We are celebrating our daughter's 25th birthday in NYC in a few weeks. She wants sushi - but festive, fun, with some energy. A let's get dressed up and have a really good time dinner. Not jeans. Not neighborhood. Masa is too expensive for our group of 8. Friends have suggested geisha, 15 east, and jewel bako. Any thoughts? Suggestions?
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Masa
10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019
By Kwex
on Sep 22, 2010 11:52 AM
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I like 15 East. It's an elegant space, the sushi is great and the alcohol options are great as well.
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15 East
15 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003
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I really like 15 East but it's not festive or fun or a "good time" atmosphere at all. Jewel Bako is too small and too quiet. Geisha is a good choice for what you're after.
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15 East
15 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003
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Morimoto? Blue Ribbon Sushi (they normally don't take reservations but might for such a large group)? Matsuri?
These are not the best sushi in town but I figure you're not after that anyway with a party of 8 looking for a festive environment, not a temple to fish with a 2 hr omakase meal at the bar.
None of the "serious" sushi places are going to have that fun atmosphere you're going to look for, and a party of 8 would probably overwhelm the room.
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Blue Ribbon Sushi
119 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012
Matsuri
369 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
Morimoto
88 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011
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Thx all for your suggestions/comments. Kathryn is correct - we are not looking for the very best sushi, we are looking for really good sushi and a high energy fun evening.
That said, morimoto can't take us until very late. Blue ribbon soho won't take the rez but suggested their midtown location. Someone suggested sushi of gari.
Are you familiar with it?
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Sushi of Gari is good, creative, they have two locations. For your purposes, the upper west side location might work. What would be fun is to reserve the "bar table" which is essentially a table which extends off of the sushi bar itself.
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Gari
370 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024
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I love Sushi of Gari, but the Upper West Side location might be too casual for the OP. It's not really a dress up kind of place, even though the sushi is creative and very good.
How about Nobu 57? I've never been but I hear it's a bit of a scene and the sushi seems to get good reviews on Yelp.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/nobu-57-new-york
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Gari
370 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024
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Don't laugh.....but what about japonais? I really think we are looking more for "Americanized" sushi --fun rolls, good drinks, and a scene, and not the very best quality sushi sliced by the most incredible sushi chef.
I'll check out gar on Columbus too.
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Japonais has a fun environment and is quite large. It would definitely work for your party but IMO the food is only OK.
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Japonais
111 East 18th Street, New York, NY 10003
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I second Blue Ribbon - IMO perfect for this occasion. Never been to Japonais.
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i'd say, you know, sushi isn't cheap food. either you go for something like 15 east, for the food quality and not the atmosphere, or just not care so much about quality, and go for somewhere fun like sushi samba
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