Faan
"Big windows make it a great spot for checking out Smith Street peds. Mao on the wall, kitschy red lanterns. Two hundred dishes from nearly every Asian country," says BlackBook. "Unfortunately, the upscale decor is just about the only thing that sets Faan apart from the local egg roll outlet. The menu offers a mixed bag of Asian dishes (from Japanese to Vietnamese to Thai), most of them reasonably fresh but bland and uninspired," writes Lauren Aaronson for New York magazine.
Citysearch's Amy O'Connor has nicer things to say about the food: "Beef with spinach is tasty, and anything with bright-flavored lemongrass is worth trying." And Time Out New York adds, "Regulars swear by the Brooklyn roll (crab, cucumber, roe and salmon) and the spicy, crunchy cashew shrimp." However, Chowhound crispy fried isn't as big a fan: "While preparation and presentation may be a notch above the typical carry-out chicken wing and fries Chinese place, the ingredients seem to have settled to that level... Faan has more than once made the bathroom the most frequented room in my house." Yowch. How would you rate this place?
Reviews (23)
Action Jackson wrote a review on February 12, 2009 12:21 PM
Utter garbage. Terrible service. Walked out last time we went.
Manitoba wrote a review on February 12, 2009 12:22 PM
When Faan first opened, it was exciting, and I probably went there 2-3 times a week, but the choices on Smith have improved so much, and Faan honestly offers such a varied menu, that it has been never been able to specialize in anything. It would be better if they restricted their menu.
Still, it is nice to sit near the windows in nice weather; sitting inside is largely depressing and overwhelming. Worth going to from time to time but not good enough compared to other places to be a regular dining experience.
Brownstones Half Off wrote a review on February 12, 2009 12:23 PM
Iz aaaight.
***Bid half off peak comps***
bowl of dicks wrote a review on February 12, 2009 12:33 PM
the Bar Below was pretty cool. i heard they closed it down because of constant fistfights.
bummer.
mrkknox wrote a review on February 12, 2009 12:58 PM
I have to agree with Manitoba...It used to be much better. I personally believe (after watching too much "kitchen nightmares" on bbc) they have many too many dishes. Pick a few and do them well.
At least it is better than Ghang Thai across the street...
Brooklyn Chicken wrote a review on February 12, 2009 1:03 PM
This must be crummy restaurant week on Brownstoner.
Shells wrote a review on February 12, 2009 1:05 PM
"Two hundred dishes..."
Therein lies the problem.
jwald wrote a review on February 12, 2009 1:14 PM
Went once, never again. Terrible service and blah food.
mopar wrote a review on February 12, 2009 1:27 PM
I went here years ago. It was absolutely disgusting.
bowl of dicks wrote a review on February 12, 2009 1:45 PM
i guess the crosswalk signal says it all.....
Brownstones Half Off wrote a review on February 12, 2009 2:10 PM
"i guess the crosswalk signal says it all....."
That was funny.
mshook wrote a review on February 12, 2009 2:20 PM
Wow, I am really impressed to see that my opinion (mediocre food and TERRIBLE service) is completely backed up by everyone here. Was served chicken in a tofu dish, and then told that's what I had ordered. Went once, years ago. Never again.
leemur187 wrote a review on February 12, 2009 2:27 PM
I had to join Brownstoner.com just to remark how nasty I think this place is. I went twice (I give places 2 chances) and both times were completely foul.
Knickerbocker wrote a review on February 12, 2009 3:03 PM
Faan was good for about a year after it opened. Not sure what went wrong - but they never got it right again.
I miss Tuk Tuk. That was quality Thai food.
Danny Noonan wrote a review on February 12, 2009 3:27 PM
wow, this may rival the downtown bar&grill as worst bstoner reviewed restaurant ever.
i havent been here in a long time, but i definitely liked it at first. but when it comes down to it, if you want thai go to joya. if you want japanese go to osaka. if you want chinese go to 100 different places. no reason to ever go here other than that it has a decent outside sitting area on the street.
oh, and the bar below - i thought was just an odd place. tried way too hard to get a downtown manhatten club feel, but just didn't cut it (not that i'd like that anyway).
dirty_hipster wrote a review on February 12, 2009 4:10 PM
Pretty freakin' terrible. good candidate for Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nighmares.
billyboomer wrote a review on February 12, 2009 4:19 PM
the food here is so bad, how does it stay open?
Cobblehillbaby wrote a review on February 12, 2009 5:25 PM
This place was great when it opened for the first 3 years or so. Bar Below was always weird, and had such low ceilings that I always felt claustrophobic and wondered what other exits there were in case of a fire. But the service was always crappy, and the food has gone waayy down hill since they opened. However, they were very good when they first opened and had a smaller menu, and when they were open and delivered til 12 or 1.
Cobblehillbaby wrote a review on February 12, 2009 5:26 PM
This place was great when it opened for the first 3 years or so. Bar Below was always weird, and had such low ceilings that I always felt claustrophobic and wondered what other exits there were in case of a fire. But the service was always crappy, and the food has gone waayy down hill since they opened. However, they were very good when they first opened and had a smaller menu, and when they were open and delivered til 12 or 1.
Cobblehillbaby wrote a review on February 12, 2009 5:26 PM
This place was great when it opened for the first 3 years or so. Bar Below was always weird, and had such low ceilings that I always felt claustrophobic and wondered what other exits there were in case of a fire. But the service was always crappy, and the food has gone waayy down hill since they opened. However, they were very good when they first opened and had a smaller menu, and when they were open and delivered til 12 or 1.
bowl of dicks wrote a review on February 12, 2009 5:58 PM
i remember when this fedders building was built back in 2000 and i do believe Faan was/is the first tenant in it's commercial space. They moved in right before the big smith street explosion, so perhaps they have a longer term, less expensive lease? idk, but this place is no more than 1/3 filled even on summery days when the doors are wide open to smith st. i also can't imagine that even a moderately busy delivery business could keep this place afloat without having cheap rent. bar below was part of the same establishment, so the booze sales could easily carry it. BB was very very popular despite it's "awkwardness". but BB closed a few years ago!
sorry to ramble on about it. just procrastinating till 6pm.....
RaginCajun wrote a review on February 12, 2009 6:03 PM
Considering there are approximately 1,500 Thai and a handful of Sushi restaurants in this area, why anyone would go here for Thai or Japanese is beyond me. It's sort of like a Diner, where the menu lists 2,000 items and they all taste like ... well, Diner. Except here, everything--including the Thai and Japanese--tastes mostly like greasy Chinese takeout.
brooklynfog wrote a review on February 13, 2009 7:36 PM
They need to bring back the bar below It was good times!
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