The people behind Chinatown Brasserie have opened a beautiful and modern dim sum house in the West Village. Red Farm is where you’ll want to go to get your Asian fusion fix in a hot spot designed like a chic farmhouse. The food here is pretty terrific and the eclectic menu includes an array of dim sum dumplings, appetizers and main courses meant to be shared with your best buds…the more the merrier as you’ll want to hit as many dishes as possible!

Smoked Salmon & Eggplant ‘Bruschetta’: Perfect finger food – tender smoked salmon and caviar mixed with creamy avocado and served on top of a tempura fried eggplant disk, a brilliant play with texture.

Kowloon Filet Mignon Tarts: Small pastry tart shells with a miso filling are topped with a super tender bite of sweet soy-glazed beef with slivers of blanched asparagus and sweet pickled ginger. You’ll want to eat the whole thing in one bite for the ultimate flavor combination and it’s a fantastic one!

Now this wins some major points for creativity and playful plating: ‘Pac Man’ Shrimp Dumplings are made to look like the game’s famous ghosts – a delight for the eyes as much as for the palate. No wonder this has become the restaurant’s signature dish since the pictures hit the internet! The four very tasty little shrimp dumplings each has a different flavor and are begging you to hurry up with their tiny sesame seeds eyes…

…before a carved-out fried sweet potato circle shaped like Pac-Man makes a feast! Seriously awesome.

Pork & Crab Soup Dumplings: Fatty and chewy with a red goji berry stuck in the chimney, the flavorful soup leaking out of your first bite will convince you these are some of the best soup dumplings in Manhattan.

Jasmine Tea Smoked Chicken: A house special, the whole chicken was very juicy and tender and you could definitely taste the delicate tea flavor, a nice ending to our meal.

The decor is fun and intimate with communal table seating, plants everywhere, exposed pipes used as hangers for the specials menus and more plants. The noise levels can be off the chart, but really with such good food you’ll probably be chewing happily for the most part.

There is something for everyone to enjoy, and the service is so friendly and helpful be sure to ask your server for the best and most popular dishes. With food so spectacular and a presentation so darn adorable, Red Farm is one of the best new restaurants to open this Fall. Even the ‘no reservation’ policy wouldn’t deter me in going back again and again…just be warned of the wait!

Brooklyn’s insanely popular Fatty ‘Cue opened an additional location in the West Village not long ago, staying true to its concept of Southern barbecue with Asian flavors – a unique and winning combo.

This grown-up and sexy version of the popular Williamsburg joint offers a sophisticated vibe and a brand new, more upscale menu, proof that Zak Pelaccio is ace at tailoring his restaurants to the neighborhoods they’re in. As a Brooklyn girl at heart, I still much prefer the original one and eating my messy BBQ’d dishes in a quirky, cramped smoky bar with a flying pig over my head, but hey that’s just me! The new Fatty ‘Cue is still a wonder of tasty dishes and well worth visiting nonetheless for those afraid of crossing the East river…

The dim lighting, bright red chairs and dark green leather booths create a sleek and romantic atmosphere. Foodwise, every dish still has that unmistakable barbecue smokiness behind some powerful asian spice. You can’t find dishes with seasoning like this anywhere else.

Caviar & Corn: The sweet corn and salty caviar complimented each other surprisingly well, and the smoked corn cream underneath made it seems like the caviar was barbecued… definitely interesting to the taste buds!

Another winning item on the menu is the Buttermilk Pappardelle with a smoked goat ragu.  The sauce has a smoky and spicy punch that fits well with the gamey goat meat and the musty capra sarda (aged goat cheese).  It’s aggressive and in your face, but the blend of flavors is so addictive.

Smoked Brandt Beef Brisket: Extremely tender with flavorful burnt edges. I loved the brisket’s marinade and this made for a killer sandwich when using the accompanying soft and fluffy butter rolls and topping it all with aged cheddar cheese and chilli salad.

Fatty ‘Cue offers a unique dining experience that exemplifies the fun, eclectic taste of NYC.  It’s a must-try. My only caveat: if you are hungry you are definitely going to spend a decent amount of money here as the portions are on the smaller side and a tad expensive.