Louie and Chan

Pros
–Cozy intimate space.
–Unique cocktails.
–Uni pasta!
–303 Lounge is right downstairs.
Cons
–I would not recommend this place for big groups.
–Small cocktail list.
–Slow service.
Tips
–Make a reservation.
–Expect to spend about $ 85 pp.
–Check out 303 Lounge (downstairs).

I came here tonight for the prohibition-​era 35 cents cocktails with two of my friends.
One of them doesn’t drink alcohol and was planning to grab dinner. We arrived ten minutes before 7 and the hostess told us that the special was offered at the downstairs lounge and that they didn’t offer food until after 8 pm but if we were to have dinner at the restaurant, we could also get the cocktail special. We were fine with that.
She also told us that we needed to be done by 8:30 because there were reservations at that time. We said it was fine because we were just going to eat something light.
We ordered the octopus, lamb meatballs and pasta. Of course, we ordered the 35 cents drinks. I was hesitant at first about this place for food but everything we ordered was delicious.
Just as soon as we finished our meals and our second cocktails, the manager (I assume he was) brought us the check. We checked the time and it was only 7:40 and agreed that we could have one last cocktail before calling it a night. We asked our waitress if we could have another round. She was nice and took the check back with our order.
The manager came back and told us that we needed to move to the bar because there were people waiting for the table. Now, I understand how businesses work and can say that the way he handled the situation was very rude. There were also two other empty tables available at the time. I could tell the waitress was also shocked to see us moving to the bar area.
We finished the drinks with a sour mood and with the firm decision of never coming back.
The specials are a nice way to hook new customers but if the servers/​managers don’t make them feel welcomed then they will never get loyal customers.

My girlfriends and I had dinner here and were thoroughly impressed. It’s cozy but not crammed. The night we went it was full which made me feel good — they must know what they are doing right? Our waitress was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and always checking up with us to see if we needed anything. Food arrived in a timely manner and was creative and delicious. To start we had the Spinaca pizza — cheesy, chewy & crunchy dough, spinach, and chiles. Mmmmm. For my main entrée I had the Lasagnette — a deconstructed lasagna with duck confit, fontina, and mushrooms. Rich and satisfying. My one gf had the Spatzle — dumplings with pancetta, parsnips, and ricotta. And my other gf had the Fusilli alla Caprese — pasta, mozzarella, and tomato.
We also ordered the Peperoncini for the table as a side. It was just the right amount of spice.
Even though stuffed we couldn’t resist dessert — so out came the Zeppoles (I mean this is Italian so you kinda have to), & the Nutella Brownie. We liked the Zeppoles better — hot, fresh, and gooey with marscapone inside.
After dinner we checked out the lounge on the bottom floor. That’s the only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars. While it was cool, dark, and different areas to chill in the music was not great. Reminded me of a club from the late 90s at 4 in the morning playing trance over and over.
Overall, go for the food. Bring a date or close friends. It’s a gem.

Cozy place in LES near Chinatown, great for an intimate dinner with friends or significant other. The uni pasta is AMAZING. Slightly spicy, but also creamy and rich. Cocktails are delicious and there’s a full bar. Italian+Asian fusion can be hit or miss, and Louie and Chan hits it out of the park. I could take or leave the flatbreads, but apps and entrees are definitely worth it. Recommend it if you’re ever in the area.

Venue #1 for the «Fab Four» tryouts (I didn’t make the name) commenced here. And what a night was it was… and all in the span of precisely one hour. The whispers of the (kinda) secret Prohibition happy hour reached our ears and our group of four strong resolved to tempt fate and see if our newly minted (and NYE battle tested) 2016 livers could sustain more damage, but not to the point that we were rent asunder (both in body and mind).
As the first in the group to arrive (as well as the first in line that night… it was the coldest day of the 2015 – 2016 winter to date, so perhaps that scared a few potential patrons from coming out that night), I positioned myself by the basement door outisde just as the top hatted doorman was bringing out the velvet rope. «Cold night, huh?» he said… «That’s why I’m grabbing a drink; it warms you up; science reason,» was my good natured smart@ss reply.
For those whose ears are virgins to the «Prohibition» happy hour at this joint, the name of the game is cheap drinks. And by cheap, I mean (alleged) Prohibition era prices. At .35¢ per cocktail, it was as clear as the eye of a storm that the honesty of the doorman was type solemn when he expressed that a normal person could easily get drunk, in an hour, with only $ 3 that night.
What the doorman neglected to mention was that many of the service staff (as well as a few of the patrons that night), would be sporting full 1920s regalia; flappers with boa scarves and feather headbands, zoot suits with shiny shoes, and a brass big band” were just a few of the sightings (while I still had my sight) that this particular writer had the pleasure of seeing.
So, what were the drinks of choice on such an auspicious endeavor of a night??? I couldn’t tell you what I drank. Truth of the matter is, there is but one specialty drink served up per Prohibition happy hour night; made in large quantities and in the 1920s bathtub gin format (complete speculation on the part of yours truly), all I can say is that this particular night’s offering was both tastily sweet and blindingly boozey. Perhaps it was too ambitious an undertaking of the «Fab Four» to have one drink per 15 minutes… but as the unofficial leader of the group, I strove to set a good example by having five by the end of the hour; the rest of the team did me proud by consuming the requisite four.
What happened after all of this? Who knows… foggy-​like mental state on my end. All I know is that it was a good time, and that you should get going while the going is still semi-​secret (no thanks to this review).

This is actually a review for the 303 Lounge downstairs. There’s a cover charge after midnight and mandatory coat check, which is kinda lame. Not a lot of seating, but there is a cool nook with taxidermy on display and stuff. The busboys are a bit overzealous though, constantly trying to take away your drinks because they think you’re done with them. I guess because a ton of people just leave their glasses on the wood table on their way out. The dance floor inside isn’t the largest and can get crowded, but they play good music. The bar inside isn’t as robust as the one by the entrance for obvious reasons. If you want a cocktail, go to the front bar. If you just want a bottled beer to dance with, go to the inside bar. Not much more to say, really.

Came in on Tuesday night for their 35 cent drinks. This speakeasy did a fantastic job with the theme. The bouncers were dressed up, there was a live band playing and even a burlesque dancer. It’s a pretty small space underground and a bit tricky to find. We almost walked into the restaurant next door, but the nice gentlemen pointed us to the right place.
Apparently every Tuesday from 7−8pm there is a drink of the night for only 35 cents. When we went, it was the bourbon sour. It was really strong for such a great deal. We ended up tipping more than paying for the actual drinks.
This speakeasy definitely ranks at the top. It is so rare to find a live band playing in most bars. It wasn’t too crowded early in the evening but more people were filing in closer to 8.
The place is cozy so most people will end up standing. There are a few couches along the wall, but very few tables.

12 people at the bar.
20 minutes to get a drink.
Bartender subbed a cheaper gin than was listed on the cocktail menu.
Closing out took at least 10 minutes.
Not entirely the bartender’s fault. A Friday night with drinks being served out to seated guests might call for two people behind the bar.
Still, not a fan.

One of my favorite things to do in Manhattan is find a new speak easy to check out. Recently, me and Alec came here because he found out about Louie and Chan in an article and about their Prohibition themed parties.
Patrons are encouraged to dress the part, and many do! It’s like a trip to the past, and it’s full of glitz, booze, jazz and dance. For the one hour of the special, make sure you arrive a little early because there will be a line outside. Although the happy hour for Tuesdays only includes one type of drink, it’s still a great experience! The service is pretty good, and if the line at the bar gets too long, they also have servers coming around with trays of the drink ready for your purchase. We enjoyed watching the burlesque dancer and listening to the live jazz music. It was a really great and fun experience! Make sure you bring cash!
Overall, Alec and I had a splendid time! We loved the ambiance, drink and music. We will be back again soon!

I feel like I’m being a complete snitch… but the $.35 happy hour is ridiculous. It. Makes. No. Sense.
I am legit lit (like a Christmas tree) off of 2 drinks during this promotion. It’s insane. If you get the chance to partake in this amazing madness, DO SO.
The liquor apparently rotates weekly. Its not well liquor at all. There is always a brand liquor company that’s sponsoring the evening. It’s classy, not trashy at all.
An absolutely amazing find in the city.

Came for 35 cent drinks on Tuesday night (7−8PM). There was a decent line outside: the wait was around 20 – 25 minutes, but the management was great and promised everyone on line would get in.
The atmosphere at Louie and Chan is amazing. I felt as if I had been transported back to the roaring twenties. The bar has a speakeasy vibe equipped with a live jazz band and a burlesque dancer. The place was extremely crowded at first with no seating, but more seats opened up closer to 8.
The drink itself was nothing special. It was so strong that I barely drank it (that’s probably their strategy with 35 cent drinks right)? I don’t necessarily think you have to come on Tuesday. I’d rather pay more for a better drink.

We wanted to try a restaurant in our neighborhood and stumbled upon Louie & Chan by accident via OpenTable. We found it quite amusing as the restaurant is inspired by Little Italy and Chinatown as my boyfriend is actually Chinese Italian. Any time I hear any semblance of «Asian Fusion,» we steer so clear (e.g., foie gras dumplings with kimchi? No thank you).
We didn’t have high expectations for the food, but thought it would be a quick, easy dinner after Carnegie. However, we were so taken aback by how plentiful and delicious the food was. My favourite were (1) The Uni Tagliatelle — just wowowowow. Did you know that my food was so appealing that the girl next to me who was finishing dessert asked me if she could take a picture of my food? and (2) The Bone Marrow — full of flavor and body.
The service was great but lackluster at times. Water glasses rarely re-​filled — however, they do let you take your time and enjoy your meal without the obnoxious «HOW’S EVERYTHING» drop-​in every 10 minutes.
We did dine later than normal (10:30PM seating) which may have attributed to the fact that management seemed very preoccupied with what was occurring in the 303 Lounge below, verses prioritizing their restaurant services. Our exit was not the most pleasant and quite abrupt, but I guess one could expect such curtness when the restaurant sheds its restaurant appeal to be a lounge for the night. Still, some courteousness would go a long way.

After reading again and again what a hidden gem Louie and Chan was, I suggested to my bestie to join me for their brunch menu.
Honestly — the food + the entire experience was one of the most forgettable, least appealing meals I’ve had in the city.
For ~$ 20, I received two medium sized baked eggs in Marinara sauce served with ONE piece of burnt toast. After examining and realizing how inedible the toast was, I asked my server if I could have more bread. He annoyingly responded that that bread service was not available for brunch. Before I could show him how burnt my toast was, he hurriedly went to serve another table instead.
My bestie’s blue crab omelette was fine but nothing to write home about. Price wasn’t cheap — two brunch entrees added up to almost $ 50! Felt somewhat cheated especially for the quality we received. Perhaps their drinks and dinner menu are more impressive but we won’t be back to confirm.

Came here for drinks with my friends on a Tuesday night for happy hour. 35 cent drinks. What a deal! The cocktails were actually pretty good.
Started lining up around 6:30ish. Luckily we were able to get seats. My friend came here the other night and the waitress recognized her when we came in and she got us seats. That was really nice of her. She was really attentive, stopped by our table couple times to ask if we needed anything and also gave us some free drinks.

35 cent cocktails every Tuesday 7−8pm, YAS I’M SO THERE.
The restaurant is very swanky and I loved the prohibition vibe to it. It is a small space and we had to pack a party of nine in the corner right in front of the wash room. We were initially there just for drinks but opted out to sit down at a table to get food as well. No ragrets: the pasta was amazing. The arrabiata pasta with lobster and shrimp was phenomenal. The first bite surprised me: it was enticingly spicy. There were decent chunks of lobster and shrimp, and the spaghetti was tender and chewy.
I believe the cocktail of the night during their cocktail special changes. That night they were making margaritas. In an hour, we were able to secure three rounds and we were quite pleased.
This was a great find and be a nice spot for a date night-​especially on Tuesdays! I would love to back and try that uni pasta.

So I’d like to give this place 4-​thumbs up — 2 for dinner and another 2 for their Prohibition happy hour and a special shout out to our lovely waitress, Marcella! A group of 5 of us came in for dinner on a Friday night and we were very impressed. We ordered a bottle of red for the table and our waitress, Marcella was very helpful and accommodating with wine and food recommendations. Some highlights of the night include: Tagliatelle Ricci (sea urchin pasta) — this was an interesting concept and I had to try it out for myself — beautiful presentation with a taste to match — I almost put in a second order! Burrata — super creamy and delicious served with sourdough bread; Tartufata pizza — I’m not always a big fan of mushroom, but this pizza… I’m drooling just thinking about it and all its truffle goodness. We walked out of there extremely stuffed.
Came back Tuesday night for their Prohibition happy hour (7pm-​8pm), which offered a specialty cocktail of the week for only 35 cents! You know I could not resist that price. And who did we run into? Marcella! And she recognized us :). She found us some seats and served us our drinks — excellent service all around. We arrived around 6:30pm and there was already a line outside the restaurant. During the happy hour, the crowds flowed in and out and we were glad we had a spot as it did get packed. The servers were dressed for the part and there was a band to transport us back to the 1920s. Later in the night, we also got a show from a burlesque tap dancer. Will definitely be back!

Louie and Chan is truly a hidden gem and one of the better restaurants I’ve tried in such a long time. There’s a lot of things I normally don’t like, but Louie and Chan really puts a spin to them and made it very enjoyable. I’d definitely recommend it for a date or a fun girls night out like we did. Their Halloween decorations were very cute, but the dummy at the bathroom really gave me a scare and some chuckles whenever someone jumped opening the bathroom door. The best part of our night was our waitress. She was so spunky and I dig her personality. Love you Marcella!!!
Things we ordered for our party of 5:
1) Corvina red wine: I’m not a red wine fan, but this one was good. It’s a little bit on the lighter side and not as bold and bitter like other red wines.
2) Rosemary bread: Delicious but a bit on the salty side and the same dough they used for the pizzas.
3) Tagliere Misto (Chef’s selection of cured meat & cheese). Again, usually not a fan of cheese, but both the pasteurized cow’s milk and sheep’s milk cheese were amazingly good! The prosciutto and salami were also tasty.
4) Polipo: It’s a small portion, but the charred octopus was absolutely delicious. It’s doesn’t have that rubbery-​texture like most octopus I’ve tasted. which is a good thing.
5) Tagliatelle Ricci: Must order! Sea urchin pasta. Sea urchin and I don’t normally see eye to eye, but I scooped up every last bit of this dish. it’s very fresh and beautifully presented.
6) Burrata: Fresh Italian cheese made with mozzarella and cream. Yum!
7) Tartufata pizza: Loved the wild mushrooms, mozzarella, white truffle oil and parmigiano.
8) Stracciatella pizza: Personally, my favorite of the two pizzas and it’s very flavorful.
We loved it so much, we came back on Tuesday for their 1920 Prohibition-​Era theme party with 35¢ Happy Hour Drink Special. Marcella is so awesome! She remembered us and got us a reserved table seating area! You are the best! Till we meet again! (
)

Awesome food, great cocktail program, and a really cool bar /​space downstairs.
Food: crispy, fresh pizza with a range of distinct, flavorful ingredients, depending on which you order. Kale salad gets an A, the pastas and appetizers I’ve had are all awesome. Nothing bad.
Downstairs: a mix of a bar and space to dance. On one end, a good cocktail bar. On the other, a DJ booth positioned in front of a medium-​small dance floor, supported by top notch speakers. There is a second, more traditional bar here. DJs of various styles are here a few nights a week, and makes for a fun time.

My BF and I stumbled upon this spot after a Unilocal search; I can’t remember what he searched for, but I have a feeling we came here because we wanted a new restaurant that served dishes with uni in it :).
The ambiance of this restaurant is great, very dimly lit with candles, so a perfect date spot. Space is not super big, so groups might be a little difficult, but they do have table configurations where they can accommodate larger parties (just remember to make a reso!). We made a reservation, so we were seated very promptly. I have to give the waitress that we had MAJOR PROPS. She was really the nicest and sweetest waitress I’ve met in a while, super personable, and helpful in terms of suggestions. No bullshit when it comes to recommending items on the menu (I hate it when waitstaff basically suggest the entire menu when you ask them what’s good there).
Here’s what we ordered:
Complimentary Focaccia
*I’m pretty sure this was a rosemary focaccia bread… it was SO DELICIOUS. If we weren’t so full, I’m pretty sure we would have had more of this. It had just enough crunch on the outside, but soft on the inside, and had a nice balance of herbs in it.
Burrata | $ 18 | Burrata, house cured short-​rib pastrami, spring onions, smashed fig, saba, dark rye crostini
*I can always order a burrata, although I’ve been disappointed many times as many restaurants just serve a dull burrata with nothing special about it. The only burrata I love in the city is the one from Riverpark, but this comes as a close 2^nd! The short-​rib pastrami that came with it is delectable, so give this a try!!! There’s so many components on this, so you can make every bite different if you wanted to :).
Tagliatelle Ricci | $ 32 | House-​made tagliatelle, fresh sea urchin, spicy cucumber julienne, caviar
*This is what we came for — presentation is great, the tagliatelle comes in half of an uni shell! I kind of wish this had more uni flavor, but it was a great creamy pasta with uni and caviar on the top.
Carciofini | $ 9 | Crispy fried artichokes, parley, lemon, Parmigiano
*Pretty simple dish, deep-​fried really well, and seasoning wasn’t overpowering.
Chocolate Soup | $ 10 | Served with sea salt and olive oil, mascarpone & salted almond panino
*We ordered this because it sounded way too special for us not to see what it is. The «soup» was more like a dipping sauce, kind of like when you’re eating a churro. I’m not sure I would order this again, but I don’t regret getting it.
Drinks were also A+, hopefully i’ll be coming back here soon to try their other stuff!!!

Small, cozy restaurant that’s kind of located in a strange spot. The service was welcoming and attentive, my friend and I were actually the only ones in the restaurant so we got all the attention we needed. Very small place.
For starters I had the Granchio for $ 14 which is soft shell crab oreganata, passionfruit and lemon butter, trout roe, black chile oil. My friend had the Polipo for $ 15, charred octopus, cannelini, «sizzling» escabeche, soft herb salad, 12yr balsamic. I thought the soft shell crab was ok, I don’t think it had anything to do with the quality I just personally don’t think I’m the biggest fan. However, my friend said the charred octopus was amazing, I didn’t taste it.
For our main course we split the Margherita D.O.P Pie for $ 16. It was a small pie, 4 slices, which was perfect for us 2 girls. The pizza was alright, nothing too special but not bad by any means.
Overall the experience was very average. It didn’t really move me one way or the other. I have to say I didn’t really care for the menu that much, it was somewhat small and lacking. If you’re coming here, keep in mind its mainly a salad/​pizza/​pasta place, no real main dishes.
If you’re in the area and need a spot for a quick dinner, Louie and Chans is a decent option. They have a full service bar as well. I would say give it a try.