New Cottage — Restaurant in New York

While living just 3 blocks away from the New Cottage, I had read about its new opening location and menu details on both the UWS Rag and I Love the UWS and finally cautiously walked in need of really spicy food. Easily accommodated a lunch deadline, not much time to view the menu, was delighted with shredded beef and hot peppers, Won Ton soup before, $9.98 (a 20 %discount was applied (till 11/15). What a treat and the "spider webs of my brain were dissolved by the hot, yet so tasty Szechuan sauce, all the while meeting next table an opera singer and Russian friend loading up on good food before the evening Metropolitan Opera performance of "Meistersinger", a 6 hour plus performance. Next afternoon I could only think SCALLOPS (remembering the wonderful plentiful lunches of the now defunct SILK ROAD Palace), and, too late for lunch, opted to stay, choosing in "pepper sauce". I commented later to the neighboring table: this place is a HIT. They simply concurred while devouring mountains of various dishes. Low and behold another evening I was, rather than looking into my fridge - ugh, not wanting to prepare - and came in for another scallops preparation in a spicy black bean sauce, (but my downfall for calories also the wonderful Szechuan shrimp dumplings that I had seen on a number of tables and recommendation for a MUST-HAVE). For my palate even more enticing than the pepper sauce.. A couple of men, next table, who equally wolfed down mountains of different dishes, finally smiled at me with pleasure about food and quick, attentive service. And do I dare admit that yesterday after a meeting at a coffee shop on my street, 80th and Amsterdam, headed back to the New Cottage for some spice of life and a late luncheon... Yes, I have pictures of all, but no time to post just now. It is a very simple, but well-done place, from the manager to the waitresses quick, friendly service, no fuss, but always coming back to see if all was well. The "audience" that wonderful mix of simple people and unexpected finds, i.e a opera singer and Russian, who, getting into conversation, both knew my German hometown in East Germany, Erfurt, Martin Luther country (the original one). Not only could I eat good Chinese food, as exemplified here, every day, but a world traveler of now a very young 81 years old have been to Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore a good number of times. I wish the New Cottage good success, as the revolving doors already shows to me. I have yet to eat myself through the menu, perhaps bringing my own wine, while the wine license may take its time. I don't speak Chinese.... what's buena...

(Used to be on Amsterdam and 77th St.) I don’t know what happened but you can tell it’s under new management. We recently visited the new location. We finished eating ready to pay the bill and our server didn’t give my husband time to close the bill she immediately started counting the money right in front of us. I have never went to a restaurant where they counted your money in front of you, usually they do that at the register. After our server did that she told us that tip was 15% of the bill. She didn’t even give us a time to relax after eating before we were ready to go. I always leave the tip on the table before we leave. Totally unprofessional and unacceptable. Her doing those thing really made me & my family uncomfortable. My husband has been going to this restaurant since he was 15 and never received this type of treatment. I will never go back there because when we expressed this to the manager they didn't show understanding & lacked compassion...

We stopped by with some friends for a quick snack and ended up getting: Szechuan Dumplings $9: very flavorful with an interesting twist of peanut sauce; would definitely recommend as it was a favorite amongst us Cold noodles with sesame $8: fresh cold noodles with sesame and a hint of peanut as well; pretty appetizing as well Crispy Fresh Cucumber $8: this appetizer tastes very similar to Din Tai Fung's cucumber salad; would recommend if you like vinegary cucumbers Crispy Fried Chicken $9: these wings were juicy and crisp and the skin was marinated in curry spices Cumin seasoned beef with red chili peppers $17: a good portion of beef and veggies dunked in spicy sauce; not overwhelmingly spicy

I would definitely recommend this spot for its Szechuan dumplings, crispy fresh cucumbers, and crispy fried chicken...