From former Cafe Asean chef Simpson Wong, comes New York's first Asian restaurant to emphasize local and seasonal fare with close attention to the origin of the ingredients. Wong aims to provide freshly reinterpreted Asian cuisine in a relaxed, modern setting.
Simpson Wong (Cafe Asean) has a "winner" in this midpriced West Villager where the "inventive" small plates combine Pan-Asian flavors with "farm-fresh ingredients"; regulars say the "tight squeeze" doesn't seem so bad after a few "fun cocktails."
Wong Restaurant Review:
In this vibrant area of the West Village, chef Simpson Wong (formerly of Café Asean) is cooking what he calls “Asian locavore” cuisine that is simple and almost all family-style. The 45-seat space is set up with some communal dining plus two bars; some diners might get the feeling that they’re practically on top of one another. The atmosphere is fun, but it can get noisy. Puffy naan bread...
Simpson Wong calls his cooking here “Asian locavore,” presumably to avoid the dread words fusion or pan-Asian. But if any restaurant could restore the good reputation of those terms, it’s this one. Mr. Wong has a freewheeling palate and nuanced instincts for building contrasts. The starting point of his experiments tends to Asia, including Malaysia, where he was born, but his frame of reference...