- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Lovely Day
Categories: Restaurants Thai Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Irish Thai, Breakfast & Brunch, Irish [Edit]
196 Elizabeth St(between Prince St & Spring St)
New York, NY 10012
Neighborhood: Nolita
(212) 925-3310
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bowery (J)
Spring St (4, 6, 6X)
Grand St (B, D)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
130 reviews for Lovely Day
Review Highlights
-
"Ginger fried chicken is one of the best appetizers ever..." In 7 reviews -
"...dish is the salmon with mashed sweet potatoes, and SO..." In 4 reviews -
"Huge fan of their flourless chocolate cake." In 7 reviews
Loading...
129 reviews in English
-
Review from Radford T.
Manhattan, NY
5/15/2012 4 Check-ins Here
My co-workers and I come here for lunch sometimes. The prices are great for the neighbourhood, and the food is delicious. Lovely Day serves a kind of fusion pan-Asian type of food. That description will probably turn off a lot of so-called "foodies", but the restaurant does the food very well. I highly recommend the Smoked Salmon Sandwich, made with wasabi creme fraiche. And also despite the type of food it serves, the decoration is not some cheesy attempt to look "Asian". In fact it looks more like a hipster brunch spot.
This is a great restaurant for lunch if you work in the neighbourhood.Listed in: Lunch time in and near Soho!
-
Review from L Z.
Mission Hills, San Diego, CA
4/22/2012
Went here the other night with some friends with no expectations and all in all I must say this place delivered.
We ate on the lower level and the decor and vibe was such that we totally felt that we were eating in someone's parents basement. It was kind of funny and kind of whatever.
I ordered the salmon which was pretty good and a enjoyed a few bites of Hobo Noodles that were being passed around. I definitely thought the noodles were better than my salmon.
Totally affordable and the service was good too. I'd give it another go. -
Review from Brittany A.
New York, NY
3/30/2012
Located in a bi level "house" this Thai fusion restaurant is not your average Pan-Southeast-Asian experience. Choose from either entering into the upstairs dining room or the downstairs dining room, both filled with 1950s-19960s memorabilia. The house looks rather untouched from the era of Leave it to Beaver. Location wise, this place is adorable.
Unfortunately the food is nothing I would come back for. Portions are small and lack flavor. The Thai Iced Tea is small and not good. The Pad Thai was decent but I would rather go to an actual Thai restaurant for a more tasty experience. The veggie dumplings also lacked any sort of flavor.
Adorable restaurant. But it does not present Thai food justly. -
Review from Tolani O.
Amityville, NY
5/22/2012
good location. good food. good atmosphere. DREADFUL service. they are flat out rude and for no reason. i hadto wonder if it was in the job description.
-
Review from Renee m.
2/7/2012
I've passed by here a few times, before finally stopping by, and I now understand why I have not come here sooner.
I want to preface this review with stating that Service here is excellent!
Moving on to the less than noteworthy items:
- Japanese chicken wings - Tastes just like maggie sauce wings
- Grilled ribs - Almost tastes just like the wings except there was more garlic
overall, we felt our dinner would have been better spent at pheasant next door. -
Review from Vivian C.
New York, NY
2/27/2012
I give this local joint five stars for its friendliness, good pricing and delicious food. Here are some of my favorites:
Wild salmon with mash sweet potatoes and orange sauce (side salad)
Sliders..(when they have it)...yum!
Edamame dip
Smoked salmon wasabi sandwich
Fried egg sandwich with avocado
Classic Irish breakfast
Ginger fried chicken
Chicken satay with cucumber sauce and rice
My favorite dessert right now is the Mont Blanc! (it's a chestnut cake) ooh la la.
They serve proper English tea -- PG tips! And, Rooibos, and on a day with a liquid sweet tooth, I opt for the green tea latte or a Cadbury hot cocoa.
Also, I quite enjoy dining downstairs in the evenings when they're open. It's quiet, quaint and a perfect place to come after work to unwind.
Overall, I Love dining here! It's yummy, affordable, fun and just a great place to be, whether it's upstairs during the day reading a paper, or downstairs at night sipping on a glass of wine or beer or an artisanal cocktail! -
Review from Q R.
New York, NY
4/8/2012
Food and drinks were great. Atmosphere, amazing. Service (besides the bartender)...awful. I mean really bad. At one point, all the waiters were sitting down chatting. We had to walk to the bar to get condiments, more water, our check...you name it. Such a bummer because I always want to love this place.
-
Review from Roark S.
CANAL STREET, NY
2/24/2012
I went to lovely day again last night at like 10:35-2/23/12. I was told the kitchen closes at 11. We were asked to order right away- we did. Yet, we waited a few minutes to be seated in their remaining table in the corner-by the bathroom.
There were 3 on staff-a man with glasses, a taller blond woman and a shorter blond woman (here in "blondy")
Blondy then welcomed us with a frown and barked "you ready". Blondy had not taken our drink order and came back a few minutes later abruptly taking our drinks-our drinks came 10 minutes after our food. All food was angrily and violently placed on the table.
Blondy did not even look at our table the entire meal-despite the fact that water spilled on the table. We had to get up for the hot sauce!
She then hastily dropped the off the bill and said your "your check"
A few minutes later, I told her "your check is ready"
Blondy stated : "what did you say" to which I responded "you heard me -your check is ready". Blondy continued by stating " are you fu***ing kidding me"
She grabbed the credit card, and proceeded to call me "disgusting" and not to come back. Lastly, she stated there were closed "twenty minutes ago"-yet there were at least 4 other tables finalizing their meals.
I simply told blondy that the owner would be very upset with her attitude and service, and the she is in the wrong industry.
I waitered for 6 years and knew my time to leave. Blondy should know it's her exit time!
The food was fine. The service was the worst I ever had!!!!!
No patron should be exposed to the bitterness, angry, and hostile environment that Blondy brings to the table. Fire Blondy! Fire Blondy! And we (the locals) will come back! We come in packs. -
Review from Paula E.
Manhattan, NY
3/13/2012
hmmm not really crazy about this place. The food was really nothing to write home about. I had the pad thai with the fried rice, maybe if I would've been a bit more adventurous with the food I would've had a better experience? The place seems to be cute for a date and it's not really bad I guess, just not for me.
-
Review from Maddie O.
9/6/2011
I used to work next door to Lovely Day, and I would always walk by and stare longingly at the off-duty models enjoying pad thai on the sunny sidewalk.
I've eaten in once before, the service was slow and snooty. The food was good, but pricier than other thai places, and with smaller portions.
I recently ordered delivery for a few friends and it took quite a while. My red curry was not as flavorful as many others that I have tried, but it was loaded with plump, fresh, shrimp. The dinner portion seemed to be even smaller than I remember the lunch portion being! It was plenty to fill me up but I'm used to being able to stretch thai takeout for two meals.
If you have a few extra dollars and would like to eat some thai food in a trendy atmosphere, this is your spot. Otherwise, save your money and go to Thai Lemongrass a few blocks away. -
Review from Joelle B.
Chicago, IL
2/10/2012
I had a cup of PG Tips (my favorite!! I couldn't believe they had it) and a plate of heavenly grilled calimari for lunch today. The server was so nice and the food was great. I still can't believe they had my tea there. That was a mega wow moment. What a hidden gem. I'll be back.
-
Review from soya m.
New York, NY
2/26/2012
I have eaten recently at Lovely Day three times. The service and food were
great on the first two occasions. However, the third time was not a charm, in
fact the opposite.
There was a different chef and waitstaff the third time which was a Sunday.
Waitress seemed hostile & like she really didn't want to be there. Food was
terrible. Staff kept running into kitchen to speak with the "chefs"; there seemed
to be recurring issues with kitchen & food quality.
The waitress fits the general description as in the review posted on 2/24/2012
by Roark. I have to say, the other staff at his restaurant has always been "Lovely".
Afraid to return for a while. Hope the owner is paying attention to these reviews. -
Review from Vic V.
Manhattan, NY
9/14/2011
Cute and cozy, Lovely Day is in the heart of Nolita. Serves up a mean chow fun and pad thai. Their homemade veggie dumplings are too die for! Melts in your mouth. Dumpling man - watch out! The long beans in garlic sauce are delicious.
Inexpensive, friendly service, killer food, great drinks, and did I mention there is a bar downstairs? Yeah. It's as good as it gets! -
Review from Jeanna L.
Brooklyn, NY
4/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I know its supposed to be some kind of Pan-Thai place that fuses modern/trendyness into the food but honestly, I didn't think it was that good. I've had better $8 specials from hole in the wall Thai places.
I had the coconut soup (Tom Kah Kai at Thai Restaurants). The broth of the soup itself was good but there was a shit ton of onions and peppers in it. Just swimming in it with 2 pieces of chicken and mushrooms.
The dish itself was not memorable. There was too many peppers and I've tasted better curry elsewhere.
Try it if you want to be disappointed. You're better off finding a whole in the wall Thai place unless you want to pay $25 for a meal when you can get a better tasting one for $8. -
Review from Jim C.
New York, NY
Updated - 1/3/2012
Came back a couple of more times - Food is a little better, but the bar downstairs (full menu) just kills it!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/31/2010
Cute place, great location - I thought the Pad Thai was tasty, and the prices are right. The other… Read more »
-
-
Review from Lisa N.
New York, NY
3/23/2011
Yowza....it's been a whole day since I've eaten there and I'm still pissed that I actually paid these people for the food i got.
For beginners, I ordered the Hobo Noodle, which is pretty hard to screw up and even at a sub-par Thai restaurant can still be good. I think you can tell what I am geting at here.....IT WAS AWFUL.... it was sweet and didn't even bare a resemblance to other Hobo Noodles I had. There was hardly any basil (which was the only thing that could even try to mitigate the sweetness) and TONS of red bell peppers with no onions...yeah, i'm totally confused too....
All i can liken that montrosity too is when you go to a really bad thai food restaurant and your pad thai comes out all sweet and red because they most likely used ketchup rather than tamarind to flavor it....
seriously, for a small quaint thai restaurant with awesome food, kick ass drink specials, and a "village vibe" stick with Tai Thai on 1st & 1st... -
Review from Try N.
New York, NY
6/9/2011
This place is a hit or miss joint, with a cute retro vibe harkening back to the good ol days of Formica, shabby chic lampshades, floral wallpaper and world globes.
I used to come here regularly for a simple brunch that didn't rob the bank, nearly every week, before they were incapacitated by some sort of leak for several months and were forced to shut down.
Weird fusion of food, but it worked; definitely don't expect authenticity. I loved the place for their seared salmon with mashed sweet potatoes, pad thai, tom yum, chinese broccoli, and one of their classic egg with toast breakfasts.
When I had the rare sweet tooth for breakfast (odd because I love love desserts, just usually not first thing in the morning), I would get their French toast, which was formidable.
Huge fan of their flourless chocolate cake.
All in all, I was a big fan, despite their nonchalant service.
I was disappointed when I found one of my local gems shut down, and psyched when many months later, they were up and running again (this time with a much better bathroom situation, although not as awkward and thus funny). But something happened after they reopened.
The seared salmon, which was my default go-to dish, was no longer consistently yummy. Sometimes it was on the soggy side (yuck), other times, a bit on the fishy side (doubly yuck).
The various times I've returned to try again, the dishes I received were sometimes awesome, other times, overcooked, undercooked, inconsistent in flavor, texture and/or intensity. Pretty sure the only people running the kitchen are line-cooks.
The service got worse. We often had staff that would forget our order, or more often than not, take an eternity (and I'm pretty patient when good food is involved) to take our order or deliver the goods. In fact, a few times, the salmon came out soggy because it had already finished cooking, but too much time had elapsed by the time they got it to the table.
I miss the old Lovely Day where I used to count on having a good meal with just the right vibe for a lazy late Sunday brunch.
I will still occasionally, though rarely, stop by in hopes that it's a good day for Lovely Day.
My bf, however, is far less tolerant and our inconsistent experiences has left an irreparably bad taste in his mouth.
Once there was a time we would both look forward to our Lovely Day brunch. Now, whenever I suggest it when our other options have been exhausted, he just says, "eh."
This flourless chocolate cake, however, still kicks ass. -
Review from Janice L.
ASTORIA, NY
1/16/2012
Besides having just about the most charming restaurant name in the city and a quaint and pleasant dining atmosphere, Lovely Day boasts a cheerful, relatively unpretentious (and certainly, unpretentiously priced) menu with genuinely interesting infusions and takes on more traditional Asian (Thai/Japanese) fare.
-
Review from Joyce C.
ROOSEVELT ISL, NY
1/16/2012
This place is cozy and the food is amazing. I fell in love with thai food because of this place. The hours are a little weird, but it's inexpensive and the food is amazing. HOBO NOODLES FOREVER!
-
Review from Brandon M.
Brooklyn, NY
2/16/2011
This must be the whitest Thai restaurant on the face of the Earth..
My 'ginger chicken' was just fried chicken with no vegetables or sauce.
I don't get it.
But seriously, this shouldn't be classified as a Thai restaurant- it's more in the vein of an Irish pub, but without the drunken party. -
Review from Nancy F.
Honolulu, HI
6/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
An unassuming eatery on Elizabeth St., Lovely Day serves up Asian dishes (not American, as I had assumed).
It had been a while since I've had me some chow fun. Glad Lovely Day was there to bring my taste buds on a nice stroll down memory lane. -
Review from Joanna P.
3/16/2011
I had the salmon and mashed sweet potatos. JEEZ YUM.
I enjoy when a venue takes on a totally different atmosphere during the day time vs the night time. I had come here once before with a manpanion at night. We had some drinks in the basement and then took a look upstairs. It was too busy for my liking, but still looked warm and inviting. (I'm basically just a hater and hate when strangers touch me. why I moved to NY and stay here... your guess is as good as mine...)
We came for lunch on a Tuesday this time, and sat upstairs. This time the floor was flooded with sunshine and Waiter had young Mick Jagger hair. Another patron had a blue bob. HE had a blue bob... Yeah so it's one of those places. BUT SO TOTALLY PLEASANT. And the food was so good I didn't have enough time to concentrate on making fun of strangers for a couple hours.
::really wants to make a "lovely day" joke, but is too tired right now:: -
Review from Luke S.
Morrisville, PA
2/26/2012
The salmon was the best meal I've had in months.
-
Review from Alvaro P.
7/28/2011
Really cheap and very tasty food. The coconut noodles are my favorite!
Listed in: Nueva York
-
Review from David T.
11/29/2011
Had a nice dinner here.
Fried tofu very nice, edamame could have been a bit warmer. Pad Thai with shrimp tasty and with a nice zing. Red curry with shrimp basically standard execution, nothing special. It's a cozy small restaurant, doesn't look or feel Thai at all and can can get quite noisy as it is very small. -
Review from Elizabeth H.
Brooklyn, NY
5/30/2011
Lovely Day is one of my favorite restaurants in NYC. It's not too pricey and every time I eat there, I want to lick my plate! It is sooooooooo good! Actually, I get the same thing every time I go...the seared wild tuna roll with market greens, wasabi and peanut sauce. It is ALWAYS AMAZING! Of course, the price keeps going up, but what doesn't?
I suggest this restaurant to many people, and I take my friends here on occasion and they have ordered lots of different dishes - all with stellar reviews. The summer rolls, green curry, pad thai, seared salmon, and all the deserts, specifically the flourless chocolate cake and crispy banana roll are all very yummy and worth the price.
The cocktails are also made well every time! I enjoy sitting downstairs in the basement where it looks like you just walked into the past. A prohibitionesque vibe with beautiful bar and vintage glasses go well with my outfits and my taste for a nicely crafted martini. Just the thought of it makes me smile.
Thank you, Lovely Day, for being so, well... lovely :] -
Review from Zvezdana O.
1/9/2011
I've been here about 3 or 4 times now, obviously not because I love the place (note the measly 3 stars), but because one of my friends lives on the same block and also, happens to love this place.
What I do love about Lovely Day is its name and its rustic, shabby romantic ambiance. I LOVE IT!!! It is so cozy and I love sitting in there.
The food is OK, nothing to write home about. Average at best. Their flourless chocolate cake however is downright amazing.
The service is spotty and sometimes with a little unnecessary attitude.
Can I just sit here and talk all night? That would be great! All the rest... meh. -
Review from World T.
New York, NY
5/14/2011
Ate here with my sister a week ago. We arrived at noon on a weekday, and the place was virtually empty, so we picked the nice, sunny round table in the front with the view of their quaint Nolita street. They also have really cozy 2-person booths against the wall. I heart booths ; )
My sis ordered the poor man's noodle dish, which is spicy, and I ordered the chow fun version with different veggies that is not spicy, just to have some variation....they're basically the same dish....spicy one was better, frankly....waitress was nice and we had good service....by 1pm, the place was busy and booths were full. I'd definitely come back here to see a friend and eat in the cute booths. Also, I love that they use Stumptown Roasters coffee. -
Review from Yosh H.
8/17/2007
Lovely Day is another one of those places that you've "walked by several times before, have peaked your interest, and you always wanted to try." Well, next time you walk by Lovely Day, GO IN! The atmosphere is quaint/intimate with small tables and the lush Gauguin-red wallpaper. And there is a great bar of only 6 stools to eat a relaxing meal while chatting with the staff.
For take-out today, I tried the lunch set of Hobo noodles (sauted wide noodles with spicy red sauce, red chili, bell peppers, onions, and fresh thai basil), dumplings, and edamame. For less than $10, this was a deal not only because the food was delicious but also, they didn't skimp on the portions (with the exception of the 2 dumplings). But be warned, my co-workers grew jealous of my fantastic lunch and so will yours if you bring Lovely Day back to work with you. But then again, what's so wrong with that? -
Review from Arthur O.
Greenwich Village, New York, NY
2/26/2008
Apparently there's a good reason why this restaurant is called Lovely Day as opposed to Lovely Night.
Sure, the werewolf turns into a decrepit and cursed being only a few times of the month governed on the shape of the moon. But Lovely Day? You just have to wait for the sun to go down.
But then again, I haven't been to Lovely Day before the curfew, so I'm basing the benefit of the doubt entirely on fellow Yelpers that adore it - I mean, praises that conjure up images of Wong Kar-wai films? Nonetheless, having witnessed its gruesome face by the moonlight, I wouldn't be shocked if by some Irish-Thai sorcery Lovely Day clouds its patrons' judgments when powered by the sun.
Thai food being the most agreeable cuisine for your esophagus when projectile-vomiting after heavy malt liquor consumption, I coaxed a few dear friends of mine to try Lovely Day before we celebrated Dre Day at 205 Club http://www.yelp.com/bi....
By the time we witnessed our server ignore us for an unreasonable amount of time, trip over various objects - including her own foot - and needing reminders about the drink order, we realized that our dining experience would not be so lovely.
Apparently, after sunset, the crew at Lovely Day is the epitome of what's wrong with young America: rendered completely useless due to their laziness aided by utter drunkenness. The line cooks - I don't think there was even a chef in the kitchen - were content with their microwaves as their culinary weapons of choice. The drunken/bitchy follies of the servers boiled to the climax of the night that featured plates and glassware hitting the floor in the most fitting demonstration of their incompetence.
I think the best thing about Lovely Day is that you don't have to ask for chopsticks. As opposed to waiting 30 minutes for them, you just pluck them right out of the cylindrical container on the table. -
Review from michele l.
Brooklyn, NY
1/7/2008
Ironically, a visiting Brit introduced me to this restaurant. His friends over in the UK recommend it to everyone. If a TINY restaurant gets recommendations from another country, you know it has to be good.
It definitely did not disappoint. I have been here at least 10 times since then, and everyone I bring to the restaurant falls in love with it. I always get the pad thai, which is one of the best I've had. They give you huge portions for your money. Also try the banana dessert! Oh, and an important note is they only accept Discover, so make sure you bring cash. -
Review from kimy l.
San Francisco, CA
5/2/2008
Went to dinner here with Sharon and her cousin Monica. The food is pretty good. We had pad see ew, thai style coconut chicken soup, chinese broccoli, and green curry with chicken.
The place kind of looks like shabby chic which is what I wouldn't expect for a place that serves Thai food. Not sure what the categorize this as. -
Review from Sam P.
New York, NY
10/18/2007
Holy restaurant schizophrenia, Batman! It's a brunch place. No, it's a thai place. No, it's a diner. No, it's an Irish hipster haven. Actually, it's all of the above. And it's a damn cute little place too.
Came here for lunch a while ago with two of my favorite old school Elites, Billy A and Jessica A upon the suggestion of the latter. The menu is as varied as can be, but not in that overwhelming 17 page plastic diner menu kind of way - with everything from a complete Irish Breakfast to Hobo Noodles, to Edamame. I had an omelette, my companions both went with the Asian offerings. We had one server mishap involving a spilled salad, but other than that the service was great.
Decor is that nice rustic Nolita mismatched furniture look. I'm over it at some places, but it works here. Unforced and natural. I'm a fan. A great place to stop into no matter what you're in the mood for. -
Review from Slava R.
New York, NY
11/18/2007
Had Brunch @ Lovely with no reservations. Short wait followed by fantastic food and beautiful people. This small thai/irish dinner is tucked away on the best street in Manhattan - Elizabeth street. The service tends to be slow and unconcerned, but the food makes simple an art form. My friends love the coffee and I would highly recommend the fresh oj (warning - its pulpy). The eggs dishes are good, the bacon is to die for (friends talking again), and if you are ready for a heartier meal there are several thai options (e.g. pad thai) to choose from. When the weather allows, it is awesome to sit out front and do some people watching. Dont miss this spot if you are looking for an education in style. One big bonus is without even ordering dessert you will leave happy - because the clientele is sweet!
Meal Details - Eggs Norwegian, OJ -
Review from Amy S.
Brooklyn, NY
8/22/2006
My favorite end of the month and broke until my next paycheck place! You can get FABULOUS chicken, shrimp, tofu or beef pineapple fried rice for $4.50!!!!! In SOHO! What a treat. Also lots of hotties are working the floor and behind the bar.
To tease the lactose intolerant in me, the flourless chocolate cake might be the greatest thing on earth aside from my husband.
Be careful, this place is always crowded."Listed in: Food for the Lactose…, Favorite Elizabeth/Mott Street…
-
Review from Jessica B.
Brooklyn, NY
8/8/2006
I love the wallpaper here, OH, and the food too. They have sort of a fusion cuisine going on...mostly Thai food with some American flair thrown in. The drinks are more confused, some are sake and some are beer margaritas? I say throw the labels to the curb and dig in. The chow fun is delicious as are the dumplings and pad thai.
The servers are a bit obtuse and clearly never eat the food as they seem to be having an anorexic club in addition to waiting tables.
Oh well, more for us!Listed in: The Places I Go Out
-
Review from Galvin C.
4/14/2011
I must have ordered takeout from here at least two dozen times, and I don't think I've ever ordered anything but the Chow Fun. (Okay, there has been some experimentation with the Pad Thai, which is good but no comparison.) Because the Chow Fun is delicious and there is no need to order anything else; it is always piping hot, easily meeting RDA levels for salty and brown, and with an ideal noodle/greens/egg/beef ratio. And of course you order it with beef, because Chow Fun/Pad See Ew is demonstrably the best with beef, assuming the quality of meat is up to spec, which it is here. I am confident in saying there is no way you will not enjoy the Chow Fun here unless you are heir to some sort of far-reaching Chow Fun empire. Their Chow Fun is so delightful it is even worth my repeatedly undergoing the mild degradation of ordering a dish called Chow Fun and then having to give them my last name of "Chow." (I prefer not to give my first name when phoning in deliveries, because there is no way it's not being misheard as Calvin/Alvin/Gavin or, I swear to God, "Garbin.")
One time out of pure habit I said "Chow Fun" for my name as well as my order, thus forever creating for the person on the other end of the phone line an absurd reality in which a man calling to order Chow Fun is also, however improbably, named Chow Fun.
I have only eaten in the actual restaurant once, and it was kind of a cramped sweltering overly-tattooed-cashier/annoyingly-vintage-registe r hipster nightmare, so I'll probably stick with delivery, thanks. -
Review from Jess R.
New York, NY
1/12/2010 2 Check-ins Here
The first time I came to Lovely Day was about 3 years ago. I was interning in NYC and my priorities for dinner were the following:
1. very delicious
2. very, very cheap
Using these two very important criteria to filter my search, I stumbled upon Lovely Day and headed out the door for some good ol' NYC Thai Fusion.
My experience with LD was breathtaking. Astounding. Magnificent.
1 year and a couple months later, I went back to Lovely Day (fear not, I'd been back many times in between), and was devastated when I was greeted not by the smells of wondrous food and a hipster hostess, but by a sign that read something along the lines of 'we will hope to open in October, thank you for your support!' Needless to say, I was devastated - especially when hearing that there had been a building conflagration that had nearly burned my Lovely Day down to the ground!
Fast forward to about a year later. Lovely Day reopens. Life is grand again.
I've been here countless times, and have had consistently great meals for shockingly low prices. My favorites include the ginger fried chicken app (the dipping sauce - aaamazing!), summer rolls, salmon, pad thai (a little spicy), and the Thai chow fun. For dessert, you can't go wrong with the flourless chocolate cake or the carrot cake with custard. Also, the beer margaritas are delicious and a really great idea! You order a beer, and for a few bucks more, the waiter will give you a salted glass with some marg mix. Pour in the beer and voila!
The interior could not be more charmingly kitschy: old fashioned red-pleather booths, floral stamped walls, a bathroom in a random little cabin structure (it used to be a TINY bathroom with a chalkboard painted wall - I miss writing on it!), and a three-walled kitchen that sometimes emits fiery bursts from its fogged windows. The interior reminds me of a restaurant that would have been featured in the play "Rent".
In short: come here!! The food and atmosphere are consistently great (this is a true "New York" restaurant - great to bring out-of-towners to if they want a non "touristy" experience), and the surrounding area is adorable.
If you can't already tell, I come here a lot, and will continue to in years to come. Especially because my priorities for dinner haven't changed much (if at all) from 3 years ago!
Thank you, Lovely Day, for never disappointing me and for always being so delicious. You are definitely my favorite restaurant in NYC!
I'm so glad that you survived the fire! -
Review from Grace Y.
7/23/2010
The good: The food was delicious. Asian fusion, leaning towards Thai. I'm still dreaming about the mirin marinated fish over soba noodles I had.
The bad: The restaurant is tiny, cramped and stuffy. The wait for a table was longer than the hostess had told us. We sat at the bar to wait because the hostess told us we could, but were kicked off a few minutes later because we were waiting for a table instead of ordering food at the bar (we couldn't even order appetizers because we were waiting for a table). The bartender was also kind of mean to us. It was a very frustrating expereince service wise, and we almost walked away after 30 minutes of waiting.
So, food was superb, but service was annoying. -
Review from Joan C.
Brooklyn, NY
2/22/2008
I agree with the other reviewers who complain about the bitchy waitresses. They are clearly NOT having a lovely day at all. Food is pretty good (although I try not to think about it as Thai food. that would ruin it.) and cute ambiance. But what kind of a joint decides to ONLY accept ONE credit card and then decides to make that ONE credit card the discover card??? Hey, I dated a guy who was enamored of his discover card. Everywhere we went, he'd ask, do you take discover? Then act all shocked & hurt when they inevitably said "NO". He was in love the with cash back feature. I get that. But dude. NOBODY USES DISCOVER CARD.
Hmm. I digress.
Long beans are great (and i'm pretty sure a Chinese dish, but hey, why am I being so culturally discriminating anyway, this is 2008), veggie dumplings great, fried tofu way too sweet, kimono shrimp also too sweet. I'll have to come back for the Irish breakfast. Which reminds me. I know a gal who's half Thai, half Irish, aka "Thairish". This could, like, totally be her if she were a restaurant!
Read more reviews for this business:
Spanish (1)
