Minimalist branch of a local upscale sushi chain offering creative rolls, Japanese fare & sake.
Yvonne Perry
Didn’t have a reservation on a Sunday night, so had to sit at the sushi bar. It was actually wonderful to see so many chefs working to create the beautiful dishes here. Very delicate sushi with interesting toppings, like a horseradish sauce. Our order was quite simple, but I was able to see firsthand some of the creations being prepared. Be warned: this place is not inexpensive. But the sushi is a notch above. Our kind waitress was very well informed, so ask questions! Bonus: Japanese toilets in the restrooms!
… moreKelly Punch
We had a wonderful experience. Our server was very nice and helpful. Drinks were pricy but really well crafted. Everything we ate was delicious.
… moreOlga NYC
The Chicken Teriyaki was perfectly cooked—definitely among the best I’ve had. The “Sushi Regular,” with eight pieces of sushi and one tuna roll, was fresh and flavorful, though the wasabi inside was a bit unexpected. The seaweed salad was delicious and beautifully presented.
We were treated to complimentary Konacha tea, though I would have preferred it to be served during the meal rather than at the end. The service was attentive, and the ambiance was cozy, enhanced by beautiful wall art. The only downside was the limited dessert menu.
… moreSiyuan Liu
We spent $400 for two here for the sushi omakase, but it fell extremely short of our expectations. The sushi was rushed in preparation, and the rice was sloppy – sometimes packed too densely and was gummy, sometimes packed too loose and just came apart as we picked the sushi up. The fish is very untraditional and not up to par for proper omakase. It was topped with tomatoes, cheese, and chili oil; one piece was deep fried.
The atmosphere is also very disappointing. There are 6+ chefs behind the counter, each shouting table numbers out when they’ve finished preparing their tables’ dish. This results in the restaurant being quite loud.
… moreGabe Ross
Always my neighborhood go-to. The best sushi in the area by far. Always consistent, authentic, comfort food, fresh fish, a New York classic. Not stuffy like all the omakase spots popping up all over, but much more high end and elegant than the other Japanese restaurants around. It’s the perfect in between, and the quality is always there!
… moreHenri Merceron
This place is so easy to miss..I’m actually not sure it has a sign out front. It probably does but I just went in without looking because my friends told me about it. Seems that that doesn’t slow down business. I went on a Thursday night an hour before closing and although the space
isn’t large, it was packed. Lots of energy. I sat at the bar and had my usual …uni and fatty tuna. Both were fabulous (although the uni was $24 each vs the $15 I usually pay at other sushi houses). Can’t say that it was better than those for the price. I had a salmon sushi and immediately noticed
that there were none of those white veins (the typical grain that you see normally). I’ve never seen such a uniform slice of salmon. And it was as velvety as it could be. Along with it I had the seared king salmon belly. Truly wonderful flavors along with the richness of the species. The slight char offered a nice flavorful accent. I had the salmon roe only because I’ve never seen such large beads. Not sure that the flavor was different from normal sized roe but the texture was enjoyable. Finally, I had the hijiki seaweed salad. It was unlike any seaweed I’ve had. Don’t know that I can describe it as it was a totally new flavor for me. Perhaps a little earthy. Again, hard to describe but worth the experience. Sitting at the counter where 6 chefs were actively plying their trade, I saw some very uniquely presented sushi and maki rolls that made me want to try EVERYTHING. But I didn’t. I wasn’t that hungry and I would have departed with a $300 bill just for me WITHOUT beverages. I will definitely return. It is not common to have a sushi menu absolutely replete with creative options as could be found here. Great staff too. Very attentive and informative.
… moreZo
Beautiful and delicate food, beautiful balanced flavours and authentic. Some of the most tender and tasty outside of Japan.
Cannot understand the negative reviews other than to think they don’t know what good quality Japanese food is.
… moreMatthew Peterson
Sushi of Gari lost two long-time customers this evening. My wife is allergic to sesame, which she noted on her order. Unfortunately, when the order arrived, her food had sesame seeds all over it. When she called to report the problem, the manager would not take corrective action until we provided a photo. Having been long-time customers and spent hundreds of dollars on this business, we found the fact that the restaurant did not trust the report absent photo evidence to be very offensive. And when we provided the photo evidence (showing all the sesame seeds on her food), the manager offered a partial refund and did not even offer to send another order. Equally frustrating was the manager’s insistence that the photo request was not an issue of trust by rather a matter of “getting to the bottom of the issue,” which simply did not seem like a genuine explanation. I’m not sure what information can be gleaned from the photo other than what we had already told them — there were sesame seeds all over the food.
… moreA R
We have dined at Sushi of Gari on the Upper West Side twice, once in the restaurant a long time ago, and then again for takeout tonight. The sushi has been great on both occasions. It’s not my favorite Japanese in Manhattan, but along with Sushi Yasaka, it is definitely the best Japanese cuisine on the Upper West Side. Gari is the more formal experience while Sushi Yasaka is more laid back. Both places are great.
… moreSteph W
*Okay granted this is partially our fault buttttt – we asked the waiter for a recommendation for sake. The waiter provided us 3 small samples to try but he did not offer to share the price of the bottle nor did we ask. When the bill came, we found out it cost us $220!!! I felt like this was dishonest and put a damper on our otherwise wonderful meal.
Ambiance (5/5): The establishment is pretty small but very organized and neat, clean, and welcoming! We were seated next to the chef’s table and loved watching the preparation right in front of our eyes. The chefs worked together seamlessly to prepare the various dishes with special garnishes, sauces, and presentation.
Service (4/5): We were warmly greeted at the door. Warm towels for wiping at the beginning of the meal and during the middle course.
He went out of his way to ask us in advance if we wanted a birthday dessert since there was only 2 left in the back so he could reserve it. They came out with a sparkler candle for us! Free green tea with the dessert.
Food (5/5): We chose the combo omakase for $180 (4 sashimi & 8 sushi). Every single dish was fresh and delicious! Presentation was exceptional and the tastes were infused with art.
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