While We Were Young Kitchen & Cocktails

Came here with friends and had a really unpleasant experience. One of us unknowingly vaped inside, and instead of approaching us discreetly, the bartender screamed across the bar. Everyone turned to look—it was embarrassing and completely unnecessary. A simple, respectful reminder would have done the job. Totally unprofessional and ruined the vibe. Won’t be coming back.

Made reservations for this lovely restaurant, and we were absolutely delighted! My friends and I met up for girls night and let me tell you, the cocktails and food options are perfect for a girls night out. Every cocktail we tried was better than the last and the truffle fries were to die for! I would 100% recommend making reservations, even for a small party, since the restaurant space is small and limited to only a few tables and seats at the bar. The atmosphere was delightful though, and the server we had was lovely. Will definitely be back again :)

Super cute spot! The food and drinks were delicious and totally Instagram-worthy. But about an hour and 20 minutes into our reservation, we were given the check and told they had another reservation coming in at 7:30. It felt really abrupt and honestly kind of rude. I get that it’s a small place, but there were still a few open tables, so it didn’t make much sense. Kinda left a bad vibe—don’t think we’ll be coming back.

Love this small, elegant bar in the west village. Always great drinks and service. However it is small, and can easily run out of seats.

Such a cute spot with great vibes! We had the Burrata and the Chicken & Waffles — both were absolutely excellent. Also, it was no problem at all that we only had tap water. In other places, that might have been an issue, but the staff here was super nice. Perfect place for a relaxed and stylish brunch in NYC. Highly recommend!

PS: After several visits, we did notice that the portion sizes can be quite small, so it’s probably not the best spot to come with a big appetite.

Great location with attentive service. Cocktail menu barely beats the food menu, highly recommend for a memorable moment. We sat inside and loved the pink vibes. Burger and Burrata were our favs & the Plan B cocktail!

Stephen makes the experience - he is the most delightful curator of good times. The amazing cocktails and yummy food only underscore this experience - this is a place you need to experience at least once in your life....if not 100 times if possible.

All around wonderful!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Not sure how but it said i rated this restaurant a one star 4 years ago but ive never been so enjoy a 5 star on me ❤️

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Stumbled upon this cocktail bar while walking around the city and so happy I did! The cocktails were absolutely fabulous and well priced and the service was amazing! Would recommend for anyone looking for a cocktail and snack!

Definitely recommend the fries and martini special 🍸✨

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

I revisited this place last weekend after first coming here seven years ago when I first arrived in the US. It felt both familiar and new at the same time. The clean, stylish decor still makes it a great spot for brunch or a date with friends.

I ordered the Avocado Toast with the "While We Were Young" cocktail. The combination of cheese, nuts, and avocado on the toast was amazing - I couldn't help but exclaim while eating! The addition of Cajun sauce made it feel even more unique.

The vodka-based cocktail was perfectly balanced - not too weak, not too strong. I was really satisfied with my choices. They even surprised us with a complimentary dessert: a brownie topped with mascarpone and honeycomb. It was exactly to my taste, so I finished it all despite being full!

It's been a while since I've enjoyed a meal out this much. The bartenders and servers were friendly throughout our visit, which made the experience even better. Thanks for giving me such a great weekend!😊

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Avocado Sandwich

Easily one of the best meals I’ve ever had. While We Were Young caught our eyes as we were skipping through the neighborhood. Decided to stop in for an early dinner + cocktails out on the patio. Holy Moses.

Everything was incredible. The dumplings. The salads. The gnocchi. THE COCKTAILS. The service.

We were in the city for 5 days, and this is the only meal we’re still talking about. So good. Highlight of the trip for sure.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Stephen’s great!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Such a cute spot in a great neighborhood. We loved how creative their menu was and their manager Stephen was very kind and personable. Will definitely be back next time we’re in the city.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

I came for the outside seating on a pitch-perfect summer evening and the people-watching, but the food was excellent. The kale salad was unique --wonderfully complex and satisfying. The Brussels were great, if more normative. The staff let us linger and enjoy the night.

Vegetarian options: Kale salad

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Kale Salad