Unfortunately, I wouldn't know what's great about this restaurant. We had reservations to come in…read moreand when we got there, we were told that the kitchen was closed before the kitchen was supposed to be closed. My poor girl was celebrating her birthday and the wait staff was extremely rude. On top of everything, I wasn't able to make a reservation anywhere else because it showed I was supposed to be dining at their establishment. If you're going to close early- don't take reservations! Beware! We traveled 30 minutes to get there without a call or text saying don't come. The sign outside said OPEN.

What a fun and unique place! The hostess is dressed to match the hanging feline decor…read more Lighting is dark and the conveyor belt is used only to send out specific orders. It's not like regular conveyor belt sushi. The sushi tower was excellent for two people. The sushi was unique, fresh and creative. Our favorite was the Wagyu beef and uni. Outstanding. Service was incredibly attentive and accurate. They are also super friendly and accommodating. Bathrooms were also a unique experience. The music was loud, but not so loud you couldn't have a conversation. We were there on a weeknight and were the only customers there. It's a really fun experience with great food. Remember to tip well.

Efficient if not the warmest service. Definitely doesn't skimp on fresh ingredients. The durian…read morebun, for example, includes a generous serving of the delicious fruit. The tea is good and cheap, but they could use more carts. It meant that I could sit there for longer. The prices are very reasonable.

I tried supporting local businesses instead of chain restaurants and was turned away for a small…read moregathering that barely took up a quarter of the dining area. With all the digital displays throughout they could've posted the place was closed for private event so people wouldn't waste time going upstairs. Spending money at a nearby dim sum restaurant instead. Faux upscale Chinese restaurants that can't handle a few lunch orders on an ordinary Monday won't get a cent from me.

It was a wonderful experience, with minimal decor that stood on its own with the 2D art. The…read more15-course omakase started with a simple course, and each sushi was mouthwatering and melt-in-your-mouth, with some of the fattiest sushi you don't normally taste in a regular sushi restaurant. There was also an egg custard dish that was a little hot with a simple taste and it was so delicious, I would recommend this place again, the service was outstanding considering others were trying out the omakase style as well. There are also two concept restaurants in this one address. The Japanese as well as the Korean.

We went for the 15-course omakase on what happened to be a really rainy, miserable day. The…read morerestaurant was pretty empty when we arrived, with only one other couple at the counter, and eventually two more tables came in. I understand why people rave about the decor and the interesting walls, but personally, the whole place felt cold and somewhat dirty to me. Overall, the fish was fresh, and there were definitely some highlights, especially with a few of the pairings. However, the overuse of the "seaweed sauce," which honestly tasted more like eel sauce, became repetitive. I also felt that the fish was sliced far too thin, throwing off the fish-to-rice ratio. There was simply not enough fish and way too much rice. The chawanmushi was well cooked, but I'll never understand the decision to put two tiny pieces of chopped-up, overcooked shrimp at the bottom. If you're not going to use one small-to-medium shrimp, I'd honestly rather they leave the shrimp out altogether than serve two sad little pieces. The cocktail was also a disappointment. It was way too sweet, and the candied lime garnish was completely hard and inedible. I don't know if it was supposed to be that way, but it was practically impossible to eat. What bothered me even more was that our server never once asked how the drink was or why I wasn't drinking it. It was sitting there practically untouched, and he didn't seem to care at all. You can't really say he didn't notice when there were only six people in the entire restaurant. All of that aside, what really put a damper on the evening, besides arriving completely soaked from the rain, was needing to use the bathroom. When I went in, someone had clearly blown up the toilet and it had been left that way. It was absolutely disgusting and completely ruined my appetite. Even thinking about it now makes me want to puke in my mouth. I will say, I'm glad we used Groupon for this experience because if I had paid full price, I probably would have been even more pissed. There were some good elements to the omakase, but overall, this is definitely not an experience I'm eager to repeat.

You can't really go wrong with a spicy ramen bowl on a weekday lunch…read more I went to Zest ramen with my friend and I ordered the Tonkatsu ramen. Flavors were abundant in this dish and I love the inclusion of the oil on top of my ramen. Service was really fast and I noticed that the place was pretty empty for lunch. The ambiance was calm and inviting and the servers all presented with a great attitude. They also have a selection of other dishes/appetizers such as sushi and bowls. I do hope to come back here in the future to try their other offerings.

Excellent experience! First time in New York and I'm not disappointed. Updated menu is here for new…read morecomers

We came here to celebrate Father's day and we were really looking forward to their Wagyu tasting…read moremenu. The room itself was pretty dark and not really much space to navigate around, both in the interior and the balcony. The staffs were very friendly and we enjoyed conversing with them! The menu began pretty strong with our favorite being the Tartare which was crunchy, creamy, and flavorful; definitely the highlight of the entire menu! The hotpot was quite bland with the sesame oil broth that was reflective of Japanese shabu shabu, but without the dipping sauce to elevate the dish. The mousse was interesting and light which contrasted nicely with the pickled onions. The carpaccio was good too where the fried capers brought out the umami of the wagyu, though the wagyu slices were quite thin. However after these, the menu just continued downhill. The burger was just okay, where it was quite bland and on the rarer side of things which was just mushy. The braised wagyu jus was creamy but bland. The Ssam was pretty decent, but mostly because of the Japanese wagyu being good quality and not because of how it was prepared. The braise was the worse of all, which is like eating a mush of overcooked braised beef; not tender, not rich, just mush. The velvet rinse was like eating red wined flavored icy where you can't even taste any wagyu tallow that it was supposed to be infused with. The nigiri was good, but it was just your typical wagyu sushi piece that most places serve in omakases, except it's australian wagyu and not the high quality Japanese wagyu. The Wagyu Au Vert was interesting, but it wasn't cooked thoroughly enough where the spinach in the middle was still cold. Lastly, the dessert was delicious especially if you're a chocolate fan, but you probably won't be able to tell that it was made with Wagyu Tallow. Overall, although the menu started off really strong and got us so excited, it only create room for disappointment due to how bad quality the rest of the selections were curated and executed. For the price, your money is probably better spent eating at other wagyu restaurants. I would not recommend coming here, but to each their own. Thank you for reading and best of luck! (:

0 out of 5 stars. Wagyu Room Omakase was not simply dinner; it was a meticulously executed culinary…read moreexperience that justified every dollar of the $756.39 total. Our subtotal was $565.00 for two Wagyu Omakase dinners ($300), two Drunken Wagyu add-ons ($64), two Asahis ($18), the Vinekeeper Cabernet ($27), the Serial Cabernet ($22), and the Caviar Bump Kit ($116), plus $50.14 tax and a $141.25 tip. It was worth it. Each course was thoughtful, polished, and beautifully composed. The Tartare of Japanese wagyu, chive, egg yolk, and crisp shell was rich, delicate, and perfectly textured. The Hot Pot, with Japanese wagyu, mushroom, and glass noodle, was warm, savory, and deeply comforting. The Mousse of wagyu tallow cheese mousse, pickled pearl onion, and tricolor peppercorn tuile was one of the most inventive bites of the night: airy, tangy, peppery, and luxurious at once. The Carpaccio, with fried caper aioli, radish, and parsley, was clean, bright, and balanced. The Burger + Ring was an indulgent standout, layering Japanese wagyu, tomato aioli, gruyère, caramelized pearl onion, brioche, Australian wagyu, and braised wagyu jus into a bite that was rich without being heavy. The Ssam, with parrilla leaf and ssamjang, brought freshness and fermented depth. The Braise, with puffed rice, pickled carrots, green onion, and liquid gold jus, was tender and beautifully structured. Velvet Rinse, a wagyu tallow and red wine granita, reset the palate brilliantly. The Nigiri, with Australian wagyu, wasabi, and orange zest, was elegant and precise. Wagyu Au Vert, with nori chimichurri, spinach, garlic, and mushrooms, was deeply savory and memorable. Dessert, Brownie Points, with wagyu tallow chocolate ice cream, brownie, and caramel, was outrageously good. The best bite of the night, without question, was the Drunken Wagyu. It was extraordinary. A shot of Dassai 23 sake paired with torched Tartaromi "Drunken" Japanese A5 Wagyu from Yamaguchi Prefecture, raised at Iwakuni Farm and nourished with sake lees from Dassai Brewery. That diet matters. The sake rinds contribute to the remarkable marbling, tenderness, and refined fat profile of the beef. The torching brought out its aroma, and the Dassai chaser amplified the sweetness and umami in a way that was unforgettable. By pure coincidence, I wrote the first review ever for Dassai Brewery in New York, so that detail made the experience even better. Chef Ming was exceptional. Although the restaurant states it cannot accommodate a gluten allergy, he personally modified the gluten-containing courses for my wife and made them gluten free. He also prepared her a separate dessert: a Japanese whisky ice cream that was absolutely outrageous. That level of care and attention is rare. Service was generous from start to finish, including four complimentary sake shots and two complimentary Suntory World Whisky shots. Wagyu Room delivered luxury, precision, hospitality, and genuine artistry. This was one of the best dining experiences I have had anywhere.

I actually only visited the snack shack area right outside the restaurant, and it was a wonderful…read moreexperience! You can access this to-go counter from right inside Chelsea Market. We were parched and had to try the yuzu lemonade and ordered the fried chicken bites as well. Most people were in line for onigiri! If you do order the fried chicken, they're making it fresh in the kitchen, so you'll need to wait a few minutes (worth). But if you want a true grab-and-go, definitely opt in for their diverse selection of onigiri! The staff was very friendly as well!

A hard to miss restaurant that splits up a space with N Between so it would be easy to miss if you…read moredon't pay attention. I got there a little earlier than noon so I sat at the table in chelsea market to wait for it to open (their entrance is inside the Chelsea market). As soon as they opened, we were greeted by their friendly servers who seated us right away. I ordered their 5-piece hand roll set, which included scallop, lobster, tuna, yellowtail, and unagi. The quality of the fish was fresh, and that was definitely the highlight of the meal. However, the overall experience fell a bit short for me. Some of the nori wasn't crispy enough, making the hand rolls difficult to bite through cleanly. I also wish the rolls were wrapped with an extra strip of nori around the bottom instead of leaving both ends open. As soon as I took a bite, the rice started falling out the other end, making the whole experience much messier than it needed to be. Another downside was that a few of the hand rolls contained spicy sauces or ingredients, but this wasn't indicated on the menu. Since I'm not a fan of spicy food, it would have been helpful to know that beforehand. Finally, the unagi was my least favorite of the five as it lacked the rich, savory flavor I was expecting. Overall, the fresh fish is worth mentioning, but the execution and menu descriptions could use some improvement to make the hand rolls more enjoyable.

Although not a newbie to the Chinese BBQ skewer concept, I was delighted to have my first of…read moreexperience of authentic Chinese skewers in NYC be at Foodie BBQ. Replacing the former Shanxia Snacks, which recently relocated to a spot on East Broadway, Foodie BBQ has kept the same general restaurant layout, but enhanced the interior decor with eye-catching prints of calligraphy, mostly related to food and eating, along the walls, and hanging lanterns of napkin dispensers. Otherwise, the furniture looked the same in its white basic functional aesthetic. We ordered through a QR code. Grilled fresh to order, the food came out relatively quickly. We were able to add in the comments section to make certain skewers non-spicy for our kids. Otherwise, the default included quite a lot of spiciness. My favorites were the lotus root, cauliflower, eggplant, and potato. My kids loved the chicken and mantou. The corn consisted of a bunch of kernels--not a lot of substance there. We spent over $35 pre-tax and pre-tip on a variety of meat, vegetable, and starch skewers for two adults and two toddlers, and I would say it was just enough to satiate all of us. I appreciated that there was a little self-serve area with water and pu-er tea, although the water jugs were usually empty. Service was good and quick, and the bathroom was clean. Overall, I'm thrilled that Foodie BBQ has added to the Chinese culinary diversity in our Manhattan Chinatown. I don't think there is another such BBQ skewer-focused specialist with a storefront in this neighborhood.

Authentic Chinese BBQ skewers open until 2am so if you're in the area and hungry after getting…read moredrinks, this is the perfect late night stop to get your fill. Ambiance-wise, it's super casual and the place is clean with plentiful seating despite the small space. Between two people, we ordered: - Baked Chili Tender Beef: I didn't really care for the beef but I really liked the green sauce that came with it and used it to dip other skewers. - Spicy Beef Tripe Skewers with Mixed Vegetables: they were generous with the tripe on this one - Fried Milk Tofu: light & airy - Cauliflower: personal favorite of mine - Beef Finger Meat: favorite of my friend. Note: portions for this one are especially small since well...it's finger meat. - Pineapple Beef: I do like pineapple but wouldn't order this again. - Chicken Skin - Sliced Potato - Lotus Root - Grilled Lemongrass Chicken Wings - Intestines: I think we got pork, not chicken - Zucchini - Chicken Feet in Baked Chili Pepper sauce: Really enjoyed the marinade flavor - Sugarcane Juice We ended up ordering way too much and had to box some items to go. I'd recommend this spot and would come back!

This cozy spot on St. Marks offers some great udon at an amazing price. The interior is a bit small…read morewith tons of bar seating and minimal tables. It's better suited for solo dining or small groups. Service is pretty quick and very attentive. My boyfriend and I got their negi-toro don udon set and ten-nose bukkake set. Both came in a huge portion, and it left us absolutely stuffed. Their negi toro don came with lots of toro and it was nice to switch between the warm udon and some toro. Meanwhile, the cold noodle of the ten-nose bukkake was refreshing in the summer heat and the tempura was a nice addition. Would love to come back to try more items!

Udon St. Marks is a dying breed in New York City. A no frills diner spot that has quality food at…read moreprices that feel like they were pre-inflation. I came here for the first time on a Saturday night abs got their udon and rice meal. It was fairly filling and satisfying. Our food came out fairly quickly. The space itself is fairly narrow and is pretty much just a long corridor below ground. But people don't come here for some kind of fancy atmosphere. They come here for a good, affordable meal.