Shun Lee Cafe

Shun Lee Cafe reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. P

   Peter

   New York City20 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on 14 February 2025

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   Shun Lee Cafe was not opened when we arrived for our reservation. Instead we dined at Shun Lee West which is adjacent and more expensive. Everything was fine but I find it kind of annoying that Open Table allowed us to book a restaurant that was not opened. Had I known we would be spending so much for an average dinner we would have planned on somewhere else.
   

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2. A

   Andrea VIP

   New York City4 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on 25 January 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   Given that Shun Lee Cafe was almost empty of customers when we arrived at 6:15 pm, it is almost inconceivable that the tables around us were not cleaned, and that 2 of us didn't get our food until we had been there for an hour. The third person got her food at an hour and fifteen minutes after we arrived. The food was mediocre - very old style Chinese American cuisine, at prices that were about 2-3 times what you would expect for the type of food we had. We went there because it was close to Lincoln Center and was an old standard. Beware - if a restaurant is the only one in the neighborhood that has reservations available prior to going to the theatre - there is a reason for that. Don't go to this restaurant.
   

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3. B

   Barbara VIP

   New York City69 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 3 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had a wonderful meal before going to the opera at the Met. The wonton soup was outstanding. I enjoyed the Moo-shoo pork and General Tso’s chicken. Our server was excellent.
   

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4. A

   Avi

   Greater Boston1 review

   3.0

   Dined on 14 December 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   This is a friendly and classic restaurant. The issue is that now we expect it to have a far more creative Chinese food that is steamed and NOT that oily. The service was 100% perfect and the place is very clean an d hospitable.
   

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5. K

   Kirsti

   New York City28 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on 13 December 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Shun Lee is always good and reliable. We go there often and love it. Cocktails are well done. Vegetable spring rolls are excellent. This time, though, one of the main dishes we ordered was not a success. The Grand Marnier Prawns were superb, as they have always been. Oddly we were first seated on the other side, not the main dining room. I asked to be seated in the main dining room, and there was plenty of room. The waiter said I had asked to be seated on this side, which was not true. In Open Table there is no place for such a choice, and I thought that that part is closed at dinner time. This was a mystery to me but resolved to everyody's satisfaction. I recommend a visit to this fun place.
   

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6. J

   Jennifer VIP

   New York City2 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on 9 December 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   I have been coming here for years but had not been for a while. It is a shadow of its former self. The service was terrible, the decor rundown and they no longer do the roaming dim sum carts which was the fun! The food is still great but over priced for the current state of things.
   

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7. G

   Gary VIP

   New York City85 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on 22 October 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Dining room is still Striking, but needs a refresh
   

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8. N

   Nathalie

   New York City1 review

   1.0

   Dined on 2 October 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 1

   the spicy shrimp and scallops with hot peppers was gluey, sweet and not a hint of spice. Grossly overpriced for a very disappointing experience.
   

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9. A

   Arthur VIP

   New York City65 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on 27 September 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   very good food in a pleasant but somewhat worn setting.
   

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10. J

    Jess

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 14 September 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    We have been there on a number of occasions and will come back in the future.
    

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