I only learned about Joji Box because one of the partners at work orders from them and had trouble…read moregetting to the website. In helping him troubleshoot the block, I learned of this amazing take out sushi that is unlike any other take out I've had before. We went for the Joji Box 1 and I wasn't sure what to expect but wow. This little box of goodness rivals some omakases I've had in person. The fish was fresh, and the rice was perfect temperature without falling apart. Even the box felt like it was a high end gift box. Everything is tucked away in this box: chopsticks, napkins, sauce dishes, fresh real wasabi, and even soy sauce from a tiny bottle. What a treat. Also their spicy tuna is easily one of the best I've had in recent years. Just wow.

TLDR: Fancy sushi to go. Definitely on the pricier side but quality of toppings are premium, the…read morepackaging is sexy and the most important part of quality sushi is top notch. The rice. I'd splurge on it if you want to treat yourself to a good "to go" lunch or dinner. Definitely do so if you have corporate meal allowance. I was always curios about Joji Box but it' s not cheap - so like many I wondered if it was worth it. Eventually took one for the team. The first time I got the omakase box I didn't love having to sauce/wasabi it myself but I think that's just being picky. The last time I got the omaakase box, the omakase chirashi and the maki flight. The omakase box is a good assortment with a shimi, salad, two maki rolls and 10 nigiri. The pieces vary with premium ingredients like kinmedai, ikura, uni, toro, etc. It's costly at $62 but I think you get what you pay for. The chirashi had a variety of sashimi, lots of ikura and plenty of sushi rice. It's very good but for $50 I'd rather kick in more $ for the omakase. Maki Flight is great, $21 for a sampling of their three best rolls. It's 12 pieces total but they're nice size with a good amount of filling. If you're looking to treat yourself for lunch or maybe a nicer dinner takeaway - solid choice. I'm convinced enough that I'll try Joji for real one night.

Food: Average Service: Hurried…read more Ambiance: too dim The price of green tea at $8 each! I don't think this restaurant deserves a standing at this location which offers many authentic Japanese restaurant choices.

Visited Izakaya Futago on a weekday evening with a friend after a nearby event. It's pretty far…read moreeast (between 2nd and 3rd off Lexington), so it is easy to miss if you are not specifically looking for it. We walked in around 7pm and there were plenty of tables available, but we decided to sit in the separate bar room near the entrance. That space was more intimate, with a couple of larger high-top tables, a small bar (about 4-5 seats), and additional seating along the wall, and there was also a TV. They have a good happy hour with both drink and food options. We both ordered margaritas, which needed a slight adjustment as they were made too sour, and I also tried some sake, which was a good selection. For food, I ordered the fried chicken, which was very good, crispy, flavorful, and a generous portion, served with tartar sauce ($20). We also shared edamame and a couple of yakitori skewers: the shiitake mushrooms ($6) and pork belly ($8). The mushrooms were quite bland and I did not finish them, but the pork belly looked great and my friend enjoyed it. Overall, this is a good Midtown East spot for happy hour or a casual lunch and I would return.

Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant. The classic fluke ceviche plate was good, the seafood was…read morehandled well. The salmon avocado roll was tasty because it had extremely fresh salmon. The quality and taste of the soy sauce was better than average. The salmon and tuna tacos were made exceptionally well, with super fresh raw salmon and raw tuna, and extra crispy taco shells. The nikkei acevichado sauce blends beautifully with the avocado, lime, pickled radish, and cilantro. This entire combination complemented the raw fish, and brought it to the next level. I had a glass of the drappier carte d'or from the sparkling wine list and it paired perfectly. The drink was light, very sparkly, and refreshing. It balanced the rich avocado and the fatty fish very well. The restaurant has a bar area and a main dining area. It has the ambiance of a standard upscale Midtown restaurant.

My sister is allergic to shellfish but wanted to try sushi so I found her a kosher sushi…read morerestaurant. The restaurant is pretty spacious and the service was very good. We started with mushroom and truffle empanadas and then had the sushi rolls - everything was fresh and delicious. One downside was the condition of the ladies room - to put it nicely it was disgusting. My sister changed her mind about using it after going inside. Other than that I would recommend giving them a try.

I heard good things about their crispy rice, so wanted to try it…read more Got their Nigiri box with Crispy Scallops and seaweed salad. The spicy crispy scallops were outstanding. Crispy rice, which I am not used to, is such a cool concept. The packaging for my take out was... cute. Including the cute bottles for soy sauces. Got the Garlic Ponzu Sauce and Yuzu Pepper Sauce and Eel sauce along with it. Garlic Ponzu went really with my combo. Miso soup was done just right. They have a happy hour of sushi + beers. For a meet near Grand Central, that sounds like a capital idea. For next time. Nice place. Nice staff.

Ordered salmon avocado to go and at first was content with the presentation but the more I ate the…read moremore I was disappointed. Firstly as I ate I noticed there was a pink liquid under each roll. I presume it's from the salon, but I'm not sure why it was there. I've never seen that before and I eat sushi quite a bit. The taste was also a bit off. It was too fishy but not in a yummy sushi way, more in an unsettling way. It just didn't end up sitting right and I had to stop before finishing the meal because I was concerned. I wasn't expecting top grade sushi, but I was disappointed in the quality for sure. Unfortunately won't be ordering from here again.

Came here for a birthday dinner and it was lovely! The food came out quickly and the service was…read morereally great. We got there around 5:30 and were done by 6:30. I love how they ask if you are catching a show after so they can make sure you are done in time! The fish was really fresh and I thought prices were reasonable for upscale sushi! At 5:30, there were a few parties and the restaurant was pretty quiet. By 6:15 it got much busier and livelier. the caviar uni tuna dish was a star! We also got some maki and sushi. The favorite of the night was the amberjack sushi (single pieces). Also, the hostess was so cute and friendly!

Food was delicious, service was great, and the ambiance added a lot to the experience. The…read moreCalifornia roll was the best I have ever had, and the mochi ice cream was absolutely incredible.

Happened to be staying nearby and saw East opened up recently! They specialize in handrolls and…read moresoba, with a pretty affordable 3 roll plus soba lunch special ($19). My favorite handroll was the otoro, and you can substitute any roll with an extra charge if it's more. Place was very clean and service was super attentive!

Came here for a weekend lunch with a friend, place was fairly empty. Theres an option to sit at the…read morecounter or on table seating but you'll have a different menu. Hand roll menu for the counter and set menu for the table seating. We opted for the table seating with the set menu. We went with the $28 menu that came with a choice of different entrees, we decided on pork tonkatsu and shrimp & vegetable tempura. The set comes with a choice of one handroll (I was a little disappointed because I had looked at the menu from a few months ago and it was showing 2 handrolls), a choice of hot or cold soba/udon, and some sides that came with the set. The sides are unlimited. The presentation is very aesthetic! The sides were not bad, I personally enjoyed the shumai and the okra. The tempura had a light batter, I like the variety of vegetables. The katsu was just ok, a little dry. The soba noodles were a little disappointing. The hot broth was quite salty. We both got the spicy tuna handroll which was not bad but make sure to eat it quickly as the seaweed gets soggy. Overall: I think the concept of unlimited sides is a cute idea but for the average person, the set was probably already quite filling. I might come again for the handrolls but the set menu didn't impress me too much.

Great food (I had the udon and edamame), service, and ambiance (felt like a restaurant that could…read moreactually be in Japan)!

Restaurant Nippon -- A Midtown Institution That Earns It…read more There are restaurants that coast on their history and restaurants that actually deserve it. After finally making it to Restaurant Nippon on East 52nd Street -- open since 1963 and one of the most storied Japanese restaurants in New York City -- I'm happy to report it falls firmly in the latter camp. We kicked things off with a Suntory Draft -- the perfect way to settle in and set the tone for a Japanese lunch. Cold, crisp, and exactly right. We started with the Beef Negimayaki appetizer, and it's as good as its reputation -- this is the dish they invented here, and you can tell. The thinly sliced beef wrapped around scallions is simple, elegant, and completely satisfying. From there we moved into the Nippon Original Beef Curry, which was rich and deeply flavored -- more refined than your typical Japanese curry, with a complexity that felt distinctly their own. The Spicy Tuna Roll was fresh and well-balanced, and the Salmon Teriyaki was exactly what you want it to be -- a reliable, beautifully executed classic. Dessert was a three-way situation: Green Tea Ice Cream, Red Bean Paste, and Lychee Sorbet. No complaints there -- a perfect light finish to a satisfying lunch. Will I be back? Without question. Next time I want to explore the soba -- Nippon is credited with introducing authentic ni-hachi buckwheat soba to New York City, and that's not something you skip twice. And if they offer fugu à la carte, I'll be ordering it without hesitation. Not many places in Manhattan give you that opportunity, and this feels like exactly the right room to try it.

Prim was amazing!! The food and atmosphere was great and the service was fast and reliable :)read more

Walking into Showa era Izakaya felt like entering a time warp, i.e. a funky Tokyo cafe from the…read more80s. Loved the adorable decor, friendly staff and casual vibe right away. The food and drinks were fantastic as well. I highly recommend their well balanced, fruity Lychee Martini to start things off. It was a hot night so instead of getting ramen we both chose the 10 piece sushi platter. The quality, freshness and taste were amazing, especially the soft tender hotate (scallop) which can be tough and chewy elsewhere. Service was pleasant but a bit leisurely. We were comped a scrumptious piece of cheesecake for dessert, what a nice surprise! Pro Tips: It's a small place so reservations are suggested, especially during busy weekend times. Immaculate restrooms are located on the first floor for easy accessibility.