Where To Have Your Birthday Dinner In NYC

"If you had your last two birthdays at Wu's, try Congee Village next. They take reservations for up to 60 people, so you’ll never have to cull your guest list at this cavernous LES institution that has neon palm trees on the roof and a real tree growing inside. There are currently 28 varieties of congee on offer (we’re eying the abalone and frog porridge for our next visit), but their seemingly endless menu has dishes to suit all tastes and dietary restrictions. The line between party and after-party gets delightfully blurry if you pre-book one of the four private karaoke dining rooms, where cocktails are available by the pitcher." - bryan kim, neha talreja, kenny yang