Republic, with Tasha

37 Union Sq West, NY, NY 10003

Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visit #: 1
In brief: 15 years young, Republic is an practically a Union Square institution. You cannot go wrong with the chicken lemongrass soup or pork chop over broken rice.

We met up with an old friend today at Republic and she made a comment that caused me to re-think my attitude toward the whole place. She, native New Yorker, has just moved back after a many year absence abroad, and she said, it's so nice that Republic is still here. So much has changed everywhere that it was reassuring to see an old familiar face. I guess 15 years is a lifetime in the changing face of city dining. When it first opened, I remember thinking pshaw, a place that claims to take from everywhere Asian will never succeed, not to mention the loud music and the bare concrete floors making it impossible to have a conversation. But it succeeds nevertheless! 15 years later I find my heart has changed toward the place, I think we'll be including it in the regular lunch roster after all.