Most of us frequent "regular" sushi places. Good fish, interesting rolls, a fairly authentic experience. Then there are the places that do the "fusion" experience. General Tso's Chicken, Bulgogi, Pad Thai and sushi all on the same menu... blah. Masa is one of those special experiences. I've been to Urusawa (Masa's apprentice) Nobu and Morimoto. I think Masa and Urusawa are the best. We were able to get reservations at 7pm on a Thursday a couple of weeks ahead and got seated at the sushi counter. Masa works the center station and his 2 apprentices flank him. The staff is professional and attempt to cater to your every need. They push your chair in, adjust your place settings (if you are left handed) etc. The omakase is $450.. 26-30 courses, with each piece of sushi counting as a course. The freshness of the ingredients and un-bastardized presentation is why you go here. The fish is flown from Japan every other day and you can tell. We opted for the true kobe beef slices served with truffle $120 and it was delicious. We probably didn't need 2, but I didn't know what the serving size was going to be. The uni, the sweet shrimp, the snow crab legs, toro... amazing. My only disappointment was the shabu-shabu. I also wished there was a real dessert as opposed to the grapefruit sorbet. Yeah, this place is $$. One of those bucket list places if you're a food whore like me. Their version of tap water is Fiji @ $10 a bottle. Also, the 20% service charge you hear about (this is different than gratuity) was not placed on my bill. I also didn't inquire about it either. So, if you love fresh fish and want a 3 michelin star experience go here... it was worth it. read more

Took my buddy here for his 30th birthday. It is everything you expect to be and more. Highlights: Toro Langoustine Toro tendon Freshwater eel (big fan of eel) Hairy crab 27 courses. Took about 2 hrs. Good pace and flow to meal. Chef Masa was there at the time as well. Only complaint is pacing at the end. The meal for us ended rather abruptly, and the last 3 courses felt rushed. Very attentive staff and a high attention to detail. Everyone should come here to dine at least once in their lifetime. NOTE: Consider skipping the cocktails and booze till after the tasting. The quality of the food is so high here that anything that takes away from the food itself would be an injustice! read more

This is the epitomy of fine Japanese. The decor is small and intimate yet feels quite spacious. Despite the sushi bar seating there is plenty of room. There have been so many reviews on the food so I will just bring up my favorites- the toro tartar is to die for, the toast points the best I ever had, and the osetra caviar topping is fantastic. I have had toro tartar at Morimoto, Nobu 57, etc but nothing compares to this. The best toro tartar I have experienced in my life. The shiso corn dish is fresh and exquisite, the toro sashimi etheral. There are many high end pieces not served at other sushi places such as white truffle sushi and several dishes with maitake mushroom. A couple of pieces such as the amaebi and aoyagi were tasty but comparable to the ones at Kuruma zushi. The Korean prep chef, Nick, was happy to demonstrate how the sashimi is all prepped differently depending on the piece. It seems no one has mentioned the cocktails but they deserve their own section. You might wonder if a $35 price tag on a cocktail is justified but these are more like liquid magic. The strawberry martini was amazing- rum mixed with elderflower (my favorite) and strawberries. The berries are juiced by hand and thismakes the drinks so much better than anywhere else. The raspberry cocktail with fresh raspberries, shiso, and Laurent Perrier was perfect as well as a blueberry cocktail with citron vodka and fresh blueberries. My favorite was the strawberry though- luscious! The dessert whore in me would have liked to see some variety of desserts but there was only an icy sweet melon (granted one of the best melons I've had). I left comfortably full- not rolling out the way you would from a French place. Flash photography isn't allowed but I did get a couple pictures. Before complaining about the prices let's consider the fact that Chef Masa is the only 3 star Michelin chef who works himself in the kitchen every single day. He could easily sell out and have a much bigger restaurant, multiple locations, franchise etc. The serenity and intimacy would be lost and the quality would be watered down. There is beauty in the simplicity and seemed effortlessness. To dine here is a great priviledge. read more

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A wonderful experience for sushi aficionado's :) The first thing you notice at the sushi bar is the table. It's made out of one slab of wood and the staff shave it down nightly to keep the texture smooth and clean. Then you notice that the care that is taken to treat the table is just a mere glimpse into the preparation they take to serve you. There was so much attention to detail that I wasn't sure if I should eat my omakase meal or simply take pictures of it. The food was that perfect. The quality was superb. Toro was piled everywhere and ingredients are shipped directly from Japan. Beluga caviar served on tiny pieces of toast, sashimi served in an individual shabu shabu broth, and spoonfuls of uni consorts were a few of their delights. One dish in particular stood out: the A5 Wagyu beef that is an added $100 for about 6 slices was literally the best beef I've every had. To this day I still remember how the beef literally melted on my tongue. The truffle salt enhanced the flavor just so slighty, immediately making my mouth water as I tried to savor every last bite. I have yet to find a restaurant that serves Wagyu beef as decadently as Masa does. The last platter looked like a boat of Toro to me but by that time I was too full to enjoy any of it! read more

NYC is full of superlative restaurants & Masa can be counted in the highest echelons. some of the best sushi, sashimi have had this side of the Pacific. Served best at the Sushi counter & a very hustle & bustle vibe but in a good way. You feel energised & Satisfied after eating here. It is of course crazy expensive but the charm is in all the little details like the China that the food is presented & served on. Wonderful!!! i highly recommend the Fatty Tuna & The Sea Urchin, so many times outside of Japan these are pale imitations of the real Thing, but here at Masa they are works of art. read more

The best food I've ever put in my mouth. (and boy did we pay for it!) We have a little "Dinner Club" we started in 2002-ish and our goal was to eat at the "best" restaurants in NYC. We've hit almost every spot (and then some) in NYC and we've now expanded to the world. Masa was the piece de resistance of the dinner club food adventures, for me. But, let me complain a little first. I hate going to that damn mall, "THE AOL TIME WARNER CENTER" (!) to eat, at night. It cheapens everything. Also, we met in Bar Masa and my friend had just ordered a martini. They wouldn't let her carry it into the dinning room and promised to bring it to our table. It never showed. She probably had two sips and, not to sound cheap, ('cause I'm not) but I'm sure it was a $25-30 drink. Then, we walked into this beautiful, modern, minimalist dinning room. It was super quiet and our group-not so much, so I was worried. Our reservation wasn't until 9pm, so the place cleared out (very few tables) and we were the last group there. Our waitress was amazing. Super nice and helpful and there when we needed her, but not all over us. I think we had 27 courses. That sounds insane, but honestly I wasn't over-full when I was done. I loved every course (I wish I could begin to describe them), but the two that stand out are sea urchin risotto with (a lot of)shaved truffles. The other dish was some type of white fish under a pile (and I mean PILE) of caviar. We had truffles on a lot of the courses. I'm a lover of all things truffles, but I've never seen so many in one meal. (thus, the check at the end of the night) Chef Masa was waiting for us and we got to thank him on our way out. We shut the place down-they literally shut the lights out after we left. Bottom line, everyone that comes here knows what he/she's getting into. They probably fly the fish in from Japan daily and it tastes like it. With so many other important things to throw money at (starving people, sick children) I don't think we'll go back, but it will remain the BEST THING I EVER ATE (all of it) in my life. read more

I have been to both Masa and Masa Next Door. This really needs two different yelp listings because the experience is TOTALLY different. Masa Next door is decent food in a pretty easy to get into restaurant. It is small but well managed and maintained. MASA is like being transported into a whole other universe. First you must love fish and sushi to even attempt this meal. It is a novelty. It is extremely expensive. I am glad to have had the experience once but I don't know that I would repeat it..... You have a very limited seating at MASA. I think it is only four tables with ample space and privacy, then a small bar. The experience is quiet, serene, calm. I figured everyone of us was in awe of the amount of money we were spending. We were thinking that we must revere the experience and did our best to just soak it all up and not waste a dollar on conversation. It is reservation only, there is no walk ins. And you have no idea what you are in for. It is very beautiful inside with a shallow pond of water, in the restaurant. There is bamboo as well. It is totally zen. Imagine going into a spa-like experience and everyone being pretty aware of the silence around you. The service is absolutely amazing. The servers are meticulous, very light on their feet and efficient. It is amazing to not hear lots of clattering with plates or anything. Honestly, I don't know everything that I ate but I tried almost everything in front of me. It was not all fish, btw. There was some cooked items. We had beef and shellfish. Then there was tons of raw fish and caviar, too. It was like non-stop small plates coming at you. They explain what you are getting but seriously, I don't think I personally digested much except to feed my senses. What I do remember is what I didn't eat. I didn't eat the urchin. I didn't eat the squid. And there was something slimy that I honestly spit out. Very uncouth of me but what are you going to do? I really couldn't handle it. But I sampled everything else and was pretty adventurous. Despite those 3 things, everything else was heavenly in one way or another. The flavor, the texture, the freshness of the fish. Some fish simply melted into my mouth. I am a big fan of sashimi, so the freshness, smoothness and texture was top notch. We were basically waited on hand and foot. It cost an arm and a leg but I think it was worth it... at least once in your life, if you can afford it. read more

Oh masa how you have failed my expectations. And the failure runs deep after a recent meal at chefs table at brooklyn fare. Boyfriend took me here for a belated Valentine's Day dinner and the bill came to $2000. No pictures of the food allowed, I dare to say perhaps if there was evidence of the meal no chef critic or foodie would feel justified at the price. The fish was fresh, the truffles were delicious, but something was lacking. The interior is very sparse and small, not very inviting, did not make me want to linger. The waitstaff was nice but a bit suffocating. We left feeling disappointed. Nothing very memorable , one of the apps was just cucumber rolled in shiso leaf with a dab of ume sauce- I can make this at home.... save your money for other excursions or better yet a vacation . Two stars for the freshness of the seafood read more

Masa is a true experience for any lover of Japanese cuisine. I had dinner at the sushi counter, served by Chef Masa himself with a friend in February 2009 and was wowed. Concentrating on the food only, without taking into account the ambiance or price, I would say the appetizers were some of the best I have ever had (including a fried fugu dish that was almost unbelievably good) but the sushi was not always miles above what I have tasted at various other top sushi restaurants. There was a noticeable difference with some pieces particularly the toro, Tasmanian trout and uni (delicately settled in a lightly toasted, perfectly seasoned sheet of seaweed) and these exceptions were enough to garner my praise and devotion. Almost as noteworthy as the food is the nearly performance art nature of the creation and service. Masa's staff is almost invisible, even when they do speak, it is hardly above a whisper, their movements are fluid and overall the impression is that of a calming breeze. Chef Masa and his companion chefs behind the sushi bar create their dishes and sushi pieces with quiet confidence in small measured movements. This is not the kind of meal for people who enjoy flashy showmanship or flowery shows of grandeur. This entire experience is about forgetting the rest of the world exists, forgetting that there is a life outside of the walls of Masa, so that your mind is empty of all thoughts but the gastronomical experience before you. Allow yourself to sink into it and Masa's food may well be the way to Nirvana. Just have someone else pick up that check ;) read more

I had very high expectations for Masa, maybe because it has three Michelin stars or maybe it's because of the hefty price tag. Getting a table here was very difficult, however when I walked in for dinner the restaurant was particularly empty. The waiters were very attentive but the food was not as great as I thought it would be. The only memorable course was the add-on, Kobe beef slices with truffles. This was definitely the best Kobe beef I have had in a while. The highlight of the meal and probably the biggest disappointment was dessert: one strawberry cut in half served with green tea. After paying about $1200 for a meal for two you would expect dessert to be at least mediocre. Although the strawberry was very good it was not worth what the price of the meal was. read more

I heard so much about this place, so my friends and I wanted to see what all the hype is about. We added the beef special to our course for additional $150/person. Total came out to be $833/person with tax and tips. For $833/person, i expected perfection with quality of food and service. I didn't really get that from this place. Their service was out of sync or wasn't as consistent to be a 3 michelin rated restaurant. The taste and quality of food were just above par, nothing phenomenal. read more

Masa - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Masa is a meal that is pretty unforgettable, wait let me rephrase - completely unforgettable. Definitely ask to sit at the bar when they confirm your reservation, so you can watch te masters prepare your food! From the blowfish, to the very creative shabu shabu, to the sushi - everything is perfectly delicious. I would highly suggest not getting any wine/sake, and just enjoy the meal with water and the tea that they will serve you. Oh P.S. i have never had such delicious strawberries which are apparently fresh from Japan. read more

My husband and I are big sushi fans. We heard about Masa after my husband's trip to LA where he dined at Urusawa which is owned by the student of the chef at Masa. We were told that there is a huge waiting list for Masa and when my husband brought it up to the chef at Urusawa, he called his teacher right away and got us a reservation for 2 at the bar the following month. The experience was great! We had really fresh sashimis and the ambiance was extraordinary. We adored the service and the taste of every single slice of the most expensive and delicious fish we've ever had. It is a once in a lifetime experience. read more

One of the best place !I think most of 3 starts Michelin restaurant Only 30% of their food was excellent..others 70% are just soso ..but Masa's chef is really have high stander !!! 9out of 10 dishes I had was excellent！Stimulate your taste buds ! I love their sushi even I'm not a sushi person ! !!! 100% satisfied!! Must try! read more

Masa - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Masa was a fantastic experience that I don't think I'll forget for a long time. From the time we arrived for a business dinner, the staff was friendly and kept things casual, unlike some other places with high price tag which usually feels too formal and stuffy. The five of us were seated on a table off to the side of the bar. I kind of wished I was on a date night with the husband instead of a business dinner so we could sit in front of the chefs at the bar as they prepare our omakase. The dinner started with a series of 5 appetizers which included Crab with Cucumbers (reminded me of a dish at Jean Georges) and Toro topped with Caviar (one of my faves). We then were presented with their special of the night, which was beef flown from Japan that was perfectly marinated, topped with shaved fresh white truffles. I think it was $150 extra per plate. The beef was the BEST beef I ever had. It melted in my mouth and it's the kind of dish where I couldn't help but close my eyes to savor every moment. It. Was. Delicious. After that came a slew of 20+ nigiri sushi including their famous white truffle nigiri. Yum! The dessert was crepes from Lady M and some fresh fruits. Underwhelming. But I won't take off a star because I didn't come to MASA for the desserts... The total bill came out close to $4k for the 5 of us, including gratuity. Thank goodness it was a business dinner :) with the price tag I doubt I'd come here again, but it was definitely a dinner to remember. read more

I must admit I've been on a sushi kick for the last week or so. I've been reading, possibly obsessing over the most authentic ways to prepare sushi. When I love a restaurant, or a specific dish, I tend to gather various recipes in hopes of recreating a lovely dinner for myself. So yes, I've been eating at New York's best Japanese restaurants this past week, attempting to understand the secret behind the perfect piece of sushi. To a fault, I've always assumed Sushi was an easy thing to recreate... Buy a slab of fish, cut it, lay it over a mound of rice, and you're done. But I was mistaken, especially upon walking into Masa. Yes, the reviews below me speak the truth: It's best to eat here with a completely clean and clear palette. Why? Because you're eating some of the most incredible, delectable, mouthwatering, luscious (shall I continue?) food you may ever put into your mouth. While I didn't learn much about the secrets behind the preparation of the perfect piece of Sushi, I did come to understand that freshness is essential. However, this is why my rating dips a bit lower than the others. Masa has their fresh fish delivered to NYC from Japan daily. Yes, so that 20% service charge is not for their employees, it's to have their fish flown to New York. Not only does that leave a huge carbon footprint, it's also appalling that beyond the exorbitant prices you're already paying, the included service charge is NOT the tip. If Masa wasn't so tasty, my rating would've dipped much lower than three stars for this reason. Hmph. read more

I have a deep appreciation for sushi thus dining here was a defining moment. We sat at the bar as Chef Masa prepared seemingly endless variations of sushi. My wife and I felt fortunate that we were seated directly in front of him. He also served a third person sitting next to us who was dining alone. There were other memorable dishes including the tuna tartare and grilled fish (which had to be eaten bare handed to be eaten thoroughly). The sushi covered in truffle shavings was unforgettable. The dessert was a little underwhelming but I was too full to care. It's a shame they dont allow pictures of the food, but we managed one with Chef Masa himself. read more

I burst out laughing when I saw "97 reviews" for Masa. Why so few reviews? Because this place is hella expensive!! If you get their truffle menu it's another add-on, and service charge is not considered gratuity -- how do you like that? You could easily spend $1,800 for two. Food however is amazing. I'm not a sushi lover but put truffle on anything and I'll love it lol. Masa is there himself, almost a God-like presence with his shiny warrior blade. He screamed at a guy who was talking on his cell for a bit. That was cool. The quality and presentation of everything are impeccable to the tiniest details. My favorite of all times is still the white truffle ice cream to finish off. Definitely go in the winter for the full-on white truffle experience. The summer truffles don't taste like anything. In fact, Masa's winter truffle menu is the only thing that will bring me back to NY in the harsh winter. read more

Amazing. The only word that came to my mind when I think about my night at Masa. It is no wonder that they are the ONLY 3 Michelin starred sushi bar in America. Every bite was a world of experience. Every bite was better than the last. The fish is so so fresh. I thought I knew good sushi but boy was I wrong. This is like the sushi your grandparents ate.....if your grandparents were Japanese, and they were the emperors of Japan. Get the omakase. Let the chefs decide what your eating. You will not be disappointed. Make sure to get some sake to pair it with. It WILL be expensive, but well worth it. read more

Dinner at Masa to me, is the perfect experience. The atmosphere is relaxed and tranquil. I don't care how people say Per Se or Jean George makes you feel welcome etc.... There is still that feeling of intimidation and grandeur that I'm sure makes almost everyone feel a little out of their league. Masa is completely different. I felt they were humble, everyone just happy to be there. Anyway, If I could, I would eat here almost everyday and I would not say that about any other restaurants in its class. By the end of the meal, I felt great, perfectly content. I was not overly stuffed and left the meal thinking about what I ate and how much I enjoyed it. I even dreamed about it that night and tried to figure out what I would have to do (suck up to parents, save, steal) to go back. The whole meal just flowed together so well and each bite of food was great with interspersed revelations of wow (The others have detailed the menu quite nicely so I won't get into it). Definitely sit at the bar for you first time. There's nothing like watching Masa at work and smelling white truffle and yuzu in anticipation for that piece of sushi. Now, I'm not going to justify the price. If you're willing to pay 500+ for the best, the more power to you. I feel most people (myself included) are happy with excellent sushi and 1/4 the cost. So just ask yourself, how much is the best worth to you? If it's above Masa's price point, enjoy :) read more

Very disappointed.. we are visiting from LA.. and MASA totally ruined reputation of a michelin 3star. Crab and persimmon shouldn't go together in a meal which is Asian traditional common sense. So we told the manager that's not acceptable.. for this kind of mistake .. and their apology are just.. very arrogant.. (not sincere)the chef didn't greet us after all The Lady M cake for birthday was disappointed as well.. didn't even take effort to write " happy birthday".. This is my first time write a yelp review.. please take your concern of this post and there are couple places you can have a better sushi experience than MASA .. arrogant attitude and environment and there is no love in the sushi. ( some sushi you can feel the love is inside out) Anyways. In general, food is not well ordered as traditional Japanese sushi course( from light that to strong flavor) fresh wise.. fresh wise.. oh it is not fresh compares to many ..( if you are sushi lover or ever lived in Japan.. you know what I mean.. ) The dish is not creative at all.. at all.. the taste is plain.. nothing special. But what more important is you feel not welcomed and no love from the restaurant read more

Its crazy in every way Food is perfect Service is perfect Space is perfect Price is not perfect, but if you want to go, go. read more

One word - amazing. The entire experience was super intimate and mesmerizing. Watching Chef Masa work his magic with each piece of fish was like watching an artist paint a masterpiece. We chose the omakase since there is no menu, and added the wagyu beef with black truffles, which I could eat everyday if I ever win the jackpot :) Since we were feeling adventurous, we even tried the truffle ice cream, which luckily I decided to share, as much as I love truffle, somehow in ice cream form, it was quite intense. I had a fleeting thought of asking for a side of wagyu beef to scoop the ice cream with... This place makes sushi the center piece, and allows you ample time to savor each piece like they are meant to be enjoyed. I'm sure you'll not be disappointed if you go. read more

Came here for a family dinner (my little brother was going off to college!), and while I suppose the food is here good, I wasn't terribly impressed. Make no mistake, the food is delicious and, for the most part, exquisitely prepared--however, it is not worth the price. We had the omakase for four, and sat at the bar so we could watch the chefs prepare everything. Service was exceptional, but as we were maybe one of three tables, that was to be expected. We had: Unagi Toro tartare with caviar and toasted bread Summer oyster with yuzu soy Fried corn and summer truffle ball Langoustine with white wine, shallot, and chive Shabu-shabu of conger eel with cucumber vinaigrette, broth Toro sushi Pike mackerel, similar to kanpachi Flounder Snapper Squid with yuzu salt and sidachi Sweet shrimp, raw Orange clam from Hokkaido Grilled toro sinew Mackerel Octopus Maitake mushroom Seared pike mackerel sushi Ebi Saltwater eel Unagi with cucumber "taco" White truffle "sushi" with truffle paste Uni, uni, bucket loads of uni More toro Japanese grapes with soga tea My general impression was that we were eating our weight in uni and toro (raw, seared, count the ways). Again, exquisitely prepared, but not terribly innovative fare. The only real misstep was the shabu-shabu dish, for which the fish skin proved oddly gummy and chewy. For the four of us, plus two bottles of wine, it came out to about $600/head before tip. In my opinion, not really worth it. As other reviewers have noted, it's fun to come here to say you've eaten here, but if you have the money to spend, there are many other places you could go first to have a more exciting meal. read more

3 sushi rolls and 2 glasses of wine for $150 but I saw Jimmy Fallon! If I had more money I'd eat here all the time then go shopping downstairs. The restaurant was pretty busy for a Monday night before Valentine's Day - I can't imagine how packed it gets on the weekends. Definitely a place to be seen while being hidden from the normal new york life. read more

I'm spoiled now... I don't think that I can eat Sushi anywhere else in the U.S. ever again! Came here on a Wednesday night after I left Sushi Yasuda upset because they messed up my reservation, and I have to be grateful because I had the best Sushi night ever!It's not cheap but it's worth it! read more

BEFORE REDING THIS REVIEW: please understand that my reviews are a comparative analysis of the establishment versus it's peers. A 5 star rating at Masa and a 5 star rating for a korean restaurant in flushing does not indicate that i consider them equals. One of the best meals i've ever had. We sat at the center of the bar in front of chef masa who cut all our fish himself. FYI If you don't love sushi and can't tell the difference between your local sushi restaurant and say yasuda then perhaps this is not the place for you. Sake list had some great bottles of course but not the longest i've ever seen by any stretch if thats of any concern. The fish was divine and varied from the common to the unheard of. The other dishes were true to his form, simple but heavenly (eg flame seared beef from a province near kobe which i unfortunately forgot the name of). For dessert we were served strawberries. Now normally i would expect a little more but these strawberries were, for lack of a better word, perfect. I suppose in the context of the meal we just had which could only be described as perfect, it was a fitting. In terms of quantity, surprisingly we were well fed and by the time dessert rolled around we were all pretty full. Oh and expect to pay a lot more than the $425 pre fixe + gratuity per head unless you plan on sneaking in your own booze and drinking tap water from the bathroom sink. Our tab hit $525 per head sans the sake, tax and tip. You don't want to know what the final tally was. I would highly recommend Masa to anyone who truly loves sushi. It significantly differentiates itself from Gari, Kuruma Zushi, Yasuda, 15East, Ushiwakamaru and everyone else in NYC. read more

Probably the BEST and most expensive meal I've had in my life. Love the minimalist decor and the fact that there are only 10 tables (or maybe even less??) The food was incredible. FRESHEST of FRESH ingredients. Even though the dude next to us was rather rude, and told the waiter as he left with his date that he thought the restaurant was a rip-off. How unclassy. It was an EXQUISITE meal and I really do mean exquisite. read more

I've been lucky enough to eat in front of Masa Takayama too many times to admit (and probably too many times for my credit score) and have never had anything less than a sublime, religious experience. Masa is a strong contender for my last meal on earth: food/dining simply does not get any better than this. 6 stars! read more

What an amazing experience! I really wish Chef Masa was there, but I'm hoping he'll be in Japan this fall when we dine there. Sit at the bar! My 2nd favorite 3 Michelin star in NYC. read more

The food is very good, but for the price, it should be a divine experience, and sadly, it falls short. The sushi is fresh and delicious, and all but a few of the 19 pieces were exceptional, but a number of the dishes, including the toro and $150-extra wagyu beef, were over-salted to the point of masking the original flavor. What really put a bit of a damper on things was being charged $10 for Fiji water. It's a petty amount, but when the pre-tax bill per person is $600, they can throw in the water. Other comparably-priced establishments, 11 Madison Park for one, pamper the diner with complimentary courses and even a complimentary post-dinner cocktail. Nickel-and-diming over water, to me, shows poor regard for one's customers. But that said. in honor of the last review, a Haiku: Sushi's super fresh But charged ten bucks for water? Masa's kidding us. read more

This place serves the best sushi experience around. Noticed I said experience. Not just they serve the most delicious sushi around, but also from the moment you step in to the moment you leave, the service is top notch. The entire experience takes place in an exclusive atmosphere. It's like getting your own personal chef and server. The most memorable items during the night were the clam sushi and the sweet shrimp sushi. Many of the fare have some familiar appearance, but a notch above in flavor as most of the items are all flown in from Japan. And the other most memorable moment of the night was seeing the check (but you walk in expecting that). I'm going to stop praising this place right here and explain the caveat behind my 5 star rating. My 5 star rating is that this place is the best. And for the price, you'd expect it to be. But what I considered to be second best sushi in NYC, is about 1/4 the price and the quality and experience is certainly not less by the same amount. Therefore, is the difference worth it? That in my mind is still the question. One pet peeve I have about their offering of the $140 supplemental on Australian Wagyu beef is...I don't think it's worth it. One should read the recent Forbes Magazine article about Kobe beef called "Food's Biggest Scam" to understand why I hesitate to put out that kind of price for a bite of Wagyu beef. I'm sure the beef will be the best tasting "non-kobe" beef, but for $140??? Would I recommend this place? Yes.... Would I return? Not for a long while, especially there are many sushi places around town that serve up my favorite Uni shushi for far cheaper. read more

The only reason I'm giving it 3 stars is because of the prices which are through the roof and utterly stupid and ridiculous. I will never go back. Food - 5 stars Atmosphere/staff - 5 stars If you can afford it then go for it, but to me its like lighting a few hundred dollar bills on fire. read more

Worth every penny The front door is like 2000 years old The sushi bar is hinoki wood 70k And the food is bomb! Upgrade truffle wagyu and No pictures read more

Chef Masa served us at the bar. The sushi was light at first and gradually developed with flavor. Mass gave us a fish head and told me to try to eyeball. I never ate an eyeball before but it was delicious. Definitely a must try if you are working to try all the stars in the city. read more

This was about the most memorable dining experience I've ever had. Definitely up there.. Everything was fabulous and I am not even a fan of sushi. My favorite item was the skewered Wagyu beef, I think it was a $100 option or something but was so good read more

Great sushi and service for sure. No complaints for food quality and service. But...it is too expensive and difficult to get a seat without very advanced reservation - like two months for Fri, Sat. I agree that sushi/sashimi is very best quality; so is chef Masa's skills...but I can visit Sushiden three times with this price. read more

My husband treated me to Masa for my birthday dinner. It has been a restaurant on my bucket list. The 26 course dinner was very high quality and elegant but I don't think it warrants 2000 check. I think even at 1000 it would be a bit overpriced. I'm very glad I had the experience but would not go back read more

I've heard people complain about Masa in that it's so expensive, they feel that it's either socially irresponsible to eat there or it can't be that good. Well, it is that good. On the socially irresponsible part, I don't have an argument, but I'm willing to be called socially irresponsible if it means eating at Masa. Masa will change the way you look at food. First of all, you can't categorize the food as sushi. The tasting menu is significantly comprised of sushi offerings, although calling it sushi seems to be inaccurate, because it's not like any sushi I've ever had before. It's a truly memorable experience with some of the most creative dishes you'll ever taste. The drawback is that any trips to sushi joints after Masa are a pale comparison. Also, I'm no Rockefeller, so trips to Masa are few and far between. However, it's worth the price. read more

Aside from clearly being a convenient option for respite when shopping at the Time Warner shopping center, this place has overpriced and undersized sushi and other decently authentic Japanese cuisine. Having eaten here once right after a trip to Tokyo and then again when I was not so setup for disappointment, the consistency of my experiences renders my opinion fairly simple: If you want to impress someone with your ability to buy expensive dishes, which are admittedly artistically presented but not exceptionally tasting, go to Masa. In more detail, I have had some of their hot dishes (miso cod and tuna steak), both of which were slightly oily though extremely fresh. The same freshness standard holds with their sushi, which in my opinion, is a better choice from this restaurant. As a notice, a basic sushi sampler runs about $80. Finally, the ambience and atmosphere, which is spoiled given its somewhat commercial location, colors, and service, is not reflective of the luxurious image this restaurant attempts to emanate. The service is just friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable, adding to an albeit good but hardly unique experience. My ability to recommend this restaurant is only compromised by the fact that the overall taste and experience is not a great value for the cost of the meal. read more