Great omakase experience. Cool rooftop venue. 10 pieces for $60. Good variety. Fresh pickled ginger was so good. Good social distance set up during covid. read more

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Went to Sushi Lab for a birthday celebration!! We went to the rooftop location and the interior decor was beautiful. The omakase pieces were definitely super experimental, every piece had a special and different element to it - not a single piece was just fish. The fish and seafood were all very fresh and for the quality of food, the price was worth it honestly. Definitely worth the experience!! read more

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Tried the chef's choice, which contained some excellent pieces, such as the uni, scallop with truffle, sweet shrimp, wagyu beef. The one with the tomato was not that good. I did not know this, but the elevator only takes you so far and you need to climb two more flights of stairs to get to the restaurant. I'm having some knee problems, so climbing up the stairs is hard for me. I wish I had known this but I did not notice anything about stairs when I booked it. Not the most amazing sushi in NY. I think Sugarfish and NOBU are way better, but SushiLab is worth a try, especially if you are seeing a Broadway show: You will be out in less than an hour and it is in Times Square. read more

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Fresh sushi, love the ambience. Service and drinks were great, will come back for sure. read more

Sushi Lab Rooftop - Roof top - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Food was good but a bit overpriced for what you got. Even with a "rooftop" restaurant don't expect a view except of the building across the street. Staff was friendly but slow. read more

WOW, what an amazing omakase experience. Very cute rooftop and it has heaters so you're not completely freezing. I was able to get a table at the Chef's Table which I recommend. I personally like seeing how the sushi chef makes their sushi and it's also entertaining as well. There are two options for omakase which are $60 for 10 pieces or $120 for 15 pieces which include 4 appetizers, 15 pieces, and dessert. I'd come back again and it was a great experience! read more

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Came here for my birthday night celebration after being persuaded by the restaurants decor and ambiance. Plus, who doesn't love an omakase? We were able to place reservations for a party of 2. The restaurant is located on the rooftop of Sanctuary hotel. There is an elevator that brings you to the 6th floor but we climbed two more sets of stairs to get to the official restaurant. The rooftop did not disappoint, it was gorgeous. Although I do recommend probably going in the day to get a more vibrant feeling from the decorations. Staff was extremely kind the entire service. We ordered the Lab Experiment. In the beginning they explained the course of the meal and how many dishes to expect. When each dish came, they explained what each one was/flavor profile. Honestly the truffle paired nigiri and the wagyu at the end were my favorite pieces. However all the pieces of fish were fresh and delicious! I got to try fish I haven't tried before which was exciting. We were still feeling a little hungry so we ordered the tuna tacos; which I would probably skip since there wasn't much that stood out to me. For drinks we ordered the Tokyo mule - refreshing! They also gave me a free glass of champagne to celebrate my birthday. The sushi lab offered a great experience with great service. Definitely a place to go for aesthetics & a good time. But I would try a different place for an omakase experience for a cheaper price point. read more

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History of Present Indulgence: For most of our birthday, anniversary, valentines celebrations, food is at the center of the festivity. This birthday omakase lunch was no exception. Physical Exam: Taste - Fresh, sparkling fish. Sliced, aromatic truffles. Torched, buttery A5 Wagyu. Sweet, savory Uni. All things my lackluster writing abilities can fully explain. The rice itself under each piece was fragrant and served at a perfect, slightly warmer than room temperature. Even the pickled ginger, which was clearly made by the restaurant themselves was amazing and tasted nothing like the sugary, pre-sliced stuff you get at the corner $11.50 for three rolls lunch special spot. Everything was mouth-wateringly incredible. Service - Loved the chef that served us on the sushi bar. Seems like a fun squad working behind the counter. Our server was also really nice and tried her best to accommodate for my widens shellfish allergy. Gave us a free sangria and she got some extra pieces of non-shellfish because she couldn't do the full Lab Experiment set she wanted due to how much shellfish was involved. Environment - The rooftop space is perfect. There's a transparent ceiling and large windows to give the feel of being outdoors while still having AC and not having to worry about rain or wind. The hanging vines and wicker bird cage light fixtures add to the natural feel of it all and blends with with the light, natural wood of the tables and sushi bar. Assessment/Plan: This is one of the most affordable, and still high quality, omakase sushi options you'll find in the city. The course count is high, several pieces really go out there in terms of experimenting with flavors, they're al beautiful to look at, and the overall atmosphere is fantastic. I would highly recommend trying Sushi Lab Rooftop and relinquish your taste buds to their mercy. And remember, if you're getting omakase, there's no reason to ask for soy sauce and/or wasabi. read more

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Got light omakase and special roll with iceberg lettuce, and a few drinks. Definitely recommend the omakase and the Sakura drink! The service was fast, friendly and helpful. Kept us informed about the timing and the recommendations. The lights and the vibe were beautiful. Would definitely return again! read more

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We loved it here! There were 5 of us. They require that you wait for your entire party to be there before they seat you. You then travel up on the elevator and then 2 flights of stairs (so know that if you have folks in your party who are not very mobile, this is an issue). Food was fantastic! We got cooked foods as well as sushi. Everything was amazing. The American wagyu was over the top! Volcano roll was good too! read more

Sushi Lab Rooftop - Menu 2-2024 - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

Reviewing the sushi lab experiment -- the 15 piece $120 meal. It's indulgent, as you get a healthy serving of caviar, truffle, and some really great cuts of fish. Even more, each plate is crafted with such creativity and variance that it's hard to imagine how one menu can give you so many different flavors and experiences. In addition, being able to watch the chef put everything together in front of you is a fantastic experience. Unlike normal omakases, where you pretty much get nigiri after nigiri, same structure, very predictable, the experiment comes with a variety of plating, different flavors, condiments, and even playful attempts on other cuisines. For example, there is a toro tartare with a quail egg that mimics a steak tartare. There are also some sophisticated preparations that are impressive to watch, and even more mind-blowing to eat. For example, there is a fish that is smoked in a stone pot over coals, before being served to you with some herbal garnishes. For the boldness in innovation, fantastic show of culinary expertise, and variety, this is the best omakase you can get at $120, without being bored with the many copycat omakases around the city. read more

Okay, Sushi Lab is very cute and definitely worth the money that we spent since there were lots of expensive pieces we ate. We got the Sushi Lab experiment - Omakase. We got exotic fish and different creations of fish together. Not a full 5-Stars for me because some pieces of the creation was a little too out of the ordinary and just too much going on. There were some pieces that were amazing and just "wow" in your mouth then there's other pieces like "what is going on/I can't taste what I'm eating" type. Everything was fresh and presentation was on point. I love the amount of uni and caviar I was eating! My two fave! It was just a handful of pieces that I couldn't enjoy since it was too much going on. At the end of the omakase, they give you green tea pudding. I ordered the brown sugar boba flan on the side. The flan was good but the boba was too hard for me. This is a cute spot for a date, girls night, and all - great photo ops available! read more

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Love love love this place. I came for my birthday and I couldn't have asked for a better dining experience. They started us off with a free glass of champagne. Food was literally to die for. As for COVID precautions, I felt really safe dining here. We sat right next to the window panel so there was a nice cool breeze but warm enough from the heaters to take our jackets off. Shoutout to our waiter Julio for really taking care of us!! read more

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I came here with my boyfriend on my birthday. This place was awesome! We were able to get seats in front of the chef and we got to see the chef make all our food. We both got the chef's selection and ordered two additional specialty rolls. Since it was my birthday, I got free glass of champagne. The service was great and the decorations were beautiful. I got many great pictures and the food was very delicious. I cannot wait to go back! read more

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5* for the host - Julio went above and beyond with his service! Made us feel very welcomed and knows how to serve his guests! 3* for the sushi chefs - with our other omakase experience, the sushi chefs were more personable and made conversation with us. The chefs here don't talk much and didn't make us feel as personable. I think this takes away from the experience a bit. 4* for the food itself My boyfriend and I were super excited for this place as we had booked an omakase for 2. Upon arriving at the Sanctuary hotel, our temperatures were taken and we were instructed to only go with our own party into the elevator. Already felt super safe there with these COVID measures. Upon arriving, Julio greeted us and made us feel super welcomed as he guided us to our seats at the chef's counter. We were given menus and waters as soon as we sat down. For the appetizers, we ordered the Taro Chips and Bluefin Toro Tartare - both of which came with guac. I think my bf and I preferred the bluefin toro over the taro chips just because the mix of tartare and guac was a more unique flavour than just the taro chips and guac. I have to say though.. the taro chips were very thin and hard to put down! For our omakase, we each got 10 pieces: 1. Squid Sushi - Great start to our omakase!! Love how this melts in your mouth. 2. Arctic Char - one of my favorite!! Really loved the hint of smokiness. 3. Striped Jack 4. Scallops w. Charred Mushroom - YUM. You can still taste the texture of the scallops but the flavour of the mushroom really stands out. 5. Marinated Tuna - Really big piece of tuna wrapped in sushi. Very fresh. 6. Toro Sushi - not the best cut.. we got a piece where the toro was broken rather than intact. Tastes ok. 7. Sea Bream 8. Sweet Shrimp - Never could I have imagined sweet and shrimp in one word.. proved me wrong. 9. Uni with Shiso Pepper - Such a cute piece!! Loved how this melts in your mouth and had the right amount of rice. 10. Salmon Roe (Ikura) and Toro Hand Roll We added an extra Uni-corn (seasoned sea urchin, monaka shell) and salmon hand roll (torched with confit tomato). The uni corn looked like a macaron which might sound weird to you but the combination works! I think everything just blends well together and definitely worth a try. Overall, we got an amazing experience here at Sushilab. It is definitely worth trying and great place for a special occasion whether it's your anniversary, birthday, what have yous. They're very sanitary and tables are 6 feet apart with partitions at the chef's counter. Definitely one of my top places to come to for omakase. read more

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We had the lab omasake and it was very very very good. Max was a fantastic server patiently explaining all the dishes to us. Sushi was great - very delicious. We had a sneaky wagyu in between and was blown away. The decor was on point. It was beautiful! read more

No indoor dining, no problem (for now). This picturesque rooftop is an answer to the prayers of omakase lovers during this pandemic summer. It's great that restaurants have been pivoting and offering omakase to go, but my one time eating omakase on a public park bench definitely left me feeling like I should never do that again. Enter Sushi Lab's rooftop, which sits atop the Sanctuary Hotel and is carefully practicing social distancing measures, complete with temperature checks, spaced out tables separated by plastic screens, and timed, reservation-only seating. With fans blowing air around and servers donning masks and gloves, I felt like there was an appropriate amount of "hygiene theater" to make patrons feel safe. They even handed out wet wipes you can clean your hands with before your meal. Images of their really creative courses like gold flecked ebi and uni topped tofu taunted me on social media, but I later learned these were part of the more expensive "Lab Experiment" at $120 for 15 signature courses. I went with the thriftier $60 "Chef's Selection," which afforded me 10 sushi pieces and a hand roll. It came with lots of standard pieces like yellowtail, toro, and salmon, and little touches like a dab of shiso here and sprinkling of yuzu salt there punched up the pieces a bit. My favorite bite of the meal was the truffle topped scallop, a combo I didn't know I needed in my life. Each piece was buttery soft and flavorful. Knowing I'd still be hungry after the chef's selection, I also ordered the Kanzuri tuna tacos. The other appetizer options sounded like throwaway items, but these tuna tacos weren't the least bit impressive either. I'd recommend a hand roll instead. Be sure to redeem a free sake via Yelp check-in and round out your meal with one of their fancy desserts. My matcha tiramisu came in a little wooden box and had just the right amount of sweetness for my sugar-shy taste buds. This was definitely a feast for all the senses, though were I to return, I think the Lab Experiment would be worth the splurge. read more

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We tried the omakase and ordered a few rolls to share. The omakase experience was fun and comes with 10 pieces. We sat at the bar and the chef explained each piece to us. Everything was absolutely delicious and we were sad when the experience ended! We ended up ordering a few more rolls since we were still a little hungry after. We got the yellowtail jalapeño and the salmon with poached pear. Highly recommend both of these to supplement the omakase experience. For drinks, I tried the strawberry geisha which was perfectly fruity and pretty strong as well. Would definitely order that again. read more

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Came here a few months ago but was impressed with the quality of the fish and the overall experience here. The waygu beef was the unexpected surprise at the end of the meal that left me wanting more. Didn't feel too rushed and felt like the food came out in an appropriate time. Service was good. Would only come here for special occasions but worth a try if you're a big omakase fan. Not sure if there are other spots in the city that are a better bang for your buck but part of the appeal of this spot is the experience for sure. read more

I'll preface this review by admitting that the rating is driven mainly by service and atmosphere. I've been eyeing this place on Instagram for awhile and finally had the excuse to go there in December last year. Went with two other girlfriends and we all got the omakase (small version). All the items we got are in the photos but in summary, food was okay, not as flavorful as other Omakases I've had. But it wasn't bad and the staff gave us a ton of free drinks and desserts. So I mean that totally outweighs the lack of flavor here . read more

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Came here for date night and got seated quickly. Waitress waiting a good 10min before coming back to take our order. We then ordered the Omakase 15 course lab experience because we really wanted see what Sushi Lab was all about. The first dish was tasty and then.....it was over 20min before our next pieces. They were churning out dishes for other tables as we sat there waiting just for the second course. I was starving at this point. At least they brought out 4-5 at a time after that long wait. Waitress was nice but somehow managed to spill water all over the floor every time she refilled. And when it was finally time to leave, she was hovering while my husband was trying to work out the tip. No one needs to be made to feel uncomfortable like that as a guest at a restaurant. Sushi itself was ok. Nothing to be hyped about. Definitely felt a little let down with the sizes (very narrow and thin) and the lack of freshness. Venue itself was cutely decorated and had nice music for fun vibes. Overall would say this is a big SKIP. read more

Sushi Lab Rooftop - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

The entrance was hard to find, but the restaurant was so pretty and the sushi was just as fantastic as the beautiful restaurant. read more

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The sushi lab on the rooftop of the sanctuary is definitely an experience worth trying. It was a special occasion, so I went all out and tried the $100 "lab experiment" - a 15 course chef special sushi extravaganza. I'm an adventurous eater so this really peaked my interest, and while there were certainly a couple of courses that weren't to my liking, all-in-all I'm happy that I tried it (though I wouldn't necessarily try it again). The service was top notch, as was the ambiance. With a 90-minute reservation block, the service has to be on point. Long story short, it's a little pricey (even for the city), but it's unique in flavors and combinations. The sushi lab is really trying to push the boundaries of what sushi can be, and if you are willing to try new things you should check them out. read more

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Great food and amazing cocktails. The only reason I did not put 5 stars is because I've had Omakase before that was more filling / more food; however it could have been because I ordered the flavor town option (the lab experiment). Everything was on point with flavor but I did feel like I should have gotten more food for the $100. First time having soft shell crab which was a pretty cool part of the experience. read more

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This was the only outdoor omakase we found, so we decided to give Sushi Lab a try. For omakase in nyc though, we were a little disappointed. We got the lab experience ($120 for 15 courses) hoping it would be much better and higher quality than the chef's selection ($60 for 10). However, the dishes weren't that creative or unique, and the flavors for some didn't go very well. Some dishes came out cold because they were preparing it for so many guests at once. Regardless though, $120 for 15 course omakase is pretty good. You can probably find something more delicious or higher quality in nyc though, so I don't think we will be coming back. In terms of covid measures, I think they did a good job. For omakase where the chef is so close to you, we only felt safe if it was outdoor. I loved that this was on the roof. I appreciated the hand wipe they gave you before you eat the hand roll too. read more

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The worst experience I've ever had JESUS THE RECEPTIONIST was VERY UNPROFESSIONAL & RACIST we arrived at 8:30 and were told to come back at 9:10 for our "reservations" only to be told on arrival that we don't fit the dress code! After 15 mins of going back and forth with JESUS he demanded that we leave because we insisted on seeing a manager! Wasting our time as the kitchen was closing so we missed the kitchen and were sat in the BACK CORNER for just drinks. If this supposed dress code was such an issue they should have never made us reservations in the first place! WILL NEVER COME BACK VERY UNPROFESSIONAL & JESUS IS RACIST! HOWEVER MIKE the manager was VERY accommodating very nice guy. AND on the way out JESUS continued to mock us. Very unprofessional and he should not be representing this company. read more

One of my favorite sushi place in Manhattan Sushi lab is amazing experience for NY traveler as well! read more

Sushi Lab Rooftop - Truffle scallop hand roll - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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The space is beautiful but as many said it is much smaller than the pics show. Also while it is "outside" most of the glass interior windows were closed which made it warm but also felt more like indoor dining Drinks were delicious! Strawberry Geisha went down far too easily. I loved the tuna taco. The seared salmon roll was also good. We had the $60 omakase and while everything was good it nothing was amazing. You won't have a bad time but it won't knock your socks off either read more

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My sister, bff & I went t to Sushi Lab Rooftop the other night to celebrate our birthdays. We had a wonderful experience here. The restaurant is located on the 6th floor of the Sanctuary Hotel, the open air rooftop dining level was beautiful. Our server Xu was awesome. He was super attentive & welcoming & he came over to check on us a few times. He helped us take pictures & when he found out it was our birthdays, he bought us a round of champagne. Thank you, Xu! We ordered some cocktails- strawberry geishas & a lychee martini. The drinks were very pretty. Now the food! We sat at the sushi counter & we each ordered the Lab Experiment, which is a signature 15 course omakase for $100. I've tried a few omakase in NYC and this one was comparable. This was a very tasty & wonderful experience. Our sushi Chef David was great. He explained each course to us & each course was presented beautifully & each bite was heavenly. My favorite courses were the tuna with uni over fried oyster, the king salmon with tomato confit & Fatty tuna with caviar but each course was very delish. The seating was 90 minutes & it felt like plenty of time, didn't feel rushed. read more

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The food and ambiance get five stars but accessibility by stairs only brings Sushi Lab Rooftop to three for me. Long before the pandemic was ever even a thought my husband and I ate at Sushi Lab. The food was amazing but they only had high bar stool-like backless chairs which I find difficult. The food was so good that when I saw they were doing curbside during the pandemic we ordered it a few times and it was quite good. I follow Sushi Lab on social media. I saw that they had more accessible chairs and was thrilled! If you want to make a reservation I highly suggest you plan well in advance because they book up quite quickly and rightfully so considering how fresh the food is. My husband and I had the Lab Experiment. The Lab Experiment is well thought out and is a lot of food. I think I'm done eating for the next week! I would like to add that you might not want to wear dark sunglasses when you enter The Sanctuary Hotel because it is very dimly lit. I forgot and was barely able to see my hand in front of my face. read more

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Food was absolutely amazing!!! We got all sorts of different rolls and all of them were so tasty. The service was wonderful and fast. Decor and vibes were great!!! read more

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Great staff and location. Food was good. Specialty drinks creative. Atmosphere was unique for the city. Fun to sit at bar and watch the food being prepared. read more

My wife and I finally hit one of these rooftop restaurants/bars that seem to be plentiful in NYC on our trip. We found this place on Yelp and it was highly rated so we stopped by for lunch. We found the entry to be sorta speakeasy style as we wound our way around dimly lit hallways and turned a few corners before finding the elevator. After exiting the elevator we had to take the stairs for the last level. Then we walked down another narrow passageway and viola! we were there. The rooftop is cozy and covered with a clear covering with beautiful plants/vines throughout. You can lose yourself in the environment and not realize you are surrounded by taller buildings and a few thousand people immediately nearby. We started with the Charred Edamame which had truffle salt and lemon zest on the pods. It was an interesting twist on this popular starter dish. I liked it. For our main courses we shared a Seared Salmon Roll and a Matcha Crunch Roll. I also had a large carafe of chilled Sake which was great. We loved the presentation of the sushi and the flavors were very good. All in all, this was a pleasant experience. Great job Sushi Lab! read more

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It was recommended by a friend who lives in the area. Intimate restaurant with super cute decor on an enclosed rooftop on the 8th floor of a hotel. Great for groups and 1-1 dinners. Had Chef Selection omakase for lunch and it was quick and all the deliciousness! It was a last minute decision to order omakase, but if I had known, I would've reserved a spot at the bar to watch the chefs in action. Strawberry Geisha was a sweet alcoholic drink that was tasty. Overall, I would recommend! I think the views by the window would be nice in the warmer seasons. read more

Sushi Lab Rooftop - Omakase at Table (not Bar) - will be plated 4, 4, 3 - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Ambiance was excellent; perfect for dates, but also great for families and friends. Service was good; the hostess was exceptionally friendly. I really wanted to give this place 4 stars, but the omakase set was disappointing. I get the innovative aspect, but something's wrong when half the condiments overpower the fish. The uni and scallop were exceptionally fresh but sadly overwhelmed by the deep-fried shiso and truffle, respectively. If you've had shiso, you'd know how much it'll compliment raw fish; there was no point in making a tempura out of it. We also got the Washugyu Beef Roll to try, but again, the sauce overpowered the sushi. read more

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Sushi Lab is one of my favorite places to take friends and visitors to! The rooftop is absolutely beautiful, especially at lunchtime when the sunlight naturally brightens up the restaurant. Service is quick, and during both of my visits I was seated right away with a reservation. As for the food, I think the experience depends on what you order. The rolls are the best deals in my opinion, and are pretty delicious while having standard prices. I was told by a friend that ordering nigiri was not as worth the price, leading to a more negative experience, and that she enjoyed the rolls much more. I highly recommend the salmon belly & poached asian pear appetizer; it's unique and works as a great palette cleanser before the rest of your meal! read more

Sushi Lab Rooftop - Left: Seared Salmon Roll Right: Sansho Eel Roll - Japanese Near Me - New York, New York

I'd actually call this place a hidden gem because you literally wouldn't know it's here unless you were looking for it. It's on the rooftop in an unassuming building near Times Square behind some heavy double doors. Definitely make sure to reserve since I don't think they accept walk-ins. Our group got the omakase with some getting the Chef's Selection and some getting the pricier Lab Experiment option. I am crazy for fatty tuna, so I added the $25 Tuna Flight that included different levels of fatty tuna. The 15 course lab experiment was out of this world! Literally every course was decadent. Wagyu, sea urchin, fatty tuna, crab, scallop, caviar, truffle, and gold were on the menu. The combinations of all these pricy ingredients was pretty well balanced and I was never tired of having so many rich ingredients over powering each other. One of my favorite pieces of sushi was actually the truffle on top of the Hokkaido scallop. We didn't get the bar seating to be in front of the chefs, but the waitress who brought our food was pretty nice and explained each dish. read more

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The food was okayish tbh but i feel like this place is more for the vibes and the aesthetic. It's not a place you would go solely for the food. We went during restaurant week and saw this place on the list. Ordered the restaurant week based menu which was the 8pc, apps, and dessert. read more

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Pretty decent Omakase price at reasonable price. I got salmon, tuna, toro, uni, shimaji(?), etc. for $60 We also ordered extra uni and wagyu sushi and seared salmon roll. The view and atmosphere were the big plus here. read more

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After two visits, I can say I'm a big fan of the menu and atmosphere here. The quality of the fish was really great both times I ate here, and the chefs create beautiful courses with many of my favorite ingredients and a lot of creativity. I really enjoyed both the Chef's Selection ($60) and The Lab Experiment ($100), as well as the uni macaron and the Washugyu beef specialty roll. This isn't enough of a discomfort for me to knock off a star, but the only thing that wasn't too relaxing was the timing/service to the table. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to churn out hundreds of pieces of sushi as people are ordering 10-piece or 15-piece omakase from almost every table. Getting at least 5-10 pieces brought to us at a time, in quick succession, filled our tiny tabletop all the way to the edges and felt a little rushed. While I understand the point of omakase isn't about taking your time, we went from feeling rushed for most of the meal to waiting 20 minutes for a single piece (add-on) after we had finished everything else (plus having to remind the server twice about this piece when he came to see if we were ready for the check). Again, letting the plates pile up on the table was totally our choice and not the servers'/chefs' fault by any means. The timing of the meal just felt unbalanced, I guess because we ordered both omakase options and they were being made at the same time, maybe? At Sushi Lab, you're not paying for a quick 30-minute seating (or at least it's definitely not advertised this way), so I was expecting to feel a little more relaxed. That being said, the food was definitely a five-star experience, both times. I think photos describe it best, but the courses are inventive and the combinations/textures are on point. I think about the uni with tempura shiso leaf almost every day. The rooftop is decorated for a five-star ambiance, wouldn't change a thing there either. I love how bright it is up there, and the hydrangea arch at the entrance/exit was a super nice touch. read more

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