Moody & elegant Japanese dining. Elevated cocktails, standout sushi, & a famed happy hour.
Gwynedd Stuart visits Sake No Hana for a rare pop-up by Susumu Kakinuma, the revered "godfather of Tokyo pizza," to see if the legendary pies live up to the hype.
This elegant Japanese restaurant offers a sophisticated dining experience, perfect for special occasions or a memorable date night. Guests can expect expertly crafted cocktails, a diverse happy hour menu featuring items like Wagyu Katsu Sando and Toro Tartare, and fresh, beautifully presented sushi. The ambiance is moody and chic, complemented by attentive service, making it a standout choice for upscale Japanese cuisine.
This Japanese restaurant offers a refined menu with highlights including fresh Hamachi Crudo, crispy Squash Blossom Tempura, and an impressive Sushi Boat. Signature cocktails are a hit, as are happy hour specials like Wagyu Katsu Sando and Toro Tartare. Desserts like the Chocolate Black Sesame Soufflé and Purple Potato Basque Cheesecake are also well-regarded. A recent pop-up featured Neapolitan pizzas from a renowned Tokyo chef, which received mixed reviews regarding price and execution.
"The happy hour is frequently praised as an excellent value, featuring small bites and drinks. Standout dishes include the Wagyu Katsu Sando, Toro Tartare, and the Sushi Boat. The Espresso Martini is also singled out as being exceptionally good."
Customers generally have a positive view, praising the ambiance, cocktails, and the quality of sushi and happy hour bites. However, some experiences have been marred by issues related to wait times and customer service during busy periods or special events.
Important Note
A recent pop-up event featuring Neapolitan pizza faced significant criticism regarding its high price point ($45 for a personal pizza) and long wait times. There have also been scattered reports of service issues and customer entitlement clashing with restaurant policies during busy periods.
"Sake No Hana was listed as a restaurant in NYC that serves plum wine, based on a Google search."
Positive"The author observed that new accounts were posting positive reviews for the restaurant, implying these were fake or biased."
Neutral"The author noted that the restaurant's Google Maps page was being flooded with fake reviews, suggesting this indicated a problem."
Negative"The author questioned why the original poster was defending the restaurant's decision to yield to pushy customers. They argued that it's unreasonable to expect restaurants to appease everyone for fear of a bad review, especially if the customers are unreasonable anyway."
Neutral"The author reiterated that multiple people confirmed receiving the email about the pizza limit. They questioned the original reviewer's claim of not being informed."
Neutral"The author confirmed they received an email about the pizza limit prior to their visit and understood the policy. They had a positive experience and were aware of the situation beforehand."
Positive"The author stated that Google does not effectively remove brigaded reviews, even when reported. They mentioned that industry contacts have tried to get such reviews removed without success."
Neutral"The author countered that businesses can report fake reviews to Google and that giving in to unreasonable customers teaches them that bad behavior is rewarded. They believe this creates a worse experience for everyone."
Neutral"The author expressed frustration with entitled customers in NYC, citing examples of brigaded Google reviews. They argued that restaurants struggle because customers are often unreasonable and that enforcing rules is difficult."
Negative"The author, from a service industry background, advised that saying 'no' to demanding customers can be uncomfortable but is ultimately better than giving in. They hoped the restaurant staff would learn from this experience."
Neutral"The author provided an email as proof that customers were informed about a pizza limit per reservation. They questioned the original reviewer's claim of not receiving this notification."
Neutral"The author stated their wait time was only 40 minutes and that they witnessed entitled customers despite the restaurant's efforts. They emphasized the difficulty of running a restaurant in NYC due to customer entitlement."
Neutral"The original reviewer stated that the restaurant had poor customer service, including misinforming customers about reservation policies and deposits. They believe that both entitled customers and poor restaurant management can coexist."
Negative"The author asked if the complaints about long service were valid and suggested the restaurant was at fault for letting walk-ins disrupt the wait times."
Neutral"The author stated that restaurants should not break their own rules (like reservation policies) when customers complain, as it leads to a worse experience for everyone. They believe that how a restaurant handles entitled customers is their responsibility."
Negative"The author defended the restaurant's actions in accommodating walk-ins despite potential negative consequences. They argued that most customers do not understand the difficulties of preparing artisan pizza and that restaurants face a no-win situation with customer demands."
Neutral"The author agreed that complaining about seating arrangements after using multiple reservations to bypass limits was a sign of extreme entitlement."
Negative"The author found the tactic of using multiple single-person reservations to bypass limits clever but believed that complaining about not being seated together showed excessive entitlement."
Neutral"The author witnessed customers harassing staff due to wait times and table limits, suggesting that customer entitlement is a significant issue for restaurants in NYC. They felt the staff handled the situation professionally despite the difficult customers."
Neutral"This user expressed disappointment, having hoped for an experience similar to a previous enjoyable popup but now unsure if they can cancel their reservation due to the negative feedback."
Negative
