Mr. K's Restaurant

I can write a long review about how good the food and service is at Mr.K's but that sometime is not needed when i can sum it up in just a few words.

MR.K'S is the best Chinese Restaurant in all of New York.

Posted 02/17/09

After reading some of the negative reviews, I really wanted to see for myself. I was visiting NYC for the 1st time and got tired of same old stuff! Especially the "I'm better than you" attitudes or the "Do you really belong here?" from the waiters in Manhattan. Being from the Cowboy State, (Wyoming in case you don't know) We can eat Steak and Italian anytime. Anyways, although we were somewhat intimidated at 1st, The waiter seemed to be walking on eggshells so the last thing we wanted to do was to offend the waiter! I Felt it was best to just ASK about the fancy table settings and the such that were being presented. The waiter was thrilled that he was being treated like a person and not a servant. He loosened up right away and was flattered that we didn't want to offend his culture and was more than happy to explain to us what the heck it was all about. The rest of our dining was a true delight. I had the Prawns/Scallops in Garlic sauce and my Wife had the Seafood Fried Rice. Wonton Soup was excellent ! As was the entire meal. Service was Great ! I truly think that by treating the waiter with respect and dignity made the evening even better and we were not the only ones that were pleased with the entire "event ". Highly recommended !!!!!!

PS - Regardless of how you treat the waiter, It's definitely a 1st class operation there. Very pleasent time and educational for us I'm not not ashamed to admit. We will certainly go back when we return to NYC in the Spring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 09/16/08

Today was my third visit. Highly recommended for its beautiful art deco decor; lovely place settings, serving dishes, and cutlery; nice ambience; and excellent service. And these positive things are consistent -- they've been positive every time I have been. And, sometimes, the food is excellent and highly recommended, too. But that's the thing -- having spent $80 for lunch for two people, you don't want the food to be SOMETIMES outstanding -- you want it ALWAYS to be outstanding. Today, one of the dishes was WELL and truly below average -- the fried rice we got was SO SALTY we had to send the whole thing back (it was like eating a salt lick, as if they had poured salt on it before sending it out). Not even the slightest whiff of a problem sending it back (goes back to the excellent service), and when it came back, it tasted MUCH better, but they had removed ALL the chicken and shrimp from it, which is presumably what drove the cost of $15 fried rice. Definitely worth a visit for the positives -- send the food back for another try if it doesn't meet your standards (and it may, but it may well not).

Posted 07/20/07

Great Chinese dishes. The sauces were delicious and the service was great, French serving style. The dumplings were delicious and expertly done. Ginger Basil chicken was great.
The table setting was beautifully done with authentic Chinese style pieces. Nice high ceiling, beautifully decorated with Chinese vases and corals.

Posted 07/06/07

The food here is not good. Atmosphere and decor is pretentious and tacky. Had the sizzling pepper steak, west lake lobster, beef dumplings, and a noodle dish. Was not impressed by any one of them. I have had so much better. Everything tasted and looked like take-out food. And their desserts? Forget about it. I regret ordering them. Although the food is bad, I am going to be fair. The service is good. I really liked the workers. They are friendly and attentive. Bad food, good service.

Pros: service

Cons: food, decor

Posted 04/04/07

I went to last year with friends for my husbands birthday and this year on Valentine's day-- and both experiences were wonderful. The service was excellent and the food, while not the best the best in the world, was very very good.
There's an old world charm to Mr. K's that you don't experience much in restaurants anymore, and rarely experience in the many 100's of Chinese restaraunts around the city.
The charming art deco decor is relaxing and comfortable, the servie is excellent and the Peking duck wonderful. The waitstaff aren't actors earning money to pay their rent, but seasoned professionals who guide you through your meal seamlessly and efficiently.
I've seen the sorbet mentioned in several reviews-- it's not a dessert but a palatte cleanser between courses--a bit of advice, don't review the sorbet in any restaurant. Where have these people been eating?
I would highly recommend this place, and it's escpecially good to share with a group of friends.

Pros: decor, service, food

Cons: a little pricey

Posted 03/09/07

I love Chinese cuisine and have had it all over the country. This has to be among the best I have ever had. The prices are reasonable and the service is fine. The food was exactly as I ordered and came out in the time frame it should. The restaurant itself is nice with a cool decor. I reccomend it to anyone who enjoys Chinese and wants to dry a different place.

Posted 01/30/07

During my trip to NYC, a friend wanted to show me to a nice place, so we went to check out Mr. K's -- with its high ratings and all. Well, based on my experience, I'm quite puzzled about the reasons behind the kudos. I left the restaurant confused about the the restaurant's gimmick, livid about the service, and appalled by the over-pricing of their menu.
As for the food, I do applaud it as being tasty. Albeit overpriced at $14/plate (which the rude waiter did not inform us), the crispy beef, love dumplings, and the spring rolls were good. Moreover, the sorbet to cleanse the palate was a refreshing touch (i.e. literally and figuratively). The food is good but tries to be a mix of authentic chinese and P.F. Chang's westernized style. Coupled with the ambiguous style of menu is the flamboyant setting of pink tapestry and yellow-gilded (Louis XVI would be jealous) dining ware. The waiter was extremely rude -- our question of "what are some of your specialties?" was met with a snarling retort of "Everything is good!". The dishes averaging $25-30 is reasonable, but what is NOT is charging $3/pot for Jasmine tea. What Chinese restaurant charges for tea?
It all made for an "experience", but nothing I intend to revisit. Mr. K, I need that sorbet again to cleanse my palate of the experience.

Pros: Food, Ambience (if you like the type)

Cons: Service (TERRIBLE), Over-priced, Ambience (too overdone)

Posted 11/16/06

Dude, the mini sorbet was to cleanse your palate!!! It wasn't a part of the main course, so stop complaining!

Posted 08/30/06

I understand most Chinese restaurants lack friendly service and decent decor, a fact that sometimes troubles and embarrasses a native Chinese like me. But no matter what, the food comes first. I was treated to the "Banquet prix fixe"--85 bucks, an appetizer platter, a small bowl of seafood soup, a bit-size lemon sorbet, main course with three samples of dishes, and dessert. Let me start backward: the dessert was just a scoop of sorbet decorated with some fresh berries, the only decent thing in the main course is the half tail of lobster, the rest is just plain veggie and meat stuff, the lemon sorbet is just a trick, the seafood soup IS good with lots of fresh crab meat, and, finally, the apperizer platter is decent but nothing special. For 85$, you can feed 3 or 4 people at a place like Wu Liang Ye (not considered a cheap Chinese, not nearly nice the decor, but much, much better food), or enjoy a nice dinner at Babbo, Aquavit, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Gotham...you get the idea. I know most people won't go for the "banquet prix fixe"--you have to ask the server for a special menu, but I saw that most a la carte dishes are at least 20 $, which is still too much for the quality of food. If you want to pay for the service and decor and sit comfortable at a Chinese restaurant, go ahead. But please don't say this is the "best Chinese" or "one of the best" restaurants in NYC. That's just embarrassing.

Pros: Decor, comfy chair

Cons: Food, price

Posted 08/18/06

this is the best restaurant ive been to. the food is great, atmosphere is awesome and the service rocks. take it from someone who would eat there any day!

Pros: everything

Cons: nothing

Posted 06/20/06

The decor was Art Deco and the service impecable. The hot and sour sup was scrumptious and the sesame prawns were perfect! And for a restaurant in Manhattan the prices were quite reasonable. If you want to be treated like a king or queen I reccomend this establishment.

Posted 04/17/06

I went for lunch in this Chinese restaurant in hope of experiencing the finest Chinese in New York. What I actually got were entrees sweet enough to paralyze my tongue. The appetizer was sweet, lemon sorbet was sweet, the main dish was sweet, and the dessert was sweet (passion fruit sorbet). The only thing worth eating were the rice and vegetables which are insignificant in making any differences to the rating.

Pros: nice atmosphere

Cons: the food

Posted 07/19/05

This is hands down my favorite Chinese restaurant in Manhattan. The food can best be described as fine Chinese (ex: the dumplings definitely are not the frozen ones that you get at so many of the restaurants in the Village, they have to be handmade by the chefs to taste as great as they do). The menu encompases dishes from all regions of China including some harder-to-find specialties such as Peking Duck (which is fantastic). The service is impeccable and is what really sets the restaurant apart. I highly doubt that you would be given a hot washcloth before beginning and sorbet between courses at any other restaurant in this one's price range. Dining at Mr. K's at least once is a must.

Pros: Great Food, Superb Service, Nice Ambience

Posted 07/18/05

This restaurant is bad for kids! I should know. I have 4 of them. My kids hated the food, even though it was ok for me. Plus, you should see the way the restaurant looks. No cool decorations. Also, the waiters were busy watching baseball when I tried to call them over. A serious no-no. And look at the price! Oh my god!

Pros: good food for adults, easy to park, pretty big TV

Cons: too expensive, bad decorations, bad for kids

Posted 06/11/05

Hands down the best chinese food I have ever tasted in my life! Ordering tips- Crispy beef appetizer, grand marnier prawns, and the most incredible duck. Very pricey but do yourself the favor...

Posted 06/06/05

ONE RAINY SUNDAY AFTERNOON,CASUALLY DRESSED,I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO TAKE REFUGE IN THE ENTRANCE WAY OF MR.K's TO KEEP FROM GETTING WET.I PEEKED INSIDE AND WAS TAKEN BACK BY WHAT I SAW-A BEAUTIFUL RESTAURANT.I DECIDED TO EAT THERE,BUT UPON COMPLETING MY DINNER,I REALIZED I HAD DINED,NOT EATEN.THE WAIT STAFF WAS MOST PROFESSIONAL AND NOT OVERWHELMING.I WAS SO IMPRESSED THAT AFTER MANY MORE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES,I HAD MY WEDDING THERE TAKING OVER THE PLACE FOR 120 GUESTS,MANY OF WHOM BECAME REGULARS.I ,IN ADDITION MADE A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY THERE FOR MY SPOUSE IN ONE OF THEIR ELEGANT PRIVATE ROOMS. NEED I SAY MORE?YES,THANKS TO THE RAIN,I DISCOVERED THE BEST,NOT ONLY IN NY,BUT IN THE US.

Pros: EXCELLENT SERVICE, JADE DISPLAY, ELEGANT,YET CASUAL

Posted 06/01/05

the food and services was so good. feel relaxing and enjoy having dinner there.

Pros: relaxing, good services, good food

Posted 05/22/05

great food, great athmosphere, great time. what more do you want?

Posted 05/07/05

Seriously speaking, this place has the most cleanest bathroom i have ever sceen. On top of that, they have this great rice bowl holder that flips open. Man. That was cool. To the food: for a fancy restaurant like that, they give a good portion (didn't quite expected that). The food tasted like Chinese food with a kick. I'll be back.

Posted 11/26/04

Mr K's is an upscale Chinese restaurant that offers traditional as well as popular western dishes. Overall the food is very good (although I have had better authentic dishes in places that were not as asthetically pleasing), excellent service with constant utensil & plate changes (as is custom in fine chinese restaurants) and great ambience. The high, high ceilings and plush sofa like seats are really what sets this restaurant apart. It is a bit on the pricey side but, then again, you get what you pay for.

Pros: Beautiful space, Good Service, Good Food

Posted 10/31/04

Went to Mr. K's not knowing what to expect. I had never really dined on "upscale" Chinese food. I must say that I was more than pleasantly surprised. The place is absolutely beautiful with huge space and large tables with fine pink linens. Service was a bit slow at times but for the most part very good. The food was spectacular. We went with a large group and everyone ordered something different for the most part and they were all very happy. Prices are a bit on the high side for chinese food, but then again this isn't your local neighborhood chinese takeout joint............

Pros: Food, Great space, Service

Posted 07/13/04

I love this place. The food is top shelf...prices are high but the quality is outstanding. I would say the interior is a little tired by NYC standards...but I go every time I'm in New York.

Pros: quality, consistencey

Posted 05/12/04

This was my 5th time eating here and Its always been phenomenal. They have so many unique dishes with fair prices. the waiters are able to help yoiu choose. Definately get the crispybeef for an appetizer and peking duck as well. Its great for private parties as well. Up there with ShunLee palcae. Definately don't miss it.

Posted 10/10/03

This is my first time dining at Mr. K's. It was a very impressive experience. I had the same feeling my first time at Shun Lee's. The next 2 times at Shun Lee, I was vey disappointed. based upon this visit, they take the quality and service very seriously. High quality ingredients and wonderful spices. Will need to go back to see if it remains as consistant.

Posted 09/02/03