WAKIYA.

I'll be the first to admit that Chinese food in NYC is pathetic. Its amazing that in a city like New York, one cannot get some decent Chinese that won't punish you on the toilet the following day. Those who don't agree with me need to go to Toronto, Vancouver, China, London, HK or Tokyo. All have havens for the perfection of Chinese cuisine. NY definitely has a void to fill. Enter: Wakiya.
Ian Schrager and his overhyped Gramercy Park Hotel recently opened his answer to this void.
He missed.
Forget the ornate decor and the staff with the attitude...operating a restaurant should have some pretty solid principals: If you're gonna charge $30 for a plate of beef, $12 for a bowl of soup, and $36 for 4 slices of Peking Duck...it should either A) blow me away in the taste buds department or B) be so huge that I am rolled out on a stretcher. It was neither. Small portions of uninteresting dishes.
Oddly enough, the best part was the desert. If you want to go, I would suggest getting the Wagyu beef dish and the desert and thats it. The waitress will tell you the dishes are served "family style" but that's complete bullshit unless you're a family of anorexics.


Lots of theatrics. Little left on the actual plate.
For now, Chinatown Brasserie is my choice, by default.