Fodor's Expert Review Buddakan

Few—if any—restaurants in Manhattan rival the 16,000-square-foot Buddakan in terms of sheer magnitude and buoyant theatricality. Restaurateur Stephen Starr outdid himself with this New York version of his Philadelphia original: the upstairs bar is a great end-of-day meet-up spot for pert cocktails; the vast downstairs is like a dining hall in a medieval castle, complete with a communal table, and perfect for lush pan-Asian fare. The kitchen prepares ethereal tuna tartare spring rolls in a crisp fried shell, while edamame dumplings are light and delicate. The menu is large, made up of Asian specialties like black-pepper beef, glazed black cod, and sizzling short ribs served with tender, wide noodles. Considering the droves of patrons, service is surprisingly attentive.