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All Reader Reviews of...
Republic
37 Union Sq. West, New York, NY, 10003
nr. 16th St.
212-627-7172
| 6.9 | "Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
not satisfying
mchien623 from 11435 | Posted on 8/21/09
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Went with some friends on a Saturday night. It was really busy and we ended up waiting for about half an hour. We were finally seated and, I guess since it was super busy, it took a while for them to take our order. However the food did come quickly. I ordered the curried duck noodles. Although the flavor was good, the dish was more like a vegetable stir fry topped with a little bit of noodles and three small pieces of fatty duck meat. My friend had the Vietnamese Chicken Soup and that was actually pretty good. Overall I was really disappointed in my experience given the rave reviews I heard from my friends...and I will not be going back.
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waiter, there's a maggot in my soup
xdfxdfxdf from 80202 | Posted on 5/31/09
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ordered the veggie curry noodle soup noodles were hard... soup wasn't particularly tasty... but more importantly, there was a maggot in my soup. that's right, a MAGGOT. subsequently found a website which details this restaurant's shady health inspection past: http://nyc.everyblock.com/restaurant-inspections/
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Good value for money
girardasse from 11211 | Posted on 12/13/07
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Tables look like a university canteen and the staff is too busy to be attentive but can you really complain for that price? You pay for the food, which is pretty good!
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Fun Spot for Friends
teachtoday from 10037 | Posted on 7/30/07
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I love Republic and I've been there several times. The drinks and appetizers are my favorite aspects. My only gripe is wishing they were bigger. Delicious sauces and sips with tastes you've rarely tried. The entrees are very unique and I always feel like I'm eating healthy and fresh food. The "cafeteria-style" seating and noise level is to be loved or hated. I love it with a big group and for meeting new people who are randomly seated beside you. Not good for a 1st date b/c of the noise level, but great if you have nothing to say to them anyway! (Awkward blind dates) Definitely not a place for children...adult cafeteria!
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Intersting place
ch0psticks118 from 11220 | Posted on 7/3/07
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I went on a date here and the food was fantastic .. the seating was fast and the service was fast- the only thing is that they seated me and my date across each other and it was so loud.. we cant even hear each other.. when the people on our table left my date scoooched over to my side instead. the food was awesome
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The pad thai made me wanna die...
nykim23 from 11106 | Posted on 6/26/07
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I went here with a friend on a Sunday afternoon, attracted mainly by the outdoor seating. It was not worth the prime people watching local-- the tables were so close together that we were practically rubbing elbows with the couple next to us. Also, the service was ridiculously slow; my friend went to the Verizon store a couple of blocks away to pick up her broken phone and by the time she returned, I still hadn't seen a single waiter step onto the terrace. As for the food: our drinks were actually delicious-- Asian Basil Tea and some Coconut Lime drink (though mine didn't come until about a half an hour into our lunch)-- and the coconut shrimp appetizer was decent, so we were expecting good things. However, the pad thai was disgusting-- the worst meal I have ever had in New York (and how hard is it to mess up pad thai?). My friend's curried duck noodles were unusual tasting but rather bland, and nothing to write home about. Needless to say, I am never eating here again, and I don't recommend it to anyone.
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Satisfying but not electrifying
ceh from 10022 | Posted on 6/20/07
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I was surprised with the size; it looks like an open, modern eatery instead of the cramped space I was expecting. I loved the large prints on the walls which added a coffeehouse feel. I'm not a huge fan of communal tables. Food- filling, but some dishes lacked flavor and excitement. Service- unimpressive and inconsistent. Our server was helpful when deciding what to order; he provided recommendations and warnings. Payment was slow to the point of frustration (more than 15 minutes). During the meal, water service was acceptable; the glasses are small so it's difficult to keep them filled. Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere and everyone was satisfied with their food. It definitely had a trendier feel to it, and it's not for the hard of hearing or intimate heart-to-hearts. If you're looking in Union Square for decent food at inexpensive prices, and you don't mind possibly sharing space with strangers, this place is a good idea.
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Love the seared salmon
Mellychops from 11212 | Posted on 1/31/07
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The salmon in itself is good not great. However, everything else (curry rice w/ raisins and carrot slices) put it over the top for me. The melody of flavors going on in this dish is very pleasant. It's a matter of bang for the buck and Republic has the bang.
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Loud, Cheap and LOUSY!!!
Sugakane from 11215 | Posted on 9/23/06
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Republic’s atmosphere is about as conducive to dining as the subway at rush hour is to taking a nap. The food is a notch or two below franchises like Lemongrass. Republic’s Pad Thai, loved by the New York Magazine food critic, was mediocre but it is cheap. However cheap isn’t enough to make the atmosphere any more tolerable. It’s loud, somebody growls on the P.A. constantly, the benches hurt and they put the next party at your table with you so you can’t even shout over the constant din without helping to ruin someone else’s meal. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. Or get take-out from Lemongrass and eat it on the 4 train.
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Mmm...tasty
Adabella | Posted on 1/11/06
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I can't stay away from Republic, it calls my name. I just moved into the city recently, but I had been there a couple times before, when I was just visiting. Try their shrimp appetizer--amazing! Also, they have fabulous drinks. A bit noisy, but if you're young and like to have fun, why not? Sure you could end up next to a loud-mouthed idiot, or--next to an awesome couple who you end up having drinks WITH...later on...try it, at least!!
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