On a quiet evening in Flushing, stepping through the doors of Chuan Bistro feels less like arriving at a restaurant and more like entering a living storybook.
Wabi Nori is a new-ish standout destination for Japanese cuisine located in the Lower East Side, one of the most bustling culinary neighborhoods in Manhattan. It opened in the fall of 2024 and offers a contemporary yet highly accessible and comforting dining experience. The menu showcases high-quality ingredients and refined execution, melding Japanese tradition with Asian fusion and modernity.
On Wednesday, June 12th, I had the pleasure of attending the opening of AFURI Ramen + Dumpling in Williamsburg. From the moment I entered, the warmth and kindness of the staff stood out, enhancing the entire guest experience—a rarity in New York.
Sushi by Boū is changing the sushi scene across America. With an ever-growing list of locations, Sushi by Boū brings a high-end Omakase experience to the people in a fun, speakeasy environment.
Recently, the modern Asian restaurant Hortus NYC announced its Spring Menu. Newly-appointed executive chef Geo Park and Managing Partner Suhum Jang seamlessly blended Chinese, Japanese, South Asian, and European cuisines. Jang designed the wine and cocktail programs as well.
With music, imaginative cocktails, and food that brings the best of Japanese cuisine
Antidote, a Dim Sum / Sichuan hotspot in Williamsburg, just launched Jazz Nights on the first and third Wednesday of every month. With a plethora of exuberant cocktails and mouth-watering dishes lining their menu, Antidote has been calling our name for a while now and we couldn’t wait to check it out.
We stopped by on the first Wednesday of August to sample their tasty small plates and catch some live jazz! It was actually the first installment of jazz nights at Antidote, which launched as a new restaurant only 5 months ago, and we had a blast.
We started off our night by ordering drinks from their house menu – the Drunk in Love, a lychee puree-rose cocktail with a gold filigree leaf detail, was absolutely beautiful and tasted sweet, floral, and light. We also tried the Cloudy Enigma, a classic hit for gin lovers with a splash of grapefruit. The Chai-spresso was a unique take on the ever-popular espresso martini, with smoky mezcal and spiced chai to add depth. The last cocktail we tried, the Flu Shot, was our favorite: a yuzu-heavy prosecco cocktail that brightened our meal with its citrusy punch and bubbles.
The first dish we tried was the Sichuan Cold Noodle – a zingy, spicy noodle dish with sesame and green onion, it was an impeccable appetizer. A few bites of this primed us for the flavorful dishes to come, and the spice satisfied that quintessential Sichuan craving. From the dim sum menu, we loved the Siu Mai with Tea-Smoked Duck and the Crab and Pork Soup Dumplings. To freshen up our meal, we tried the Wood Ear Mushroom Salad, which is poached and mixed with chili and lemon sauce.
Another item we tried was the Honey Glazed Short Ribs – the day we went they had a different flavor spin on their menu staple, the Sweet & Sour Ribs. Juicy, tangy, and tender, these ribs were substantial and delicious. Exactly right for when you want an indulgent complement to a light meal. For us, though, the indulgence was about to reach another level. The main event of our meal arrived next: the Dongpo Pork. Scored and glazed to a level of food-magazine worthy perfection, the tender pork layered with rich fat on top absolutely melts in your mouth and is a must-try at Antidote.
After our meal, we learned a bit about the place’s origins from Rudi. The four owners have been in the restaurant business for eight years, and are Indonesian, European, Chinese, and Taiwanese, respectively. They’re all passionate about good fusion cuisine, focusing on making food taste incredible rather than sticking to traditional recipes just for the sake of tradition. To create Antidote, they transformed what was previously an abandoned warehouse near Domino Park into an industrial-chic dining establishment. We can’t wait to go back to Antidote to try some more of the menu items, and if you make your reservation soon, here are some of Rudi’s favorite dishes to spark inspiration:
- Wood Leaf Mushroom Salad
- Wontons in Chili Sauce
- Siu Mai with Smoked Duck
- Fish with Spicy Bean Paste
- Antidote Curry Fried Rice