Hidden Treasures - Aux Epices

Aux Epices
121 Baxter Street
New York, NY 10013
(212)274-8585
http://auxepicesnyc.com/
Hours: 11AM to 10PM Daily

This hidden treasure is definitely a golden catch for amazing food along with great service. Located south of Chinatown, is it the one place that I can honestly recommend to anyone looking for good food and a good vibe. This small cozy restaurant is Malaysian infused French taken to a whole different level level. With a decent sized menu offering you all the good stuff from appetizers to desserts, this is the place to be.

One of the must orders, my personal favorite for starters is the extremely tender ribs that actually slides right off the bones. For anyone who is a clean eater and hates ribs for obvious reasons, this will definitely change the game for you. You will definitely be able to enjoy a nice rack of ribs, knowing you do not have to use your hand to eat! 

In addition to the ribs, the A La Plancha is another customer favorite with an amazing sauce that is perfect for a bread dip. Fish is the one recommendation for entrees which includes my all time favorite Ikan Panggang and the Tumeric Salmon, but of course there are a ton of other tasty dishes as well. The staff is always on point with their recommendations and will even offer the special lunch of the day which just might be Aux Epices' next upcoming dish to put on the menu. 

The one suggestion to make is to save room for dessert and order it ahead of time. Because desserts are made fresh and when ordered, the kitchen staff at Aux Epices must have sufficient time to prepare for it. Nonetheless, pastries and cakes are extremely fresh and hits the mark with it's French influences. The best part is probably it being served fresh and hot with the right touch of sweetness.

For bigger groups, be sure to make reservations ahead of time. With seating designed for pairs, the restaurant is able to cater roughly 25 guests at one time. The staff is extremely friendly in accommodating your every needs alongside a wonderful owner who actually interacts and eats with his guests. Providing superb customer service, you can feel good about every meal at Aux Epices. Within a second visit, the staff recognized me and soon lead me to become a weekly regular with the rib cravings and addiction to genuine customer service.

With a menu that is constantly updated and fresh new items, it is definitely a place that keeps you going back. Promoting a cafe, all hours of the day is a perfect time to visit Aux Epices for the amazing complements of food. 

Offering an online and call in delivery service, Aux Epices is one recommendation I stand by. It is the perfect place for a date night, girls night out, and even just a bonding session. With dim lighting and cozy seating, the atmosphere is just perfect for conversation without overpowering the table next to you. The friendly vibe allows for you to feed off of the positive energy that the staff fills the restaurant with.

Restaurant Review - Hua's Restaurant

Named the best Chinese Restaurant by the Wall Street Journal, there are a handful of this restaurant chain all around the world. Although the menu can be a bit pricey, there are a few signature dishes that are extremely worth it. Getting a taste of the Chinese culture (although not all on point) through Hua's Restaurant is recommended. 

Because it is a Chinese restaurant, the style of dining is family style where you order a few dishes and share with the guests at the table. Depending on the number of guests you are with, it is recommended to order a few appetizers and main courses and split a noodle or rice dish between the group. Because proportions are fairly large for the rice dishes, it is best to eat a small amount and sample more of the other goodies they have to offer. 

One of the recommended dishes at Hua's Restaurant is the Peking duck. Freshly roasted daily when ordered in the restaurant, it is served crispy and fresh. Although it is also the priciest thing on the menu, it is definitely worth trying if you have never before. It is their signature dish that sold the name of the best restaurant. 

 

In addition to this, there are a handful of other dishes that are recommended which includes their dim sum, spring rolls, and sweet and sour dishes. The roast pork bun was one thing that caught my attention, but the weird Hua's Restaurant cooks up their own kind. With a sweet flour based bun and an interior that is nothing like a red roast pork filling, it is definitely unique to taste. 

Presentation is extremely valued at Hua's Restaurant so you are paying more for presentation than the taste of such dishes. If you are looking for authentic Chinese food, this would probably not be the place. It is a top restaurant for Chinese infused Korean goods. By that, the expectations to consume traditional Chinese dishes should be omitted. 

Visiting the one in Nami Island, after waiting for quite some time, the food was more mediocre to me. Maybe the expectations were high because it was labeled as the best restaurant in the world, but the cultural infused dishes takes away from the actual authentic taste. Nonetheless, the dishes stood on its own for its signature tastes. Although it was a bit odd to taste, it is still a recommended restaurant on the list.