Tatiana

Reservations: Tatiana is currently one of hardest reservations to get in New York City (with good reason). They accept reservations through Resy up to 28 days in advance, and they go live at 12PM EST. I suggest logging into Resy (make sure you’re fully logged in) around 11:55AM, setting the date for 28 days out, and refreshing until the reservations open up. You’ll need to move quickly because they fill up in seconds. It will be helpful to have a credit card already saved in your Resy account as well. I’ve had luck on Tuesdays but I would check everyday if you’re serious. I have also had luck through the Resy notify system so set as many of those as you’d like. Finally, they do accept walk-ins for their bar but it only seats 6 so be prepared to wait. I would make sure the weather is nice and arrive at least an hour before opening.

Experience: Despite being situated on the Upper West Side and right across from Lincoln Center, Tatiana is anything but stuffy. The vibe is both classy and chill, as dictated by the clientele (on my last visit I was seated next to Jodi Foster, who was wearing high top Nike Dunks). The music, which is on the loud side, is a nostalgic mix of hip-hop and R&B. The servers find the perfect balance of being casual yet fully informed and professional.

Food: The food is phenomenal. It’s a mix of Afro-Caribbean cuisine that is both welcoming to those who know it well and inviting to those who don’t. My recommendations are the hamachi escovitch, the egusi dumplings, the oxtail and crab rangoons, and the fried branzino. If you’re on the fence about dessert, I’d skip it and opt for another cocktail instead. I’ve yet to try a dessert here that has blown me away.

Who to Bring: Tatiana is a rare restaurant where I dare say you can bring anyone. This is the ideal place for a boozy friends dinner or a swanky date, but you can also get away with bringing your parents or co -workers. If the latter, I recommend an early reservation (before 7PM) to try to avoid overlapping with a rowdy group. The music can get loud so it’s not the place for a serious conversation.

What to Wear: Wear the dress! Wear the heels! This is the place to show up and show out. Most come in the classic New York dressy casual (e.g. jeans with a silky blouse and heels or high end sneakers paired with a quality sweater for men). But you will certainly see women in dresses and heels. The fountain outside Lincoln Center makes a great photo opportunity so take advantage!

Clockwise from left to right: Crab Dumplings, Caesar Salad, Brown Stew Chicken, Codfish and Cornbread, Braised Oxtails, Curry Goat Empanadas, Truffle Chopped Cheese, and Hamachi Escovitch.