Best Open Kitchen Restaurants in Downtown / Union Square

This was a fun place!! Lots of seating in different spaces. You could be near the open concept kitchen. You could sit near the bar. The ambience feels like you're eating in someone's beautiful living room with Asian-Inspired decors. I love the energy of the restaurant and the staff is friendly, helpful and welcoming. Service was amazing! They gave great recommendations as far as how many dishes to order. The food also came out quickly. And everything was beautifully plated and DELICIOUS!! The food is high-end and upscale with excellent flavor profiles I've never experienced in any other Chinese restaurant before! Betelnut Minced Chicken Lettuce Cup - great flavors and the lettuce cups were trimmed and cut to the right size. Sheng Jian Bao 'SJB' Daily Made Pan-Fried Pork Dumplings - order comes with 5. The waitress added 1 more so we could each have a taste. Hot and juicy is right! So good. Shrimp & Scallop Shumai Dumpling - Also really good. Half Crackling-Skin Cantonese Fragrant Garlic Chicken: OMGOSH!!! This was amazing. The meat was delicate and flavorful and the skin was crispy but not hard to bite. Just perfect!! Tamarind Laced Sweet & Sour Basil Glazed Pork Ribs - Amazing flavor! Meat was tender almost falling off the bone. Miso-Glazed Pan-Roasted Smoked Chilean Sea Bass: I never miss the chance to have sea bass. Perfectly seasoned. Nice and flaky. The cucumbers with ginger flavor were the perfect compliment. Charred Chinese Broccoli, Oyster Mushroom, Roasted Sesame Seeds: If you need a veggie dish, get this! The broccoli was perfectly charred and went very well with the mushrooms. Hong Kong Wok-Fried Egg Noodles with Mushroom & Bok Choy: Another hit at our table! Not spicy but it's got a kick! Taiwan Best Braised Beef Noodle Soup: Tender beef with such a flavorful broth Yangzhou Fried Rice: Best fried rice we've ever had. Sesame Soft Serve, Mango Shaved Ice Lychee ice cream We went home with full bellies and satisfied palates.

Amazing dining experience for my husband's birthday. Daria was our server and was excellent. We loved her suggestions on the menu as well. We enjoyed the octopus (best I've ever had), lamb meatballs, Gigantes, Smelt, and the goat stew to finish. We were absolutely stuffed and definitely slept like babies! Everything was stunning. I've heard such wonderful things before coming here, and they had exceeded my expectations.

Our family dinner at the Wayfare Tavern on Christmas Eve was just as magical and delicious as I was hoping! The atmosphere transports you to another place and time in the most wonderful way. It was cozy, beautiful and comfortable. The staff were attentive and the food perfectly prepared and served in a timely manner. We started with the magnificent deviled eggs and enjoyed the lobster, with burrata mashed potatoes and broccolini, macaroni and cheese and the burger. Bravo Wayfare Tavern! We will be back!

Great place! Will go back again. Worth all the hype.

Excellent French food. The “little bites” are a great way to get started. The appetizers and mains were also excellent. Also quite vegetarian friendly.