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Category: Asian Fusion
Neighborhoods: Meatpacking District, West Village14th St-8th Ave (A, C, E, L)
14th St-7th Aves (1, 2, 3, F, V, L)
Mon-Thu. 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
"This place is off the chizzzain! I went there with a date last summer and was happily seated outside (perfect evening, nice breeze). After…" read more »
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My partner and I went here while on vacation and we both enjoyed our night.
The bartender did a great job of welcoming us, casual conversation and discussing the nights drink options. Ginger margarita and Lemon Drop martini... both 4 stars in our books
Next we made our way to our table which was a bit odd sharing a bench with another couple and sitting so close, but it wasn't that bad after all. (3 stars)
The waiter was great, he did a fine job of explaining the cuisine, and way the food would be prepared and served. We ordered samosas, pork vindaloo, and a mixed vegetable side. The samosas were served with a delicious sauce, the pork was melt in your mouth and the spices were perfect. The mixed vegetable side was not my favorite but was not bad... just not what I was expecting.
Overall the ambiance, service, food and price were great and we would go there again!
Came here during company holiday party and was really impressed with their strong drinks and food. It is an asian fusion place with great strong dishes and Asian flavor cocktails. The only downside about this place is it is pricey. I feel like for the same price, I could get a lot more in other Asian restaurants.
Oh well I got all my drinks and food here for free this time at least!
I'd first been to Spice Market when it first opened almost 7 years ago and reservations were impossible to get...Years later, it's still popular which is no surprise since it is a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant. A beautiful space with an upscale lounge feel with asian accents, the restaurant is still a great place to dine. Staff was attentive, noise levels were high, but not unbearable. While Vongerichten's Vong showcased Asian-infusion before the trend became cliche, Spice Market remains unique utilizing flavors from many different cultures form the near and far east...and not muting the spices.
Something to note is that everything is served family style and is fairly affordable...
I was on a small plate kick...so we sampled a number of appetizers...
Charred Chili Rubbed Beef Skewer with a Thai Basil Dipping Sauce - the the tender melt-in-your-mouth skewers made me certain that they used filet but flavors of the dipping sauce made the perfect accompaniment
Spiced Chicken Samosas with Cilantro Yogurt - While chicken is a unique choice for samosas, they were as well received as the wonderful burst of spice mixed into the filling was a pleasant reminder that this restaurant does not skimp on flavor.
Lobster Summer Roll, Citrus-Dill Gelee Sriracha Emulsion - Chunks of meaty lobster filled the rolls rather than a broken down lobster mixture.
Salmon Tartar, Soy Ginger Dressing - Avocado and Radish - fresh sushi grade fish is always a favorite of mine....the radish offered an additional texture and bite to what normally would be a typical appetizer on a NYC menu
Peekytoe Crab Dumplings with Sugar Snap Peas and Aromatic Spices - Although I would have preferred the dumplings to be slightly crispy on the underside, the smaller sized dumplings were stuffed full of crab.
Dessert - Ovaltine® Kulfi with Caramelized Banana and Spiced Milk Chocolate Sauce - This was differently plated than the rectangular form I first experienced years ago, this unique dessert still tasted as perfect as it once had. It may seem small, but this rich dessert is perfect for two.
tried the course menu and seem like the course never ended!
i came here about a year ago and i remember not being WOWed by the dishes but they were pretty good, alot of different flavors in each dish...almost too much.
the sangria was delish though!
Our reservations were for 10 pm and while waiting for our table, we were able to chill at the lounge/bar for a moment or two. The Ginger Margarita was on point and if you like a nice IPA, they were well stocked with a nice line of Brooklyn Ale. With so much to choose from on the Dinner menu, we elected to have the Chefs Choice which was a sampler of so many different foods. We were able to taste most of the menu, and all for a low price of just under $50 per person.
We love the Spice Market, and the service was 2nd to 0
The Shaved Tuna was sooooooo gooooooood
The Roasted Chicken was sooooooo goooooood toooooo
Hot spot in the meat packing district. We had a big group and was seating in a private booth/room. We ordered the chef choice, it was a 7 course meal and they were even nice enough to have a veggie option.
Everything was delicious, the meat eaters claimed the kobe beef was the best.
More like 3.5 stars.
If you are familiar with Jean Georges genius, then you will have nostalgia when you visit Spice Market. Not his best work, but more like a casual, toned-down version of what he probably would make using leftovers from his home. His asian-fusion techniques are more evident with this eatery with a twist of idian spices & flavor profiles.
Some notable dishes to sample:
- Shaved Tuna, Chili Tapioca, Asian Pear & Lime
- Spiced Chicken Samosa, Cilantro & Yogurt
- Charred Chili Rubbed Beef Skewer, Thai Basil Dipping Sauce
- Steamed Red Snapper, Shiitake Mushrooms, Ginger, Scallion, & Tarragon.
Conceptually, the overall execution on the experience is well thought out, but not mind blowing. The space has a rustic, middle eastern vibe. The restaurant has a great location in the meat-packing district, catering to Lower Manhattan - young and restless types. After a late dinner, make it a complete night & stop in next door to one of my all-time fav spots - APT.....convenience only NYC can provide.
My first full day in NYC and I was already having a really great day. My friend who is a local here said this place is really popular and we should try it.
We had reservations and were seated as soon as we got there. The waiter is attentive, informative, and nice. The selection of delicious food was a lot but not so much to be overwhelming. We ordered 2 appetizers, a salad and soup to share. My friend didn't like the shrimp dumpling soup and he was right, it could have used a bit of ginger, garlic and water-chestnut and less dill. But the Papaya salad was great and unique, the lobster rolls were our favorite and the mussels were a good portion.
We also shared the exotic passion fruit with white pepper ice cream, also really very good!
The lighting and ambiance is perfect for a first date. Dimmed and loud.
We were seated immediately today, the Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving Day. We have lived in NY and live near SF, are Asian, and have traveled all over the world, so we consider ourselves "foodies". First off, my daughter is highly allergic to nuts and the server was EXTREMELY helpful and friendly (some servers are put off by our questions about nuts) in making absolutely sure about the ingredients of each dish.
The ambience was dramatic and beautiful, like the set of an Indiana Jones movie, but not corny or anything. Gorgeous use of height and space, but the tables were small, considering you want to order everything on the menu! The servers were very helpful and attentive, but not overly so.
For appetizers, the chicken samosas were very tasty and flavorful and spicy (we loved it). The peekytoe crab dumplings were excellent and the lobster summer rolls were very good, but not as good as the other two. The lobster entree was excellent. Not as flavorful, but it was good that the flavors of the garlic, ginger and chili did not overpower the lobster which was cooked PERFECTLY. The orange-grapefruit grilled chicken was a surprise. It was one of the favorites - the chicken was so moist I thought it was fish at first. The onion and chili crusted short ribs were so soft, like buttah! Also very flavorful. Padthai tofu was light and good and the Shanghai spicy soup noodles were very good too. Only disappointment was the side dish of coconut rice-weird tasting.
Agree with the review from James L about the drinks, not worth the big bucks, but HEL-LOOO, Vongerichten is a CHEF, not a mixologist. Go to the restaurant for the FOOD!
The desserts were good - the banana macadamia nut ice cream had the most intense banana flavor of any banana ice cream I've had (many in many countries) and the passionfruit sorbet was intense too. The Thai Jewels (tropical fruit) on coconut ice was unique and refreshing.
We can't wait to return and my daughters love it! One caveat. If you don't like spicy foods, don't come here. Almost every single dish is a little spicy. Yes, it is pricey, but for a special dinner (like a trip to NY) it is WELL worth it! It is NY, afterall, and we didn't spend much more than in SF or even our little town of Danville.
We went to the Spice Market based on a friend's (NYC resident) suggestion and she was spot-on! The whole Meatpacking district has a great vibe to it and this restaurant is almost like a stage set, where diners are the actors and food is the star.
The environment is extremely dramatic, making incredible use of an existing building; with multiple areas carved into separate niches, each offering a slightly different experience.
We requested, and were seated on the lower level, which required passing through an Indian Style passageway on the stairs. The table offered exceptional views of the open air concourse above.
Our party of four ordered the chef's tasting menu, which was filled with course after course of exciting and different tastes. The idea is that you are exposed to a variety of combinations and flavors and they accomplished this with great style and class. Our one complaint was the chicken was over-cooked and could have been more tender. That side, the Spice Market was WELL worth the trip and we'll be back.
Great place! Went here with 7 other people. We were eating for 3 and a half hours. Everything is served family style. We opted for the smaller tasting menu. I had food that I have never had in my life and it was all delicious. THe only problem was that there was too much food. Be carefull of the chipish things they put out first, they can be very addictive. The chicken was great and all of the seafood was extremely fresh and artfull. They have a very interesting menu and drink menu. I had a sampling of the asian beers, all were delicious. Would definetly go back here again. The decor is very original and the entire lay out of the place is very interesting.
In my opinion, overrated. The mojitos are good and so are their Asian fused appetizers. I can't say the same about the main dishes. You're better off just ordering different appetizers to share than going for a main course dish.
The restaurant is vast in space and is very busy. The all wood carved walls definitely stand out.
We went here during the NYC Wine & Food Festival and really enjoyed it. We started off with the mojitos while we waited for a table -- a pineapple mojito for me and a regular one for my wife -- and they were enjoyable (though, I'm not sure if they were $13.50-each enjoyable). The samosa appetizer was good and the main courses were unbelievable. My wife got the beef short ribs over noodles and they were awesome. I had the pork vindaloo, which was also good. The service was a little sluggish, but I really liked our waiter.
The coolest thing about Spice Market is definitely the decor. The walls are decorated with ornate wooden carvings and there is literally something interesting to look at no matter where you turn.
I didn't care for the outfits they make the waiters and waitresses wear. Someone in one of the previous reviews very accurately referred to them as smocks. Oh, well.
If you're in the area and find your pockets too full, I would definitely recommend stopping by.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The decor is beautiful and the food is absolutely divine. It is a little pricey but it won't break your budget. The Peekytoe crab dumplings, the spiced chicken samosas, the Halibut Cha Cha La Vong and the ginger fried rice are my absolute favorites but the following were also great: Mussels steamed with lemongrass, shaved tuna, shrimp dumpling soup, and the nonya seafood laksa. I wasn't that impressed by the skate and lobster entrees. For dessert, the ovaltine kulfi is excellent but really rich, so if you get it I suggest sharing it with someone else. My husband loves the vietnamese coffee and gets that everytime we go. I don't drink alcohol so instead I get the fresh ginger ale which is amazing.
I didn't eat here... but the Mojito had tasted like seltzer water. It was a waste of $12. The bars tender sucked and the DJ packed up before it closed (he was just about as good as the bar tender... aka awful). Now I know that this is a restaurant... but it was a Friday night in NYC. They wouldn't even sit us because all we wanted was drinks. They made us stand next to the downstairs bar. They have to try a little harder.
I wonder how the food is.
very cool to see spice market hot & thriving last night. the 5 course chefs menu($48) seemed popular. so we deferred to the majority and ordered with resolve, 3 tasting menus!
the parade of greatest hits started with a 'shaving of fresh tuna' with tapoica sauce' ... morsels of red tuna in light. fresh coconut milk with ginger essence. whattt? well, this savory treat set the tone to what turned out to be 8 plates of delicious bits from the farms and seas. plus 3 desserts, all served to-share. note: this is a lot of food!
the happy bar, exotic dining room, uptempo lounge music to pan-asian flavored cocktails set the fun mood. we arrived cold and hungry. two hrs later, we were all content. and restored for the rest of the night in THE city.
This review goes to there lunchbox bento menu. Not for there dinner menu because i don't know how the portions run for dinner. So, boyfriend and I came here for lunch yesturday. We ordered the bento boxes- for $20 something bucks each. While the food was okay, the portion is really really really small and def on the pricey side for the amount of food you get. Actually, as soon as we left the restaurant, we were still hungry and grabbed some chicken skewers that the restuarnat was bbqing and selling outside.
The bento box, while pretty is really small in portions- it came with 2 tiny skeweres, a small salad, a ginger soup (quite tasty!) and a small cod (when i say small, I mean really really small). Overall with a soda each and 2 bento boxes plus tips, the whole meall was worth around $60. But still we left reall hungry... I would come here again, but probably come here when i'm not that hungry. The one thing I liked though is the chips and homemade dip they give you at the beggining of the meal. It was quite tasty and the sauce had this yummy spicy kick to it!
Did I just read that this place is categorized under Asian-Fusion? I'm tired of such labeling, and really Spice Market seems like one of those places Vongerichten slapped his name on so he could cut a deal with a few greedy entrepreneurs wanting to capitalize on his name.
The food was good, but not great. The menu items were kind of what you'd expect from an "Asian-Fusion" place. Imagine all the spices you can think of that originate from outside the US (cilantro, star anise, lemongrass...) and you pretty much have it (don't forget to throw in some exotic fruits like mango...ooh so exotic!).
On the plus side, the decor is interesting and we sat at the bar next to the kitchen, where everything was visibly clean and sanitary.
Food was good, but didn't blow me away. The menu items are what you would expect from an Asian fusion restaurant.
The dishes are tapas style and range from 10 to 40 dollars a piece...so it can quickly add up.
Altogether, two of us ate for $140, not including any drinks.
Beautiful decor but the food can be better. I was here during restaurant week and in my experience the food is worse during those times. I would give this place another try because the food did seem to have potential. There was something unique in the flavors and the spice levels were pleasant (most of the time) so with a little more effort, I think they can be good.
I'm hosting a TV show that introduces the best of NYC fine dining to Chinese audiences globally through our global Chinese media network. I did an interview with Chef Anthony. Please stay tune to my Spice Market interview video! :)
This is my review:
Mussels Steamed with Lemongrass Thai Basil, Dried Chili and Coconut Juice: Mussels are very fresh, the sauce is twisted from the original South Asia street food.
Mango Salad Cherry Tomatoes Crystallized Tamarind: I highly recommend this. The taste of the salad is sweet and sour. It's originally Papaya Salad from Thailand. The taste surprised me at first. Try this yourself.
Ginger Fried Rice: There is a half cooked egg on top of the fried rice. The gingers are bitter. This dish isn't for me.
Char Grilled Chicken Kumquat Lemongrass Dressing: Meat is very tender, sauce is very unique and good!
Thai Jewels Crushed Coconut Ice: This is desert, very refreshing. It's original. Love it!
Ovaltine® Kulfi Caramelized Banana and Spiced Milk Chocolate Sauce: Super sweet, definitely for chocolate lovers. Don't try if you are on diet.
Passion Fruit soft drink: They add red peppers in there! It's sweet, sour, and spicy! This is really unique. Never tried anything like this.
Also, there is $48 tasting menu everyday, 5 courses with 10 flavors.
I want to preface this review by saying that I came to Spice Market for mid-afternoon drinks and appetizers after spending an entire day eating, drinking and watching chefs like Ming Tsai and Rocco Dispirito cook at the NYC Food and Wine Festival, so maybe I was primed to have unreasonably high expectations. I had a great experience here: fresh ingredients, flavorful spices, delicious cocktails. The atmosphere was gorgeous, and the service was stellar. We had the shaved tuna with chili tapioca and coconut sorbet, and the chili-garlic egg noodles with star anise shrimp.
I wasn't blown away, though. I thought the food was flavorful and made good use of the spices, but I didn't get that extra bit of culinary OOMPH that I would expect from a chef like Jean-Georges. I enjoyed my food, but I didn't think the food here was very different from what you could get at any good Southeast Asian restaurant. A solid take on Asian food, but I think Jean-Georges can definitely do even better things here.
Great atmosphere, Asian fusion kitchen that is creative without being out of the world. If you like bold wines, go for the Rioja.
We ate our way through the complete appetizer section and had plenty of the entrees. Every single dish we tried was a major surprise and extremely tasty.
I came here for Restaurant Week with out-of-town friends. They loved the decor/atmosphere and the prices were pretty affordable (since two of the girls didn't opt for the R.W. pre-fixe dinner).
The waiter service was slow, but the food was pretty good and the hostess was very accommodating when I brought two extra people I didn't have reservations for.
Overall, a fun place, but it gets a little too loud during the dinner rush.
I went to this place last weekend and it was good overall. The environment was perfect for a night out of dinner and drinks. I had friends in from Texas and they picked to go here. We all had the multi-course meal for $48 each. It was pretty good, we literally had about 8 courses. The best for me was the spicy chicken samosas with the cilantro yogurt. I ordered a ginger margarita and it was OK but the pineapple mimosas were great. My friends got a bottle of wine and really enjoyed it. The service was great and the waitess and other staff were very attentive. I do not recommend doing the $48 option if you plan to go out afterwards. We were very stuffed after our meals and 2 of my friends ended up going back to their hotel room and we who did not leave were barhopping being stuffed.
Of course kind of pricey but not the most expensive. Overall, it was a good experience but I will for sure eat a smaller meal the next time I visit.
Spice Market is a must go for me every time I am in NY, and that's 4-5 time a year so I eat here quite a bit.
Spice Market is one of these places that manages to wrap everything up in a great little package and the sum of all combined makes it work and on its own probably not. Food, service, location, decor, hip, cool, and Jean Georges cache. I'm a fan of Jean Georges except for his Vong (which I admit I have only been once but was suitably underwhelmed that I didn't give it my 2 tries rule)
This is pretty street food and not really street food, not a lot of Halibut swimming around the tropical waters. However it's goooood. Portions are smaller so eat family style and order a lot (pocket books willing).
I advise a reservation and asking for one of their bigger tables, a la street food style some of the itty short stools and postage stamp sized tables make for uncomfortable rears and a jigsaw of fitting plates, drinks and food, and perhaps an elbow or two. Though you could say they were going for the authentic street food feel, in which case you'd get a plastic chair and a fold up table.
My faves appies: Shrimp Tod Mun Pla, Mussels and Tuna Tartar (again, not a lot of tuna on the street)
Dishes: they do change, so last time I was there I liked the vegetable curry, the pork curry, their fish in ginger, and i think a chicken roasted with lemongrass.
I was so stuffed that dessert was not an option, not even that teeny tiny wafer.
I found the fancy drinks over prices and all sounded better than they tasted. They didn't taste bad but the descriptions tasted better. Maybe just suck on the menu and save the money for the food and wine.
Am about to go make chocolate layered cupcakes covered in ganache and chocolate shavings so must leave...
I went for dinner here with a friend last night. I'd heard great things, read great reviews etc etc. This restaurant is mediocre at best.
I've had better take out food.
The atmosphere was fun - typical meatpacking vibe, great if that's what you're in the mood for. The service was good - the waiters and staff were well trained and helpful, and refreshingly un-snobby. The wine was also great - which is unusual.
Every single dish was bland and most of them were over salted. I could not taste the tuna in the shaved tuna starter - only the sorbet, which was too sweet. The cod was dry, bland and boring. The spring rolls were too salty but served really well with lettuce and cilantro. The lobster fresh rolls were over stuffed with dill - a shame, as they would've been good otherwise. The best thing on the menu were the popadoms which were served while you waited for the food.
We had a lovely pinot gris from Wilmette, OR. Probably best not paired with the food, unless you stick to the simple fish (which we generally did), not good for spices. Go for a fuller white or a spicy, deep red with the more meaty, spicy dishes.
Seems to have once been creative, good quality food but has since slipped.
It was simply over priced for what it provided.
This place was fantastic - had all kinds of apps, and the Vietnamese chicken curry as my entre. All very good. The Crushed White Chocolate and Yuzu Pavlova dessert was great - whatever the creamy base for that was, was outrageous. Also, highly recommend the ginger margarita. Nice ambiance, too - we sat in one of the private rooms. My only complaint is that the waiters refused to leave water for us and could reach the back of our table very easily to refill our glasses.
I was in the area with my GF, we wanted to eat somewhere, there aret ons of places to choose from in the area, and ultimaltely we came here...
I was not that hungry. I was thinking I woul dhave a cocktail and an appetizer. The waiter suggested, ordering from the tasting menu. Another time mabey, but I didnt feel up for it that day....
I was planning on getting a vegatable dish, but somehow the wiater talked me out of it. ..I'm not really sure, why I would listen, but I did. Instead, I got a noodle soup. I thought it was good... I also choose the pineapple mojitio....I've tried lots of mojiti's, but never a pineapple. I thought it needed a little kick to it....
My GF got a pork dish, ( which I could'nt try) and their Ginger Rice....I've read alot of good things about the Gnger Rice (on Yelp), and I think its worth trying again.......
I almost forgot...The Pappadum....It's really good...And they serve it to you b4 your meal...
Anoher thing I agree with is the Decor....
I came here about a year and a half ago, forgot the name of the place, but remembered their chicken samosas, dark and "sultry" atmosphere which I remember as gauzy and just simply: sexy. Starting Googling with a purpose, typing in "chicken samosa" in either Meatpacking or Flatiron . . . (clearly, I can give 5 stars to the medicinal pour of the drinks).
After reading the Yelp reviews, I started re-generating the lost brain cells, and I'm pretty sure this eclectic "Market O' Spice" was where I was. As a matter of fact, I'd bet the farm. (and I'm from Texas, so I ain't playin'!) So with that said, I recommend a) The chicken samosas, which based on their merit alone, bring me to this page and b) the drinks (see above), and c) perhaps a more inspiring name for the restaurant.
We had a girls get together onThursday night and Spice Market seemed like a right choice as my friend had been there before. As we walked in, we were totally astonished by the ambience and serene feel as the waiters in costumes rushed around. In fact we felt like we were in the midst of some Indian bazaar.
As we didn't have a reservation (which are highly recommended), we were offered to go to the bar downstairs. The lower level seemed like a lounge, where you can endulge your ear in fine musical tunes, relax your eye on the drapes and decor and enojoy the flavors of asian cuisine while sipping Singapore Sling .
In short, we got our drinks at the bar, had to wait for the table about 30 min. (which wasnt too great). Once we got seated, I was a little disappointed at the size of the table (which could seat max. 1-2 people but not 3 as we were). The complimentary crispy pancakes with sauce were delicious (I had something similar before at a Malasian restaurant in Chinatown),as well as the soups (they all taste great!). Appetizers were good too,but the Avocado/Radish salad portion was a bit too small and not very creative. My friend said she didn't like the taste of it as it seemed plain.
Service was attentive and professional.
Also, after 10pm they do in fact venture a lounge and the music gets super loud, so it became impossible to hold a conversation.
I think I may give it another shot,and try it for dinner as I really loved the atmosphere.
1 good thing....the decor was nice. that's it. and the wasabi peanuts at the bar. mmmmm.
we made reservations and they told us there would still be a 2 hour wait. my friends wanted to go sit at the bar which was tiny and crowded. the service was awful and our bartender was a BITCH. my drink was $11. i gave her a $20. she gave me no change. i had to ask for it. she had the nerve to get huffy and SLAM my change down on the bar and walk away. a 50% tip?????? really????? for what??? we ended up getting an appetizer that was so-so and totally overpriced.
save your money and go somewhere else.
First, there's something i need to get off my chest:
I've been eating out wayy too much recently..
ok.. done. Aside from that..back to this Spice market.....goshh..why haven't i discovered this place earlier???
If it wasn't for that one time i came in here drunk looking for a bathroom I would have not had the chance to check out this cool spot
Behind the posh, beautifully decorated exterior, the food was surprisingly good,maintaining a certain level of authenticity in the fusion dishes.
I opted for the Restaurant week menu once again, and it was a damn good option because I got to savor many different items on the menu and the portion was just about right for my appetite.
Few remarks on the items i ordered:
1) Fiji Ice Tea- don't let the beautiful name fool you. I was hoping for flavors of luscious Fuji apples infused in green tea..instead it tasted lik water down America's choice apple juice....
2) appetizers - vietnamese spring rolls ( with pork, lobster and shrimp) was so yum, also Salmon tartar with avocado was also remarkable
3) for entrees, Cod was cooked perfectly..just enough moist and texture
4) for dessert, I vote for the coffee ice cream
overall i LOVED this place because with all the glitz and glam exterior they were still able to keep up with the food quality.. Afterall , that's what a restaurant should be all about..right? *Ahem* TAO ?
Will I come back? In a heartbeat!!!
* only reason why its a 4 star instead of 5 was because the servers were a little off and there was also this creepy waiter that kept trying to collect plates at our table every 5 minutes or so
Yeah, yeah. I'm late on trying out Spice Market, and apparently few people agree with me, but I love this place! Firstly, I loved the exposed kitchen (hello hottie chef), the poor lighting, and general look. I came with family, but I think it would be a super cute place for a date, given the lighting and kind of "cozy up to each other" tight (although very large) quarters, and the moderately priced menu that has that "I took you to nice dinner but didn't spend too much, so you don't have to feel obligated" feeling to it.
We had the Moet served on ice and lime as our starter drinks. I happen to really enjoy the taste of champagne, especially Moet (What? I think it's a well priced, great quality bottle... way better than Veuve) and would have just preferd that... don't fix what ain't broke. We were so turned off by the watered down taste that we switched to a decent wine, but nothing that really stood out to me.
But the food, ohhhh the food! Everything was so flavorful and well seasoned. It all kind of left you with that, "my mouth is on fire, but in a lovely tingly yummy kind of way" feeling. However, the stand out dish had to be the Pork Vindaloo. Oh Pork Vindaloo, if I could just have you delivered to me with a side of Coconut Sticky Rice by the cute chef, I think I'd be a VERY happy girl.
I am a fan of Spice Market because ambiance means a lot to me. I like the service, the decor, the crowd, the eclectic fusion South East Asian fare is quite good for the prices.
The drinks are quite expensive and maybe it was the bartender, but was not impressed, but they have a good selection of wines.
I loved their Black Pepper Ice cream sundae!
Good Decor.
Service was good to the point where they were getting in the way of conversations.
Food was ok. They specialize in "Asian Street Food" so you really can't expect too much.
The samosas were really good. Everything else was just ok.
Fantastic decor, great food, gracious service. Unfortunately, the last time I was there, I went to take my parents and due to some heavy rains, the basement was flooded and they couldn't seat anyone. Rather than send us along, they provided free appetizers while they called around and got us an immediate seatting at Buddakhan. It's nice to see a trendy place that puts customer service up front.
I don't know why this place gets such high reviews. The food was alright but way over priced. The atmosphere is alright but the service was so incredibly slow and the waitstaff seemed not interested in serving anyone. They were non-attentive and when they did come around, they were rude.
It took 20 minutes to get someone to wait on us, another 20 minutes to get our initial drinks, another 15 minutes for them to even take our order... getting a second drink was just as difficult... wasn't helpful when our whole part was starving.
Overall, I think this place is completely overrated.
OK. I know that I haven't been to New York in 25 years. But, don't hold that against me. I'm still the consummate foodie, after all. And, I'm proud to say that New York STILL holds the status as arguably THE BEST foodie town in NorAm. Spice Market is no exception and should be on the list of stops.
I don't think I tried one thing that I would not reorder. The spicy chicken samosas with the cool cilantro yogurt dip are certainly a MUST TASTE!!! The cocktails are also made by a MASTER. Very refreshing....
We were a group of 7 girls and had asked for a private room downstairs. Their "private rooms" really aren't that private at all. True, you are shielded from all the noise outside, but these private rooms are also "shared" with each other. What I mean is that there is one doorway that will need to two rooms, and in order to get to the 2nd room, you have to pass by the first room! So while we were eating, we had people walking in and out to get to their room. Why didn't SM just make separate entrances for each room?! Also, they have these see-through curtains at the doorway, which they never close... and where everyone that walks by glares at you. Yes, especially the waitstaff! We felt like we were under scrutiny each time someone walked by.
Oh, there is also a $400 minimum before tax and tip in order to secure these rooms.
The food was only mediocre... I definitely expected a lot more from SM but I was a bit disappointed. We ordered a variety of things from their menu and I think I only enjoyed maybe 2-3 things.
Appetizers
Vietnamese Spring Roll
Shaved Tuna with Chili Tapioca, Asian Pear and Lime
Peekytoe Crab Dumplings with Sugar Snap Peas and Aromatic Spices
Avocado and Radish Salad with Chinese Mustard and Tempura Onions
The best dish out of all of that was probably the spring rolls and that was kind of disappointing since the rolls are so easy to make.
The worst would have to be the shaved tuna. Ick.
Entrees
Halibut Cha Ca La Vong with Herb Salad
Steamed Lobster with Butter Fried Garlic, Ginger and Dried Chili
Grilled Strip Steak with Garlic, Coriander and Sesame
Onion and Chili Crusted Short Ribs with Egg Noodles and Pea Shoots
Chili-Garlic Egg Noodles with Seared Shrimp and Star Anise
Stir Fried Asparagus with Lotus Root and Lily Bulb
Ginger Fried Rice
The best dish would have to be hands down the halibut.
The worst..... I personally didn't enjoy the short ribs but the other girls did.
We had some sanitary issues with two of our dishes, and the waiter was quick to replace them. One dish we just sent back with no replacement.
The manager came and let us know they were very sorry for these issues and that we wouldn't have to be stuck with the $400 minimum.
For dessert, we all ordered one thing, but ended up with the whole dessert menu on the house.
My own personal dessert was the Thai Tea Ice Cream with Brown Sugar Meringue and Berries, which was delicious. I love thai iced tea and this was just awesome. The meringue tasted like astronaut ice cream! So cute.
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