Ha's Snack Bar — Restaurant in New York

After hearing about this place from Eater and finding a time on Resy, I was pretty excited to try it out.

We arrived a little before our reservation time and squeezed ourselves into their curtained entrance. I poked my head through to find the host, but no one was there. I waited, occasionally checking through the curtain. Eventually we were helped and were seated by the door (right on the other side of the curtain).

We ordered the Egg mayo with anchovy & chili crisp, Snails with garlic & tamarind butter, Pate chaud with buerre blanc, and the Sweet & sour seafood stew.

The snails and butter was our favorite dish. The butter was amazing with the crusty baguette. The snails offer an extra bit of umami. The egg mayo was greatly overshadowed by the snails.

The Pate chaud was alright. The puff pastry was a bit dense and I would have loved a knife to cut through it instead of fighting it with my spoon and fork.

The seafood stew was under-seasoned and served in a bowl that was just too small. The staff had actually spilled some on me while trying to place it on the table. To be fair, the bowl was filled with seafood. Unfortunately the lack of seasoning and the overcooked fish made it difficult to enjoy.

The staff were friendly and did a good job answer questions about the menu. They seemed pretty swamped. They took our empty bottle of water after the first course, but never brought more water until after the dessert had come. We had asked once and they even identified we were missing water while they were bussing our final set of dishes. One of the servers asked if we wanted any dessert and started clearing our little bar table before we received all of our food items.

The space itself is pretty cramped and we were unfortunately sat by the door. This meant every time someone wanted to come in, we were blasted with cold air. Since I was sat next to the curtain, I was repeatedly bump (one to the point where I was pushed off my stool) throughout the dinner.

I would not recommend this place, but especially given how much...

While I very much liked this place, I do wonder if it will ultimately need to grow into itself a bit more to be successful. It's a great experience and I think it will develop into an overall really great place if given the chance.

A nice take on Vietnamese food with its underlying French influences. The menu is small and seems to change a good amount, even in the small time it's been open. We started with the leek/oyster dish, which was truly delightful. It was sweeter than I was expecting and the portion was nice. Next was the chicken liver pate. This was fine. I don't love pate and this was certainly not my favorite version of it. The orange-flavoring aspect of it was an interesting twist. Clams atop beans was my favorite dish of the night. A hearty portion of clams, lovely broth, and well-seasoned beans. Comes with bread (as did the first two dishes) and the bread itself was actually quite delightful (we were given the option of having rice instead which I didn't truly understand). They were out of one of their dishes so we got the replacement: pork shoulder. The chili glaze was nice. Loved the vegetable that accompanied it and the meat was nicely tender. Was it my favorite pork shoulder? No. Was it the most interesting sauce? Also no. Filled us up.

What I think could be improved upon is the spectrum of options. Other than the pate, there really isn't much in the appetizer range of prices. I would have loved for a larger range in terms of small plate options where you felt like you were getting a few appetizers and a few large plates. The wine menu was good-we ultimately enjoyed what we got. And service was great and super friendly.

The space is small. Mostly high tops/counter seating with one shorter communal table that I feel like would work more if it were a communal high top. The vibe was excellent the night we were in (a Britney playlist). Bathroom is cute. Love the open kitchen concept- very homey. Again, I think this place has great potential to be a busy local spot and hope it is able...

Venturing into this relatively new spot, one immediately senses the palpable energy of a team striving to refine their service and spatial dynamics. The attentive service, despite the nascent stage of the joint, was commendable. The ambiance, a nostalgic nod to the '90s with its cozy lighting and curated soundtrack, evokes a familiar, intimate atmosphere reminiscent of a classic 90's drama date scene. The culinary experience commenced with exceptional appetizers, notably the egg with mayo and sardine pairing, a harmonious blend of textures and briny flavors. The oysters presented a commendable balance, showcasing freshness and a delicate interplay of tastes. Their fresh bread was a highlight, providing a satisfyingly chewy and flavorful base. The snails were another success, demonstrating a skillful execution of French culinary techniques paired with Vietnamese spiciness. However, the main courses, while flavorful, seemed slightly overpriced. Specifically, the pork, though seasoned well, proved challenging to cut with the provided knife, detracting from the overall experience. Despite this, the spot's adept fusion of French and Vietnamese culinary traditions was evident in the nuanced balance of spices and acidity. The textures throughout the meal were well-considered, contributing to a layered and engaging eating experience. The value proposition of the main courses was questionable, given the portion size and the minor execution issue with the pork. Nonetheless, the strength of the appetizers and the overall ambiance, combined with the attentive service and the unique fusion of flavors, made for a memorable dining experience. The spot's ability to create a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere while delivering innovative flavor combinations suggests a...