Carma (CLOSED)

This West Village restaurant isn’t your standard dim sum joint. Instead, it serves both classic dishes and unique, pan-Asian tapas. The pork soup dumplings ($10), pan-fried pork bao ($8) and Taiwanese beef noodle soup ($12) all lean heavily on tradition. Diners looking for something outside the norm might order the foie gras soup dumplings ($16), tempura-fried eel served with burrata and cucumber ($16) or Peking duck tacos with avocado ($10). Save room for the homemade ice cream in flavors like black sesame, violet and cheesecake ($6), or go for the delicate green tea mille crepe cake ($8). To drink, order a bottle of wine or sake, or opt for a signature cocktail like the sake cherry lemonade with basil ($12). Pro tip: When the weather is nice, ask to sit outside on the restaurant’s back patio.