Beauty & Essex

Dined here in April 2025. A great little hidden gem of a place. The front is a 'pawn shop' so from the street looks non-descript. Once through the door you open up to the bar and the dining space and stairs to the upper floor. It has that speak easy charm and the decor is fitting for the ambiance. Obviously reservations are strongly recommended. The service was exceptional. Had a group of eight and we were accommodated on a large round table and it was perfect. The food was equally good and served elegantly. I opted for the fixed 3 course menu and it had ample choices to enjoy. Definitely a good NYC find and dining establishment. Recommended for anyone wishing to experience something different yet very New York.

This restaurant has a fantastic ambiance with stylish, thoughtful decor that creates a warm and inviting vibe. The food was absolutely outstanding—our highlight was the perfectly cooked salmon, bursting with flavor. My boyfriend couldn’t stop raving about it! We also enjoyed the chicken meatballs, which were tender and delicious, and the kale and apple salad was a fresh, delightful surprise. Highly recommend this spot for a memorable dining experience!

where to start… service was incredibly slow. long wait between ordering/drinks/starters/mains. they forgot items or brought wrong items out multiple times. they served undercooked salmon (it was… mushy and sticky). it was SO COLD inside the restaurant. the lights were so dim we couldn’t even see what we were eating: it was 1 small candle for a 9-person round table and food on black and dark blue plates. the music was like 2010s pop? it didn’t really match the ambiance. all that said the women’s bathroom was pretty cool, the drinks were interesting, and the entrance was pretty.

Great Speak easy restaurant, you enter through a vintage guitar store and the door is in the back of the shop. Did was a fusion of Asian and American with a French presentation. The only downside were the cocktails needed to be stronger the cocktail I had was the Old dirty bramble. Great flavor, complexity and texture were great on the palate on but needed to be a touch stronger. Food we had Peruvian chicken, Korean style fish taco, grilled shishito peppers.

Had such a fun and memorable night at Beauty & Essex! The vibe is super cool and the food was delicious — every dish had great flavor and came out beautifully presented. The whole place has this stylish, energetic atmosphere that really adds to the experience. Huge shoutout to Ella, our bartender — she was amazing! Super friendly, made us feel welcome right away, and crafted some incredible drinks. You can really tell she knows what she’s doing and cares about giving guests a great time. Definitely recommend this spot for a night out — great food, great drinks, and even better service. We’ll for sure be back!

Great restaurant with beautiful ambiance. When we came in at 5 PM on a cold day it was a little chilly inside. The food was good. Little French Dips was good, but not great, but to each their own. Everything else was tasty. Service was very good. Very attentive and polite staff.

Unique atmosphere, unexpectedly pleasant retro style, delicious food, amazing selection of drinks and polite staff. Absolute must go! Good for corporate, family or friend gatherings! Must try: Lamb chops, strip steaks, onion rings. Oh, and classic “old fashioned” 🍷

Beauty and Essex showcases what a great dining night should be with a touch of exploration. We went during restaurant week (8/25/24) and was given these specific menus but given the option of we wanted anything else outside of the pre-fixed menu. It’s a speakeasy that opens up to beautifully decorated interior restaurant that stands out. Let’s start off with the food. The food is great! There are specific standouts here that I should mention. The Thai style deep fried shrimp 🍤, it’s so crunchy and delicious. It’s an explosion of seer and savory that lots of restaurants cannot get right and this one does 🙂. The sauce. Nuff said. The grilled cheese, smoke bacon and tomato soup dumplings were also very delicious and soupy. The Mac and cheese was very good and wasn’t so overwhelming. The lamb chops were tender and nicely season and the wine reduction gave it a nice sweet finish with the mash potatoes. The strawberry shortcake shots was delicious and not super sweet. The Garden Party drink is probably one of the best I’ve ever had. The taste I can’t describe but sweet, creamy almost coquito like. And it’s non-alcoholic. Highly recommend!

A classy & buzzy restaurant tucked away inside a pawn shop - Beauty & Essex is a lovely restaurant that offers the hip vibe from Tao with a sophisticated dining experience. The ambiance is warm & upscale with two stories complimented by pristine chandelier spiraling a staircase. It's definitely loud & you can't really listen much while dining. So let the food & drinks talk while you blink, smirk & banter with your peeps. We tried the tasting course - definitely hit or miss but menu is mostly pleasant. Standout items were grilled cheese bacon tomato soup dumplings, gochujang salmon, strawberry shortcake & black bottom butterscotch pot de creme. Service is quick & sharp - they also gladly let you bring your own birthday cake, cut & serve them to you. Overall, there's certainly beauty out here but with its flaws - you just gotta appreciate it :)

ad an amazing meal with some truly standout dishes and drinks. The Beauty Elixir cocktail was refreshing with a sweet strawberry flavor--solid 8/10. But the real winner was the Green With Envy cocktail--a perfect balance of flavors that earned a full 10/10 from me. For food, the grilled cheese with smoked bacon and tomato soup dumplings were an absolute revelation--100/10 for that perfect mix of savory, salty, and tomato goodness. The style deep-fried shrimp were crispy and delicious (9/10), and the gochujang salmon was flavorful and well-prepared (8/10). The lamb chops were nearly perfect--tender and juicy with great seasoning (9.5/10). The BBQ fries were tasty but a bit heavy on the spice (7.5/10); if you're craving salt, these hit the spot. The panko onion rings were solid and crispy (8/10). For dessert, the NYC donuts were a fantastic way to end the meal--light, fluffy, and flavorful (9.5/10). The strawberry shortcake shots were okay but didn't quite hit the mark for me (7/10). Overall, a delicious experience with some real highlights. Highly recommend trying the grilled cheese dumplings and the Green With Envy cocktail!

Avoid this place! ... To preface, note that price is of no issue to me when it comes to great food and a fine dining experience, frequenting Michelin star/guided restaurants around the world as a dedicated foodie. I came to New York for a 5-day visit in SoHo and came across Beauty & Essex while venturing out by subway with my boyfriend, so made reservations for dinner. Let's say we were extremely disappointed. The ambiance is the only positive aspect about this place. The drinks had minimal to possibly zero alcohol in them, and overcompensate with flashy garnishes. For appetizers, we ordered the French dip sliders, which came out with cold meat and hardened cheeses and stale bread...the waitress claimed they were supposed to be that way. Unlikely the case since I sent them back and the second set were hot with melty cheese. The oysters we ordered didn't taste fresh and two out of the half dozen were the size of my thumbnail. Now for the most upsetting part... We ordered the porter house steak for two (cooked medium) with lobster Mac n cheese as a side. The steak's presentation was immaculate, sliced along a wooden cutting board with sauces and garnish. I started to think our experience was about to turn around but, sadly, after we both tried a slice of the steak, the meat was cold as well. Not lukewarm, but cold!! They must have kitchen line issues with cooks who obviously haven't mastered the timing of table orders, because a pricey piece of meat like that shouldn't be disrespected in such a way. When I sent it back, they simply recooked the same slices of meat, and sent it back out to us, making the ends overly cooked and tough like jerky. For a $300 bill, this was a massive disappointment.

I came here last week to celebrate my husband's 33rd birthday. The speakeasy feel of this restaurant and the overall decor was very nice and made it feel even more special. The food is pretty pricey but the happy hour menu makes up for that which was a pleasant surprise. We shared the oysters, kale salade, scallops entree, the bone in ribeye, and the black forest for dessert which was all incredibly delicious. A great spot for special celebrations. Our server also took notes and made sure no pork was served as requested and we were treated with a little birthday cupcake along with a card. Highly recommend!!

This speak-easy style venue in the East Village part of NYC has a very unique trendy atmosphere. This hidden gem located through a nicely curated pawn shop has actual items for sale. We entered at the hostess and bar area with a grand circular staircase and a fancy chandelier. We shared the Scallops $42 and shared several happy hour menu items offered Monday to Wednesday all evening. We had the Tuna Poke, Salmon Tartare, Soup Dumplings and Fish Tacos all $6. The scallops, tuna and fish were my favorites but everything was delicious. Our server was exceptionally nice.

Usually, I really love the food here. This is one of my go to spots, so I will definitely be back this time around the food was just subpar . Highlights - tuna wonton tacos - Salmon -Doughnuts and shortbread shots Pass -the Shishito peppers tasted like they were missing something needed more salt more acid just overall not a great bite. -the dumplings tasted as if the ingredients did not go together, the bite was not uniform

Unique, delicious, classy, worth the wait. This is my second time here, and I was so blown away. The pawn shop front still is the coolest entry and when you step inside, the decor just blows me away every time. The bar is fantastic with really classic cocktails. Choosing a Vesper was one of the good decisions during my trip. The second good decision was asking the server what they recommended and how to go through the menu. The shared plates were incredible. East Coast half dozen oysters, roasted bone marrow, chicken meatballs, and tacos all went over so well. The flavors are totally unique and the preparations were all top notch and presented so perfectly. Great place for a fancy dinner, a unique experience, and a great place for dessert if it's your birthday. Would come back in a heart beat.

Beauty & Essex is always a gem in nyc for a nice cute date night or group setting for celebration. We had the tuna tacos, Thai fried shrimp, chicken meatballs, lamb chops, dessert donuts. Food: the food is tasty and very delicious. The portion is very moderate and shareable if needed. Service: the services were great. The waiter Randy was very attentive, provided insight on specials, recommendations of some of his favors. The manager came over to follow up and check in. Ambiance: very cutesy, chic, trendy with nice dim light setting. It's cozy and intimate especially for date night. The music is a nice low-medium tone and settling. I give an overall 4.8/5

Went on a weekday for dinner with a large group. The restaurant has a speakeasy vibe (it's hidden within a pawnshop). Upon entering, there's a bar area, and the main dining room is further back. The ambiance is great, though it was a bit too dark -- you can barely see the menu. For larger groups, there are a couple of big dining tables in the center, and for smaller groups, there are booth seats on both sides. It did get quite loud as more people arrived. The restaurant serves mostly creative American dishes. We tried a variety of shareable plates. The apple & kale salad was refreshing. We were told you could purchase a book with the recipe at the front. The soup dumplings were bite-sized but packed with flavor. The meatballs were delicious, especially with the sauce that accompanied them -- earthy but not too heavy. The steak was also cooked well. The salmon was paired with sticky purple rice and kimchi, creating a unique sweet/spicy combination. Another highlight of the meal was the peanut butter cake. It's a three-layer cake, so it's quite large, which explains the price. The cake was moist, with a strong peanut butter flavor, but not overly sweet. In comparison, the donuts felt rather plain. I have mixed feelings about the service. Our waitress was friendly and gave us good recommendations, but we were only poured one glass of water. We didn't receive any refills the entire night, and they only came over to ask about alcohol refills. While this may seem minor, I think refilling water is a basic service that a good restaurant should provide, so I was surprised they didn't do that at all. Overall it was a cool dining experience!

O jad not been here in a very long time. Forgot how nice it is and how good the service is. They have quite unique selection of food here with many twists. The Kyoto Carrots are amazing! Our server was Nicholas and he really took good care of us! We were a decent sized group and not easy to cater, but he did an excellent job with patience and knowledge. He was constantly checking in on us. We also had the Salmon tartare, the house salad, the Peruvian chicken, which was a little dry, and the truffle mac and cheese. We also had quite a few drinks there as well. My mezcal margarita was soo smooth!!! It was certainly a great evening for dining and yes i would return and so said other guests. We also met the GM Jesse who has such a welcoming demeanor and is the perfect host as well. What a nice experience.

I had been here before a couple of years ago but didn't quite remember my experience - I returned yesterday with my girl friends and it was awesome! The food is SO good! We got a couple of dishes to share and they made sure to put 6 of each items (appetizers) so all of us could have one! I asked the waiter if they did it because we were six or if originally comes with six and they did did it because of us, that is very thoughtful! The drinks were also very good and cute. For dessert, we got the Ferris Wheel, also amazing! Edgar, our waiter, was amazing. All team members were great. 5/5!

Rude bartenders and terribly small drink portions / sizes. Called ahead to confirm happy hour deals and they were not accurate.

Was in town for a friends wedding and decided to come here on a Sunday morning to check out the brunch menu. Nice little hidden gem! Loved the interior design - it's speakeasy meets upscale club. Service was great and the food was tasty. I tried: - coconut chia seed parfait: very nice way to start my meal. Liked the toasted coconut and bits of mango. - New Orleans style breakfast potatoes: these were delicious. What's not to love about cheesy potatoes and a good dose of cajon style seasoning? - shakshuka baked eggs: I wanted to love this, but the tomato sauce was a bit too salty and my eggs were overcooked. I did enjoy the slice of bread that came with it though. If I'm ever in the area again I'd happily swing by to check out at the dinner menu and grab a cocktail or two.

This was my fourth time at Beauty and Essex, but my first time experiencing their brunch. We arrived late in the brunch hour as walk-ins, and while they prepared our table, we grabbed a drink at the bar. The wait was super short, maybe 8 to 10 minutes. The bartender, Jose, was amazing--so personable! He even took a photo for us, which was a really nice touch. We ended up seated in the back in a big, cozy booth that we absolutely loved. Our waiter, Auz, was fantastic. They were super helpful in guiding us through the menu and very attentive throughout our meal. We were offered a shot of something we think was coffee, but I can't quite remember what it was (check the pics!). We ordered the bacon, chicken sliders, steak and eggs, and New Orleans potatoes. We enjoyed everything, though the potatoes were our least favorite--the only plate we didn't completely clear. For the steak and eggs, we asked for scrambled instead of poached eggs, and it was delicious. The sliders and bacon were my favorites--packed with flavor! I'm a big fan of Tao restaurants, and Beauty and Essex is definitely a favorite. I'll be back again, no doubt!

Oh my God. Now I understand the hype of this place. First of all, yes, you do walk in through this pawn shop area that makes you question if you're even in a restaurant. Then you open another door and you're in this beautiful restaurant. Service was phenomenal. And the food.... Oh, the food. Truly out of this world. The tomato soup dish is truly sublime. I would return there just for that. The beets were spectacular. The kale salad was incredible. I thought the ribeye was pretty good. We had a medium rare and it was more on the rare side, but I did love the sauces. Especially the garlic one. The. Branzino was out of this world. The chicken on flatbread with cheese dish that would probably pass on, but it's also cause we had a lot of food for the six of us. But then there was that chocolate peanut butter dessert. Talk about wow!!! I wish I walked home after all that. I'm still full a day later. The vodka martini was made perfectly. The Cabernet was excellent. And overall, the price point was not terrible at all. This is a great place to return to over and over again.

I read that this restaurant is considered one of the most beautiful restaurants in NYC, so we decided to give it a try for NY restaurant week 2025. We easily made reservations online for a Sat night at 6:45p.m. We walked through the store front pawn shop and a gentleman opened the door to Beauty and Essex, with its high ceilings, chandeliers and spiral staircase. We checked in with reception and were instructed to wait in the bar and someone would seat us. The bar and waiting area was quite crowded while a staff person asked us 3 separate times how many were in our party before we were finally seated. The restaurant was filled to the brim and bustling. Tables are quite close together. The restaurant is dimly lit. We were informed that the restaurant week menu was not available on Saturdays, (if the website indicated this we missed it), but we could do the tasting menu for $62. We instead ordered from the regular menu, each choosing an appetizer and a main dish. We ordered the little French dips and shrimp cocktail for appetizers and the Beef Wellington and brown butter scallops as entrees. As neither came with a side, we ordered the roasted Kyoto carrots. The food was very good, although the scallops were a just tad undercooked. Really also needs at least another scallop or small side salad or slaw. The onion sauce with it was fantastic. My dining partner did not at all care for the carrots, but was very impressed with the Wellington. Our server was attentive and pretty consistent throughout the night and other staff removed plates and filled water glasses. The restaurant is quite loud just given the amount of activity going on, but at 8pm the music was so loud both tables next to us and we felt the vibrations and commented we felt like we were in a club. It was really difficult to have a conversation or even relax as this was not soothing, easy listening dining music. Very off-putting. The restaurant is very nice and there are lots of instagrammable photo ops to be had. Great for celebrations or a date night. However, it's very busy and crowded, it's expensive, and and that music was just too loud. While the food was very good, there is nothing that we ordered or saw on the menu that would compel us to return. Overall 3.75 stars.

The experience was a hit from the start. We put a birthday and the occasion and under special requests, and the staff ensured it was communicated! That made everything feel special and personalized. Nicholas was our waiter whom was knowledgeable and respectful of our ideal portions and how much to order. The food was amazing and delicious! We had the grilled cheese and tomato soup dumplings, the ahi poke tacos, the bone marrow, the scallops, and the burger! Drinkwise, the pawn shop was delicious.

I was recommended this place a couple times and I finally went for my friends birthday. The space itself looks amazing. Even though it's narrow, they make good use of the space and it does look upscale. The pawn shop in the front was also really cool as well. The hosts and our server were extremely kind and helpful throughout our experience even though we were kind of a difficult group with less people than on the reservation and a baby. I'm leaving a 4 because the food portions could've been better for how much you'll end up paying, I left hungry. I have a lot of allergies which stops me front eating A LOT but I have been to a lot of places that have made amazing substitutions. The server was great at communicating what I can and can't eat. It could have been my selections as well. I had the peppers, which didn't really taste like anything to anyone, the Peruvian chicken which was really good and the sorbets were amazing. The pizza they had was different and amazing as well! Chicken without any side is kind of unfulfilling and my gf got the ravioli but it just came with 6 raviolis and no side. I guess this is one of the places you go to once for the aesthetic. Overall, I had a decent experience and would recommend trying once for like a special occasion.

The ambiance is reason enough to go here. The bar and restaurant are hidden behind a working pawn shop. The ladies restroom downstairs occasionally has a pink champagne bar in the lobby. The food is ment to be shared so everyone at the table gets different bites. The grilled cheese dumplings and the wonder wheel dessert should not be missed.

One of my favorite please when in NY. Gives a hip elegant vibes. Perfect for date night or girls night. Love how the front of the store is a pawn shop and enters into the main dining area. Food was amazing. The salmon was well seasoned. Service was very good and waiter was helpful

This place is such a vibe! It has a speakeasy vibe. The service is excellent. Our bartender was friendly and the drinks were on point. My entree was the squid ink linguine with lobster. It was so delicious! I highly recommend this restaurant.

We had a truly fantastic experience at Beauty & Essex during a visit from out of town. We had a party of 11, which included several mobility-impaired family members. The staff took SUCH good care of us. The restaurant ambiance is beautiful and sexy, and the menu has diverse options for various food preferences (we had several vegetarians in the group and they were very pleased). My daughter and I got the Peruvian chicken, fried eggplant and kale salad to share; everything was very flavorful and unique. The table next to us got a dessert that was in a lit up Ferris wheel. Looked amazing! Overall a very special dinner.

Came by for a friend's birthday on Saturday night. We had a reservation for 815pm but didn't end up getting sat until after 9.. We sat upstairs at the bar while waiting to be sat so it was alright. The place is like a speakeasy so you walk through a jewelry store facade and into the back door to get in. Once inside it's a pretty nice foyer and large spiral staircase with a huge chandelier. Upstairs has more seating and another bar to parallel the downstairs. Once sat, we got our drinks and food orders in. They have a prefixe menu for $68 which is worth it if you're planning on the lamb chops or salmon (though I suspect they probably change out the menu every so often so YMMV). Between my partner and I we got the chicken meatballs, peruvian chicken, tomato grilled cheese soup dumplings (appetizer), and the burger. Star of the show was definitely the peruvian chicken - it was nicely grilled and juicy on a bed of julienned veggies atop a lightly spicy sauce. The sauce was so incredible I was dipping everything in it. The burger was pretty sizable and medium like we asked. It came with BBQ fries which were delicious but VERY seasoned. The chicken meatballs were pretty good. The "soup dumplings" were actually really unique and nice - like a mini grilled cheese with bacon bite on some tomato sauce - a very cute bite-sized appetizer. We finished off with a mango sorbet which was super creamy and delicious. And a pretty good size! I will say the seating downstairs was a bit cramped. Being seated at the center table the walkway was pretty narrow so we kept getting bumped. Service was pretty good (loved the waiter) but waiting an hour after our reservation wasn't the best. Food was pretty good though and a cute environment for a birthday dinner with lots of photo op places along the spiral staircase.

Don't recommend. A few years ago me, my little sister and her friend couldn't get in. The bouncer was rude. We looked around and left.

Wonderful experience! Absolutely loved Beauty & Essex. Their Beef Wellington hit the spot!

Upon entering, we asked the hostess to take a photo of our group, but she refused to turn on the flash. I asked why and she said people have epilepsy, but there was a group of people at the bar taking photos with the flash on. She had a nasty attitude from the beginning. Speaking of the bar, none of the liquor in the specialty cocktails can be substituted for another, which I found weird. I asked why and the bartender said the specialty cocktails are pre- made! Pre made $21 cocktails, lol. Anyways, the dishes are small and expensive. I had a party of 6 and we all got 1 bite of each dish. The food was good but for all the money we spent we were still hungry. They claim to be "family style" but you only get 1 bite of each app/ entree. I won't be returning. Didn't get a good bang for my buck.

Last night was a vibe! Celebrating with one of my girls as she turned a new year. Hanging with some dope women while enjoying a good meal. It was a good vibe. We laughed and laughed some more. The food was sooo good. We ended up going with the chef menu. The only thing that I missed out on because it wasn't on that menu and I didn't want to pay extra was the Korean style tacos. S/o to them for having virgin cocktails and non-alcoholic wines. In 2025, they get it. There are so many people who don't drink but want a beverage. The peach Bellini was amazing. Tasted just like one without the alcohol. The truffle Mac was different but good. I was starving going in and had to stop eating because I got so full. Side note: my girls got a salad. It was a lot of salad. They couldn't even eat their Mac because they were so full. While I'm not an oyster girl, they had them and said they tasted delicious. Dessert was so tasty! I should've ordered some to go. My only tiff with them was that our reservation was for 8pm. Our table wasn't ready until about 9. Other than that, I will be back. I might even buy something from the shop. They had some cute clutches oh and the ball is signed by Jim Brown!

I came here for restaurant week for girls night!! we nabbed one of the last reservations for dinner on a Sunday night. Literally had to come when they opened, but the inside is beautiful. You have to walk through a pawn shop to get inside and then the lobby/foyer is gorgeous. The ambience is very old New York, and looks like a hotel. We got the restaurant week deal for dinner, so an appetizer, entree, and dessert. I went with the brisket bao buns, skirt steak over fried rice, and the ice cream sundae for dessert. my friends also got the brisket bao bun, and one of us got the soup dumplings!! honestly we picked here partially because of the nacho/taco inspired soup dumplings. we were really excited to try them; appearance wise they looked really elegant and were easy to share since the dumplings each had their own spoon. however they were definitely more of a western interpretation on a dumpling, just floating in soup within the spoon. the dumpling was just a little dough ball, versus a thinner wrapping with filling. still yummy but just was a little disappointed by that. as for mains, i had to take off a star because of the skirt steak over fried rice. the steak was cooked and seasoned well, but the fried rice... it was so, so wet. i couldn't get over it, it was also seasoned in kinda a meh way, i mostly tasted bell pepper?? the wetness was super offputting. it was actually damp. at least they gave a very decent portion of it, i was lowkey stuffed halfway through the steak, but even if i hadn't been i probably wouldn't have been able to finish the fried rice. i opted NOT to take the main home because of how bad the fried rice was, even though i had over half the bowl remaining lol. the desserts were all delicious, one of my friends got the milk and cookie shot, which according to her was delicious. i got the ice cream sundae, which was one of the most beautiful sundaes i've ever seen, and it was almost as good as it looked. the ice cream was super creamy, although not super strongly flavored, but generally no complaints. i think this was worth the money, but next time i would get a different main. the ambiance really makes the meal feel special, next time i come i have to try the drink menu as well!!

Beauty & Essex is a LES classic, cleverly tucked away inside of a pawn shop. The waiting area is beautiful and adorned with rich curtains, and the chandeliers take you back in time. I am a sucker for chic, classy restaurants so there's no surprise I come here with friends new to the city. It's a perfect mix of upscale elegance + unpretentious comfort. The beef wellington was excellent, but unsure if I can justify the price. Oddly enough, the miso glazed eggplant side was my favorite thing we ordered. The portion was more than generous, and each piece was fried to perfection without becoming greasy. The dessert wheel -- wow. It was just two of us, and we didn't know it would come with 4 of everything. I was pleasantly surprised though, as they were all incredible. My favorite was the lemon cake pop; the icing was delicate and not too sweet, and the cake was airy. Least favorite was probably the peanut butter brownie since it was too rich and dense. Honorable mention: the jelly filled donut -- it was served warm and was super fluffy.

A time was had here! I'm glad I finally got to check it out. I was not disappointed. It was elegant, tasteful, the food was lovely and service was on point. Honestly, the name should be changed to BILLY and Essex because he's the best server I've ever had in my LIFE. He elevated the entire experience and I truly appreciate that. As soon as we sat down the couple beside us said that we were in for a treat with Billy. They were right. We tried so many things. The east and west coast oysters, the soup dumplings, the beef Wellington, the Peruvian chicken, and the lobster Mac and cheese. It's worth a visit.

Service was chaotic and the interior, while clever, was over done hyped NYC bling. It was uncomfortable chairs and the sound levels so loud your best bet was to text your dinner partner. Ugh....this place is everything the rest of the country thinks is wrong with New York.

This is a very cool speakeasy bar which happens to have an extensive menu. The food is actually pretty good. I would not select this restaurant for food (since there are plenty of better restaurants in town). However if you are looking for a unique speakeasy experience then this is a great spot.

Came tonight for restaurant week and had a nice experience. I found the employees okay-not rude but not very friendly or welcoming either. Enjoyed the kale and apple salad once again and the Peruvian chicken was amazing- beautifully presented and lots of flavor. The strawberry shortcake shot and donuts to me were fine. Fresh donuts and fresh fruit = yummy but neither were very flavorful. This restaurant is gorgeous and big, even the bathroom is stunning! My friend got the tuna poke wonton tacos, the short ribs, and the donuts and liked everything.

Beauty & Essex is always a great adventure! The food is beautifully plated and rich in flavor and aroma. The ambience is surprise and delight with open areas for dining and an upstairs lounge for chilling before or after your meal. The service is great as well.... This spot is Certainly not what you'd expect when entering the shop at Beauty & Essex! But once you get past the door keepers of the restaurant..... be prepared to be wow's!!

10/10 a top favorite restaurant in NYC. I think it's impossible for this restaurant to make something that tastes bad. Every dish that was brought out to us tasted complex, creative, and delicious. I live in queens but find myself frequently dreaming of their salmon risotto. Their chicken also tasted as if every bite was seasoned individually. Their rockstar of the meal were the apple cider donuts at the end. The music selection was impeccable but most importantly the volume was kept at a minimum so we weren't screaming across the table to one another like most restaurants nowadays. Customer service was 10/10! What really impressed us was that we were celebrating an anniversary and the chef came out personally to congratulate us and we were given a complimentary cupcake and card. I will be spending many special occasions at this restaurant.

I came here for the vibes on New Years Eve with a large 12 person group. The decor was classy and elegant as we were expecting. The women's bathroom has a couch and is beautiful too haha. But I was not expecting the food to be that good!!! The ribeye steak, scallops, and miso eggplant were delicious. They were very attentive to dietary restrictions and even made special individuals of the shareable dishes for those of us with allergies. So good!! The only thing was that on the phone they told us they had a maximum of 10 people per table but they could put us at two tables and push them together. When we got there we found out they couldn't push any tables together so we had to split up the group. But the delicious food and service made up for it!

The food is excellent. Every dish we had was filled with of flavor. Most dishes are served tapas style. Still a very popular restaurant for birthdays and other celebrations. For a place that used to be quite a scene back in the day (10 years or so) it's amazing how they have stayed consistently good all these years.

Went for a friend's birthday dinner and had a great time. We started out with drinks at the bar while waiting for the entire party to arrive and the cocktails were strong and tasty. This restaurant is hidden behind a pawn shop and has great interior decor. The food here is meant to be shared so it's great to order different dishes to try. Also went for brunch upstairs which has a different vibe than downstairs (at night, it turns into a lounge/dancing area).

Beauty and Essex is one of my favorite bars in New York City. It's a great place to get drinks and lounge with friends. This was my first time getting dinner, and now I can say I would return for a meal as well! I really enjoyed our appetizers, and highly recommend the roasted bone marrow. I also loved my salmon dish. I know salmon is common in many restaurants, but it's hard to find a well cooked salmon that's not dried out, and in my opinion, theirs was cooked beautifully. I'm excited to come back and try more dishes!

We visited as a group of 8 for Easter Brunch and had the BEST experience. The restaurant itself is beautiful, and so unexpected! Our group tried a variety of menu options, and all raved of the food. Highlights of our meals included the Chicken and a Biscuit, Kale Salad (still dreaming of this one), Shrimp and Grits, and THE WONDER WHEEL! We had so much fun with that silly wheel. Our group had a variety of cocktail options which were all great. Service was also excellent. One of the servers even noticed when a member of our party dropped a small piece of food on their pants and immediately brought over hot water to get out the stain. I couldn't recommend the restaurant more highly.

I went back for another birthday brunch and same great food, ambiance and service. Ordered the BEC sandwich and Espresso Martini flights. All was wonderful.

Enjoyed our impromptu dinner at Beauty and Essex and they were kind enough to seat us without a reservation. Started with the kale and apple salad, meat balls and cauliflower tacos. All three were flavorful, and plenty for the two of us; enjoyed these very much. Finished the meal with the burger, the best onion rings I've ever had in my entire life, and truffle mac and cheese. Burger was mediocre at best but the Mac and cheese was very good! We had ordered a lot of food and had to bring the Mac and cheese home with us. They don't have a great selection of bourbon.

Went to this restaurant for a rehearsal dinner. And it was surprisingly outstanding! I wasn't sure how a trendy bar/restaurant would handle a large crowd but they did an amazing job. Our party occupied half of the upstairs, and it seemed very private. We were treated to an open bar, and the bartenders were outstanding. They made delicious drinks, and didn't seem phased by all the requested cocktails. The passed appetizers were incredible. Especially the Crispy Thai Shrimp and the Tuna Poke Wonton tacos. The seating was beautiful, and they provided mics for the toasts and speeches. The decor in the room is so interesting, with beautiful lighting and framed lockets on the walls (a nod perhaps to the pawn shop entrance.) The servers were all friendly & personable, and seemed to share the joy in the room. The food was served family style, and it was all delicious. The French Dip appetizer was amazing. So tender and juicy. The salmon was delicious, and the Peruvian chicken was outstanding. One of our table mates excpalimes that the Truffle Mac & Cheese was one of the best things she had ever tasted. The asparagus was fresh & prepared perfectly. And the desserts were outstanding! This is such an outstanding special occasion venue. I'm thrilled that my nephew and his (now) wife knew about it! (My only issue was with the bathroom being 3 floors down! As far as I could tell, there was no elevator. I had a recent hip replacement, but luckily was healed enough to walk down the stairs, holding tightly to the railing.)

You're paying truly for the experience rather than the food. Food (4/5) - Mostly fusion, ingredients are rich and taste that way. Presentation for everything is beautiful, chic and clean. Service (4/5) - Prompt enough and very helpful, but it is very busy and can take some time to get your food and get help when you need it. Ambiance (5/5) - Can get a little loud but overall very lively, upscale elegance. The spiral staircase is beautiful and lots of spots to lounge and enjoy the night. You can also spend some time in the storefront and that also has a lot of cool knick knacks. Price (3/5) - Priced for the ingredients and the vibe. Good for birthdays or special occasions.

Food was definitely pricey but better than I expected. My group shared: tortilla soup dumplings (10/10) really tasty actually Truffle mac and cheese (8/10) good but I don't need to order again And then I had the nori crusted tuna (9/10) definitely expensive for what you get but was a good sear and the rice noodles were really good! They kind of tasted like seaweed salad And I tried my friend's scallops which were perfectly cooked but the pork belly was a little too salty for my liking We then ordered the wonder wheel for dessert and that was a fun experience but the desserts on it were only okay. We got mini macarons, jelly filled donuts (still warm!), lemon cake pops (not great), these homemade peanut butter cups ( too sweet ), mini brownies, and this little white chocolate pieces. They also brought out a little birthday cupcake! But I'm not a fan of chocolate cake so I gave that away. Service was extremely slow I expected to get out closer to 9 for a 7:30 reservation but we didn't get out until 10 and we had to keep requesting for water. Also our waitress never gave me my credit card so I left and had to go back in to get it. Overall a fun experience and a great interior but I wouldn't try to go back soon.

Everything was amazing and to die for!!! This was split amongst 2 people as the plates are small sizes like entrees. But I love that as it gives me the options to try everything. If you are ordering for 2 people I would recommend ordering 3-4 dishes. My favorite dish of the night was the tuna poke wonton tacos. The tuna was super fresh and the wonton tacos were super crispy. I'm not going to mention the other dishes as they speak for itself in the pictures. Overall this places has great service and amazing food. Also it was super cool as the entrance was hidden in a pawn shop. Make sure to book a reservation in advance as it gets packed.

Food was a bit overpriced, the service was nice the waiter didn't check in too often. The ambiance was relaxing. This was a family outing so the kids enjoyed the meal and the experience.

This is a must visit in NYC! This was our first time here so we decided to both do the "tasting menu". Everything was amazing!! And I was worried since it was a tasting menu it wouldn't be enough food but the portions were great! The service was fast and friendly as well. The vibes were amazing and felt so New York in there. Highly recommend!

We were here for a party of 60 people on Friday night for a family member's rehearsal dinner. The party started at 6:30 with beautiful appetizers brought around on trays and then we moved into the back room for dinner. The service was incredible all night. The appetizers were a true highlight (sorry I didn't get any photos of them). I could have made them my whole dinner. My daughter, who is lactose intolerant, loved the mini wonton tacos and ate about 11 of them. They were crunchy in three different ways, from the shell to the cabbage inside and it was filled to the brim with raw tuna. I also love the tiny spoonfuls of tomato soup with a ball of cheese inside, an appetizer I have never had before and was a gastronomic surprise. It is was difficult for her to find something she could eat. We had our own atmosphere, because it was a private party, but the music from outside the curtain got louder over the evening and the energy of the place was high. I enjoyed it the music and vibe, but it might be difficult for those hard of hearing. Also, walking up stairs was required to get to the private room and the bathroom is two floors down in the basement. Word of caution to those allergic to celery - My cousin is allergic to celery and when she told the staff, she found out that celery or celery seed is in EVERYTHING and is, in fact, the special ingredient of all the food here, and is even cooked into the bread.