DINING / BARS : ASIAN

Buddakan

Asian

This soaring, sexy bi-level restaurant is sure to impress your out-of-town guests, but the Asian-inspired food is good enough to merit a visit on its own. Have a cocktail at the bar upstairs while you wait for your table, then descend the long staircase – perhaps to the huge communal table lit by dramatic chandeliers or a more intimate spot – and settle in for some family-style noshing. Portions are generous and meant to be shared; the lengthy menu has options for dim sum, hot and cold appetizers, noodles, rice, meat and more. Start with delicate edamame dumplings and playful taro puff lollipops stuffed with minced pork, then move on to sweet and spicy chili rock shrimp, crab fried rice, Szechuan-crusted ribeye and a whole crispy fish. For such an over-the-top, sceney restaurant, it’s surprising to find food this tasty and addictive.