Beauty & Essex

Restaurant · Lower East Side

Beauty & Essex

Restaurant · Lower East Side

146 Essex St, New York, NY 10002

Highlights

Behind the pawn shop façade of Beauty & Essex lies a vibrant restaurant and lounge, offering inventive American dishes and crafted cocktails in a lively setting.

146 Essex St, New York, NY 10002 Get directions

beautyandessex.com

@beautyandessexnyc

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

@infatuation

"You can never judge a player based on their physical makeup, and the same can be said about when you arrive to Beauty and Essex after the game. After you enter through a thrift shop, every item on the menu is shareable for a true team effort. Start with the Korean-style fish tacos and the Thai-style deep-fried shrimp to get the meal off to a great first quarter! Then comes the game-winner: the grilled cheese soup dumplings. I’m telling you not one, not two, maybe three orders of these are necessary. Finally, make sure you save some room for the doughnut Ferris wheel to win this meal!" - andrew steinthal

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@eater

"We got a whole bunch of these places: Beauty and Essex opened in 2010." - Bettina Makalintal

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@afar

"Why are so many people hanging out at this pawn shop?" you might think to yourself while walking along Essex Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side. But it's not the goods in this (working!) pawn shop that the hangers-about are interested in; it's what's behind the pawn shop's storefront: Beauty & Essex, a not-so-secret bar with a cavernous space for drinking and over-the-top brunching. In addition to the list of cocktails, wines, and beers, there's the menu of food to help hold it all down. It includes such fever dream-esque items as tuna poke wonton tacos and shrimp cocktail with a jalapeño remoulade."

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Sabah J

Google

The entrance through the pawn shop really sets the speakeasy vibe, creating an intriguing atmosphere from the start. The kale and apple salad was one of the tastiest I’ve had in a while—light, refreshing, and full of flavor. The chicken meatballs were unique and had a wonderful depth of taste. To finish, the dessert shooters were a fun, delicious treat. Our server was great, though the hostesses at the front desk were a bit rude and ignored us for a few minutes when we arrived. Despite that, it's definitely a spot worth checking out!

Sukh Sapra

Google

Heard a lot about this place and the food was definitely worth the hype!!! Everything we had was delicious. Appetisers: Kale & Apple Salad Thai Deep Fried Shrimp Entrees: Rib Eye Steak Mac & Cheese The steak was so soft and juicy, accompanied with the Mac & Cheese it was the perfect combo, good size portions too. Service and atmosphere were really good, decent crowd. Not as expensive as one would expect it to be. Would go back for their steak…

Ariella Shlayan

Google

I wish I could give Beauty & Essex more stars and I hate giving out bad reviews. I was expecting for this place to wow me and instead it not only underwhelmed me but also left me dissatisfied. Let me start off with the appetizers. The crispy rice on my spicy salmon tartare was stale and the quality overall was lacking. On top of that, the bone marrow came in cold. However, the main courses were good but did not match the price point. Now, onto the service. The waitress was not attentive at all and completely rushed us. Our appetizers and main courses were brought in at the same time which honestly is unacceptable for an upscale restaurant like Beauty & Essex. I made them send the main courses back. Lastly, while the ambience is pretty, it felt way too crowded and we had to wait 20 minutes for our table. For the amount of money that you’re paying for this place, both the food and the service should be much better than this.

Rouse RD

Google

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Beauty & Essex, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience! Don’t let the pawn shop at the entrance fool you; once you step through the hidden door, you are transported into a vibrant and exotic atmosphere that sets the stage for a culinary adventure. The food was absolutely delicious, with a diverse menu that caters to a variety of tastes. Each dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The cocktails were equally impressive, expertly crafted and perfect for complementing the meal. The staff at Beauty & Essex truly made the experience exceptional. Our hostess was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and despite the restaurant being packed, we experienced minimal waiting time for our reserved table. Overall, I highly recommend making a reservation at Beauty & Essex when visiting NYC. It’s a delightful blend of fun, fantastic food, and a lively atmosphere that you won’t want to miss. I can’t wait to return on my next trip.

Venice L.

Google

The service is extremely slow. Probably only one person actually cover the whole dining room, which is extremely inefficient. Everyday when we order something, we have to wait THE PERSON to come. However, besides that, the service is relatively professional. Food is ok. Overpriced for sure because of the atmosphere I understood. The front desk is amazing, but the dining area is just loud and ugly. Do not recommend

Anna Joo

Google

The interior had some luxury details, and looked as if it could be a nicer steakhouse. However, there were many young girls (late 20s) there, which made the place have more girl's night out vibe. Little noisy. The place also smelled a lot of food (anchovis?) at certain point (wonder if they had issue with ventilation during our visit). Close between the tables. Our waitor was attentive at first (less people), but it was hard to catch his attention later when we wanted to pay. Not very welcoming. The food was ok, but could be better. Asked for medium, but got medium-well done steak. My steak could have been more tender if cooked correctly. The apple & kale salad was nice.

Cameron Wu

Google

Decent atmosphere. Made for Instagram decor. Cocktails were good, but plenty of other places in NYC are better. The food was alright, but not memorable. If you’re coming to Beauty & Essex it’s probably for the IG pics.

teisis sanchez

Google

My daughter took me here as part of my 40th birthday celebration, I am a professional in the industry and not everything impresses me. We are also big foodies and love good ambiance, food, and service. This place did not disappoint at any time of the night! speakeasy with lots of vintage decorations, the doors open to a cozy yet elegant environment. Lots of details that set the mood for a great night! The staff was attentive and the food was well-executed. Will definitely come back and spread the word!