+16

Karen Redondo

Everything was amazing. Jack was a great server. Will definitely come back for the amazing 🍔 burger+fries🍟 +pizza🍕!

Pat Shawd

Created my own pizza, went all out on the toppings and they met the challenge. Probably the most epic pizza I’ve ever had. Very delicious!

Bob

Margherita and the MVP are really fresh and great. Our server, Anthony was super attentive as well. He recommended the Chicken Crunchers which had tons of flavor

Robert Palau

The food is spectacular!!! Bring a few friends so you can try a few different things. This is not your grandads pizza fyi, so be ready for some unique and delicious pizzas. The bartender is the sweetest and makes a MEAN Last Word.

+1

Akua G. Asare MD

I spent time with my sister during my quick trip up to #NYC. She took me to here, where we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on meatballs, cheesy garlic bread, and two of the three pizzas we ordered. We could only eat a couple of pieces of each pizza, but we gave it a good try. The colony and Miranda were solid, but the deluxe lagged far behind. There's just something about that hot honey that sets them OFF! I wish they had pepper flakes, though The space is cozy, and it's easy to start chatting with the table next door. The wait staff and manager Erik G are friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. I had a lovely time catching up, dancing, laughing, and chomping down on these delicious detroit style pizzas.

Bhakti Dalvi

It is a great place. Ordered the waffle fries and MVP pizza. The fries were nice and the pizza tastes good, it had big soft crust with fresh mozzarella. Also ordered the frozen pomegranate margherita and sangria. Both the drinks were strong, good and not loaded with too much ice.

+4

Came here for a late lunch and left with a pretty hefty bill. The place was clean and was pretty modern—service was decent as well. We ordered suan cai yu, which they used flounder as the fish. The fish was a bit flakey and didn’t taste amazing but the broth was good. It wasn’t too oily like some other places so that was a plus. We also had the crab roe tofu which was pretty good as my partner reallly liked it. And had the seasonal vegetable stir fry which was simple but delicious. For the price we paid after tax + tip I expected higher quality food but overall I’m not super mad about it because the portion sizes are good.

My completely unfounded hypothesis for how Twilight Lounge came to be is that the founders wanted to open an authentic Canto spot but after market researching (AKA talking to the locals), they learned that New Yorkers are crazy for Szechuan food, so they decided to tack that on--because Chinese people are nothing if not people pleasers. And thus this Cantonese-Szechuan menu was born. The above is based on an untrue story. Now on to the food. - Wood Ear Mushroom Salad: Refreshing and perfectly spicy - Lotus Root Stir-fry Medley: Because we all need fiber. Get this classic stir-fry to make your bathroom trips more fun. - Crab Roe Silken Tofu: Soft and tasty, better than I expected. - Wong Fei Hung Prawns: If you look at this name and the Jet Li theme song doesn't automatically play in your head, you're not Cantonese enough to appreciate this dish. But it's okay; this dish is so good, it would win over a vegan. It was easily the star of the show, everyone's favorite. The prawns were plump and juicy, and the peppercorns were crunchy and satisfying--all coming together in the perfect marriage of mouth-singing flavor. We picked this clean like buzzards circling a dead rodent. - Sichuan Braised Fish: Our first taste of their Szechuan offerings, and the verdict is....pass! This was spicy, umami and complex, loaded with mouth-tender fish and veggies, and as comforting and filling as similar offerings at Szechuan restaurants. - Tea Smoked Duck Fried Rice: Not much duck, smoke or tea flavor. Not much duck either. I'd skip this unless you really want to blow money on fried rice. Service was friendly and attentive, and decor was modern chic. Twilight Lounge has stiff competition from the borough, but it surprisingly holds its own--esp. if you're in this neck of the woods and craving umami.

Magda

We have been enjoying the food at Emmy Squared for a few years...so delicious and the gluten free pizza is the whole thing for me. It's expensive for what you get, but so delicious and worth rationalizing the cost sometimes. The size of the pizza seems to have gotten smaller and it's a little off-putting and how un-smart that is. The restaurant itself is not a as much of a restaurant as it is a 'now corporate' pick up station for a mostly to-go business but it's the staff that brings us back when they last. Obviously there is reason behind that. I hope you don't lose the ones you have now this is the last leg. It's about commitment and pay and the race to the bottom in this place like so many others I mean where are the people!? Where is the heart? I will say it's corporate goal keeping that did it. Manager? Like there are tables right? Service concept? From what I know being in the business for over 30 years, if you thin out your staff and force them to do multiple jobs in place of a full on proper service restaurant simply to cut costs, ultimately people come and go and so will guests. Cutting corners at the expense of losing great staff ultimately - is the future of Emmy Squared. It looks like going corporate has changed the place and the respect we have for it too. The one saving grace that has us coming back truly is one of your team members in particular. We don't want to embarrass her, but the bartender Bethany is above and beyond exceptional. It seems from what guests see is that she enthusiastically jumps in as manager, phone answering associate, to-go handler and general Goddess of keeping your place going. It is above and beyond special. Your company is truly lucky to have her. She IS THE PLACE and if she is ever no longer there because of all the juggling, we also will not be. Great personality, professional, caring and goes to the end of the earth and back to provide great service for each and every guest that I've seen or noticed both on the phone as she handles each and every foul that the restaurant has left in regards to crazy corporate delivery companies, all while graciously juggling incoming people. It's undeniably impressive how she does it with such care. She understands how to bring customers back.

Anqi Chen

Went twice, once without reservation, once with. I don't really know if a reservation was needed as it wasn't really crowded. This is what we ordered: - Colony Pizza : 6.5/10, it was a little greasy, the honey was a really good addition but it was also unexpectedly spicy. - Cheesy Garlic Sticks : 7/10, pretty good but the cheese was really thick and a lot to eat if you order several apps. The garlic flavoring is really good tho. Would get again - Zia Fries: 8.5/10, really good however the second time was super salty. the fries are very crispy. The first time came with cheese sauce but the second time came with some sort of white sauce (?) - second time I'd give a 7.5/10. - Le Big Matt Burger : My friend got this burger and they gave it a 7/10 with the following reviews: "Solid 7 it's a pretty filling burger and the sauce has a nice kick. Was expecting a bigger portion for the burger and there could have been more sauce added to it. The bun was slightly burnt but very trivial and could be a plus for those who like a bit more of a char taste" - Chicken Parm Sandwich : 6.8/10 - it was a little much, the cheese wasn't bad but I think it's a lot as well. It was also a lot of chicken which is a good deal but I couldn't finish the entire sandwich. only half. Drinks: - Emotional Damage : 6.5/10 - I knew it was going to be a little sour, but it was extremely sour at first sip. still a little refreshing but nonetheless sour. - Not from the Stand : 7.5/10 - this was very refreshing, not as alcohol tasty as one may like, but I don't exactly love the taste of alcohol. would get again. - Paloma : 7/10 - I don't really remember the taste of this as I got it in 2023, but I think it was pretty good. A little heavy on the alcohol but I'd get it again. Service: At the beginning, when we first seated, our server did kind of feel like he was rushing us, came over twice while we were reviewing what we wanted to get. I asked about what drink to get as I wasn't too fond about the taste of alcohol, and I asked which he would recommend, but he said it differs person to person, he recommended the emotional damage which wasn't bad but a little too sour for my taste. While dining, they did drop by a couple times to ask about our experience and stuff. It wasn't too bad but we felt a little rushed. Overall, I would come back again but I also want to try the other Emmys Squared locations in NYC.

+3

Mrs Senthil

As a Michigander, I was eager to try how this compared to the OG classic. I have to say it’s a good copycat, but not exactly the same. First, we went with the vegan build your own option, mostly because there aren’t many vegan signature options. The pieces are smaller than what we get back home at Buddy’s or elsewhere. I usually have 1.5 slices but I had 2.5. We shared two pizzas between three people, which was perfect, but for big eaters, it wouldn’t suffice. My BIL also wasn’t that hungry so it worked out. The sauce is more on the tangy side and the vegan cheese was more liquid and had a slimy texture. We reheated the pizza, since by the time it reached us it wasn’t warm. The cheese feels more like a sauce than the ideal gooey, stretchy mozzarella. While I appreciate it’s hard to replicate a vegan version, we’ve had some excellent vegan pizza in the city with better substitutes. If they work on this and the portion size, it could be a winner.

Overall, the dining experience was quite pleasant. We arrived close to closing time, yet the staff were still warm and welcoming, showing no signs of impatience—something that truly deserves recognition. From ordering to food service, the process was smooth and efficient, with dishes arriving promptly, which is a definite plus for diners who are short on time. As for the food, portion sizes were on the smaller side, so those with a bigger appetite may want to order a few extra dishes. The flavors were generally solid and reliable—nothing particularly outstanding, but also nothing disappointing. The Suancai Fish was well-executed, with a good balance of sourness and saltiness, making it a safe and steady choice. The standout dish, however, was the Salted Egg Yolk Tofu, which was excellent and easily the highlight of the meal. Overall, strong service and efficiency are the key strengths here. If you’re looking for a place for a quick and hassle-free meal, this restaurant is certainly worth considering.

Having tried a lot of Sichuanese restaurants in NYC, I kind of have a bar and this place failed to meet it. It’s a place for a more Americanized palate. The food lacked flavor and punch and was not served hot enough. The three pepper chicken was tough (didn’t want to even bring back any leftovers), the fried rice with mustard green shoots was good, the Fish Fillet w/ Silken Tofu Pudding was okay as it lacked flavor, the lotus root stir-fry medley was disappointing with big chunks of celery and cucumber and no flavor. They brought out the rice last, meanwhile what are you supposed to eat the rest of the food with? My biggest problem was with the atmosphere. The air conditioning was so strong that the food got cold in minutes add then was not enjoyable. You don’t need to blast the A/C and serve cold food - instead adjust it to pleasantly comfortable. Went to celebrate a birthday but was let down. Won’t go back.

Keumdal Jung (Kimmy J)

The pizza was fantastic but the service was not pleasant. We got there around 2pm and there was only three tables including us were there. It took us 30min to get our pizza and when we asked about the check and a to-go box, she brought only the box but check so we had to wait another 5min and I had to go get her attention and she could’ve given us check right away. The service was pretty slow