Shun Lee, New York, NY (restaurant)

Name:Shun Lee
Type:restaurant
Street:43 W 65th Street
City:New York
State:NY
Zip:10023
country:USA
Phone:212-595-8895
Status:operational

Description:
I debated whether I should post this, because it has no tiki decor, although the decor is beautiful, and the only polynesian influence in the food is some typical Pu-Pu type appetizers. But, because it has the best Mai Tais I've everhad at a commercial establishment in NYC, I thought it deserved mention. The Mai Tais are very similar to Trader Vics, though maybe a slight tad sweeter. I went there because it has a reputation for excellent food and debated on getting the Mai Tai, as I have had some very bad experiences ordering those in restaurants here, but when the waiter described the ingredients, it sounded like Trader Vic's recipe. I was not disappointed.

The service is excellent, and the food is as well, though a bit pricey for chinese food. It is, though, an upscale restaurant and the experience was worth it. They also have a more casual cafe, with lighter and less expensive fare and a bar, if you don't want to pay that much for chinese food.

There is also one on the East side at 55th and 3rd, but I have not been there.

[ Edited by: Urban Tiki 2007-08-16 13:38 ]

Thanks for posting this. I can't find a decent Mai Tai in the city, besides my own. I'll check them out next week...they do have a bar, right?

This is VERY good news. I was also beginning to think that the only decent mai tai in manhattan was being made in my kitchen.

From the location, I think I have heard about this place before, but the descriptions made it sound like a local dive bar with a set of regulars who were not looking for more friends. Good to see there was none of that in the report - I could be thinking of a whole other place.

In any event, if there is a good mai tai there, well, I'm goin' in to check it out like ASAFP. Tomorrow is the weekend....

On 2007-08-16 11:09, tripower wrote:
Thanks for posting this. I can't find a decent Mai Tai in the city, besides my own. I'll check them out next week...they do have a bar, right?

Yes, they do have a bar.

On 2007-08-16 12:42, leisure master wrote:
This is VERY good news. I was also beginning to think that the only decent mai tai in manhattan was being made in my kitchen.

From the location, I think I have heard about this place before, but the descriptions made it sound like a local dive bar with a set of regulars who were not looking for more friends. Good to see there was none of that in the report - I could be thinking of a whole other place.

In any event, if there is a good mai tai there, well, I'm goin' in to check it out like ASAFP. Tomorrow is the weekend....

It's definitely no dive. I should have included links to the website, there's a gallery of pictures, so you can check out the decor.

The west side Shun Lee: http://www.shunleewest.com/index2.htm

The East Side: http://shunleepalace.lanteck.net/index2.htm

Also, I had to correct the address, it's 65th Street, not 56th.

Cheers,
Ray

[ Edited by: Urban Tiki 2007-08-16 13:39 ]

4's a party! We can have an official Shun Lee Mai Tai tasting night! When?

Hey, thanks for posting this: I've always thought the food at Shun Lee's was excellent, but I've always been Mai Tai-shy (one too many bad ones). Hmmm...

On 2007-08-16 14:34, Tiki Kollektor wrote:
4's a party! We can have an official Shun Lee Mai Tai tasting night! When?

It would be great to have a TC Mai Tai gathering! I'm up for it any night next week- how about Thursday? If we can find a good day, I'll post something in Events.

What a great idea - next Thursday sounds good. Maybe around 6 or so for a little social lubricant and food? Anyone else going up to MA for the NE Tiki Tour the next day?

Best Mai Tai I've had in NYC was at Milk & Honey. In fact, ALL the cocktails there were pretty amazing. All juice fresh squeezed, quiet atmosphere, but impossible to find. No tiki whatsoever, but kind of a hipster lounge atmosphere.

Worth a look.

Oh, and bring one of these Mai Tais to the NETT for me to try! Strain the ice & throw it in a thermos! :D

Wow!! The Mai Tais are that great huh? I'll have to go there this weekend and check it out.

Went here tonight, actually to the East Side location, Shun Lee Palace. For an un-Tiki place it was pretty festive looking. Definitely on the upscale side, but a nice break from the regular low-rent Chinatown type restaurants. I had the Mai Tai which was served in a Hurricane glass. Even though I thought it was actually very good, it tasted more like the Mai Tais they serve at Chan's Dragon Inn, not so much liek a Trader Vic Mai Tai, but I guess it's all personal taste. I'm not sure exactly what they put in it as far as Rum goes, but I think they may have put some brand of 151 Rum in there because it knocked me for a f*cking loop! I mean I got freakishly sauced without even finishing my first one. I'm guessing it was because I hadn't eaten anything for probably six hours, and also because I slurped down the first half of it pretty quickly. I'm not usually a light weight and I've had cocktails under those circumstances before and nothing happened but this time..Damn! It was a strong drink. Once I regained my composure and the food came I had another, but wow that was crazy.