Lunar

Just had an amazing meal at Lunar with the most patient, accommodating, and attentive service. We were a group of 10 with different persons with different dietary needs and restrictions. We ordered so much food and everything was a hit!Starters:Pork soup dumplings Steamed vegetable dumplings Spring rollsScallion pancake Lotus root with sticky riceMains:Kung pao chicken Peking duck Beef cubes with peppers and onions Steamed chili whole fish (seabass)Veggies:Fried cabbage Salted egg fried cornStringbeansCarbs:Lunar fried riceTruffle fried riceThe only disappointment was the unavailability of the tang yuan (crispy glutinous rice balls). Desserts were nice as well. We got the matcha yuzu opera cake and the tiramisu creme brûlée. And the gelato with refreshing Asian flavors- jasmine milk tea and the lychee rose. The place was packed and lively and so aromatic. Patrons seem to be in the know to come here for great food and the kitchen and staff executed well!

In a city with excellent Szechuan food options, I think Lunar needs some work to be competitive. Walked in with a party of two on a Tuesday night because Chili had a 40 minute wait, and we were seated immediately. The restaurant has really nice vibes, and we were super excited to find a good alternative, but unfortunately, the food left us wanting. The dan dan noodles were good, but not great. It was a modest portion and I wish the noodles were a little more al dente. I liked that there were a few pieces of veg. It was mixed tableside. I always like dan dan noodles, but I've had better elsewhere. Salted egg yolk tofu was a disappointment. The sauce was very thin, and the flavor was not as vibrant as I've appreciated from salted egg yolk before. There were a few peas/carrots thrown in, which felt random. I would pass on this dish, wish we had gotten the mapo tofu. String beans with eggplant was the best dish we got. Delicious veg mix, very flavorful. Yummm.Lazi ji - not sure what this is called on the menu, but this is a famous chongqing dish, fried chicken pieces with lots of chili pieces. This is my boyfriend's favorite dish, but unfortunately, it was pretty disappointing. The pieces of chicken were very small, and there were also several pieces of fried breadstick masquerading in the dish. I've never seen this dish made with fried breadstick, and it felt like a ruse to fill out the dish with something other than chicken. While we had high hopes for Lunar, and while the string beans + eggplant were really good, we would probably opt for other Szechuan restaurants in the future.

I made a Friday night reservation for my father's birthday, and it was packed by 7:30! The majority of the crowd was on the younger side.That being said, it was a bit weird that I arrived with my family just a few minutes before our reservation time, but some younger couples behind us were greeted and introduced to their tables first. The hostess did request we honor a 1.5 hour seating and I thought that was pretty reasonable given how busy it was.The food highlights were the whole fish and the unique fried glutinous rice balls! The whole fish was rich with a spicy and non-spicy diced broth, which was subtly spicy. Fish was cooked just enough to not fall apart in the chili pepper sauce. I've never had black sesame glutinous rice balls before deep-fried and then stir-fried with pickled mustard greens; it's a pretty interesting flavor combination that I ended up liking. It's a bit on the pricey side for what it was but worth trying if you're feeling adventurous. Other dishes including the Chongqing noodles, sauteed pea shoots, and Zi Ding (spicy chicken), and truffle fried rice were perfect. I'd avoid the black pepper beef cubes, which were a little under-seasoned.

I loved the ambiance of this place! I think it's great to any size and type of group/date. The food was delicious and decent portions too. Just be aware that the spicy dishes can be very spicy! Like the mapo tofu. It was good to get a good balance of spicy and non-spicy dishes. I especially loved the shrimp (although a little annoying to eat), dandan noodles, and the cauliflower. The Szechuan chicken was also delicious but you really had to dig around for the pieces. The table's favorite was the crispy glutinous rice balls that had black sesame filling on the inside! It is a must to have at the end of the meal despite it being one of the chef's specials. The service was also ok but they only allowed 75 minutes for the table. We also unfortunately found a piece of nail inside one of the rice bowls. Overall, it was an enjoyable meal!

Honest Review: 3/5 - Average Experience, Won't Be Back Given NYC's OptionsWhile the restaurant offers a tempting deal with free jelly and a drink in exchange for a 5-star review, I believe honesty is key. So here's my true experience:Free Jasmine Tea Drink: Disappointing, lacked flavor. 1/5Free Brown Sugar Jelly: Also fell flat, didn't enjoy it. 1/5Steam Fish: Not much meat, and the flavor was pretty bland. 2/5Stir Fry Beef with Chili Peppers: The beef was tasty, and the green peppers had a nice kick. But it was overly salty, which took away from the dish. 4/5Eggplant and Beans: Again, too salty. Somewhat enjoyable but far from great. 3/5In a city like NYC with so many great options, this place doesn't stand out enough for a second visit.This keeps the integrity of your review while making it clear why you're not returning.

Good experience overall but timing of dishes were a bit off. Tofu in garlic sauce was a lot better than expected. They forgot to bring our fried rice dish. Lotus root was underwhelming. Scallion pancake was too greasy. Loved the dry pot cauliflower , not as greasy and really well seasoned. Both the cauliflower and tofu were standouts. Dumplings and Dan Dan were fine.

We enjoyed the food. The whole fish was good, quite spicy: however, very authentic. My friend loved the truffle fried rice and the crispy glutinous rice balls were delicious.We also had the chicken steamed dumplings which are always very good.

Come with me to Lunar, where authenticity meets the bold flavors of Chongqing Jianghu cuisine. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Chinese Szechuan style food, meticulously prepared from raw market to table every day. Located in Midtown East of New York City.Experience the Sichuan cuisine and warm vibes at Lunar, right in the heart of midtown East.Good Szechuan food is spicier, using an array of chilesmost famously tongue-numbing Szechuan peppers and spicy chile bean paste. Because the region is warm and humid, there's an emphasis on preservation techniques like tea-smoking, salting, and pickling.What we tried Drinks Yuzu SourPassion Fruit lemon green tea Mouth watering Chicken Scallion Pancakes Pan fried Chicken dumplings Salt & Pepper Shrimp General Tso chicken Truffle Fried Rice Lo mein with chicken Lychee rose Gelato At Lunar, once who walks through their doors can experience the genuine Chinese culinary culture.Thank you to the entire staff of Lunar Midtown East Manhattan ...

2/5 stars because the flavors of the dishes were actually decent, but the rest of my experience was quite disappointing, to say the least. After ordering the Boiled Fish in Chili Sauce, I was a bit surprised to receive the whole fish since the pictures all made it look like fish slices instead, which is what I expected. However, the most disappointing part was that the fish I received was definitely not Sole, as advertised. I would definitely not consider myself a fish expert, but the fish I received definitely looked like Tilapia. And if that's truly the case, what a shame (mis-advertising, cost, and health concerns aside)!

5 for the Food3 for the Service4 for the Atmosphere The food is great. The menu is terrific. The food comes out quickly. Clearly the kitchen has its act together. The front of the house works hard to give good service, but they really need some training. The vibe is great. But HVAC situation means that they pump it up in the front portion of the restaurant to compensate for (seemingly) no HVAC in the back so everyone is uncomfortable.