Thai? Vietnamese? Asian.
Written: Sep 19 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: food is DELICIOUS
Cons: gets noisy inside
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| deliciae's Full Review: Republic |
Hello, I am deliciae, and I am addicted to Republic's chicken udon.
Hi, deliciae...
I'm not well-versed in the world of gourmet dining despite being a native New Yorker and surrounded by foodie haunts, so let me just praise what I know: Republic's chicken udon. Is it authentic? Beats the tar out of me. Does it taste good? Oh, yeah, I love the stuff. A big bowl of fat whitish-clear noodles with slivers of chicken and this wonderful minty green sauce....my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I can't help myself, this is the same thing I order EVERY time I go here, but companions have raved about the pad thai as well. A favorite appetizer is the coconut shrimp, which is served with a fabulously tangy peanut-based sauce -- consistently good. I never leave here feeling uncomfortably full, but I am always satisfied at the end of a meal here.
Meals here for me inevitably end with a dish of green tea ice cream, the best I have found in NYC outside of Chinatown thus far. Not too sweet and not too overpowered by vanilla, this ice cream is a bit tart and leaves a clean aftertaste in your mouth after each bite -- excellent quality. During meals here, I like to include a glass of either their lime lemonade or their fresh carrot juice, both of which are delicious and freshly prepared. The drinks could be a bit larger, but that's New York City for you, I think.
Republic is the type of place that I can enjoy either going with a group or going to eat alone, sitting at one of the small tables up front with a good book and my bowl of chicken udon. The last time I was there with friends, so was Susan Sarandon, sitting at the counter with her bowl of noodles and her New York Times -- it's comfortable like that, where you aren't made to feel like a freak because you happen to be eating alone.
My friends and I usually use Republic as a meeting place and to grab a quick bite before heading out into the wilds of NYC for the evening, but I used to work around the corner from it and went there for lunch all the time. Lunchtime seems to be more crowded, so angle for the outdoor tables if you want to be able to hear your partners (though be prepared to wait, the tables get snapped up quickly.) Inside, we usually wait about a half hour during peak time, which is fine since it's time spent at the bar watching everyone else. Although it's not everyone's cup of tea, I really like Republic. Not so much for the quality of the food (as explained, I don't have any problem with it) but more for the atmosphere.
I like sitting at the big bar, people-watching and enjoying a martini while I'm waiting for my friends. I like sitting outside if the weather's nice and my group is small enough, watching all the beautiful people of the Union Square area. I like the communal style indoor seating, even though it can get loud in there during peak hours. They have fabulous art on the walls as well, large photographs of people playing with noodles -- one model has them draped over her head like hair. Cute.
Republic isn't one of the top restaurants here in New York, but it's not bad for what it is -- a fun place to grab a quick bite while you catch up on all the latest gossip with your friends, or respite from shopping the local boutiques and stores. Better than McDonald's, anyway.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
deliciae
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Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 24
Trusted by: 22 members
About Me:
same bat time, same bat channel...
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