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All Reader Reviews of...
Woo Lae Oak
148 Mercer St., New York, NY, 10012
nr. Prince St.
212-925-8200
| 7.8 | "Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
Coming back to life
originaloister from 10012 | Posted on 5/13/09
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Woo Lae Oak went through it's share of rough times with their inconsistency and their long waits. But they have really come back with a bang. The food is better than ever, the staff seems to be much more attentive and helpful and the atmosphere is much more relaxed. Whatever they did to change has certainly paid off. I have once again become a woo lae oak craver...
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Perfect for a romantic evening
CynicalSunshine5 from 11375 | Posted on 2/27/09
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Woo Lae Oak offers all the ambiance and privacy you look for when making reservations "for two". The menu offers a wide selection and the BBQ options alow for an upscale, yet playful evening. I would recommend it for anyone.
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So worth it...
jchoi2106 from 10006 | Posted on 1/14/09
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I was a little reluctant to try this place especially on a Friday night but I couldn't have been more wrong about this restaurant. Once I got there we were seated within 10 min of our reservation and were greeted by a, well, gorgeous waiter (some of the rumors are true!!). The food was like nothing else in the city (I should know, I'm Korean) and I will definitely be going back soon.
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thumbs down on service, thumbs in the middle on food
olive_ruth from 10003 | Posted on 3/22/07
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Service was terrible! None of our food came at the same time--it was at least 10 minutes between the first and last appetizer arriving at the table. When food did arrive, it was given to the wrong person at least half of the time. The worst: our server delivered a meat-ful dish to a vegetarian guest, and when asked if this was in fact the vegetarian pancake, gave us his self-assured confirmation that it was... only for mild inspection on our part to reveal that the dish was in fact a meat pancake meant for someone else. The food was mediocre on the whole and definitely not worth the price, considering all the cheap and delicious Korean restaurants in the city.
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Poser Korean
pennycilin from 10016 | Posted on 1/11/07
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Our first vist was okay, I didn't like paying so much for Korean food but obviously here you're paying for decor and Soho location. During our second visit, a large drink bill was added to our bill, which we overlooked as a mistake, but noted very slow service. We went back recently for a birthday dinner and had a terrible time. Snobby hostess. The waiters were nowhere to be found. They brought one bowl of rice for 7 people (rice is served with the entree--standard in ALL Korean restaurants). One guest ordered a green tea which didn't come out until asked for 3 times. If you want good service and good korean food, stick with Koreatown (around 32nd street and 6th ave). You should not be paying 3-4 times the price for disappointing overall experience.
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A bang every time
Graciefully_Me | Posted on 4/25/05
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Korean bbq can be a tedious task, but at Woo Lae Oak, you almost forget that you'll leave smelling like cooked fat and smoke. The meat is succulent, and tasty. Everything just works. Loud and boisterous, sometimes the waitstaff seems flustered or distracted, but overall, a wonderful place to pre-game before hitting a club or two or three. Oh, that is if you manage to get seated...
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Love it!
Aram | Posted on 12/22/04
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Very nice place to speed time with friends have fun , very nice food, my frinds were having a lot of fun to cook on the midle of the table! B.E.S.T.
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Not worth the prices ...
jillybean | Posted on 8/25/03
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Don't get me wrong -- it's beautiful. But I don't go to Korean restaurants for the view, I go for the food and the value. While the food is quite good, it's no better than any neighborhood Korean place and the prices are outrageous. A Saturday lunch for two with a drink a piece, and two appetizers each ran nearly $100 with tip -- waaaay to much! Slow service didn't add to my enjoyment at all. If you want pretension more than food, help yourself but for me, I'll stick to the down-to-earth Korean places with great food and reasonable prices.
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Fabulous food that never fails
sh281 from 10003 | Posted on 2/5/03
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I often go to Woo Lae Oak and take everyone who visits from out of town there. It is chic, stylish, and unlike most places in new york that are chic, it also has great food. The baby vegetables with shrimp dumplings is a must for an appetizer. I dont know how they make vegetables taste so good. Then everything we have tried, from the thinly sliced ribeye and chicken which we cook ourselves with plenty of their sauce, to the prepared dishes has been a delight. You have to want to spend an hour or two there. The service is impeccable, but it does a while to cook on the grill. The lychee martinis are sure to impress clients and dates. We always end the the chocolate desire cake. The experience is romantic if it is just me and my boyfriend side by side in one of their big booths or great fun when we bring a whole bunch of friends.
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