Sushi Seki

The Scene – As at all of the other fiercely guarded sushi temples in the city, the sushi bar is fervently popular and always packed. Rightly so, as the restaurant bothers little with refining its decor, instead putting its efforts and money into sourcing seriously impressive fish. The dimly lit dining room in back is popular with walk-ins, and service is quick and can be a bit harried, but is always friendly. – – The Food – The sashimi and sushi here can knock you out. Otoro tuna, gorgeously marbled with fat, is captivating; hamachi sashimi, topped by the chef with a…

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Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:: The omakase menus allow the sushi chef to prepare bite after bite of the freshest fish in the restaurant, often giving each piece a special accent. Sushi omakase starts at $40; sushi and sashimi starts at $60.
The Extras:: Although sushi is the draw here, the kitchen also offers more traditional Japanese food, including teriyaki chicken and beef, and assorted appetizers including gyoza, tempura and yakitori.

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User Reviews (36)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“The restaurant is a bizarre shape which detracts from the atmosphere, but the sushi is fresh and totally worth it.” “It is a little cramped, but we don't go there for fancy ambience -- we go for amazing sushi!” “The decor has improved over the year but believe me with the great ingenious starters and melt in the mouth tuna - its certainly a mmmmmmm and closing of the eyes moment.” “They also have a really fun seared tuna roll and a hijiki salad roll for vegetarians.”
drinks	100.0% positive	“sit at the sushi bar - the chefs are friendly and accommodating.” “Great restaurant for couples, since you may get to sit near the few tables by the window - otherwise, I'd recommend the sushi bar.” “For the best experience, I would recommend sitting at the sushi bar by Chef Seki and getting the Omakase menu!”
food quality	97.53000259399414% positive	“Service was very attentive and the food was delicious.” “Our regular awesome sushi spot - Sushi Yasuda - was closed.” “So if this is the case, the only explanation for how busy Seki was, must be that good fish was made available at great prices to compensate for poor cooking ability.” “They feature high quality and delicious food and the restaurant has a huge neighborhood following (i.e. they recognize and appreciate frequent repeat customers).” “The fish was fresh, but.” “It has some of the best fish in New York and some variations on classic Sushi tastes, but still sticks to Japanese traditions rather than transgressing them into an entirely new style.” “Nondescript place, but truly great sushi.” “Great restaurant for couples, since you may get to sit near the few tables by the window - otherwise, I'd recommend the sushi bar.” “Awesome place for sushi” “sit at the sushi bar - the chefs are friendly and accommodating.” “One of the best sushi places in NYC without question.” “Seki chooses the perfect combination of ingredients to highlight fish flavors (eel & mushrooms, seared tuna tartar, yellowtail & jalape&ntilde;o).” “incredibly fresh fish that melts in your mouth.” “some of the best sushi around” “am a huge sushi snob, I've been eating sushi since I was 3 and still love it at least once a week.” “If you are looking for good creative sushi, this is the place.” “Sweet and fresh, the uni was really enjoyable.” “Best sushi in NYC at VERY reasonable price!” “It has truly outstanding, fresh fish, perhaps beating out Gari, but still below the quality of the Tsukiji market.” “am a sushi connoisseur and let me tell you, this sushi restaurant is absolutely the best sushi I have had.” “This is still the best sushi place in Manhattan” “have been back to Sushi Seki three times now - it is my favorite sushi place.” “not the best sushi that I?” “We tried Sushi Seki after hearing a rumor that it was opened by a deciple of Sushi of Gari (one of our favorite sushi restaurants).” “the sushi here is great and they open very late.” “Sushi Seki is fresh and creative.” “Really fresh, great sushi!” “Very good creative sushi for reasonable price!” “It is a little cramped, but we don't go there for fancy ambience -- we go for amazing sushi!” “If you like sushi, this is THE place to go.” “sushi here will cost a pretty penny, but is definately worth it.” “although it looks like any other japanese restaurant, real foodies know that this is one of the best places for sushi.” “have been to Sushi Seki for the past 12 months and it is still one of the best place for great sushi - both in value for money and quality.” “My wife and I wanted to go to a nice sushi restaurant for New Year's.” “You should definitely get the omakase (in case you don't know what that is- it's the chef's choice of fish in the order of most fresh to least, and best tasting followed by something that will compliment that etc.) The pieces are creative instead of regul” “Very good sushi for reasonable price” “The Tsukiji market restaurants, for instance, serve the freshest and most delicious fish in the world, at reasonable prices, but do so in very unimaginative ways.” “Their sushi may be good, but that does not mean that they can be outright obnoxious to their customers.” “You will be suprised by how delicious sushi can be.” “For the best experience, I would recommend sitting at the sushi bar by Chef Seki and getting the Omakase menu!” “recommend omakase assortment sushi plate.” “They also have a really fun seared tuna roll and a hijiki salad roll for vegetarians.” “was hopeful that I had found a place where fresh fish was available at a discounted price.” “very good sushi” “This place is one of my favorite staple sushi restaurants.” “The restaurant is a bizarre shape which detracts from the atmosphere, but the sushi is fresh and totally worth it.” “(If you know your sushi too, you know what I am talking about) Sushi Seki's sushi is always fresh and incredible.” “mean, any half knowledgeable sushi eater could recognize the shortcomings of the Chinese sushi chefs at Sushi Seki, chefs who clearly lack the technical ability, culinary expertise, and talent to compose great sushi.” “Sushi is fresh and inventive.” “But, avoiding that issue, the food is delicious!” “Any sushi expert knows that Sushi of Gari has the best sushi in all of Manhattan.” “For instance, tuna sushi drenched in black bean sauce, sauteed onions, and garlic chips was an overwhelming insult to the palate.” “Sushi and sashimi are both delicious.” “Very fresh salmon, tuna, and unagi.”
menu variety	50.0% positive	“Maybe our expectations were too high, maybe we didn't have a great experience because we didn't do the special tasting menu.” “For the best experience, I would recommend sitting at the sushi bar by Chef Seki and getting the Omakase menu!”
overall	100.0% positive	“have been to Sushi Seki for the past 12 months and it is still one of the best place for great sushi - both in value for money and quality.” “great place” “My wife and I wanted to go to a nice sushi restaurant for New Year's.” “If you are looking for good creative sushi, this is the place.” “This is still the best sushi place in Manhattan”
return potential	100.0% positive	“Twice we had enjoyed a late dinner here, but last night we vowed never to return.”
service	83.33000183105469% positive	“The service was excellent, attentive, and fast.” “Service was very attentive and the food was delicious.” “sit at the sushi bar - the chefs are friendly and accommodating.” “The service and chefs gives you great attention.” “The staff is very polite and accommodating and the chefs are great too.” “The host at the front is so incredibly rude that we walked out, and vowed never to spend another dime there.”
value	90.4800033569336% positive	“The Tsukiji market restaurants, for instance, serve the freshest and most delicious fish in the world, at reasonable prices, but do so in very unimaginative ways.” “am a huge sushi snob, I've been eating sushi since I was 3 and still love it at least once a week.” “was hopeful that I had found a place where fresh fish was available at a discounted price.” “So if this is the case, the only explanation for how busy Seki was, must be that good fish was made available at great prices to compensate for poor cooking ability.” “Very good sushi for reasonable price” “The restaurant is a bizarre shape which detracts from the atmosphere, but the sushi is fresh and totally worth it.” “have been to Sushi Seki for the past 12 months and it is still one of the best place for great sushi - both in value for money and quality.” “Very good creative sushi for reasonable price!” “sushi here will cost a pretty penny, but is definately worth it.” “They feature high quality and delicious food and the restaurant has a huge neighborhood following (i.e. they recognize and appreciate frequent repeat customers).” “ve had friends that have had both and all agree Sushi Suki is just as good if not better than Sushi Seki, without the heavy price tag.” “So try the expensive Sushi Seki if you like, but don?” “Best sushi in NYC at VERY reasonable price!” “Sushi Seki is also not that expensive, all things considered!”

01/02/10

Doesn't hold a candle to Yasuda's flame

by dibarij

My wife and I wanted to go to a nice sushi restaurant for New Year's. Our regular awesome sushi spot - Sushi Yasuda - was closed. Not sure why, but that is for another post. In any event, we got the Zagat's guide and called a few places, but they were either booked or closed. Sushi Seki it was. First, this is not a place that you get dressed up to go to. It looks just like any other neighborhood place. The sushi was ok - the fish was satisfactory, but the rest of the sushi rolls, well, they did not compare with how Sushi Yasuda's rolls melt in your mouth with pure sushi goodness. Maybe our expectations were too high, maybe we didn't have a great experience because we didn't do the special tasting menu. I don't know. All I know is that it wasn't worth the price. And it didn't help that they charged an extra dollar per roll for cucumber. Which reminds me of another deficiency - my wife and I routinely order one order of edamame each, because, well, we like edamame. At this place, however, the two orders we got were less than one order at Yasuda. Therefore, we would not recommend this place to anyone.

Pros: Relatively fresh fish
Cons: Price not worth experience

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11/15/09

Incredibly Rude Maitre D

by THS

The host at the front is so incredibly rude that we walked out, and vowed never to spend another dime there. Their sushi may be good, but that does not mean that they can be outright obnoxious to their customers. They lost good paying customers for good.

Cons: So rude

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10/16/09

RIP OFF!!!! $400 and hungry

by DR ron mexico

So a buddy an myself are culinary athletes gods if you will of our own realm . We went there last night in the storm and waited 50 minutes for a table no biggie, its thursday night prime time.we sit at the sushi bar sweet right at the action and decide we want a $100 omakase . We think we are in for a meal. yea right 9 peices of fish later 3 sapporos and a couple of sake shots it $400 dollars >>> wait im still hungry!!! 9 peices coursed over an hour and a half is like me eating bird food ... not gonna fill the BIG GUY . To there credit the fish was great and its management that screwd us . BE CAREFUL when eating there. go to gari way better or nobu 57. and we lost the umbrella >>>> poor ron mexico.

Pros: SWEET CHEFS
Cons: uber overrated so tight and packed

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01/23/09

BEST SUSHI IN NYC

by busterbrown16

I am a sushi connoisseur and let me tell you, this sushi restaurant is absolutely the best sushi I have had. Ever. Okay, I may not be a connoisseur, but I know my sushi pretty well. I know I don't like huge pieces slapped on the rice, I can tell whether it has salty flavor or if its just plain bland, and I know the prime fish of the season. (If you know your sushi too, you know what I am talking about) Sushi Seki's sushi is always fresh and incredible. You should definitely get the omakase (in case you don't know what that is- it's the chef's choice of fish in the order of most fresh to least, and best tasting followed by something that will compliment that etc.) The pieces are creative instead of regular sushi (which you can also get and will taste great). The omakase includes:

salmon with tomato

yellowtail with jalapeno

spicy scallop hand roll

tuna with tofu sauce

I'm drawring a blank now but those are just some of my favorites. The staff is very polite and accommodating and the chefs are great too. Not the most talkative, but they're usually pretty busy.

It's rather expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Oh, and it's more of a traditional Japanese atmosphere as opposed to a chic, modern bar for those of you who are taking dates. :) I happen to like that better, but I can not speak for everyone.

Do Enjoy!

Pros: The best sushi you can pay for
Cons: none

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10/04/08

Awesome place for sushi

by JWolfe2002

Awesome place to go for sushi. Sushi Seki does a good job on presentation and everything I had was very fresh and tasty. I definately recommend the Chirashi Sushi and the Edamame Appetizer.

Sushi Seki

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What People Are Saying About Sushi Seki

Allison Austin

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Editor's Tips

01/02/10

Doesn't hold a candle to Yasuda's flame

by dibarij

11/15/09

Incredibly Rude Maitre D

by THS

10/16/09

RIP OFF!!!! $400 and hungry

by DR ron mexico

01/23/09

BEST SUSHI IN NYC

by busterbrown16

10/04/08

Awesome place for sushi

by JWolfe2002

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