KAI
(212) 988-7277
822 Madison Ave
New York,
NY
10021
40.7697
-73.9671
Neighborhoods: Lenox Hill, Midtown, Upper East Side
What People Are Saying About KAI
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
This tiny sliver of a restaurant, perched above a gallery-like Madison Avenue Japanese tea shop, specializes in kaiseki, a meal of tiny courses traditionally served with tea. The layout is spare, with deep-brown wood floors, straw-colored clay walls and big street-facing windows. A reliable team of servers circulates through the room pouring tea from iron kettles.
The Food
The kitchen cranks out artfully plated, salubrious fare, with an emphasis on vegetables and seafood. The lightest courses include quarter-sized rolls of tea-smoked duck and featherweight tastes of black soybeans, bamboo shoots and burdock. More elaborate courses include a lovely purplish-red sashimi of bonito over jasmine rice and roasted salt-encrusted striped bass with tea leaves. For dessert, ask a waiter to select an appropriate tea and unwind to sesame mouse, chocolate cake, or an eye-opening granite topped with shiso.
User Reviews
justaddwater
November 16, 2007
The $85 seasonal prix fixe meals are recommneded. I think these would get nods from most NYC foodies. The $200 omakase was a disappointment. It was not any better than the prix fixe. Average quality ingredients (and quite frankly, the chef's good-but-not-remarkable skills) didn't not justify the $500 bill for dinner for two. I expected more.
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gkao007
November 30, 2006
Japanese Kaiseki is equivalent to Seasonal Tasting Menus here in the States. But at Kai, they prepare their cuisine with American ingredients. This challenge poses some difficulty because there are certain boundries professionals in the kitchen do not cross in order to preserve the traditions of one's culture. But what ever it is they do, it's working and I get floored each time I go. It's good to know, time and time again, their monthly menus come through and it always highlights the best in seasonal ingredients. Chef Yamazaki has been heading the kitchen at Kai since shortly after their opening, and has prepared some amazing meals for me. I recommend this place for people with a sophisticated palate. It's undeniably some of the best Japanese food one can get in the city. And if you can, try their Mishima (Japanese Beef) Steak dishes. It will make you re-think life.
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j_hok
May 05, 2006
Each bite of food at Kai was indeed delicious, fresh, and elegant. I had the black cod with yuzu sauce, which was wonderful. I must warn the reader that the portions sizes are very small (especially the appetizers), so if you plan to eat until you are full and do not intend to order the chef's special tasting menu, prepare to order and pay for an appetizer (1 dish for each person because the portions are not for sharing), a main entree, and the cold udon at the end of the meal. If you are someone who appreciates simplicity, elegance, and wonderfully presented and tasting seafood and vegetables regardless of portion size, Kai is your place. If you are someone who appreciates the same things but hope to have food to spare or share, Kai may not be the best option. The ambience is very calm and quiet.
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