Cheli

This place has been saved on my list for a while now because I don't visit East Village often and I am so glad I finally got to try it. As soon as I walked in, the interior was beautifully decorated from the chairs, to the lights, to the plates. As soon as you sit down, they give you complimentary pickled radish which we absolutely devoured. It also pairs nicely with most of the dishes to cut down on some of the sauce. We ordered the eggplant in garlic sauce, crab tofu, squirrel fish & braised pork. Eggplant - a little kick to it, huge slices, a little too saucy for my liking but I took some of this to-go and it made for a nice sauce to mix with some white rice for the next day's meal Crab Tofu - a staple dish I usually order at Chinese restaurants and wanted my brother to try, this was his and I's favorite dish hereSquirrel fish - I've never tried this dish before but was intrigued to order it because I saw a Korean/Chinese chef make this on a Netflix show called "Culinary Wars", I liked that the fish was deboned, the dish was super cool to look at and the sauce was perfectly sweet and tangy Braised pork - this is probably the best pork I've put into my mouth, there were so many quail eggs in it too which I loved, this dish reminds me of a Korean dish called "Jokbal" I don't go to restaurants more than once normally but I really do need to come back here to try the rest of their dishes.

Wow might have found myself another favorite elevated Chinese food restaurant! The ambiance is nice - the interior decoration makes you feel like you got transported back to ancient China. I've been watching too much Chinese historical drama lately. Staff were friendly and food is good! I can't remember the names of the dishes but we got a variety of tofu, beef, fish, shrimp, and chicken. There isn't a dish that I didn't like. Every meal comes with a compliment pickled vegetable and a pot of tea. Random, but I am also obsessed with the plum candy they have by the check in counter.

By far, the absolute best Chinese food we've ever had. If you're a fan of braised pork and eggplant with a side of rice and mapo tofu, you literally won't find a place that serves it better than Cheli. All the food here is a 10 out of 10 and literally nothing will disappoint. Service is also great, just make sure to get a reservation before you go or the wait is going to be pretty long. It's a medium sized space but the decor is awesome. It's just an overall great spot for a date night and you'll leave absolutely stuffed.

Super cute restaurant with tasty shanghainese food! Love the presentation of the dishes as well. My friends and I got a lot of items but my favorites were the soup dumplings, crispy eel, and claypot rice.

TLDR: Overall a great experience with amazing food, amazing service and an amazing ambiance. Definitely try to snag a reservation.The food was all very well seasoned and prepared-- a bit of a spicy kick to everything so beware. The absolute MUST GET dish is the braised pork belly pictured in my review. I can see how this pork belly put the restaurant on the map and onto the New York Times top restaurants. They have a large array of alcoholic beverages (sorry no pics) that paired perfectly with the food.

Had a reservation (came early so can't say it was bc we were late) but was still made to wait 30min past the reservation time, with no acknowledgement / apology. Friends of the waiter were seated first. Food was fine but not worth the disrespect. There are much better and authentic Chinese restaurants in the city.

# Overall:Definitely can recommend giving Cheli a try. Uni tofu stew and Hunan beef are my recommendations. There is an extensive menu that I intend on exploring more the next time I come back!# AmbianceCheli's Manhattan location is right smack in the middle of all the action of St Mark's place. From the hustle and bustle of the Lower East Side, you're greeted by a completely different atmosphere when you step foot inside. Everything including the lighting and decor attempts to bring you into a different time period. There's even a mist machine that subtly provides an air of mystery.# Food and DrinkCrab Roe Soup Dumplings (Crab Meat Pork Soup Dumplings)The soup dumplings here are exactly what you would expect when you want soup dumplings. You're provided a small pair of tongs for an extra touch of delicacy to not prematurely puncture the dumpling. The ginger infused vinegar brings the flavors together.Uni Tofu StewEverytime I've visited Cheli, I've ordered the uni tofu stew. The stew just pairs perfectly with some rice. The dish is able to highlight the seafood's inherent sweetness.Braised Pork (Che Li's Pork Belly)The braised pork belly was very flavorful and paired nicely with rice. However, some pieces felt a bit dry or tough. I'm also not the biggest fan of quail eggs.Osmanthus Rice CakesThis was an interesting dessert option especially when not looking for something cavity inducingly sweet. Ultimately it is a rice cake with some osmanthus syrup, so a more light and delicate flavor.Others had before: Black Truffle Pork Soup Dumplings The crab roe soup dumplings would probably be a better choice unless you're really looking for that subtle hint of truffle. Hunan Stir Fried Spicy Beef Didn't get this dish on this visit, but definitely can recommend for its flavor. Tender beef with a punch of flavor.

Was very busy with a long waitlist so I'm glad we had a reservation! They're very efficient in getting tables cleaned and sorted out but we didn't feel rushed at all, which I greatly appreciated. We got four dishes - which was a lot to share between two people, but we wanted to get an array of their menu.1) Braised pork belly - sweet and fragrant and very soft; almost wished I had a bowl of plain white rice to eat together2) Lotus Pond Stir Fry - mix of sautéed in a light, slurry sauce of lotus roots, asparagus, snow peas, carrots, and woodear mushrooms; just ordered to have some veg option3) Mapo tofu - came out the latest so I wish I hadn't gotten full from the other dishes; very tasty and also wish I had a separate bowl of rice 4) Hot stone braised rice - our favorite of the night! Super comforting and has that blast of umami, savory flavors

One of my favorite restaurants I've had so far living in NYC. I've literally come here 3x within the span of 2 months if that tells you anything.I definitely gravitate towards Chinese cuisine a lot when choosing restaurants, so I'd say I have a taste for good / bad Chinese food. This place is amazing. Food tastes very authentic and fresh. There's a reason why they're a Michelin Bib Gourmand. It's a place you'll want to bring your friends to when they're coming to visit town.

Phenomenal service and good food! Little bit of a wait but it is worth it for sure! Cheers!