Zijun Yu

Nudibranch is a modern, cozy restaurant in the East Village offering a $72pp tasting menu that leans inventive while still feeling approachable. Given the chef team’s Eleven Madison Park background, I came in with pretty high expectations—and for the most part, they delivered. Food (Tasting Menu + a la carte) Overall, the food quality was excellent, and $72pp is genuinely good value for the level of technique here. That said, portions across the board felt about 15% too small. Among the starters, the frog legs and patatas bravas were solid but unremarkable, while the duck confit croquettes were phenomenal—super flavorful, tender, and easily one of the most memorable bites of the night. Makes sense given the chefs’ EMP roots, where duck is a specialty. For the choose-two section, the standout for me was the soba with salmon roe. The combination of the roe, the crispy garlic panko, and the soba was genuinely unique and extremely tasty. The bone marrow steak tartare, on the other hand, was probably my least favorite item—interesting concept, but felt more gimmicky, and nothing about the dish really read as “marrow.” The absolute star of the night was the pork rib chop. I’ve never had pork flavored like that before—super tender, deeply seasoned, and incredibly flavorful. Hands-down the dish that I’d return for if I came back. We also added the scallion pancakes à la carte. They were solid but not particularly memorable. Drinks I grabbed a Heat of Passion cocktail during happy hour—strong but still very balanced and tasty. Also tried the Terra beer, which honestly wasn’t worth it even at the $5 happy hour price. Ambience The ambience here is top tier. Great lighting, great music, thoughtful décor, and a room layout that feels intimate without being cramped. It’s the kind of space that makes the meal feel a little more special. Service Service was excellent—smooth, friendly, and perfectly timed. They took our jackets without us even asking and even complimented my girlfriend’s sweater, which was a small but appreciated touch. Nothing felt awkward or forced. Overall Nudibranch delivers a creative, high-quality tasting menu at a very fair price, with a couple of truly standout dishes (the pork chop and soba in particular). The restaurant is also on InKind, which makes the value even better. While I’m not sure if it’s a “must-return” spot for me personally, I would absolutely recommend trying it once—especially if you like inventive takes on familiar dishes.

+1

Morgan Peterson

One of the best dining experiences I have ever had in NY! My boyfriend and I had the preset meal with the fluke and bone marrow tar tar as small plates, and hanger steak as our main. It was truly incredible! Every item was cooked to perfection. Cocktails were fabulous. Service and atmosphere were unbeatable, can’t wait to go back!

Michelle Schachter

I have been twice now- once in a group of 8 and again with just two of us and I was blown away both times! With the group we had several people with different dietary restrictions and they were so great with making sure everyone had options to enjoy and communicated so well. We enjoyed the Duck which is excellent served their nori rice. It was fun trying their unique menu and sharing everything. The staff were very welcoming and really made everyone feel special. This last visit the two of us chose a wine pairing and it was also excellent. We enjoyed every course and having the wines to match made every us appreciate every bite even more. The expertise in their wine program was evident and elevated the whole experience! Highly recommend!

Sam C

Food was very good with unique flavors. Enjoyed croquettes, potato brava, and hangar steak the most.

+4

jennifghjkl

I reserved this restaurant for a party of four for restaurant week. Best choice ever!! The meal came out to $80pp (after tax & tip) and it was absolutely worth every cent! The hamachi was fresh, perfectly balanced in flavor, and delicious. I used my spoon to scoop up all the citrusy oil even after I’d finished the hamachi. The soba came in just the right amount, leaving me wanting more. Delicate buckwheat flavor and fun textures. The hanger steak was cooked to perfection. Tender, saucy, and just the right amount of everything! The meringue was light and airy. Strawberries were delicious and paired well with the crunchy meringue and soft cream. If I could describe their restaurant week menu succinctly, I would say it leaves you wanting more. I would absolutely go back for their food. For bigger eaters like my boyfriend, this menu may leave you a bit hungry, but it was just the perfect amount to leave me satisfied. The restaurant is quite small and crowded, so it’s difficult to chat without projecting. That’s the only downside.

Gökay Zeren

We tried almost everything on their $60 four-course pre-fixe menu and paired it with a bottle of Macabeu/Garnacha, though due to a misunderstanding, we ended up with Albariño instead. The patatas bravas were spot on. The hamachi leaned a bit too fishy for my taste; the sauce had good acidity but wasn’t fully integrated with the fish. The cold soba with bottarga was excellent, and the salad was fresh, well-seasoned, and balanced. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium, but the quality felt a bit average—I was hoping for a stronger pepper note. The chicken sandwich was solid, and the mousse with an olive oil drizzle was a clever touch that added flavor without overpowering the dessert. Overall, a great dining experience with a promising menu, though a few dishes could use small improvements to fully shine.

+2

Jiseon 'Sun' Bang

Visited during the Restaurant Week, food and service were amazing I had a wonderful night with my friend. The wine pairing complemented each dish perfectly, and the staffs were incredibly welcoming and professional throughout the evening. Love to visit again 🙂‍↕️✨

+13

Ruotong “RLinzy.Lin” Lin

The roast duck was absolutely outstanding — incredibly tender, juicy, and evenly cooked. The skin was perfectly crispy with a delicious seasoning that really elevated the dish. It also came with a generous variety of sides that paired beautifully with the duck. The mushroom dish was also a standout, with rich and well-balanced seasoning. Every ingredient tasted fresh and high-quality. The Basque cheesecake was divine — not overly sweet, with a wonderfully smooth and dense texture. On top of that, the service was warm and attentive, and the ambiance was cozy and elegant — perfect for a dinner with friends.

+2

Javier Kohen

Excellent food, everything was interesting and delicious. The prix fixe is a very good deal, I ended up very satisfied with the amount of food. The basque cheesecake was delicious and the portion was larger. The staff is friendly and does a good job, but they are understaffed, so everything takes a long time. The place plays loud music and was very cold in Summer, I asked them to lower the volume and they agreed, but didn't make the change. I felt like they wanted me to leave quickly (and ironically it took forever to get the check).

+4

Tori Hansen

Had a fantastic night celebrating my boyfriend’s birthday at Nudibranch! We went with the prix-fixe menu and the wine pairing and loved everything. The presentation was thoughtful and the flavor of each dish was delicious. The wine pairing (three 2-3 oz pours) was such a good time and would highly recommend to round out each course. Lastly, the staff brought the night all together! Claire and Edwin gave us the experience everyone hopes to have trying out a new spot. Can’t wait to come back.

Arabella Jin

This has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in the city! Their ambiance is perfect for a romanticized girls night, first dates, and any special occasion. Their service is impeccable from the five star treatment to the genuine personalities and great banter from the staff. Lastly, you can’t forget the amazing and inventive dishes that are updated seasonally to include the highest grade produce available. Will be back shortly for more amazing food, cocktails, and memories!❤️🥂

+17

It’s ironically called big bar even though spaces are very limited in here - it’s definitely a vibe though with its cash only and overall divey atmosphere. Lots of disclaimers all around but if you know what you want and can be expedient about it, you’ll be well served here.

Well... I don't know how I never came here before but what a vibe. Soaked in red light, cash only, a very chill, eclectic crew, all of that made it for me a perfect later night after dinner spot, even if the back bar is unsurprisingly thin and I low-key hate carrying cash on me these days unless I'm a regular somewhere. As an old head with a kid, I'm not sure when I'll be back but when the opportunity presents itself, I'm down.

Super cozy and cute. No wait despite NYE weekend but still busy/lively. Love the red lights. Bartender was alright / weird vibes. Maybe they were tired / had cruddy customers before me. Just had a glass of a house red

yinzigartig web

We ordered the course, and all the foods were very flavorful and the portion was decent. It was two ppl and with 4 drinks, (2 wines + 1 cocktail + 1 beer) it cost 200+ w/o tax. Personally the entrees were better than the main, and the dessert was amazing too. The entrees were 5 stars, amazing and I would love to come back for those, and please try the beer and wine, they were good. Cocktail was alright.

+1

Jade Li

Lovely vibe inside and the service was absolutely fantastic. The frog legs were good, but I really think the star of the show was the mushroom dish. The dessert was also good too! They have some great deals at happy hour, and it’s definitely a nice restaurant for a date.

+1

Sandra Park

I was looking forward to this meal quite a bit and the service was spectacular. However, maybe I came on an off day, but everything felt so salty. Both my husband and I was quite disappointed because of this. One more thing that really threw us off was the olive oil on the chocolate mousse. I understand that sometimes it can be a good combination, but it left a heavy coating in our mouth and we couldn’t fully enjoy the mousse. Overall, the food was just a bit underwhelming but the service and atmosphere was great.

+5

Alexandria Wong

I had a chance to try this spot during the tail end of NYC Restaurant Week, and it was a worthwhile experience. The soba was the definite star of the show. It was a perfectly textured and flavorful dish that I'd order again in a heartbeat. I added the uni for extra $10. Honestly the volume was a bit underwhelming. If you want to enjoy toppings with the whole bowl of soba, adding salmon roe maybe a better choice. The chocolate mousse with olive oil was another pleasant surprise for someone who enjoy savoury dessert like me. The other dishes were less impressive. The frog legs were a bit tough and lacked seasoning, and while the hanger steak's texture was expected to be a little chewy, it wasn't a highlight. The exceptional service, however, made up for it. The staff was incredibly attentive and took the time to explain the menu in detail. It was a good visit, especially for the soba and mousse!

James L

Came in for the restaurant week. Asked for difference in portion size, and decided to go with the restaurant week menu: frog leg, soba (salmon roe+$5), hanger steak and chocolate mousse. While 1 and 3 were very juicy and tender, they were a bit too salty for me. for 2, soba was bland and salmon roe was of course salty. While I liked the texture of the mousse and the crunchy of popcorn, it was still unbelievable to feel salty in the dessert. Liked the ambience and service. A bit too long wait time between 2 and 3. 3% cc expense. Would want to try duck confit if salt is lighter.

Sandy Tseng

Excellent Gilda martinis- the olives/anchovies were perfect. Duck with scallion pancake was amazing. Mushroom dish was spectacular, and croquettes were very snackable. The mussels with ritz like crackers were good too! Service was on point—our waitress was a total legend, really helpful with the menu and allergies (because nothing ruins a night like an EpiPen). Can’t wait to go back, either to sample more of the menu, or order the exact same thing again!

Kristy Chen

Very unique dishes and fresh ingredients. I found that some of the dishes were slightly off balance in terms of flavour and sauce amount, but I quite enjoyed everything overall. It was definitely an interesting restaurant to try for a unique twist on Korean cuisine. The interior is not very large, best to reserve ahead of time if possible.

+2

Looks like some bartenders take tips for granted, expecting tips while being so rude to customers with the excuse of “being busy”. Wow, what a good reason for being disrespectful of customers. Reminder of the principle of a tip (which unfortunately has been forgotten): tips are here to reward good services for bartenders who deserve them, they should not be taken for granted. So just one thing busy bartender: if you want some tips, just do your job properly by being just slightly nicer, and not just demand “give me tips “. For your pride at least!

Big Bar is hard to miss with its bright red interior lights shining onto the sidewalk, but when you walk inside you’ll have wished you did miss it. I recently had the displeasure of stopping by this ‘dive bar’ and it was an experience I won’t soon forget; unfortunately. This bar harbors a particularly rancid vibe. Everything from the bar tender’s hall monitor attitude, to the Gen X clientele sitting at the bar top, to the bald man in a bright blue sweater standing outside holding the door looking to start arguments. It all meshed into a miserable, spoilt, and rank experience. This self touted ‘dive bar’ is a total disaster from start to finish. The atmosphere is dreadful. The space is cramped and awkward. The decor is tacky and lacking grace. It is all too evident that they tried too hard to come off as this trendy, relaxed, dingy dive bar but you can feel how incredibly gauche and trite the ambience really is. The supposed "dive bar" charm was nowhere to be found. Instead, it felt more like a sterile and sanitized version, where an older crowd can live out their dreams cosplaying being a patron at a dive bar. Without actually having to step foot in one. The raw authenticity of a dive bar is nowhere to be found here. Instead what you will encounter is a travesty of such magnitude that it defies the very essence of what it seeks to embody. Stripped of any genuine character, it is a desolate void. Big Bar’s ambiance is a facade. A cheap costume masking a soul devoid of grit or character. Stepping inside, the sterility of the place struck me immediately. But it was the customer service that truly revealed the rot at the core. At the helm of this charade was a bartender whose demeanor is a chilling specter of authoritarianism. Her presence fills the room and adds to the festering of a putrid environment. We did not get her name, but she is a heavy set brunette woman with glasses and nose piercings. She made comments that were teetering on discriminatory and seemed to convey a covert racism. She was abrasive with a patron over a seemingly arbitrary qualm. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear other patrons share a similar experience. The libations, one might hope, would salvage some semblance of a good experience, but they were as soulless as the decor. The drinks are underwhelming and bereft of any skill or care in their making. They didn’t seem to have any thing of substance worth drinking. All the bartender had was well liquor and flat beer. And in a location filled with other options that have better drinks and a more refined atmosphere, we did not stay long. In sum, this Gen X haven is truly a pit of despair and disappointment. This establishment is a blight upon the landscape of nightlife. A soulless simulacrum devoid of the grit, grime, and charm that define a dive bar. It feels more of a sterile tomb and I would implore seekers of a genuine experience to look elsewhere.

Bouncer dressed like where’s Waldo for Halloween tonight is a problem for a small business like this. I walked in with a few girls and he was hitting on the customers inside I did not see anyone in the front of the door so I walked inside. I thought he was just some big goofy Halloween dressed older over weight guy talking to younger girls. As I got though the door he started getting aggressive super weird because he’s a lot shorter than me and I’m not an aggressive person. He asked for ids I thought he was being funny but still reached in my back pocket to accommodate him. That’s when things got really weird he started acting aggressive so I turned around to leave because I don’t want to hurt this bully so I said I’m gonna just leave.. That’s when I asked the girls I was with to come he decided to follow me out screaming have a good day just so we are clear it’s night time! This place should really watch who they hire because clearly they don’t! You have been warned stay away from this place!

I really regret to change my review here. I really liked the place and used to go there. There is a specific bartender working there that is absolutely rude. She made a whole scene because some people tipped only $5 for 5 cans of beer. She was ringing some bells and her friends were shouting 'you should tip your bartender and blah blah..' and pointing to those people (that had actually tipped). Let alone that she earlier did lift me from my seat for her those friends of her to sit... When we told her that we understand that you are busy but this doesnt justify you being rude she took our drinks from us (had just bought them and i had personally tipped $3 for a jin) and asked us to leave the place. She just ruins that great bar and the nice vibe.

At the end of the day it's a bar.... The bartender and bouncer are the singular most offensive and pretensous people I have ever met in my life. Full of self importance and a vibe like they are keepers of all. They essence of the place has great bones and a good vibe overall... Just hope you catch the bartender on a night she isn't feeling like being rude and stuck up.Its far away from a premium bar and has an attitude problem equal to the snobbiest bars in all of Manhattan.... It's a hard Miss.

I stopped by Big Bar while visiting New York, and it was one of the most disappointing experiences I’ve ever had. The bartender was incredibly rude from the very beginning — no greeting, no smile, just an attitude like I was bothering her by even being there. She clearly had no idea what she was doing and couldn’t answer the simplest questions about the place. I didn’t even end up ordering a drink because the atmosphere was so unpleasant and unprofessional. I left after a few minutes, completely unimpressed. For a city like New York, where good service is everywhere, this was a huge letdown. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.

I had a very disappointing experience at Bog Bar in New York. We asked about the recipe for a Whiskey Sour, and were told it’s just whiskey and lemon juice. When we mentioned that a classic Whiskey Sour usually includes egg white, the staff became rude, told us not to “teach the bartender how to do their job,” and we were basically kicked out shortly after. Instead of a friendly conversation or a simple explanation, we were met with disrespect and attitude. Customer service matters, and no one deserves to be treated like that. Would not recommend this place.

I would leave zero stars if I could— I work service too and never leave reviews, this case was extremely bad and deserves to be shared. Absolutely horrible experience with the femme presenting bartender on a pretty empty Saturday. Extremely rude, condescending, unbearable and had to leave pretty immediately, it was ageist and very unpleasant to be around. The two lonely men sitting there were also questionable and she seemed way kinder to them, than to us fellow non-men with a kind demeanor. Will not come back, thank you for making us feel horrible. Thank you!

Delphine Ettinger (Ashes57)

We ordered the set menu. I am vegetarian, so my friend had the duck and frog legs. He liked them, but they looked like they were coated in breadcrumbs. We had a drink at the bar; the cocktail was very special and spicy. I really enjoyed that. The restaurant was full and had a nice atmosphere, but I wasn’t into the food. I guess I was put off by the potatoes with mayonnaise and a ton of salt! How is this fine dining? The mushroom dish and the ceviche were special but super salty. Salt is not a flavor! However, the set menu is still a good deal.

+3