Huso — Restaurant in New York

I had the opportunity to dine at HUSO, a Michelin Guide restaurant, with my girlfriend on New Year's Eve. While the food was exceptional, there were some notable issues with the service we received from our server Cameron that marred our overall experience.

We had informed the restaurant about our slight delay, and upon arrival, we were promptly seated. However, our coats were neither checked nor were we asked if we wanted them checked, and our wine glasses were removed without inquiring if we wished to enjoy wine with our meal. These oversights were initially dismissed, but as we observed other tables receiving more attentive service, our dissatisfaction grew.

Throughout the afternoon, we noticed discrepancies in the level of service provided to us compared to other patrons. Basic gestures like coat handling and plate replacement were only offered upon our request, which is unexpected in a fine dining establishment, especially one with a Michelin Guide recommendation.

It's disheartening to consider the possible influence of perceived age or ethnicity on our experience. Notably, there were Asian staff members at the restaurant, leading us to believe that the differences in service may have been due to age rather than ethnicity. Regardless of the reason, we anticipated equal treatment, especially in a Michelin Guide restaurant that prides itself on excellence.

Adding to our disappointment was the mandatory 20% service fee, which was transparently included in the menu. While we appreciated the advance notice, the subpar service made it challenging to reconcile such a significant gratuity. Typically valuing and rewarding excellent service, we found ourselves questioning the fairness of the automatic inclusion given the service received.

Our attempt to address these concerns with our server, Cameron, revealed that he understood our concerns but swiftly ended the confrontation, which really doesn't solve anything. While we regret any discomfort caused by our confrontation, our intention was to seek clarity, not to argue. It's unfortunate that such an incident occurred at a restaurant we had eagerly anticipated visiting on New Year's Eve.

In conclusion, HUSO has the potential to be a remarkable dining destination, but the inconsistencies in service detracted from our overall enjoyment. We hope that our feedback is taken constructively, as we would like to see improvements that align with the restaurant's reputation and the expectations set by the...

Sneaky Waiter Committed Theft.

We went for brunch and were very disappointed at how small the place was. It was basically a storage room squeezed in a shop. No windows. Sitting right next to the restroom door. Greasy seats and bread crumbs. It was so disgusting that it was obvious that they did not care to clean the seats between customers. If you enjoy listening to other customers doing their toilet flushing while having your meal, this is a great choice for you. BUT this is not all.

The portion was extremely small and all the caviar used for the menu items was the cheapest. Not worth the price. After the meal, I picked up some Royal Osetra from the shop. Less than $200 in total. AND that's when, our sneaky waiter, MR. SNEAKY, saw a window of opportunity to put some extra money in HIS POCKET. He added the off-the-shelf shop items to our meal, in an attempt to get himself a 20% service fee for the shop items. He even admitted that they didn't charge service fee for off-the-shelf items. WAY to go, MR. SNEAKY! Grabbing that opportunity to steal every pennies you can from your customers at work. Great employee training for this restaurant too! Let's thrive on sneakiness and dishonesty.

Then, more disgustingly, the waiter deliberately threw away the itemized receipt when he handed back the card, an attempt to destroy evidence of his theft and prevent us from double check. Very strategic. I was given only a sheet of paper with one total number to sign. When we realized what he did, refused to sign, and asked him for the itemized receipt, now I am quoting MR. SNEAKY, he yelled at us impatiently, "The receipt is already in one of the trash bags on the street." It was shocking. So desperate to destroy the evidence. Up in the trash bag on the street within seconds. Very quick hands.

This is it, if you want to come and support MR. SNEAKY. Will definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen people losing integrity over money. Will not recommend to anyone who would be disgusted by their sneaky moves and this dishonest and untrustworthy restaurants. I also did not include many details, including when MR. SNEAKY threatened to not let us leave the shop if I didn't give him my credit card signature. Here I quote, "I will notice if you walk away without signing the copy." Or, when he said something as funny as, here I quote, "would you really care about $40 when you are spending $300?" Yes, indeed I care very much about every penny that you are...

I had this placed flagged on my "Want To Go" list. I kept it in my back pocket for meetups but I think it's probably too good a place for that. I'd reserve it for a special occasion. It's that good!

A fellow foodie friend of mine alerted me to the fact that Buddha Lo had won Top Chef. So I knew that this was going to become a hot ticket. I booked a visit for lunch on my birthday and the visit was almost serendipitous.

My lunch reservation was late in the afternoon. When I walked into the speakeasy-like space, I felt like the restaurant was all mine. I was alone for most of the meal until a pretentious "gentleman" was seated a little while later. Host/Waiter Danielle Z. handled the encounter better than I think anyone could. After enjoying the Potato Leak Soup (Soft Hen's Egg, White Sturgeon Caviar), Huso Dog (Alaskan King Crab Merus, Brioche, Avocado, Mayonnaise, Pickled Mustard Seeds, Beluga di Venezia Caviar), Beluga & Bubbles (A bump of Beluga 00 (Huso huso) on a Mother of Pearl Spoon, accompanied by a Glass of Besserate de Bellefon) and their rendition of Strawberries & Cream, I engaded Danielle in convo about the restaurant's plans for the Fall. Their summer tasting menu was sold out so I figured I'd try to figure out how to get a handle on Autumn. Danielle countered with an opportunity to grab a seat at their tasting menu two days later! I was ecstatic!

Two days later I was seated at a small solo table for their tasting menu! Even then I couldn't believe my luck. The dinner tasting menu has hit dishes from the show (Top Chef) and the meal can be enhanced by things like paired wines and Truffles from Australia. My waitress Jackie was an expert on this. Throughout dinner you'll get a chance to sample lobster, caviar, cod, beef bourguignon and more! As if the experience couldn't get any better, Chef Lo himself, presented some of the dishes.

At the end of the evening I got a chance to chat with the Chef. He is a truly engaging and pleasant person. I'm glad to tell you that his plans are to remain in NYC and that he's looking to expand the Huso experience.

Bottom Line: This place is going to get a Michelin Star I'm sure. It's going to be tough getting a reservation but keep trying. The price and wait are worth it. The whole experience was...