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BARMASA / MASA

Last Updated: 8 days ago

Phone: (212) 823-9828

Address: 10 COLUMBUS CIRCLE 10019

TLDR

An exclusive omakase sushi experience w/ luxurious ingredients. Celebrated for its meticulous preparation & serene ambiance.

Sentiment Overview(Based on 47 Reddit comments)

23% Positive53% Neutral23% Negative

Achievements and Accolades

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Tags

japanese 37fine dining 2edomae sushi 2sushi 34omakase 16fine dining 3View All

Neighborhoods

Upper West Side

Instagram Posts References

Summary

Details

This high-end Japanese restaurant offers an exquisite omakase experience, with a serene atmosphere and meticulous attention to detail. Chef Masa Takayama elevates classic sushi with luxurious ingredients like truffles, caviar, and foie gras, creating a memorable and captivating meal. The dining experience is a ballet-like performance by skilled chefs and attentive servers, making it a truly special occasion.

Food Overview

This restaurant is renowned for its high-end Japanese omakase, featuring meticulously crafted sushi with luxurious additions like truffles, caviar, and foie gras. While the quality is often described as exceptional and unique, the extremely high cost is a recurring theme in customer feedback, leading some to question if the experience justifies the price compared to other top sushi restaurants.

Highlights / Recommended

"The restaurant specializes in omakase, offering a multi-course sushi experience. Dishes are noted for their luxurious ingredients like foie gras, truffles, and caviar."

Customer Sentiment

Customers generally praise the exquisite and luxurious omakase experience, highlighting the meticulous preparation and high-quality ingredients. However, many also note the exceptionally high price point, with some questioning the value in comparison to other top-tier sushi establishments.

Reddit References

Highlighted Posts

This thread discusses Masa's loss of a Michelin star, with many commenters feeling the high price point no longer aligns with the perceived quality or consistency. The consensus is that while the sushi is good, it's not extraordinary enough to justify the cost for many.
In a discussion about lunch options around $500, Masa was mentioned as a possibility where the chef himself prepared the meal quickly, noting the $495 price point for lunch.
A user acknowledges Masa as a great omakase option but finds it unaffordably expensive, seeking recommendations for places that offer a similar quality without the extreme cost.
In a discussion about restaurant websites, Masa's website was specifically mentioned as being well-designed.
Masa is recommended for sushi omakase if affordable, described as 'blasphemous' sushi with unique Western touches, calling it the original of its style and unique to New York.
Masa is described as a three-star Michelin restaurant and potentially the most expensive in NYC, with Bar Masa suggested as a more accessible alternative.
The service at Masa is highlighted as 'unreasonably attentive,' with servers refilling water so quickly it's hard to take a sip without a refill.
Masa is mentioned as a tasting menu option, though commenters note its price point is likely $700-$900+ per person, exceeding the stated budget.

Recent Mentions

From post: I Popped Into Whole Foods To Grab A Sandwich

"This commenter jokingly suggested the original poster should have sat down to eat at Masa, implying it's an extremely high-end and likely inaccessible option."

Neutral
Feb 4, 2026View Comment →

From post: I Want To Spend 500 On Lunch

"This user strongly advised against Masa, stating that the restaurant has significantly declined in quality."

Negative
Jan 26, 2026View Comment →

From post: I Want To Spend 500 On Lunch

"Masa was mentioned as an option for lunch at $495, with the user noting that Masa himself prepared the meal quickly."

Neutral
Jan 26, 2026View Comment →

From post: Noz 17 Vs Nakazawa Vs Any Others

"This user found Noz 17 to be more memorable than Masa, although they also stated that Masa was quite good."

Neutral
Dec 26, 2025View Comment →

From post: Expense Account Restaurant

"Commenter reacted negatively to the suggestion of 'Omakase' possibly referring to Masa, stating it is over budget at $975 for a bar seat before tax and tip."

Negative
Dec 18, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"This commenter praised another user's detailed review of Masa, agreeing that Shion offered a superior overall experience and appreciating the lack of a simple complaint about pricing."

Positive
Nov 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"This commenter felt Masa should lose two of its three stars, considering the chefs there as primarily in training and expressing disappointment."

Negative
Nov 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"This user pointed out that a major issue with Masa is that the chef himself is not always present, and there's no price adjustment or heads-up for diners when this occurs."

Negative
Nov 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"This user questioned whether Masa should have been present more often, implying it might have impacted their rating."

Neutral
Nov 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"Following up on a previous comment, this user shared surprise about Per Se retaining its stars, noting a past negative experience but also hearing that the restaurant has improved significantly since a critical review."

Neutral
Nov 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"This commenter argued that Masa is no longer competitive in the modern sushi scene, citing issues like Masa not always being present, the high price point, and the chef's training being from an older, less refined era. They suggested that in Tokyo, Masa would receive a lower rating and be significantly cheaper."

Negative
Nov 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"A short, strongly negative reaction to Masa losing a star."

Negative
Nov 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"Reflecting on Masa's opening, this user notes that while friends initially raved about it, increased competition and rising prices make it hard to justify the top rating, especially compared to other excellent sushi options. They also draw parallels to other fine dining restaurants like Per Se and Alinea experiencing similar perceived declines in value or quality over time."

Negative
Nov 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"This user expressed surprise that Per Se has maintained its three stars, having not yet dined at Masa."

Neutral
Nov 12, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"A brief, negative sentiment towards the restaurant."

Negative
Nov 12, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"This user believes Masa's loss of a star was inevitable due to the significant gap between its price and perceived quality, stating the sushi was very good but not extraordinary enough for the cost."

Negative
Nov 12, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"This commenter suggested that Masa's price had become insane, implying that even Michelin reviewers might be concerned."

Negative
Nov 12, 2025View Comment →

From post: Masa Have Lost Their Third Michelin Star

"This user found the appetizers incredible and the nigiri comparable to other high-end sushi restaurants, but questioned Masa's three-star rating and exorbitant pricing."

Neutral
Nov 12, 2025View Comment →

From post: Up To 500head Where Would You Go

"The commenter humorously recalls experiencing Masa for free in the past due to a past relationship with a chef."

Neutral
Sep 19, 2025View Comment →

From post: Up To 500head Where Would You Go

"The commenter states the tasting menu at Masa is likely $700-$900 per person, making it out of the original poster's budget."

Negative
Sep 19, 2025View Comment →