Suggestions for a Birthday Dinner/ Japanese

[gmhopkins2]

My brother is taking me out for a birthday dinner. Japanese. And money is a bit--just a bit--of a consideration, certainly wouldn't want him to have to spring for 150/person (he works at a university). So: Kyo Ya? Wasan? Kanyoma? Other suggestions. Please help. I lived in Japan years ago, love sushi and sake and surprises.

-----
Kyo Ya
94 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

Wasan
108 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003

[Spiritchaser]

Just to add to your list you could look into Sakagura and Kyotofu (but Kyototofu isn't a sushi place but very interesting food).

-----
Sakagura
211 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017

Kyotofu
144 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011

[thew]

sakegura - but not for sushi(given your post this would be my top choice for you)

matsuri - but not for sushi
kanoyama - sushi
haven't been to yasuda since yasuda left, but i assume it is stil fine
sushi of gari - modern sushi experimentation (i like the UES original place)

-----
Sushi Yasuda
204 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017

Matsuri
369 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011

[gutsofsteel]

Depending on budget...Sakagura or Kyo Ya

-----
Kyo Ya
94 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

[scotty27]

How about Kajitsu? Not sushi, sumimasen, but spectacular vegetarian, oneigeishimasu.

www.shrinkinthekitchen.com

-----
Kajitsu
414 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009

[sgordon]

Kyo Ya could easily reach $150/pp once you include sake, tax, tip, etc, even without doing the Kaiseki menu. You'd have to be very careful about what you ordered. But they are quite great.

Kanoyama, the same - you could certainly have a good meal for your budget, but you'd need to be careful about ordering from the "today's special" menu of seasonal sashimi, it can add up very quickly. I consider them a "splurge" restaurant since the whole reason I go, when I do, is for the amazing seasonal fish. But they do have the Hotaru-Ika (baby firefly squid) right now, which are all kinds of great. And if the Nakaochi is available, it's spectacular - a slab of tuna, raw, you eat right off the bone. Then when you're done, they deep-fry the bones and bring them back. Mmm....

Another pricey-ish option is Soto, one of my favorites. Portions are not huge, but you could do three courses each - say, two cold from the sushi bar and one hot from the kitchen - and come out around $100/pp after tax and tip, depending what you order. You might even be able to pull of four courses (say, the above plus a soup course) with careful ordering. Skip the straight-up sushi - not that it's not good, it's just silly to go to Soto and not get Chef Kosugi's creations.

Wasan I've heard great things about - a couple of friends who I both trust have recommended it highly to me, and their prices are quite reasonable. Keep meaning to go myself.

If you're down with doing a vegetarian Japanese meal, you won't find one better than Kajitsu. Grant Achatz, for whatever it's worth, was waxing poetic about them when he was in town recently.

-----
Soto
357 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10014

Kanoyama
175 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Kyo Ya
94 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

Kajitsu
414 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009

Wasan
108 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003

[gmhopkins2]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I've passed them on to my brother and will be "surprised" and I'm sure delighted with his choice.