Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Eating & Drinking: Chanto in Manhattan
By
Martha Burzynski
Published Apr 7, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Martha Burzynski
Published Apr 7, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Tomorrow marks the opening of the 50th Chanto restaurant and here in New York, it's in a somewhat improbable spot- the former Moomba. We saw the cavernous space on Tuesday and, unlike the last time, there wasn't anyone oogling Victoria's Secret models, though the ground level did get its share of pretty people. The signature cocktails rely heavily on Shouchu (a Japanese liquor with less calories than most) and the one we tried, Mai, combined it with chamboard, Cointreau, passionfruit and pineapple juice for a delicious take on the French Martini. Downstairs and on the similarly red and white mezzanine, is casual and appetizer-orientated (we had some amazing, though not groundbreaking in their originality, sushi, most rolls $8) while the upstairs is lit in a different light, literally and figuratively- you can still see the West Village through the towering windows but everything is a little more elegant under chandeliers and facing black laquered walls.
At dinner, the fusion of the cuisine is more apparent from the start. We started with Tuna Carpaccio with a light and lemony mayonnaise and diced scallions ($12) and we had to remember that there were entrees coming because we tempted to just order another. For dinner the table tried both the Choki Choki Streak ($20) and Sauteed Black Cod ($20) (entrees range from $20- $42 for an Rib Eye Steak or Strip Sirloin) to good but mixed reviews. The cod was served in an amazing, creamy Sake Kasu sauce with green and white aspargus- it was paired and presently perfectly, it fell apart in our mouths but was pea-sized compared to our companions' entrees. The Choki Choki is so named for the sound that is made when servers -- handsome, adept waiters in this case -- cut the meat with kitchen scissors at the table, onto your plate. The short ribs themselves were drenched in barbeque sauce, soy, and mustard, and served atop a bed of lettuce. Again, the presentation was great but the ribs were more fatty then necassary. Chanto's wine list includes several choice not found elsewhere-like the only Japanese wine ever listed on the New York Wine Exchange, a lovely, full-bodied and warm red, the Chateau Mercian Kikogahara that our group agreed worked so well with the entrees. The desserts ($4-8), include a white sesame tiramisu, which didn't quite work in the cross-cultural interpretation, and green tea sorbet.
Chanto
133 Seventh Avenue South, between Charles and West 10th St.
(212) 463-8686
Tagged
Avenue South
models
new york
people
restaurants
Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue South
sushi
Victoria
west village
wine
Martha Burzynski
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Can opening a restaurant in a New York museum turn the food into a work of art?
These city institutions — including museums, galleries, and auction houses — are hoping customers will find a luxurious meal to be as appealing as the priceless works on the walls.
By
Joshua David Stein
Published Nov 4, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Food
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
By
Hannah Frishberg
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .