For U 蜀哩.

For U 蜀哩

I saved this Third Avenue restaurant as Sichuan, and its own site names no dish, no cook and no region.1

Why go

Neha Talreja's Sichuan guide for The Infatuation runs the length of the city and does not carry this room.2 Four of hers are in the East Village: Szechuan Mountain House, Mala Project, Spicy Moon and Han Dynasty. Szechuan Mountain House puts koi ponds and bamboo booths around a mapo tofu and a mao xue wang, and Talreja says both go right for the jugular; its East Village room is hard to get into without a reservation. Mala Project opened its first room in the East Village in 2015 and specializes in dry pot you build yourself. Spicy Moon cooks the vegan version. Han Dynasty is the one Talreja orders the same three things at every time: dan dan noodles, garlic-heavy wontons, and dry pot fish in a small sizzling wok.2

Order this / avoid

• Avoid: planning an evening around it. The restaurant publishes no menu.1

What locals & experts say

• Neha Talreja, in The Infatuation, on the dry pot at Mala Project: the kitchen specializes in spicy dry pot, which you can customize with your choice of vegetables, meats, noodles, and spice level.2
• The same guide, on the other East Village option: Szechuan Mountain House also runs rooms in Flushing and Midtown, and the Flushing one takes walk-ins when the East Village tables are gone.2

Good to know

• Timing: lunch through dinner, seven days.1

Jeff's take (his words)

• Note: "Sichuan"

Verdict

could-visit — The door is open and that is all I can promise you. If the point of the night is Sichuan, walk to one of the four East Village rooms The Infatuation stands behind: Szechuan Mountain House, Mala Project, Spicy Moon or Han Dynasty.