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Shun Lee Cafe, New York, NY

Shun Lee Cafe

3.5
3.5
1534 Reviews
$31 to $50
Dim Sum

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2 people
21:30
Booked 1 time today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for business meals
  • Gluten-free-friendly
With Shun Lee Cafe conveniently located across from Lincoln Center, Dim Sum is just the ticket. The Cafe, a black and white checkerboard dining room, decorated with images from the Chinese calendar.
Terrific Dim Sum on rolling carts in constant motion and a variety of dishes in smaller portions completes the menu at Shun Lee Cafe. The Cafe is a great pre-theater stop for a “quick” dinner.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Dim Sum, Chinese, Asian
  • Hours of Operation
    Closed Mon–Thu 11:00–21:30 Lunch Fri–Sun 12:00–14:30 Dinner Fri–Sun 16:30–21:30
  • Phone number
    (212) 769-3888
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Sun-Dao Man
  • Area
    Lincoln Square
  • Cross Street
    Columbus Avenue
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    1 train to 66th Street.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, View, Wine

What 1,534 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.5
3.5 based on recent ratings
  • 3.8Food
  • 3.7Service
  • 3.7Ambience
  • 3.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Shun Lee Cafe offers "outstanding Chinese cuisine" with dishes like shrimp in Grand Marnier sauce and impeccable service. Located near Lincoln Center, it's a popular pre-opera spot. However, frequent closures and reservation issues have been noted, and some guests found the prices high and portions too large.

1,534 Reviews
  1. Avi

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    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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  2. Kirsti

    New York City

    28 reviews

    4.0

    28 reviews

    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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  3. Jennifer

    VIP

    New York City

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    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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  4. Gary

    VIP

    New York City

    85 reviews

    4.0

    85 reviews

    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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  5. Nathalie

    New York City

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    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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  6. Arthur

    VIP

    New York City

    60 reviews

    3.0

    60 reviews

    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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  7. Jess

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    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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  8. Susan Cohen

    New York City

    113 reviews

    2.0

    113 reviews

    Dined on 1 September 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    The restaurant was busy because the Cafe was closed, due to no AC. Service was neglectful: a table which arrived after we did was served and finished before us. We waited almost 1 1/2 hrs before we received our main courses. Dishes are expensive and portions much too large and not worth finishing or taking home. Flavorings were much too salty, gooey and tasteless, with protein amounts very minimal (Ants on a Hill, chicken lo mein). My scallop and shrimp dish had a coating that seemed like it had been put on way before it was cooked and did not seem freshly made. It was a disappointing dinner- we’ve been here before and service and food was better.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Charlotte

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 5 July 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Haven’t been there in years and it was a shell of its former self.

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    VIP

    Southwest Florida

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 1 July 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Despite my reservation with Open Table, Shun Lee Cafe was closed when I got there. I was told it was closed weekdays. My group of 6 was extremely disappointed, and we don't understand why Open Table or Shun Lee Cafe didn't notify us of this weekday closure. It is terrible to stand outside a closed restaurant. The Shun Lee restaurant next door offered to seat us, but that is a different venue, and we wanted the cafe.

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FAQs

Shun Lee Cafe offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (212) 769-3888.

Shun Lee Cafe is rated 3.5 stars by 1534 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
21:30
Booked 1 time today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Shun Lee Cafe

43 West 65th Street, New York, NY 10023

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Columbus Avenue
  • Area
    Lincoln Square
  • Hours of Operation
    Closed Mon–Thu 11:00–21:30 Lunch Fri–Sun 12:00–14:30 Dinner Fri–Sun 16:30–21:30
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Dim Sum, Chinese, Asian
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    1 train to 66th Street.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Sun-Dao Man
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, View, Wine
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