MidTown is split between two types of people. People who are not used to NYC, and people who are. Having taught in the city for the last 13years, the City has a flavor, a style, a certain something that will always make it a favorite love of mine, but the honeymoon is over. I'm comfortable with her now. So the Lady has to eat. She pulls in people who are willing to put up with bloated prices and long lines full of people impressed with long lines of people. But the true NY is like the true French person or the true Brazilian, we avoid the hype in order to search for the quality niche. I'm thinking Bar Masa is the place. There's a couple places up her in the Columbus Circle Mall. A friend of mine who I met here had no awareness that the 4th floor even existed. Of the establishments nestled on the 4th floor, the burlap curtain labeled Bar Masa is easily missed in its corner, compared to the others. Stepping through that corner, I encountered a hostess who put her book down to smile and take my coat. Number one she was reading an actual book. Always a welcome sight for an old bibliophile such as myself. We discussed books for a bit, and then she escorted me to the bar. Again I was greeted with enthusiasm. This time by the bartender. She served me water almost immediately, as well as placing the menu. And prompted me to express any questions I might have. I made a beeline for the chilled sake. She assisted me by inquiring what type of sake I enjoyed, and brought out a dry sake that was fantastic. I also tried the Sizzling Spicy Octopus and a lamb dish that isn't mentioned on their regular menu: tasty. So tasty that I kept eating down to the last morsel on the plate. read more

Excellent food and service. Went for lunch set on a Friday, and we were impressed. The quality of the sushi was excellent and the service was just as good. I would suggest going for lunch, unless you can afford the fixed set. I personally had the unagi don as well as the agedashi tofu. Both excellent. The eel was perfect in taste and preparation, reminded me of a recent trip to Japan. read more

For a restaurant with the word "bar" in it, this restaurant is SUPER expensive. The food is fantastic, but you have to pay for the quality for sure! The naked oysters were amazing. and the sushi was very delicate and fresh. we had some hot items that i don't care to remember now, but i had some noodles that tasted like it came from a cheap chinese restaurant or better yet a microwavable japanese dish. augh. stick with the sushi and cold apps. read more

Place is dingy small, and over the top pricey. For the amount of $$ spent, I'd expect a cozier place. Quality is good but I've had better for similar price points. Avocado Tuna tare tare was nice and creamy, fish noodles were interesting and quite bouncy, the rolls were good but nothing special, sesame ice cream and creme brulee was tasty. All in all, it was a decent meal but I wouldn't return. Sesame ice cream is better at Otooya. read more

Came here with my gf for a quick bite. On a tues night at 7pm, the wait for two for the bar was estimated for an hour. We got seats in 30. Ambience is pretty chic for being in a mall and the sound proofing of the restaurant is impressive. The bartender/ waiter was very attentive. They gave us warm towels to clean our hands throughout the meal and constantly checked on us. I got the buckwheat tea which was great. Light with a potent grain flavor. Dishes we got were 1. Peking duck tacos (comes with four finger size tacos. So so cute and well executed. The skin was crispy. And the eat tender. Just the right amount of bean sauce and scallion). 2. Dancing shrimp. Five shrimp to a dish with fried julienned lotus. Spicy mayo dipping sauce on the side. This was a super crunchy dish (and yes u can eat the shell!) with only very light batter. 3. Fatty salmon with avo. Literally melts in your mouth. (We used the above mayo dip) 4. Langosteen. Their lobster curry was discontinued so we ordered this instraas. Split in half with a pretty presentation. Very flavorful. Nice small app! 5. Miso cod was the bomb. The fish was perfectly flaked and the sauce was out of this world. 3 nice sized mounds of goodness. Definitely did not have room for dessert but was completely satisfied with my meal! read more

Went here during a short trip to the city. Amazing food. Favorite of the night was Nantucket scallop in sizzling garlic oil. Great ambiance and drinks. I would definitely go back and am recommending it to friends who plan a trip to New York next month. Prepare to spend some money. read more

Fresh Fish. Decent Cocktails. Insanely over priced. You are paying for the name and that's it. The russians next to us loved it. read more

Only had time to have a drink but wanted to check out the space. Hip, chic, and inviting. Pretty good cocktail and whiskey list too. read more

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

Sushi was fine but nothing to gloat about esp given the price and the small portion size. Asked for toro but got regular tuna instead but maybe it was an honest mistake. After trying the toro, didn't think it can compare with Sushi Yasuda, Jewel Bako, Nobu or even Sushi Gari/Seki. The duck tacos was tasty as well as the kobe beef friend rice but again nothing spectacular. The sesame ice cream was good. Miso cod was boasted to be the best but unfortunately Nobu wins out in my opinion. read more

The best japanese restaurant I have ever had in the States (fine, I admit that I only live in between NYC and Boston). But I am hard to pleased Asian in terms of Asian food so I can probably gain 10 points of credibility on this. Food are great, consistently great. Sushi and Sashimi are beyond fabulousness. I am a huge fan of uni and toro. I have never been disappointed by the food or services here. I love the decor, lighting and probably every single piece of furniture. It might cost a fortune and you are still feeling hungry (but in a good mood). read more

Extremely tiny portions. The crowd was not exciting. Sake list was good. But overall unfortunately not impressed....

Food was good, but it wasn't hot when it was supposed to be and the service was quite poor. First time here - because we stumbled upon it at the Time Warner Center on a Saturday (no business people eating lunch) while trying to grab a drink and lunch. I live here in NYC and hadn't tried the restaurant after all the bad publicity at the beginning of its existence - about long lines and snooty service. So I had put it out of my mind, even though I eat at tons of Japanese places, including the most expensive, frequently. Anyway - there were only four occupied tables in the whole place (it's a small place) and we commented how there seemed to be so many servers (6 people?), and yet, with all that, we had very poor service. It was weird. Now I don't need to rush in and rush out of a lunch that cost me $113 personally (my friend spent as much on hers) - but I DO NOT like food that is tepid when it's supposed to be hot. Sucks - especially when you're spending so much. This happened with the soup, the main dish and one of the two appetizers. So weird, so bad. But almost the weirdest thing was that after getting all this other food, we thought they had forgotten my friend's roll - really the main part of her meal. We thought, "good, we're too full anyway." At first I told my friend to cancel. She did not, thinking since it had been over a HALF HOUR since our last dish, they had forgotten. But no - when we tried to cancel - past that half hour - they said we had to take it anyway - they couldn't cancel. Sucks again. Overall the food is good to quite good - but there's NO EXCUSE for poor service on a very slow lunch day and NO EXCUSE for hot food that has cooled before serving. Now I'm mad that I gave 20% tip as usual. Not too bright on my part!! Won't be going back here to be ignored. Oh - we sat at the tables. I suppose the service would have been better and the food hotter if we had sat at the bar. But it shouldn't make a difference at such an expensive, supposedly high end place. read more

I do enjoy this place. I like that the size of the sushi is edible in one bite, not that awkward bite in half and drop the rest or shove in all in your mouth size. Eel is yummy, tuna with caviar is yummy, and the miso cod is also yummy. I like sitting at the bar better than the tables and although the atmosphere doesn't blow me away the sushi will keep my coming back. Maybe a little overpriced though, luckily I haven't had to pick up the tab yet. read more

Stopped in for a snack and got some of the most delicious sushi we've ever had. We took a seat at the bar, our server was nice and the food came out quick. He made a good drink for us with clementines and vodka. Small place but very nice, prices were fair for the quality of sushi. read more

Nice location and decor. Service was ok. Lady at the table nearby had asked for a Sprite from the waiter 3 times and seemed to be annoyed that it took that many requests to get it. Hope it was an off day. Sushi was fine but nothing to gloat about esp given the price and the small portion size. Asked for toro but got regular tuna instead but maybe it was an honest mistake. After trying the toro, didn't think it can compare with Sushi Yasuda, Jewel Bako, Nobu or even Sushi Gari/Seki. The duck tacos was tasty as well as the kobe beef friend rice but again nothing spectacular. The sesame ice cream was good. Miso cod was boasted to be the best but unfortunately Nobu wins out in my opinion. I don't know if I would give this place a second try and I think this place would actually deserve only 2.5 stars in my opinion. read more

Another really good restaurant but a little expensive for plate size. the fish is always delicious. It's one of the few places I really enjoy eating tuna. fried rice is amazing! read more

The sushi here is incredible. I am a total sushi snob having eaten everywhere and the quality is to die for. Better than Japan! Whatever you do, order the masa toro roll. It will change your life. Love the bathroom too with the incense. Good drinks too. read more

We've eaten here twice...for lunch. The food is delicious. Not as many stand outs as you might imagine, but I enjoyed the best sushi roll I've EVER eaten in my life...here. It was an uni roll with other things, I'm so sorry I can't remember what was in it. I just remember thinking that the combination was unusual and might be odd...but instead it was sublime. It is pricey but extremely fresh. I recommend the lunch special which they sometimes forget to give you a menu for... Go for the freshest sushi & sashimi. The drinks could be more expertly prepared and dessert was a bit of a let down. Did I say, go for the amazing fish?! read more

This restaurant takes the prize in being the Panda Express of Columbus Circle Shops. Want a prize at being the Best of Pick from {A1, A2, A3} pair with meat {B1, B2, B3} and sauce {C1, C2, C3}. - inconsistent explanations. Asked the waiter about $118 Sashimi Tasting. Some long explanation follows about two Nigiri tasting options, finishing with the $68 Sashimi Tasting. Huh? So I repeat my question again. Vague: "Yea, you get x pieces of fish". I am like: WTF? I repeat the question, trying to get some answers with the crisp detail of the quality of the $68 Nigiri. Was my question not clear enough, or did you box me into the "$68 Nigiri" customer, or did you run out of fish and you don't want me to order the $118 Sashimi? I simply insist: what kind of fish is in the $118 Sashimi. Because, I already know this is the type of joint where you want to understand what you are getting, since you can't rely on the "chef" to guide your culinary adventure. We order 3 hot dishes. A lot of people are picky eaters so they want to know every sauce and every tiny ingredient. I am not. But I do have one simply requirement. I HATE spicy food. Every chef who makes food spicy hot is hiding something: bad ingredients, lack of seasoning, lack of skill. Their answer: no, nothing is really spicy. We get the first dish, and it is a grilled octopus with peppers. Sure enough, the dish itself is not spicy. Quality: 3 out of 5. And then, as I am chewing on one meaty octopus piece, I bite into a very small cluster of what seemed like a little crisped octopus. And my mouth goes: "BURNING, BURNING, BURNING". I immediately spit this out, and, lo, and behold: the jalepeno seeds which have been chunked up, and crisped. So the line cook who was supposed to take out the seeds of jalepenos, and get a few thin slices of japenelos seared, but managed to leave a chunk of seeds in the pan, which got clustered under the octopus meat, and basically my mouth is burning hot right now. I am drinking water by the droves, trying to put down the 11 alarm fire in my mouth, - next, we get our sashimi. It looks nice: 7 different fishes, 3 very small pieces of each. $118 / 21 = $5.6 per piece, which is a reasonable price, but pieces are kind of small. So, I think to myself: maybe these are premium cuts. Maybe. 3 each of lean cut tuna (akami), salmon (sake), amber jack, some other mediocre fish. That's what you get at the Chinese restaurant in the suburbs offering sushi. Then we have a couple of higher end: sanmai, otoro, and one other fish. I can't comment on the value of the whole proposition, but one thing was clear: the fish was TOO WARM for my liking. So, a good sashimi restaurant does 3 things: (a) get good quality fish, (b) know how to cut it, and (3) prepare it for taste, temperature, and texture. I think they thoroughly failed in 3rd regard. Go have a counter omakase at any reasonable place, and you won't have fish this warm, I guarantee you, - another rather disappointing experience was rice with truffle (can't remember the exact name). On the menu, it had a very simply description, but in the rice section, it was clearly the most expensive item. I have had similarish dish in many other restaurants: fried rice, with some other ingredients, e.g., fish, then dried chopped up rice paper, very thin, and a small quail egg on top. This version had no quail egg, and instead had some gold flakes, and supposedly truffle. Now, I super sensitive to truffle, and I can tell how much truffle is in the dish. And this dish barely had any. Overall, I would say: save your $400, your 2 hours, and have dinner somewhere. Heck, maybe save another $500, and go eat at real Masa. read more

don't care about the prices. in fact, compared to some of the other fine dining sushi options, this place is not that expensive. we however do expect our food to arrive hair free. IT DID NOT. ginger came with a long thin hair in it. i pulled it out and immediately told our server who called the manager over. he apologized and said there is nobody in the restaurant with hair that long, and then looks over at my fiance, who was never within 3 feet of this dish. Then, we look up and there WAS a woman server who certainly had long enough hair, so why even say something like that? if you are going to screw up, own it and fix it. don't tell us we don't have any employees with hair that long when it's not even true! after all that, our bill came, they did not comp my pre-dinner cocktail but they sure did charge me an extra $2 for the ice in my vodka soda. when we inquired and expressed our disappointment, the manager, named Hass said he was sorry there was nothing else they could do and then asked "if we were good." so hair in our food, $2 for ice in a vodka soda, and attitude for dessert? i wanted to like this place, really did. but how could you? sometimes the quality of the food is irrelevant if the service is that exceptionally bad. read more

I was born and raised in Japan and I eat out a lot in Tokyo. I think I have a pretty good idea of the value of sushi - what kind of sushi will cost how much. We had Omakase sushi lunch for $72 per person. What we received was sushi plate worth about $35. The rest of money probably went to pay the rent of the Time Warner building. The decor is nice and service was very polite, but I really don't have reasons to go back there to throw away money. If you love sushi try authentic sushi places like Sushiden where Japanese businessmen go and order their most expensive set sushi dinner usually around $35 - $40. They are better than Bar Masa's Omakase. read more

The sushi is very fresh, the miso cod is incredible, and the service is always excellent. The Australian white wine is also a must! It's a bit pricy but worth it for the experience and food. read more

Bar Masa is highly over-rated and completely over-priced. The sushi is average at best. The sushi chef does not even know that true sushi chefs cut sushi in perfectly even disks (my sushi was unevenly cut and broke apart when touched by the chopstick). The wasabi is of the variety that one typically finds in a supermarket. True wasabi is not the green horseradish stuff served at lower-end establishments. You can tell a genuinely good restaurant by the people who work there and the people who eat there. If a Japanese restaurant has neither Japanese nationals who work there, nor Japanese nationals who eat there, then it's typically not very authentic nor very good. We could identify no workers or diners who appeared to be of such authentic descent. The diners were all tourists. If you are looking for high quality sushi that is worth the price, then do not go to Bar Masa. read more

This place is super expensive. So if you can't afford to go then don't go and then give them a s*** review. Simples!! Me and my fellow chef friends went and thought the food was amazing! Small dishes that taste amazing! But yes they are expensive and yes my dinner was worth it! The quality of the food is great. I would say it's a special occasion place to go unless you have $200 burning a hole in your pocket then go and eat good food! :) read more

Located in the mall. Pretty small restaurant. The rolls were OK. I recommend the masa caviar it was SOO good ! Everything comes in pretty small portions. Nice servers. A bit pricey. Would probably go back. read more

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Most expensive and disappointing of our meals during our NYC trip. Giving 2 stars because none of the food was bad, but as others have noted the prices for what you get are almost humorously high and portion sizes are offensively small. The squid, langoustine, and kimchi were fine but not better than any decent restaurant; portions were about 50 percent of what you would expect and 3x the price. Sashimi was the same, it was good but I've had better at 30 percent of the price. Duck tacos are a good choice if going here though. Service was more about just bringing plates out, including not telling us what sashimi had been put on the table until we asked later. Was going to order more, but after going through $200 for 2 of us in 25 minutes we had run out of patience. Was still hungry and went to another restaurant on the way home. I'm good with the high prices considering the location, but they need to increase portion sizes substantially and work on providing a more comfortable environment. To illustrate, the tables are packed so close together I had to move my head in order to let the waiter put food down each time. I don't know why so many high end restaurants have selected this shopping mall as their location -- it's a high end mall but terrible atmosphere for fine dining. read more

I've eaten here twice and both times it was one of the best dining experiences of my life. The food is impeccable in both presentation and taste, as is the service from when you walk in the door to when you walk out the door. This is now one of my favorite restaurants and I will be coming back again and again. read more

Very Tasty but JUST WRONG with the almost illegal portions!! It unfortunate because this place has great tasting dishes that i would come back for but the turn off is Lobster Risotto for $38 served on a plate no larger than a small side plate and Toro sashimi for $15 a piece is expensive to begin with but when you slice it less than half the traditional thickness its truly a rip off. Great Taste.... Very Small portions too bad... read more

Stopped in at bar masa on one of my many fish hops with my partner in crime Adam M. There is no doubt the fish is some of the freshest highest quality available. Alas it will cost you. One glass of green tea, 2 pieces of Scottish salmon, 2 pieces of Toro and 2 pieces of eel set me back over $65. Was it worth it? For the experience and opportunity to taste what all the fuss is about, Absolutely. The fish was outstanding. The salmon was phenomemal, high quality fat lines with superb flavor. The Toro also was exceptional. Was it the best I've had? No, can't say it was. That spot is reserved for Yasuda. My biggest complaint. Although the sushi was expertly cut the fish portions were Some of the smallest I have had especially from an upscale high end sushi restuarant. Another complaint is the surprise of being charged for green tea. Its customary in Asian culture for tea to be served on the house. I know I know. Just did not expect to find a cup of tea charged to me. Especially one that costed $10. Pure insanity. The fish is great. But Yasuda is better in every aspect. read more

Sushi from heaven, but bring your inheritance to pay the bill. One other note. BM makes the finest, most beautifully presented martinis I have ever tasted. read more

This is my favorite place for cocktails, hands down. I am not some stuck-up cocktailian, I don't like PDT and all that dark and heavy stuff. The martinis here are actually delicious! Most are fruit-based and you can't taste the alcohol, but DON'T let that trick you into thinking there's nothing in it! Far from it! My first visit I made the rookie mistake of bolting my Yamazaki Lemonade, and the second hit me like a ton of bricks. Yes, they are damn expensive, but there's no price on quality. Each drink is made precisely, with care. Ingredients are top notch. If all you want is a happy hour dirty martini, this is not your place. These drinks should definitely be savored. I also think the food is phenomenal. The sushi ingredients come from next door (mind blowing), but there are some other stellar items on the menu, such as the yellowtail head with collar, the uni pasta, or the kobe beef and garlic fried rice. I always start with the garlic chicken karaage. I think service is not bad. True, the waitstaff tend not to hover, but they come around often enough to prevent any empty glasses. I will say I've never been blown away by the desserts, though. The miso creme brulee is a fabulous normal creme brulee, but it doesn't have much miso flavor (which was disappointing to us). In reading the other reviews, I think people need to bear a few things in mind when it comes to expectations: 1) This is the casual outlet for Masa, yes, but it is still related to THE Masa, the most expensive restaurant in NYC. It is NOT going to be anywhere near 'cheap'. Be prepared to spend $150-200 per person on dinner and drinks. 2) This is a bar. Not a sushi bar, but a bar bar that also serves food. If you want to sit by the sushi chefs, you're going to have to pony up $500 and go next door. 3) The portion sizes are more like tapas plates, and if you want to make a meal, you'll need to order at least two courses and maybe share a third. To get more food for your money, I recommend going with the rice and noodle dishes. Prior to coming here, Nobu had a special place in my heart, but that has definitely been replaced by Bar Masa! read more

Usually stop for lunch at the bar. It's not cheap but the quality of fish and other ingredients are are refreshing and delicious. Try to go early to avoid crowds. read more

I feel torn. 5 Stars for the fresh, melt in your mouth, unique menu. 3 stars for the ridiculously priced cocktails that arent anything to write home about. The Asian Fusion cuisine was by far the best Japanaese food that has ever entered my mouth. When you taste that kobe beef skewer your reaction is just awe. How can anything be this delicious? Then you have another bite to ensure you are not hallucinating. If you want to try one of the most famous restaurants in NYC (Masa)..then Masa BAR is the place to do it. read more

Masa & Bar Masa, both great! It takes forever to get a reservation at Masa... but if you can get one, good for you! The quality of fish and food is impeccable. Everytime I dine here its at least $1000 for two people... but hey, its worth it. Def recommend!! read more

After reading the reviews from other yelpers of what should be coined "bar-hot-mess-a" rather than Bar Masa, I am shocked that a joyful experience could have been had by so many at the establishment I just left. Let me set the scene: : We started at Masa-- the shmancy restaurant next door to Bar Masa that features a prix fixed menu. It sounded solid until a $450 per person price tag was thrown out by the hostess. I asked if that included cocktails for myself and my culinary companion, I was advised that it did not. Now, I'm not completely opposed to a "splurge meal", but we weren't THAT hungry so we quickly decided to leave. The hostess then told us about their a' la cart restaurant next door, Bar Masa, and escorted us over. Let's talk ambiance: Bar Masa was a retangular shaped, dim lit room with modern art and a laid back wait staff. I was not impressed. I didn't feel like I walked into a four star restaurant. Let's talk food: In a word, vanilla. Did I actually read from a fellow yelper that she "enjoyed" their small portions? Well, I did not. In fact I felt insulted by the size and quality of the sashimi. Don't even get me started on the lack of ceviche... probably one of the few standouts that read as appealing on their menu which of course when I went to order it... they did not actually have. I give credit where credit is due, so I will say that the toro with caviar appetizer was orgasmic. The toast points were perfect. I have nothing else good to say. "Bar-hot-mess-a" will not be seeing these two foodies anytime soon! James & Katie read more

In from London where Zuma and Nobu set the standard. Meal was overpriced by a factor of 2 x. Nothing there justifies the price. Had the sushi tasting menu. Plan presentation and nothing special. read more

I came here with a girlfriend for lunch. We arrived at noon on a Friday and the restaurant was nearly empty, only one other table was occupied. It filled up a bit during the next hour, however, it never felt too cramped or busy. I ordered the grilled miso cod bento box - it was amazing. The bento box came with a miso soup, which I'm not normally a fan of, however, this was fairly substantial with a lot of mushrooms and tofu. The cod itself was delicious - marinated well and grilled perfectly. The service was great and the food came out within 15 minutes of ordering. Note that portions are pretty tiny, so don't come too hungry. At $45 per person for lunch including tax and tip (no drinks), it was on the pricey side but still worth the occasional splurge. read more

Sushi tasting is very meh. Lobster risotto was quite good. Ginger cocktail is amazing..!! Not worth the price though. $100 pp for 2 dishes and 1 drink read more

Atrocious decor, average food, and horrible service. The whole experience was very depressing.

Enjoyed some drinks and small eats while catching up with an old friend in NYC back in December of '12. We didn't aim to end up here, but landed here after the place we were planning to go was closed for a private holiday party. Enjoyed some very tasty drinks (I'd love to review them but cannot remember names) and some of the best toro of my life. Prices are wow. Maybe one day I'll end up next door at MASA to try out some more of their food....if I can afford it ;) read more