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This venue is closed.

At the northern end of the Theater District, on an unexceptional block lined with trucks and garbage bags, and surrounded by a host of serviceable eateries, lies bluechili, an inconspicuous, futuristic retreat. Shifting shades of neon light permeate the earth-toned, slightly subterranean pan-Asian restaurant and bar. Yellow- and mango-colored tulips adorn the lucite tabletops and techno throbs on weeknights. Whatever the evening, the restaurant is rarely full and its clientele makes a motley crew: fashionista friends, after-work suits, tourists, theater-goers, and even solo diners. Fittingly, the dishes are as varied as the patrons, with Malaysian, Thai, Japanese, and, to a lesser extent, Chinese cuisines well represented. Seafood dominates the menu, from sushi and sashimi to delectable grilled Chilean sea bass, the top slathered with thick ginger sauce and the inside moist and tender. Portions are generous and presented with flair. Not to be outdone, the fully stocked bar whips up stellar, Asian-influenced martinis flavored with ingredients like plum sake, lychee, and ginger. bluechili winds down early, so it’s best treated as a casual, funky spot for grabbing a reasonably priced, first-rate dinner or drink before heading out to the main event. — Kate Appleton