Beyond Sushi - Vegan Restaurant — Restaurant in New York

Utsav Honest Review (UHR: 7/10) Utsav Classics Take (UCT: 8/10)

Here’s the full breakdown of our experience at Beyond Sushi:

Dish Reviews:

🍜 Spicy Ramen (Tofu, eggplant, baby bok choy, chili oil, grilled corn, charred black sesame, scallions)

• UHR: 7/10 | UCT: 7.5/10 The broth had a decent kick from the chili oil, while the tofu and eggplant were nicely cooked. However, the flavor depth was lacking. A comforting option but not remarkable.

🌯 Nutty Buddy Wrap (Rice paper, soba noodles, romaine, jalapeno peanut butter sauce, marinated carrots, peanuts, avocado, baked tofu, cilantro, ponzu)

• UHR: 8.5/10 | UCT: 9/10 A must-try! The jalapeño peanut butter sauce was a flavor bomb, perfectly complementing the crunch from the fresh veggies and the soba noodles’ chewiness.

🍣 Spicy Mango Roll (Black rice, avocado, mango, cucumber, veggie slaw, toasted cayenne sauce)

• UHR: 6.5/10 | UCT: 7/10 Beautifully presented but underwhelming. The mango’s sweetness dominated, while the cayenne sauce lacked enough heat to balance the flavors.

Full Breakdown:

🌈 Vibe (UCT: 9/10): Trendy, lively, and ideal for plant-based foodies looking for a casual yet vibrant spot.

🍣 Flavor (UHR: 7/10): The Nutty Buddy Wrap was a flavor explosion, but the ramen and mango roll didn’t fully meet expectations.

🎨 Presentation (UCT: 10/10): Gorgeous plating that makes every dish Instagram-worthy.

🛋️ Décor & Comfort (UCT: 8/10): The décor is modern and inviting, with comfortable seating that enhances the experience.

🎶 Music (UCT: 7.5/10): Subtle and non-intrusive, though nothing particularly memorable.

💡 Lighting (UCT: 9/10): Bright but warm lighting, perfect for enjoying your meal and snapping photos.

🏛️ Architecture (UCT: 8/10): Well-designed layout, maximizing space while maintaining an intimate vibe.

🍴 Cutlery (UCT: 8.5/10): Clean and minimalist, fitting the restaurant’s overall aesthetic.

🧼 Hygiene (UCT: 9/10): The place was spotless, from the dining area to the restrooms.

🛎️ Service (UHR: 6.5/10): Friendly staff, but the wait times during busy hours were noticeable.

💰 Value (UHR: 6.5/10 | UCT: 7/10): Prices lean toward the high side for the flavor payoff, but the creative concept and presentation make it a worthwhile splurge.

🔄 Return Worthy? (UHR: 7/10): Yes, especially for the Nutty Buddy Wrap and to explore other unique options.

🌿 Eco-Friendliness (UCT: 8/10): Beyond Sushi seems committed to sustainability with locally sourced, plant-based ingredients.

⏳ Wait Time (UHR: 6/10): Wait time during peak hours was a bit longer than expected, so it’s recommended to make a reservation in advance.

🍽️ Dessert Section (UCT: 7/10): Desserts were simple. They could elevate their dessert menu for a more refined experience.

🍹 Drink Pairings (UCT: 7.5/10): A solid selection of drinks, but nothing too extraordinary to pair with the dishes.

Final Verdict:

Beyond Sushi remains a creative hub for plant-based innovation. While some dishes underwhelmed, the Nutty Buddy Wrap alone makes it worth a visit. For those who value presentation and unique combinations, it’s a great spot to try! Would I go back? Occasionally. Would I recommend it? Yes—just stick to the highlights!

Tip: Be sure to make a reservation during peak hours to avoid...

I love the concept for the restaurant and I always applaud a plant-based menu. I found the servers to be attentive and the atmosphere pleasant. But the five items I ordered from 5 sections of the menu ranged from superb to bad. The crispy rice sushi pieces sounded cool, but were hard to eat as it was too big for bite-size and fell off my companion’s chopsticks. It also fell apart as the puree of veggies wasn’t stable. This dish could have worked better if they made it smaller bite-size pieces. Also, $12 for just three pieces felt a bit too pricey. I was interested in the wraps, which are similar to summer rolls. But unlike Thai summer rolls, it did not come with a dipping sauce, the interior was bland, and due to the burrito-like size (see photo) was really hard to eat with chopsticks or a fork. Mine came crashing down onto the table. Again, it would make more sense to make several that are smaller than one gigantic one cut in half. The miso soup was the worst of all. It had no miso flavor, and instead tasted of watery sesame oil. I am all for innovation, but this should not have been called miso soup, and at $8 was the most expensive miso soup I’ve ever had. The dumplings were OK but again, not bite-size and too large and floppy to really pick up easily with chopsticks. Once again, it just seemed like there wasn’t a lot of thought put into the transfer from plate to mouth. And after splitting the dumplings to make them easier to eat, their contents fell out. (Note: I and my companion are adept at using chopsticks.) However, the maki tuna roll was fantastic! The pieces were bite-size, super tasty, and it looked and tasted like real tuna. This is the first time I ever had such vegan sushi, which may very well be the best item on the menu. Looking around the restaurant, I saw a few other tables had big orders of maki sushi, thinking maybe that’s the way to go. Despite my disappointment, I would like to go back again and explore the menu further, especially since now I know what to avoid. I’m rooting for this place and hoping that the second time around I make...

We finally made our first trip here since the menu revamp, and it fully lived up to our expectations. We are regulars at the 56th St location which is the smaller more casual one that focuses on their classics that they’ve been perfecting for decades. The 37th St location still has the classic veggie sushi rolls as well as other adventurous, innovative dishes that will impress your vegan and meat eating friends alike. We started with the special, a tuna hand roll. Incredible. Loved the black caviar and fresh shiso. Definitely hope they get some hand rolls on the regular menu. Next we had the smoked mushroom salad which was loaded with flavor (and mushrooms); we appreciated the generous size. Then we had some of their standby rolls, the sweet tree roll (with sweet potatoes and alfalfa sprouts - so funky and fun), the spicy mang roll (a classic among classics, and impossible to get tired of), and the rainbow roll (loaded with veggies and topped with their incredible salmon). Hard to say which is the best (just get them all). Then we ventured into the new entrees featuring Chunk steak and went with the black pepper steak accompanied by Japanese yams and bok choy. This was my first time trying Chunk steak. It’s delicious and was so well seasoned. The veggies that accompanied it also had me yammering for more. We closed out the meal with the strawberry matcha tart which was delightful. I used to have a bit of an addiction to Planta Queen, but Beyond Sushi has now pulled solidly ahead with these new menu items that bring the ooh and ahh factor while managing to be a little on the healthier/cleaner side. Greatly appreciated, and cannot wait to see what Beyond Sushi comes...