Alchemy — Restaurant in New York

We were a party of 6, seated outside in those makeshift eating areas next to the curb (where you’re at risk of being jammed by those drivers who don’t know how to park). We didn’t have any problems with the order. The problem started when the server brought the soup. She said that THEY made a mistake and “offered” an extra soup. Oh great - so nice of them, right? WRONG! Next time they say that to you, DON’T accept - they’ll CHARGE you for their mistake. Second problem: one of us ordered a burger. Simple enough BUT it took them forever to serve said burger - we were almost halfway through our food and still the poor guy doesn’t have his burger yet. Again, we were told there was a mixup in the kitchen. Despite all of this, we remained polite and calm and even paid the bill without any questions. And now for the nitty gritty: We’re cold so we just wanted something warm for starters. The controversial Asparagus soup doesn’t taste good - the canned soup tastes better. It was creamy, with some chopped asparagus but the flavor wasn’t there; instead, the taste of onions was overwhelming. The Hanger steak was good—grilled perfectly and same with the side of brussel sprouts (which we got rather than the sautéed kale). The long-awaited burger was dry but at least it was warm. The accompanying french fries wasn’t crispy enough (the fries at Barclay Center were 100% way better). And the rest of the food were mediocre. However, I would like to give credit for their portions, it was good enough for the price. Would I come back? Nope. Would I...

We visited Alchemy after attending the Tandon commencement at Barclays Center. The streets were filled with purple gowns and celebratory energy, and we stumbled upon this restaurant nearby. Due to the sudden influx of guests, the staff was unexpectedly busy, but they handled it with grace.

A kind hostess quickly arranged an outdoor table for us. The setting had a charming New York character—cozy red brick walls and old fire escape stairs added to the ambiance, giving it an authentic city feel.

Despite the crowd, service was efficient. We started with corn chips and avocado sauce, crispy French fries, and tender fried squid rings—all of which paired perfectly with a bottle of Cava sparkling wine.

For mains, the pan-fried salmon was beautifully done: crispy on the outside, tender and fresh on the inside, accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach. The flavors were well balanced and satisfying. The burger was equally impressive, with juicy beef, a crispy-on-the-outside and fluffy-on-the-inside bun, and fresh lettuce and tomato that brought the whole dish together.

What truly surprised us was the price—remarkably reasonable for the quality and location. A bottle of Cava was just $39, and the total bill for five people came to $300. Considering the delicious food, attentive service, and vibrant atmosphere, we left feeling happy and satisfied—ending our commencement day on a...

Came in for a casual drink with a friend and unfortunately left feeling disrespected. When we first arrived, we planned to have just drinks, no food. Our original server was friendly and welcoming. At some point, she was replaced by a male server who offered us another round.We agreed and each had two drinks in total.

The atmosphere was laid-back, and while the service was a bit slow, it matched the relaxed vibe we wanted. Toward the end, my friend went to use the restroom first while I stayed at the table. We left $40 in cash and a card to cover the remaining $10.08 of our $50.08 bill. He was not told to split the bill but to take the remaining total from the card. Then I went to the restroom while my friend returned to the table.

While I was away, the server ran the card for $25 almost $15 more than the remaining balance. As my friend signed the receipt, he loudly asked, “So you’re not going to tip?!” in front of other guests clearly trying to embarrass her.

We didn’t complain about being overcharged, but he still walked away with an unearned 30% tip. What made it worse was that he barely served us and spent most of the night outside smoking.

We won’t be coming back, and I wouldn’t recommend this place based on the unprofessional and uncomfortable...