Traif

After watching a video review of Traif and the chef selection tasting menu ($58pp), we decided to book for Valentine's Day weekend. A week before the reservation we were informed that the menu for that weekend is actually different and it will be $78pp, and they are unable to cater to any allergies for this menu. I appreciated the email and call to inform customers of this change.We actually arrived 15min prior to restaurant opening and our waitress kindly sat us despite them not being ready. The ambience was cozy. She allowed us to keep one menu, as well so we can reference the dishes as they came out. There weren't any dishes that I disliked and she explained each dish as it was presented at the table. Our favorites were the Gambas Al Ajillo, Lamp chop, Cornish Hen, Rossini, and both desserts. I might dream of the Rossini because the pork "filet mignon" was cooked perfectly and I just loved the pairing with the sauce and apple!Servers were very attentive in clearing the table and bringing us more water. There were times where it did seem a little rushed (like some dishes came out 2 at a time), but I did not mind it. When the bill came out, our waitress informed us that there was an automatic $20 gratuity and that we did not need to tip again. I really enjoyed my time there and I would like to come again and try their regular chef selection menu next time.

TL; DR: Traif has 2.1 K reviews and 3.8 K photos and is pushing five stars on Yelp. My strong recommendation is to get a fun-loving group together and go share their tasting menu. Outstanding.Ok - some expansion: their menu items are adventuresome and taste great. Perhaps someone in your group might not like an item, but someone else definitely will. The service is fast, friendly, and fun. Ambience is Williamsburg hip & cool. Get a group together, make a reservation, and go make a night of it. You won't be disappointed.

I have been so looking forward to my birthday dinner this year with my closest friends and we chose Traif. This was Oct. 26th Saturday so this was the pre-Halloween weekend so the area was relatively busy. We went for the 5pm slot so that it would be calmer and it was. We were given a nice table at the further back, near the door that leads to the garden. We knew we would all go for the Chef's Tasting menu because of how incredible the deal sounded and it was. It felt a bit hurried in terms of pace to be honest but quality of food is great. Our favorites were the scallop risotto, and glazed ribs. The bacon doughnuts were small but yum. Appreciate that they brought a small dessert for me in a cup with a little candle. Not sure if that counted for what was supposed to be the key lime pie each but we didn't get that so unsure if they forgot, since the other dessert showed as a separate line item on the receipt. Some of my friends were really looking forward to trying it. Everything was all wrapped up by 6:15 so we were just enjoying our 2nd round of drinks. Went to the restroom and I come back to our table being empty to my surprise. My friends told me that they were abruptly asked to already leave for the next seating, this was approaching 6:30. Needless to say, it wasn't really the best way to end a first impression. One of my friends said she actually had to say something diplomatically. Gentle reminder that it's an overall experience, from food to ambiance to service, so hoping the next experience is better if we ever get back as it's an hour drive for us. P.S For those planning to drive, there's no parking spot nearby, you'd have to make sure you bake in plenty of time to find parking in the nearby blocks.

I would give this a 3.5 because I wouldn't go back, but am rounding up because it was a nice experience with good food. They have a reasonably priced tasting menu, but I think if you're with a group of 4+, you should order a bunch of things a la carte. Some of their cocktails were nice also. One thing was that where we were seated (near the door to their patio) it was very hot. No ventilation, no fan, and the AC didn't hit that area... it was too hot and I think sort of ruined the otherwise good experience we had. Their portions are also really nice generous, so I think you may end up paying more for less if you do the tasting cause they portion it out for each person on the table, where as most of their dishes have 6 pieces or are big enough to share - Caprese- really good, we were all pleasantly surprised - Shrimp - last thing to come out, was decent-Chicken wings - I really liked the flavor on this, not a fan of the full wing cut - Ribs - didn't come out after all our food so we asked to drop it, the other dishes were plentiful-Cavatelli - I wasn't crazy about this but my sister was. I am not big on pasta -Scallops - pleasantly surprised, the saffron risotto wasn't overpowering, this was a satisfying dish- Sea bass - came bao style, baos were very thick for my liking but it came out piping hot with a slaw and a yummy sauce. Fried fish dish so heavier than expected- Steak frites - this is actually pork based. It was on the menu and I didn't read it thoroughly.. not a fan

Hold onto your pantaloons because here comes a VERY in depth review- Heads up, I wish I would have called and asked before coming- the chefs tasting menu needs a minimum of 2 people. I came to dine alone and was excited to try but was a bit disappointed to find out I wasn't able to participate as a solo diner.That being said, I do completely understand that these are portioned out for 2 people, I just wish the language on the menus read that way or mentioned the minimum.As I was jotting down this note a very kind staff member offered me a mock tail (I'm taking a month off from alcohol). I appreciate the offer and customer service. The mock tail was light, zingy and refreshing. I can tell they have a great mixologist on staff even though it looks like they have select liquor options. Blueberry jalapeño ribs: a MUST get. These are tender, fall off the bone, nice small but hearty portion and is a flavor explosion. The jalapeño and blueberry combination is delightfully delicious, a perfect unexpected pairing. Sweet, savory with a slight kick. Salt and pepper shrimp: I don't know what I was expecting but I wasn't expecting this to eat like a salad out of a bowl.... But I really loved it. Again a play on spicy sweet but had awesome textures from the fried shrimp, the tart, sweet pineapple, snappy crunch from the peas and burst of tomatoes.Double corn truffle cavatelli: love the crunch and burst of corn, the truffle was inviting but not overpowering and this was just creamy enough. A great, balanced dish. The pasta was a great texture. Key lime pie: also a must order, especially during summer. Not heavy. Light crust with delicate toppings of cream and pineapple. Just tart enough to make your tastebuds dance but not get overwhelmed. I will also mention, I found the bar seating very uncomfortable because I kept feeling like I was sitting incorrectly and would fall backwards based on the stability of the chairs.Service was amazing, from the host to my server, bartender and runners, I really felt taken care of. My server offered great opinions and feedback in helping me chose which items to get for my meal. Another nod to my server, they mentioned that the service of 20% was already included. So many places that already include don't give you the heads up, I really appreciated this transparency and left additional as it was much deserved.Excited for my leftovers and to return (with another person) to take advantage of the tasting menu/ other items on this rotating menu.Great job Traif, definitely scored some great points for me toni

This meal was SO good. I've always heard of Traif but this was when they were mostly a pork themed resto and me being a vegetarian, well that just wasn't going to work. Fast forward to 2024 and the menu has some veggie offerings so I immediately said yes.I ordered the gnocchi. My friend had the beef pasta? and we shared the cauliflower, and baby gem. I had a mezcal blood orange drink and we shared a bottle of skin contact wine on recommendation from the waiter. The food was incredible. The gnocchi is the best I've had. Fried, savory but with a hint of sweet from laying in a bed of purple yam purée. Followed by the cauliflower dish. The fresh cucumber and tortilla was a wonderful touch. I love the constant plays on savory, fried, sweet. My taste buds were very pleased. Will definitely need to come back soon.

Phenomenal!I dined at Traif for a friend's dinner and I must admit I had my apprehensions as someone with dietary restrictions (gluten free and no pork). However, I was proven wrong and the chef was quite accommodating to my dietary needs. We did the chef's selection which was 8-9 courses and then dessert. I was able to partake in 7 courses with the group and I had a different dessert. While all of the courses were superbly delicious and offered a unique taste, the Spicy Bigeye Tuna Tartare and the Dayboat Scallops were my favorites! For my cocktail, I had the Rude Little Pig without the bacon rim and for dessert, the chef served me the Nutella mousse but everyone else had the bacon doughnuts which they loved.

Decided to give Traif a try for a belated Valentine's Day date night with my partner, and we were both thoroughly pleased with the food, drinks, service, and atmosphere!We opted to try the tasting menu (which is an incredible bargain) and added on the wine pairing as well (which really did pair nicely with all of the dishes). While I don't want to spoil the tasting menu for folks (we personally thought it was best left up to a surprise), we can assure you we enjoyed every single dish and bite we had! It turned out to be a lot of food, but we didn't need to be rolled home ha! Essentially it was ~5 courses (with two dishes brought out at a time for each course, and the last being dessert). We also learned that they change up their menu fairly often (seasonally based), so we are excited to go back and try the tasting menu again!

Another birthday, another trip to one of my favorite restaurants in the city. As usual, I went for their tasting menu, which, once again, did not disappoint. Caulini saladDayboat scallopsBurrata cheeseCrispy confit chicken wingsStrawberry-cinnamon glazed pork ribsOversized rigatoni pastaBraised short ribsSteak-fritesSeared foie grasMom's key lime pieBacon doughnutsEverything was delicious, but if I had to pick a couple of dishes, I'd go for the scallops and the foie gras... truly divine. I'm shaving off a star this time because of the painfully slow service. The first 7 dishes came out at a reasonable speed, but we waited over an hour for the last couple of dishes and the desserts (which is way too long for a spoonful of food). This has always been the case, but this time the wait was unacceptable. Sure... Saturdays are busy, but that's why we made a reservation at 5pm. I just wonder how long people are waiting for a 8p dinner... Oh well.

Aside from the mosquitoes in the back garden, we had a lovely dinner out here. We had a reservation at 7:30pm and chose the back because of the reviews noting the smokiness inside. In hindsight, I'd take smoke over mosquitoes.But ok, let me stop on the mosquitoes, because while I did get an annoying bite, they had bug spray set on every table and that's more consideration than almost all other restaurants with patio seating.The four of us opted for the tasting menu and we all walked away full. We each grabbed a cocktail as well - which were delicious! My cocktail had tomatoes in it and it was everything I've ever wanted; like the classy cocktail version of a Bloody Mary, just a hint of fresh tomatoes. And for $15, I'd come back just for cocktails.Favorite highlights of the tasting menu:- Scallops and risotto- Blueberry pork ribs- Fried snapper in bao bunsBut the main highlight? The sweetest and most attentive (without being overbearing) waitstaff. We definitely overstayed after our meal, chatting in the garden, and they were so kind to let us know that there was no reservation or party after us. We were quick to leave as soon as we noticed it emptying out, but they were so kind to let us sit around.Great meal, insane price, and 5 star staff. It was, dare I say, worth my mosquito bite. Highly recommend!