Kai Restaurant & Ito En NY Tea Store

(212) 988-7277

822 Madison Ave (Between 68th and 69th Street)
New York, NY 10065 40.769724 -73.96694

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Upper East Side, Midtown, Lenox Hill

ITOEN.COM

Hours:

Tuesday - Saturday: Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:45 pm / Dinner First Seating 6:00 pm

Closed Sunday and Monday

Ito En Tea Shop:

Monday - Saturday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Sunday 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 11.15.09

Category:

Restaurants , Catering , Coffee & Tea Shops , Coffeehouses

Payment Methods:

American Express , Visa , Discover , Diners Club , MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining , Brunch , Private Rooms , Lunch Spot , Group Dining , Private Parties

Coffee & Tea Shop Products:

Tea

Cuisine:

Japanese , Seafood

What People Are Saying About Kai Restaurant & Ito En NY Tea Store

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

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…

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “It's nice to escape the busy streets of New York City for a nice romantic evening out.”
  2. “The atmosphere, staff and food were all nice, but that's it.”
  3. “Pricy indeed, but atmosphere and the setting pays off (stone dish is very elegant.)”
  4. “Having both the wonderful restaurant, food and the lovely shop in the same location!”
  5. “Interesting and unique food flavors, comfortable atmosphere, knowledgeable service staff, well-thought wine/sake/tea list.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “For those of you who like tea, they have an amazing selection of teas and herbs.”
  2. “good tea”
  3. “You can enjoy real Japanese tea, since this restaurant is managed ItoEn, "Teas' Tea" company.”
  4. “The food and drinks are amazing the service and food definitely justify the priciness of this restaurant.”
  5. “Interesting and unique food flavors, comfortable atmosphere, knowledgeable service staff, well-thought wine/sake/tea list.”
food quality
86.21000289916992% positive
  1. “great food”
  2. “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.”
  3. “Pricy indeed, but atmosphere and the setting pays off (stone dish is very elegant.)”
  4. “Omakase course is beautiful and so delicious.”
  5. “This is authentic Japanese food - California roll is not on the menu.”
  6. “The food was impeccably presented, every course had an interesting palate of flavors that fused well, fresh and delicious.”
  7. “The food and drinks are amazing the service and food definitely justify the priciness of this restaurant.”
  8. “Fabulous and elegant food, and teas!”
  9. “Both fusion dished and Japanese dishes are excellent, and service is superb.”
  10. “No food is ever perfect; whatever the however it is.”
  11. “My boyfriend and I come here at least once a week - we love their japanese food!”
  12. “love Japanese food for the simplistic presentation, preparation, and use of superb ingredients and how it concentrates on the quality, taste, and respect for the food, not the chef's ability to create complex sauces or infused tastes.”
  13. “Very authentic and creative Japanese food.”
  14. “The food was fantastic and well worth the cost.”
  15. “The teas offered throughout the meal are excellent.”
  16. “The atmosphere, staff and food were all nice, but that's it.”
  17. “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 pers”
  18. “Having both the wonderful restaurant, food and the lovely shop in the same location!”
  19. “love sushi, japanese, asian fusions, and eat it a lot, and just wasn't amazed here.”
  20. “To top off my meal, I ordered excellent Daiginjo type chilled sake which was a perfect compliment to the meal.”
  21. “have never had such fresh food from the ingredients to the fish.”
  22. “Interesting and unique food flavors, comfortable atmosphere, knowledgeable service staff, well-thought wine/sake/tea list.”
  23. “Each bite of food at Kai was indeed delicious, fresh, and elegant.”
  24. “The food was not very tasty, the portioins were tiny even for such a high quality restaurant.”
  25. “had the black cod with yuzu sauce, which was wonderful.”
  26. “delicious but very small portions”
  27. “will say that the mushrooms were excellent.”
  28. “But remember the food that made you truly, purely happy?”
  29. “Kai is by far one of our favourite restaurants in Manhattan, with its minimalism and simplicity and food served with minute perfectionism.”
menu variety
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “For those of you who like tea, they have an amazing selection of teas and herbs.”
  2. “This is authentic Japanese food - California roll is not on the menu.”
  3. “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 pers”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “In constant search of a great Japanese restaurant, Kai brought to you what an experience in the art of kaiseki style dining should be.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “The food and drinks are amazing the service and food definitely justify the priciness of this restaurant.”
  2. “Interesting and unique food flavors, comfortable atmosphere, knowledgeable service staff, well-thought wine/sake/tea list.”
  3. “Both fusion dished and Japanese dishes are excellent, and service is superb.”
  4. “Again, the waitress was awesome.”
  5. “recommend this place for people with a sophisticated palate.”
  6. “It'll turn gracious for your first date, business convention, friendly neighbor's birthday, or just dropping by for a bite at the end of the day.”
  7. “The atmosphere, staff and food were all nice, but that's it.”
  8. “Excellent service.”
  9. “All the staff is absolutely professional!”
  10. “She gets 10 for her excellent service and advice.”
value
50.0% positive
  1. “If your there, might as well pay up and get the expensive omakase - will not disappoint.”
  2. “This place puts other overpriced Japanese restaurants to shame.”
  3. “delicious but very small portions”
  4. “We generally like good restaurants and eat out often but Kai was way to expensive for what we got.”
  5. “The food was fantastic and well worth the cost.”
  6. “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 pers”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “Kai is by far one of our favourite restaurants in Manhattan, with its minimalism and simplicity and food served with minute perfectionism.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

02/03/10

Wonderful Tea

by J Stiglitz at Citysearch

I haven't eaten here, but do stop by for their extensive selection of tea's. Just great!

  • Pros: Great Tea
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/17/09

Irresistable- a little heaven on madison ave

by zoey bachmann at Citysearch

A stunning presentation on a plate one after another..with a blend of authenticity and quintessential quality from Executive Chef Yamasaki. I recommend you once dine at the counter seats (open kitchen) and meet the adorable chef, who nurtures your dish with extreme care for detail and finishing. experience how warmful he is and meaningful his dishes are.

No food is ever perfect; whatever the however it is. But remember the food that made you truly, purely happy? perhaps with your beloved friends, or with brothers, mom and dad? I remember mine.,it was here at Kai.

  • Pros: earthy lunch and heavenly dinner
  • Cons: is there?
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/07/09

where the true things are..

by jen s tenoir at Citysearch

'A little house' as the last stop of Manhattan's dining venue. It'll turn gracious for your first date, business convention, friendly neighbor's birthday, or just dropping by for a bite at the end of the day.

Chef Yamasaki so exquisitely embodies the inherent storminess of all valuable things: an ingredient, a season, a culture, and wonder. And it is so tender, so impecable, and so Yummy!

Occupy the dubious, Obey the venturous..

and oh yes, i love to lunch there as well.

  • Pros: Chef Yamasaki's Omakase
  • Cons: none
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/28/09

Lunch & Dinner- just divine as always..

by Kay Jeans at Citysearch

I've commercially participated in experiencing at every exceptional Japanese cuisine in nyc. and I'll tell you one thing, "Kai is a knockout!" Chef Yamasaki's intimate delicacy devours your appetite. The truth shall be found in Chef Yamasaki's hands. I love him and his restaurant.

The door is open for everyone, who dreams of such bliss.

Don't forget to try Kagoshima or his Omakase!

  • Pros: Excecutive Chef Yamasaki
  • Cons: None
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/22/09

great

by Mayumgrad at Citysearch

Really enjoyed it. great food

  • Pros: The best
  • Cons: None

The Details on Kai Restaurant & Ito En NY Tea Store

Place Categories:

  • love japanese food
  • like real japanese tea
  • good restaurants
  • all nice service staff
  • overpriced japanese restaurants
  • nice romantic evening
  • very small portions
  • recommend place
  • never fresh food
  • pricy sake collection
  • unique food flavors
  • comfortable atmosphere
  • beautiful omakase course
  • order special tasting menu
  • excellent japanese dishes
  • cold udon
  • love gotta
  • excellent daiginjo type chilled sake
  • amazing drinks
  • interesting palate
  • love fusions
  • love concentrates
  • excellent service
  • superb ingredients
  • enjoyed really