Beauty & Essex Reviews

Celebrated my birthday here on Saturday 23rd. Venue is lovely, staff were helpful and service was really quick. Food was delicious. Overall a fabulous evening.

Beauty & Essex exudes class and grace. The atmosphere and clientele are truly beautiful. Women on sequins...glittering like the chandeliers bone. Exquisite cuisine. Attentive and caring service. Fun and exciting vibe. A Downtown New York must.

great hidden gem - intimate with friendly staff and service coupled with creative menu items and monthly chef specials; Grilled cheese and tomato soup dumplings are a “must have”!!!

So when my friends knew I was going to NYC all they said was visit this place. I was a little dubious but booked it and I wasn’t disappointed. It has a great vibe to it. Love how hidden it feels and the food was great. We ordered lamb (very yummy) and beef wellington. My partner said the pastry wasn’t great but he is very fussy. The mash however he was still going on the next day about how great it was. Desserts - share one. I decided we needed one each (no touches my desserts) but it was huge. The waiter was brilliant - very attentive and thoroughly my had good time.

We had a great birthday brunch here. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The place is beautiful and unique. You'd never know it was there because the front is a little pawn shop and that's all you see from the street, but when you go through the doors to the restaurant -- WOW! Can't wait to go back!

Great food, outstanding service and wonderful atmosphere. We came for restaurant week and this restaurant did not disappoint.

Absolutely amazing experience! Got to meet the head chef, friendly service and beyond fantastic customer service at every point of our meal. The price is high, but worth it for the high quality food and service you get here. I would recommend this place to everyone and anyone !

On our first night in New York, we booked this for dinner for 6 girls, and good we did as it was completely full! It is a trendy hotspot in Manhattan, with cool dimmed lighting and interiors. It is a small plates style restaurant, with a mixture of Mediterranean/Mexican/Asian food including empanadas and tacos as well as sashimi and pizzetta. The waiter was very knowledgeable and really looked after us, was able to offer lots of advice with the menu. It came to around 100 dollars each, which seems pretty standard in New York. But I would certainly recommend to others as the food and the cocktails were lovely!

Fun! Noisy! Delicious dishes served tapas style. Attentive wait staff. Would definitely go back again.

Beauty and Essex came highly recommended, and it was, overall, very good. The place has a very hip vibe, and the décor was awesome. Our server was very good as was the food. Our only issue is that there isn’t a dress code, which meant that while many people try to dress appropriately, you can still find yourself sitting beside some “dude” in a ball cap, old t-shirt and track pants. This really killed the atmosphere. If B&E enforced a dress code, I easily could have given them a 5 out of 5.

We had been really looking forward to this after reading several reviews and friends recommendations. The entrance is a clever concept and atmosphere buzzing. After checking in at the front desk we were shown to our table. However service was slow, we eventually ordered and were given no help or suggestions on the menu, this resulted in too much food being ordered and subsequently wasted. The food itself was not great for the price. Aubergine was soggy when described as crispy and so heavy on miso flavouring it was quite sickly. The little sirloin toasts were rock hard and lukewarm. The burger had a fishy aftertaste and was not eaten. Two servers delivered food to the table next to us and bumped my chair, accidentally tipped a plate of food, the cutlery on the plate and juices ended up down my back soiling my jacket. This was met with a shrug ! No one returned to the table with offer of a cloth to clean up or an apology. When I told the waitress I would not be adding service and explained why and how disappointed we were at everything there was an air of disinterest and rudeness. With most dishes starting between $25-$75 I think this restaurant is running on hype and not quality of food and cooking and service. I couldn’t wait to leave.

Wow. My husband and I dined here and the whole experience was simply incredible from start to end, even if we had to wait 40 min extra compared to our initial reservation. It was our anniversary and the staff was aware of it, hence they invited us for two glasses of champagne as soon as we sat down. The waiters are knowledgeable and extremely efficient and friendly - we did not feel treated like a table number even if the place was completely fool. Good job to all the staff. Food wise: WOW. We had a couple of different dishes (e.g., tuna tacos, bone marrow) and it was simply delicious as well as very well presented on the dish. Bill was fair when taking into account food, service quality and efficiency. Highly recommended!! We cannot wait to go back!

A restaurant hidden in the back of the item sales shop. Once through the back door, you enter a cozy restaurant in several large rooms. Young and trendy atmosphere. Good food.

what a place! great vibe, food and drinks. This place was buzzing and for good reason. Funky and modern with great food to match. Really enjoyed it and glad we booked in advance. Would return here every time we come back to new york.

Great food, great atmosphere, outstanding service—it outclasses all of its competitors. It's the best I've ever had in NY.

Walk through the pawn shop to a beautifully appointed restaurant buzzing with chatter. Great menu catering to all food proclivities (including vegan), and fantastic service. The buzz isn’t hype, the food was fantastic.

Food was excellent and delicious. We ordered an extra dish as our waiter told us we'd still be hungry, this turned out not to be the case but the extra dish was really tasty but meant we didn't finish everything else. Good cocktails as well. Service was a little slow especially getting the check paid. I personally thought it was too dark and needed my phone torch to read the menu, I was one of many people doing this. Really lively and fun but rather pricey overall.

We came here last Sunday for brunch. Very quirky entrance through a pawn shop. But a beautiful restaurant beyond. We found the staff and service and food all excellent . We went off the Restaurant week menu so it was also value for money. I’m sure we will be coming back next time we are in the city.

One of the coolest speakeasy bars in New York. Music is like hip hop r&b vibes, dimmed lighting creates a cool ambience. Food is delicous. BBQ fries are out of this world. Drinks are lovely too.

Went for a meal here last week with another couple. Really interesting experience and overall was a great time. We had booked well in advance and didn't like our first table, but were quickly moved to a much better spot. The waiter was amazing and walked us through how to maximize our experience by ordering the shareable plates. The food was really amazing. Everything we ordered was perfect. The only complaint I had was that we (and several other tables that I noticed) were shouting to talk to each other. That's how loud the music was. Even the waiter had trouble at certain points as we interacted. It was also really dark in our corner (which was great for the ambience, but not so much for reading the menu in the dark). Just a couple of little things, but really minor annoyances that didn't impact our enjoyment in any way. Would absolutely come back again.

EXCELLENT! great experience, fantastic food and service for my daughters 21st birthday. Was looking for a restaurant that included a great vibe, cool experience and Beauty & Essex was perfect. Our party was 5 21 yr olds and me, the mom who was treating :) 2 vegetarians in our group that were a little worried about a fancy menu, usually no special requests allowed. But from the minute we arrived, we were made to feel special, including a card for my daughter waiting on the table. The waiter was awesome, knew the menu well, asked about dietary restrictions and immediately helped with what items could be made vegetarian. They actually suggest sharing, amazing for NYC. We ordered a variety of appetizers some customized to omit meat. Everyone's favorite turned out to be the miso glazed eggplant but loved the grilled cheese & tomato soup dumplings (bacon on the side). We could have eaten many more of these. We only ordered 2 dinners, we were getting full from the appetizers, the mushroom ravioli fantastic, and the meat eaters loved the chicken meatballs. The specialty drinks were super cute and we passed them around and all great! Of course, the coolest thing was the dessert wheel, so pretty and everyone got to taste all the treats. The also brought my daughter cupcake without being asked, genuine surprise. My greatest surprise was the check - really reasonable for 6 of us and they did not add an automatic tip! so unusual for NYC but it made me feel valued, that they trust their clientele enough to tip well, which of course I did!

This was truly my favorite restaurant during this visit. It was breathtaking. The ambience is wonderful. The wait staff was excellent. We decided to do the pre fixe menu for restaurant week and they did not disappoint. I had the chile relleno empanadas and the short ribs. Both were very good. Would love to go back again.

This was a funky, fun dinner spot in the lower east side. It was super busy for a Monday night. My only critic was that I felt that they rushed us through as our food came too fast after ordering. Also one of our party had quite a few questions about the menu and the waiter seemed a bit annoyed by that. Food was wonderful and lots to choose from. The desserts were amazing.

Last time at B&E was 8 years ago when it was one of the hottest reservations to get. I wasn’t sure what to expect all these years later. But wow! The energy of guests contagious. The food is absolutely amazing portions big despite the wait staff saying it was more tapas style. It is not! Lamb chops were fantastic reasonable price for two large( $44). Two person seats lack privacy of 3+ person tables, so felt like a bit of a double date without trying but still overhearing other conversations. Doughnut dessert an A plus. Drinks were tasty but small and at $20 each probably the only complaint. Can’t wait to go again.

The food was really nice and we liked the concept of sharing everything, but the service didnt match the food/atmosphere. Most staff seemed to confuse cool & arrogance. BTW I dont go to a restaurant to meet a cool waitress. The food was generally fantastic. They had un out of the NY strip steak, so we had the Tomahawk instead. Some friendliness training for the staff would make this a must.

The food and staff were lovely but it was so loud I couldn’t hear my husband across the table. The other tables are so close together and it’s so dark it just feels a bit like it’s trying too hard to be cool. It was probably better before it got so popular.

I ate at Beauty and Essex on 8/6/19 for Restaurant Week and it was awesome. I had tuna poke wonton tacos as a starter, Peruvian chicken for the main and LES NYC donuts for dessert. My friend had Chile Relleno empanadas for her starter, short ribs for the main and also opted for the donuts for dessert. Our drinks were Earl the Pearl and the Beauty Elixer. We loved our food and drinks, everything was so delicious. The tuna tacos were a perfect bite and a nice blend of textures. My chicken was very flavorful and it came with thinly sliced veggies underneath. And the tasty donuts were served hot with 3 dipping sauces - caramel, chocolate and berry. Our server was so friendly and quick. It was a busy scene but everyone was on their game. Beautiful decor and one of the coolest restrooms that I have seen. Highly recommended!

We visited this restaurant for our special anniversary recently and as you can imagine we was spoilt for choice in New York in choosing a restaurant to mark our special occasion, this restaurant did not disappoint, from entering into a shop full of guitars, thinking we had the wrong place it’s quirkiness was something else. The ambience here was 100% from the decor to the lighting, with the chilled vibed music, the staff were friendly, our waitress was stunning, nothing was to much trouble and the food was just so amazing, the dishes are small sharing dishes which they recommend between 4 to 6 between 2, we had 4 dishes between two with beer and wine and our beautiful waitress brought us a complimentary desert as it was a special occasion, the most amazing small sugar coated donuts with a choice of chocolate, caramel and raspberry dips, we was just satisfied, if your extra hungry maybe 6 dishes would be right. The price was about right for this lovely restaurant, our bill was $230 without gratitude but included, 4 beer, a lovely bottle of red wine and 4 dishes with a complimentary dessert, we was in there for a good few hours enjoying the dynamic atmosphere. I am so glad my son found this restaurant we give it a 10/10 and it’s up there as one of our best places we’ve ever eaten at and we’ve eaten at some lovely restaurants all over the world. Excellent venue and I would recommend to anybody visiting New York!

Really was blown away by this restaurant. The setting is very quirky and cool! The food was delicious and the staff were exceptional. In my opinion a must visit if you’re in NYC.

Our second visit was not as grand as our first . The tables are so closely put together you can’t help but see what the guests sitting next to you are having. that is good also to give you a visual. We ordered the tuna based on the couple next to us, when we received ours it was literally half the portion size that they received. The same exact dish! That’s not acceptable ,this Saturday night was not even that busy ,So you can’t blame it on that. The sashimi tapas and salmon tartare were wonderful though. The $52 beef Wellington was absolutely NOT worth it. I’ve had it much better prepared Our server Roan was fantastic.

Went here for the brunch and it was fantastic! Felt more like an experience than just a meal. Staff were very friendly! Would highly recommend!

Great concept, beautiful decor, and that’s where the good news ends! We arrived and were seated in the first dining room on our own in an area that smelt of vomit. When asked to move, this felt like it was an imposition for the server and we were subsequently shoved in a tiny table facing the backs of the people in the adjoining booth. The table was also unstable and required rectification by our server upon request. No wine list was provided with the food and set menus, prompting another request to our server. After about 15 minutes, we left before even ordering. The vibe was stiff and awkward and for something that is owned by the Tao Group, I expected a lot more. Perhaps other dining times are better however Brunch was a total fizzer. Really, really disappointing and a total waste of time!!

This place was recommended to us by a friend. We were intrigued by the pawn shop entrance! Once you enter it has a cool vibe. The craft cocktails were fantastic as was the food. The menu items do include jalapeño in most dishes for a bit of kick. We had a party of 5 and a party of 6 and they were able to seat us near each other which was great. The menu is more sharables rather than order a dish for yourself which makes for trying new things.

Family dinner for 5 on a Thursday night. Happening spot on the lower Eastside. Solid food and service. Most dishes were good with desserts and miso eggplant fried being the standouts. Great cocktails as well. Just can’t give it 5 stars since diners and packed in close together and prices are quite high. Would definitely come back on an expense account.

Loved this restaurant one of the most unusual restaurants I have visited the entrance through the pawn shop is so weird loved it food was unbelievable had so many small plates to start didn’t need a main all was fantastic can’t wait to comeback

We had wanted to try this place for a while as it talked about a lot. It’s very cool and buzzy. The service at the bar was great and friendly. Then things went downhill. The service in the restaurant was very poor. Food was average. Lots of big groups were getting all the service no doubt because that’s where the big tip was. Wouldn’t go back

What a great brunch spot! The atmosphere is amazing. The wait staff is top notch and the food is so good! We had carefully crafted drinks at the bar before going to our table. Everything is sharable so if you like trying lots of things this place is the bomb. We had a Mimosa Flight that was great fun. Then we shared Red Velvet waffles, Bruschetta, Huevos Rancheros, Dumplings and ended with THE WONDER WHEEL. The Wonder Wheel is a ferris wheel of delightful deserts. And did I mention you go through a pawn shop to get to the restuarant? Can't wait to go back.

The good: The food was excellent. Somehow, a menu with no cohesion (tacos, ravioli, sashimi - together?) is so delicious it doesn’t matter that it seems to have a bit of an identity crisis. I couldn’t fault a single thing we ate, the lobster mac n cheese was unforgettable and the salmon sashimi on toast was so good we ordered seconds. The bad: we booked a table weeks ago for 9pm and didn’t get seated until 1015pm. Having flown in from London the previous day, this felt like 4am to me so I was seriously struggling. The staff were vaguely apologetic, but not enough to make up for it. Anything complimentary would have gone a long way, but nothing was offered. I personally don’t really think waiting that long for something you’ve booked is acceptable and it seemed self-serving given we ultimately sat buying drinks at their bar until our table became available. It seemed pretty arrogant to me. The confusing: the bar service. I asked the bar tender about the wine list and she looked at me like I’d asked her to donate one of her kidneys. She told me she had no idea about any of the wines on the whole list. And not politely either. It left a pretty bad taste in our mouths, but it was thankfully washed away by the delightful Riesling one of her (professional, helpful) colleagues recommended. Overall I enjoyed it and the majority of reviews I’ve read have been super positive, so maybe we just had a bit of bad luck. Once we were finally seated the service at our table was excellent.

Visited B&E for second time after a first visit in February ‘23. The first time I thought the place was spectacular. This time it felt slightly less “special”. The place/2nd floor was far too warm and it took 90 minutes before the airconditioning provided some coolness. Shareable plates still tasteful but not as nicely presented as two years ago. I would recommend: step up your game!

Excellent tastes and very nice atmosphere. Tried the dumplings, the salmon tartare and the lobster carbonara which were very delicious. The service was very good as well. Definitely worth to visit.

Everything about this restaurants lives up to its reputation. You have to go through a shop to get into it but it only adds to the atmosphere and suspense of the place. There is a great vibe to it, almost an electric New York atmosphere with a fine dining twist. The food was exceptional, the service was top class and we really enjoyed our visit. This place is a must for any couple visiting New York who enjoy their food. Keep up the good work folks, we'll be back again!!!!

Beauty & Essex is the one restaurant that I will always return to when traveling to New York. Aside from the speak easy experience with pawn shop entrance and hidden gorgeous restaurant, the food is incredible, staff are friendly and professional and the atmosphere is perfect for any occasion. The menu concept is similar to tapas where most dishes are meant to be shared. This is perfect because it allows you to try more. How do you even decide though?! The rib eye tacos, Peruvian chicken, sweet potato ravioli, beef Wellington, shrimp cocktail, Mac and cheese... everything is amazing! But be sure to leave room for dessert! Peanut butter pops, signature donuts and caramel mousse!!! You will regret it if you don’t. They also have an extensive wine list and eclectic bar menu. If you are looking to indulge, this is the place to do it. I can’t wait for my next visit!

Disappointing brunch. Having dined here previously had high expectations but it can up short. Only offer brunch on Sundays so a truncated menu. Greeting staff were rude and off hand. Everyone else was on point. Wouldn't recommend based on this outing. Certainly not a patch on my first visit 2 years ago. Also it was my partners birthday which I had told the restaurant about. The next table, also venerating a birthday, received a cupcake. None for my birthday girl. Waitress also neglected to offer us dessert, assuming we'd finished and bringing us the bill. Not good enough I'm afraid.

Super busy on a Friday night, despite having a table reserved we were left waiting in a heaving bar to order a drink for about 20 mins. Staff rushed off their feet and to be fair they gave us 2 free cocktails to apologise. However service was so rushed with one of the waiters trying to take my starter whilst I was still half way through eating. We had ordered a bottle of wine which was left in a bucket at the end of the room so had to keep asking for wine to be topped up. They bought the cheque over within an hour of us being seated and then had to neck said wine as the table was needed. Food was great and concept great… just ruined because of being so rushed!

Researched this venue before our trip to New York and booked the Champagne Brunch for my girlfriend's birthday when visiting from London, which took numerous emails as you could not do it on the phone. When we arrived on the day (Sunday) we was told our table for the Brunch wasn't ready yet so we had a drink at the bar. The setting and the arrival was very great but it went downhill from then. We waited and waited before finally going back up to the desk when they finally realised we was still waiting, so took us upstairs to our table. We sat down and was given a menu which looked different to one we had booked only a week before. I didn't think much of that as sometimes websites only have a sample menu, however we read and was advised when booking that it was a free flowing champagne brunch with unlimited champagne during your meal. My girlfriend asked our waiter how it works and when the champagne starts as we was asked if we was ok for drinks, to which he replied 'we don't do the free flowing champagne anymore, we have just changed the brunch.' Of course we was quite shocked and disappointed not to have been informed about this, especially as our booking was only made a week before our visit, so the venue would have been aware of this change of menu. We was then served very average dishes of food which was small, boring and bland and was provided an expensive cocktail menu which we had to order from. The party atmosphere was good, but it did not work with the meals being served so would just be better as an upstairs party and bar/club rather than offering a brunch in the same place. I complained to the person who we booked with via email once we had finished and he apologised for his error anf then thanked me for indicating that he should have informed us and anyone else that they would not be attending the champagne brunch so it doesn't happen again? He then asked us to come back to give them a second chance? I live in London it's hardly up the road. There slogan is Beauty Parlour Brunch - more than just a brunch, the hidden secret is it's a disappointing brunch with average food and a party. Everyone on the tables next to us didn't really eat the food or order drinks, just tried to ignore the disappointment and dance, but it did not disguise the fact it was overpriced and wrongly advertised (which has now been corrected on their website). The above is how I explain (not recommend) to anyone that asks about this venue.

When you reserve for 10 pm - 10:15 of s unacceptable. The server was great as was the boutique staff- the host staff leads much to be desired. The menu is odd - but the truffle max and cheese and the street corn ravioli are unreal. The scallops should be four not three ! But I guess if you are liquors up enough you will see more!

Not only is the food outstanding, the whole facility is wonderful. The building was formerly a furniture warehouse. They kept the original sign which adds to the charm. You enter through a funky little antique shop. Both the upstairs and downstairs dining rooms were beautiful. Even the women's room has it's own lounge and wine bar! The Wonder Wheel dessert option is a delight. It's a lighted Farris Wheel delivered to your table. Admittedly, the options weren't GREAT. . .but it was so fun. Our server was delightful and, again, the food was great. We chose a bunch of small dishes and loved them all. I highly recommend this funky spot that keeps the original integrity of the Lower East Side.

Quite already seen before trendy place! Food average and actually everything! The service poor! I have visited such a places already 15 years ago!

Everything was tremendous we loved it will be back again and again Land chops and the beef Wellington were out of sight A great scene Don’t miss it DD

Overall enjoyable experience. Food was interesting, menu is creative. Staff was very good. I had the chicken truffle meatballs and they were only okay. Would not do that again. They needed something other than 3 meatballs in a bowl. For apps, I don’t think you can miss in any of them. The non-chicken empanadas (plant based chicken) was interesting and surprisingly good. Save room for the cookies! They were delicious!

Have been here 3 times and it is always epic. The food is incredible and so is the service. The brunch is where it is at! Enjoy the bubbles

We visited here on our last night of NYC and thought this was the best meal we had. The food we ordered was incredible and really did taste delicious, the cocktails were beautiful. Our server Luke was especially friendly and helpful, and the food arrived extremely quick - we will definitely be visiting again!!

Love this place for special occasions or even a night out with friends. You have to walk past a fake store front to get into the restaurant. They serve champagne in the ladies restroom! Love this place. A must visit.

Truly one of the best experiences. Seated quickly as a party of 10. Staff was quick and attentive and answered sooo many questions that everyone had. I went all out and got the $80 steak. I can die happy after the meal I had. Absolutely phenomenal! Staff were on point with their service. The building, itself, was awesome with a great feel. Our entire party absolutely loved and devoured everything they ordered. We got the donuts for dessert and kept ordering more, they were so good! 100% recommend this place for a great night out. I’m normally a cheapskate, but I do not regret the higher prices because the quality and the experience was beyond worth it.

I always judge a restaurant by the cleanliness and style of its bathrooms. The ladies’ restroom in this restaurant made me want to move in - private individual stalls with beautiful flooring and lighting; gorgeous vanities with peek-through spaces between the mirrors; and even a velvet tufted sofa at one end. This was just the restroom! Beauty & Essex is a part of the Tao Group. Having been to Tao restaurant and nightclub establishments in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Bangkok, and Singapore, I had some idea of what their environment and service would be like, but never had experienced this particular line in their portfolio. Made reservations for five through OpenTable for a Saturday night celebrating a birthday ($10/person was required to confirm the reservation - I was actually happy with this policy because I don’t like when people hold up dining space and don’t show up. This allows for serious diners to get reservations). There was a kind but tough doorman at the entrance. The front of their building looked like a typical pawnshop with items displayed for sale in the windows and in the foyer. The restaurant reception desk and bar was the room after the pawnshop. Our party arrived separately and the restaurant requested we wait for our entire party to arrive before seating us. This was fine as we looked around in the pawnshop and entertained ourselves. Once we were ready to be seated, we were guided to the end of the dining room where there was a round booth comfortably for four and had a chair pulled up for our fifth person. Seeing how many of the tables for two were so close to each other in the middle of the dining room, we were happy with our location. The noise level was quite high. With the music and number of diners, our table used “outdoor voices” to speak - but we were expecting this. There was a 90-minute limit to our dining time. Our server was wonderful and patient with us. This restaurant serves high-quality, high-priced, small-sized family-style plates. We ordered Spicy Salmon Tartare, Shrimp Cocktail, Little French Dips, House Salad, Broccolini, Peruvian Chicken, Beef Wellington, and a smattering of their unique cocktails. We ordered doughnuts for dessert and was told that it only came with four doughnuts, but our server delivered six along with a cute chocolate cupcake for the birthday boy. Who would this venue be suited for? I would recommend this place for adults who want a mature, classy, stylish setting. Plan to spend $125+/person but there is good music, the setting is dimly lit and beautiful, and self-serving your food to your company are the entertainment.

The food here is delicious, the best we had during our week in New York. You can share all dishes which is great because you want to try as many dishes as possible because they all taste fantastic. This is a must go to restaurant when visiting New York.

Wanted to try something a little different and it didn't disappoint. The entrance is great with a 'secret' door which leads into an amazing reception and dining room. The deco was great and the mean options were really good. One of the party was gluten free and very well catered for. Lots of locals having celebrations and didn't feel touristy which was really nice. Great service and would highly recommend.

I was super exited to eat at Beauty & Essex for my sister's birthday dinner after the glowing reviews I had heard and read online. First, it's in a sketchy neighborhood (which required the sketchiest subway ride there) and this was the only time in our five day trip that I felt uncomfortable walking on the street at night. Second, when we were seated all of our water glasses were filthy (I mean, covered in sauces, lipstick, etc.) I pointed it out to the waitress and she apologized profusely and what I believe to be the manager came back with fresh glasses and apologized again, which I appreciated. Third, the food was okay but not worth the prices and there were small portions. It's a tapas type restaurant so everyone shares but two of the five dishes we ordered only came with three items (three tacos and three brussel sprout toasts) so we had to add a fourth to our order so everyone could try it. The tacos and the grilled cheese dumplings were my favorite. The veal pasta dish had a weird smokey flavoring to it. The decor is cool but it's so dark in there you could hardly make out anything. The women's bathroom has a champagne bar which is a nice plus. Overall, I was kind of let down as this was supposed to be our "fancy" dinner while we were in town and we all left hungry after spending a lot of money.

Fabulous experience. I would recommend you try this restaurant. Food is on another level. Waiting staff were all knowledgeable. Really pleased that we were recommended this.

Wonderful restaurant. Delicious food; grilled cheese tomato soup dumplings, onion rings, cauliflower tacos and ravioli. Great vibe at the bar and in the restaurant. And yes, you do enter through a pawn shop!

It is always a good time and a good vibe when you visit this restaurant. The food, the drinks, the staff and the ambiance is dope. Shout out to the DJ because he truly be vibing and playing the good music. My friends and I absolutely love this place. Great place to celebrate and or grab drinks and take cute flicks.

OCT ‘ 24 Arrived and immediately we were hit with the buzzy atmosphere. Fantastic! Cocktails ordered at the bar then in minutes table/ booth was ready. Had to close tab to open another one at table. Our waiter was excellent, knew menu inside out and helpful with suggestions. All good until they turned on the aircon. It was freezing! We all sat with our jkts on. Asked a passing waiter and he sniggered and said he’ll say it to the manager but he doubted it would be turned down. Some of our food arrived. Delicious !.. then some more which was cold in seconds. We asked again ( this time to the waiter assigned to our table) he was really good, apologised and said he’d turn it down/ off. Started to warm up , jackets came off, 10 mins later it was cranked back on again. At this stage , we were deflated. While paying the bill it was said to the manager, he apologised and said it’s a problem but they were working on it. Such a shame, had started so well but truly miserable by the end.

I experienced a "hidden" restaurant in NYC for the first time. The entrance of Beauty and Essex leads into a pawn shop filled with guitars, antique jewelry, and purses that gives way to a chic, upscale restaurant and lounge with a very romantical (yes, romantical) ambiance. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the restaurant from the food to the exceptional customer service. It is a little pricey, so maybe it can be saved for a celebration or date night. If you go, order the grilled cheese dish or the lobster mac & cheese. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Beautiful and unique place. Really good and out of the ordinary food with dishes that feel 1000 influences. To try.

A hidden surprise ! excellent food, unique atmosphere. i would definatly come back here. somewhere a little special, but also discreet in its style.

Very nice atmosphere. Food was very good in small portions. Service was ok. Wine and other beverages very expensive. Although good, value is suspect.

Reservations are absolutely necessary for this very popular and unique dining / nightlife destination on the LES. While this place is renowned for its weekend champagne brunch service, where sharing lots of small plates can be the best way to go, it's always fun for any occasion when you want something a little different accompanied by gracious service and consistently excellent, inventive "comfort" food.

This place is quite the hidden gem. Their interior is glamorous but not flamboyant. Their food is amazing. It's a 3 story establishment with a different experience on each. Great spot for drinks, apps, a casual late night bar or fine dining. Never a bad time here.

I love a good speakeasy bar so I think this place is pretty neat. You walk through a pawnshop and when you open the door next to the cashier, you enter a different world. The music is a bit loud but the drinks are tasty. The Beauty Elixir was a bit tart but Mr. Right was just right.

Lively restaurant in New York City, good food, both menu and a la carte. Prices in the average place. Young and pleasant environment

Wait time on each course is ridiculous, trying to get you to buy drinks in between, very average food , the hype of here is just not worth it in a rough area of nyc also , I would not recommend this restaurant & will definitely not be returning for this overpriced experience, best part of this place is the hidden look on the outside being a pawn shop selling guitars etc but do not go here if you are wanting a great tasting meal

Amazing experience from start to finish, as you enter a thrift shop in downtown NY, look around and then open the door at the back it’s like going into another world, the decor and the atmosphere is just incredible and very well thought out, the food was amazing, the beef Wellington is a must, cooked to perfection, we will be back next time we are in NYC

We visited in Halloween night after going to the parade, we were visiting from Australia and had pre booked this a month before for my auntie’s birthday. The place is unassuming from the outside and fab on the inside! The cocktails were beautiful in the bar area. Everyone loved our meals, the little French toasts were BEAUTIFUL as well as the scallops with risotto, my mum loved the salmon and we ordered a cute little dessert wheel for the birthday girl, everything was fab and we all have been raving about what a great night we had! Not cheap but that was our splash out for the trick, worth every cent!

We visited Beauty & Essex on Sunday 8th December. We'd originally booked as a party of six and upon arriving informed the hostess that we were now a party of five. We were shown to our table after a few minutes, and were disappointed to have a booth that could really only fit three people comfortably: we could barely squeeze our group of five in. We mentioned this to a passing hostess who then dumped a chair at the edge of the booth. We spaced out a little, but were still cramped, and the member of our party on the chair was constantly bumped and jostled...so we decided to leave. One member of staff who I assumed was a manager asked if we wanted to be re-seated or if there was anything else they could do but by that point we'd had enough. The cool, interesting place we'd booked for a special birthday celebration had beeen enough of a letdown. There was a large table free in the middle of the busy dining room, which we assumed had been for our original party of six and we felt that we'd been bumped to a smaller table when our group reduced. This, on top of the general air of the place and the snooty up-and-down looks from staff and customers, just made us feel unwelcome. It could be a great place, but obviously not for us.

Returning to NYC as it is re-emerging from the pandemic and it having been a long time since my last NYC visit, I wanted to treat myself to dinner at Chris Santos’ eclectic dinner spot. Fantastic! First, as a solo traveler, kudos for making a party of one feel so welcomed. Instead of some miserable table near the kitchen door, I received a cozy circular booth overlooking the beautiful room. The pink panther cocktail was new and fresh, the oysters were more so and delicious. Even as a solo diner in a restaurant structured around small plates, my waitress Nadia, helped me choose so that I could get plenty of tastes while still leaving room for the outrageously good doughnut desert. This place is fancy casual, playful and sophisticated and a must go!

Our my fav place in nyc such a vibe , music was great I wanted the playlist and food was stunning for this little vegan . I was very happy , most stunning bathroom also for the ladies. Our waiter was very good I can’t wait to visit the one in la in September now

The entrance was less exceptional than we thought but the interior is as described. It is really a beautiful place!! The service on the other hand was not friendly, the waitresses almost took us from above which was really annoying. We waited 1 hour for our table to be ready.... At the table the service was not terrible either (not natural and too falsely friendly). We quickly understand that if we do not order enough we will not be able to stay long. We are therefore too often asked if we want anything else. The food was excellent but do not be too hungry or be prepared to pay a sum + than roundlette ($20/25 for starters and $60/70 for a dish)

We had a reservation for 7pm on Saturday and were seated promptly. It was dark and loud with a modern youthful vibe. Our waiter was really friendly. They kept drinks filled and food came out fairly quickly and spaced out nicely. We didn’t order dessert but they comped the two glasses of prosecco we started our dinner with. I was really enjoying the 70’s and 80’s songs playing while we were there. Food was good and reasonably priced, too

We'd been recommended Beauty & Essex from people online and when I looked it up it looked fab - beautiful restaurant, a special place to go and dress up, good food. When we arrived it all started so well - went through the pawn shop which was fun into the beautiful lobby area all candle lit. That's when things started to go wrong. We had a table booked but the waitreses basically looked us up and down and told us to follow them out of the beautiful reception area and the beautiful dining area and up into a room upstairs which was a completely different atmosphere. We'd dressed up for the occasion but most people upstairs were casual. It was also light and bright, tacky music playing and we were stuffed in a corner table bucked up against another couples table. The menu was then really confusing. The waiters told us it was like tapas but there were normal meals on there and small bites and we had no idea what we were supposed to be ordering and how much of each. The staff were far from helpful. We ordered steak to share (as that was the only obvious thing on there to share). The food (thank goodness) was really good but the atmosphere was just awful and it completely spoilt our evening. We were quite rudely given the bill before we asked for it, which made us feel EVEN MORE unwelcome. To top it off, the waiter tried to overcharge one of my friends card by $50. When we queried it they didnt seem too phased - no apology they just whisked it away. We then didnt see another waiter after that, leaving us to let ourselves out! A massive disappointment. If you're planning on going, request to sit downstairs. Or just DON'T GO - there are 100's of excellent restaurants in New York City and I'm gutted we wasted one of our evenings here.

My friends and I had been told that when visiting NYC, we MUST go to Beauty & Essex so we dedicated one of our precious four evenings to it - the Saturday, even! We had booked a table for 9pm but on arrival were told that it wasn't quite ready so to wait in the bar. We checked back at the Front of House three or four times during our wait period to see if they knew when the table would be ready but kept being told the current table "are just eating dessert". Finally, at 22:20pm we were seated. This experience was really disappointing as the boring wait dampened the spirits of the night, especially when we were quite jetlagged, super hungry and eager to get on with our first night in NYC! A complimentary drink or even an apology wouldn't have gone amiss... or even just some kind of acknowledgment from the staff that this wasn't ideal. As well from the wait, our waiter was quite rude. One example being that we had a really strong gin delivered to our table to the point all four of us were sure no tonic had been added. On asking the waiter, we got an "erm yeah it does" and a discourteous facial expression. The restaurant was also freezing to the point we were all shivering, had goosebumps and teeth chattering. The table next to us were commenting the same and were putting their jumpers on! We asked twice for it to be turned off but it wasn't. All that said though, the Lamb Chop dish was quite possibly the best I've ever had. Absolutely delicious. All meals were loved...which was a relief! The music and vibe of the place was also on point which is why it's such a shame about all the other stuff. Perhaps we were just unlucky!

Delicious food with such an amazing atmosphere. Enjoyed every minute of our time in Beauty & Essex :) will hopefully return in the future!

Was visiting NY and came for a birthday dinner. The food was fantastic! Service was great and the ambience was wonderful! Definitely a fun place to come for dinner and drinks.

A friend and I took our teens for dinner and they are already asking to go back. It was a vibe, music was excellent (throwback 90s/00s). Highly recommend the grilled cheese and tomato soup dumplings, all of the bites on toast, bbq fries and truffle mac n cheese. Cocktails were also really good. Service was a little slow but the waitstaff were really apologetic and the restaurant was packed. Overall we had a great last meal in the city. Will be going back on our next visit for sure

Pretty cool hidden entrance at the back of a pawn shop. Yes it is pricey, but the tapas are excellent. Decent wine list and very good service. This is a destination restaurant to impress people. It is filled with “beautiful people “ anytime after 6pm. Reservations are a must. Get the tacos and chicken meatballs!

We sat at the bar for an early dinner. Food & cocktails were great. Val served us and had great recommendations on the food and was super attentive even thought the bar was very crowded. As mentioned, you enter through a very small pawn shop with some cool jewelry and guitars. Inside is a very large space with multiple levels and different seating types. The lighting in the bar is perfectly low and relaxed. Food was incredibly good - far beyond what we expected. We did several small plates...tuna poke taco, salmon ceviche, Korean tacos, empanadas. All were fantastic! We will definitely be back!

Can’t stop thinking about the funky decor and yummy menu at Beauty & Essex. You enter the restaurant through a real pawn shop! The restaurant is super gorgeous too. Haven’t stopped thinking about their bite sized grilled cheese and tomato soup. Wish they delivered to Florida!

I gave it four stars because the ambiance, drinks, and server were fantastic! The food had great taste but "nothing" was remotely hot or even warm so it made the experience/food-wise not good.

My sister arranged her wedding dinner here after she eloped to NY from the UK. The family requested for one of our credit cards to be charged as a surprise wedding gift so they weren’t paying for their own wedding meal, but they didn’t do it and my sister paid on the night unknowing. When I enquired why I wasn’t charged the staff wrote back really rudely saying they were a no show. This was incorrect as they were there! They then claimed a reservation problem but the waiting staff knew it was their wedding on the night and it was all clear in email. You can’t undo these kind of errors. Poor poor poor.

Disappointing. A good evening spoilt by bad service. Food is good, plenty of staff but they are poorly trained, can’t take simple orders. Drink orders were forgotten, and had to be repeat numerous times before the drinks materialised.

The food and service was amazing! My mom,sister, aunt and I are in the city for a girls trip and came here even though the place was packed and super busy, we were well taken care of! We had awesome food and our server was so sweet and made sure we had everything we needed! Would definitely return and recommend!!

I so wanted to love this place after reading so much about it.....it's got a great vibe when you walk in admittedly, it looks great etc, the girls at the desk were friendly so didn't have any issues there....they did try to sit us by the waiters entrance but we asked to move as it was freezing and they accommodated us. Our waiter was excellent I have to say, really friendly and making sure we were ok. The menu was unusual and luckily the vegetarian of us was catered for. The food was admittedly good, however the ferris wheel dessert which is obviously the big attraction looked great, but can't say it was great. The desserts were more little biscuits etc and a bit nothingy if that's a word. The clientele was a mix, maybe going on a Monday night drew a slightly older crowd but it seemed a little staid if I'm honest! Only gripes with the service was that they cleared one of our plates while the other was still eating. Maybe it's an English thing but you're not supposed to do that. Overall, good, not great but definitely worth a trip.

This is one of my favorite places to dine. Each visit, the food & service have been impeccable. There are also great cocktails here. The vibe & music are great for a night out, but not so much for a date...the music is extremely loud.

The whole set up and atmosphere of the restaurant was very reminiscent of a cleaned up, luxurious speak-easy-esque establishment. From the entrance through an actual pawn shop to the classic decorations and grand staircase, the premise of the restaurant was an experience in itself. The food and drinks only added to the experience. The beef wellington turned out tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked to our specifications (medium rare). All the dishes had their own twists to it and were uniquely tasty. Overall, we had a great time here!

A place my daughter always wanted to eat at. It was definitely worth the visit, tapas style appetizers had the Salmon tartar, tomato carpaccio, and the bacon tomato dumplings all were fantastic. To get into the restaurant you have to walk thru a pawn shop. Will be back

Not a good place to visit unless you are a tourist and have never been to good restaurants in New York. We live in Manhattan and had never been here but thought it would be a fun night out. The place was understaffed and really sub par. Not a place we would ever visit again.

Yep. You step up to the restaurant front and ask yourself, really? This is the place. The door opens on a pawn shop with guitars on the wall. Then the next door opens and you are in a beautiful, long room that sparkles under a skylight. This is a hip place with a young clientele that starts to pour in around 8 pm. But the food shines just as brightly as the stars up above the skylight. Lots of creative tapas style appetizers: a cheesy mini quiche like bite in a spoon of tomato soup. A creamy kale salad. Mini tacos. The entrees, to be honest, are not much bigger, but they are just as delicious. The ferris wheel of dessert and the donuts are memorable ways to call it a night.

We were waiting to be seated for more than 1 hour even though a lot of tables were not occupied l. The manager is not arround to keep an eye on cutomers. Cocktails over priced and food is not that great

We went here for dinner on a Friday night with a group of 6 and had the best experience. From the moment you walk in to the restaurant the experience begins. The menu was fun with all the tapas but nothing too unique which we preferred. Would highly recommend for any type of celebration with friends!

Great food, great environment, great experience. Excellent choice in Manhattan. Definitely would go back

Quirky bistro type place with a lively atmosphere on lower East side in an up and coming neighbourhood.

As we were seated for our daughters birthday, our waitress was very rude. She insisted we couldn’t order appetizers along with our drinks. We were starving. It was also freezing because of the AC temperature. Normally, I would be thankful for AC but it was an absolute ice box. The manager told us he would lower it but he did have an entire restaurant to manage I. A very rude way. The food was not good except for the Chechen meatballs. Way overpriced. Choose another place.

We booked this restaurant as we had had it recommended to us. I loved the idea of it being a kind of hidden restaurant and bar. We were given a table which felt over crowded and almost touching the other tables. Our server took an absolute age to get us our drinks and I actually went and got the bottle from the cooler to pop the cork myself as I was so fed up of waiting. The food itself was nice enough but for the price I would expect a MUCH better service. On the whole a massive let down and I don't feel I could recommend at all. The servers breath also left something to be desired.

I loved the pawn shop entrance and the "secret" door. It opens into a far larger restaurant than expected. There is a definite vibe to the restaurant. The music is pumped up adding to a unique dining experience. Bottom line, this is a fun place. Seating is extremely comfortable. Drink and wine menus are topnotch. Staff is fun, friendly. Lots of activity surrounding you. The only venue complaint is the toilet in the basement. It is a bit of a haul depending upon where you are at in the restaurant. The food is good. I realize this doesn't say much, but it is the best way I can describe it. If you are looking for an amazing food experience, you will need to go elsewhere. If you want to have a fun dinner with good food, then this is the place. I'd personally steer clear of anything the servers suggest as it seems like the "cheesiest" parts of the menu...items you may find at a chain restaurant. I say go off on your own and find some of the more unique items and give them a try. In the end, you will still enjoy your evening.

Unusual but unique place with a speak easy feel. You enter a pawn shop and behind a door is a massive restaurant, bar and club for 300 people. Resident DJ with pumping tunes with great service food to be shared family style. Great cake ferris wheel for desert. A great experience as well as food.

LOVE Beauty and Essex! This is the type of restaurant most think of when they think of NYC! Amazing drinks, only gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because the portions are TINY!

Such a great experience. I first found beauty and Essex in vegas so was excited to get to the NY one. Then entrance is iconic. As soon as you pop through the doors the restaurant is big. Lovely set up. Plenty of space. Menu was ace - highly recommend the beef wellington to share.

Fabulous experience all around. Food was amazing, especially the salmon tartare. Excellent service and wine choices. A visit to the ladies room is a must.

We had a fantastic dinner at Beauty & Essex. As you arrive at what looks to be a regulat Pawn Shop you walk through a door and enter a restaurant unlike anything you have seen before. The decor is super cool and funky while the menu also reflects this as well. The food was superb and everyone in our party really enjoyed their choices. We finished with their signature ferris wheel dessert which is presented exactly as the name describes it! Do yourself a favour and book a meal for a night you will never forget.

Was highly rated from a diverse collection of friends and work colleagues! Didn’t disappoint! Which can invariably happen when people rave about certain preferences! The tomato soup app was great ! The yellow crudo was exceptional! Hubby had the mini French dip ! Superb ! Lee was excellent!

Such a lovely restaurant. The food was great, the service was great and the overall vibe was great. This place is nice for dinner or brunch and it’s hidden at the back of a pawn shop. When you first enter the pawn shop you really don’t know what to expect when you walk into the restaurant but it is seriously a hidden gem!

The concept is really cool. Great entrance into a stunning dining area. This really would have got 5 stars BUT the service was poor and the room was FREEZING 🥶 Staff didn’t know what was in the food they were delivering. Plates smashing and drinks incorrect. Food was taken away whilst we were still eating. Food portions were quite large. Tomato dumpling soup was excellent, chicken nachos very average, shrimp and grits - different and quite nice. Red velvet waffles ok. For drinks and nibbles in a group would be a fun place. But otherwise once the stunning entrance has worn off all pretty average.

Loved it! Great food and service. A very fun place to visit with friends - highly recommended. Both the starters and mains we excellent and we will be back

What an absolute treat this place is. Deep in the Lower East Side, where angels used to fear to tread, is a shop front to a pawn shop. You are greeted by a friendly, and very large, security man who takes your name and then, after you have lusted after the 100 dollar purses in the glass cabinets, waves you in to the back and through a large door. What a revelation! You then walk into a bustling reception area and then on in to the fabulous restaurant. This place was humming when we went for Sunday brunch. Lots of fun people having a great time. Martini trees laden with glasses, towering plates of delicious food and the loveliest staff. It’s great to look at and the whole experience is fun and fabulous. Our waitress was great fun and helped us through the menu kicking off with gorgeous oysters and rocking our way through beautiful dishes that left us replete and happy but still had room for pudding. What a great place. It might be on the expensive side but, life’s short and this is a fun dining experience at a quality that makes it worth the spend in my view. Enjoy! You do need to book!

Special, good vibe, surprising food. What can you ask more? We were 4 friends on a business chill trip, and were recommended to book this place. It didn’t disappoint at all. We ordered all type of dishes, but the most unique and unexpected to be perfect is the mac and cheese!!

We returned to Beauty & Essex for our 3rd Post Marathon Celebration dinner! The team was great, we organized with the help of Lauren a great and festive dinner. Our group of almost 90 guest were treated very very well, great food, fantastic ambiance, in this fun and fab restaurant. We will be back for sure!

Nice atmosphere and service. Food was good not great but overall a nice option for a relaxed brunch.

Was so looking forward to my visit here as so many friends had recommended it. Ordered steak and had to send it back 3 times as it wasn’t cooked correctly Was super embarrassing experience Also My partner had completely finished his meal before I had even gotten mine Will never return wasn’t work the trek downtown found it overrated

In all of my travels to NYC, rarely do I find a restaurant that I actually refer friends to. Beauty and Essex will be the one I will recommend and visit again. The atmosphere and service would be reason enough, but the food alone is amazing. Since it was our first visit, the wait staff was quite informative on their favorites, customer favorites and the amount of food we should order. They were "spot on". Our group of 3 ordered 6 plates and was "just enough" for us. Our top favorites were the green beans and the ribeye tacos--we thought about this for the rest of the trip! There were families, couples, small groups, larger groups, well-dressed and casually dressed patrons--everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Make sure you eat here--and make reservations early.

My husband and I travelled from Australia to NYC for my 50th birthday. My girlfriends combined money and booked a table for us at beauty and Essex (this is another story in itself - trying to book this place from another country). Other friends from Portland also travelled over for this special occasion. Loved the music, food good, fun carousel dessert. Then there was an issue with the money my friends had put towards the final bill for my 50th. B & E claimed they hadn’t received funds even though I had the receipt. Mistakes happen so I trusted we would get the money back. I corresponded with GM. He apologised and offered a night on him when next in NY. I explained I had waited 50 years to make it to NY so good chance we wouldn’t be back soon but we are in NY for another couple of days if he would like to honour his offer now. That’s when all communication CEASED!! I had to follow up that the refund had gone through. I heard nothing more from them, very disappointing!! Average service overall.

Ate there as a party of 5. Seated 30 minutes after our reservation. Service was excellent. Great waiter and bus staff. That’s where the good ended. Food was just ok. Not served hot and some items were not flavorful and undercooked (shishito peppers). The tomato soup and grilled cheese croutons used to be great. Tasted like straight canned tomatoes. No flavor Spent hundreds on dinner. Afterwords we went to the Ladies Room. It was disgusting. No toilet paper and filthy. There are 6 young girls at the entrance and not 1 could go downstairs to check the bathrooms? Really bad experience

Absolutely terrible. I have never experienced a restaurant as poorly run as this, from the moment we walking in door to the moment we left. The complete and utter chaos that was displayed during NYE, the 3 hour wait for our food, the 60 minute wait for drinks, the complete and utter refusal to allow us to sit at our table while waited for the last 2 members of our group who were stuck in traffic, the refusal to split checks despite multiple confirmations that we would be able to… there was absolutely nothing positive about this restaurant. The complete lack of hospitality was discouraging and unfortunate.

Went for Brunch at 11:30 when it opened, the place was cold and kept getting colder. The service was good but the food was very average. We got 4 tapas between 2 of us, got 2x2, but food was a bit meh. I would very much say style over substance

Booked a table weeks in advance and paid a deposit. We’re seated in a door way under the air con vents and we were freezing. We requested to be moved to a side table but was refused. They fob us off with the exact same table at the other side of the restaurant in the door way under air vents. The manager was disgustingly rude when we complained telling us that nobody had ever in 7 years of working there. This was a lie because I have read other reviews complaining about the same thing.. when we complained again to the manager he was so obnoxious we had no choice but to leave. The server was not much better, I think this place has got to big for its boots don’t bother it’s not worth it.

Excellent food, service and atmosphere. Very attentive waiter. Scallops, shrimp, and kale salad. Would be glad to reorder any of these.

The surroundings in the bar/restaurant are gorgeous and the food is good but I had expected a little more from the food after hearing reviews of the place. The dumplings were really good but otherwise most of the other dishes were average for the price of them. The donuts however we got for desert were amazing! If you are a real foodie then probably this place isn’t for you but if you want some really cool surroundings and a trendy bar then it will be up your street!

We returned to this great restaurant with friends and had a fabulous evening. Great table upstairs and although if was very busy the staff took the orders promptly, the cocktails kept flowing and the food arrived without a delay. We shared a variety of dishes including the salmon tartare, tuna cones and peppers. We then chose the large steak to share which arrived a little over done for our liking. The staff apologised profusely and changed without a fuss and couldn't be more accommodating and even offered us complimentary bubbles and a donut dessert.... . I would highly recommend this restaurant to anybody for the service, quality of the food , the ambience and the whole experience. The GM should be very proud of this team.

Staying on the lower east side as we were, our friends from Brooklyn did us a favor by booking Beauty & Essex for dinner - convenience matters large in this city. Eccentric as the setting is, we were well served by an early reservation, which largely saved us from the noise level commented on by others, which can overwhelm those (like us) who prefer the ability for conversation. Banquette seating for the four of us helped. And context matters - generally not being great fans of the whole "shared plate" thing, including the general sense of disorder that comes with delivery of plates as the kitchen deems convenient. Also how odd is it, that so many "sharing" plates come in batches of three - when the usual round number is one or two couples? Which said, we did well. A burrata salad stood out - also several selections of tacos - a plate of roasted eggplant - and a lovely light mushroom pizza. Worth a trip from elsewhere in the city? Perhaps.

Mysterious entrance through a music/knickknack shop of 5m x 5m, with a discreet door at the rear (with doorman). When the door opens you enter the bar of the restaurant that is "hidden" behind the shop. The restaurant itself is well filled, and therefore a bit noisy. The music is also at a decent volume but not disturbing. The controls start off a bit stiff, but all in all it's not too bad. The menu is original (fusion) and is full of sharing dishes. It is not a cheap restaurant. Dishes range from $17 to $87. Drinks are in the same vein. 10% for a Stella Artois (you wouldn't get it sold in Belgium), a glass of wine for 20$, is quite steep, especially when you know that an additional 20% is added (tips & tax). All in all a nice experience, good food, nice setting in an original way.

I went there with my colleagues for a business dinner. Very elegant place with good food as well as cocktails. A little bit expensive, but very good quality. Nice staff!

Beauty and Essex was a fabulous dining experience. The food was exceptional and the service was great. Lively crowd with great music. My wife loved the champagne in the bathroom!

The food was generally good and tasty, but what left a sour taste in my mouth was my card being overcharged without my knowledge. I had specified a tip amount to be added to the food cost and signed for the total amount to be debited from my card. However, this was ignored and the server/ host decided to charge an additional unauthorised amount to the card to bump up their tip. Unfortunately, in the U.S. the check is closed and the final amount processed only after you have probably left the restaurant so I had no idea until I crosschecked receipts against my account statement. So beware of using your card here as this was definitely a breach of trust, as it was less an issue with the final amount taken and more about the principle behind passing an unauthorised amount to my card.

With 6 ‘grown-ups’ celebrating a 47th, Beauty & Essex was alive with the noises, smells and atmosphere of the great and eclectic high demand restaurants. Packed full of people on a Saturday night, tables turned quickly with staff attentive and professional. Great vego options for mains, but you HAVE to try the sweet wheel. What a masterful desert full of variety and intrigue.

Hidden behind the interesting facade of a Pawn Shop complete with a wall of electric guitars, is this amazing, elegant eatery with beautiful crystal chandeliers and a wall of sconces and mirrors. It feels like being wisked away to another place like something out of a movie! The main dining room boasts curved booths along the sides and several different arrangements of tables throughout the room with a high ceiling and a gorgeous sky light! The serving staff is incredible and the shareable entrees and apps make for a wonderful evening of sharing plates in a group. The truffle mac and cheese, Chicken meatballs, scallops, and French dip sliders were among our favs! The wine is top notch and specialty drinks are inventive and so yummy! The manager,Edward, was amazing and totally took care of us when our food was delayed. We had the most amazing ferris wheel of desserts and fresh doughnuts for dipping in 3 different sauces! I can't wait to go again!

Wonderful venue - exceptional food - amazing service - fabulous decor - just loved it!! Had a great delicious brunch - perfect stop before catching a train out of NYC. Will definitely be back - only tried a few of the dishes and they were all exceptional. Cheese dumplings in tomato soup, fabulous shakshouka, lovely asparagus, and … the doughnuts…

Food was very nice. Staff very helpful and informative about the menu. Tapas style with a great selection. Could not fault anything we ordered, fish tacos were excellent and the apple pie milkshake shots to finish are a must try they were delicious. Our only negative was the restaurant was a little cold but food and drink were up there with some of the best we had on our visit to NYC. Definitely worth a visit.

Have big-eyed visitors with me from the countryside, then Beauty still impresses.If you are a frequent New York eating eater you are not as impressed anymore.Some in the service staff impress, others are highly mediocre. No product awareness but more interest in selling on you more than you can eat and then the menu's most expensive dishes.Some dishes adapted for sharing are brilliant others more tired.Also, it is with the beer menu that testifies to lack of inspiration

Having heard from a few friends about Beauty and Essex, we decided to give it a try for a girls' trip to NY to celebrate a 60th birthday. From start to finish, it was amazing! It is very cool to enter via a pawn shop. The ladies bathroom has a bar and lounge area where ladies receive free 'champagne.' The first few courses were set up as sharing plates. We had the beef carpaccio, avocado toasts and dumplings in tomato soup. The dumplings were small and positioned on a spoon in a little tomato soup! They were all delicious. They weren't served all at once so you didn't feel rushed or full! We had the beef wellington and chicken meatballs for our mains along with some onion rings - wow - again, absolutely delicious! For dessert, we shared with Les NYC mini doughnuts! Mmmmmm - yummy. Included was a caramel, chocolate or berry dipping sauce. I liked mine plain! At the end of the night, we had a chat with the lady who worked in the pawn shop and had a good look around - unique items to be sure! The restaurant was continuously filled, showing what a popular place it is. All in all, we were very happy with our choice and would highly recommend it! We will definitely return!

We (a party of five) were squeezed into a tiny table. In the end we requested a chair which was basically thrown at us and was not comfortable. The table itself was under the air con vents which made it freezing. We asked about this and apparently “it is a very complicated system and a team are looking at it to turn it off” - needless to say this didn’t happen. I can see this is a common problem with this establishment. The food was mediocre, the service poor, and would not recommend. Save the trek out and go to Gallagher’s steakhouse instead!

Had a really lovely Sunday Brunch with friends, and surprisingly reasonable priced for what we had given how trendy it is at the moment (about $40 each for a huge meal, drinks and tip) The hostesses were a little snooty (told us they couldn't possibly add one seat to our table for a last minute addition - but when we sat down there was loads of space at the table, and the waiters were really friendly and brought us an extra chair without any fuss). The cheese and tomato bites and the chicken meatballs were a definitive favourite.

Nice restaurant with very attentive staff (couldn't fault them), I think as a small party it would be great. We went as a big group and the limitations around how they serve the courses, pre-ordering and then dividing things into almost a "taster menu" style made it difficult to adapt for the people in the group. Also the small area at the back of the restaurant for the group is effectively "boxed" and makes it very difficult to talk to anyone who is not immediately beside you. As I say, I think i'd rate it much higher for small party, but found it average for a big group.

You need to eat here. The food and the ambience are amazing. One of my favorite restaurants in LA! Trust me

Cat was an amazing server! Super attentive, made us feel special, & was on top of everything throughout our brunch. Edwin, one of the managers, came over, and I have never been so impressed by a restaurant head! It was my second visit because the food is amazing, but it won't be my last because they clearly take training very seriously. Thank you guys for an amazing time.

Four of us ate here on Labor Day weekend and ABSOLUTELY loved this place. The setting and the atmosphere alone make it a memorable experience. When you add the mixology and the food quality, you have an absolute winner. I cannot say enough great things about B&E. We will be coming again and again.

Beauty and Essex always is a favorite for me since they opened. The atmosphere is always great and offers a great experience. It’s definitely become a touristy spot but still great too for us locals. My favorite thing is to go and share a bunch of plates with those I’m with either for brunch or dinner. The food is always so delicious and the drinks are super tasty. Be warned it is a bit pricey but worth it for a special occasion with your love or sharing with friends. I love the grilled cheese, tomato soup dumplings—-YUM!!! The bone marrow toast is also always a favorite of mine. Definitely do dessert the Devils food cake and the doughnuts are my favs.

We were back for a family birthday dinner. The food is exquisite, the service fantastic. It is a unique setting, very up market, not cheap but well worth the experience. You definitely need to book and be on time, or you will then have to wait for the next available slot to be seated.

I went to celebrate a birthday with my friend. The food was incredible and the atmosphere was just great. It was buzzy with constant chatter but not so overpowering that you felt claustrophobic. Bar upstairs was also fabulous and offered a variety of cocktails. My friend and I received a free little birthday cake as a surprise which topped off a fun, lovely evening. Perfect hidden gem.

I love this speakeasy in the Lower East Side. And I tried the dessert wheel for the first time, so fun. A lot of dishes to share. It’s a must try in downtown Manhattan.

Fun, delicious restaurant who values customers!!! My daughter was invited to a 21st birthday party on Friday night. She has life-threatening food allergies making it tough to eat in restaurants. Kayla, Rachel and others went ABOVE and BEYOND to ensure she had a safe and delicious meal of 3 courses. Kayla was knowledgeable and communicated via email in advance, and Rachel provided her cell phone number as she was physically at the restaurant at the time of her party. They personally coordinated the food safety with the kitchen staff and greeted my daughter at the restaurant. An allergy coordinator even came over to the table to re-review the selection. Thanks to care like this, my daughter was able to not only thoroughly enjoy her food but relax and have a special celebration at a fabulous restaurant!!

We’ve been to the one in Las Vegas and had a super time dining there right before a concert so we knew about the theme and setting for good tapas style food, atmosphere, decor and the front shop. Almost the same menu, Peruvian Chicken, grilled cheese and tomato soup, onion rings, Garganelli pasta and the donuts for dessert. All dishes were flavorful, filling, great taste, and delish!!! The place was jammed packed with every seat taken in the upstairs and main dining room. Three chic looking bars were filled. The only negative thing was the DJ who was spinning some tunes which was a bit too loud, felt like I was yelling at my wife for a conversation otherwise it’s a great place to dine in the lower east side. Style, ambiance, decor, good food, great beautiful people watching at its max for a Saturday night date night. Enjoy!!!🍽🍽🍽🍸🍸🍸

Booked for my birthday meal as wanted something special. Really cool vibe, excellent service and food so tasty. We opted for tacos and shrimps between 3 of us and then burgers afterwards. There was so much food that we couldn't finish but is tasted so good. Our meal came to $160 which I thought was pretty good and our waitress was so attentive. Our son has a nut allergy and she really was thorough. Also loved the music. Place has such a good feel to it. My Son said it was his favorite.

What a treat! Food was absolutely amazing. We partically loved the Chicken Meatballs (THE SAUCE), the mini French Dips (so flavorful) and the Mushroom ravioli (delecate and delicious). My dessert was so stunning and delicious with it's cherry center of this Entremet like dessert. Ambiance was so fun and very New York. Would recommend looking at the menu ahead of time as the lighting for older eyes is a challenge!

If you are in New York, you must try this restaurant. It was a great experience to visit a restaurant hidden behind a pawn-brokers shop. This is the best restaurant that I have ever visited, the Steak Wellington was amazing and the desert (mini donuts) was delicious.

The music is fantastic! Would love to get the playlist. The drinks and food is beyond horrible! As the usual “wanna be” NY restaurant they make you wait at the bar for 25 min, to help you increase the amount of your check lol. I ordered a glass of Rose and my friend ordered a bourbon/scotch cocktail. My wine came in a disgustingly dirty, wet wine glass. At the least, have the decency to wipe the glass down before pouring wine & serving it. They don’t even do that at dive bars! I asked for my glass to be changed, they did. This time it only came with a finger print design lol. We sat down at the table, ordered tuna tacos ( quite obviously frozen tuna yuch) and wild mushroom toast ( totally tasteless), chicken meatballs ( had better at cheap diners) and spaghettini. Which was ok, edible. A table of 2 next to us finished eating and the table was set for the next couple. The manager actually set the table. The drinking glasses set were all wet and dirty. My friend & I were disgusted. Obviously we did not order any more drinks since the ones we had at the bar. We kept checking the silverware to see the level of cleanliness but it was too dark to see that. I used to frequent the restaurant years ago when it initially opened. It was sensational then. Now it’s for very foolish young tourists who wouldn’t know any better then go & say they’ve been! I’d say in NYC there are so many incredible restaurants, with a fabulous scene, great food, impeccable service, so why throw your money out on this junk? This place is absurd!

Firstly greeted by a very unhelpful waitress, failed to take my coat, felt she was not to keen On me from the start. shown to a squeezed in table between two other couples, may as well been a table for 6 we were that close. Clearly our table should not of been there as there was no gap between my chair and the lady behind me. I was constantly being knocked every time walked between us. I asked the waitress if there was another table available and sharply got a no. I found the manager and he was great, moved us straight away to a lovely table and 2 complimentary glasses of fizz. We then had a Great friendly waitress who made the rest of the evening very enjoyable. Great recommendations from her, the kale salad was amazing and the shrimp. Don’t recommend the beef wellington or lamb chops, they let the meal down as other items were very tasty. Peanut butter 🍭 for desert a must. The overall night was good, it’s a shame trip advisor review goes average to very good as this would of been marked as good not average

When we visit Manhattan from Ireland, I always make a booking for Beauty & Essex. This is our 3rd visit so far, having been in previous years on Christmas Day and for Birthday celebrations. Its always busy, and maybe a bit overwhelming on arrival, as there is a real buzz about the place. What surprises mostly is that given how busy it is, the service never falters. Its always professional, friendly, attentive, and you never feel bustle impacts on your dining experience. Great cocktails, and dishes to set your taste buds racing.

Interesting space hidden at the back of a ‘pawn shop’ , friendly service and top quality food across the menu Try the tuna tacos and the dumplings as starters and then the tuna or salmon or butter chicken for the main Solid wine list too

The general atmosphere was good but unfortunately the food and service did not hit the mark. I had been recommended by a couple of people so was expecting more.

Great food, great setting and made our thanksgiving! We came here on Thanksgiving and had the tasting menu, the food was brilliant, service was quick and the setting was really nice. We will come back here again!

Very, very cool vibe and decor. Great for date or even with teens and family. Awesome cocktails and mocktails. Amazing kale salad and salmon. Will be back!

Great menu choices, with superb service would recommend to all. If you are visiting NYC LES like we were then entering what looks like a shop into a beautiful house with a superb bar, restaurant and club experience.

What a beautiful place and fantastic food and ambience. From dinner we went to their lounge as well. A must place to visit in the city!

We had a wonderful birthday dinner here. The place is gorgeous and the service was excellent. We had 6 small plates and 3 desserts. Our favorites were the tuna sashimi, empanadas and the tomato soup dumplings in the spoons. The donuts were good but we were too full to finish them. We loved the peanut butter pops. They brought out a cupcake with a candle for the birthday girl. Nice place for a special meal.

Last week we went to Beauty and Essex and got more than disappointed! The "hyped" food was just average, chicken meat balls tasting like plastic or burnt green peppers were definitely not worth the money... The staff was really arrogant, not caring at all. 3 hours after our dinner I started throwing up and could not stop until the next morning! My husband did also not feel well the whole night. When I informed the restaurant about the circumstances, they never responded... We would never ever go back and pay that amount of money! There are definitely much better choices in the Lower East Side!

Behind the door of the guitar shop you find the east side restaurant With high ambitions and little to support it All dishes was under par and when the sticker stil is left on the lemon served With your oysters it may be time to search for New management behind the scenes Avoid

Great vibe and music. Seated promptly & enjoyed the food. Some staff (bathroom champagne lady!) needs to cheer up!