About

Located on the ground floor of Hotel on Rivington in NYC’s Lower East Side, CO-OP Food & Drink is based on the co-operative principle of bringing together different services and products under one space for everyone’s benefit. Under the leadership of Executive Chef Victor Startek, they bring together different ingredients, flavors and cultures that reflect the diversity that is the Lower East Side.

The three drinks and entree for brunch for $22.00 is a true bargain. Drinks (Mimosa, Bloody Mary or Bellini) are definitely better than average. Entrees choices were extremely varied, with a knockout chicken and waffles. That day it was also very quiet. We, a group of seven, could actually hear each other. Maybe no one knows about this place.

Waiters and servers are basically non-existent in this restaurant and this is a warning that you will get very poor service. I went on a Friday night with a girlfriend and the restaurant was totally empty except for 2 other tables. No one was there to take us to our table and we had to wait ~8 minutes (very confusedly) for someone on staff. The food was very mediocre (DO NOT get the chicken tacos). I would highly not recommend this place.

I was in charge of selecting a reservation for my best friends birthday and this turned out to be and awful experience and embarrassing for me as the person who was supposed to plan a fun dinner / night out. When we first sat down the waiter asked the birthday girl if it was her birthday which was supposed to be a surprise (way to go!). We were asked about our order before being given restaurant week menus. This should have been given to us from the start. It took forever for our drinks to come out, about 30 minutes. When we finally ordered food (5 of us ordered from the restaurant week menu and 2 did not), the first appetizer came out for everyone ordering from restaurant week and the 2 people who ordered from the regular menu had ALL of there food come out - appetizers, main dishes, side dishes. They obviously felt funny eating their main dish when we just had our first appetizer so they waited to eat it and it was awkward and it got cold. About an hour later the restaurant week menu orderers had their main entree come out...our 2nd appetizer was never served. We had to ask about it and it then took another 45 minutes. When our desert came out the birthday cake was not brought out for the birthday girl which we told the hostess and our waiter about at least 3 times. We had to tell them again and then about 20 minutes 2 people came out with cake (after we all already ate our dessert). COMPLETELY DISORGANIZED. Dinner was over 4 hours which caused a problem for all of us to go out after dinner and some people missed the train they planned on catching back home. I would highly not recommend.

I have heard great things about the atmosphere of this restaurant so decided to come for restaurant week with a friend. The waitress would come to the table and leave and disappear for 30 minutes at a time. The food came out cold the first time, and another waiter happily took the food back, and brought it back cold again. Then the dessert choices on the restaurant week menu were no longer available at 8PM on a Thursday night. Very disappointing experience.

Great find! Stumbled across this place trying to find a local place to take my boyfriend out for a nice, romantic birthday dinner. Pleasantly surprised that it was part of the hotel because it definitely didn't feel like it at all. The service was amazing and Leo our server was terrific. He totally went above and beyond by seating us at a nice corner table and he even sent out a birthday dessert. Thanks so much for making it a great night. Can't wait to go again!!!

If you are looking for boozy brunch, this is the place to go.The menu advertise $22 for brunch with 3 glasses of drinks.3 of us went there, and they gave us 2 PITCHERS. Not 9 glasses, but 2 PITCHERS.That is like 12 glasses. We can't even finish them!!

Food taste... it was decent. I won't said it is extraordinary. But the Plating looks very fancy.

Portion are decent. I had country fried steak w/ 2 eggs, biscuit and gravy, they give me 2 palm size steak, 1 biscuit and 2 eggs (your way). I asked for extra gravy... that was the trick. They charged $3 for 3 soup spoon that much of gravy... they should had told us they charge for the gravy.

I loved everything about this place the decor, food and service were exceptional. Only one small flaw,after course 3 it takes to long before the final two courses to arrive but at least it made us just a little bit hungry again and the dishes were so good it was worth the wait. I asked for my steak medium and for once this year, I found a restaurant (Co-op ) that does it to perfection. You will not be disappointed with the food or the atmosphere of beautiful patrons, noise level low enough to allow for private conversations, no need to raise your voice. Only con, food service could be faster, but over all, great restaurant.

Reserved an 8 pm table for 5. Many tables were vacant, but were filled by 10. We asked waitress if we could choose drinks to be made - other than what was on the menu & seemed to be annoyed by the question & answered no. Assuming her reaction had to stem from the fact that customers must perpetually ask same question, since drink selection was slim. Menu only provided dry wines & brute champagne. Spouse & I Chose mojitos. Waitress Was annoyed when asked for new drinks because not well made, but accommodated us. I chose mango Bellini & my Spouse had Stella beer. Bellini wasn't great. Delicious apps-edamame, sweet potato sushi rolls & peppers. Enjoyable Entrees-fish & chicken tacos, Ginger chicken. 3 Dessert to only choose from-all bland.

It's rare to find a restaurant with good food and good ambiance. This place had both! I loved the decor and the food choices (from tacos to sushi) and the drinks were yummy too. It's not cheap though so I would recommend this place for special occasions.

The staff was awesome, great friendly service. The food wasn't very good. We were disappointed that the items listed on their menu on their website that sounded the best were not on the menu that night. We had planned to get meals off of the large plate section and instead we got a taco flight and a sliders flight and an appetizer. So date night turned into a happy hour-esque experience. Even for happy hour style food it was pretty mediocre. Pluses were the sangria was very good and one of the sliders came on a biscuit that was tasty. My favorite dish of the evening was the watermelon salad. Very pleased to have it prepared with avocado rather than the typical cheeses often used.

I really enjoyed brunch. My food was delicious, and I really enjoyed the decor. It was rather empty, but I do believe it's a vibrant scene at night. The dining room looks cool so I will try it at dinner time!

Overall my experience with Co-Op was great. The environment is cool, the food is good, everything is reasonably priced and the cocktails are great as well...but when I went on a Tuesday night at 7:30ish it was EMPTY! Although the environment doesnt "make" a restaurant, I think Co-Op would be a much cooler experience if there was a buzzing atmosphere around you. Go for the awesome service and a good picture in front of the wall of pictures but make sure to go on a weekend when the environment is a bit more lively!

I wouldnt say this place is fit for foodies, menu wanst special and kind of expensive for what you get. The decor and drink menu make up the entire experince and would make me go back. A good place to take a group new to the city but just be prepared to spend $$.

M-TH, Co-op does 1/2 off a bottle of wine! Amazing! I love hanging out with the girls here. Yet, the catch, you cannot do it with restaurant week! I found this a bit unfortunate because we were excited to have a fabulous night out. Nonetheless, the wine list is basic, i do appreciate that it is not snobby. Food is good, but the prices are odd. The waitress does not seem to know much about the food or care if you order a little or a lot. The cocktail are really fun though. I would recommend going to the bar and having some drinks. Pass on food.

I have been to Co-Op multiple times and this was my worst experience. Food still spectacular. House cocktails still amazing. Less than enthused with my waitress. She couldn't give a...about our orders, messed up my friend's 2nd round drink order (same as 1st, but brought someone else's 1st round to him). Also, their menus are printed on cardboard and look like the ones I saw when I was there for pre-open. Stained, torn, beaten up. Doesn't speak well to a place that isn't a cheap eat.

CO-OP has an awesome vibe with giant prints of notable celebrities, most of which seem to be associated with NYC. The place is usually rather empty, which is surprising since the food is good. Maybe the food is a bit expensive for being predominately small plates and located in LES (which has several cheap eateries), but the pricey is nearly on-par with other restaurants downtown. That may reflect the lack of a scene, or maybe it is because the restaurant is so far in the back of a a hotel, but this is our second time there, and we really enjoyed it, and we prefer a place that is not too full. We had the fish curry, scallops and salmon, which are all larger places and fully worth recommending. Our server was very friendly and helpful.

"Meh" is probably the best explanation for my experience at CO OP, the place was completely dead until about 10-10:30 (Saturday night), which was kind of embarrassing as I had a group of friends in from out of town. They try to do "small plates" which is usually great for groups.....however you can't actually share any of their small plates, except the Sushi Rolls (very hard to share one taco or slider between six people) so it ends up being a mess (interesting concept). Best thing we had were their traditional beef sliders (but not everyone could try them), and the CO OP roll was very flavorful. Service was not bad and not good...

In Sept. 2013 went for a bday brunch with a pretty big group. It was amazing, food, drinks, music and service were all great. Good bubbly and yummy peach puree in the bellinis.. Went back in March 2014 for another group brunch and was slightly disappointed with the drinks. The quantity was great but the quality has gone downhill significantly. The quality of champagne has decreased significantly, felt like we were drinking mimosas at a college party and that yummy peach puree was nowhere in sight. It was so bad a group who is filled with pretty big drinkers even left some of the drinks on the table and that is an absolute first. Service was still great, atmosphere fun, and food was yummy but we wont be going back here sadly for the brunch.

This LES restaurant is not a standout but excellent if you are looking for inventive ways that Japanese cooking can be served. Not everything here is Japanese (e.g. . the pulled pork slider was great). The miso cured salmon dish was excellent and the meat moist with a nice shredded lemon sprinkled salad on the side. The mustard glazed short ribs were tender and flavorful. All sides cost extra. This practice is not exactly to my liking but I do have to say that the miso glazed mushrooms (several varieties) were excellent.

If you go early (Say, before 8 p.m.) it will be relatively quiet. Go after that and all bets are off. The shape of the room and the hard surfaces are guaranteed to make sound bounce all over the place.

I reserved a table for 8 for a bday brunch at 2pm over a week prior to our reservation. I called the day before and was told there were no issues and everything was set. However 3 hours before we were supposed to be there, the restaurant calls and asks if we can come in earlier because they close at 3pm (kitchen closes at 2:45). I was furious! Why didnt they say anything before and did they really expect me to change my reservation (which was made at 2pm for a reason) and try to reschedule with 7 different people coming from all over town a few hours before? We arrived for brunch frazzled and anxious, but alas the food was damn good and we werent rushed out at all (stayed until after 4pm). Just be warned brunch is only to 3pm on weekends.

A great place for a romantic date; came in for Valentine's Day and was very impressed. The food was great, and the service was wonderful; I wouldn't hesitate to come back or to recommend Co-op to a friend. Truffle popcorn is a wonderful treat!