Candidly, we had low expectations for our visit here and were blown away by the entire experience from food to ambiance. Beauty & Essex is a NYC staple restaurant accessed through a pawn shop storefront in the Lower East Side. Once you walk inside you'll be greeted by a multi-story chandelier, moody-lighting and a skylight above the main seating area - classic New York vibes to the nth degree. We knew that the ambiance would be flashy, which is why we booked it for our 26th birthday dinner, but what we were pleasantly surprised by was how delicious each and every dish we got to enjoy was. Beauty & Essex is the perfect spot for large groups as their menu is tailored towards a selection of small plates (and small they were with each plate only meant to serve 2-3 people max). For our group of six we ordered 8 small plates for the table and not only was it the perfect amount of food, but each plate delightfully surprised us as they were cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor - the group favorites of the night are included under "noteworthy". Definitely not a bargain place, Beauty & Essex makes for the perfect birthday dinner spot and would be an ideal outing for any large group meal.