If you're in the mood for Chinese in a lively atmosphere look no further then Congee Village. Esp great for large parties, the drinks are very reasonable, food is good and prices are decently low... More

If you're in the mood for Chinese in a lively atmosphere look no further then Congee Village. Esp great for large parties, the drinks are very reasonable, food is good and prices are decently low without making you suspect of the food. Staff is decent with quick turnaround and the whole place is deceivingly large. Authentic Chinese food that gives you a real b@ng for your buck.
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This place is gross. I saw a huge rodent (i'm not allowed to use the appropriate word on this site) running through the dining room! The service is terrible, the people are rude, the food is not... More

This place is gross. I saw a huge rodent (i'm not allowed to use the appropriate word on this site) running through the dining room! The service is terrible, the people are rude, the food is not consistent. The first couple of times it was good so I returned, but I'll obviously never go back again!!
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Recently returned to Congee Village and have to agree that service has really fallen off. When ordering a dish we had seen at another table, there was some confusion as the waiters barely speak... More

Recently returned to Congee Village and have to agree that service has really fallen off. When ordering a dish we had seen at another table, there was some confusion as the waiters barely speak english. When the dish was brought to us it was not what we wanted. Rather than accept this and simply change the dish the waiter and manager told us it was our fault, and very angrily took the plate away after telling us we would have to pay the difference in cost for the dish we wanted. Agreeing we then waited for nearly forty minutes for our waiter to return, however when he did come back he brought the exact same chicken we'd returned, only now it was deep fried with a different sauce! It looked nothing like the order we had seen at the table across from ours except for the fact that it was now brown! When we asked about it the manager denied that this was the case, but it was quite obvious she was lying. I'll never return to this restaraunt again! Avoid it like the plague! Pros: Probably OK if you speak cantonese...otherwise. Cons: poor service,
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Congee ("jook" in Cantonese) was served to me in my childhood by my mother when I was sick. This comfort food, eaten centuries by Chinese peasants & noblemen alike, is believed to contain... More

Congee ("jook" in Cantonese) was served to me in my childhood by my mother when I was sick. This comfort food, eaten centuries by Chinese peasants & noblemen alike, is believed to contain therapeutic qualities strong enough to foil the most foul of ailments. Known for its "jook," Congee Village serves up every variety that remedies any hungry stomach. Yet, in my inaugural visit there, I was enticed to order some of the Village's other specialty dishes. I was surprised to find fried bread ("man-tao") on the menu & enjoyed 6 scrumptious pieces served up with sweet & milky syrup. And what a deal! We ordered the Spicy Salted Crab in Special Sauce, at $10.95, which came with 4 small crabs in a heavenly garlic & dry shrimp sauce. We were equally delighted by the Sauteed Clams with Black Bean Sauce, packed full of flavor to make anyone order another bowl of congee as an accompaniment. The Flounder Fillet in Two Tastes, however, was a half disappointment. The fish itself was fresh & delicious, as items denoted "M.P." should be. The sauteed half of the dish was very clean & light (ching), much like most, Guangdong Cantonese dishes. It was tossed with pea pods & small mushrooms, mixed with a subtly gingery and garlicky white sauce. The fried portion, however, was covered by a batter that was too thick to complement a fish as delicate and mild as fresh flounder -- it was too much like fish n' chips. This part of the dish was a turn-off to me, though my Caucasian (gweilo) dining partner liked it. The woodland village decor is cheap but does the trick of setting the scene?a vast array of local Chinese, tourists, daters, & hipsters alike make it a long wait. However, a few of the ridiculously low-priced cocktails and the great, authentic food to come will take your mind off of it! Pros: GREAT Value & Food / Groovy tiki bar area w/ good, cheap drinks / not romantic but good for FUN date Cons: Rude service / Expect waiting if going on the weekends
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I've gone to this restaurant a handful of times since they've been opened, and I have to say that their customer service has taken a nosedive in the last few years, getting worse with each visit. I... More

I've gone to this restaurant a handful of times since they've been opened, and I have to say that their customer service has taken a nosedive in the last few years, getting worse with each visit. I recently took my friends and coworkers there for lunch, and was so embarrassed by their service. The hostess and wait staff was rude as we requested to be seated near the front of the restaurant, making snide remarks in Cantonese, which thankfully my friends didn't understand. When placing our orders, I spoke with the waiter in Cantonese and translated for my friends, as his English wasn't that great. He and his coworkers made some condescending comments, which I didn't have the heart to relay to my friends. Although one of them understood a little and he was taken aback by this. Although their tones pretty much conveyed what they were saying. Overall, we all agreed that the food was good, but they would never come back on account of the terrible service we had. Another time, I had gone with my Chinese friends for dinner and had worse service. The waitress kept trying to push us to place our orders, even though we were still waiting for people. Throughout the meal, we felt rushed. Some of us weren't even done with our rice and there were still food on the table, and the waitress came by to start clearing dishes and asked if we wanted dessert. Even though some of us were still eating! Then, as we were figuring out the bill, she kept hovering over us and watching us counting our money and grabbed it when we all put our money in. It was the first time that my friends, who are generally very friendly and amiable people, actually complained to the manager as we were leaving. If you really want to try out the food at Congee Village, as they do have a good selection of dishes, I would suggest visiting their other location on Bowery, about 2 blocks above Delancey. The service is better there. Just be prepared to wait a bit for your table on the weekends. Pros: Good Food Cons: Horrible Customer Serivce at the Original Location
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I have eaten all over Chinatown before & this is one of my favorite places. It's great because it's not in the heart of Chinatown so it's much easier to find parking. There's usually a wait around... More

I have eaten all over Chinatown before & this is one of my favorite places. It's great because it's not in the heart of Chinatown so it's much easier to find parking. There's usually a wait around dinner time if you come in a large group, but it's not so bad if there's only 2-3 of you. They can definitely accommodate large groups as well since the place is pretty spacious. They have a high turnover rate for food, so you know it's fresh and it also comes out fast as well. I've never eaten anything I didn't like at Congee Village. The place is cleaner than most Asian restaurants I've been to in Chinatown as well. Pros: Fast service, Good tasty food, Big space Cons: None
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I know that Congee Village is popular for its namesake dish and frequented by Chinese people (which is an obvious thumbs up for its authenticity) but please try another place that doesn't serve... More

I know that Congee Village is popular for its namesake dish and frequented by Chinese people (which is an obvious thumbs up for its authenticity) but please try another place that doesn't serve shark fin soup. I know that it's ubiquitous but it's far from innocuous. Obtaining the fins is a barbaric practice that has drastically reduced the shark population. Since it's now illegal in 17 countries, shark finning is largely a blackmarket process and is on par with clubbing seals in its cruelty. Fisherman haul the shark out of the water, hack the fins off, and dump the still-alive shark back into the water to suffocate (can't swim to get oxygen) or get eaten by other sharks. Not ordering shark fin soup obviously helps but boycotting the restaurants that serve it sends a strong message that some cultural practices are best left in the past. Pros: large menu Cons: serves shark fin soup
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i had my birthday dinner at congee, we were 20 people. the food was delicious and the experience was perfect. i made a reservation in advance, and the staff was very organized and consistent. on... More

i had my birthday dinner at congee, we were 20 people. the food was delicious and the experience was perfect. i made a reservation in advance, and the staff was very organized and consistent. on the evening of the dinner, they allowed us to show up 15 minutes before our reservation to set up birthday decorations at the tables. when my friends arrived, even though most of them were about 10-15 minutes late for our 8pm reservation, we were seated promptly. we had at least 2 waiters, and no one had to wait for anything. they let us stay as long as we liked, and didn't try to rush us out of there. and they seemed happy, not annoyed, to have us there. the cost? $10 per person, and we ordered several dishes. it went so well that another friend of mine had a birthday there a few weeks later. we stayed til 1am, eating really decent chinese food and being served drinks from the very helpful staff. Pros: cheap prices, quick service, tasty food Cons: can get very crowded on fri and sat
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Decent food. Was better a few years back. I found an even better place for authentic Chinese food- Dragon Palace on Centre St. They take reservations and don't make you wait an hour even with... More

Decent food. Was better a few years back. I found an even better place for authentic Chinese food- Dragon Palace on Centre St. They take reservations and don't make you wait an hour even with one! Cons: Inconsistent service and disorganized with those waiting for a table.
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The food here is good an inexpensive. They accomodate big groups well. Portions are big- so if you do have a big group, I recommend ordering a couple of appetizers and not ordering entres for... More

The food here is good an inexpensive. They accomodate big groups well. Portions are big- so if you do have a big group, I recommend ordering a couple of appetizers and not ordering entres for every person in the group. Make reservations on weekends as this place gets packed. Great place to start your night with dinner and drinks. Mixed drinks are only $4- and are strong. Congee is very good- order it for the beginning of your meal (the seafood one is not good for everyone- too much ginger for some) Pros: Accomodate big groups well; inexpensive food and drinks; big portions
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