The Exchange Restaurant

I came here for dinner recently and have to say that I was much more impressed. In fact, impressed enough to bump this place up 2 stars!

If you don’t read this whole review, just know this: THIS PLACE IS AWESOME, HAS GREAT SERVICE, FOOD, DRINKS & ATMOSPHERE. GO HERE & YOU WON’T REGRET IT.
OK, now that that’s out of the way…
I purchased the Groupon deal for 2 appetizers, 2 entrees & 2 desserts for $ 69. We made reservations for a Saturday night, but we didn’t need them at all because the restaurant was pretty empty. I don’t know if it’s because it was the weekend or what, but I was very surprised. When we got off the subway, the streets were totally deserted– we maybe saw 20 people in the 3 block walk to the restaurant. Once inside, the hostess took our coats and brought us to our table right next to the glass wall looking into the kitchen. The service was impeccable– our waiter was super friendly and got our drink orders right away. If you like tequila, order the ‘Senors Surrender’- you won’t regret it.
For appetizers we ordered a seared ahi tuna and prosciutto wrapped quail. They were both so good that I didn’t want the entrees to arrive. Thank god they couldn’t read my mind though, because the entrees were even better than the appetizers. I ordered the roasted chicken breast with some sort of confit– duck maybe? It came with some sort of rice or risotto i think, but whatever it was, it was incredible. The skin was so crispy and thin it was like rice paper, and everything was cooked to perfection. My fiancé got the skirt steak, which was also perfectly cooked, and that came with scalloped potatoes and caramelized onions.
For dessert we got the peanut butter pie which comes with a huge scoop of ice cream and has a dark chocolate cookie crust and the coconut rice pudding. The rice pudding was good, but the peanut butter pie was SO delicious, it kind of overshadowed the pudding.
Everything was so fantastic but the best part of the meal was the service. We ordered one more round of drinks and an extra beer, but then they just brought us another round on the house. When we got the bill, they didn’t even charge us for one of the rounds– great for our waiter because we just put that towards his tip– he earned it! =)
This was our first night in New York and my first time ever to the city and what a great way to kick off the trip. I would come back here again even if I didn’t have a Groupon. If I could give it 6 stars, I would!

This restaurant is so under the radar, but completely amazing.
My boyfriend found a groupon for this place, I think it was around $ 68 for 2 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts — a great deal at even a mediocre restaurant, but completely unbelivable for this place.
First of all, it’s on the second floor of a hotel and you walk through a stunning glass hallway, where the walls are actually glass wine racks, which makes for a grand entrance. The dining room itself is dark, sexy and inviting. The best part, though, is the far wall — it is completely glass and let’s you look right into the kitchen, which is the largest restaurant kitchen I’ve ever seen, let alone in NYC. Our table for two was right next to the kitchen, which made it more of a «dinner and a show.»
For appetizers, we ordered the ahi tuna, which was a HUGE serving (at least 6 oz) of sushi-​grade ahi tuna, over pickled radishes and topped with some marinated asian garnish. On the side were a mix of scallions and more picked veg. While I wish there was more garnish to balance the tuna, the fish was fresh and light and so flavorful, and all the flavors worked togheter. My boyfriend ordred the quail wrapped with prosciutto and sage, which looked like an eggroll but tasted like a homey holiday meal thanks to the sage. Both were large portions for appetizers and delicious.
For my main course, I ordered the Chicken 2 ways with cauliflower risotto. I had the most succulent frenched chicken breast with perfectly crisp skin that came with a Chicken Thigh confit, which I devoured. It was meltingly soft and I cut it with my fork. This was over cauliflower «risotto» which was actually 100% cauliflower. Super buttery, cheesy and I had a very hard time telling there wasn’t any risotto in it. Great use of the ingredient. My boyfriend had the skirt steak, which was cooked to a perfect medium rare and served with potatoes that looked like little scallops (we actually couldnt tell until we tasted it) as well as buttery caramelized onions. Everything was absolutely five star delicious and we couldn’t get enouhg!
We were stuffed by the end of the entrée course, but since dessert was included we ordered the peanut butter pie and the coconut rice pudding. Both were out of this world — the peanut butter pie had a mix of smooth and crunch textures, with cold (from the dolce de leche ice cream) and warm (the crust), and chunks of banana hidden inside. I basically licked my plate.
The best of all was perhaps the service. Even though we used a groupon, we were treated like royalty. We each ordered two rounds of drinks, and were each given a third glass of wine for free. PLUS we were given a free plate of little dessert bites — lemon curd macarons and chocolate spritz! Never have i had such good service, let alone from a groupon find. I think they are really trying to generate good word of mouth, and it’s working.
The restuarant was fairly uncrowded for a Saturday night (we were there from 8 — 10:30), but I’d expect the crowds will come as word spreads. Definitely a great spot for a special occasion or nice evening out, especially if you live in FiDi!

The Exchange is a classic, elegant restaurant, that creates the right atmosphere from the moment you step in. My cousin Victoria live right across from the New York Stock Exchange, so she treated me and my cousin Christian here for lunch. The restaurant is clean, sophisticated, and charming with dishes that stay in your memory. The place is large enough to handle big groups, so the place is great for special events.

Came back again for my mom’s birthday, again using the Groupon. There was a little misunderstanding with the server as he said that 2 groupons could be used ONLY if there are a party of 6 or more. I showed him the Groupon and he stepped back on his stance, agreeing with charm that it is in fact applicable with 5. It’s okay, mistakes and misunderstandings happen.
We ordered a bottle of cabernet and had 4 appetizers, 5 entrees and 5 dessert. Menu changed from last time, and to be honest, the first time was much better than yesterday night. It was a bit disappointing, not as experimental. Played very safe, and some plates were very bland.
Appetizers:
Curried Cauliflower Soup — I think this was the best appetizer out of the 4 we had that night. Pureed, light and a little sweet. More flavor than you expect.
House Smoked Atlantic Salmon
Slow Cooked Lamb Leg
Foie Gras Terrine — Why didn’t anyone tell me how fattening foie gras is?! BAH! Killed it. Must’ve had 3 – 4 oz of it alone. Came with this kimchee «sauce». more like a sweet jam.
Entrees:
Lightly Smoked Hake — no like.
Roasted Pork Shoulder and Crisp Skin Belly — good with the mustard.
28 Day Dry Aged Beef Strip Loin — My dad finished it before I could.
Red Wine Braised Rabbit Leg — Good. Gamey, but still was wanting more.
Seared Rare Atlantic Salmon — always a good safe thing to get at any restaurant. The Exchange delivered.
All in all, I’ll still come back. I just hope that they are more experimental with their meals next time I am here. The big long shadows of SHO Shaun Hergatt looms greatly over them. I shouldn’t compare the two (given their different philosophies to food), but with Chef Capone having been under Hergatt for a couple years. more please! :)

Very good food, good service, very nice setting. One of the best options near Wall St under $ 50 a head, great for casual business lunch or dinner.

I found a great deal to eat at the exchange restaurant through groupon. It was valued at $ 70 but the restaurant experience is well above that price.
I had reservations to eat at The exchange the day before Valentine’s day so we had the whole restaurant to ourselves. Let me start off by saying that the interior design gives a feel of being very elegant and shic. To get to the dinning room you have to walk through a wine holding passageway that looks like something from the Matrix movie.
The staff is spot on with their recommendations and knowledge of the food. Mario and his food runner Marcelo gave my girlfriend and I the best service i have seen in a restaurant. The food was incredible everything from appetizer to dessert was delicious. Def start your meal with the Pâté sampler. We also ordered the salmon and tuna tartar, just thinking about it makes my mouth water. The sirloin was very tender and the Olia sauce it is served with gives it a creamy citrus kick. We asked for the Lamb dish and we expected something different then what they served, but it was still very good. They have a dessert with basil and ice cream soufflé it was different. The dessert that won us over was a Carmel chocolate with pomegranates a cure for the sweet tooth. Mmmmmmmmm. They change their menu I believe every so often so each time you go it is a different food experience.
The groupon covers the food but not drinks. The bill came out to be a very small amount and they even gave us a complementary champagne and a glass of wine. They really went above and beyond to give us such a great experience. I give this place 5 stars and recommend this place. What is funny is that I had a huge fight with my gf before this day. I can tell you now that after The Exchange Restaurant I’m no longer in the dog house.
Happy eating

Organized a RW lunch with my coworkers. Nicely decorated, large space. I think there was only one other table occupied when we came at noon. It was a bit more full by 1ish, but still relatively empty, especially given how large the space is.
Food is pretty decent, though not as good as the Sho Shaun days. I had the refreshing endive salad, nicely textured gnocci, and ended with the ice cream. My coworkers lamb entrees were huge. I heard the starting soup was a bit overly salted. The desserts left something to be desired.

We bought a groupon certificate for this restaurant and came in without high expectations. However, we were wowed with the attentiveness and courteousness of the service, the well executed dishes, and the ample portions. Overall, we left the restaurant extremely pleased with the experience.
Compared to the previous restaurant Sho, which we also frequented two years ago, the restaurant has not changed all that much. In fact, suffice it to say that the celebrity branding of the former restaurant was overrated. Now that Shaun Hergautt is replaced with a lesser known chef, the hype is gone but the quality remains.

Came here with my boyfriend for an anniversary dinner. Found this place through groupon and Unilocal and eventually went with a groupon for 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 desserts for $ 69. When we went, it was also restaurant week, which had a similar 2 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts deal, but it was $ 38/​person for dinner and you had a more limited menu to order off of in comparison to the groupon which was a la carte.
That being said, the location is perfect for a upscale, quiet and romantic evening out. Especially given that it’s in the financial district and within a few blocks of our apt! Service was great– everyone was extremely friendly and very attentive. Took the time to introduce our dishes as they were served.
I had the pork belly appetizer and my bf got the foie gras, both were delicious, but the pork belly had a bit too much fat on it for my liking. Taste was phenomenal. For entrees, I had the duck while my bf had the beef strip loin. I have to admit his was the better choice. The was just a bit too much for me as it had sausage in it as well along with veggies and what seemed like rice pilaf. His beef on the other hand had a great tenderness to it and was very well seasoned. Please note that their menu seems to change pretty often. For dessert we had the pineapple soufflé and the chocolate carmel tart, both were quite good but not out of this world.
I would definitely come back here if I was looking for an intimate, quiet, and upscale evening of fine dining. It’s close by and you really can’t beat the price for the surroundings and service.

I ate at The Exchange for dinner on 1÷16÷13 and enjoyed immaculate service, good food, and a ritzy venue. Upon entering, my company and I were greeted by a maitre d’ who clearly knew how to handle the kind of high-​end clientele he likely sees in the Financial District. He took our coats and led us to a well-​appointed dining room with a sleek, modern style.
We started with the foie gras and pâté & terrines. The foie gras was as smooth and buttery as could be hoped for, and it came with a couple of different types of bread. The pâté & terrines presented an excellent opportunity to try a variety of different foods, as it came with over a dozen components.
For the main course, I had the pork loin, and my company had duck confit. Given that I ate about a third of hers, I can comfortably say that each was amazing. Apart from the general mindfulness for high-​quality ingredients and careful cooking to maintain tenderness that one generally finds in fine-​dining establishments, the flavours offered some pleasant surprises. There were both staid and creative items on the changing menu, and I’d imagine that most visitors could find something that piqued their fancy.
For desert, my company had a unique ice cream topped with sugared cilantro. I wouldn’t have expected the pairing to work, but it was excellent. I had an ice-​cream sandwich caramel ice cream, a brownie, and toasted mallow, which was a bit less interesting but nevertheless delicious by sheer nature of the ingredients.
I’ll end with the highlight of the night, which was the service: Every member of The Exchange’s staff that we encountered was not only polite polite but proactively and patently striving for good service. My company was offered a refill of her pinot noir on the house, and the manager made pleasant small talk. At the end of the night, we were even asked to offer constructive criticism so that The Exchange could address any aspect of their experience that was remiss. I was hard pressed to come up with anything that could be improved, though my company, who styles herself as something of a wine connoisseur, had something to say about twisting the bottle after pouring. My company was dismayed to find that she had lost one of her earrings, but as we headed down the street into the (literally) freezing night, the wonderful manager Antonio chased us down and returned them, found near her seat. Now that’s service.

I was excited to find out from Unilocal that The Exchange is located at the same spot where SHO Shaun Hergatt used to be and inherited the same interior design. A friend and I came here for the 2013 Winter Restaurant Week lunch menu. The place really looked exactly the same as before, and seating was very comfy. This is no doubt one of the excellent restaurants in the Financial District.
Appetizer — I had the squash soup, which tasted quite special and better (IMO) than the squash soup I’d had at other restaurants. The light sourness due to the blended cranberries was able to open up my appetite for the rest of the meal. The lamb dish (forgot the name) that my friend picked was like marinated pulled lamb served on a thick piece of bread. The bread had been soaked in the lamb sauce, and the whole thing was delicious. The portion was so big that a small eater might get full from it.
Entrée — I had the roasted chicken. Not being a fan of chicken in general, I had to admit this roasted chicken was very well done. The meat was so tender and juicy, and the skin was perfectly roasted and was so crispy. As to my friend’s pasta dish, we could feel that it was home-​made pasta because texture of the pasta felt so good, though the taste was just okay.
Dessert — I had the peach parfait and my friend had the tri-​flavored ice-​cream. Both were great.
Service — I must mention that service was friendly, attentive and professional, which is a big plus compared to some other restaurants where staff was inattentive or rude during RW.

Restaurant Week is like my second Christmas, but I’m fairly picky about the menus. The Exchange’s didn’t especially piqué my interest, but I was treating my brother to dinner and it was his choice.
Yes, the place was dead, but it’s the FiDi — I imagine they have a pretty big crowd at lunch. The service, as other reviewers noted, was exceptional and seamless. However, after doing some research prior to dinner, I was surprised to see the main menu, which included only half of what was posted online and was also missing the lamb shank I was sold on. I also noticed some differences on the RW menu, but I’ll assume they had some supplier issues.
I can’t rate 5 stars because some components on the dishes were excessive and other details that were overlooked, which I would expect at places with entrees for far less than $ 30. My beef tongue appetizer was over-​salted, too heavily sauced, and too large a portion so it ended up looking sloppy and heavy-​handed. My brother’s salad was absolutely coated in grated ricotta salata, which is very salty, and my pork loin was also grossly over-​salted. The highlights of the dinner were the desserts and my glass of pinot noir, which was an absolute steal at $ 10. By the way, they have an amazing wine selection that you’ll pass in a architectural glass tunnel on the way in.
If I were to return, I’d get a table by the open kitchen in the back.

Wow, what a difference a night makes.
Couple of nights ago we were at ALFAMA with our GroupOn. Tonight at SETAI.
I am truly amazed.
I don’t care if this restaurant is not full of people. We got great service. Food is incredibly tasty, plentiful. And no limits on the choices with the GroupOn voucher.
I even asked for a bottle of wine I saw on display at the entrance. They opened it the same price as the other Pinot Noir on the menu.
Also, I asked for a port with my desert and since they were out of that port, they offered a glass of Moscado with no charge.
I am so glad these guys figured out how to get the most out of GroupOn voucher system.
You know what, as soon as I got home I got two more coupons and asked our best friends to join us at Setai next time.
Well done guys.

I LOOOOVED this restaurant. Came here on a saturday for dinner, was a little hesitant at first because there was literally no body… as soon as the food arrived, I was impressed. Ordered pork belly and pâté. amazing. They brought up 6 – 7 different sauces and sides just for the appetizers. Had the fluke as entrée, simply delicious. I had an amazing experience from the service to the quality of the food to the price. not to mention the décor and open kitchen was beautiful. What a great touch to my evening. I’ll definitely be back.

formerly sho shaun hergatt. but, the space is exactly the same… albeit the food is different. still does seafood wonderfully though.
i feel so bad for this restaurant. its in a crappy location (wall st)… but, its such a swanky looking place and the prices are so so so so so affordable! & the service was excellent. i really loved the fluke in the carrot vinaigrette! also the pineapple soufflé was really creative & delicious! they have a $ 42 pre fixe meal which i feel like everyone should run over and take advantage of.
sigh, i hope they dont go under just b/​c of their location.
i would say you dont even need a reservation b/​c they never seem to be busy. which actually works out for you as a diner… service is over the top excellent b/​c they arent harried by a million+ diners… & the food is prepared with care b/​c the chefs behind you only have a few tables to look after (open kitchen). i love open kitchens! & let me tell ya, this one is IMMACULATE! its really beautiful and just shining… you know everything in there is just SPOTLESS. probably the cleanest meal you can have in NYC! hehehe

The Exchange is a restaurant in the Setai in the financial district in the former space of SHO Shaun Hergatt.
SHO used to be touted as the premier restaurant in the financial district before Shaun Hergatt’s contract ended. The Asian themed décor is the same and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
On the Friday evening when I went the restaurant did not have too many customers, but I don’t know if that’s par for the course or if the restaurant is in transition. The menu only has about ten appetizers and eight main courses, but the prices are reasonable so you can get a glimpse of the former SHO at a fraction of the price.
I enjoyed the poached quince salad and skate entrée, both of which had an excellent presentation.