Buddakan

Description
This stunning, 16,000-square-foot theme park of a space from Philly-based restaurateur Stephen Starr has become a food-fan favorite. After entering, you pass a bustling front bar, a birdcage filled with taxidermy, and European tapestries, all leading to a grand staircase that descends into a soaring, golden-hued main room with a 35-foot ceiling and a long communal table. The food—yes, there’s food here, too—sounds fancier than it is. Chinese standards are gussied up (e.g., dumplings filled with edamame paste in shallot broth), while noodle and rice dishes—reasonably priced between $8 and $13—offer great bang for your buck. The kaffir lime tart with steamed yuzu soufflé is a fragrant ending.