East Chinatown Lounge

Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene
Think downtown cocktail lounge, with a touch of '80s chic and ski-lodge style--but in a good way. Cut-out, egg-shaped chairs surround low chrome-and-black glass tables in the mirror-ceilinged front room. Raw wood beams throughout the dark space feel more ski lodge than industrial, and work well to soften the mod aesthetic. A crowd of well-dressed drinkers makes for a very of-the-moment flavor.

The Draw
Well-thought out cocktails, like the Blackberry Kazi, a berry-laced version of the popular kamikaze, and good sake served chilled stand out on an appealing drink list. Asian-leaning food choices include simple, flavorful curries--red, green or yellow--as well as excellent appetizers like hum bao (steamed pork buns) and savory, filling pot stickers. Skip the edamame, which, curiously, are cooked without salt and arrive remarkably bland.