Tagged: Sushi Seki

January 17, 2013

Top New York City Restaurants For Valentines Day

While it may seem that 2013 has just begun, Valentines Day is less than a month away. This may seem like more than enough time to plan the perfect romantic night out but unless you’re spending the night at home, we suggest making reservations at least three weeks in advance. When picking a romantic restaurant, especially on Valentines Day, we suggest finding something with a more relaxed, quite and intimate atmosphere that serves consistently good food. Also, we don’t suggest spending your night at popular restaurants that do not accept reservations, such as Rosemary’s or Frankie’s 475. While they may be excellent date night spots, waiting up to two hours for a table for two during prime time hours doesn’t sound like the perfect Valentine’s Day to us. With that, we bring you the top New York City restaurants for Valentines Day! Note that we will be leaving out some already well known options such as One if by Land, Two if by Sea, Waverly Inn and La Grenouille so we can include some restaurants that are more off the map. [Photo via]

#1. Daniel - This Upper East Side restaurant brought to us by Daniel Boulud is one of the few restaurants in New York City that is absolutely perfect. From the stunning decor to the well thought out cocktail program to the perfectly designed and executed tasting menus, Daniel is nothing short of perfection. While this level of excellence will be costly, tasting menus start at $116, if you’re looking for a splurge worthy evening that will be sure to impress anyone, Daniel is the place to do it.

60 E 58th St. New York, NY
(212) 288-0033

[Photo via]

#2. Bohemian - A date night at Bohemian will impress your special someone for two reasons. One, it’s kind of impossible to hate the simple yet charming decor of this tiny 25 seat restaurant and two, your date will be impressed that you could find the number none the less score a reservation. Bohemian does not publish a phone number and the only way to get it is through a friend or colleague that has been to the restaurant before. This way, it ensures that the restaurant operates similarly to a private club. While getting into Bohemian may seem pretentious, all the attitude is lost once you walk past the Butcher Shop and through the glass door.

57 Great Jones St. New York, NY

[Photo via]

#3. River Deli – This Brooklyn Heights Italian restaurant is one of the better unknown date spots in NYC. The rustic decor is perfect for a first date or Valentines Day. The menu consists of traditional, well prepared Italian dishes such as Pappardelle Ai Funghi and an excellent Burrata. What makes River Deli even better is all the pasta dishes are generously portioned and none are above $15 while the meat and fish dishes never rise above the $25 mark. This makes River Deli the best date night spot in NYC for those on a budget. Also, the corner of Joralomon St. and Clinton St. absolutely charming and adorable.

32 Joralomon St. Brooklyn, NY
(718) 254-9200

[Photo via]

#4. Tiny’s – This intimate Tribeca restaurant is perfect for those looking for a quiet dinner and a more lively bar scene afterwards. The main level of Tiny’s, brought to us by Matt Abramcyk of the late Beatrice Inn, is a cozy, dimly lit space and even comes complete with a working fireplace. The upstairs does have similar design features that would make it perfect for a date, but the bar does create a much louder and hectic atmosphere than the subtle downstairs. The simple American fare is also great if your date is a less than adventurous (i.e. picky) eater.

135 West Broadway New York, NY
(212) 374-1135

[Photo via]

#5. Sushi Seki – If you and your date love sushi, there’s no better place than Sushi Seki. This Upper East Side restaurant has a laid back decor, but also has the best Omakase menu we’ve tasted in New York City. This is the perfect spot for sushi lovers who are more about the quality of their food rather than being blown away by stunning decor. We suggest grabbing a seat at the bar and ordering the chef’s Omakase. While this piece by piece menu won’t come cheap, you and your date will be having some of the most unique and top quality sushi that New York has to offer.

1143 1st Avenue New York, NY
(212) 371-0238

[Photo via]

#6. Minetta Tavern – This West Village steakhouse is for all those couples looking for a good steak on Valentines Day. It may seem a bit out there but we see nothing wrong with sharing a massive porterhouse for two on a date (though your doctor might when they check your cholesterol). Keith McNally brings us the revamped Minetta Tavern which is home to the famous $30 Black Label burger and the $90 Cote de Boeuf. That Black Label burger is worth every penny as are the top quality steaks. The atmosphere is also more reserved and a bit more charming than the other well known chophouse Peter Luger making Minetta Tavern the best steakhouse for Valentines Day.

113 MacDougal Street New York, NY
(212) 475-3850

[Photo via]

#7. Sfoglia – This Nantucket import serves easily the best pasta we have had in New York City. Yep you heard us, the best pasta in New York City. All the pasta is homemade in the kitchen and Sfoglia is probably the only restaurant where we would order a pasta dish for both our appetizer and entree. The restaurant itself is also quaint and suitable for any date night. The mismatched furniture help give Sfoglia a more low-key vibe to off set the complex Italian cooking. Since the restaurant is small we recommend making reservations sooner rather than later.

1402 Lexington Avenue New York, NY
(212) 831-1402

[Photo via]

#8. The Good Fork – After Hurricane Sandy, we weren’t sure if our favorite Red Hook restaurant would reopen again. Sure enough after the new year The Good Fork opened it’s doors again for service. The quirky Asian/American goes perfectly with the, again, quirky nautical theme of the restaurant. There is also an outdoor garden in the back just in case you enjoy the excellent food so much that you wish to return for, perhaps another date, in the warmer months. If you do happen to head over to The Good Fork, make sure to get the handmade pork dumplings.

391 Van Brunt Street Brooklyn, New York
(718) 643-6636

[Photo via]

Tamarind Tribeca

#9. Tamarind – Since Indian food is usually a popular option with date nights, we had to include Tamarind. This over the top Indian restaurant is an excellent choice when looking for a date night in Tribeca. The menu consists of more refined versions of traditional Indian dishes and the decor matches the upscale cooking. This opulent restaurant may be expensive, but it’s definitely one of the best options in NYC for Valentines Day.

99 Hudson Street New York, NY
(718) 643-6636

[Photo via]

#10. Lincoln – We’ll be honest by saying this: finding a date night restaurant on the Upper West Side was no easy task. The minute we thought of the Italian restaurant, Lincoln, we had to include it in our round-up. The restaurant is enclosed with floor to ceiling glass windows that allows Lincoln Center to act as the back drop of your dinner. And if you thought Lincoln couldn’t get any better, the cooking is just as stellar as the decor.

145 West 65th Street New York, NY
(212) 359-6500

[Photo via]

June 5, 2012

Le Bernardin

I visited head chef Eric Ripert’s world famous Le Bernardin over the weekend after reading the 4 star New York Times review and seeing the 3 stars it received from the Michelin guide. The restaurant sits between most major office buildings in Midtown making it a great spot for a business lunch. The restaurant itself has undergone several renovations and this one features a majestic ocean wave mural located at the back of the restaurant. The first area is the newly updated lounge which features newly created cocktails which then leads into the grand main dining room which is surprisingly large considering the caliber of the restaurant that Le Bernardin is. The dark woods and high ceilings add to the experience of the restaurant though Le Bernardin could take some notes from Nello and update their unimpressive flower arrangement.

The menu is split up into three different menus. Two being tasting menus (one 8 course menu for $190 and one 7 course menu for $145) and the other is a 4 course a la carte menu for $125. We chose the 7 course tasting menu which consisted of two appetizer style dishes, three entrees and two desserts.The first dish was the Fluke Sashimi with avocado in a Jalapeño-Lime Broth. This dish was perhaps a bit too simple and the fish was cooked just as well as some decent sushi places in New York (Sushi Seki serves much better sashimi in my opinion) and the jalapeno flavor was a too strong and shadowed the delicacy of the fluke. The next dish was the Tuna that was lighly seared and cut into strips and laid upon a bed of salad. There also was a lime, soy and ginger vinaigrette that went along with the dish. The Asian inspired vinaigrette was easily the best part of the dish as it was flavorful if not a bit too strong after more than three bites of the tuna. As for the rest of the Tuna, the dish simply was not anything I could not get anywhere else in New York. Since Le Bernardin ran out of the Escolar we were served a Lobster Carpaccio. The chef took a lobster claw, cut it finely into rings, placed the rings around the plate then put chopped up lobster claw in the middle of the dish. Again, the dish was nothing I couldn’t get at the Lobster Inn in Southampton. I would hope that the Escolar was a far better dish than this sub par substitution. After the Lobster was the Salmon which was the highlight of the meal. The salmon was cooked so perfectly that you didn’t need the fish knife to cut it. The fish was buttery yet light and was really a special dish. Right after this wonderful Salmon I was presented what was probably one of the worst dishes I have had in a restaurant awarded at least 2 Michelin stars. The Black Bass was a piece of fish, grilled and seared on the skin side to make it crispy. There was no intricacy to the dish nor was the fish even cooked exceptionally well. Next up was the Coconut Lime dessert however, mine was substituted for a Raspberry dessert since the extra cautious staff thought I was allergic to coconut (I do have a nut/peanut allergy but coconut is not one of the “nuts” I am allergic to). I would hope the original dessert was a palate cleanser as it really was just a scoop of coconut sorbet with lime flavoring. However my dish was more of a dessert as it featured a small cake pastry which went well with my raspberry sorbet. The next dessert, the Black Forrest, was a variety of different desserts such as a dark chocolate mousse and a raspberry foam. To be honest those are the only two I remember because the other two small desserts were really forgettable.

Actually, the entire meal was forgettable. Aside from the Salmon and the vinaigrette from the Tuna, there was nothing I received from the world famous Le Bernardin that I could not get anywhere else in the city. The Black Bass was not good at all and the fluke was an awful way to start off the meal. Despite the mediocre food, the service is top notch. The servers were overly attentive about my food allergy and the servers always made sure your table was immaculate. If you are looking to dine at a true four star restaurant go to Daniel, otherwise you are setting yourself up for an overly disappointing meal at Le Bernardin.

Ambiance: 9

Food: 2

Service: 8

Overall: 3

Verdict: Mirage

Note: I know the math doesn’t add up, but the food was so mediocre at Le Bernardin that there is no possible way I could justify rating it higher than a 3 out of 10 (even if the decor and service we’re great).

Photo via

January 9, 2011

Bar Masa

Masa is not one of the most expensive restaurants in New York, it is the most expensive restaurant in New York. With Masa’a pre-fixe menus starting at $400, a dinner at Masa will cost you no less than $500 (especially with the manditory 20% service charge that doesn’t count towards the tip on your bill). But what many people don’t know is that right next door there is Bar Masa that shares the same kitchen as Masa. The only difference is that Masa’s chef is Masa Takayama himself but for those who want a glimpse of what Masa has to offer (such as its Seasonal Sushi Tasting and Quail meatball with foie gras miso skewers). While Bar Masa is not by any means cheap (its about double than whatever you’ll pay at Nobu and triple whatever you’re going to pay at SushiSamba) it is certainly less expensive than the $400 pre-fixe menu you’ll find next door. Bar Masa is quite small but very elegant and simple in design. The Japanese wood bar and ultrasuede banquettes are a good backdrop for the simple yet over the top Japanese food.

Bar Masa takes the idea of Masa but translates it into a cheaper a la carte form. You still get to enjoy all of Masa’s unexpected Japanese dishes with truffle and caviar but the portions are bigger and the prices are a lot lower. However the quality of the food is most certainly not the same since it is not prepared by chef Masa Takayama himself but quite frankly this is the next best thing considering Masa and Bar Masa share the same kitchen. To start I had Akami (lean tuna) Saki (salmon) and Kanpachi (amber jack yellowtail) sushi to start. The sushi was very fresh at Bar Masa but then again what else was I to expect. Considering the rest of the menu, Bar Masa’s a la carte sushi and sashimi menu is actually reasonably priced for an upscle Japanese restaurant. After I had the Salmon and Avocado Roll with Tempura Flakes and a Yellowtail Scallion roll. The rolls at Bar Masa is where I feel the pricing is a bit overboard. I can understand the 4 small skewers priced at $29 because they use foie gras and I can understand the Masa Toro with Caviar roll being $68 because they use both Toro (which in some cases can be up to $70 a piece) and caviar in one dish. But $18 for a plain Yellowtail roll is a bit absurd. Nobu, who is quite overpriced for what they offer (I love the place but I’m the first to admit it), charged $7.50 for a Yellowtail roll. Bar Masa charges more than double what one of the most expensive and well known Japanese restaurants in Manhattan charges. I guess that’s what makes Masa the most expensive restaurant in New York (it even beats Per Se).

I was happy to visit Bar Masa especially since now I kind of have an idea of what Masa would be like. Bar Masa is the next best thing to the $400 pre-fixe menu. The food was fresh and the decor was nice though it is pricey. I can’t say that it impressed me more than Sushi Seki (which is still for me the best sushi restaurant in Manhattan) but it is a good option especially if you want to see what Masa is all about!

Ambiance: 8

Food: 6

Service: 7

Overall: 7

Verdict: Oasis

[Photo via]

October 13, 2010

Jewel Bako

My second visit while I was in New York was to Jewel Bako. Jewel Bako has been a place I’ve wanted to visit for a while now and I used me coming back to New York as a reason to go. Jewel Bako has been a Michelin stared restaurant for at least two years now and its chef Jack Lamb’s flagship restaurant in New York. Located on east 5th street, a rather odd street for an upscale sushi restaurant, you could miss Jewel Bako and walk right by it since the restaurant is basically unmarked except for a small sign which reads “Jewel Bako”. Inside there are two small rooms both elegantly designed with bamboo shooting out of the banquettes and a green tile sushi bar in the back. The servers are in suits and are cordial for the most part. However be expected to wait a long time for your food as I had at least half hour lapses between my courses. The service slipped up at one point and brought everyone’s entrees except for one person though we were given, after my father had a stern talking to the waiter, the entree on the house and free dessert.

The menu is mostly sushi, those looking for cooked food can go to Nobu, and the omakase is the obvious choice on the menu for anyone going to Jewel Bako (if you’re going to splurge you might as well do it right). The omakase consists of 9 pieces of sushi or sashimi and three pieces of a roll. The omakase I ordered came with otoro, wild king salmon, eggplant and a yellowtail roll amongst other things. While the fish was fresh I felt like Sushi Seki was still the better option when looking for the best sushi in Manhattan. Sometimes the chef got a little too creative in his dishes such as the Large Maki Combo Plate which featured a sampling of all 9 large maki rolls. Some of the combinations weren’t pleasing to the eye nor the palate and even in my omakase there were a few pieces which were inedible (one features a leaf with an unidentifiable puree underneath).

Overall Jewel Bako, in my opinion, doesn’t deserve its Michelin star. Though the restaurant is very elegant the sushi isn’t the best in the city nor is it remotely close. For better sushi check out Sushi Seki, 15 East or even Nobu 57 but there isn’t a reason for me to recommend Jewel Bako to anyone as of now.

Ambiance: 7

Food: 5

Service: 7

Overall: 6

Verdict: Mirage

[Photo via]

July 4, 2010

Sushi Seki

I’ve been to Sushi Seki many times in the past, but I wanted to review it only when I went after my blog was open (Sushi Seki could’ve changed since the last I visited and I didn’t want to give a review based on past experiences…if I did that Morimoto would get an awful review from me). With that said I was thoroughly impressed with Sushi Seki on my recent visit. The restaurant is on 1st avenue and 64th street in the Upper East Side. Sushi Seki is like a local sushi place with “better than Nobu” quality sushi. Sushi Seki isn’t much of a crowd pleaser when it comes to presentation or service, but where Sushi Seki really succeeds is in their food. The best sushi I have ever had was at the sushi bar of Sushi Seki where I ordered the Omakasi. The chef creates what ever he wants and doesn’t stop till you tell him to. I actually stayed there so long the chef began creating duplicates of sushi we already tried. On my more recent visit I ordered the Sushi Seki Special Platter which was like a sushi deluxe but with more inventive sushi such as the Salmon and Tomato sushi and the Toro Tartare sushi. The fish at Sushi Seki is always fresh and no matter which piece of fish I get, the sushi melts in your mouth like butter. Too bad Nobu can’t serve sushi as good as this, then Nobu might have been my favorite sushi place in the city. But since they don’t my personal favorite place for, in my opinion, the best sushi in Manhattan is Sushi Seki. If you can’t get a reservation you can try your luck as a walk in or sit at the bar (and if you sit at the sushi bar make sure you get the Omakasi)!

Ambiance: 5

Food: 10

Service: 8

Overall: 8

Verdict: Oasis

[Photo via]

February 26, 2010

Haru Wall Street

After my Posse meeting we, we being me and mother, met up with my father at Haru on Wall Street. Haru is a chain of Japanese restaurants owned by Rocky Aoki, the owner of Benihana. Quite frankly Haru thinks its much more upscale than it actually is. Yes the restaurant is nicely decorated (though not as stunning as Megu) and the service is friendly, but the sushi isn’t anything spectacular. The sushi is served in big pieces and while fresh, isn’t as good as other places as say Matsugen or Sushi Seki but then again it is slightly cheaper. I was appalled at the $20 Toro/Scallion roll which doesn’t even cost $20 at 15 East or Ajna Bar. Haru also cooks with Peanut Oil so beware if you have an nut allergy like I do. The crowd is mixed ranging from Wall Street business men and local residents. Haru is nothing to rave about, if you’re in the area and want sushi then its an okay choice but I wouldn’t go out of my way to go there as there are much better options in Manhattan.

Ambiance: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Overall: 4

Verdict: Mirage

[Photo via]

August 14, 2009

Nobu

Nobu is one of the best known Japanese restaurants in New York…it is also one of the most expensive. But I went there mainly because of the NY restaurant week menu which is 3 courses for $24.07 (which is dirt cheap at Nobu). For the first time in a while I’ve seen this place packed for lunch. I’ve passed by a few times and have seen it empty, but this time I’m glad I made a reservation. Even with my reservation my party of two had to wait a bit for a table, but in NY that’s no surprise (Tao makes you wait at least a half hour during prime-time if you have a reservation). Nobu New York (in Tribeca) is a really gorgeous restaurant and goes for the elegant and trendy look at the same time and pulls it off. You can either sit in the main dining section, the sushi bar or in a slightly more private area next to the main dining section. Unexpectedly, loud dance music fills each of the dining areas which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Who knows, perhaps we’ll see Nobu apart of the brunch party battle in the future! The best part of Nobu however was the Restaurant Week menu which consisted of an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. You have a choice of 3 appetizers, 3 entres and you get the chef’s choice dessert. I chose the Rock Shrimp Tempura and the Assorted Sushi. The Rock Shrimp Tempura was a good starter. It was cut up shrimp tempura with a little salad accompanied with an orange spicy sauce which gave the dish a little kick. The assorted sushi plate was pretty good I must say. From Nobu I was expecting 4 pieces of sushi for the price I was paying but what I ended up getting was about 8 pieces of sushi and a tuna roll. I was quite pleased to say the least. While not up to par with Sushi Seki, Nobu’s sushi was quite delicious and the fish was very fresh. At least when you go to Nobu you get your money’s worth (unlike at Megu). Now I usually avoid dessert at Asian restaurants (the dessert I got at Matsugen for their Restaurant Week menu was possibly one of the most vile thing’s I’ve ever eaten), but since it came with the meal I decided to see what it was. It was a little cheesecake with a few assorted berries on the top. I must say, it was actually delicious. The crust of the cheesecake was the best part as it was very sweet and the crunchy texture was exactly what the dish needed. The berries also added a nice touch to the cake as well. Nobu is definitely a place to go but beware the prices can be a bit ridiculous (especially at the 57 street location) but hey, Megu’s prices aren’t any better. For restaurant week (which is extended through labor day) Nobu is a perfect choice as you get to sample what Nobu has to offer at a fraction of the price!

Ambiance: 7

Food: 7

Service: 7

Overall: 7

Verdict: Oasis

[Photo via]

March 11, 2009

15 East

15 East is essentially an simple and elegant Japanese restaurant. Its located on a side-street near Union Square and its location actually enhances its ambiance as it does make you feel more secluded from the craziness of Union Square. Upon arrival, you’ll walk through 15 East’s small but pretty sushi bar which seats around 12 people. Their dining room is one of the best features of this restaurant as its simple and charming. 15 East takes a small room and adds only 4 grand light fixtures and enough seating to fit about 50 people, and turns it into a chic and elegant place to dine. The staff is attentive and welcoming as well as courteous. The sushi menu, though expensive, contains a wide range of fish and will please any hardcore sushi fan’s needs. But 15 East doesn’t slack in the non-sushi portion as the entrees are just as exciting as their Toro. Their sushi melts like butter (I highly recommend the yellowtail and toro) and the duck was simple, yet flavorful. Can you get better sushi else where, maybe, but it would be difficult. Sushi Seki on 1st ave is the only contender I can think of; but if its good Japanese food you seek in an elegant and chic environment, and you’re willing to pay a bit extra, then 15 East is the place to go!

Ambiance: 8

Food: 9

Service: 8

Overall: 8

Verdict: Oasis

[Photo via]

Follow Oasis or Mirage