I was returning home after delivering Sweet Dreams, My Dance Critics to the New York Theatre Ballet. I decided to try something different for lunch, so I stopped into the NY Kom Tang Korean restaurant.

I got there just in time for the lunch special, and had a stew with sliced pork, vegetables and kimchi. It was served in a large metal bowl with a small flame underneath. The stew arrived still boiling. It was a tad hot at first, but the temperature remained pretty much ideal through the end of the meal. It was also served with a bowl of rice, and several small bowls of various things, some of which were identifiable (broccoli) and some less so (some sort of fish, I think). I know something about Korean food, but I am not an expert: it was exactly the sort of culinary adventure I was looking for.

The dish I chose was marked as spicy, and indeed it was fiery, but not overly so. It is possible they toned it down because I don't look Korean. I happen to like very spicy food, but if you are sensitive to spice, don't be afraid when in a restaurant like this to ask the meal to be made mild. Everyone at NY Kom Tang restaurant was friendly and the food seemed fresh, so I am sure they can accommodate individual needs.

There was plenty of food and the price was right ($8.95 plus tax - lunch special prices vary slightly depending on the item ordered).

The truly amazing thing about this restaurant, though, in a why-hasn't-anyone-thought-of-this-before way, was the chopsticks. Most Asian restaurants give you disposable wooden chopsticks. NY Kom Tang restaurant provided reusable metal chopsticks. They got the job done, and then they can be tossed in a dishwasher or sanitizer. Brilliant. Every restaurant that provides chopsticks should do something like this.

Overall, I felt that NY Kom Tang restaurant provided filling, quality food in a pleasant, but unpretentious, atmosphere at bargain prices. They are open 24 hours too, so if you are looking for food after a dance class or party at any of the many dance venues not too far away, you will never go hungry.