Top notch service. Let me start here - the wine glasses are shaped similar to wine bottles. I asked when I tried two wines before deciding one on the different glasses and they mentioned that. Food wise, they have vegetarian options. Loved the truffle hand roll, neat looking and tasting. The tempura looked great. Mushroom fried and the miso soup were usually. Eggplant appetizer was great - tender and well seasoned. read more

Just walked in and the waiter was rude. Said they were closed when they're not supposed to be close for another 30 mins with people seated at the bar. Have been going here for years, but based on this recent experience, that's my last time going, which is disappointing since I used to love this place. read more

Bar Masa - The location - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

On the 4th fl of The Shops at Columbus Circle. [[HIGHLIGHT]]A chill mellow vibe environment with trendy & friendly staff. It definitely gives you that high end city vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was fast, and knowledgeable. We were here for a show & needed to kill time, but the salmon sushi was fresh & the miso soup was very good. Grade: Salmon Sushi: A Miso Soup: A read more

Bar Masa - Salmon sushi (a la carte) - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Cocktails were not great and everything was very overpriced. I wouldn't have minded if the drinks were better. read more

Bar Masa - Edamame - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Worker was VERY RUDE didn't let me sit when no one was there. Threatened me and was extremely disrespectful. read more

Bar Masa - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I ve been going since I was a kid and I ve been going every birthday! I love everything there but specifically their beef skewers and udon noodles. The noodles are the perfect chewiness and the broth is AMAZING. My only wish is for them to bring back the corn fritters. read more

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It was good. It wasn't great. This is one of those places where it's better to get more appetizers than sushi. If you've been to Sanyu West I would say the sushi there is more interesting and creative. Don't get me wrong, the sushi here was fresh, but not a single piece wowed me. I would come back to have more appetizers and maybe not the sushi. The service was impeccable and exactly what you expect of fine dining. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place itself is very small and intimate.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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The reviews are all over the place for this restaurant! We wanted to eat at Masa, but the price tag held us back. We did some research (youtubing) and thought that Bar Masa would be just as good. We were not disappointed in any way. We made reservations for lunch and were seated promptly. The restaurant itself is very simple. A row of tables with bench seats and a sushi bar top. We decided to each order the nigiri sushi selection and then we split the sashimi selection. We also ordered the grilled maitake mushrooms with truffle. The stand out for me would be the salmon but also the toro shashimi. Both were marbled with fat and melted in your mouth with each bite. I enjoyed every piece of sushi that we had. read more

Bar Masa - Sashimi - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Excellent service and fantastic food in upscale ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The sushi was very good, but not as good as Japan (and maybe not as good as Sugarfish nearby), though that's quite a high bar. The food overall was delicious and the non-sushi items we ordered were fantastic. Enjoyed the soft-shell crab and the cucumber avocado tataki the most. The warm and attentive service made for an incredibly special experience. read more

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We got to the restaurant and were seated right away. The service was great and waiter even asked if we had any food allergies or restrictions before mentioning some items on the menu. They were quick and food was very fresh. Its a casual chic ambiance with dim lighting and a lot of lunch work meetings. I would definetly go back. The food was all flavorful and good. I especially loved the miso cod bento box. Not only was it a large portion but also a great value for the dish. read more

Bar Masa - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

We had reservations here on a Saturday evening. The restaurant is small so reservations are recommended. We had drinks at the bar first. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Pretty bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Nice bartender. He made alterations to my drink to accommodate my taste. Big a la carte menu. We enjoyed the ribs (spicy), wings, duck rice, hamachi kama, a sushi roll, and sesame ice cream. Everything had good flavor. Prices are high so that's a good thing. read more

My dad and I came here for a belated birthday dinner a few months ago, and it was delicious. We made an early reservation and were seated right away. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is pretty simple with a number of seats at the sushi counter and a few tables hidden behind little curtains.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The service was excellent and the ambiance was lovely.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered the tempura lobster roll, the spicy tuna roll, the miso soup, shishito peppers and a few other items that I am forgetting. Everything was delicious and presented beautifully. I would absolutely come back here again for a special occasion or date night. read more

We had a wonderful dinner here last night. We tried numerous items all of which were excellent. I really enjoyed the shrimp appetizer and my udon and my boyfriend loved everything but especially the shrimp pasta. We eat out every night so we especially appreciate good service. Good service is an understatement when it comes to Mimi- she was the absolute best!!! There aren't enough positive adjectives to describe her! Do yourself a favor and go for the excellent food and ask for Mimi to have a truly memorable experience! read more

The service is impeccable. You cannot say enough good things about the service. I highly recommend the dumplings (we got the crispy), the ribs were the best thing we had, and the skewers are really good. Of course the edamame was really good as well. The sushi was great but I would not get the Wagyu sushi. It was just fine for $40 for a piece. The udon noodles were good but we got the mushroom one which I felt like needed more spice. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a beautiful location and I would definitely return but perhaps get a rice instead of a noodle.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Pro Tip: When you arrive put in your order for the Black Sesame Ice Cream. It is the best thing on the dessert menu and they run out of it quickly. The food at Bar Masa is excellent and the fish is some of the very best that I have ever had. The uni was the creamiest and best tasting we have ever tasted, better than any in Japan. The prepared food is also well done. We will be back. read more

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Sadly left super disappointed and hungry Was looking forward for a special dinner date in the city so we looked into options available around our hotel area We didn't have much time to make our research about this restaurant but hopefully this review helps others before they decide to come here First of all we made a reservation at 9pm we arrive 5 minutes early and the host/manager tells us they won't have our table ready in 20-30 minutes (Like what's the purpose of making a reservation at this point ?) We waited 30 minutes , got sat down and we don't get a server for a good 10-15 minutes to bring us water and introduce himself The restaurant is half empty so it isn't that busy The drinks took forever to arrive , we waited for the server to take our order we ordered everything at the same time bc who knows at what time we would been out of there if we had to wait and wait to someone to come to us The food was below average , the drinks were also nothing special I had the jalapeño margarita it was very forgettable, tasted like spicy cucumber water Then the food portions were small but didn't taste extraordinary or great at all The fish it's ok definitely not the quality we are getting charged for Don't even bother ordering the caviar the way they paired it was super bland and boring Didn't even stay for dessert Overall I would save myself the time and money not come here again , service was utterly ridiculous, food bland and below average, ridiculously small portions and they don't even taste good , overpriced and menu needs to be updated or changed read more

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We visited on a Saturday night after we saw a Broadway show. 530 reservation, seated right away. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very small, but was not crowded.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Started off with the Dusk to Dawn and the Milan Agave to drink. Both very good. We ordered 3 rounds throughout our meal. For appetizers, we ordered the Soy Chicken Wings and the crispy Chicken Dumplings. Very fresh ingredients, very good for both. We never felt rushed so next we put in our entree order. I had the Beef Fried Rice and my boyfriend opted for the Seasonal Tasting Sushi for $110. My Beef Fried Rice was very good, not greasy- fresh. It did have a lot of onions in it which I'm not keen over, but it was still very good. My boyfriend's seasonal sushi he said was good. They did ask if he didn't want a certain fish or whatnot, but it was not enough for him to eat. He inhaled it quick and was still hungry after. For $110 you shouldn't leave hungry. He put in another order of BBQ Ribs. I was too full to try, but they were good he said. The bill was about $445 but the rounds of drinks adds up the bill quickly. Service was excellent, [[HIGHLIGHT]]ambience was nice[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], just wish the Sushi selection had more to it, but we were happy with our experience. read more

Bar Masa - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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This is lil sis restaurant to three Michelin-starred Masa - supposed to be a less expensive a la carte dining option. Masa is the one of the most expensive restaurants in the worth and the most expensive in NYC. Dinner will cost you about $600 p/p at Masa. So, how does Bar Masa compare? Located next door, it's an nice, intimate, dimly lit space. Since there were four of us, we chose a table in lieu of the sushi bar. Service was stellar. Bar Masa's sake selection is very impressive. The recommendation from our server was fatalistic. Next, what to order? I had perused the web prior to arriving and knew I had to try the roasted uni with truffle. It was by far the star of the night. Very unique and yummy! Then some hot pot beef and of course we ordered sushi and maki. The fish was absurdly fresh and cut to perfection. Very simple and traditional; mellow flavors. I have dropped big loads of money on sushi before, including in Tokyo. I get this is NYC and am very familiar with city prices. Butttttt, for the $900+ plus tip that included all the items I snapped will I eagerly return to Bar Masa on my next New York trip? Probably not. I have had just as good quality sushi (and trust me, I am a snob!) at several other restaurants at lower prices, including in NYC. Honestly, I left feeling a bit of buyer's remorse. Luckily it's located close to Central Park, so I was happy as a clam after I took a "Phoebe" run and my hubby filmed it. Lol! Next time, going all out for omakase at the OG Masa. I think it will meet all expectations and beyond. Until then, kanpai! read more

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Bar Masa offers a great space to enjoy a really good meal. I had the Sushi Assortment which featured the chefs choice of various cuts. I also enjoyed a salad and a shrimp tempura roll. The server was very attentive to my needs, even though she was very busy with a neighboring table who had trouble ordering, though no fault of the server or establishment. At one point my server was kind enough to send another server to my table to assist since she was caught up at that table for a longer period of time. Over all, Bar Masa is a great place to visit. The location allows you to eat and then shop all without ever leaving and e steering the cold! read more

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Good quality food, but way, way way overpriced. I didn't think any item was worth the high price. The most overpriced dish I had was the corn truffle tempura. Three little fried pieces for $32, and they weren't even good - so dry. Duck foie Gras tacos - tasty Tai sea bream truffle - good, but so expensive for four tiny pieces. Beef fried rice - bland Fish pasta cilantro and batarda - this was my first time trying pasta made out of fish and I hated it! The texture was gross to me, but others I dined with liked this dish so maybe it was just me. Miso eggplant - very good. Silky, delicious eggplant. Kanpachi jalapeño potato julienne - never again. $24 for four little pieces of sushi that was completely filled with little fried flakes and had the tiniest bit of fish on top (which I couldn't taste). Biggest rip off of the night after the corn truffle. Seared salmon avocado crispy flakes - good, fresh sushi, but nothing special. Chicken wings - piping hot, good chicken, but boring sauce. I'm not a fan of Japanese desserts, so none of the desserts did much for me as expected. Had a really cool looking green layer cake, but it looked better than it tasted. All in all, I don't think I'll ever return. The high price tag was just not worth it -- no dish blew me away despite being super expensive. read more

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Very good, but I'm not completely blown out of the water by it, especially with it's relatively hefty price tag. I don't know the name of most dishes that we ordered as I don't know Japanese food that well. Luckily for me, my friend does and he ordered the vast majority of it (and yes, I was also that person to ask for a fork). The place itself is very small but has a cute and casual ambience to it, definitely not recommended for large groups IMHO and instead is more for a date night/business lunch. Now, the food! Take note that this is a small plate type of place so order 5- 6 dishes to share between two people. We got the miso soup, spicy tuna carpaccio, Peking duck foie gras tacos, sukiyaki with foie gras (we love our foie gras), and the jalapeño octopus. The miso soup was simple and perfect. I loved the amount of mushrooms that they added in it as well. As for the spicy tuna carpaccio, I hate to admit it but for the price and the amount you get, I would definitely pass on it. Don't get me wrong it was good but it's not worth $26 for 7 little slivers of carpaccio. It also wasn't as flavorful as I had expected or have had for that matter. Now the Peking duck foie gras tacos...oh yes, this dish definitely stood out the most. Please get yourself an order (or two) of these. I should've figured that duck and foie gras would've been a match made in heaven but since I have yet to try it I couldn't attest to it, but now I can. Everything about them was wonderful- super flavorful and the right amount of meat. The sukiyaki with foie gras was also very good and a very adequate portion but I just really wish there was more foie gras in it. Last but not least, the sizzling octopus was good but it lacked flavor and I think I prefer my octopus grilled. If I had to rank them from best to worst, it would be the tacos, sukiyaki, soup, octopus, and then the carpaccio. I can't say I would be dying to return but I wouldn't be opposed to it either. read more

Bar Masa - Sizzling Octopus, Sukiyaki Rice with Foie Gras - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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The food and service are all good! The wagyu beef cook perfectly and melt in my mouth. It mixes with the mushrooms and onions well. It was a good decision that I randomly walked in to Bar masa today. Definitely will come back. read more

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Absolutely loved it. Smaller place than I expected, but not cramped. Very friendly and attentive service as one would expect, and without a hint of attitude. We ordered a la carte and were guided thru the menu wisely, for us, and ordered dumplings and udon noodle bowls. Both were Amazing! And all this on a busy Saturday night. Impressive. read more

Omakase: I do not recommend. Dishes were mediocre, zero effort and no love in their dishes...Lazy lazy lazy. Maybe their a la carte izakaya style dishes are better but judging from their lack of effort put into their Omakase, I think I know. ***Highlight of the night: as I was leaving, one of the male staff bowed and said xiexie. I am not Chinese but I am an asian. I don't expect you to figure out if I am Chinese, Japanese or Korean but really? Why he had to say xiexie instead of thank you in English? Awkward and unnecessary. There are so many exciting sushi / izakaya options in the city so just skip bar masa... read more

I came here Friday night 9pm for dinner, and then went to a bar. I went home with a terrible nauseating stomach ache, and was not able to sleep all night. I had the worst symptoms, which turned out to be food poisoning. To save you all from the details, let's just say I thought to myself "this is how I possibly die." The next day, I left a message with Bar Masa and the bar I went to about my food poisoning experience. Since then, I had only heard back from the bar, who had called me back and asked if they could send an email with more health questions to gather more information. I'm surprised I never heard from Bar Masa. Now for my dining experience review: Regarding the ambiance, very casual. Regarding the food, I feel they're reaching for the stars and the execution is partially there, and definitely catered to Caucasian taste buds. I don't want to hear more about the soy chicken wings already more than I have from the waitstaff. They were tasteless, burnt, and obviously, overrated. The uni truffle dish was so heavy, and so were the peking duck foie tacos. Regarding the service, it's just okay. Great cocktails though! Will I be returning? No. I feel health and sanitation should be the first priority of a restaurant. read more

Disappointing ambience and service. No vibe whatsoever and food is disappointing overall. The sushi and sashimi are fine but the other entrees lacked finesse and the fried chicken was more batter than chicken. Expected so much more. read more

Obviously unable to afford the $600/person meals at the REAL Masa, my husband took me to Barmasa for my 30th birthday dinner. They have a 15 minute rule that if you're unable to make your reservation, they'll give up the table to other patrons. Anyways, it's a pretty small place located on the 4th floor in the Columbus Circle shopping center. Dimly lit and with friendly waitstaff, we were seated immediately and offered a drink. My husband ordered a King Hendrick, which so refreshingly delicious. The drink was about $15 and if you're asking if it was worth it, ehhh...with an ice cube in the cup the size of the actual glass, it was probably a lot less alcohol than it looked. Anyways, our waitress was named Opal and was extremely friendly. I heard her conversing with other tables as well as me and my husband and I thought that was great for service. The rest of the staff was great in coming around to refill water and cleaning the tables. There's not much to say about the Devore of the Restaurant as it imitates what I presume is a traditional Japanese restaurant. The bar is located on the right hand side while the seats were on the left hand side, with cloth curtains as partitions. My husband and I ordered spicy tuna with green chili roll, shrimp tempura udon, and smoked salmon over mushroom rice. Our food came out really quickly which was great. The sushi roll itself was delicious. I sort of expected the tuna to be a little more moist and spicier. My smoked salmon dish, however, was delicious. I wish they had a bigger portion because I finished that way too fast in the most unclassy way possible. My husband's udon was presented in a clay pot that kept it hot for a good amount of time. After that, we got dessert (of course)! We ordered the cocoa and black sesame ice cream and miso creme brûlée. The ice cream was delicious...I wished there was less cocoa and more black sesame flavor because sesame ice cream itself is delicious. The miso creme brûlée was also good, except it sorta tasted like a few creme brûlée I've had before... For three entrees, a drink, and two desserts, our bill came out to about $180 with a 20% tip. We expected to be paying at least $200 or so for the dinner and I guess it wasn't as expensive as some of our friends made it out to be. Again, the REAL meal was across from Barmasa at Masa. I took away one star because Barmasa did seem overpriced, especially their drink prices but hey, it's NYC. Would I come back? Hm I'm not sure. Probably. Although I'd like to save up some money for the real shit at Masa :p read more

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I have and always will (I think and hope), love this establishment. Began eating at the now closed location at aria 10 plus years ago. Tried every item on the menu, but toro caviar, miso cod, and varying sashimis are what make this heart happy. The black sesame ice cream is a dream after a meal of this nature. If I could eat from one menu everyday for the rest of my life, it would be you dear barMasa (and of course your brother restaurant). The meal emulates an emotion of simplicity, class and self love. And I love you barMasa. read more

This is right next door to the famous masa. Not too difficult to get a reservation but same kitchen (at least that's what we were told). Fish was very fresh. Toro was very good. Overall we had a pleasant experience. The service was very attentive. The only pushback I would give is that it certainly was expensive for what it was but that should be a given since you eating at a place like this. Overall a good time but probably just a one time visit for me. read more

Bar Masa - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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I came here the other night and had an amazing time. Pros: + Amazing sushi - we tried a few of them. My favorites by far were the scallops and toro + Pasta appetizers - they have amazing pasta based + A mini version of Massa. This place is a scaled back equivalent of the restaurant Massa. It's a great way to try some of the food without that $400 price tag + Amazing drink collection though! Cons: - Price - the service and food are amazing. I would definitely want to give them five stars for that. However, I do feel that the ambience/food here is heftily overpriced. read more

I came here with high expectations but our dinner was ok. There were some dishes that were pretty good and some so so. Peaking Duck Foie Gras and Butter Miso Cod was very good. Agedashi Tofu was average. The Soy Chicken Wings had a nice Smokey grilled taste but not much else. I couldn't taste soy or anything else. The Baby Back Ribs fell right off the bone but the sauce was a bland tangy and a little spicy but no real flavor. The Sushi was delicious and melted in your mouth. I loved the Blue Finn. Finishing off with the Soba Ice cream was good. It had a nice Smokey taste. I wish it was more then one small scoop. Mind you the items are small plates and it will add up if you try a few different items. read more

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I thought this place was absolutely amazing. I don't have anything negative to say at all. The service was on point, servers were always respectful and patient, food was bursting with delicious flavors. I left completely satisfied. from the chilled menu, id recommend the Tai sea bream for sure! Oh! And the miso cream brûlée for dessert. Everything else was wonderful (I just don't remember the names of the dishes). The lighting is dim so the photo quality isn't the greatest. read more

Haven't been to Masa, so don't know how it compares, but the Bar Masa lunch offerings were great. My tuna and uni dish was fresh and Chef Masa even came out and took a picture with us. It was apparently our Chef's first time making one of the dishes so Chef Masa prepared it himself. read more

Bar Masa - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Food is top 3 sushi. However, portions and price are off. I want to do Masa next time.

My husband and I was in Columbus Circle area on a lazy Friday morning about a month ago. After running some errands we stumbled across Bar Masa (right next to Masa) which opens early for lunch and we were able to be seated without an reservation. Bar Masa is not a big place, a bar with about 10 seats as soon as you walk in and 8 small tables across from the bar with cloth curtains as divider. A cute comfortable place if you are looking for a nice and quiet meal. And with that said, what a relaxing lunch we had. Our server was really patience and let us take all the time we needed on the menu. Everything we had was on point. We ordered the Braised cod with daikon and a large Seasonal sashimi testing to start. Following by a Toro uni roll and Uni toro temaki. The uni toro temaki was so good that I ordered double! We finished off with Cocoa and black sesame ice cream. It was a lovey lunch and I really appreciated it. Even we spent $420 over this lunch which was on the expensive side, but it's 1/3 of the regular price at Masa! read more

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Poor men's place to have a Japanese meal. It's next door to Masa - maybe it should called Masa Next Door as Nobu ha ha ha - on the 4th floor at Columbus Circle/Time Warner. The decor is sleek, and ever the sporadic Japanese style, which I don't dislike. However, for the price they're charging, the furniture is on dingy side. They offer fixed menu. Small portion. Not bad, but totally not worth the money. A young couple on a first or early date who looked a little awkward. My dessert came with green powder beneath and theirs did not. So I joked to them to complain. The boy prompted did. A little relief for them, and, also, a call-out on the kitchen. Don't think I'll return because of the price. read more

This is a true stunner and gem, with amazing a la crate options and a fantastic drink selection. Sweet staff and the chef was even there :)

Not value for money. $128 tasting sushi platter has other than the super thinly sliced toro, all other fish are regular white fish you can find in sushi combo in average restaurants. Slice the fish too thin. Not sure try to cut cost or by accident. Lose the mouth feel. Highly disappointed! read more

This sister Restaurant of Michelin 3 start MASA is really excellent. (Masa and Bar Masa are next to each other) I have been going there for more than 10 years. It is probably our family's favorite Japanese restaurant in NYC. Many creative dishes as well as traditional noodles like Nabeyaki Udon. Our favorites include Chicken wings, Uni Custurd, Hot soba and salmon/avocado rolls. read more

Quality of fish is excellent. Can't go wrong eating here. Small portions....which I like. This is not BeniHana (sorry Steve Aoki). Definitely expensive... but you get what you pay for. Maybe not the best food in the world (maybe the even more expensive Masa next door is?) Nevertheless it was great and more than a 4 star so I gave 5. Service at bar was awesome. Nice selection is sake and wine. I would go again. Right boo? read more

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