I am embarrassed to admit I had not been to Hutong since pre-COVID.
Life happens. Priorities shift. You end up in a martini fog somewhere on the west side and suddenly five years have passed.
But we needed a brunch spot that opened early, and by early I mean 11:30, which in Midtown on a weekend is practically sunrise, and Hutong fit the bill perfectly.
Three of us. No agenda. Nowhere to be for a couple of hours. Exactly how brunch should work.
The $68 Dim Sum Prefix: Better Than It Sounds
For $68 per person you get:
- Six rotating dim sum items, unlimited
- One entrée per person
- Sides
- A $25 supplement option for the Peking duck upgrade
That is a genuinely solid deal for Midtown Manhattan. When you factor in the duck supplement the total still comes out cheaper than ordering à la carte, so do the math before you skip it.
We did not skip it.
Walking In
There are two entrances and this matters.
One goes straight to the bar. The other takes you through the wine hallway, which is genuinely one of the cooler entryways in the city. If you care at all about the Instagram shot, go through the wine hallway.
The main dining room itself is stunning. A gorgeous replica fireplace, modern design, clean lines, and an almost obscene amount of chrome. Spotless chrome. Not a single fingerprint anywhere.
The Staff
Our waitress was fantastic. Friendly, knowledgeable, paced everything out perfectly, and genuinely helped us navigate the menu without being pushy about it.
The Peking Duck: Worth the $25 Upgrade
The Peking duck is technically semi-tableside. For $25 it is absolutely worth the upgrade. Crispy skin, tender meat, everything you want from a Peking duck. No complaints.
The Dim Sum Standouts
The crab sticks and wonton dumplings were the clear standouts. Order one of everything first, then immediately reorder more crab sticks and more wontons.
The mushroom bao deserves a special mention purely for presentation. It is shaped like an actual little mushroom and it is genuinely delightful.
The Entrees
We ordered family style, Kung Pao chicken and spicy shrimp. The Kung Pao chicken was a nice balance of sweet heat. The spicy shrimp held its own but the dim sum stole the show.
Final Verdict
Hutong is a genuinely great brunch experience and the $68 prefix is one of the better deals I have come across in a while.
It is also on Blackbird, so if you are sitting on credits this is a smart play.
As always, what do I know? I am just a fat guy from Brooklyn trying to survive the week, one martini at a time.
Looking for more NYC restaurant reviews? Check out my Best Steakhouses in NYC, Best Burgers in NYC, and Best Restaurants in NYC lists