Ask yourself - Do you feel lucky?
Written: Sep 07 '02 (Updated Jul 08 '05)
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Pros: You can't have this kind of fun in Ohio.
Cons: The waitresses are hotter than the food.
The Bottom Line: An entertaining experience - go after 9pm, wear clean underwear and have a good time.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Lucky Cheng's |
Well there is no point in being coy because you will find out sooner or later that all of the waitresses, the bartenders and the hostess at Lucky Cheng's are DRAG QUEENS. There, now that we are past the the scandalous part, I can give you some basic information.
THE RESTAURANT
Lucky Cheng's is located in the East Village - a neighborhood known for its openmindedness. There is a large sign and chinese decor outside - you won't miss it. Besides, since Lucky Cheng's is frequented by tourists, your cab driver will know where it is.
There is a front bar with seating. A main dining room with about 10-15 tables depending on how they are arranged. The lounge and restrooms are downstairs in the basement.
AMBIANCE
The only way to describe it is suburban chinese restaurant decor on steroids. Inside the walls and ceiling are black and decorated with red and gold chinese lanterns, paper dragons and all manor of brightly-colored decorations. There is a lot of style and ambiance, but not a lot of taste.
THE MAIN ATTRACTION
Of course, the main attraction is the "girls." They are all well dressed. No size 16 clothing stolen from the woman's section at Bloomingdale's here. This stuff looks custom made. Your waitress will be a drag queen.
THE ENTERTAINMENT
The entertainment is on-going in the main dining room. Since all of the staff are drag queens and proud of their lifestyle, you will see a lot of impromptu interactions among the staff or between staff and guests. There is a floor show in the main dining room and other singers and entertainment in between. There is drag queen karaoke in the lounge in the basement. As you can imagine, the entertainment is very racy and includes a lot of sexual innuendo and gay humor. There is a fair amount of entertainment derived from the drag queens making straight men feel uncomfortable - so if you fit that category, know that you may be picked on a bit.
*** LUCKY CHENG'S IS NOT FOR CHILDREN (or even many adults). This is not a prudish judgment on my part - if you are considering bringing children there, go first by yourself and you will quickly see that it is inappropriate.
The entertainment does not really get going until 9pm or so when the place gets really full and goes on quite late. You will probably miss a lot if you show up for dinner at 8pm and are leaving at 9:30 just as things are picking up. Plan on dining late.
IT IS PART LAP DANCE AND PART OLYMPIC EVENT
There are no words to describe "it." You can ask a dancer to perform for one of your friends or yourself. This is a good way to surprise friends, co-workers, the birthday boy, the bride-to-be or just someone at another table. "It" is a one-on-one interaction with a drag queen that will entertain everyone in the restaurant but may be more than a bit embarrassing for the recipient. Let's put it this way: remember how your mother always told you to wear clean underwear because you never know when someone might see them. That applies here. Enough said, if you are curious, you will have to go and see it for yourself.
THE MENU
There is a reason why I am discussing the food last. It is really not that good. The menu is pan-asian. They have appetizers that range from $7-9 and include spring rolls and satay. The entrees range from $17-20 and include a lot of asian noodle dishes. The food was edible but uninspired. You don't go to Lucky Cheng's for a memorable food experience. They have a full liquor license and many creative mixed drinks. Ask your server for a suggestion. In my opinion, the prices are very low considering the ambiance and almost continual entertainment.
OTHER INFO
Make a reservation. There are often large groups celebrating birthdays and bachelorette parties so you don't want to arrive and not get a table. Go after 9pm, wear clean underwear and have a good time. You will have an experience to tell your friends about when you get back home. The phone number is (212) 473-0516. The web site is planetluckychengs.com.
MY MINI-GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY
Things to Do:
The Metropolitan Museum
Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty
Places to Eat:
Ruby Foo’s has Chinese food for families.
Pipa is next to Manhattan Mecca ABC Carpet & Home.
Starlight Diner is where singing servers bring your burgers.
Rue 57 fuses French and Japanese cuisine in Midtown.
Places to Stay:
The Roosevelt Hotel
The Hudson
The W on Lexington
Sheraton Manhattan
Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers
Broadway:
TKTS sells half-price tickets to Broadway shows.
Rent is an unusual Broadway rock musical legend.
Gypsy is Broadway at its best.
Wicked is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Lucky Cheng's is known for its entertainment and ambiance. Don't even think about the food - just order the first thing on the menu and then enjoy the show.
Best Suited For: Friends
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modernmarvel
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Can anyone recommend a western family dude ranch for a vacation this summer?
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