New York Club

Seriously sweet dishes, seriously sweet staff.

This little family-run joint that used to be around the corner on Brown Street has nothing to do with New York—they do serve hot dogs, but that’s about it. In fact, patrons mostly come here for hotpot, or fusion Thai and Shanghainese dishes.

We were immediately recommended a few signature platters as soon as we sat down at a folding table in the corner. Sammy, who runs the shop with his siblings, gave us one order each of red chicken curry, wonton dumplings and white radish in broth, shrimp toast paired with shrimp cakes, and a green papaya salad. We enjoyed the red curry immensely; teetering on the mild and sweet side, the sauce was smooth and creamy, with plenty of chicken and basil leaves mixed in. Paired with crispy garlic toast—also recommended by Sammy—the combo was heartwarming and filling. The generous papaya salad exhibited the same mild and sweet characteristics—not as spicy as you might expect. We sampled the thin-skinned, pork-filled dumplings, soaking in a sweet soy broth and paired with soft, gooey and fully marinated radishes.

Last were the shrimp toast and cakes, deep-fried and served with sweet-and-sour sauce and mayo. Delightfully crispy on the outside and juicy and firm on the inside, they definitely hit the spot. To be honest, the food at NYC is solid, though not spectacular—but the friendly demeanor of Sammy and his clan, coupled with the cheap prices and the unpretentious setting, all help to make a meal at NYC a memorable one indeed.