A great place to go for an intimate date night or night out with close friends. The menu is conducive to sharing most items offering many small plates including appetizers and sushi. They have an extensive cocktail menu with unique flavors. My husband and I started with Miso Soup and Spicy Cucumber. The miso soup was perfect for the cold weather. The spicy cucumber left more to be desired not only was it not spicy, it wasn't that flavorful at all. It tasted like just cucumber. For our main, we shared the Goma Hamachi, American Wagyu Steak, Seared Salmon Roll. The hamachi and salmon roll were our favorites. So flavorful. The steak was okay. Cooked to our liking but flavor-wise wasn't anything spectacular. The sauce it came with tasted like oil with no seasoning. For my drink, I had the margarita with mezcal. It was amazing. For the service, I wish the food had been timed out better. We had a small two top table and the food came out so quickly. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing but we rushed eating our apps because we had no table space. We had to constantly shift plates, the candle, and our drinks to make room. It was slightly frustrating. read more

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I was really blown away by the food here. I have often found that Japanese places in nyc can be overhyped and overpriced for the quality of food, but dining at Cotra was the perfect blend of exquisite dining at what I thought to be a reasonable price. The interior was very mysterious and moody on a Tuesday night. Good for a date night! We were a bit late to our reservation, but they still sat us right away. I didn't take pictures of most of what we ordered because we were so eager to dig in, but everything was amazing- from the drinks to the appetizers to the rolls. read more

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Cotra is a slightly elevated Izakaya Experience Japanese restaurant near Gowanus, Brooklyn. If you're not familiar with the term "Izakaya," it's essentially the word used to describe a Japanese pub / tavern style restaurant that serves small, shared plates... and drinks. Our first visit to Cotra came prior to a DJ event we were attending with Brooklyn friends who had visited Cotra twice before. I enjoyed my time at Cotra and rate it 3.75 stars overall (I rounded up to 4 since Yelp doesn't have half star ratings). See below for some of my thoughts The Best - Mochiko Chicken: So tender and tasty! - Eringi Karaage (Fried Mushrooms): Unique and tasty! The Okay - Shrimp Toast: Fairly good but nothing to write home about. - Cucumber Salad: Overhyped IMHO; it was fairly bland. We also shared one of the sushi rolls--the Seared Salmon Roll. It was very fresh and tasty, but on the plain side (i.e., it is deemed one of their special rolls, but it was basic). I felt the same way about the Mentaiko Mazemen. I really, really like Mazeman, but their variety was over salty and just one note. As for service, it was fine. Our server was new, so they weren't yet super knowledgeable about the menu. If you live in the neighborhood, you should check this place out. I feel it's getting there... If you're coming into Brooklyn from another borough, I might look elsewhere. read more

Came to celebrate my partner's birthday on Sunday. The food was alright, but the service was appalling. In a half-empty restaurant, all you could hear was the HOST talking at the bar with his friends yelling the F word every 2, 3 words. "Who the F*CK does he think he is?", "He is F*CKING crazy", "What the F*CK", etc. It got to the point that was ALL you could hear in the restaurant. Terrible experience, horrible service. We had to finish our meal as quickly as possible and leave. Never again. read more

I came back and once again the food was spectacular, it felt very cozy, and intimate. However, the service was once again a little slow. I would come here if you want premium food, but have a lot of time. read more

If it seems like it's impossible to get a reservation at every cool, delicious restaurant in this city these days, you should give this little izakaya a try. I haven't loved a meal (and I mean the food, the cocktails, the ambiance) in a non-packed restaurant this much in months, and it's probably only a matter of time before they are packed every night. So make a res, and check it out. We started with cocktails; I rolled with the Just Mai Type because it was hot, and sunny, and I felt like something tropical. It was perfection. Her lychee thing was floral and strong and good, but we both got Just Mai Types going forward because it was that good. The menu is Japanese and while they have all the sushi, I wanted to go with all non-sushi, which sounded far more interesting. We started with the Drunken Garlic Shrimp, and I would gladly have eaten nothing but these for dinner. Amazing flavor. Beautiful presentation. They are head and shell-on, so you get properly messy while eating them, but it was so worth it. In a seafood mood, we also got the softshell crab mazeman and the wood-fired branzino. The mazeman was a nice balance of fried softy and excellent noodles, with tiny threads of chili (that I don't know how they cut) that contrasted with the chunks of jalopeño and set off the entire presentation. It sounds like they usually have a mazeman on the menu, but the softies were just in season. A good choice. The branzino was perfect. A gorgeous whole fish, filleted and flattened out skin-side up with a bit of char in all the right places. They served it with ground turnip that they recommend you add to the ponzu (we did) with a little bit of the chile paste for spice. We devoured every bit of the crispy skin, and every bite of fish except the head and the tail. We added the Addictive Cabbage as a side, and its fermented crunch was a nice complement to the seafood. All in all, an excellent meal. If there was a downside, it was a little bit of delay in the service. She was excellent and super nice, just overwhelmed. It seemed like she was the only server there, but she was definitely doing her best. Hopefully they'll get her some help when this place blows up more. read more

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Love this place -- it's nice and cozy. We actually found it by accident while at my son's basketball game when we were craving sushi. After our first visit, we fell in love. It's now my son's favorite restaurant, which says a lot because he's a very picky 12-year-old. The sushi is excellent, and the potato dish is a huge hit for us. Honestly, everything on the menu is delicious. I definitely recommend it. Service can sometimes feel a little unorganized, with staff occasionally seeming a bit all over the place, but aside from that, the place is awesome. read more

Great food and reasonable prices. The place was super cute too! Highly recommend! What a gem in the neighborhood read more

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The Matcha Jade Sour alone -- I'm obsessed. Overall, I would say it's 5 star food with 3 star pacing, but maybe it was an off night. I came here for dinner for two on a Saturday night, and I was so impressed by the food and drinks. However, we were served one of the appetizers before drinks, another appetizer right around the time of the drinks, and then had to wait a while (after we had finished appetizers and the roll) for the mazumen to come out. In the time we were waiting, no one checked in to refill our water. It's minor stuff, but the awkwardness of the pacing took away from the meal a bit. Would recommend trying the karaage (we got mushroom) and addictive cabbage. The soft shell crab mazumen was also great (weekend special). Loved the ambiance in here, especially the live music. read more

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I really liked this place. Nothing we ate was mind blowing, but everything was really solid. Definitely recommend the addictive cabbage and fried oyster mushroom. The ambiance was cozy and welcoming and the staff was friendly. read more

Our first time at Cotra tonight was a great experience. Above all, the sushi is some of the best we've had in the neighborhood, with super fresh fish in generous amounts; the addition of quinoa and chia to the sushi rice also gives them an unexpected and cool extra level of flavor. The extensive selection of really interesting cocktails is great as well (the matcha one with bright lemon and ginger). A tip: the restaurant's carryout/delivery menu is different from sit-in (I got confused about this and the staff very kindly accommodated an off menu item for me as a courtesy!) And a side plus: in a world w so many horribly uncomfortable restaurant chairs, the chairs here are actually comfortable!! read more

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Great service, friendly staff. The food is high quality and very tasty. Everything is presented well and of high class. The interior gives a very date night vibes, low light, trendy, and not loud. What a lovely bar they have and clearly the bartender knows what he's doing because the drinks are exquisite. Happy hour special is a great deal too. I will be back for sure read more

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Disorganized and simply terrible. The staff is incapable or running a hot dog cart. Forget about a restaurant.

If I was on death row and requested a last meal, I would, in this point of time in my life - request the "Mini Hokkaido Don" to see me through to the afterlife! no joke - It has scallops, hidden roe under a shiso leaf, and looks like a Chef's Table shot- ( you know when they show the best dishes of the chef at the end of each episode? ) - very very fresh seafood, best i've had since 2006 - seriously- AND the Purple Haze cocktail is the best looking drink i've had since 1992- it's like drinking an amethyst crystal- and that shiso salt on the rim?!! its sooooo good. licky lick that up folks! Sad to see hi-rises go up in the neighborhood, but I think this place will remain a mainstay even when the AI tech bros move in...because... the FOOD IS ON POINT! - 5 STARS read more

My friends and I visited Cotra on my birthday back in November 2024. Service was okay. Waiter wasn't rude, he just seemed indifferent and inattentive. Asked him to bring me a drink that was not too strong or too sweet and he brought an old fashioned. Needless to say it was way too strong. Had to order a ginger beer to balance it out and he initially declined to bring me a can. The bartender eventually brought a can tho. The fried chicken was tasty. However, they brought all our rolls out together on one plate. We did not like that and the waiter was not accommodating. I forgot his name. AA male, light-skinned, glasses (I think) and locs in his hair. My spicy tuna roll was cool. My friends didn't care much for their rolls. Place has potential but not sure I'd return. Also way smaller in person than in photos. read more

Cotra - A mix of rolls. Not sure which ones. - Izakaya Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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My review would be closer to 3.5 stars. It may be that a lot of these dishes I was trying for the first time, but I was not really amazed by anything. read more

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This is a great neighborhood restaurant. The atmosphere and service is good. The food I would rate 8/10. The 2 points were taken away for the cod. I find it a bit too saucy and a touch too sweet. I also ordered the ume old fashion and also felt that it was a bit too sweet. I would recommend to my friends that are looking for an intimate restaurant. read more

I've now been to Cotra 2x and I loved my first experience there which was birthday dinner with my husband over the summer and I just recently went back with two girlfriends for a girls night out and it was even better the second time! Short review: excellent, creative, delicious food, fair pricing, amazing cocktails, inviting decor and ambiance and attentive, kind, non-annoying service = the perfect night out! My first visit was with my meat-loving husband and second visit was with a vegetarian and a vegan (who will cheat somewhat and eat vegetarian at restaurants). Cotra has a varied enough menu that it can please everyone! With my veggie ladies, we had the deep fried king oyster mushrooms, yuzu cured olives, (my favorite) the most delicious potatoes you've ever eaten that can be made vegetarian by leaving off the fish flakes (we got them on the side so I could still enjoy!), both salads (Caesar and fennel), addictive cabbage, the best edamame I've ever had, and I had the Goma Kanpachi sashimi for myself and they each had a veggie sushi roll. It was a ton of food and we ate everything and even got a second order of both edamame and fried mushrooms! On both visits I had the Porco Rosso mezcal cocktail since I enjoyed it so much the first time! Since the three of us hadn't gotten together in a while we really lingered over our dinner and were not rushed. The restaurant was busy enough for it to feel happening but not so packed that you can't get a reservation fairly easily. This is definitely my new favorite Asian restaurant in the area. I would go back very regularly if I still lived in the neighborhood! read more

Cotra - Edamame (VG, GF) - Izakaya Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This is a really cute place with great vegetarian options. I really enjoyed coming here and has the NYC/Brooklyn charm that I love, but don't really know how else to describe. It's small and intimate and I had an amazing time. I'd come back in a heartbeat. read more

Ordered in food from this restaurant the food it was yummy. I had avocado Roll, yellowtail roll with scallion and cucumber roll all very authentic and tasty. The yellowtail fish was excellent with a lovely fresh taste, awesome. My hubby had sake kasu Caesar salad he said it was creative salad that was delicious He also had scallop roll he said it was incredible extremely fresh. The delivery of the food came in a timely matter less than 30 mins. read more

This place is a gem! We made a same day reservation for 2 on a Thursday night to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter and absolutely loved it here. The cocktails were excellent and I can't wait to come back to try some of their Japanese beers and sake. Food was essentially a creative almost bistro style spin on Japanese dishes. The place is dimly lit with great ambiance and service was fantastic. I want to come back with friends to try more dishes! read more

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Excellent food and drinks. Loved everything about it. Cotra offers sophisticated food in a low key setting. Do not skip the shrimp. read more

Was here last night 9/28. Excellent spot -- sat at the bar for delicious sushi and shrimp. The service was great, and the live jazz made it a perfect night. Shout out to the band! read more

So Many Dishes, So Many Traumas... On a Sunday night, we found ourselves at Cotra, drawn in by a stream of glowing reviews. We arrived a bit late, around 8:30, close to kitchen closing. Perhaps that played a role. We began with the 'addictive cabbage.' She had chosen the place, so I held my tongue. But it tasted like solid, chunky, stale vinegar with a dash of salt. Like someone tried to ferment disappointment. Next came the hamachi, floating in a turbid swamp. Still, my lovely companion reached for soy sauce, trying to coax it across the line into something edible. The salmon poke had the consistency and (I suspect) the taste of end-stage tuberculosis phlegm. The servers brought each dish with a strange gentleness, a kind of hesitation that bordered on shame. They know, I thought. We soldiered on. The tuna on crispy rice had an uncanny resemblance to the taste of a solid burp. That's when I cracked. "This might be one of the worst meals I've ever had," I said. We both started laughing. We ended with a salmon roll that looked like the flesh of a lizard, picked at by vultures and left to sun-dry in the desert for, at a minimum, several days. She couldn't bring herself to taste it. But afterward, I found myself in awe. This is a genius chef. To create dishes that so precisely channel the full spectrum of burp is no small feat: Addictive cabbage: pure stomach acid, after a day of fasting, burp. Hamachi in the swamp: the "I definitely ate something bad" feeling burp. Salmon poke: bad head-cold burp. Tuna on crispy rice: garlicky lamb kebab burp. Salmon roll: hangover, after burritos at 4 a.m. from a stand outside the club, burp. Genius. Truly. If we're here to experience the full range of existence, we must also have restaurants that serve us *this*. It will stay with me longer than a dozen excellent meals. I will forever hold Cotra in my heart. read more

My new go to spot! Love this place everything is delicious and fresh... except the pumpkin cheesecake. I was so disappointed. It was stale hard and dry. read more

Great food! A nice take on Japanese classics that is a little different than the usual, so that makes it a great addition to the neighborhood. They also have a parking lot which is pretty cool if you drive. Interior is nicely decorated with a cool antique bar. A few seats outside too, and good takeout/delivery. I like the pork belly rice bowl in particular. read more

Cotra - Mugi Fuji Pork Belly Bowl - Izakaya Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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What a total gem of a restaurant. Its very neighborhood Nobu. Great menu. Fantastic Japanese food that isnt just sushi. Super creative menu and the chef knows what he is doing. The restaurant is beautiful and has great vibes. Good music. Nice lighting. Great drink menu. The crispy tuna roll, hamachi appetizer, sauteed mushroom noodle dish, yuzu olives and mini kaisen don seafood bowl were all really excellent. Prices are very reasonable and I want to go back again and try anything on the menu because everything is probably great. Its a welcome surprise and I think its a total winner. Great service too! read more

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Beautiful cozy izakaya so close to home. Have been following their Instagram for a while now and I'm mad I haven't visited sooner. The food looks so good and the actual experience of eating it is even better. I've had my eyes on the matcha sour cocktail for a while and it certainly came through. One of the best cocktails I've ever had. The Cesar salad with daikon chips is my favorite Cesar salad now. It's quite big too. The goma appetizer was a mystery but when we found out it was yellowtail sashimi we ordered it up. It knocked other yellowtail apps out of the park. The garlicky shrimp was excellent too but be prepared to navigate your way around the whole shell situation. I'm good at that, my partner not so much . Then we got both mazumens - the soft shell crab and the mushroom and wow the noodles are so good! I preferred the mushroom for the flavor and the runny egg on top but if you're a fan of soft shell crab, definitely try the crab mazumen. Will certainly be coming back to this cozy, beautiful, delicious haven of goodness very soon to try everything else on the menu - so happy it's in the neighborhood. read more

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Incredible food, gorgeous space, amazing cocktails, and super-friendly staff. A neighborhood favorite.

Pros: Good food! After a few visits we tried all of the small plates and rolls on the menu and everything was delicious. Fun cocktails. Cozy and comfortable. (Try to get seated on the perimeter of the space, the tables in the center of the room can feel a little claustrophobic.) Fairly priced. Cons: Uneven service. On two separate visits, the server forgot my drink. The server on our last visit was downright surly; she really seemed like she did not want to be there at all and spent most of the evening ignoring us. And, also during our last visit, we almost turned around and left because it looked like the place was closed. It was dusk, all the lights and signage were turned off, tables and chairs were stacked out front and a large pile of cardboard recycling was waiting to be picked up. I only saw that there were lights and people in the back of the space when I was out front. read more

Beautiful restaurant with lovely outdoor seating setup and a nice bar. Food was really tasty and I appreciated that they had lots of good options for vegans and vegetarians. I particularly enjoyed the edamame, addictive cabbage and the eringi karaage mushroom dish which reminded me of vegan version of calamari; my boyfriend really liked the spicy tuna roll and scallop carpaccio. Portions are generous. We sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly and welcoming. We are looking forward to going back! read more

This is such a great addition to the neighborhood! The interior is decorated really well, and the mirrored bar is a perfect spot for a date. My friend (who is gluten-free) and I went for dinner on a Thursday night and easily got a table. We shared a bunch of great options - pork belly salad, garlic fried rice, REALLY good sushi, and had delicious, interesting cocktails. The service was really great and there was a lively buzz in the restaurant. Portions were a good size for sharing a bunch of stuff. My only gripe is that they use a QR menu, and I just love a paper menu! Other than that, really had a good experience here and recommend! read more

Really great place! Came here yesterday for the first time, beautiful ambiance very hip and chic. The food was quite amazing (with the exception of the yellowtail which was chewy and not the best for the price). Must haves are the drunken shrimp, the soft shell crab was AMAZING, the spicy tuna on crispy rice was phenomenal and the scallop roll was very tasty too. I am already planning my next trip to try the other dishes on the menu! Cant wait. read more

I'm not sure if they were having an off night but they were in full melt down mode when I came. Wait staff was super super nice but it took 15 minutes to get water, then another 30 for them to tell me they were out of the cocktail I ordered. Waited over an hour for food just to be told they were out of one of our mains. Everyone seemed to be waiting for very long times, though everyone also seemed to be in good spirits. Wish I could say better things about this place. read more

Excellent food and perfect service. This place is a gem, but small, so I hope it won't become a new "hot-spot!" LOL

The food was great. The restaurant was not too loud or busy. Loved my Porco Rosso cocktail. A welcome addition to the neighborhood with an excellent price point. read more

The food was really delicious. The service was great until a large party arrived and then we had a gap in delivery of our food. We arrived at 6 and it was reasonably loud, but after the larger party arrived, it was outrageously loud, almost comical, in fact. On top of that, a jazz band started playing with a trumpet which was not appropriate to the space. Overall, we really enjoyed the meal and should we return would come at opening at 5 PM if we want to have a conversation. Maybe weekdays are quieter? I don't know. read more

Such a fun date night! Chic ambience and the food and drinks were equally impressive. Okonomi House Fried Potatoes and the Shrimp were the favs. We'll be back! read more

We had a terrific meal and the ambiance/experience is really well done. We'd highly recommend for date night or a night with friends.

Ambience is great. Food is okay to good. Its somewhat tasty. Not really remarkable. Service was great!