RedFarm

Is RedFarm worth booking for a late dinner on the Upper West Side?

Yes — RedFarm on Broadway is one of the stronger Chinese restaurant bets on the Upper West Side, and it holds up later into the evening when most neighborhood options have shut their kitchens. Chef Joe Ng runs a program that has earned consecutive recognition from Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America list: recommended in 2023, ranked #293 in 2024, and #452 in 2025. That slight slide in ranking is worth noting, but a top-500 position on OAD's Casual list still places it well ahead of the vast majority of Chinese restaurants in New York City.

The room on Broadway reads as polished without being precious — this is a sit-down dinner destination, not a quick-service spot. For a date night or a relaxed celebration on the Upper West Side, the setting holds its own. It is not the place for a formal business meal with a private room and tableside theater, but for a special occasion that calls for good food and a comfortable room rather than white-glove formality, RedFarm delivers.

When to go and what to expect

RedFarm is open until 10 pm every night of the week, which makes it a genuine late-dinner option by Manhattan standards , most neighborhood Chinese restaurants close earlier or stop seating at 9:30 pm. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays it also runs a lunch service from noon to 3 pm, which is the right call if you want a less pressured experience or are planning around a matinee or weekend afternoon. Weekday access is dinner-only, so plan accordingly.

The temporal context here matters: the current OAD ranking reflects 2025 data, meaning the kitchen's quality signal is recent, not a legacy reputation coasting on old press. A Google rating of 4.4 across more than 1,000 reviews adds a useful second data point , high volume at that score indicates consistent execution rather than a handful of outlier visits.

Booking and logistics

Booking difficulty at RedFarm is rated Easy. Same-week reservations are generally available, and you are unlikely to be locked out if you plan a few days ahead. The exception is Friday and Saturday dinner, where the combination of a desirable neighborhood and a limited-hour kitchen can push demand , book those slots three to five days out to be safe. Walk-ins may be possible on weekday evenings, but a reservation is always the lower-risk approach.

Practical details at a glance

For other Chinese restaurant options across New York City, see Asian Jewel Seafood Restaurant, Blue Willow, and Chongqing Lao Zao for different style and neighborhood profiles. Our full New York City restaurants guide covers the wider category.

How it fits into the wider NYC picture

If you are staying or spending time on the Upper West Side, RedFarm is the obvious answer for Chinese food at dinner. If you are willing to travel into Chinatown or Queens for a more specialized regional Chinese experience, venues like Big Wong or Alley 41 offer a different register entirely. For Chinese dining at the creative-restaurant level in other cities, Mister Jiu's in San Francisco and Restaurant Tim Raue in Berlin are the points of comparison worth knowing. RedFarm sits between neighborhood convenience and genuine critical credibility , that combination is harder to find than it sounds in a city with as much competition as New York.

For broader planning, Pearl also covers New York City hotels, bars, wineries, and experiences.

Frequently asked questions

• Is lunch or dinner better at RedFarm? Lunch (available Friday through Sunday, noon to 3 pm) is the lower-pressure option and a good entry point if you are uncertain about the venue. Dinner runs every night until 10 pm and gives you more flexibility on timing. Neither service has a clear quality edge based on available data, so let your schedule decide.
• How far ahead should I book RedFarm? For weekday dinners, two to three days ahead is usually enough. For Friday or Saturday dinner, aim for three to five days out. RedFarm's booking difficulty is rated Easy, so last-minute availability is possible but not guaranteed on peak evenings.
• Does RedFarm handle dietary restrictions? Specific dietary accommodation details are not confirmed in our data. Contact the restaurant directly before booking if dietary needs are a factor in your decision.
• What should a first-timer know about RedFarm? RedFarm is an OAD-recognized Chinese restaurant on the Upper West Side run by chef Joe Ng. It sits at the more serious end of neighborhood Chinese dining in Manhattan, with a 4.4 Google rating across more than 1,000 reviews providing a reliable quality signal. Booking is easy, hours are generous, and weekend lunch is available if you prefer a more relaxed first visit.
• Can I eat at the bar at RedFarm? Bar seating details are not confirmed in our data. If bar dining is your preference, call ahead to confirm availability before arriving.
• Is RedFarm good for solo dining? The easy booking and neighborhood restaurant format make it a practical solo option. Chinese menus at this price tier typically allow for flexible ordering, making solo visits workable without committing to large-format dishes.
• Can RedFarm accommodate groups? Group-specific details, including private dining or large-table availability, are not confirmed in our data. For groups of four or more, contact the restaurant directly to confirm seating arrangements before booking.

For further comparison across the US, Pearl covers venues including Lazy Bear in San Francisco, Smyth in Chicago, Providence in Los Angeles, Emeril's in New Orleans, The French Laundry in Napa, and Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg.