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  • Shun Lee West

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Shun Lee West
Shun Lee West

Shun Lee West Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Elegant
  • Website: http://www.shunleewest.com
  • Email: admin@shunleewest.com
  • Phone: (212) 595-8895
  • Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Friday: 12:00pm - 3:00pm, Saturday: 11:30am - 3:00pm, Sunday: 11:30am - 3:00pm; Dinner: Monday - Saturday: 3:00pm - 12:00am, Sunday: 3:00pm - 10:30pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Chinese, Asian
  • Executive Chef: Sun-Dao Man
  • Dress Code: Smart Casual
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, Wine
  • Catering: Catering is available to anywhere in Manhattan, for 20 to 1,000 people.
  • Private Party Facilities: Private party options are available for 80 to 200 guests, semi-private events are available for 10 to 25 guests.
  • Private Party Contact: Dennis Wang or Steven Ng (212) 595-8895

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Columbus Avenue
  • Public Transit: 1 train to 66th Street.
  • Parking: No
A word from Shun Lee West
Conveniently located across from Lincoln Center and a startling revelation in shiny black lacquer, Shun Lee exudes Asian chic with grand authority.
For haute Chinese cuisine, it’s among New York City’s best. Regional offerings include crispy Grand Marnier prawns with honey walnuts (Canton),… braised sea bass in hot bean sauce (Hunan) and shredded beef with leeks and hot peppers (Szechwan). Specialties include beggar’s chicken baked in lotus leaves and clay (requires one day’s notice), Hunan tripe, sweetbreads with black mushrooms and of course, Beijing Duck.Continued
Foodspotting photos
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerChinese
Diner Reviews
  • "Service is vary good. Exotic decor. Food is very well prepared and tasty. A really fun and semi-casual/semi-formal mix perfect for pre-show dining."
    Dined on 3/8/2014
  • "Service was slow to start. Once we were noticed the service and food was great."
    Dined on 3/7/2014
  • "Best Chinese food on the west side! Service is always rushing and they would love you to order right away."
    Dined on 3/8/2014
  • "Had been a while, and recent reviews were mixed, but we went to the opera and it was restaurant week, so decided to try it again. Glad we did. Everything was really excellent, and service was particularly spectacular. The place hasn't changed much, but it's very comfortable and open, and also fairly quiet, so we could actually hear each other talk. The spare ribs were good (not fatty and greasy as one reviewer said). The pan fried dumplings were excellent. The dry sauteed beef was outstanding and the fish dish we ordered was good. We each had pineapple for dessert and each got 1/4 of a fresh pineapple, and I even liked my fortune cookie. Our server was outstanding. We felt like royalty there, and I'd definitely go back again!"
    Dined on 3/3/2014
  • "attention to detail, service and to the diner is not to be rivaled!"
    Dined on 3/6/2014
  • "Three of us dined deliciously. The menu is broad and inclusive with choices for all palates. The ambiance is rather elegant, very comfortable and conducive to conversation."
    Dined on 3/6/2014
  • "I hadn't been to Shun Lee in a number of years but I was going to a show at Lincoln Center so I met a friend there for dinner. The food is authentic and delicious AND expensive. They make a mean Mai Tai. Definitely someplace worth going to treat yourself every once in a while."
    Dined on 3/5/2014
  • "Service is good. but food is tasteless. They try to americanize the chinese food. The taste became wired. It is overpriced."
    Dined on 3/1/2014
  • "The worst food and waiters and atmosphere ever. Skip it"
    Dined on 2/28/2014
  • "When I am going to Lincoln Center and would like to have a delicious pre-theater meal, I always think of Shun Lee. Every that I've had here is very good. Although the menu is pricey, it has lots of interesting finds and the service is superb."
    Dined on 2/28/2014
  • "The menu, decor and staff are tired and need to be re-examined."
    Dined on 2/24/2014
  • "I was excited to eat at Shun Lee. I'm an Upper West Sider and yet I'd never tried it. It has a great reputation and I convinced my party to go there despite many other places on the list that they were interested in. Boy am I embarrassed. It was terrible. One of our party sent two of her dishes back - and for good reason. One app. was identified as "grilled scallops". What came was tiny chunks of scallops in a weird mayonnaise sauce. Everything was beyond mediocre. I could have done better at a handful of Chinese joints in the 5 block radius of my building. Red Farm anyone?! Check it out!!"
    Dined on 2/27/2014
  • "The ambience of the restaurant was great, my friend and I wasn't impressed with the food. It's like what's the chance of two people not liking there food, very slim. But not in this case, we both give it two thumbs UP! For the restaurant having an A rating, my expectation was higher. Very disappointed!"
    Dined on 2/24/2014
  • "I went to Shun Lee West during Chinese New Year. They had a wonderful traditional Chinese meal for Chinese New Year and it was very well prepared and delicious. I loved the ambience of the restaurant, hip but traditional. The staff was excellent, described each meal as it was presented. My friend and I had a lovely time and I would recommend Shun Lee for lunch and dinner."
    Dined on 2/6/2014
  • "After reading reviews of shun lee I was excited to check it out during restaurant week before the ballet. It seems like 30 hrs ago it was great place to go. There are tons of waiters and service is pretty good. However, the food was worse than standard Chinese food, but way overpriced. If you want good Chinese food, go to china town. My beer was warm and the food was not satisfying. Green tea ice cream was great and my husband had almond tofu which was very good as well. Not enough to get me to go back though."
    Dined on 2/21/2014
  • "We had never tried this place before despite its proximity to Lincoln Center. Now I know why. The menu is ridiculously overpriced for a mediocre (at best) experience. The hot and sour soup was decent but the vegetable dumplings tasted old and off. The curry shrimp and other entrees (Buddha's delight, Grand Marnier shrimp, fish with black bean sauce) were just ok. The decor is somehow reminiscent of an early 80's prom theme and it just felt and smelled like it could use a thorough cleaning. If the meal had cost half of what it turned out to be I don't think I would have been quite as annoyed. My friends and I would never go back."
    Dined on 2/17/2014
  • "We went to Shun Lee West for an early dinner before a 7:30 curtain at the Metropolitan Opera. The staff was aware of our need to order and be served quickly, and it showed. Although there were four of us ordering several different dishes, the food was served in a timely manner and was delicious as usual (we've eaten there before). Despite our need to keep an eye on the time, the meal did not seem rushed. The ambience is very nice and quiet enough for conversation. We highly recommend the restaurant and will certainly return there."
    Dined on 2/20/2014
  • "We always love Shun Lee, and visited for Restaurant Week. Unlike most other pricey restaurants, which make serious 'adjustments' to menu choices, portion sizes, service and overall dining to accomodate Restaurant Week's lower price tags, at Shun Lee it was hard to know we were eating a discounted meal. The choices were ample, the food its usual superb, and service was excellant."
    Dined on 2/17/2014
  • "Enjoyed lunch at Shun Lee West. Food, atmosphere and service couldn't have been better. Great selection of dishes and very attentive staff. Will definitely go there again when in the mood for some great Chinese cuisine,"
    Dined on 2/17/2014
  • "It was our second time at Shun Lee West, so convenient to Lincoln Center. Staff could not have been more accommodating. Food is great -- had the Peking duck. Very relaxed atmosphere."
    Dined on 2/15/2014
  • "Have been looking for an upscale Chinese experience on the West side.. And finally found one! Great food, loved the duck spring rolls, lobster special and baby eggplant.. Service was good, and ambiance warm and open. Dragon design around the room was interesting - lots of space, not the usual packed tables layout... Definitely will go back!"
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "Great Chinese food-but more expensive than moderate! Drinks were not on the menu, but when ordered a very small glass arrived at a very large price- that was disturbing when the check arrived."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "We are never disappointed when we dine at Shun Lee. The wait staff goes out of its way to make us feel comfortable, and the food is always thoughtfully prepared. Old Chinese take out favorites are prepared healthfully yet deliciously. There are always dishes I have never tried, and discover new favorites. I highly recommend Shun Lee West."
    Dined on 2/9/2014
  • "A bit pricey (we do take out from here all the time) at $69 for the banquet, but the food just kept coming (fall-off-the-bone ribs, langoustines, chicken, 2 different seasonings of sea bass, sweets at the end) and it was delicious. Also, our host, Alex Wong, was hysterically funny. I think we'll try to come into the restaurant more often. BTW, one of our favorite takeout foods is the hunan veal--very tender and tasty. They're always great about changing the seasoning level if you don't like too spicy."
    Dined on 2/7/2014
  • "We always try to get to Shun Lee for the Chinese New Year's banquet, and it is always worthwhile. A fabulous variety of dishes served up in a festive atmosphere where the courses just seem to keep coming, and everyone a party on the palate. Additionally, the price is so reasonable, you feel like doing it over again the next night. A treat not to be missed."
    Dined on 2/5/2014
  • "but the first course of the New Year Menu was on the cold side- like it had been sitting. My guests were from China so they seemed fine with it. I thought the quail was overcooked. But the remaining dishes were amazing so it cancelled that out. The man serving was made the evening perfect- he is someone to hang on to for sure. He worked for AIG and was charistmat ic mix of Chinese and American humor..which made for a lovely evening.. Don't know his name."
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "Mediocre food. They forgot us after we ordered - people around us who came after us got their food and we still hadn't. Then we reminded them we were there and they brought food. Never asked us if we wanted drinks (we did but never ordered them). Way overpriced for very average experience. Will not go again. Would not recommend."
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "It was the eve of Chinese New Year and there were two big special tables in the middle of the restaurant. Unfortunately we were seated near these two big table and the guests and the servers kept bumping into our seats. The good thing was that they must have realized this and offered a complimentary desert for my daughter. The place is a bit over-hyped I think"
    Dined on 1/30/2014
  • "The Dim Sum cart was excellent and the staff was exceptionally friendly, but good Chinese food is plentiful at more affordable prices. The ambiance was OK, but Shun Lee would do well to spice up the place a bit."
    Dined on 1/27/2014
  • "Always liked Shun Lee. Found it better than ever. Every dish we ordered was outstanding, incl soup dumplings and crispy fish. And staff was extremely attentive and helpful."
    Dined on 1/28/2014
  • "One if the best in the city although not as good as it once was. Crowded at 645 amazingly! Lincoln Centre area very busy on a very cold Saturday night!"
    Dined on 1/25/2014
  • "Food was good, not as great as I remembered. Service a little sluggish at the table. But we still enjoyed ourselves!"
    Dined on 1/25/2014
  • "Peking duck not up to my expectations. Pancake too large and thick."
    Dined on 1/24/2014
  • "Was quite disappointed, as the place seemed tired. Went to an 11:00 concert at Lincoln Center and then to lunch where usually all the restaurants in the area are packed. Shun Lee had very few tables filled. Food was good, but not outstanding, as it used to be. Best thing we had, I thought, was the chicken with snow peas and water chestnuts. Ribs were greasy and fatty. Fortune cookies, great!"
    Dined on 1/17/2014
  • "We've been to Shun Lee West before, thought it average at best, but tried again. The staff is very pleasant, service very good, ambiance quite nice. But we found the food average fare, nothing special. We ordered off the "specials" list, but everything was in sauce that left a lingering aftertaste."
    Dined on 1/12/2014
  • "UPSCALE CHINESE RESTAURANT, VERY CONVENIENT TO LINCOLN CENTER. EXCELLENT MA PO TUFU."
    Dined on 1/14/2014
  • "We made our reservations 3 hours in advance and we arrived about 30 minutes late. The host welcomed us, but asked that we finish at (6pm) since we arrived late. I imagine they budget 2 hours per table for Saturday night dinner. We ordered the marinated short ribs, prawns and a savory chicken stew. Everything was delicious. The servers were responsive and made my daughter feel special with compliments on her Chinese attire. Overall, the dinner was a great beginning to a night at Lincoln Center. I would visit again, but ensure more margin to arrive on time!"
    Dined on 1/11/2014
  • "was very disappointed in the food this time. The dumplings were dry, hard and doughy. Our main dish was good . We usually come out saying what a great meal, not this time"
    Dined on 1/12/2014
  • "Shun Lee West always produces dependable food and knows how to get Lincoln Center customers out in time for the shows. While not always offering menu surprises, the standards always work well for us. However, some of the recent specials were different and delicious."
    Dined on 1/11/2014
  • "Is the best, by far, around. Is just the perfect menu, perfect ambience, perfect location to go after theater, movie, opera -if it is still open."
    Dined on 1/10/2014
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