Dinner at Tatiana – One of the Hardest Reservations in NYC

Tatiana (in Lincoln Center) is the restaurant everyone in NYC won’t stop talking about…and for good reason. Chef Kwame Onwuachi, a Bronx native and culinary genius (yea, I said it), has created a menu that blends Afro-Caribbean, West African, and Creole flavors.

Oh, and if you haven’t heard, it was crowned the number one restaurant in NYC by The New York Times in 2024. NBD.

Getting in, however, is like trying to avoid surge pricing when it’s raining. Translation for non-New Yorkers = damn near impossible. I snagged a 5 PM reservation through no actual doing of my own. My friend had the wise foresight to set her Resy alerts and when she got a confirmation, she (thankfully) asked me. If you’re a fan of my content, you know ya girl loves nothing more than an early bird special. I am 40, after all.

Kwame Onwuachi didn’t just open a restaurant, he opened a love letter to his roots. The name “Tatiana” is a nod to his sister, which is kind of adorable if you think about it (if you like your siblings). His menu is inspired by the foods and cultures he grew up with, and he somehow manages to make every dish taste like it belongs in both your family dinner spread and an art gallery. It’s food with a story (as all good food should be), and let me tell you, I’m all ears when it tastes this good.

Curried Goat Patties

The Food: Worth the Hype (and the Hunger Games Reservation Process)
I went in starving, and I left in a blissful food coma. Literally don’t remember the last time I was that full. Here’s what stood out:

  • Curried Goat Patties: Flaky, buttery pastry wrapped around spiced goat meat that will make you question why you’ve been settling for subpar empanadas your whole life. The waitress had to convince us to try these because “goat” is usually not on my list of meats I like to eat, but I’m really glad she did. Highlight of the apps, hands down.
  • Egusi Dumplings: These beauties are stuffed with egusi, a West African melon seed stew, and they’re basically little pockets of joy. Not nearly as good as the goat patties, but still good.
  • Oxtail & Crab Rangoon: These were another fried dumpling situation stuffed with, you guessed it, a crab rangoon mixture and oxtail. Goat patties still ranked #1, but these were #2, and the Egusi dumplings were #3 (for us, anyway).
  • BBQ “Takeout Mushrooms”: Mushrooms that somehow taste like BBQ pork? Witchcraft. I literally kept checking to make sure it wasn’t pork. Vegans, rejoice. The scallion pancakes it came with were rather thick and doughy, not a normal scallion pancake, but it didn’t take away from the dish.
  • Wagyu Short Rib Pastrami Suya: This. Dish. The meat was SO tender and so flavorful…they serve this with coco bread and melted cabbage slaw so you can make little sliders out of it. I did. You should too. It’s life-changing.
  • Cosmic Brownie (if you’ve got room): A fancy nod to the bodega snack aisle. I didn’t try it because I was one bite away from bursting, but word on the street is it’s incredible. I kind of have regrets now.

Short Rib Pastrami Suya

Takeout Mushrooms

Why You Should Go (If You Can Get In)
Tatiana isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience. Chef Kwame isn’t here to just feed you — he’s here to teach you, inspire you, and make you wonder why other restaurants even try. It’s bold, it’s delicious, and it’s the perfect place to flex your “I got a reservation at Tatiana” status on Instagram/TikTok.

Pro Tips:

  1. Set Resy alerts. Set multiple. Pray to the reservation gods.
  2. If you get a res, don’t show up fashionably late; they literally might give your table away.
  3. If you can’t get a res, just show up before 5 PM (when they open) and get in line. There was already a long line outside when I arrived at around 4:50, so I’d recommend 4:30 if it’s decent weather, 4:45 if it’s not.
  4. Go hungry. Like, really hungry.

Address: 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 5 PM – 10 PM. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Website: tatiananyc.com

If you manage to get a table, pat yourself on the back and prepare for one of the best meals of your life. If not, well, keep trying. You’re not alone in the Resy struggle.

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