Aki On West 4th

(212) 989-5440

181 W 4th St
New York, NY 10014 40.7325 -74.0016

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Neighborhoods: West Village, Downtown

Price:

$$$

Last updated 7.20.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Food Delivery, Prix Fixe Menu

Cuisine:

Japanese

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Aki On West 4th

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Tucked into a townhouse storefront, Aki is one small, sparely decorated room dominated by a sushi bar and half a dozen tables. Despite the minimalist environment, there is a feeling of luxury in the air, due to the on-point, attentive staff, who refill glasses and swap settings between courses like they are genuinely called to it. – – The Food – Chef Nakanishi has cooked in Jamaica, and he brings a Caribbean palette to the table here. An appetizer of uni, scallops and roe in coconut cream is unexpectedly delicious, as are yellowtail, mango and avocado…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
For a bit more money, you can sample the best the restaurant has to offer: The omakase dinner consists of two ($35), three ($45) or four ($55) appetizers followed by a special selection of sushi and a choice of dessert.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “the place is terrific if you're not looking for a trendy restaurant with great decor.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “recommend the eel napoleon (layers of eel and mashed pumpkin atop a square of fried tofu), uni coco (uni in a coconut cream), and the tuna mille-feuille (alternating slices of toro, apple, and avocado in a vinegar sauce).”
  2. “the desserts are amazing-- i have had all three desserts in one sitting once (yes, I was hungry).”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “The Chef special with the unique 3 alcohol drink are the best!”
food quality
97.91999816894531% positive
  1. “love uni, and they have more than 4 different kind of appetizers/sushi that uses uni in a way I've never seen done before (check out the one that has coconut foam!)”
  2. “One of my favorite sushi places in the city”
  3. “the food here is japanese with a "caribbean flair" - from what i gather, this means jerk sauce, sweet potatoes, bananas, and coconuts combined with fresh sashimi, eel, and tofu.”
  4. “The chef could totally open this up into a huge restaurant, but instead, has opted to keep it small and charming, which makes the meal even more special.”
  5. “ordered the fried shrimp roll - delicious.”
  6. “am in love, with the boyfriend who had the wisdom to bring me there and the food that is still fresh on my mind.”
  7. “The place is charming with very attentive service and a chef that truly cares about the food he gives you.”
  8. “awesome sushi”
  9. “Best sushi place ever!”
  10. “very creative and unique dish”
  11. “the food was great!”
  12. “For far better fish at the same price (but less interesting roll combinations), try Yama, just around the corner.”
  13. “Great prices, fresh sushi and friendly service.”
  14. “I'm a fan of really interesting food and a lot of different flavors, which is why I love Aki.”
  15. “Admittedly, I do generally eat here pretty late when perhaps the best cuts are gone for the night, but I'm consistently underwhelmed by the not-so-fresh, not-so-flavorful fish.”
  16. “It is a pricey evening, however, the food and outstanding service are well worth it.”
  17. “love the combination of Jamaican & Japanese food elements that Aki provides.”
  18. “can not say as to how good the Jamaican chicken rolls are except that once you've had them, they make the banana/tuna rolls somehow not seem as good, even though, up till then, they we're some of the best damm sushi you had ever had.”
  19. “it's tiny and unpretensious but one of the best sushi places I have ever dined at.”
  20. “The food is fresh, presented beautifully and the mixture of flavors are wonderful.”
  21. “This is the best Japanese I have ever had, and the best meal in NYC so far.”
  22. “Although small (probably fits 25 people at most at one time), and often a wait, this is one of my favorite go to places for sushi that is creative (Brazilian influence) and fresh.”
  23. “But the sushi was amazing!”
  24. “The jerk chicken roll was amazing, and the banana boat roll was great as well.”
  25. “Great interesting variety & sushi is very good.”
  26. “appetizers are big enough to share (so 2 ppl can try 6 different appetizers), and is the best part of the meal.”
  27. “Tomoe is not only a bit boring in comparison, but they also serve their sushi with warm rice, which is why I prefer Aki (I'm a bit nervous about microorganisms, so I like rice to be cooled first).”
  28. “This place is absolutely amazing, every dish is prepared so lovingly and with such care.”
  29. “This place serves the best sushi in the city.”
  30. “recommend the eel napoleon (layers of eel and mashed pumpkin atop a square of fried tofu), uni coco (uni in a coconut cream), and the tuna mille-feuille (alternating slices of toro, apple, and avocado in a vinegar sauce).”
  31. “The sushi was fresh, the diff sauces were tasty, and it reminded me of Nobu.”
  32. “The sushi is good too, and they deliver, which is nice.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Great interesting variety & sushi is very good.”
  2. “Everything on the menu is creative, with all the flavors and ingredients coming together in an interesting combination.”
  3. “love the omakase menu, although i only have room for the $45 option.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This would be a great date place!”
service
92.58999824523926% positive
  1. “On the positive side, service was excellent: warm and hyper-attentive.”
  2. “Wait staff is attentive, and the hostess will take your cell number if there is a wait for a table, so you can enjoy all the Village has to offer.”
  3. “The wait staff is so attentive that they anticipate your needs bringing moist towels, replenishing water, etc.”
  4. “It is a pricey evening, however, the food and outstanding service are well worth it.”
  5. “The service is wonderful.”
  6. “The place is charming with very attentive service and a chef that truly cares about the food he gives you.”
  7. “staff is extremely attentive, patient, and polite - even if you have a multitude of requests.”
  8. “Although small (probably fits 25 people at most at one time), and often a wait, this is one of my favorite go to places for sushi that is creative (Brazilian influence) and fresh.”
  9. “Great prices, fresh sushi and friendly service.”
value
73.33000183105469% positive
  1. “This place has terrific Nobu-style specials without the Nobu prices.”
  2. “The chef could totally open this up into a huge restaurant, but instead, has opted to keep it small and charming, which makes the meal even more special.”
  3. “It is a pricey evening, however, the food and outstanding service are well worth it.”
  4. “For far better fish at the same price (but less interesting roll combinations), try Yama, just around the corner.”
  5. “Because the portions are modest - if you're hungry you pay a pretty penny.”
  6. “Great prices, fresh sushi and friendly service.”
  7. “We happened to be sitting next to a chef at "March" one of the most expensive restaurants in NY.”
  8. “this place is pretty good, fairly cheap, and very inventive.”
  9. “Tomoe is a smidgen more expensive with a REALLY long wait, but it's the freshest of 'em all.”
  10. “very good value - i eat a lot, and im always stuffed.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “Tomoe is a smidgen more expensive with a REALLY long wait, but it's the freshest of 'em all.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/14/10

WORST SERVICE EVER AND DON'T VALUE CUSTOMERS

by pjeman at Citysearch

I have ordered from this place at least twice a week minimum of 75 dollars and order. They always screw up the order and the first several times i let it go. This last time they forgot 2 of my rolls and i called up expecting them to at least redeliver. They tell me they would call me back and after waiting for 30 minutes and no call i called them and the manager just said sorry..no credit or nothing...they said they could redeliver but it would take over an hour. I told them if that was all they would offer they would lose me as a customer. They said well than we lost you as a customer. WHAT A DISGRACE!!!!!

  • Cons: DONT CARE ABOUT CUSTOMERS
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/07/06

Superior Sushi Experience

by thediva22 at Citysearch

A group of four had a memorable experience at Aki. We sampled flights of sake and had the omakase dinner with the three appetizers. The chef's selection was so delicious, with all flavors complementing each other. Being Jamaican I was skeptical of the "fusion" of Jamaican flavors but must admit that the chef pulled it off. The wait staff is so attentive that they anticipate your needs bringing moist towels, replenishing water, etc. It is a pricey evening, however, the food and outstanding service are well worth it.

  • Pros: Excellent, creative sushi
  • Cons: Small space
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/20/06

Creative, Fresh Sushi

by jentang94 at Citysearch

Although small (probably fits 25 people at most at one time), and often a wait, this is one of my favorite go to places for sushi that is creative (Brazilian influence) and fresh. I love uni, and they have more than 4 different kind of appetizers/sushi that uses uni in a way I've never seen done before (check out the one that has coconut foam!). The ambiance isn't the greatest, but then you won't mind since you'll be too engrossed in your meal to really notice.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/30/06

Aki is a must try!!

by glitter08 at Citysearch

I love the combination of Jamaican & Japanese food elements that Aki provides. It's simple, delicious, and unique all at the same time. The restaurant is rather small so reservation is a must, but it is definitely worth a try!!

  • Pros: Interesting selection of food
  • Cons: Small environment
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/04/06

creative creations (unlike title of this review)

by sortmon at Citysearch

ive been here twice and really like the food. $50 prix fixe meal gets you 3 appetizers along with sushi, sashimi, or a combo of both, and dessert. appetizers are big enough to share (so 2 ppl can try 6 different appetizers), and is the best part of the meal. the food here is japanese with a "caribbean flair" - from what i gather, this means jerk sauce, sweet potatoes, bananas, and coconuts combined with fresh sashimi, eel, and tofu. awesome. i recommend the eel napoleon (layers of eel and mashed pumpkin atop a square of fried tofu), uni coco (uni in a coconut cream), and the tuna mille-feuille (alternating slices of toro, apple, and avocado in a vinegar sauce). very good value - i eat a lot, and im always stuffed. staff is extremely attentive, patient, and polite - even if you have a multitude of requests.

  • Pros: interesting food, good value, nice staff
  • Cons: cramped space, not good for groups

The Details on Aki On West 4th

Place Categories:

  • best damm sushi
  • great thing aki
  • worst service
  • terrific date place
  • really interesting food
  • patient wait staff
  • interesting combination
  • very good great interesting variety
  • very attentive chef
  • like rice
  • incredible everything
  • unique dish
  • interesting roll combinations
  • huge restaurant
  • pretty penny
  • amazing desserts
  • great decor
  • delicious fried shrimp roll
  • best meal
  • fresh sashimi
  • amazing jerk chicken roll
  • great banana boat roll
  • best cuts
  • memorable experience
  • love uni