so it's loud, trendy and the waiters won't let you look at their fun computerized devices that they use to take your order, but i always seem to wind up here. they make good noodle soups (but for... More

so it's loud, trendy and the waiters won't let you look at their fun computerized devices that they use to take your order, but i always seem to wind up here. they make good noodle soups (but for some annoying reason, you can't change the noodles) and the service is really fast, and everything is more or less under $10.
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Republic has excellent food, is centrally located right on Union Square NW, is perfect for a mixed crowd of vegetarians and carnivores, etc. However, to enjoy this restaurant it is imperative that... More

Republic has excellent food, is centrally located right on Union Square NW, is perfect for a mixed crowd of vegetarians and carnivores, etc. However, to enjoy this restaurant it is imperative that you go at the right time. Dinner? Forget it, unless you're going early. Weekends? No way. Basically, any possibility of rush hour and you should stay away -- the place gets incredibly loud, inconveniently crowded and obnoxiously scene. Banquet-style long tables and backless benches end up putting you uncomfortably close to neighboring strangers and serve up an inescapable eyeful of butt cleavage from surrounding benches. When the place is full, service is spotty and when the wait staff do show you can barely hear each other over the din... Despite all these factors, Republic remains one of my favorite restaurants -- the trick is to go during the off-hours. The place is a ghosttown for late weekday lunches -- our company often goes there for afternoon business meetings. Staff are more attentive, food comes almost instantly, there are no volume issues, and the banquet/communal setup doesn't matter when you have plenty of space. The food is wonderful -- heaping bowls of noodles, spices, meats... a relatively small menu but yet something for everyone. I know it seems ridiculous to recommend a restaurant for only off-hours, but the food really is incredible, and if you can avoid the crowds, Republic is still well worth a visit.
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I've been going to Republic for seven years now and I took my two year old son one day. Not only did they refuse to give me any milk but they charged me full price ($9) for plain udon noodles - no... More

I've been going to Republic for seven years now and I took my two year old son one day. Not only did they refuse to give me any milk but they charged me full price ($9) for plain udon noodles - no broth, veggies, or meat just wet noodles in a bowl. I couldn't believe how unbending and unhelpful they were. We also had to wait a very long time for the check, which anyone with children knows is a death knell for a successful eating out venture. Republic is a fast noodle joint, not a white table cloth estb. They have no reason to be so anti-child, especially since the general noise of the place is more than my two year old could produce on a cranky day. I will never go back again b/c they obviously don't care if I do. Pros: good fast noodles Cons: poor service and over hyped attitude
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The food here is lousy, I'm sorry. The service is slow and otherwise unremarkable. The ambiance is that of an annoying dance club. Avoid. Pros: Near the green market when it's open Cons: ... More

The food here is lousy, I'm sorry. The service is slow and otherwise unremarkable. The ambiance is that of an annoying dance club. Avoid. Pros: Near the green market when it's open Cons: Republic
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I love this place. I frequent al whole lot. Almost everyone I bring here loves it as well. Go you'll love it Pros: Good pan-asian cusine Cons: Loud and crowded.

I love this place. I frequent al whole lot. Almost everyone I bring here loves it as well. Go you'll love it Pros: Good pan-asian cusine Cons: Loud and crowded.
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I used to really like this restaurant, but last time we were there, about 1 month ago, I really was annoyed with it. I always really enjoyed the duck noodle bowl, but since I am now vegetarian, I... More

I used to really like this restaurant, but last time we were there, about 1 month ago, I really was annoyed with it. I always really enjoyed the duck noodle bowl, but since I am now vegetarian, I was stuck with some bland vegetarian dish. I guess I just expected more flavor since some of their other dishes were pretty good. The person I was with had some kind of beef salad or something, and he was also disappointed - it was like a few leaves of lettuce with beef skewers, and he left basically as hungry as he was when we got there. Then the service was also poor the last time we were there. We didn't have to wait for a table, but we waited for awhile for someone to take our orders, and then after we ate, we had to wait seemingly forever to get our check. I was also in a bad mood because although there were plenty of open tables, they had to sit a big family with a few loud children right next to us rather than giving them their own table. For me, this really takes away from my dining experience. It's unfortunate, because, as I said, I used to like this place, but I probably won't be going back. Pros: good for large groups Cons: poor food quality/selection, sometimes bad service
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I like the food here, and especially the limeade. It's cheap, it's fast, and all sorts o good things. Unfortunately, in the style of style it also has the most uncomfortable seating (tables can be... More

I like the food here, and especially the limeade. It's cheap, it's fast, and all sorts o good things. Unfortunately, in the style of style it also has the most uncomfortable seating (tables can be communcal, which I don't tend to mind at other restaurants) both physically and logistically of anywhere I've ever been. And the accoustics are terrible. Only eat here if you don't want to hear what your dining companions are nattering on about.
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Had easily the worst dining experience ever at Republic. Inexperienced waitstaff was unprepared to offer menu choices: "I'm a vegetarian so I have no idea on any meat dishes." Beyond that: the... More

Had easily the worst dining experience ever at Republic. Inexperienced waitstaff was unprepared to offer menu choices: "I'm a vegetarian so I have no idea on any meat dishes." Beyond that: the group was suggested the Chicken Udon - which our group then requested without bean sprouts. Not only did the order still come WITH bean sprouts, but the arriving dish was akin to soggy fettucini doused in Listerine Cool Mint mouthwash. More appalling, the staff showed indifference and even laughed at our experience - not asking if the food was okay, not caring that the dish was not touched, not reacting other than with snickers when a note was left nor when a complaint was lodged on the meal receipt. This place needs to change its attitude, and its menu. Cons: Indifferent waitstaff, Awful tasting food
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Well, maybe I do. It is very cheap compared to other restaurants in Union Square (like Union Square Cafe or Blue Water Grill). Place looks trendy. You can usually get a seat even if you had to... More

Well, maybe I do. It is very cheap compared to other restaurants in Union Square (like Union Square Cafe or Blue Water Grill). Place looks trendy. You can usually get a seat even if you had to wait. But I did not enjoy the food at all! (They serve mostly noodles.) And would never recommend this restaurant. There are so many good restaurants out there, it is not worth wasting your time and money (even if it is only ten bucks) on food like this! It is just nothing special...
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The food is Good and the price is right, but this place is so loud it hurts. And it's not just loud, it has terrible acoustics, so you can't even hear the people you're dining with. Additionally,... More

The food is Good and the price is right, but this place is so loud it hurts. And it's not just loud, it has terrible acoustics, so you can't even hear the people you're dining with. Additionally, the tables are quasi-communal, which is a concept that works in places that aren't New York, but just causes people to glare at the people eating near them in New York. The service is chaotic and rushed. Which is all a shame, as this could be a very nice place to eat.
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