Going to Japonica on Saturday - any suggestions?

[kdgchow]

I'm going to Japonica on Saturday evening for a family dinner. The menu looks pretty extensive. I'm not a big sushi guy, anyone have any non-sushi dishes they really like? Any dishes I should avoid?

Thanks!

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Japonica
100 University Place, New York, NY 10003

[unionsquareyes]

I adore their kobe beef appetizer and their udon. Picture attached of a bowl of soba I enjoyed there not too long ago. I hope you love it there as much as we do.

[Simon]

this is an old thread -- the OP already went, and wasn't thrilled (see above)...

[kdgchow]

Played it safe and had fried rock shrimp as an appetizer and pork tonkatsu as a main. It was fine, though overpriced; glad someone else was paying.

[penthouse pup]

Unlike some, I find Japonica to be perfectly acceptable and though I acknowledge it is not in the top tier, I have always found their sushi to be fresh and many of their rolls to be excellent (dragon roll,
sunrise/sunset). Their sizing is silly (huge cuts for both sushi and sashimi) but that's what they do...and have been doing for thirty years plus...Yes it does have a retro menu-feel but sometimes that's just fine and with good service and no-attitude, it should be a fine place for a family dinner.

[kdgchow]

Anything good besides sushi and sashimi?

[penthouse pup]

The standard "warm" dishes (teriyaki,katsu, negamaki) have all been reliably good (I don't eat beef but the seafood, pork and chicken have been fine.) Their tempura is nicely done and the broiled fish of the day has been very good...never had the stews (sukiyaki, etc)...avoid their "green salad"--nothing of interest. It's a neighborhood kind of place, (though you may see a celebrity or two) without pretension...It does get crowded on Saturdays and they don't take reservations...

[Simon]

i am not a fan of Japonica...i think of it as overpriced Americanized Japanese food...it's stuck in the 1980's, when even sushi places that served things like California rolls were considered exotic to some...but as you said the menu is broad and they serve a wide variety dishes (e.g. teriyaki, and tempura, and various sushi rolls -- things that would never be all on the same menu of any restaurant in Japan that plays at being authentic/top-notch)...i imagine your meal will be passable yet not memorable...i'd say go for the social fun of being w/ family and order whatever sounds good and drink heavily :)

[kdgchow]

So you're saying...have a big lunch? :-)

[Simon]

no, it won't be "bad" for "food" in general, especially if you're not a fan of sushi/Japanese-food overall...you'll eat a solid dinner and i doubt anything will be objectionable if you aren't expecting real Japanese food...you'll get some edible dishes and it'll be ok...

but overall, Japonica is a restaurant that i'd be happy to see vanish: it serves the kind of teriyaki/sushi/tempura/California-Roll! combos that one could get in any state in the USA yet still prices itself like a real Japanese place...since NYC has dozens of superior options, i really think it should move elsewhere...a cruise ship perhaps...