Sushi Yasuda
New York, NY 10017-4713
Phone: (212) 972-1001
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue
- Directions:
- 4, 5, 6 at 42nd St-Grand Central
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 12pm-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm, Sat 6pm-10:30pm
Editorial Review for Sushi Yasuda – by Allison Austin
The Scene
Small details lend soul to the spare interior, which is built almost entirely of blond wood. Sake, for example, is served on miniature bamboo mats, while soy sauce arrives in a pouring vessel that could pass for a family heirloom. The room is usually quiet and subdued, with the attention set squarely on the food.
The Food
Omakase meals allow the sushi chef to really work his magic, perhaps starting off with a variety of tuna sashimi, ranging from firm to fully fleshy, from lean to fatty. Seasonal seafood can include buttery scallops; oily but notably unfishy needlefish; wild Alaskan white salmon; and both river and sea eal, served together for comparative tasting. As at the more serious sushi bars, each bite is perfectly seasoned by the sushi chef--no need for the soy sauce dish here. Dessert is a satisfyingly simple dish of sorbet or tea.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Know Before You GoWhen making a reservation, request seats at the sushi bar, and if asked which sushi chef you'd like to sit in front of, be sure to request Yasuda.
User Reviews for Sushi Yasuda
06/01/2008 Posted by blue_audi
We, a group of experienced diners, went to Yasuda last night with high expectations. Our friends had raved about the quality of fish and the sheer joy of the Yasuda dining experience. We were advised to avoid the tables and sit at the bar. Because we were a party of four, we ignored this advice, and asked to be seated at a table. We were impressed with the ambience-- cool and modern. The service was a bit in your face and bordering on arrogance. But we waited for the food. We ordered the omakase menu where the chef chooses for you. In chefs we trusted. The appetizers were superb, We liked the deep fried eel bones and the crab innards-- be warned that the portions are tiny. In contrast to the delectable appetizers, the sushi and sashimi were disappointing. Given the hype we expected the fish to melt and for our palates to be excited like never before. The fish tasted metallic, stale, with a flavor akin to the sushi you get in cheap deli stores. The uni in particular was smelly and downright stale. After dinner and a $500 bill (including beers and tip), we asked the golden question, "was the food so good that we'd come back". The consensus was a resounding no. We all agreed that neighborhood sushi joints, like Mishima on 30th and Lex, had better sushi. Of course the Yasuda worshiper would say we should've sat at the bar. Our response is simply that the quality of food should not be conditional on where one is seated. We opine that Yasuda is capable of serving unparalleled sushi to "chosen" guests (all the more reason we feel cheated) and that most diners who rave about this place do so from a herd effect- you think it's good because everyone thinks it's good. We beg to differ.
Pros: Ambience
Cons: Stale sushi, Arrogant servic
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
04/11/2008 Posted by Worldtraveller2008
I usually don't write reviews unless something was very bad. My husband and I ate there back in November of 2007, and to this day I am bothered anytime I hear of this restaurant. Being a native New Yorker and living in NYC for over 25 years, I cannot believe that I was scammed by this restaurant. We literally paid over $200 for a few tiny pieces of sushi, then left the restaurant hungry and had to go to Junior's Cheesecake in grand central terminal for something to eat. I have no complaints about the service at sushi yasuda, just the food. It wasn't anything special at all. I've had better sushi at Bennihanna. DON'T believe the hype. I've eaten all over the world and I've been to almost every top restaurant in NYC. This place doesn't even deserve to be called a restaurant, more like a snack stand.
Pros: After 5 months, still can't think of any
Cons: Tiny portions, WAY overpriced! Left hungry
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
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