Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Afternoon Tea Sets
Category Archives: JAPANESE
My rant review of Sushi Nakazawa (2nd time around), West Village, NYC
The Ramen Lab, Nolita, NYC
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own
Ivan Ramen, Lower East Side, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance:☆☆☆½
Cost: $$
Must try: Spicy Red Chili Ramen, Lancaster Okonomiyaki
Fushimi, Williamsburg, NYC
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Bohemian, Greenwich Village, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try:The Bohemian Tasting
Ever done the secret dining circuit in New York? If not then Bohemian is a great place to start.
There is such a thrill in going to that clandestine, unmarked restaurant with no published phone number that is hidden away behind a Japanese butchers store. I was expecting a super snobby, exclusive chic kind of atmosphere but what lies behind Bohemian’s doors totally disarms all of that.
Once you are buzzed in, the entire mystique melts away and what you are left with is a really inviting space, which feels more like being in someone’s living room. Here you are served rather remarkable fare by the nicest of people. Trust the Japanese to create the ultimate speakeasy!
At Bohemian, chef Kiyo Shinoki prepares Japanese inspired creative plates that are artful both in composition and presentation. Each dish is thoughtfully created blending Japanese cooking techniques to maximize flavors.
The Bohemian Tasting for $55 (6 courses) is a very reasonable offering which allows you to sample an array of different tastes. There also is a full bar with an assortment of Asian inspired cocktails.
Bohemian has a very a stringent reservation policy which is by phone only. They also ask for a referral when you call in.
Bohemian respectfully requests that their “secret phone number” not be published anywhere however if you visit their website at (www.playearth.jp) and write a a self-introduction to them and you might just find your way in.
Here is some of what we ate:
Farmer’s Fresh Vegetables Fondue
Washu-Beef Short Rib Sashimi
Uni Croquette
Pan Roasted Branzini
Washu-Beef Mini Burger
House Caviar Rice Bowl
Foie Gras Soba
Honey Lemon Pannacotta
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|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Bohemian | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| East Village / Japanese / Steak | |
| * Street Address | |
| 57 Great Jones St. (bet. Bowery & Lafayette St.), New York, NY 10012 | |
| * Phone | |
The Nipponista Event at Maison O hosted by Isetan, Soho, NYC
Last night I was invited by Tabélog to attend ‘Nipponista‘, an event hosted by Isetan, the largest department store in Japan. Nipponista is part of a Japanese project called ‘Cool Japan’ and was created to transmit Japanese fashion, art and food information throughout the world.
Sushi of Gari, Upper West Side, NYC
Sushi Nakazawa, West Village, NYC
Neta, Greenwich Village, NYC
Hino Maru Ramen, Astoria, NYC
Jewel Bako, East Village, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Omakase Makimono, Omakase
Yamaguchi, Port Washington, New York
Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Shrimp Tempura Salad, Dragon Rolls
Linn Japanese Restaurant, Astoria, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Omakase, Yose Tofu, Pork Belly
Continue reading
Momofuku Noodle Bar, East Village, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆½
Cost: $$
Must try: Pork Bun, Shrimp Bun
Momofuku Noodle Bar was David Chang’s very first eatery that launched his enormously successful Momofuku brand of restaurants.
The concise menu here primarily focuses on ramen, seasonal eats, buns and daily specials. They also offer a fried chicken dinner (priced at $100) for parties of 4-8, which must be reserved in advance. Dessert offers soft serve and cake truffles.
Chang’s eats are inventive and extremely gratifying. The Ramen was good enough though I still think Ippudo rules. However, what I just could not stop eating were the buns! These soft steamed beauties filled with melt in your mouth pork belly or fried shrimp with just the right crunch are seriously addictive.
The Noodle Bar is priced just right, that is of course if you can stop with just eating one order of them buns! I know that I certainly couldn’t.
Here is some of what we ate:
Heirloom Tomato – watermelon, crab, avocado
Pork Bun – hoisin, scallion, cucumber
Shrimp Bun – spicy mayo, pickled shallot, iceberg
Momofuku Ramen – pork belly, pork shoulder, poached egg
Ginger Scallion Noodles – pickled shiitakes, cucumber, cabbage
Spicy Miso Ramen – smoked chicken, swiss chard, sesame
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|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Momofuku Noodle Bar | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆ ☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| East Village / Asian Fusion | |
| * Street Address | |
| 171 1st Ave., New York, NY 10003 | |
| * Phone | |
| N/A |
Blue Ribbon Sushi, West Village, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$$$
Must try: Miso Black Cod, any of the sushi or sashimi platters, special tuna appetizer,
Mihoko’s 21 Grams, Chelsea, NYC
Mihoko Kiyokawa has made her debut into the New York City fine dining scene with her high-end Franco-Japanese restaurant named Mihoko’s 21 Grams.
I was invited to a cocktail party to preview the place where I spent an evening noshing on little bites made for the elite of the New York scene.
At 21 Grams (which refers to the alleged weight of a person’s soul) Mihoko’s tries to blend the essence of French cuisine with the subtlety of Japanese cuisine.
The digs are elegant, designed by Bruno Borrione and leans more towards the French aesthetics. This richly decorated space boasts of etched-glass murals from the Cartier mansion and rare tableware and other artifacts collected by Mihoko during her world travels. There is a really cool French Lounge in the basement, which showcases unique and artfully created cocktails.
The menu is still a work in progress. I thought the food lacked clarity and definition but was told that they are still in the process of fine-tuning many of their dishes. The restaurant has had a soft opening and will officially launch in the fall.
Here is some of what we ate & drank:
Mixed Cocktails
Wildflower and Herb Salad Sushi
Watermelon and Heirloom Tomato Salad
Chickpea Panisse
Alaskan King Crab with Avocado
Chawan Mushi
Maine Lobster Tempura
Shrimp Ceviche with Avocado
Asparagus and with Black Truffle
Spanish Mackerel
Beef Ragu
Duck with Potato
Laverne of Great Neck, Great Neck, NY
Kuboya, East Village, NYC
Food: ☆☆ 1/2
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$
Must try: Miso Ramen
Looking to escape the long waits at the crazy popular, overcrowded noodles shops that dot the Lower East Side? Kuboya Ramen on East 5th St, is a good option for some solid, good Japanese food.
The space is cozy with cushioned window seats that fan out over two rooms. The menu offers a nice variety of dishes including Ramen. I think the Spicy Miso Ramen was the best of the offerings. Nothing I tasted blew me away but it was a good meal and a spot I would gladly be willing to eat at in lieu of an hours wait.
Yes….. you will look over longingly at Minca next door wishing “if only….” but your sated appetite will tell you otherwise.
Here is some of what we ate:
Taco-chan sausage
Char Siu Pork Buns
Fried Rock Shrimp
Katsu Pork Curry
Garlic Potatoes
Avocado & Shrimp
Spicy Miso Ramen
Kuboya Triple Blend Ramen
Shoyu Ramen
Katsuhama, Midtown West, NYC
Ginza, Massapequa, NY
Totto Ramen, Hell’s Kitchen , NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $
Must try: Paitan ramen, Totto extreme spicy ramen
MORIMOTOS, CHELSEA, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆ ½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆
Cost: $$$
Fit for: People Watching, Bar Scene, Notable Chef
Dishes not to miss: Creamy Crab Croquette, Tuna Sashimi Salad, Sushi, White Chocolate Panacotta
Masahru Morimoto’s imposing iron chef personality sure does translate into his restaurant.
His sprawling, modern, cavernous restaurant is quite magnificent. One of the most striking elements is the wall made of bottles filled with clear liquid, which has an interesting play of lights on it. There is a very funky bar area downstairs alongside some really cool bathrooms. Continue reading
Totoya Restaurant, Upper East Side, NYC
Food: ☆☆
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$
I recommend: California Rolls. Rocky Mountain Roll
This non-descript, east side Japanese restaurant serves food that is a little better than mall sushi and less than the fabulousness that Manhattan has to offer. Continue reading
Megu, Tribeca, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ½
Cost: $$$$
Fit for: People Watching, Special Occasion Dining
Dishes not to miss: Tuna & Avocado Megu Style, Tuna Soy Akami & Black Truffle
Special notes: Wait for restaurant week or special promotions to eat here because the prices really hurt.
