Tavern 157 — Restaurant in New York

The exterior gives the impression of a bar when you walk in there is so much more. There is definitely a bar area right in the front. The interesting thing here about said bar area is that all the drinks are soju based because of its proximity to a church. But that definitely does not take away from the drink menu. The bartenders/mixologists there are very good at what they do. The specialty cocktails are all worth a try. Some recommendations include Peach Sunrise, Red Sangria, Blood Orange Mojito, Tipsy High Tea and Pomegranate Winter Jewel. Something new and cool they have for the drinks is a bubble smoke gun.

The design of the interior is quite intriguing. It is half a bar area with with a big screen television for sporting events and seating near the entrance and front windows. It's that area that is usually very busy during prime hours. But then there is more seating toward the rear that is more intimate and casual as the lighting is dimmed and there is a mini candle on the tables. The back area I have also seen very busy during happy hour, prime time and weekends and special events. The decor gives a rustic yet modern vibe with upbeat music always playing.

The menu I think surprises people the most as I brought a friend one day and she thought it was just a bar initially. The regulars already know what great food is available. The menu consists of appetizers and bites including truffle fries, cauliflower dip, lollipop chicken wings and wagyu sliders to name some favorites. They have also a huge fried pork chip that is accompanied by homemade guacamole that is great for sharing. The larger plates consist of a charcuterie board, burrata cheese, truffle spaghetti, lobster medallion, fois gras with uni, delicious bone marrow and an impressive tomahawk steak. The list is very extensive for what I would recommend and there are still some items I have not yet tried.

They also have brunch options during the weekends. The eggs benedict I ordered was very good as well as the chicken BLT. The brunch hours are usually from 11:30a - 3:30p and there is a special deal for bottomless drinks for those who want to stay well hydrated during brunch hours.

The staff I would have to say is very on point and offer an excellent experience each time I visit or bring a friend. They certainly do a very difficult job yet they are always consistent with, in my opinion, a very high level quality of service and attention to detail when dealing with myself or other patrons. The teamwork I have seen among the staff is very impressive as they certainly support each other. They will always have my respect.

Cathy the manager is very friendly and personable. When she is not busy doing paperwork she is usually engaging with the regulars.

Ming is responsible for the awesome menu that I bet wows all the people who wander in.

Christopher is one of the servers who works very diligently to make sure everyone is taken care of and has made many helpful menu item recommendations. Just about every single dish he mentioned to me was very good in my opinion.

Natta is usually at the bar but she also comes around to check on patrons. She is one of the expert mixologists and is very sociable when not busy. She is very good at what she does and works very hard.

Ellie is the other drink wizard and mixologist I oftentimes see behind the bar as well as serving. Always a warm greeting and great drink recommendations from her.

Jesse works the floor with great ease and checks in on everyone. He takes the time to talk to the patrons and makes everyone feel welcome, whether you are a regular or a new customer.

Lin has helped me with certain brunch recommendations and always takes time to chat when there is some down time. He knows how to mix drinks as well as helps serve the dine in customers.

The other staff who are also an asset to the team are Serenity, Ronnie, Mia and Wen. My interactions vary depending on who happens to be working and how busy the place is but they always are very polite...

It's a great spot to be on the weekend! This place is busy with a nice vibe, and you definitely need a reservation. First thing that caugh my eyes was the cute wall lined with books and small tables are tucked inside a large frame. Super cute! We were here to celebrate my best friend's big birthday. We got the large table at the back of the restaurant. It was a bit chaotic because we are a large party of 18 and the restaurant was already busy.

The food took a bit longer to come out but we were perfectly fine chatting and enjoy wine and cocktails. We had a couple bottles of The Prisoner Napa 2019 red blend. It was excellent! Our side of the table shared three appetizers.

Oyster & Uni - Very fresh and tasty. If you like these two things, you would like this dish and the combo. Expensive $24 for 3 pieces.

Burrata Cheese - Must order. So good! Served with heirloom tomatoes, prosciutto and guacamole. All my favorite ingredients. $15

Mussels - The sauce is so addicting! You will want to order a side order of bread to dip in the sautéed tomatoes, onion and bacon sauce.

Smoked Chilean Sea Bass (Entrée) - Great presentation! Came out with a big glass cover and the server lifted it up and clouds of smoke appear in front of you. It was magical (lol). Sea Bass was perfectly cooked and flaky. Sauce was phenomenal! Wish they put more vegetables.

Most of friends had the Duck Breasts and Foie Gras. I had duck the night before and wanted fish tonight. Otherwise, the duck would have been my first choice. Turns out the fish was better in ky opinion.

Service could have been better and seems like they were under staff for a busy Sat. We asked for bread and it took like 20 minutes. They left out one of the duck entrée and offered to comp us. I mean I'll cut them a break because it was 18 of us. We were given three complimentary Lava chocolate cake with ice...

Amazing entrance and vibe when I arrived. The seating and bar looked welcoming and invited me in. The staff were able to seat me almost immediately. While Sitting farthest from the door I felt cold and I needed jacket for majority of the dinner. It took roughly 20 mins for us to get our menus and another 35-40 mins for our entrees . I was immediately surprised by the presentation as my appetizer was served in a glass container. When I got my appetizer I expected a bigger portion for the price (I understand caviar and sea urchin can be a little expensive but I’ve seen a lot better). Having one bite for an appetizer is a little absurd even more at $33. We finally arrived at our entrees and I’m once again stunned by the presentation. That stunned feeling never came again as the first few bites of the food had me wanting less and feeling frustrated. I tried both the slow cooked salmon which came with a pea sized amount of vegetables. The sauce was strictly for look as it tasted like nothing and all it had for flavor was itself with little to no seasonings. The NY steak was nicely cooked at medium. The sauce that was beneath it paired with it nicely but still a long distance for what I was expecting from an established restaurant. The mash potatoes were the highlight of my night as it had the most flavor and portion from everything I tried that night. From this point on I was hesitant to order anything else and decided it was...