Thrilling omakase w/ meticulous seafood prep. Intimate setting, jazz music, & unique dishes like truffle kinmedai soup & standout tuna. A luxurious, transportive culinary adventure.
Will Hartman reviews Yoshino, an expensive omakase restaurant in NYC, highlighting its thrilling seafood preparations, intimate atmosphere, and exceptional service, calling it a "quietly thrilling" experience.
Yoshino in NYC offers an intimate and luxurious omakase experience, drawing praise for its meticulous preparation of seafood and refined atmosphere. Chef Tadashi Yoshida presents a multi-course journey that includes exquisite dishes like kinmedai soup with truffle, grilled Hokkaido scallops, and standout tuna preparations. The presentation is as captivating as the flavors, with elements like smoked salmon unveiled theatrically and nigiri that highlight the quality of the sushi rice. It's an immersive and transportive culinary adventure, celebrated for its artistry and exceptional quality.
Yoshino is celebrated for its exceptional omakase experience, particularly its sushi and nigiri, which are frequently described as among the best in NYC and comparable to top sushiya in Tokyo. Dishes like charcoal-seared mackerel, kinmedai soup with truffle, and various tuna preparations receive high praise. While the food is consistently lauded, there are recurring comments about the sommelier pushing expensive sake choices.
"The omakase menu is highly recommended, featuring standout dishes such as kinmedai soup with truffle, grilled Hokkaido scallops, various tuna preparations including chutoro, and velvety anago. Nigiri is also a highlight, praised for its expertly crafted pieces and excellent sushi rice."
Overall customer sentiment is highly positive regarding the food quality and artistry, with many considering it a top-tier sushi experience. However, some negative feedback points to an aggressive upsell of alcohol by the sommelier, which can detract from the otherwise excellent meal.
Important Note
The restaurant is exceptionally expensive, with omakase dinners costing upwards of $500-$600 per person. There are also consistent reports of aggressive upselling of alcohol by the sommelier, which some diners found uncomfortable and detrimental to the overall experience.
"This high-end sushi restaurant is mentioned as one that can accommodate shellfish allergies."
Positive"Yoshino is considered a top omakase choice in NYC, especially if one is willing to spend over $400 per person."
Positive"The user suggests that Yoshino, like other high-end omakase places, might be better appreciated by someone with more experience in sushi and omakase."
Neutral"Yoshino is mentioned as one of the best high-end omakase places in NYC, with a high price point."
Positive"Yoshino is described as warm and fun, with small plates generally being more flavorful than other similarly regarded omakase spots. The nigiri is excellent, though not considered earth-shattering at this high level."
Positive"The reviewer suggests spending money at Yoshino instead of Sushi Noz, finding it easier to get a reservation there."
Positive"While acknowledging Nakazawa's unique style and early mastery of jukusei, the reviewer notes that his NYC restaurant's prices are 'obscene' but would personally return to Yoshino more regularly."
Positive"The reviewer personally preferred Yoshino over Sho."
Positive"Yoshino is described as technically more sophisticated and a step up from Sushi Noz, ranking among the top edomae sushi spots in the city and performing comparably to some of the upper-tier sushiya in Tokyo."
Positive"The commenter lists Yoshino alongside other high-priced omakase places they are now hesitant to frequent, indicating it's a known, expensive option in the NYC omakase scene."
Neutral"The commenter felt that Noz was a waste of money and would have preferred to go to Sushi Sho or Yoshino instead, stating that Noz is not in the same league."
Positive"Sushi Sho is considered the best sushi spot in the city, with Yoshino in second place. Sho offers a broader experience, while Yoshino focuses primarily on nigiri."
Positive"The commenter is planning to go to Yoshino this month and notes that comparing high-end NYC sushi prices to flights to Tokyo for omakase is complex, as both can be very expensive."
Neutral"The commenter states that Yoshino was exceptional, as always, for their Christmas Eve dinner in NYC."
Positive"This user states that Yoshino in NYC is on par with, or even slightly better than, some Tabelog Silver-tier restaurants in Tokyo. However, they note that the price is about three times higher due to the 'New York premium'."
Positive"This commenter asserts that Yoshino is among the very best in NYC, with no other restaurants coming close."
Positive"Yoshino is mentioned as a restaurant worth considering."
Positive"This commenter stated that Yoshino is great and, in their opinion, even better than Sho."
Positive"The author enjoyed the food at Yoshino, describing it as the best of the best. They also noted their experience with the wine pairing which was part of Restaurant Yuu's offerings."
Positive"The user mentioned they have booked Yoshino for their upcoming solo fine dining meal in NYC."
Neutral
