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2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Uptown Bleecker St-Lafayette St (6)
8th St-Broadway (R, W)
"How have I not reviewed this place before?? I walk by quite often and always think of their delicious mango sticky rice dessert, which they…" read more »
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I've been back a handful of times and I gotta say the Drunken Noodles are a revelation. That's all. Oh yeah, and the service could still be better, but the noodles make up for it.
note: Not saying it was intentional, but make sure you look over the bill before paying it. Last night we were charged for 2 rounds of drinks when we only had one.
Really happy I made it to eat IN this restaurant after having delivery a few times. The delivery was… Read more »
Solid choice. Not anything extraordinary, but definitely better than average.
Two appetizers and a main course of Bangkok Curry was perfect for two people.
Service was also excellent. Waiter was very attentive and checked back frequently. Got there around 6:30 and were the only ones there. By the time we left around 7:30-8, the place was full.
While this is not my fave location, I prefer either the Brooklyn or Meat-packing locations...I've come to this location more frequently lately so I feel comfortable reviewing it. Its much smaller than its counterparts, much MUCH smaller...but the food quality is the same.
Last time I was here I with the BF we ordered the spring rolls appetizer and I had the chicken pad thai while he had the chicken/shrimp pad thai combo. The rolls were crispy, crispy and a little oily and came with a lightly sweetened dipping sauce. While it was a lil too oily to suit my tastes, it still tasted delish.
The chicken pad thai is always stellar here, to me at least. They give you an extra hefty portion, which always leaves me taking a doggy bag home. LUNCH!!! I loooove love their pad thai. And the BF is a huge fan of this place as well.
The best bestest part of this place are the prices. The appetizer was priced at 4.00 and the pad thai at 10 (used to be 8, but whatevs...).
You just can't beat that with a bat.
Come here!!!
Used to go to the Williamsburg one, but this is easier for me to get to. Awesome appetizers, great duck.
Wow, this was unexpected. Totally out of left field. Was just planning to order Pad Se Ew and instead had some seriously mind-boggling Thai food kind of left field.
Despite the downpour we braved the wet streets to eat out at Sea and enjoy the restaurant experience. The servers speak almost no English so you can't ask too many questions about the menu so you'll have to be a bit adventurous. Despite the language barrier they're quick and friendly. Definitely go with the Sea Specials...just an incredible list of yummy dishes that won't make you think twice about ignoring the noodle and fried rice sections.
We started with the chicken and peanut lettuce wraps. The lettuce came out with little dumplings on them..rather than a pile of chicken and peanuts they were dumpling-encased which was a bit odd but still tasty enough.
Then they brought out the huge plates of goodness. Seriously, both plates hardly fit on our table. One was piled high with honey bbq duck sitting on a bed of bok choy and asparagus...droool. This was by far the best duck dish I've had in a while. So flavorful and perfectly tender. The asparagus was thick but well cooked. The crispy duck skin was so decadent - yum. The second dish was Massaman ribs, deep fried and lounging in a pool of peanut sauce, veggies and potatoes. The meat fell off the bone and melted into the peanut flavor in a wonderful way.
The total meal was about $30 and so filling. I was so proud to have broken my pad see ew addiction and was rewarded with a delicious meal!
Sea is part of a chain of restaurants that includes Spice (across the street, kinda strange). The one in W'burg is a much larger and prettier space so go there if you want to impress and keep a budget. Go to this one if you want something local- it's smaller with 20 small tables but where better to eat thai food with a neon pink lights and dance music? That actually doesn't sound good, but it's cozy and works. Careful going down the stairs, in the rain/snow they get verrrry slippery. You WILL slip and bust your a$$, especially in heels... which actually is part of the fun, watching those UES gals maneuver the steps. Haha.
Solid consistent thai food. Apps are more delish than other thai places I've had, but maybe cuz they aren't v healthy for you! Spring rolls are heavy and yummy with a sweetish sauce. Lettuce wraps are my favorite- kind of like soft chicken/peanut dumplings with tomato based sauce. Calamari is also very flavorful and is served creatively. Papaya salad is just spicy enough and a more healthful alternative. The pad thai is the best I've had- again it's prolly 8,000 calories but so what? Not too much egg, not too much onion, just enough meat, and lots of flavor. The curries are also a good option, with the green curry being the favorite of several friends (not me, I don't do spicy). I'm always kinda dissappointed with the pineapple fried rice, maybe because I like sweet things and there's never enough pineapple or cashews? Often seems a bit dry to me so I'm not ordering it again.
Servers are attentive if you flag them down- but only cuz they are running around like crazy. Service is still quick as they have runners and bussers to help. Overall, Sea is a great option for a loud fun thai dinner with friends before going out boozing. Minus one star for consistently slow delivery (usually 45 min).
Who has'nt been to the SEA in Brooklynn?? While the atmospher may be more lively in BK, (with the DJ, the 2 bars) I feel if you are just planing on having dinner, and non alcoholic drinks come to this location instead of the BK location.......
The food menu is the same. The service, I feel is friendlier at this location. I've never been asked to wait more than 5 minutes. I am someone that like to drink alcoholic on occasion with my meal...This locaton has a limited bar menu....That's why, I say if you are planing on just having food, visit this location...........
Been here a zillion times as it's my roomie's favorite place in the city. The portions are large and cheap. I always get the Pad Thai and can never stop until I clean my plate no matter how full I am. The calamari bowl is also pretty amazing (and i love me some calamari)
It's tiny and can get packed out easily. There is always some greatest hits from 2003 playing on repeat which can be a good and bad thing.
Only downside is the service is .. awkward... every single time. You often have to stop them before they yank away your plate or sake. I wouldn't exactly call it warm & friendly service.
But in the end I'm not there to make friends. I'm there for the cheap saki and massive mounds of noodles. So for what I want. It's a winner.
Yes, it's quite casual dining, but I *LOVE* this place & whenever visiting NYC, make it by lunch. Why? Any lunch entree picked, the appetizer of your choice is FREE! Your tummy will leave oh so satisfied...
this spot has some damn delicious food!!!!
Stopped by this past Friday & had this spicy chicken fried rice with basil & ginger... so flavorful & not too greasy.I asked for a side of one of their milder curry sauces & they didnt even charge extra , that is a star in itself since places all over charge for petty ass stuff, like honey packets @ popeyes (rolls eyes), I also tried the curry puffs which had me salivating.. but then I guess I could eat anything fried in Phyllo(sp) dough
The service here can be quite frustrating at times, but they make up for it with decent thai food and great prices. Been to both locations and have to say I appreciated the atmosphere in their Brooklyn location better, just a bit less crazy I guess.
Don't expect amazing authentic thai, just well crafted american-thai classics.
Short and to the point: the drunk man's noodles were some of the best I've had: chicken, shrimp, and squid were a trifecta of awesome in my mouth, then throw in a few delicious Pink Asian Sangria's and I left satisfied with a nice buzz.
Only bad thing I can say is work something out with that entrance! We had a seat near the front and one of the highlights of the meal was watching tipsy diners push the sliding the doors forward, try and slip through the gap they've created, get stuck, laugh, we laughed... then it happened like 50 more times and got old, for serious.
If the Brooklyn location is better than the location in Manhattan I will be in for some phenomenal thai. The Manhattan location provided above average dishes at beyond reasonable prices that make it well deserving of a four star rating for the food. While the ambiance and service are nothing to waste words on, sometimes it is ok to give a high rating for a high quality meal.
After consulting fellow Yelpers reviews before my visit, I went with the drunk man noodles and curry puffs as an appetizer. Both were phenomenal. The drunk man noodles were so good that they actually seemed better with each bite. There have been very few times in my life that I could make that statement about a $9 entree.
I've been to the Brooklyn location and this one several times. It's much smaller than the Brooklyn venue and there usually isn't a wait. It's tasty and well priced for the portion of food you receive but not very authentic. Then again, nothing is going to beat Sripraphai in Woodside.
It's a decent choice to satisfy a Thai craving but I find that many of their dishes are too sweet and sometimes their Pad Thai and other noodles dishes are very gloopy. My friend and I kept asking for limes to squeeze onto our dishes to give it an extra kick. One dish I do recommend is their duck salad.
Took care of my thai cravings. It's good, but not the best I've had and I've had some great thai in California. It is consistent and won't disappoint your needs, but again I've had better.
I had a nice dinner at Sea, but admittedly, I've had better Thai food before. Hailing from San Francisco, where Thai restaurants are a plenty, I was excited to dine at Sea, especially since we went there only after I didn't make it onto my flight (don't fly standby going from NY to SFO/Oakland days after New Years!). I love the East Village, and so far all the venues we've gone to have been on point, was hoping I could say the same about Sea.
The venue is cute--smallish with a new age feel and very very dim lighting. I had to read the menu with the one votive candle on the table! The staff was only okay; friendly enough, I suppose, but not a fan of smiling, or "stupid requests" for that matter.
The three stars is for the very decent food. The Traditional Tom Yum was yum, thought a bit on the sweet side. It was hard to see what you were picking up with your spoon ("is that a mushroom?" my sister asked me several times) since it was so dim. The broad noodle dish (similar to pad see ew) was decent, though again, on the sweet side, and the same can be said about the sauteed chicken dish we ordered. I guess I prefer spicy and savory when it comes to Thai food.
We skipped dessert given I could only take so much sweetness.
Despite my gripes about the dim lighting and overly sweet dishes, the dining experience was nice, food tasty and presented nicely (fresh ingredients too). Service was rather quick, pleasant and overall ambiance is fun. Definitely a good date place, as we saw many dates going on.
Great food and really cheap. Appetizer, 2 entrees, and 2 drinks for under 40 bucks - and it was good!
The drunk man's noodles and the majority of the curries are top notch.
The service is really friendly, the prices are low, the portions are large. But the food is not so good. The sauce (which shouldn't even exist) in my pad see ew was thick as molasses, heavy-handed, salty, and utterly greasy. Although more expensive, 2 Big Macs with large fries might be healthier. This is 100% bastardized Thai food.
Sea Thai Bistro in Brooklyn makes some of the most succulent Po-Pia Sod (fresh summer rolls with peanut and tamarind sauce - $4) in New York (and possibly America). But the Po-Pia Sod at Sea in Manhattan is an insult! They are dry and clearly stored in a refrigerator destroying any semblance to the luscious rolls across the river.
Good date place---dimmed lights, nice decor
really good cocktails
and i really enjoyed my curry
no complaints here
I went here after hearing good things about the Brooklyn location. The food was pretty good. The service was not the greatest. Their pad se ew hit the spot. It's a small place, which is typically fine. Unfortunately there were some loud drunk women next to us ruining the chill dinner vibe. If I lived in the neighborhood, this would be my take out Thai place. I'm for sure going to have to check out the other location.
When I worked in the East Village I made it a point to get lunch delivered from here at least three times a week. Their drunken (drunkman) noodles is quite possible the best dish I've had at any Asian restaurant, a perfect blend of the tangy sauce with the spiciness of the peppers, topped off with some tasty chicken. The dinner drunken noodles--adding pork, scallops, and shrimp to the mix--loses something that is perfected in the chicken-only dish.
In terms of cost, it's among the cheapest worthwhile restaurants in the neighborhood.
My Fave Simple Thai in NYC!
The Drunk Man Noodle aka pad ki mow is the best i have ever had! this place spoiled me...
This is a Public Service Announcement (PSA).
The Green Curry at Sea is sooo hot that it is very hard for even me-a black woman to enjoy. You may or may not be aware of it, but black people (in general) enjoy hot, spicy food immensely. As do I, but dammit every time I order the Green Curry (I always seem to forget its too hot) I find it way too spicy to finish, even with extra rice.
Sea is very beautiful. There is a peaceful pool in the center, cool chairs hanging from the ceiling, clever restrooms...I could go on about the wonderful touches. Trust me its pretty. Oh and it was in a scene of Sex and the City (although I can't decide if that's a plus or a minus).
Note to self* NADJA, DO NOT ORDER THE GREEN CURRY. THE PAD THAI IS NICE AS IS THE CRUNCHY SEAFOOD SALAD OR THE CAESAR OR...ANYTHING ELSE.
UPDATE**********************
This review has sparked a Battle Royale. It is Chun "The Cube Monkey" L.'s assertion that he can not only finish Sea's "Hot, hot, hot, Green Curry, but he can do it without water or rice.
Here's a snippet of the convo:
4/15/08
What's at stake if I can finish the entire plate of Chicken Green Curry without rice or water?
Nadja M. says:
First, I have to witness it with my own two eyes.
Second, IF you finish...I will do the chicken dance loudly and proudly outside of Sea for all of the hipsters to sneer at.
But, WHEN you don't finish-- You have to do the chicken dance, shirtless, and buy me a drink next door.
Chun L.: I like those terms, but I want one other condition...
Nadja M. : *dramatic pause* cue organ
Chun L.: Loser pays for the Green Curry Chicken. It's only fair...
Lunch is the best time to go - great deal.
Drunk Man Noodles are so good, I randomly crave them.
Not in the hood? Never fear, sister restaurants are all over the cities. The food menus stay about the same, but the drink offerings alter.
Chelsea: Look for eye candy of chiseled men with striking faces (sorry ladies... this is look but dont' touch for you.) Drink: Strawberry Mojo
UES: I really see no point in being here, unless you live in this hood. This is the quietest/calmest of the lot.
Union Square: Very busy on the weekends, and very young (college) crowd.
W-burg: Look: You need to go once for the ambiance. Great bar scene... and speaking of scene -- both SATC and Garden State filmed here.. prolly a few more that I am missing. Try the Pomegranate mojitos.
I have friends who live in Williamsburg and we love going to see. Good food, and good prices. Hey, where else can you go have a Thai dinner, drinks and a club all in the same location?
Can't beat it.
My friends from DC and I were strolling through the area en route to St. Mark's Place and then back to a hookah bar in the area. They saw the place and really liked the layout. We hopped inside while it was still relatively quiet. This was around8:30 or 9:00 on a Saturday night.
We got seated quickly and close to the window which was open - it was a pretty nice night outside. The ambiance is really nice. Modern look, comfortable seating. The place is a little small, but not tiny.
We were primarily interested in drinks. The cute little hostess/waitress that cared for us was very nice. We decided to order a sake bomb. She had a look in her eye that made it seem like we were in a for treat. The sake bomb was nice - but the mojito was definitely impressive. For a $10 drink, it was nice big glass. The bars on Stone Street downtown charge $10 for a rock glass. We got ours in a big tall glass. Very nice.
We didn't order too much food and only ordered a Curry Puff appetizer. But THAT was fabulous. It was buttery, savory, and flaky. Absolutely well done pastry. Every morsel was fantastic. I found myself wanting to go straight back the next day just to order that pastry again.
The service was good. Our waitress was really pretty - maybe that helped. But she was definitely good about the order and the drinks - so very happy with the service. It was prompt and they didn't keep coming back as if to rush you out even though it was a small place.
In fact the place filled up very quickly shortly after we got there - and lots of groups and couples surrounded us, all enjoying food that looked pretty darn good.
Highly recommend for a group of friends, special someone - for a dining experience and good drinks. Price is very very reasonable and fair - and in a great part of town.
this is a nice low-key date place. i love thai food, and this place has pretty good quality/portions for the price.
haven't been to the one in BK though, i hear its too loud, not a fan of that, so i'll stick to this lil place.
The food is pretty well priced and the atmosphere is different.
the Brooklyn location is a better experience.
- doesn't compare to its brooklyn counterpart
- bland chicken pad thai
- inexpensive
Good food. More general Thai food on the menu than seafood, but it's really quite good. I'd say it was better than the Spice (same owner) on 6th and 2nd Ave. Small place though, and it gets pretty crowded. Excellent service and very reasonable prices.
Update: went back in May 09 and had their Honey Roasted Duck (special entree). It was definitely the best duck I've ever had. And, the portion was huge so I had it for lunch the next day as well!
Good food. More general Thai food on the menu than seafood, but it's really quite good. I'd say it… Read more »
While Sea Thai is part of the Spice Thai Group, the food is definitely not a good as Spice. The atmosphere is still trendy and Americanized, but the food just does not live up to its sister restaurants.
My friend and I navigated the large menu and settled on the following appetizers: Oriental Curry Puffs and Papaya Salad. The curry puffs were stuffed with chicken and wrapped in green noodles. The curry sauce was very aromatic and delicious. The papaya salad was way too spicy and had very little papaya. It was mostly peanuts and cabbage. For entrees we shared the Samet Pad Thai, which is pad thai minus the noodles. It was tasty, but a bit too rich. The sauce was more traditional, offering a sweet, sour, and spicy mix rather than the Americanized peanut version. We also tried the Shrimp Pad Woon Sen, which I found a bit greasy and strong-tasting. It had that slight smoky flavor occasionally found in Chinese Lo Mein. I am not sure what it is, but I do not like it. My friend, however, loved the food.
They also offer delicious-sounding desserts, however our waiter brought the check right after we finished our meals, assuming we did not want anything additional. We asked for dessert menus with annoyance, but wound up passing based on spite :)
Regardless, I think there are much better Thai places in the city.
2nd Avenue below 12th Street is a haven for me - it's close enough to my house for me to walk to and far enough away for me to feel that I've left my 'hood.
So you can imagine my dismay when my most reliable "local" Thai plummets in my estimation due to abysmal service.
On my last visits, we've been treated in the most unreal fashion - no communication, being ignored completely, food coming out at all different times, and just plain rude waitstaff. Shame because the food is eminently affordable and very tasty.
Managing restaurant traffic is a challenge and one that New York restaurants need to master.
I think I'll give it one more try and then take it off my list forever. Try going for lunch...maybe that's better.
2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 1 martini in NYC for under $30? don't believe me? go to Sea. excellent service and nice atmosphere to boot. wasn't the absolute best pad thai i've ever had but pretty darn good considering the price. i WILL be going back.
My friend has been raving how good the SEA is in the city. We haven't seen each other for awhile, so we decided to come here to eat yesterday night.
The specials were soft shell crab salad and sea coconut shrimp. The soft shell crab was just beyond greasy. The sea coconut shrimp was burnt beyond recognition.
I told him---this is the place you like....it's worse than the one in Brooklyn.
Everything we ate here wasn't authentic and everything just tasted greasy and disgusting!
In Conclusion:
Been there, done that.....and OVER IT!
I happen to be Sea Thai's original regular. I used to live on 6th st. and was one of the first people to eat there in early 2000.
Why do you care?
Well I was just checking out their website, and noticed they haven't raised their lunch special prices in 7 years! That's incredible.
Do yourself a favor; have some Tub Tim fritters. That shit is delicious.
Standard Thai fare in the East Village. We went there on a Friday night without reservations and this place was packed. The dimly lit space was small with tables lined on sides of the two walls. We waited by the tiny bar area in the back while we waited for a table. The appetizers we had - Fried Shrimp martini and calamari - were both pretty good. They were both fried nicely with a side of tasty sauce. I had the Brooklyn Basil as my entree and it was ok. Good portions, though a little more squid in the dish than other seafood. Beer prices were a little inconsistent. I had a Singha beer at the bar that was $6.50, while it was $7.00 when I had it at dinner. Overall, I like this place and would definitely dine here again.
Blah blah blah stop telling me that the original Sea in Brooklyn is much better, which I'm sure it is. But I live in Manhattan, and until you get a car and drive me over, I'll be seeing you at the Sea over on my side.
I love this restaurant because neither my friends nor I have ever gotten a dish we didn't absolutely love. This is a great place to dine at where the ambiance is great, the food is delicious, and your plates are less than 10 bucks. And each dish comes as vegetarian/shrimp/chicken/beef (or something close to that), so you'll always be able to find something on the menu whether you're vegetarian or pescatarian or chi-something-arian.
Only problem is that they don't take reservations after 7 (i think), so you might have to wait.
PS - check out their drink menu!
Would get five stars because the food is great and well-priced (ie: not dirt cheap but still a good deal for the quality). But I say it loses a star because in restaurant service was a bit mediocre.... had to wait a while to get water and then the woman who took my delivery order a few days later was kinda short with me.
But it's a good bet for a fun meal and has a decent atmosphere.
Im used to the much larger on in Brooklyn, i really don't like the suit next to me dipping his elbow in my Pad Thai. But if i am in the city, and i have a Drunken man noddle craving, im gonna have to stop by.
So i took away two stars, one for size and waiter service, we waited like 2o mins for water! And the size of the place, way to small for me. I would get an order to go.
The second star was lost as i noticed they didn't serve the Brooklyn Bazil, like there Brooklyn counterparts.
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what I found myself missing after I moved out of…
