DINER by THE IZAKAYA

I ordered a kale salad and it was over priced and incredibly boring. This is why salads have a bad name and people are nervous to order them at restaurants. I thought for the price point and what I gathered from looking online this was a place that made gourmet and inventive meals. My salad was just kale some cherry tomatoes and cold tofu with a light dressing. All they had was a chalk board for a menu without much of a description and the person I ordered it from said it was good. Disappointing...

This place has a really cool, laid-back and chill vibe. It’s a huge outdoor space with lots of socially distanced tables. Kinda feels like you are hanging out in your friend’s backyard. The food is tasty too! I had the summer vegetable curry rice and I thought it was delicious! Came here for lunch and it wasn’t too crowded. I think it gets pretty packed in the evenings. Reservations are recommended.

First time we went it was great, if a bit slow. Second time we waited over an hour for awful ramen. The ramen broth was like a milkshake. They told us fifteen minutes which kept getting stretched out to "a few more minutes" several times. It's a shame because nowadays is great

Charged me and I never got my food. They claimed I was never charged. Thank goodness for Chase Sapphire.

Really disappointing lamb burger. Food was all different temperatures. I preferred the previous food menu at nowadays

One of my first adventures going out in the NYC pandemic landscape was to Nowadays (#1) and since drinking eventually turns into eating, I also simultaneously found myself at Diner by Izakaya. How is it that The Izakaya (#2), a popular Japanese eatery from the East Village would end up in Ridgewood ... in a food truck no less? Why does the website state that they're closed? Instead of pondering these questions, I was already too hungry to care. The combination of the hunger, intoxicating aroma from whatever they were making, and the fact there was nothing else around made the decision to eat here way easier. The menu (#3) is pretty simple: bar food with an elevated Asian twist. The fried chicken zangi sandwich ($13) is not big, but it's packed with flavor. The chicken is truly the star; crispy and juicy all throughout with just enough kick from the seasoning to make it a big thumbs up. The wagyu burger is far and away the most expensive item on the menu at $14, coupled with the $2 avocado / $2 cheese option. One could be looking at an $18 burger that is modest in size, but really packing serious flavor again. It was juicy and satisfying, and dare I say goes so well with the "crispy potato" fingerlings ($6). Very hipster approved. I love that the staff is all Japanese and enthusiastically preparing meals left and right while drunkards wait outside the food truck to receive their orders. Credit cards are accepted and folks are only allowed to eat at their tables. __________ (#1) https://www.yelp.com/biz/nowadays-ridgewood (#2) https://www.yelp.com/biz/izakaya-new-york-2 (#3) Pandemic menu? https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/diner-by-izakaya-ridgewood?select=n0xfd0YcnspjXSYaau55ng

Loved having ramen at my fave hangout spot! Before they transform this place into a dance floor, they're now serving ramen, rice bowls and appetizers. The food is good and the ambiance is cozy! I ordered the Spicy Syoyu Ramen and it was good. There were wheat noodles and a spicy red broth. I definitely thought the broth was too oily which made the dish too heavy though. We also ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen and it was the same situation. I think if they tweaked the broth- it would be really great. There are a mix of appetizers here like Shishito pepper and French fries- which are snack sized. Everything is served in compostable to-go bowls, I guess to make things easy when they transition from a restaurant into a dancefloor. There weren't many people when we visited, but there is a lot of bench seating for groups and mood lighting for date nights. I think this place will probably pick up speed soon and the ramen will be a hit for the winter.

Go to Diner By Izakaya, if you can. Such a great atmosphere. Every single thing I've tried thus far is solid. Staff: outstanding. Attentive and professional. Pretty darn cool.

Love the concept and the food I had was good, but I thought it was weird that I had to pay an entrance fee to get in and then pay for the food, as I was only looking for dinner. I also think it's strange that there is no vegetarian option for the ramen. All of the Ramens have meat based broth.