Chef Huang — Restaurant in New York

This is one of my dad’s favorite restaurants and he wanted to have his birthday dinner here. I called and made same day reservations, requested 7:30 but was offered 8:15. We got to the restaurant around 8, there is street parking to be found in the area after 7pm. It was my first time here…the restaurant is cute but tiny…7 tables in total and one additional table in a private room..expect a lengthy wait…it was a bit disappointing that even with the reservations we actually didn’t get our table until 9, which means we were sitting around waiting for an hour, not ideal especially with little ones! The staff did their best to accommodate, and put our order in while we were waiting so that our food arrived shortly after we sat down, which was amazing given that we were starving by then. We got the table in the back in the private room and it’s a great place for a celebration. The food was worth the wait!! The duck was amazing, definitely the highlight here…crispy skin, tender meat…really good flavor! My son loved the soup dumplings…The scallion pancake was less oily than what I am used to but nothing special. Would recommend the mashed garlic cucumber as an accompaniment: so yum, we should have ordered two!! The beef ribs with crispy crust were good but heavy…really tasty with the pineapple on the side. Dessert was delicious too and really fun for the kids we had the chocolate ice cream shaped as different animals. My 9 year old proclaimed this was the best meal she’s ever had and she loves to eat out so that says a lot! Not the best meal I’ve ever had but I would definitely be back for their duck…wouldn’t bother making reservations next time and would just walk in expecting a long wait. Overall great dinner experience,...

Chef Huang is truly a hidden gem in the neighborhood. We had the Peking duck, sea cucumber, lamb skewers, spicy crawfish, and steamed marble goby, and every single dish was nothing short of outstanding.The Peking duck absolutely lives up to its reputation as the best in New York—perfectly crisp skin, tender meat, and expertly carved and served.The spicy crawfish was bursting with flavor, with just the right level of heat—inviting rather than overpowering. The steamed marble goby was incredibly delicate and fresh, with the fish cooked just right to retain its natural sweetness.The lamb skewers were juicy and aromatic, with a beautiful balance of spices that lingered just enough to make you crave more.The braised sea cucumber was a true standout—silky, rich, and deeply savory, showcasing the chef’s masterful technique. It’s clear that the chef understands these ingredients deeply. Saying the dishes taste "just like in China" doesn’t do them justice—Chef Huang has gone beyond what’s considered authentic and instead focused on unlocking the full potential of each ingredient’s natural flavor. When I saw the accolades at the entrance—"Restaurant of the Year" and "Chef of the Year" by a major Chinese culinary media—I was not surprised. In fact, I believe Chef Huang’s restaurant easily rivals, if not surpasses, several Chinese restaurants recently featured in the New York Times’ Top 100 or other English-language food media. In terms of flavor, craftsmanship, and overall experience, this place is in a...

Interesting, the bill suggests tips based on the price after tax, which I found no reason at all and of course they would not tell you. Not sure IRS’s opinion on it?

We should calculate our tips at least only on the food provided without tax, which is around $83 not $91! I initially paid $8.54 rather than $8 as tips, so the tip was around 10%, which shall be fair for the service by the waitress who was always unhappy and never asked how you felt during the dining, even in US!

The waitress expected me to pay at least 18% tips (of course includes tips on tax), and to bear the cost of credit card transaction fee of 3% (She said at least Twice after the first checkout, and I remembered because I had never heard it before:) I refused initially then she educated me on how to become a customer in US as if she was the rule maker and I was the newbie there. She kept rolling her eyes which is really offensive! I paid 18% finally because I really needed to leave with my friends and didn’t wanna get harassed by her speech anymore.

I would never visit her restaurant where I guess she was actually the owner rather than the real waitress that we need to tip service to raise the low income.

The whole service was such unprofessional and rude that I had never experienced before! I really regret that I once recommended this restaurant to my colleagues,...