Best Family Style Restaurants in Lower East Side

Hawksmoor can be a little frenetic and noisy at dinner — nothing wrong with that! And the bar area is always quieter. But for the main dining room, I prefer going for lunch. They have a $25 lunch special that includes their famous rump steak and a side, but I went for the $45 option. I got the beet salad in a yogurt dressing, which was delicious, and the rump steak with fries (chips) and side salad. The steak was nicely charred on the outside and pink in the middle — a tad salty, but still quite tasty. And of course I got the Hawksmoor Martini, with Ford's Gin, which was served ice cold with olives on the side. A hell of an accompaniment! The room is beautiful and the service was friendly and efficient. I'd recommend the company too, but I'm not sure my dining companion would want to go here with everyone who reads this.

Italian family style restaurant, very large dishes - we ordered 1 dish for 4. Delicious food with a cozy atmosphere. Polite service, a little bit slow, but in Italy is much more slower. Great place! Would absolutely return.

All around wonderful experience. We had a reservation at 8:00 but found our schedule changed a bit and we hoped to eat earlier. We stopped by the restaurant at 6:30 to see if they could seat us sooner, and they prepared a table for us right away. At the same time, I heard another guest ask the host how soon they could be seated without a reservation, and she was told the wait was 90 minutes! We felt like VIPs! The service, the food, and the ambience were all incredible. Our water glasses were never empty. Our food was delivered in the ideal time. Everything was delicious. We love the family-style menu that let all of us share and taste several entrees. The Caesar salad was one of the best I’ve had. We look forward to returning!

We felt instantly transported by the whimsical pawn shop storefront that conceals the exquisite restaurant hidden behind a door at the back. The eclectic items in the shop are all for sale, adding a playful and unique element to the dining experience. Upon entering the restaurant, we were welcomed by vaulted ceilings, brass accents, and a moody, stylish bar that set the tone for the space. We were seated near the front and warmly greeted by an attentive waiter. For brunch, our party ordered a variety of dishes: my son enjoyed the decadent velvet waffles, my mother-in-law savored the Shakshuka eggs, my wife relished the ribs, and I indulged in the skirt steak and eggs. Each dish was perfectly seasoned and eagerly devoured. The ambiance added to the experience—a lively yet relaxed Sunday crowd created a pleasant hum of conversation that filled the spacious room without being overpowering. We had no trouble hearing one another and appreciated the balance of energy and comfort. Overall, the experience was delightful from start to finish, and we left already planning our next visit to this hidden gem.

BONDST was one of the most incredible meals I've ever had. I had two of the Shishito Pepper Margaritas which had the perfect spice level. They were so good. I split with my daughter the Wagyu Carpaccio, Toro Tartare with Caviar, Seared Salmon sushi roll, Spicy Tuna sushi roll, Tuna Tarts, Spicy Shrimp, and the Hot Scallop dish. Seriously incredible. Found out the next day that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were eating there at the same time too!!! Such a cool spot. The vibes were immaculate and the food was absolutely incredible.