Yama
(212) 475-0969
49 Irving Pl
New York,
NY
10003
40.7358
-73.9877
Neighborhoods: Gramercy Park, Midtown
What People Are Saying About Yama
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
It may take you a couple of tries to find Yama, a Gramercy sushi restaurant located in the basement of a house that Washington Irving lived in. During dinnertime, however, the gang of people waiting for one of the closely packed tables should tip you off to the location.
The Food
Tasty appetizers like crackling fried soft-shell crabs with a sweet ponzu sauce, wasabi-flavored steamed pork dumplings, and Japanese eggplant with miso paste make a good segue into fresh-tasting sushi entrees like the sushi deluxe, which represents one of the better values anywhere. Yama's portions tend toward the gargantuan--the massive wooden boats and platters of sushi that serve groups seem sized to feed twice as many people as they claim to satisfy.
User Reviews
CSMobileUser2
March 06, 2009
Love this place! Great service. Amazing sushie. Creative rolls no one else has.
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nybapfood
August 18, 2008
I have been in love with Yama for quite a long time now. The sashimi/nigiri sushi comes with quite a big piece of delicately cut fish - custom that I've heard is from a particular region in Japanese. The fish is always fresh and I have never been disappointed with it. The eel here is also quite delicious, they prepare it extremely well, with minimal bones. I oftentimes get my sushi to-go on the way home and savour it there, but the cramped style within the restaurant is just part of its personality. Lunches are as busy as dinner, and its much easier to get a table, with the same menu plus the lunch specials. Yes, you can hear the conversations all around you because of its tiny-proportions, but so many a times people have joined into my table's conversations, and it's all in good fun. Its not a restaurant for romance, its a restaurant for good food. The waitresses and sushi chefs are not all Japanese, but then again, are they ever in today's sushi restaurants? Its getting fewer and fewer. Actually, I know the origins of most of the staff, and I can't at the moment think of any particular Japanese staff member.
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oshioshi
May 19, 2008
I have been a devout fan of Yama and have ONLY eaten sushi here for years - my last visit here, however, I realized that the quality of the food as well as the service is diminishing. The sushi presentation is, without a doubt, unique and interesting compared to an average sushi restaurant - but the space is VERY small and cramped. If you sit at a table you can hear your neighbor's conversation. My boyfriend and I spent over a $100 for food alone (we did not order drinks or dessert - just an appetizer and sushi) and walked out of the restaurant dissatisfied. This past weekend we tried Matsuri and this is our new favorite sushi spot - the food, service, and ambiance was great!
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