Yakitori Totto
(212) 245-4555
251 W 55th St
New York,
NY
10019
40.765
-73.9828
Neighborhoods: Clinton, Midtown
What People Are Saying About Yakitori Totto
The Editor
Kara Zuaro
Citysearch
The Scene
At this lively second-floor joint, cooks glance up from mini-charcoal grills to shout Japanese greetings to all who enter, and waitresses with hair tied back into bright bandanas plug orders into Palm Pilots. Walk-ins pack the bar and slide into the tables along the wall. The private seating tucked behind partitions is often manned by suited businessmen, hungry for a taste of home.
The Draw
Organic chicken on a stick finds many forms here--expertly seared liver, snappy skin coiled around its skewer, a "chicken meatball" dipped in raw quail egg, or the chewy cartilage of soft knee bones. On the non-poultry tip, beef tongue and pork belly are deeply flavorful; slick raw octopus is marinated with crunchy scallions; and Asian mushrooms steep in an earthy broth. Fried bitter melon is extremely sour, but tiny peppers topped with bonito flakes offer a more palatable kick. Heavenly apricot tofu makes a fitting finale.
User Reviews
mr_meursault
December 16, 2008
I love Aburiya Kinnosuke and I like Soba Totto, but this restaurant owned by the same people leaves something to be desired. The food is not as good as at its sister restaurant, and the atmosphere aims at being authentic, but the service is subpar for a good Japanese restaurant. The prices are a bit on the high side. I would say that one could certainly come here for a beer and have some yakitori if you are in the area, but I wouldn't bother planning your night out around this place.
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LesLangoustines
September 07, 2008
Being an ultimate foodie, I was really excited to be back at Yakitori Totto. But this last experience was very different from my first time there. We got a small room in the back b/c I made reservations, thank goodness for that or else we would've never gotten seats. From the moment we stepped into the place to the moment we left, not once did we see a smile on the waitstaff's faces. Most of them were grumpy and annoyed looking throughout the entire dinner, especially when we were requesting things and ordering. That ruined my appetite a bit to see such attitudes. It was as if she thought we were strange for ordering some of the dishes. I cant argue about the food though...it was delicious. Our favorite were the chicken meatballs, the wings, the organic pork with lemon/scallions, the tofu dishes, and the fried sweet yam. We enjoyed the dishes but we hope that they would train the staff better and at least pretend you are happy to be working there so that the customers would enjoy their meals more. Our waitress also was not very helpful when we asked for sake recommendations. Also, they gave us attitudes about 1-2 ppl coming later than the rest of the party. It was raining out and there were supposed to be a hurricane...at least the majority of us were there and we ordered already. Therefore, I really dont think it should make any difference to them at all. Overall I might go back just for the food but I really like to see diff ppl working there or least get a personality makeover.
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fk2008
June 14, 2008
I've been a fairly regular to Yakitori Totto for more than a year, food is decent but I had THE worst service I have ever had last night. I went there 5:30pm when they open which almost guarantee a spot without wait. I was first seated at the bar spot closet to the entrance where you cannot really enjoy your dinner without hitting your right elbow every time you pick up your chopsticks. (the place was fairly empty since it just opened for the night) I requested to move and they offered a table if we leave before 7pm, which was fine every time I went. Not this time, not only the waitress came over 4-5 times over the hour reminding us that we have to leave by 7pm from 5:40 til 6:30, never once asked how's the food and only refilled our hot tea once out of request. (The waitresses are pretty much different every few weeks - either they have different shifts or really high turnovers, so I think they're only trained how to put into orders into the handhelds device.) To top that off, another wait staff who wasn't serving us came over around 6:30, firmly asking us to move to the bar to finish the rest of our dinner. It was until I asked to know the reason why I was asked to move that she acknowledge and apologized for a seating mistake they have. I was on my last course(well, they came randomly, so don't expect appetizers to come before "main courses", which is ok with me), which I waited for at least 5 minutes after I finished my dishes prior to that, and I was asked to move without any reasons or apology. Our waiter came to apologize and I told her that she's rude coming here reminding us we have to leave by 7pm way before for numerous number of times and failed to tend to her customer, she apologized and claimed she would talk to her manager. In my opinion, this is too little, too late, and I did not hear any apology in any form from the manager. This is a totally disappointing experience, maybe because I'm not Japanese as per prev. posters.
read full reviewThe Details on Yakitori Totto
What to Drink:
Yakitori is beer drinking fare and Japanese lagers are served in chilled clay mugs here, but the sake with lime makes a refreshing pairing, too.
Look Good:
Not sure how much to order? A hungry diner can fill up on three to four sticks of yakitori and one rice ball. To ensure that everyone is full, get the tamago, a rich, savory omelet, for the table, too.
Know Before You Go:
Read the menu's English translations carefully if you're squeamish about eating raw poultry or chicken hearts. Less adventurous eaters should opt for the white meat drizzled with a tangy barbecue sauce.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Late Night Dining, Dine At The Bar, Private Rooms, Hidden Find
