Luthun

OMG!!!!!! This place is a must goooooo!!!!My boyfriend booked this for our Valentine's Day dinner and I have to give him credit for choosing such a great place!! We were recommending this place to our friends and family and planning our next visit before dinner was even over (the chef confirmed that they change their menu every month, so we have decided we will be a regular and try it out once a month). It is very reasonably priced.The Chef was friendlier and nicer than the comments posted online. He asked us for our names and made quirky jokes that wasn't too much and made simple conversation with us. This guy definitely knows what he is doing and his cuisines!!They did a really great job mixing different cuisines. My favorite was the tortellini with pho. The pho was better then vietnamese pho restaurants in NYC. The flavors from the tortellini combined very well with the pho and this was the same for all dishes. We were very impressed. My boyfriend doesn't like fish at all and he thought both the trout and tile fish were really good. We also don't like beets but the beets they served with the beef absolutely blew our mind.The only thing we didn't like was the desserts. The first dessert was mixed with lemongrass and wasabi. I did not like that combo but not worth me taking off a star on the rating. My boyfriend and I agrees with other people that this place definitely deserves a Michelin star.

Came here for my birthday. It was a really special one. The service was EXCELLENT. The ambiance was calm, beautiful, and tasteful. The presentation of the food making process, the plating, the chef commanding the team, and serving the food was entertaining. It was serious and intense. Especially when someone made a mistake. The food was exceptional, every bite was full of surprises and wonders. The flavors exploded in my mouth, and gave new meaning to the food that I love. For example, there was a Vietnamese noodle soup dish, the noodle was made out of sliced squid and the beef broth was a seafood broth. They had mushrooms in the soup so a pescatarian like me can enjoy it fully. I think the regular folks had it with beef. That was mind blowing to me. There were a few really yummy dishes such as a sword fish steak vs steak for every one else. OMG. I wanted a second. They have a lovely wine list and non-alcoholic drink menu as well. We didn't go with the drink paring but we did have two drinks on the side. Definitely a nice place for special occasion :)

Very beautifully made food. Such creative concepts and ideas. The atmosphere was very serious and production focused which was interesting to watch. I may have liked A little more engagement or warmth as we did sit at the counter. Food was all tasty. Wine was good. Service was nice but again could have been a bit more welcoming. Id go back for another seasons menu

Saturday night, group of 3, dining room seating at 7p to celebrate a birthday. Our server Eric was most excellent. Food was overall really good for a tasting menu; beautiful presentation; great combination of flavors and textures - delicate, whimsical, mature, well- balanced; only flop for me was the sea bass which had tapioca pearls that weren't cooked through which created an unpleasant powdery texture. Had a really awkward period in our dining experience when chef and founder Nahid Ahmed threw a big temper tantrum and yelled at one of his staff repeatedly for the way he handled a group of diners that didn't stay; felt bad for the diners who were sitting at the counter because they got front row seats to for the angry pacing and bursts of shouting. It was clear that Ahmed was upset, but I don't think taking it out on your staff in front of diners is appropriate/professional. He really could/should have just held it in and dealt with this behind closed doors. Coulda ripped his staff persons head off behind closed doors for all I care. But it really deducts from the entire experience when the chef himself is throwing a tantrum. Makes for a good story if you went with a date tho.

I was surprised with dinner here, but while I'd like to say the surprise was amazing, our dinner here was just meh. If you're new to fine dining, Luthun will blow you away. If you're well acquainted with pretty plating, open kitchens, Asian "influences", small portions, and dishes that require an explanation, Luthun is a solid choice without much to distinguish it from the sea of other Michelin-starred/Michelin-star aspiring restaurants of NYC.The menu changes every few weeks, so I won't bother reviewing each course. The general takeaway is that most of our dishes had East Asian (and sometimes Middle Eastern) elements since those cuisines are far away more flavorful (and interesting, LBH) than European cuisines. The standout dish was the kimchi octopus taco.The most unique aspect of the tasting menu was the insertion of crunchy elements in almost every course. Usually, when this is done, the crunchiness detracts from the other ingredients and ends up being a chore on my teeth. Not so with Luthun. The crunch was done well. Kudos for that. The other thing worth noting is that Luthun clearly doesn't have a pastry chef, so don't expect much from dessert. It was a pear and passionfruit concoction with dried Nutella. Tasty, but not remarkable. Docked a star for service issues, like forcing us to sit right in front of the cold and therefore freeze every time it was opened, even though we were the first people at our seating and asked to sit further inside. Don't make your guests develop hypothermia. Or invest in thicker entry curtains. Also, they overlapped seatings, and as soon as the later seating came, we stopped getting any proactive service. When I asked them to refill my pot of tea, they took it away and never gave it back. When we finally flagged down someone to get a new pot, it arrived lukewarm.Finally, don't come here for special occasions. They don't do anything besides give you a candle.

Stop reading this and go. You're welcome.Honestly one of the best tasting menus we have had in NYC. Each dish had so much flavor (best described as hint of Indian spices) and is cooked to perfection. There is some heat in the dishes, but people who like spicy food will say it isn't spicy enough and people who don't like any heat at all will say it is a bit spicy.The ambiance is great, very cozy without being too fancy. There are 8 seats at the kitchen counter and a handful of 2 and 4 seat tables. The sommelier (Jahdea) is very knowledgeable and we had some of the best mocktails (highly recommend the lemon pom) we have ever tried. Each course was fantastic and had a great combination of flavor and texture. We are not big into oytsters, mushrooms or mackerel and we loved each of those dishes. The staff is friendly and constantly describing dishes as awesome or f*ing awesome and then you try the dish and realize they are right. We would absolutely eat each course again and have no suggestions for improvement, but if we had to choose, the pushka (panipuri), octopus, cod and wagyu were the highlights. The wasabi jasmine sorbet before dessert (a gift from the chef) was surprisingly delicious and very creamy.The menu changes every 2-3 weeks so we will surely be back again! The portions are enough that you are satiated by the end and the presentation is art. Cannot recommend checking this place enough (FYI they are only open Wed-Sat).

A special restaurant in East Village. Unique vibe, intimate setting and most importantly the food was one of a kind

I don't mean to sound dramatic, but this was probably one of the most memorable dining experiences I've had in NYC. They have chef's counter seating that faces the open kitchen. I love being able to watch the chefs create the intricate dishes right in front of me. If you want a more intimate experience, they also have dining room tables. Their website describes the cuisine as "progressive american" - their menu consists of seasonal ingredients from all around the world. Most dishes incorporated southeast asian spices, which I really enjoyed. Everything was so well balanced, yet exploding to my taste buds. Service was the best. The chef was very involved in the entire process, from cooking to plating. The entire staff was so personable. We even took a shot together to celebrate one of the guest's birthday. What a spectacular dining experience!

Luthun is nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment I was seated at the chef's counter, I was treated like family--welcomed warmly into an intimate culinary experience where passion and precision shine. Each dish drew inspiration from around the world, thoughtfully crafted to tell its own story.The balance of textures was impeccable: crisp, creamy, tender, and crunchy components harmonized in every bite. Flavors were beautifully complex, with layers unfolding to surprise and always delicious! The plating was a work of art--elevated but never unapproachable.What sets Luthun apart is its unpretentious approach to luxury. The elegance is undeniable, but there's a grounded warmth that makes the experience inviting rather than intimidating. Luthun offers a dining experience that is both memorable and deeply satisfying, and I cannot wait to return!

Came here for a birthday dinner and really just had a splendid evening. The food elicited many "WOW" reactions and was all crafted with skill and creativity being showcased with bold balanced flavors and textures. The wonderful team made sitting at the chef's table a really enjoyable interactive experience. Will definitely come back.