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All Reader Reviews of...
Momofuku Ssäm Bar
207 Second Ave., New York, NY, 10003
at 13th St.
212-254-3500
| 5.9 | "Mixed Reviews" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
Ssam old Korean, Bo-low Average Experience
VictualVoyeur from 10021 | Posted on 11/21/09
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The Bo was unimpressive given the hype, but good compared to standard Korean. At Korean spots, the table is peppered with side dishes- here, there are only four "toppings," two are kimchi, lettuce, and 12 oysters. The only delight came with the dessert, which was creative and delicious. With 7 people, we left wishing we ordered more food. Unfortunately, we weren't given the opportunity to as the service was miserable and insulting. Servers quickly came and left our table barely uttering a word. When we needed something, we had difficulty identifying the inattentive staff who blended in dress with the diners. Questions were met with smugness and unhelpful terse answers. We felt we were an unwanted burden, the food was not incredible; we're not going back.
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Wonderful
suckatash from 11238 | Posted on 10/29/09
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I went with 3 of my guy friends and we we all very happy with the experience. The show stoppers were the steamed pork buns and the duck. It was very busy but we were seated quickly and the staff was very attentive without being intrusive.
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very tasty
nesta13 from 10019 | Posted on 9/15/09
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had an amazing dinner here - loved the service and loved food would definitely go back. food is very inventive
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Why do people go here?
thekarmabums from 11235 | Posted on 8/18/09
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For $60 per person, it is very easy to have a mindblowing culinary experience in NYC - one that creates memories. Ssam is one of the most underwhelming experiences I've ever had. The food - yes it's good but you can help feeling cheated. I couldn't help but feel that the kitchen was cooking to maintain its hype, NOT leave its customers with a positive, lasting experience. The food is good, but beware the portions are very small. The ingredients are high quality, but isn't it the end result we care about? Our party felt cheated, and the meal itself felt quite soulless. Skip Ssam. Seriously.
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Ssam has lost its mojo
garbanzo from 10025 | Posted on 2/21/09
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For the first year that Chang switched from the straight ssam concept to the new menu, the restaurant really felt like it was experimenting and pushing some boundaries (along with high-quality food). Then came the accolades, which has created complacency. My last trip there was nothing special -- interesting concepts that were executed in an poor-to-average fashion (lamb tough, fish cold, everything too expensive). Meh. Don't even get me started about the Milk Bar. As a worldwide seeker of sweets, the bar blows and is a huge ego play. Going to try Ko and see if that's where the love currently is.
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As Good as the reviews
will_martin_24 from 42420 | Posted on 1/28/09
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The creativity at Ssäm bar pays off. I've never had anything that I did not find exceptional. I recommend the Brussels sprouts.
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So overrated
ilpprc from 10009 | Posted on 12/29/08
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This place has been all the rage in the past couple years but was a huge disappointment. The different food elements that supposedly come from different cultures and inspirations do not compliment each other at all. The end result tastes like exotic ingredients were randomly thrown together. Reviews say David Chang can cook meat amazingly well, but any authenticChinese or Korean restaurant (try Chinatown or Korean Town) can produce as, if not more, delicious meat dishes, without adding in unnecessary components to detract from the meat itself. To top it off, Momofuku overcharges for very small portions. Completely overrated and not worth going to.
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what's the big fuss?
2jj from 11211 | Posted on 12/3/08
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i've always loved to try new restaurants. there's nothing better than a great meal with great service, expensive or inexpensive. after hearing soo much about this place, especially ny mag, becuase i trust ny mag restaurant rating. But, 3 stars out of 5? and $-$$ out of 5?? these information got me extremly confused after trying out at momofuku ssam bar. waiters are extremly cold and not helpful what so ever. terrible music to go with the restaurant. i went with a couple of friends, we all tried the pre fix. i think the only nice dish was the buns. the rice cake?? way too oily and way too spicy to be dined alone. and the PB & J? was too much peanuts, therefore made the taste balance more salty than anything. i would NEVER go back there again, and i hate the fact ny mag rated this place 3 stars. NOT worth it. and the price?? for this kind of food? for this kind of service? never again. thanks.
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Retire the attitude, bring back the burritos and the rice bowls!
glai from 10016 | Posted on 10/21/08
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I've been here (and the noodle shop) many a time and have even had the $200 bo ssam. No doubt, that the food is great, but expensive. When you start to take off the things on the menu that were great and serve it up with a arrogant, condescending, unapologetic attitude, you really do the restaurant a disservice. My girlfriend and I were there this weekend and discovered the rice bowls had been taken off. It seriously put me in a sad state but we stuck it out and ordered the pork buns. Those are still great, but the waiter took the dishes away while we were still eating and acknowledged he did it purposely and gave us attitude when we asked for them back. I've been raving about this restaurant, but now that my favourite dishes have been removed for no reason (that was communicated to me), I won't be coming back because I just cannot take the attitude.
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Eating succulent dishes while listening to The Pixies
ecasey22 from 10028 | Posted on 8/18/08
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The value you get for this top quality of food is a bargain to say the least. Recommended dishes - hamachi sashimi, lamb entree, shrimp in watermelon broth.
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