Kurve

This restaurant is now Rhong-​Tiam, but it retains it’s very chic interior lounge setting. Unlike the old Rhong-​Tiam in the West Village, this place now has a bar which unfortunately means they will not let you BYOB. I wish restaurant owners would get over this fear and realize that with the current dearth of BYOB places, it can actually be a differentiator that draws foodies. Anyway, I digress.
The food here is as good as the west village setting that earned a michelin star. For appetizers we had the thai nachos, curry puffs, and some sort of duck spring-​roll. The first two were excellent, though I’m not sure I’d order the spring roll again because it was filled with crunchy noodles instead of substance.
For main courses we had the chicken pad prik khing (this may be the best PPK i’ve had in NYC), Pork on Fire extra spicy (Wow!!!), Two in love (basically basil chicken but with shrimp mixed in), and duck breast with kumquat. All of these I would be happy to order again… the duck here is solid… not amazing, but for the price it has a great price/​performance ratio.

The baffling thing about Kurve is that the décor is great, and the food is tasty, but there is definitely something missing, you know, that je né sais quoi. Maybe it’s the service, or the lack of intimacy you get from the fact that the entire front of the restaurant is glass. I can’t quite put my finger on it…
From the outside it’s this ultramodern looking space that should draw in a lot of people, but for some reason, it never seems to be overwhelmed with diners. That aside, the service was good, nothing particularly notable, but friendly nonetheless and the food was good.
I think the weird thing about this place might be the glass windows. It’s OK to have cool windows; but at Kurve the windows don’t really make for an intimate moment. In other words, it’s not really a place for handholding and smoochy talk haha. Everyone can see you eating and you can see them… it’s a bit off-​putting
Pros: Space is cool, service is ok
Cons: not overly exciting?

I’m sorry to give this place a one-​star rating because everyone working there was really very nice — softspoken, quick, efficient. But the décor and the food itself is what really brought the ratings down to the point of no return.
The décor is like someone truly tried to be mod and contemporary and failed miserably. Every single time we pass by this restaurant from the outside our first thought is, «What the…» The curved windows, completely transparent, open for all to see. Recently they’ve improved their look and covered up most of their windows to allow diners at least some bit of privacy. The furniture tries to be mod but fails, partly because it feels like it tries too hard, and partly because they’ve stopped trying to upkeep everything so all chairs and tables are scuffed and worn — pretty opposite of modern chic.
But it was the food that pushed it over the edge. We went for the $ 7.95 lunch buffet from 11−4pm, a special that debuted a week or so ago. Sadly it was pretty obvious that some, if not most of the food in the trays were made from leftovers. They had fried rice, white rice, a soup, spring roll (which was the only really good, fresh thing), eggplant, green chicken curry, vegetarian red curry (a bit spicy), and a few other things. No noodle dishes besides a chow-​mein type of dish. Their fruit was delish though — very sweet and fresh.
Unfortunately at the end of the meal I wasn’t feeling so well. So considering how greasy, heavy, and overcooked everything tasted plus the sickness the meal brought on killed the restaurant for me, even for $ 7.95.

The sign in the window caught my eye: «ALL YOU CAN EAT LUNCH BUFFET $ 7.95 + FREE SODA». They had me at Thai, but really pulled me in with All-​You-​Can-​Eat.
Great vegetarian options — The soups, fried rice, spring rolls, and several entrée options were vegetarian, making the buffet worth it (sometimes, for veggies, they are not). The tum yum soup was excellent, the red curry was great, and the pineapple fried rice was also noteworthy. The best was a green hot pepper sauce for the rice, both sweet and spicy, and the perfect topping. I could live off of bowls of plain rice with only this on it and be happy for the rest of my life.
The staff was extremely friendly and polite, offering great service without hovering, and the owner was especially nice. The atmosphere is modern/​futuristic, with great music and a fun video projection on the wall. And the bathrooms were clean.
I recommend this for the buffet, the atmosphere, and the different experience. A good place to take an out-​of-​town visitor to give them a fun, only-​in-​NY sort of dining experience.

Great for happy hour drinks and a cool atmosphere with your girlfriends, that’s about all I recommend. During hh, most cocktail drinks (except for 2) are $ 7. Normally they go for $ ¹²⁄₁₄ and I think that’s insanely high for a regular thai «trendy» restaurant. I had the «pink panties» which consisted of vodka, calpico and strawberry — pretty good! My friend had an even better drink — I forgot the name but it had coconut in it and it was really smooth!
Another happy hour deal — you get one free appetizer with a purchase of an entrée. That is great, but what would really help is if the entrée were actually good. I had the pad thai and it was one of the worst I’ve ever had. It was really greasy/​oily, and lacked flavor. How can pad thai, a basic staple, ever be messed up? Especially if the entrees are priced higher than most Thai places…

I’ve ordered delivery a couple of times, and enjoyed the flavors and ingredients even though the portions were surprisingly small, given Thai takeout precedent and Kurve’s prices. Haven’t found a more tasty neighborhood Thai place yet, though, so, until I do, I will be tempted by their roti canai and pad see lew.

First, I have to respond to Tina C’s review: spoons and forks are used in Thailand, so it is odd to request chopsticks. Usually, Thai places have them for non-​Thais who think it is more Asian to use them, but it is actually just weird.
This place is far from what I would call contemporary Thai. Some of the menu items are not Thai at all while others are just Americanized Thai dishes. The attempt at ‘ultra modern’ décor also fails. A more fitting description of this place would be trendy, faux-​modern Americanized-​Thai, but even that gives the place too much credit. Thai Nachos? Come on! Besides the train-​wreck-​of-​a-​concept, they are gross.
Kurve is a juvenile attempt at contemporary Thai. I would suggest a trip to Thailand, checking out a few trendy places in Bangkok and interpreting their menu with an American palette or trying to recreate their contemporary dishes from a more authentic standpoint. Either way would be a thousand times better than what it is now. There are dozens of other choices for Thai in this area, and Kurve could probably learn from them as well
However, if the aim is to attract uncultivated and pretentious NYC Prep clientele that THINK they know what contemporary food is, Kurve shouldn’t change a thing.
Bottom line — don’t waste your time here.

Contemporary Thai cuisine of very modern décor. The atmosphere is very clean, vibrant, modern décor of pink leather love seats for a romantic vibe, yet the food is unorthodoxly untraditional. I came here for a date or a «hang out» as my dinner date (perhaps more) refers to this gathering the night before Independence Day.
Chopsticks are available only upon request, which personally I found it odd to consume Asian cuisine with a fork and knife. This restaurant specifically targets the American palate as an introduction for Westerners to Asian cuisine. The drinks were pricey yet okay for quality.
N.B. I do NOT recommend this restaurant/​lounge for children.

I live two blocks from this restaurant, and every time I walk by I wonder how it’s still in business. It’s always empty, even on Friday and Saturday nights. This is probably because the garish décor turns away prospective customers. The place is completely out of place in the East Village, a neighborhood full of cute little places, most of them unpretentious.
My theory is they’ve got one wealthy backer keeping them afloat. I can’t figure out how a place with a brutal NY Times review, no customers, subpar food, high prices and weird décor is still open. The few people who do go always seem unhappy. No one is smiling, and they look uncomfortable.
Last night it was featured on «NYC Prep,» a show about overprivileged Upper East Side teenagers. And it’s exactly the kind of place clueless kids would go who have too much money and know nothing about food. Do yourself a favor and skip this place in favor of one of the three better, cheaper Thai restaurants within a block of it (Sea, Thailand Café and Spice).

This place is inexplicably empty a lot. I’ve never had food, but have stopped in for drinks a few times. Their drink menu was done by Sasha Petraske, and is quite well done — go on one of their happy hours and get one or two for (relatively) cheap. The first time I’d gone it was lousy weather, which I figured explained the empty restaurant. I just went on a Friday, though, and it was still empty.
They might have built it, but from the looks of things, people didn’t come.
Give it a shot for the drinks, from my experience you won’t be waiting for the bartender’s attention!

Heard about the Wagyu Beef Burger from Jeff C.
Never had a Wagyu Beef burger so I decided to give it a shot. For under $ 20, which is a bit pricey, I had to satisfy my curiosity. Question is how could you tell if it is indeed Wagyu and not Angus or some regular beef burger.
The décor was ok. Service was average, but I really came here for the Wagyu Burger, no offense to Kurve.
1 Wagyu Burger and 1 Thai Iced Tea.
Note: Thai Iced tea was good both with and without milk.
I didn’t really know what to expect so I expected that the burger would be average. The wagyu burger was served with swiss cheese, shitake mushrooms with basil sauce on a brioche. It also came with yucca fries which I love and they didn’t disappoint.
The burger was one of the best I’ve had. Tender and juicy with just the right flavors. Sure no hype here. I must admit that was the fastest burger that I finished off. Yum!
I will definitely be back to have the Wagyu Beef Burger. Soon!
I think Kurve’s got something special with their Wagyu Beef Burger.

The spot is the issht. It was a Thursday and the crowd was laid back very cool — the food is creative. Lobster roll and crab dumplings were pretty good. Obviously the drinks were great because I had to order more food — Duck springrolls and duck dumpling. Both were very good.
For drinks, Mr. Darren is the man. That’s OK that it took extra long — when your a mixologist perfection takes some time so we appreciate that.
I tried a few different things — not your go-​to spot if your a straight beer guy. This is for someone that can enjoy cocktails mixed to close to perfection. I could see hanging out here by the bar if one was alone since there is plenty of entertainment watching drinks be made.
Overall not a bad place. The only negative and this is no disprespect to the band — was the fact that this 1930’s band was playing way too long. The first two sets were entertaining, but I’m sorry I couldn’t help but feel like I was watching Little Rascals (yeah I’m old) and this was on a constant loop.

Feel like you’re entering Austin Power’s Lair.
Very mod/​modern theme with pastel swirls and curvy walls, kind of like that curvy, mirrored building on Astor place. A tiny bit out of place in it’s LES digs but I like it. And it’s VERY spacious to boot. A nice departure from the tiny LES shops.
Food is excellent. I had the wagyu burger, totally delicious, bacon wrapped Tiger shrimp, yummm, although the bacon is done to a crisp (if ur one that refers the chewier bacon). All the items are done up to a meticulous, finer dining standard. You’re basically eating little concoctions of art.
Drinks are inventive and delicious! The caipirina and Thai iced tea (on the sweeter side) were tasty. 3 Cheers to the bartender!
It was a little on the quiet side but I was there are 11pm on a Thursday so who knows.
Staff was beyond nice and accomodating.

I stopped by here on a Friday night with my girlfriend after having dinner in the neighborhood. Everything was really great:
— we tried a few dishes prepared for us and we very impressed — food was great all the way down to the presentation and service
— wine list was limited but good, if a little pricey — we went through a couple bottles of red — it would have been nice to have a wider selection, but what they had was very good
— service was outstanding, even though it was pretty slow
— the atmosphere was pretty interesting — a little jetsons-​ish — but coordinated, not really typical for EV, but a cool place with really great staff. everyone was really friendly and attentive
the only thing that didn’t make sense was how slow it was for a weekend night. maybe it’s the location, but otherwise the place was awesome. It would be good for after work if they pull in a crowd

I like Kurve. It is a great late night spot with an interesting and creative selection of cocktails. I got the spicy basil duck and it was great. Duck was so juicy and tender. My BF got their waygu burger and it has a great Asian-​fusion flavor to it. I would definitely come back to this hip Thai restaurant/​bar.

On Valentine’s day, I got a call from my boyfriend, informing me that instead of having me cook a meal for us at home, he wanted to take me out that night. He said that he’d gotten a suggestion from a friend at work about this place. I love all kinds of Asian food, so I was up for it.
Kurve proceeded to win points from me on the following:
I got a huge kick out of the Jetsons-​meets-​Barbie Dream House décor.
A prix-​fixe vday menu was offered, but not forced on us. (We ended up going with it because it was actually a good deal.)
The staff was attentive, but not annoyingly so. They apologized when mistakes were made, kept our water glasses filled, and made sure we were enjoying ourselves.
They hired a 1930s-​style jazz band to play the night. They were neither too loud nor impossible to hear, and created a really fun atmosphere. I could tell that the other patrons were really digging the music.
And, of course, the food. The food won major points with me. There was a celery larb gai amuse bouche, after which I had a spicy salmon soup, Five-​alarm papaya salad (more on that in a minute), rib eye steak for our entrée, and a flight of cupcakes for dessert (made special for the holiday). The Prix fixe also included a cocktail — I had a cucumber-​gin concoction that was light and smooth.
There were two glitches in the evening. One was the papaya salad. Now, I’m accustomed to spicy. I even like spicy. I’ve had the spicy papaya salad out at Sripaphi and other Thai establishments. None of these prepared me for the searing, blinding pain from the heat of this papaya salad. I drank my water my boyfriend’s water, and nearly grabbed the jug out of the hand of a passing waiter. Our waiter apologized profusely for the salad, which I thought was kind but unnecessary — it’s not like he made the thing. Thankfully, he kept my water glass nice and full after that, allowing my mouth to calm down.
The courses were fairly widely spaced. I was having a good time and didn’t realize it, but my boyfriend did grumble about it once or twice. All was forgiven when one of the managers came by with two (free!) beers for us, and an apology — apparently there were some troubles in the kitchen, so they were running a bit behind. The beer soothed my ravaged mouth and my boyfriend’s hunger, and were only half done when our entrees arrived.
I am sorry I had to deduct a star at all, but I only give out fives very sparingly, and setting fire to my tongue will make a person judge a little harshly. However, the great food, fantastic cocktails, and eager-​to-​please staff will keep me coming back here — especially compared to some of the other options in the neighborhood. Definitely worth checking out — just avoid the papaya salad unless your blind date turns out to be a jerk, or you want to prank your friends.

I have been keeping an eye on Kurve since it opened last year and had been a few times before yesterday. Its true they stumbled a little bit after they opened, like many restaurants do, but its clear they have finally made all of the corrections necessary and are on track to be one of NYC’s best new restaurants… and best deals, too.
First off, the food is out of this world. They never had problems with delivering great food. Last year, they often had things listed on the menu that they couldn’t serve but not anymore. And the QUALITY of the food – its interesting mix of complex flavors and spices – is right on target. Everything we had was 100% perfect. And the drinks, by the way, seem to follow suit. I can’t remember the name of the drink I had but it was «an old-​time» drink with a milk base and a mélange of flavors and alcohol. Sounds weird, tastes as unique a drink as I’ve had in years.
The staff seems to have gotten it together, too, big-​time. Very attentive, well-​versed in the food and drink, and friendly. Big plus there, especially when some places in the E. Village can have an unjustified attitude.
The décor is cool and fun… they have seemingly made some refinements since their soft opening last year and its now much more comfortable – great food in a clubby-​lounge atmosphere. Its a nice juxtaposition.
The best change of all – thank god, just in time for the recession – is that its clear the management knows its tough out there so the prices seems to have dropped big-​time. How can these guys have excellent food but cost less than before? Well, that’s not my problem! If they can do it, I’ll be sure to bring more friends next time!
I will definitely be back soon… there’s now so much to try on that menu!

So my friend runs this place. And she is nothing short of amazing.
And this place is nothing short of amazing. Foie Gras in a Japanese restaurant? Who knew?
Their drinks taste like running through the sprinklers in the summer.
Oh and +1 for having the most gorgeous German bartender I’ve ever met.

I have been to Kurve several times.
There cocktail menu is awesome (try the Thai iced tea)… Although drinks are a little expensive ($ 14).
The décor is very cool, bright neon colors.
The menu is extensive with lots of small plates ranging from $ 6-​$ 8.
The salmon tartare and calamari are very good.
Definitely an interesting place to go in the ev.

This place has to be in the top of my worst experiences in nyc.
We went in because there wasn’t a name displayed outside and it looked swanky, having only opened a month ago.
The food was horrible and the Thai iced teas were way OVERPRICEd.
For appetizers, my friend and I got the chawanmuchi and the Thai nachos. The chawanmuchi is a steamed egg dish with mushrooms and something else (I couldn’t tell what it was). It was a bit on the heavy side. The Thai nachos consisted of shrimp crackers – the kind you can buy in Chinatown for a dollar and fry yourself. Anyway, the oil was just glistening off the crackers. The sauce was nice and warm, but it wasn’t a good complement with the crackers.
Next, for entrees we got the papaya salad with seared maguro and the pasta dish with bacon-​wrapped asparagus. My papaya salad was drenched in fish sauce and the seared tuna was seared for too long, so it had that fishy taste. In addition, the dish was so freaking spicy (I love spicy but not that spicy) and sour/​sweet. I took two bites (one of the «papaya» salad and one of the tuna) and just put my fork down. It was THAT bad. Also, I couldn’t really taste any papaya. The shredded stuff on top tasted like sliced hard mango with lots of fish sauce. My friend didn’t like her dish either. It was way too spicy and the bacon was just plain fat. Anyway, the good thing was that the waiteress and server (?) seemed concerned and gave us free dessert. The butter scotch pudding was so thick we only took one bite and moved on to the green tea tiramisu, which was decent. We got a shocker when we got the bill and saw that the non-​alcoholic Thai iced teas were $ 7 each and we had several. We tried asking the waitress if she made a mistake, but no she just acted like everything was right. haha so we learned our lesson and will never come back to this place again. The service was good, but the food was just downright awful and overpriced for this kind of quality.
It’s only a matter of time before this place closes down with this type of food and overpriced drinks. I hope they replace the kitchen staff because their tastebuds must be dead.
Afterwards, my friend and I just went to M2M down the street and had real food.