Bar Moga — Restaurant in New York

Bar Moga is a true hidden treasure in NYC! The moment you walk in, you’re transported to a different era with its vintage, 1920s Japanese-inspired decor. The ambiance is so thoughtfully designed—dim lighting, art deco touches, and soft jazz in the background give it a warm, intimate feel. It’s an ideal spot for a cozy night with friends or an impressive date night.

Their cocktail menu is where the magic happens, and the Mist of Ember is an absolute standout. This drink is incredibly complex yet balanced, made with Palo Santo-infused vodka, Italicus, Noilly Prat, pear brandy, a splash of lime, seltzer which adds a subtle sweetness that’s perfectly balanced by the bright citrusy kick of lime. The gentle effervescence from the seltzer lightens the drink, making it wonderfully refreshing. As for the Matsui Single Malt “Sakura.” The Matsui Single Malt “Sakura” is an exceptional whiskey that truly stands out. It’s incredibly smooth, with delicate floral notes that evoke the beauty of Japan’s cherry blossoms, and a subtle sweetness that’s both refreshing and refined. The balance of fruitiness and oak gives it a complexity that’s easy to sip and incredibly satisfying. The finish is soft and warm, leaving a lasting impression without being overpowering. Each sip is unique, almost like you’re drinking a story in a glass—it’s smoky, aromatic, and wonderfully refreshing all at once.

The service at Bar Moga is top-notch, too. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the craft behind each cocktail. They’re more than happy to guide you through the menu or suggest a drink based on your taste. It’s rare to find a bar where every detail feels so perfectly curated, from the drinks to the service to the ambiance. Bar Moga is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy a truly memorable cocktail...

(The review isn't about food but the professionalism of the management. Food is actually good here.) It used to be one of my favorite places until I decided to have my birthday dinner here. I made a reservation for a large group. As the day is getting closer, there was a hurricane warning on the same day so out of precaution my bf called the day before to check if they are planning to stay open. They said they aren't decided yet but if anything changes they'll let us know. The day of the dinner came and it was nasty out but at least the hurricane was weakened to tropical storm. We didn't hear anything from Bar Moga so we assumed nothing changed. When we were a block away from Bar Moga, I got a message from my friend who got there before me saying the restaurant isn't open. I was mildly panicking because there were 12 people heading to the restaurant in rain. I called the restaurant and the manager (I assume) said they decided to close for the day due to the weather condition. I told him I never got any calls or emails about it and he didn't really articulate further. I didn't have time to argue so I hung up to find a venue at the last minute. A couple of days later, I sent Bar Moga an email about what happened and how it nearly ruined my birthday and the email response I got was "I'm sorry but the safety comes before anything." MY POINT WAS NOT ABOUT THE SAFETY. OF COURSE SAFETY SHOULD ALWAYS COME FIRST BUT IT WAS WRONG OF THEM NOT TO UPDATE ME IN ADVANCE WHEN THEY DECIDED TO CANCEL THE RESERVATION. I sent them another email saying the above and never got any response about it. I wish they would have handled it better. I used to recommend Bar Moga to anyone looking for a good food & cocktail but...

I've been wanting to try Bar Moga for a while, since they are one of only a handful of places in NYC that I've found that serves omurice. A friend and I came in on a Tuesday with a 6 pm resso. It was pretty empty at that time for dinner, but plenty of people getting drinks by the bar. The restaurant is very dark, like a lounge. Maybe I'm just old now but it was a bit difficult to read the menu or really see what we were eating. After we deciphered the menu, we decided to just order some things to share.

To start, we had the seasonal fish tataki. I can't remember what type of fish they said it was, but I enjoyed it. It was served with slices of avocado, and an egg yolk as a dipping sauce. It sounds weird - fish with chicken by-product? But it just worked. We also ordered two of the 'large' plates - Katsu Sando (sakura pork, sweet miso sauce, Japanese milk bread) and the Omurice (omelette, chicken rice, demi-glace sauce). I'm really glad we shared these because I can't imagine eating all of either one of these. The pork from the sando or the sauce from the omurice would have been too heavy. I probably enjoyed the sando more. The bread was nice and toasty, and the pork had a nice thin tempura-like layer to it, and the cutlet was thick but perfectly cooked and juicy. The omurice didn't really live up to my expectations. It looks better in those videos where the chef brings it to the table and slices the omelette open. The rice is basic, and there was way too much gravy on there. The only thing good about it was the egg. We actually didn't finish all of it and ended up taking it to go.

Bottom line - I'm glad I finally got to try it, but I would...