You could spend a whole night bar-and-bite hopping along 13th Street in Midtown Village -- but if it’s your first stop, you might not make it further than Sampan, Michael Schulson’s sleek Asian-inspired small plates spot. Start with happy hour in the Graffiti Bar, hidden behind the restaurant. Inside the colorfully painted walls, you’ll find cocktail specials and $2 satays that change nightly. After a drink, take your table in the mod dining room, where the walls, covered in tree branch shapes, change color. The open kitchen also provides a spectacle. It’s fitting that Schulson, the star of the TV shows Ultimate Cake Off and Pantry Raid, would set a scene like this for his cooking. Though once you dig in, the dishes take center stage. The edamame dumpling, fragrant with truffle and served in a sake-infused broth, is a signature of the chef. So too are the pork belly bao buns, a rich marriage of crisp meat and buttery pork fat sandwiched in a soft and slightly sweet roll. The crab wonton tacos, a creamy mixture of crab spooned into a tiny fresh-fried taco shell, is an inspired update on that take-out Chinese classic. Seafood dishes are prepared with care: Scallops and shrimp served with a tumble of crispy noodles as well as pickled noodles were sweet and expertly cooked. The on-trend dessert menu feels delightfully Willy Wonka. Churros are served with homemade Nutella. Mini soft serve cones come filled with candy-inspired flavors, like vanilla gummy lifesaver, that will delight your inner child. It’s the most fun you can have without a return trip to the bar.  

  You could spend a whole night bar-and-bite hopping along 13th Street in Midtown Village -- but if it’s your first stop, you might not make it further than Sampan, Michael Schulson’s sleek Asian-inspired small plates spot. Start with happy hour in the Graffiti Bar, hidden behind the restaurant. Inside the colorfully painted walls, you’ll find cocktail specials and $2 satays that change nightly. After a drink, take your table in the mod dining room, where the walls, covered in tree branch shapes, change color. The open kitchen also provides a spectacle. It’s fitting that Schulson, the star of the TV shows Ultimate Cake Off and Pantry Raid, would set a scene like this for his cooking. Though once you dig in, the dishes take center stage. The edamame dumpling, fragrant with truffle and served in a sake-infused broth, is a signature of the chef. So too are the pork belly bao buns, a rich marriage of crisp meat and buttery pork fat sandwiched in a soft and slightly sweet roll. The crab wonton tacos, a creamy mixture of crab spooned into a tiny fresh-fried taco shell, is an inspired update on that take-out Chinese classic. Seafood dishes are prepared with care: Scallops and shrimp served with a tumble of crispy noodles as well as pickled noodles were sweet and expertly cooked. The on-trend dessert menu feels delightfully Willy Wonka. Churros are served with homemade Nutella. Mini soft serve cones come filled with candy-inspired flavors, like vanilla gummy lifesaver, that will delight your inner child. It’s the most fun you can have without a return trip to the bar.