Bao 111

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111 Avenue C
New York, NY 10009

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(212) 254-7773
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Reviews
( 24 )
( 24 )
( 3 )
( 8 )
( 6 )

Best

I went to Bao111 on a saturday night with 7 people. We had the prixe fixe menue of 6 appetizers, 4 entress, and 3 desserts - enough for the whole table to share. The cost was $4...

Worst

Someone did a great PR job for this place. Having read several reviews saying what good value this place was, went with my girlfriend. The vibe is nice in a New Yorky way, with B ...

BAO 111 is CLOSED 1/12/2009

GONE GONE BAO BAO GONE>> TOO BAD BAO 111 is CLOSED,, BAO NOODLES ALSO ON DEATH WATCH... EVERYTHING GONE WRONG.... BAO NOODLES IS SO BAD THIS DAY more
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MAde us wait forever! 4/13/2008

I went when they first opened since my best friend knows the owner. My best friend's Dad is the sake distributor of this restaurant. It was excellent first. But when we went again months later, i made reservations weeks before. They still made us wait nearly an hour for our table! Unacceptable! Also, the food second time around was not as good. I guess the quality lowers down a little over time like most restaurants. Also, the service was totally slow & the food tool a long time to come. I wouldn't go back there again after they made us wait forever for our table after making reservations! Pros: trendy place Cons: doesn't matter if you have reservations, they'll make you wait forever! more
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Had an average experience 10/12/2007

My night at Bao overall was average. The wine list was excellent. The bartender and waitor were very professional but the hostess was sort of goofy and not professional. Everyone was terribly nice though and the restaurant, although beautiful, is very relaxing and has a casual atmosphere. The patrons also seemed very relaxed and non-pretentious and on a Friday night at 9pm, there really weren't that many. I wasn't terribly impressed with the food though I think if I had what was recommended, I would have been. I did have the duck entree (rec. by our waitor) which was excellent-- and I know, because I don't usually like duck. I shared the summer roll and crab noodle soup appetizer which was very lacking in taste and texture. I think Saigon Grill on the Upper West Side is a much better bet for Vietnamese. Overall the service and atmosphere was very good and the proximity of bars and lounges is very convenient. I liked that there was the option of dining at a table outside in front of the restaurant. Pros: Nice staff, great wine list, good recommended dishes Cons: Not every dish is worth tasting, unprofessional hostess more
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Great food, great price, average drink service. 5/13/2007

I went to Bao111 on a saturday night with 7 people. We had the prixe fixe menue of 6 appetizers, 4 entress, and 3 desserts - enough for the whole table to share. The cost was $45 per person. The food was excellent! They brought out the appetizers almost immediately, and there was plenty for the whole table. The food was delicious. The duck was incredible. I loved everything about this place, except for the fact that they only had one bathroom and on a Saturday night you can imagine how annoying that can be. I also think that because it was a Saturday night, the service with the drinks were a little slow. Pros: the food!!! Cons: only one bathroom more
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Great food, nice ambiance 11/16/2006

This is a great little spot. It's somewhat tight, but that's New York. The food is really tasty. The only complaint would be the noise level when the restaurant is crowded. Try the frog legs! Pros: Tasty food Cons: Small space more
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Don't believe prior reviews this place is worth the trip to Ave. C 9/5/2006

I went to Bao on a Sunday night last month, with reservations for two. The hostess was highly apologetic for not being able to seat us immediately (the place was slammed). After about a 15-20 minuet wait and two drinks on the house we were sat. While the tables are close, the intimate setting and live jazz are charming. The server was extremely accommodating and his wine recommendation (dry Rose) was spot on for the truffle salmon app. Entrees were worth the wait, Rib-eye steak and whole snapper (another recommendation from our server). This place deserves the hype regarding its food, the rib-eye portion was large for the price and cooked to perfection, while the snapper's sweet/spicy sauce was perfectly blended and the presentation was exquisite. Service was prompt, friendly, and very helpful with recommendations. All in all, this restaurant was one of the most satisfying dining experience in long time and signals the resurgence of Alphabet City. Pros: Food, Service, Wine and Sake Cons: Entree timing was slightly slow more
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Decent food, bad service 8/6/2006

Spring rolls, short ribs, curries and noodle dishes are decent. But for the prices, the service is so poor that it's really not worth coming here. Even though the restaurant was not at capacity, service was awfully slow and unattentive - we had to ask several times for basic things throughout the meal. It was very hot in the restaurant, but water was not served for half an hour after arrival and then never refilled. After the main courses arrived, we had to flag scurrying waitstaff several times to ask for utensils and rice to go with the curries. Drinks took 20 minutes to come to the table, and when they arrived they were warm. One person in our group remarked that service was so disorganized that it was almost as if we were eating at a restaurant that was experiencing opening night jitters. Finally, the music was so loud that we had to shout to converse with one another. The experience was unpleasant and the tab completely overpriced. Needless to say, we won't be going back. more
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worst bartender and service 8/1/2006

wednesday night , august 2nd .i work in to bao quarter to 8 , there were two tables @ the restaurant , no one at the bar . i like to seat at the bar .\r for 15 mn , she did not look at me . she was putting bottle in the refrigerator .And there were another waitress next to her . when i ask if there were someone working , she ask me to wait . i have been waiting for 15 mn ( no food menu , no cocktail menu , no one even say hi to me ).\r i own a restaurant but , i will not have that girl work for me . second time at bao but will never go back .when i'm spending my money , i deserve some respect and good hospitality at least .\r \r thanks to the bartender more
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EXCELLENT! 6/7/2006

I had dinner at Bao 111 last evening. I had not been in almost a year, and did not know quite what to expect. While it is true that my past dining experiences at Bao 111 had always been favorable, sometimes a restaurant starts to believe its' own hype and goes downhill. However, that was not the case at Bao 111. The food was delicious! The spare ribs are to die for, and the sea bass was perfect. The surroundings make for a funky, intimate, sexy evening. Pros: Seductive atmosphere, Extensive sake list, Food Cons: Service a tad slow more
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Exceed my expectations in everyway 5/29/2006

We (2 couples) tried almost all of the appetizers on the menu and I found the appetizers amazing! I didnt have very high expectations before to Bao as I thought it was another trendy fusion places in the LES. However, the restaurant kept the Vietnamese flavors true but enhanced the presentation and cooking styles. Some items that stood out were grilled short rib, which was really really tender with a nice lemongrass flavor, the calamari stuffed with prawn had a good texture and the frog leg, which was very crispy. However, I found the main to be too American. But maybe thats because we ordered the mignonette, duck breast and steak and not the traditional style mains. The fish our friend ordered had a beautiful presentation. The meat was filleted and the bone was served standing up and curved around the fish. I also love the sake selections Pros: Appetizers, Sake list, decor Cons: noise level more
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Bao Whoa! 1/19/2006

Went in December '05 on a date. Pros: Food was undoubtedly excellent - all of it - 2 cocktails, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 1 desert. Service was quick and pleasant. Cons: Price far too expensive for the cuisine and location - bill came to $110. Decor is plain and unimaginative. Ambience nothing special and a bit crammed. Overall: Recommend trying ""Bao 111"" at least once, because the food is quite tasty. However, we are unlikely to schlep over there again. At this price-point, there are MANY other excellent dining options in locations that are MUCH easier to reach. The schlep to Avenue C and 7th isn't worth the effort. Pros: Food excellent, Cocktails good Cons: Overpriced, Location more
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Bao-Wow!!!! but... 1/7/2006

we went on a sunday night and it wasn't crowded. the staff seated us quickly and we had a model/waiter who was attentive for a while but then seemed to lose interest. the food was delicious. for appetizers we had the quail and octopus salad, both of which were fresh and tasty; we liked the rice powder garnish with octopus. for mains we had the shrimp curry and fish curry, both of which were rich and flavorful, with subtle deep textures. highly recommended. we also enjoyed two bottles of sake which added $50 to our tab--and if not for that the bill would have been more of a bargain. while a lot of diners ding this place for lousy service we recommend going on an off-peak night and enyoying the food, which is really worth it. more
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wonderful dinner 12/29/2005

We had dinner on a Thursday night and it was packed. The food was excellent. The bathroom was a bit small, and the space in between tables was pretty minimal. But the presentation of the food was very nice and the food itself was splendid. The crowd was well dressed and the servers were good lookers, too. Nice lighting in the restaurant to set the mood. Desserts were very good, too. Pros: fresh ingredients, food, ambience more
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WORST SERVICE. . .and food sucks too 10/5/2005

Went last weekend - food was awful, with the exception of the fake ""short ribs"". Had quite possibly the two worst waiters of all time. I asked each of them at least three times for a dish they they forgot - took about an hour to receive it. They acted as if it were my fault that they forgot to put in the order. I will absolutely never go back here. Note to chef: who wants to eat a goat cheesecake?? GROSS Pros: none, none, none Cons: incompetent waitstaff, the food itself, quail eggs more
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prix fixe success for a large party 7/27/2005

enjoyed a friend's birthday with 12 people at bao 111. the service was excellent and very attentive. had booked a table early in the week and were told that the prix fixe was a must for a large group, which was emailed within a day of making the reservation. we were not disappointed and had a leisurely meal with appealing and tasty dishes coming out throughout the evening. paired with a great riesling from a fair wine list we had an outstanding experience. Pros: prix fixe, staff, ambiance more
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Great Vietnamese and Great Fun 6/23/2005

I just went here for the first time and I loved it. I went with 6 people and we had table in back that is semi private and close to kitchen. The cocktails were great! Saketinis yummy and they have Tiger Beer. The tuna spring roll, fish curry, filet, snapper - all had great flavor and were great to share. The desserts fabulous! We had chocolate cake, yuca cake and the coconut custard in chocolate soup. Chocolate cake was the best, but all delicious. The bill came and everything was reasonable - such a great helpful server too!! All in all a wonderful time and I would definitely go back - cool atmosphere too. Pros: food, atmosphere, service more
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work late? I do... 6/8/2005

... after my shift i sincerely enjoy a light deliciously prepared meal accompanied with a great ambience and staff,... very welcoming and comfortable. bottom line: must go! Pros: soups, service, late night more
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Hidden Treasure 6/8/2005

This Place is the bomb. This is my fiirst review ever , I am usually to lazy to write one but i have been to bao about 20 times since it opened and they have consistentlly exceeded my expetations . Their food is very high quality at a very reasonable price. The owners seem to take very much pride in their product. Impeccable service, food, and personallity. You must really try this place. Great place for late night dining , they are open every night till 2:00 am every night except sundays. Perfect alternative to blue ribbon really!!!!! Pros: late night, super high quality fo, very attentive servic more
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Bao was worth the wait 5/25/2005

Monday at 10pm without a reservation, the place was still crowded. The maitre d' was so nice, though, so we waited. When we sat, our waiter came over immediately and recommended the snapper and the pho-- some of the tastiest I've had, and I went to Tu Lan 3x a week in San Francisco. We wanted reservations on Saturday at 8, but the reservationist said she only had 7 and 9:45. Thank god for that sweetheart reservationist telling us to take the late resy and chill first at the bar. Sake Juleps rock. I felt so sorry for the people who walked in on Saturday without a reservation. Man, that maitre d' has a tough job, dealing with all those people, I don't know how she stayed calm. The calamari stuffed with prawns I've never seen anywhere. My friends were so impressed. Can't wait to go back and try everything. Pros: awesome food, open late Cons: crowded, tough street parking more
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Wow, that was really bad. 2/16/2005

The bad experience started off right away, as our waiter was busy on a smoke break and there was no one to cover (he must have smoked half a pack for the amount of time we were waiting). Being Vietnamese, I think I have a fair estimation of what is considered Vietnamese fare. Someone must have read the recipe book wrong because there was so much anise in the pho (the most classic Vietnamese dish) that I almost sent it back. Also, I know how much hoisin sauce and chili paste I want with the dish. There is no to mix the two together for me (my date doesn't like chili paste, but she does like hoisin, what does she do?). Since the waiter NEVER checked on us during the meal, she never had the chance to ask for hoisin. Disgracefully awful. Pros: Ambience, Decor Cons: Service, Food more
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Menu for Bao 111


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    The room glows a flattering amber; wood banquettes, softened by a scattering of cushy, embroidered pillows, run the length of the room. The space is sultry without being overtly...

  • 7/21/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Alphabet City, East Village, Downtown
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