Sushi Dojo

Sushi Dojo is the new sushi haven in the East Village run by chef David Bouhadana of Morimoto fame. If you are a purist sushi lover, I highly recommend it. It's not the kind of place you go if your sushi of choice is say, doused in spicy mayo or called something like the "New York Spectacular Roll". This place is legit. Pure. No wasabi. No soy. Just clean, fresh, delicious fish. You gotta love fish, and you have to be able to appreciate the simplicity of it.

Sushi Dojo is a small spot, decorated simply, giving it a clean and intimate feel. You're not coming here for the atmosphere. On a Saturday night, it was pretty quiet, though almost full. You can have a conversation without screaming, and it would probably work well as a date spot. There is also a nice size Sake list, which the sommelier Max is more than happy to help you out with. 
I started my meal with a bunch of appetizers including tempura battered Grilled Shisito Peppers, Nasu Nibitashi lightly fried eggplant marinated with dashi, and Ohitashi which is a mixture of mushrooms and spinach. I wouldn't order any of these again. Tiny portions and not even a little bit memorable. The Tuna Tartare was the best of the appetizers, but even that photographed better than it actually tasted. At this point I'm wondering what all the fuss is about here. 

Just stick with the sushi. This is where it is at. I went for the 10 piece Omakase Sushi Deluxe, which at $45 is a huge bargain. Out came 10 beautifully selected pieces of clean, unadorned and unembellished delicious fish. Highlights for me was the Tasmanian Trout, and Fatty Tuna. Each delectable morsel slid down my throat with not an ounce of fishiness and even my companion, not a huge raw fish guy at all, thouroughly enjoyed his meal.

We didn't leave overly stuffed, but it was sufficient. Nice waitstaff, friendly relaxed vibe, and simple fresh fish. And although I wouldn't call it cheap, Dojo definitely offers good value for the quality of fish you are being served.

Neighborhood: East Village 


Bite Mark: ***

Good For: Pure Sushi, Date Night, Solo Dining 

Sushi Dojo, 110 1st Ave between 6th & 7th Street www.sushidojonyc.com 

Momo Sushi Shack

I wanted to love Momo's. The hipster Williamsburg "I'm a restaurant in a garage" vibe works for me, as does the communal tables and low lighting. I'm also cool with how Philip (the manager I assume?) comes over personally and promises an incredible experience. I love that the service was great all night, (although some extra deodorant would certainly not hurt), and the vibe was very chilled. Alas I almost feel bad saying but the sushi was underwhelming. And for the price we paid (over $200 for a couple including 2 beers), I just don't know. Some things are really exceptional here, and maybe I've become a bit of a sushi snob, but it's just not GREAT sushi. 

As a side note, although it's not really fair to compare, I should mention that the other day I experienced the Omakasa $50 lunch special at the sushi counter at Sushi of Gari 46 (see photo). That's a review in and of itself, but in short I was BLOWN AWAY... and Momo just didn't do that for me. 

But now back to the review at hand....

I love the surprise of doing a tasting. Phil said he would take care of us and that we were in good hands. I was psyched. The 1st course came and it was pretty solid. The Tofu / Avocado Salad was plated beautifully and tasted great. We were smiling ear to ear with the wonderful Carrot Shiso Soup and the made from scratch delicious Miso Soup.

The next couple of dishes unfortunately, did not fare as well. First came an assortment of "sushi bombs" (balls of rice with a thin slice of fish and some sort of sauce over it). We were given 3 pieces of Spicy Mc Low Bomb (tuna, avocado, wasabi cream), 3 pieces of Pink Bomb (salmon, scallions), and 6 pieces of Yellowtail (hamachi, daikon, ponzu). I don't know what's up with their rice, but it doesn't taste like sushi rice at all. It was hard, but not crunchy in a good way. Kinda weird. It also felt like too much rice to fish ratio. I didn't love it. Next was the Sashimi Tasting including 2 pieces of Kanpachi, Thai Red Snapper, Striped Bass, Sea Bass, Hamachi and Mackerel that we're told came straight from Japan. Not my thing. I don't know why, maybe I'm not hardcore enough, but it fell flat. Phil felt terrible and we felt embarrassed as we silently promised to finish whatever else came out of the kitchen no matter what. He immediately sent over this unbelievable bite of Salmon Belly with burnt onion and mayo, and I was back in heaven. The Toro Scallion Handroll was also really excellent. Great quality, perfectly rolled and delicious. I could have ate 3 more.

 Lastly we got 2 pieces of cooked fish, a Salmon with crispy skin, fish roe and greens that was delicious and perfectly cooked. And a Miso Cod that looked dry but was actually really flavorful and delicious as well.

I'm kind of torn. I love the passion and hands on approach to the place, and some items were really really delicious (soups, tofu salad, toro, salmon belly and cooked fish), but major points are deducted when the actual sushi (or sushi bombs in this case) and sashimi don't measure up. They also ran out of dessert which was kinda disappointing.
Momo Sushi Shack is a decent spot. I probably would not go out of my way to go back but if I lived in the hood or if the wait at Roberta's got too crazy (it's around the corner) I would give it one more shot. Thanks for the love Phil, good service is always appreciated.

Note that Momo's is Cash Only. Also, they only take reservations for tastings, but those can start as low as $40 per person. They also are very vegetarian and Kosher friendly, so extra points for that as well.


Neighborhood: East Williamsburg / Bushwick, Brooklyn

Bite Mark: *** (extra star for the good service & veggie friendly kitchen) 

Good For: First Date, Neighborhood Sushi 

Momo Sushi Shack, 43 Bogart St 718-418-6666 www.momosushishack.com

Cherry

 Cherry is the new sleek and swanky lounge-restaurant serving Asian fushion fare to the hip and cool kids below the Dream Hotel on West 16th Street. Not to be confused with the old lounge of the same name in the W Hotel on Lex that I used to frequent as a teen, Cherry is brought to you by the guys from Bond St, the ever trendy sushi spot in Noho. As the name aptly implies, Cherry is steeped with dark red accents, dim lights, red velvet booths, and tucked away corners. There's a long crowded bar with an array of good looking bartenders serving some really fun and interesting cocktails. My (lightweight) friends recommend the Fuzzy Dog with gin, fennel, peach preserves, lemon and absinthe mint, which they quickly downed and thoroughly enjoyed. 

Once we checked in we impatiently waited over a half hour for our table, though it should be noted that the hostess did do us a favor by switching our reservation from 4 to 6 people at a prime time hour on a busy Thursday night. After grabbing some drinks at the bar, we were finally led to a quiet enclave in a dark corner and lounged on the comfy couch as we waited for our food. 

The food at Cherry has its high and low points. Some items are outstanding, while others really did not do it for us.

Highlights: Warm Mushroom Salad with frilly mustard greens, garlic chips and sake soy. This is delicious, order it. It's better than what you are picturing and what you've eaten at Ki Sushi in Bklyn and other similar spots. It is a filling and warm plate of wonderfully aromatic mushrooms. Yum. Tuna Crispy Rice is another must order. The 6 of us ordered 3 portions. Crispy fried rice with spicy tuna and jalapeño. We are not breaking new ground here and it is not unlike what you've eaten at Koi, Mikasa, etc, but really delicious nonetheless. The Bond St Tuna Tart is another must order. Creamy ponzu, micro shish and white truffle oil make for the perfect bite. It looks like a raw tuna pizza, and goes down smooth and clean. So fresh and so delicious, don't miss this.

Lowlights: Some of the appetizers that don't fare as well are the Tuna Tacos, which tasted fried and were messy looking, and the Smoked Salmon Tart which was a bit fishy. The Seaweed Salad and Asian Mixed Greens (not pictured) were both fine. 

The main courses also had their ups and downs. We all agreed the Miso Glazed Seabass with crispy rice cake and bonito is excellent, and a nice size portion too. I didn't taste the Cod, but it didn't look especially appealing. The Buckwheat Risotto with seasonal veggies is another good one. Vegetarian friendly and really flavorful and delicious.

The sushi, which I was expecting to be on Bond St level, is just fair. We ordered a varied selection of rolls including Yellowtail Jalapeno, Veggie Cucumber Wrap, Toro Scallion, Spicy Tuna, and Crunchy Snapper. It comes beautifully presented with an assortment of dippings and sauces. Unfortunately, from the first bite it was clear that it just isn't life changing sushi. It isn't terrible, it is just not what you should come here for. Maybe too fancy and too many things inside took away from the fresh fish and clean sushi that the better sushi spots are known for? About half the sushi platter remained when we had all finished.




Banana Tart Tatin and Green Tea Meltdown were both good dessert options, the banana being my favorite.  
All in all, I enjoyed my experience at Cherry. The service could use improvement as our waiter disappeared for long periods and there was some lag in between courses, but Cherry is still relatively new. I would return for a small party with friends or even for drinks. There is a nice loung-y vibe and cool crowd. Order right and make a reservation, and Cherry could be a great addition to your mix. 



Neighborhood: Meat Packing. Located under the Dream Hotel 

Bite Mark: ***

Good For: Trendy, Date Night, Girls Night Out, Small Parties, Dining Incognito

Cherry, 355 W 16th St bet 8th - 9th Ave  212-929-5800  www.cherrynyc.com

Chez Sardine

I love this place. Then again, I went into it kinda knowing I was going to love it. Little Wisco and the Gabe Stulman crew can do no wrong in my eyes.

Chez Sardine is an intimate and fun Japanese fusion and sushi spot on West 10th street in the West Village. Rocking music (think Biggie Smalls), friendly service, and awesome food. Who wouldn't love a place with a mezuzah on the wall and a photo of Mr. Miyagi (Karate Kid) above the bar! Even though they made us wait a while on a cold Thursday night for a 9pm reservation, they were so apologetic and nice about it, it was hard to stay mad (the free round of salt cod fritters also didn't hurt).

We started with the Edamame with lime sea salt and another round of deliciously fried Cod Fritters. Then came the sushi pieces. I didn't think I was a big Mackeral fan (left), but it was smooth and silky and went down in one delicious bite. The Smoked Arctic Char (middle) was also great. Smoky and meaty tasting, get this. There was only one piece left of Hamachi (right) when we were there, and the 4 of us had to fight for it. So good. Each order only comes with one piece so be sure to order enough sushi, they are addicting.

 Next came the Iceberg Wedge with creamy sesame dressing. Good, but not the reason you came here. The Sushi Rice Balls get mixed reviews, but I like it a lot. It was a mix of tuna, salmon, and mackerel sashimi, with deep fried rice balls with avocado, spicy mayo and tobiko. YUM. I also enjoyed the Breakfast Pancakes, with fish tartare, salmon roe and yogurt. May sound like a strange combo but it works. Smoked Cheddar Grilled Cheese (minus the Foie) was good but a little greasy, and would probably have been a whole lot better with the foie gras. Brussel Sprouts were sweet and tangy and went well with all the fish.

The highlight of the meal though, is their famous Miso Maple Salmon Head. Wow. It sounds gross, and  looks kinda daunting but it is the BOMB. We destroyed it. All that was left was the sad looking eye ball. Little tough to find the meat, but definitely worth the effort. Just look at the before and after shot. 

They finish off the meal by giving everyone a taste of Maple Pudding. 
Great ending to a great meal.

Chez Sardine is a lot of fun, definitely a Brooklyn Bite approved spot. Go with 4 people so you can get a reservation online on their website. Cool, trendy, friendly staff, and delicious (but pricey) food. If you like fish and enjoy being a little adventurous, this place is definitely for you. 

Neighborhood: West Village

Bite Mark: *** and a half

Good For: Date Spot, Drinks, Fresh Fish

Chez Sardine, 183 West 10th between W 4th & 7th Ave South 646-360-3705 www.chezsardine.com

Sushi Mikasa

I have to admit, I was a bit tentative about reviewing Mikasa. I have mixed feelings. It seems a lot of people either LOVE or HATE this place, and after 3 times eating their food (twice in, once for takeout) I was still trying to figure out where I fell on that scale. 
You may not always agree with my opinion on this blog, but since I started my vow has always been to try and present each experience as fairly and honestly as I am able to. 


Sushi Mikasa. Let's start with the good. Chef Kevin came from Sushi Seki in Manhattan and obviously knows his stuff. The fish is extremely fresh, and the menu is creative. This place goes way beyond spicy tuna and there are always specials and new items they are working on. Everything is presented beautifully, and the food that excelled, really blew our minds. For example, the crispy rice with spicy tuna, though I've had many versions of this dish (Koi, etc), was delectable. Enough so that we got a second, and then a third order of it. The place is cozy, maybe 30 seats top, and there's also a private dining room downstairs. If you don't mind sitting close to your neighbors (and for me, knowing about 75% of the people currently eating there), then it is an intimate, nice spot for delicious sushi close to home.

Now for the not so good.

1. Location. Sushi Mikasa is located on Gravesend Neck Road, a block from the Police Precinct off of Coney Island Avenue in Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn. Not exactly Bond Street over here, and not an easy car or train ride from NYC. The location is pretty remote, but it is pretty close to where a lot of people I know live, so for me this is not the drawback. 

2. Service. The service was not terrible, but it was spotty at best. The Russian waitress was not very knowledgable about the menu and did not do a great job guiding us. Maybe had we just stuck to the Omakasa, it would have been a different experience, but I was looking for her to point out the don't miss items, and this just did not happen. 

3. The PRICES here are exorbitant. Now, I eat out. A LOT. I've no problem shelling out  for the big wig sushi spots in the city including Sushi Seki, Yasuda, Gari, Nobu, Bond, Neta, etc, but I have to say that leaving here and paying that much, just doesn't sit right with me. Sushi Mikasa is that place that charges extra for the extra dressing, or spicy mayo, and at this price point, I feel that is unjustifiable. Also when the bill came, we found they charged us for 2 extra orders of crispy rice tuna (1 that we ordered and never came, and another one that was never mentioned!) They barely even apologized. So with this being said, just know what you are getting into. 

Much of the food we sampled here is fresh, delicious, and excellent, but there were some misses mixed in as well. 
Here is our rundown:
-Edamame, pretty standard. 
-Tuna Pizza, good but TINY, probably would not order again. 
-Magura Tuna (diced tuna with avocado and fresh wasabi), delicious. Perfect amount of kick. 
-Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna GET THIS.
-Green Salad was pretty standard, but the Seaweed Salad was inedible. Different than any seaweed I've ever had, and not in a good way. I sent it back, and I really never do that. Also, my friend ordered the Tofu salad and was told by the waitress to try something else, "wink wink". She said it's not bad, she's just never seen it before and wouldn't want to start now. Thanks for the honestly, but um......

We also got some of the specials of the night including pieces of Seabass "Salad" (right) which was crispy and tangy and delicious. The Tuna with Pinenuts (left) had a mushy texture and needed something crunchier. I didn't care much for the Tuna with Pepper (I was expecting spice, it was more of a roasted pepper). My pieces of King Salmon, and Snapper with Sea Salt were fresh and perfect, and the Salmon Skin Hand Roll was also very good. Toro Scallion Roll and the Salmon Avocado Roll were also great. 

For 4 people we definitely ate but I would not say that we over ordered (which I often do!) We ended the meal with some Mochi Ice Cream, and the Layered Pastry dessert. All pretty much on par with what you would expect for dessert at a decent sushi shop. 

Not to overstate the point, but for 2 couples, with 2 orders of hot saki and a few beers, the bill came out to OVER $300 per couple. Come on now...

So now that you have all the facts (or my opinions at least), you be the judge. The sushi is definitely fresh and delicious, but for that price and especially for that location, the restaurant should be FLAWLESS in every aspect. The food should be the last word and the service exceptional, and for me, star chef or not, this just did not happen.


Neighborhood: Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn

Bite Mark: ***

Good For: Fresh Sushi, Breaking the Bank

Sushi Mikasa, 1188 Gravesend Neck Road, Brooklyn. 718-332-6600 www.sushimikasa.com