Wild Ginger 380 Broome Street
(between Mott Street and Mulberry Street)
NoLIta, Manhattan
212-966-1883
112 Smith Street
(between Dean Street and Pacific Street)
Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
718-858-3880
Vegiboys Rating (3.5/4)
Wild Ginger is quite simply a pleasant experience in every way. I had been caught in a rainstorm en route to the restaurant, and so entered feeling harried and uncomfortably wet. After quick change of my shirt in the restroom, we sat down at our table, and the restaurant immediately worked a calming effect on my psyche.
To drink, Brian requested a Wild Ginger Ale, and I had a Thai-iced tea (Wild Ginger has a number of Thai offerings, but should be more broadly classified as offering Asian cuisine; dishes vary from Thai to Chinese to Korean-inspired).
Brian’s General Tsao’s chicken were delicious breaded medallions of soy protein over rice and steamed broccoli. The sauce had a bit of heat to it, but this was tempered by the rice. The medallions were crisp, tender inside, and very well-flavored. The plate gave a very substantial portion, with enough to make for a lunch the next day.
I chose the Bi-bim Bap, a bowl of coconut-rice with a variety of ingredients arrayed on top (seitan, avocado, seaweed, chickpeas, spinach making up the more savory elements, and mango and kimchee giving some sweetness to the blend). A sesame soy sauce and a spicy kimchee sauce were available on the side to mix with the dish, both of which created very different flavorings to the raw material in the bowl.
We went with a seasonal dessert: the pumpkin cheese cake, which was very good, if not overly pumpkin-flavored. Though hard to finish after the immense quantities of food to come before, we managed to work through it all.
At $31 each, Wild Ginger provides an excellent value for the wonderfully comfortable atmosphere, strong service, and solidly delicious dishes with significant portions. Already in the Rolodex for many of the city’s vegetarians, consider this a must-visit for any vegetarian living in the city, and well worth a visit from anyone visiting. Wild Ginger also has an outpost in Brooklyn at Smith Street for those seeking an outer-borough location with similar strengths.
Restaurant Review: Wild Ginger
380 Broome Street
(between Mott Street and Mulberry Street)
NoLIta, Manhattan
212-966-1883
112 Smith Street
(between Dean Street and Pacific Street)
Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
718-858-3880
Vegiboys Rating (3.5/4)
It’s a nicely decorated dining room; medium-sized with lightly colored wood accents to the décor with lighting appropriate for the gamut of dusk activities, from a romantic dinner to drinks with coworkers. The service is perfect; a well-blended combination of personable of professional. The acoustics make conversation easy for a table without voices carrying throughout the dining room.
To drink, Brian requested a Wild Ginger Ale, and I had a Thai-iced tea (Wild Ginger has a number of Thai offerings, but should be more broadly classified as offering Asian cuisine; dishes vary from Thai to Chinese to Korean-inspired).
For appetizers, the seitan skewers were delicious: tender seitan, onions, bell peppers; all grilled in a satay sauce that was flavorful while letting the grilled tastes come through as well. We also had a pumpkin soup appetizer as part of my entrée: delicious, seasonal, and very welcome after my rain-soaked entrance.
I chose the Bi-bim Bap, a bowl of coconut-rice with a variety of ingredients arrayed on top (seitan, avocado, seaweed, chickpeas, spinach making up the more savory elements, and mango and kimchee giving some sweetness to the blend). A sesame soy sauce and a spicy kimchee sauce were available on the side to mix with the dish, both of which created very different flavorings to the raw material in the bowl.
We went with a seasonal dessert: the pumpkin cheese cake, which was very good, if not overly pumpkin-flavored. Though hard to finish after the immense quantities of food to come before, we managed to work through it all.
At $31 each, Wild Ginger provides an excellent value for the wonderfully comfortable atmosphere, strong service, and solidly delicious dishes with significant portions. Already in the Rolodex for many of the city’s vegetarians, consider this a must-visit for any vegetarian living in the city, and well worth a visit from anyone visiting. Wild Ginger also has an outpost in Brooklyn at Smith Street for those seeking an outer-borough location with similar strengths.
(3.5/4)