Wakiya Gramercy Park Hotel

I recently was here with a small group and we tried the tasting menu of 7 courses. Although each course was small and took a while to come out, the food was great and the wait staff explained each course. They even went out of their way to accommodate a vegetarian at the table. Great atmosphere, the room design is incredible and lends itself to the experience you're hoping for. Overall a very good experience.

I was here when I was on a business trip. Mr. Wakiya came by to greet us, and we enjoyed his recommendation menu. Every dish was artsy and just beautiful!! The flavoring was a bit on the stronger side, but still the combination with the sauce and vegetable or meat was just excellent. I would highly recommend this place. It seems like a 30s and 40s, elite crowd would fit in the atmosphere well. I would definitely come here again next time I am in New York!

I'm a huge fan of the Gramercy Hotel and Rose Bar so admittedly had high expectations that did not deliver, w/ either the ambiance of the restaurant or the cuisine. First off, the restaurant's cuisine is Chinese which was probably not the best choice since one does not necessarily equate Chinese food with high end/luxury. The decor is disappointing for a Schrager space - lots of deep red and black hues and hanging piecemeal curtains of blood-red strings flowing from the ceiling - not exactly the kind of visually pleasing sight one wants before dining. The tables and seating arrangements are equally sparse and not unique, making the restaurant seem rather bland. I found the lighting to be equally dull and unflattering (his is especially true if you've seen the amazing decor and art inside both the Gramercy Hotel and Rose Bar which are very well done and modern). The food is good, probably on par with the Chinese Brasserie, but in the small and uninteresting space where it is served equates to an unappealing dining experience. No plans to return.

DIRTY, SMELLY & DEEP FRIED, JUST LIKE IAN SCHRAGER'S LIVER

If you've ever wondered where all the garbage from Chinatown ends up, dining at Wakya might provide a critical clue. We tried a broad variety of dishes, starting with an awful smelling "bang-bang" chicken that had obviously gone bad. Their dumplings were tough and chewey- someone needs to teach the chef how to properly microwave frozen food. The "ma po" tofu was a bowl of ketchup and corn syrup sprinkled with powdered ginger and nutmeg. The vegetarian peking duck and the lobster were so deep fried they would make a street fair blush. In fact, they only thing that wasnt deep fried in some cheap hydrogenated oil were the dumplings. As for portions, I'm guessing that by "family size" the staff was refering to the Carpenters.
The serious, dignified service added a touch of irony to what was otherwise culinary shock. I just cant imagine that a New York restaurant could be THIS POOR.
The only positive thing I can say is that little shiny black plates perfectly matched the shiny black toilets- an nice and appropriate thematic touch. The only thing missing was a role of toilet paper at the table.

Wakiya really made our night memorable. The ambiance along with the delicately prepared food made our anniversary special. I called up a couple of hours beforehand to let them know I was coming for my wedding anniversary and boy did they staff take care of us! Will definitely be back next year!!