Forbidden City

I've been to this place several times in the evening & once for a concert by a local band "Happy Fun Smile". I love coming here, but I especially loved it when HFS played because it was Japanese eclectic pop fusion & the energy was great. Food & drinks here are excellent as well as friendly service. It's a little tough to get their attention sometimes when you are at the bar because it's an immense bar space (considering the place is tiny). I definitely recommend sitting at the bar, as the tables are in the back and there's more energy up front. A great place to have a drink or an app or pre-game before going out. I recommend the dumplings and the sake menu.

Pros: upscale bar food, reasonably priced, neighborhood

Cons: small space, only 2 bartenders for immense oval bar

Posted 05/21/08

I had my 30th Bday party here in Dec. It was between Forbidden City and another asian influenced restaurant/lounge venue. The reason I chose FC, and so glad I did, was for 2 reasons:

1. Cost - great dinner and many drinks, $60 pp
2. Manager - Ron

As most of you are aware, birthday dinners get expensive. Not just the dinner, but primarily the drinking. And at most of these venues with fun cocktails the cocktails are $10 a pop or more... FC not withstanding... BUT... Ron (night mgr) worked with me on a HAPPY HOUR RATE on the cocktails for a few hours - $7 Stoli cocktails rather than $10!!! He was very accomodating and just reassured me that we would have a great time. And we absolutely did!

Plus the food was inexpensive and delish. And its the perfect food for a bday party that was going to continue all night since they have mostly light dishes and a great selection of dumplings & apps. MUST GET THE CALAMARI!

The venue itself is more restaurant/bar then restaurant/lounge with a casual fun asian decor and bar nightlife. They allowed us to have fun without being all pretenious and stuffy like I knew the other more upscale venue would be.

So that is why I'm SOOO GLAD we went with FC and I had an GREAT BDAY!

Pros: Price and Friendly Staff

Cons: Only 2 bathrooms and weekends are busy

Posted 01/06/08

first time coming there ,looked it up on the net ,great reviues ,wanted to try it..My friend loved the music as soon as we got in,had reservation so were seated promtly. I guess they are short on staff , it took a lil while for the food to come but it was delicious( the smoked duck,friend had a chicken salad ,!!!! i had the short ribs (liked it a lot ), just as someone mentioned ,portions are small but yummy).They had my faivorite beer which gets me soooooooooo drunk :ASAHI, huge bottles .They have it by my house in these huge cans too ,so i was extra happy). Very nice waitreses(one with highlights, and the taller one too), when we had a lil problem with our order , they brought out these shots of apple tequila, without question to make up for the problem ,plus eventually they took the drinks of the tab, great people that really know how to run a business( i want to say thank you guys!). Music was really good , a bit loud and thats exactly how i like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. atmosphere rocks ,small portions but goes well with liquoer .More of a bar than a restaurant and if you look at it like that be prepared to drink ~! good times.

Pros: everything

Cons: short on staff,but its ok

Posted 11/16/07

don't let the asian crowd intimidate you. the decor is warm yet sleek. mission was to drink on a wednesday night however, we ended up getting some late-night appetizers. surprisingly the food was delish! you can't really mess up on edamane and they cook it just right! try the pork and shrimp steamed shumai and smoked salmon box. richness in flavor yet not greasy. they give generous portions! ribeye steak was good but i'm not much of a meat eater. i can't wait to try other appetizers and entrees on the menu!

Pros: sit by the bar and enjoy drinks, appetizers & dj

Cons: can be a bit loud in there

Posted 10/18/07

If you're looking to get away from other areas of Manhattan then this is the place to be. The food is great although it's more appropriate for snacking more than anything else. They have great beers on tap along with an extensive cocktail list. Prices are reasonable and service is quick.

Pros: Good music, service, food and drinks

Cons: It might get kind of cramped if you go with a large group

Posted 01/07/07

don't ever go during the weekend prime hours. it is absolutely uncomfortably crowded. it's an asian singles hangout. don't bring your girlfriend or boyfriend, unless you want drama. the drinks are good, but the fact it's so crowded you can't really enjoy it. go if your single, don't go if you're not.

Pros: good looking asian people, fun environment

Cons: too crowded

Posted 11/11/06

Had a great time here last night after the Yanks game. The food was great, the beer was cold, and the service was prompt. As always, Forbidden City doesn't dissapoint.

Pros: Open Late

Cons: None in Philadelphia

Posted 08/01/06

went there on both friday and saturday nights this past weekend. the dj was playing great music the whole night and the crowd was really into it. good looking girls and lively staff. my date and i had the dumpling tasting which was of chinatown authenticity. try the green tea and lychee martinis when you're there

Pros: good crowd, good music, original drinks

Cons: tough to get a seat during the weekend

Posted 07/31/06

Looking for a good date place or spot to have weekend fun. I went here twice in one week and had a blast on both occassions. My girl and I heard from a friend about forbidden city. This almost hidden spot has asian fusion food and my girl loved the cocktails........ the dumpling sampler, black cod, and salt and pepper squid were amazing. The employees were friendly and fun. They recommended we come on the weekend to see their nightlife. Second visit, they had a Dj and the place was packed. Great music, great food, great cocktails, and great service. This place is a must for a date!!!! Night life????? I going again friday!

Pros: dumplings, cocktails, service

Cons: none

Posted 07/31/06

I love this place-- it's a great bar-- fun, accomodating, and open till 4am!! Not too upscale, but nice enough that it isn't grungy... and very fun!

Pros: sake, reasonable price

Posted 11/30/05

the minute you step into this place, you know you've been wisked away to the far east. From the traditional samurai garb on display to the authentic untainted cuisine, this place is one of my favorite true new yorker spots. What I mean is the the crowed is always so mixed and eclectic, i've seen celebrities, pro skaters, wall st. execs, service industry people, and even some models. Not only is the scenery asthetically pleasing but the food is uncompromised even at 3am!. My only complaint is that when it gets busy it take a little longer for the food to come out, but that is easily remedied by my fav the sake martini. This place is truly one of the last true spots that has its own unique flavor that people obviously love to taste.

Pros: food, scene, people

Cons: crowded

Posted 05/24/05

I used to live in the LES a few years back and I remember when this place first opened. A friend had a birthday party there last weekend and it is STILL one of the top hot spots of this neighborhood. Where do I start? Food, incredible. I STRONGLY recommend to try something other than typical menu items and go for the short ribs over rice, black cod, sea bass, or duck (there are two dishes that are great). And of course the salt & pepper squid which is on par if not better than even Chinatown's jewel restaurants. The drinks are amazing, the lychee martini, green tea, and mango are awesome. They have an extensive sake menu as well and if you ask they will even let you taste it! The service is impeccable. Friendly, fast, courteous and detail oriented. I love the diverse crowd.

Pros: service, food, drinks

Cons: no parking, crowded

Posted 05/14/05

I have been to tons of places in the city and there has never been a place like this. The food is orgasmic, the drinks are some of the best in the city, and the staff is some of the coolest people. Everyone that I have ever brought there falls in love after a few minutes in the place from the ambiance to the food this place is definatly my reccomendation.

Posted 05/14/05

I came here last week and the service, food, music, ambiance, owners, everything, was exceptional. Forbidden City has a great selection of sake's but don't forget to also try the lychee martini --> mmmm, made to perfection! the place is good for a late night snack and with the bar being 'U' shaped, it's perfect to be checking out the good looking crowd and waitstaff, including the kind and cute owners. forget the lame cover-charging lounges, i would definately come back here again!

Pros: late night snack, reasonable prices, good looking crowd

Posted 02/02/05

Went there on a Saturday night and got seated at the bar, right before the mad rush of barhoppers came in. The food came out late, but we didn't notice since my date and I were enjoying our Sake and martinis (hint: try the Lychee Martini and the Last Emperor). Before we got our entrees, we asked the waitstaff if we could get seated in the dining area, since the prospects of having dinner with a bunch of people doing shots behind you isn't very pleasant. We were seated promptly and when our entrees came out, Paul, the owner, apologized for the delay in our food coming out and took it off our bill. Now that is exceptional courtesy especially since neither me or my date complained about it. Every person we interacted with there was extremely nice... oh yeah, and the food was awesome too.

Pros: Good food, Great Service, Bumpin' Atmosphere

Posted 02/02/05

I've become a fixture at this place b/c the owners and staff are so friendly and always having a good time. The vibe is like a house party, everyone is having fun and new faces are always welcome. The food is amazing. Where else can you find a pan-asian cuisine with uncompromised flavor and quality late at night. The staff are good looking, so is the mixed crowd. People start filling in around 11pm, so find a seat or you'll be standing for the night. The owners are gracious hosts, they know everyone who comes in the door, and if not they make it a point to get to know their clientelle. Plenty of eye candy. Lookin for a party like vibe, but dont want a $20 cover? forbidden is perfect, no cover, excellent food, good looking crowd, friendly owners, great music, and one my favorite places in the city.

Pros: service, food, drinks

Posted 01/26/05

I have been going to FC for a while now and the place is just amazing! From the owners, to the bar and wait staff to the guy who cleans the dishes, everyone there is really cool and friendly. The food is very tasty and a perfect compliment to the excellent cocktails that are unique to Forbidden City. If you're not into those, they also have a full bar of "regular" liquors and some fantastic beers.

Posted 01/25/05

I don't know what the 'nightmare' thread is talking about but I had my party of 35 ppl and had the best time ever. Music was great and so was the mixed crowd. The servers were very accomadating and informative. They also sent us a couple round of shots and the owner came out to personally wish me a happy birthday. I definitely recommend this place for parties.

Pros: great staff, great drinks, great music

Posted 01/25/05

It's a pretty nice and cozy place to chill with friends. Hip-hop and R&B music in the background. It can be loud sometimes. It's somewhat of an asian hang out place though. The Lychee Martini was "yum-yum" good, and the bartender was sooo nice and sweet. The waitresses were also very prompt in taking our order. We had scallops and squid appetizer. The serving were small, but tasty. Worth going.

Pros: good service, nice vibe, cool atmosphere

Posted 11/27/04

I have been going there for a few years now. The management has changed but the Bartenders and Food is still tops. I meet there with friends everytime i go to the city and drinks like the Rising Sun and Green Tea Martini are always a winner. Carefull drinking the Makers Mark - harsh:) Give a kiss to Johnny for me if he's working.

Pros: Great Bar, Great Staff, FOOD's Great

Posted 08/23/04

I'm in love with this place. I go once or twice a month and have brought many different friends. All were impressed. The food is all good. I've tried almost the whole menu. Nothing disappointed. Flavors are bold and straightforward. It's pointless not to ordered shared dishes. Whoever your with is goign to want to try yours and vice versa. Prices are very, very fair. The bar atmosphere feels like a William Gibson novel. Dark, asian, digital. Asahi served in large bottles (16oz?) goes well with everything. The wine list lists a number of bottles which have never been available on any of my visits. They should just reprint the menu without the wine list and save their staff some time. Service is OK. I've had some downright bad service and I've had some good, but the food is what I come for at 2:30 in the morning.

Pros: Inexpensive and good., Late night dining.

Posted 03/31/04

This is a great place to hang out with your friends. They always play great music and they make the best lychee martinis!! It getts better...the kitchen is open unitl 4am!! The food is amazing, especially the king crab croquettes!!

Posted 03/13/04

when you can't wake up in time to eat dim sum for brunch, order it here. the dumplings are great, and the duck is fabulous. the calamari was tasty, not too greasy. the staff of fc are all super friendly, giving the bar a "cheers" like feeling.

Pros: great service, tasty apps, no cover

Posted 11/22/03

Forbidden city is amazing on sunday nights.. not so much for the food or the drinks; but the regular sunday night band is fantastic. Live latin music and a fun crowd. No cover.

Posted 08/12/03

We were meeting with friends for dinner - all first timers to this place. We got there at 9 on a Saturday night and this place was dead - empty... The portions are miniscule and the size of an entree could be half-and appetizer if even that large. Bad Value for the money. The drinks were ok but we had to move on to another place to finish dinner. Atmosphere was strange since it was so empty but I heard it fills up after midnight but I think there are much better places in the city to hang out.

Cons: expensive

Posted 06/27/03

This place is worth a visit. The food is decent but small portions so expect to order a lot. lychee martini's are pretty yummy and so is the unfiltered saki give it a try if you havent already.

Posted 04/26/03

gets very crowded on the weekends.... slammin food... service be good.... dont try to go to the bathroom at the last moment.... the lines for it gets pretty long....

Posted 03/23/03

I loved this place. Let's see...I liked their pork kakuni, spicy tuna hakozushi, jelly fish, ganmodoki, duck with scallions, etc. Everything was good. Must try-Green tea creme brulee. It's worth a try!! Their cocktails were unique too-I tried their green tea martini which tasted interesting. Lychee martini was good also if you're into sweet cocktails.

Cons: good drinks, good food

Posted 02/11/03

i have been to forbidden city twice and always introduce it to visitors as part of new york that is the unpretentious cool, maybe because it hasnt been "discovered" as yet...? great, great lychee martinis and the tapas style food is very good. open v v late. and v friendly staff.

Posted 01/15/03

My friends and I stopped in randomly and had the best time. It has nice atmosphere, the bartender was friendly. The lychee martini was one of the very best I've ever tasted. We ate like pigs because the food was so good we couldn't stop ordering (smallish portions, but you just get to try more food, so it works out). The seared tuna was absolutely amazing. The shrimp and spinach dumplings were yummy. The seaweed salad was good too. I'd recommend it to everyone!

Posted 11/11/02

very cool/hip asian flair(?) bar/rest. hip/hop; drinks w/kung foo movie names; really cool...oh, and amazing food. not necc expensive.

Went here w/friends late, late on a Friday night...They were still serving us amazing food @4am...Great vibe...Oh and I like the circular bar - access to your bartender is really important.

All (and I mean all) of the staff were helpful & friendly.

Pros: bar, food, music

Posted 11/08/02

great music..great atmosphere..friendly patrons and staff- STAN's the MAN..great,exotic drinks...it's a feel-good joint..romantic settings..highly recommended

Pros: cocktails, cool vibe, diverse clientele

Cons: no parking, smoking

Posted 10/08/02

Forbidden city is in a great part of town. No crowds, no tourists, no suits or fashion slaves, just people who are out to drink, like you. And if you are like me, and love GOOD sake, you need to go to Forbidden City. The menu is always changing, depending on season, with the manager and staff always on the lookout for good, better, and best brands of sake. As a bonus, you get served in square galss cups, with an overflow plate (someone help me out with the traditional name here).

Pros: selection, service, ambiance

Cons: little pricey

Posted 08/05/02

I'm almost tempted to give this place a bad review so I can keep the crowds away...been going there on and off for a year now and it's really my fave hang out in the city. Altho the area seems shady, it's actually pretty safe. The bartenders and the managers are really nice and the decor is very comfy and laid-back, all the while being trendy. I love the drinks, esp lychee martini, and the food is also VERY good. does get very crowded on the wknds but everyone is nice, friendly and usually good looking Also tho there is no dance floor, they play really good music!!! =) Enjoy!!

Pros: service, drinks, decor

Cons: none!!!!!!

Posted 07/25/02

Enough said. They would let me leave it at that so, let me elaborate. It's located in the a desolate area so, I would be paranoid about my car. I'm sure it'd be fine though, you just never know. Other than that, inside is great. The drinks are inexpensive, a trendy crowd frequents the place and the atmosphere is a laidback cool.

Pros: cool decor, inexpensive drinks

Cons: desolate locale

Posted 07/10/02