Omakase by korami — Restaurant in New York

Absolutely bloody brilliant.

Picture the scene. I wake up on a Friday morning with the hangover from hell having had a bit too much fun the night before. I WFH the whole day, barely making it through, and I’m tired and hungry, the only food I eat is the leftover of the kebab I bought home in the uber that I popped straight in the fridge.

It’s 7pm and I decide I need to leave the house. The other half is away, and I feel like I need to get out of my four walls.

I’m hungry, but I don’t want to eat crap. Sushi pops into my head. But my experience in NYC is not great. Too often the fish is just not sushi quality, or the restaurant gets too experimental and adds so many strange things into the equation it’s just a party of wasabi, soy and ginger, or you’re into a $300 selection of tiny pieces where you know you’re just paying for the rent of the venue and not the food.

So when I saw this place, a basic $89 for 15 courses and with good reviews, it felt like a good option. On my own, hungry but not crazy, looking for something with atmosphere but also a bit quiet too.

I had a 10pm sitting on a Friday night. The first thing I love is they do the sittings together, so for the hour you’ll be sat around the counter with 10-15 people, mixture of people on their own like me, couples, small groups of friends - and we all sit together, have the same courses together, leave together. The three chefs are friendly and make cutting fish look like a performance art, so you’re always hooked.

Service is wonderful. Friendly team, excellence customer service. The vibe in the restaurant is the closest I’ve experienced to a genuine Tokyo Omakese with its casuality, attention to detail and relaxed vibe.

The food is exceptional. The biggest star here goes to the quality of the fish. It is as fresh and of as a high quality of anything you would get in Japan. It is really very very good, when you bite into it you instantly know you’re enjoying ingredients where real effort had gone into procuring, storing and serving.

Aside from the quality of the ingredients the menu is also very strong indeed. Starting with some simpler dishes which allow you to enjoy the clean, pure taste of some of the more mellow options, moving on to some more full flavour options including flame cooked wagyu and smoked eel.

I left this place on a massive high. I must have walked past it 100 times and never noticed it. Certainly a new favorite and I can’t wait to bring my friends too. It’s small, you’ll need to book, and everything else. But I think it’s an absolute find.

Cannot recommend more...

"A Michelin-Star Experience"

I have never had a meal that made me want to be a better person before Omakase by Korami.

A Michelin Star, in my mind, promises an unforgettable, life-changing experience. And if it were in my power, I would award Omakase by Korami THREE Michelin Stars.

Before coming to Omakase by Korami, I had a difficult time explaining "omakase" to a coworker--"it's a sushi experience, where you get sushi made for you by the sushi chef"--which obviously described every sushi restaurant in existence, both including the sushi you get at 7-Eleven, or the experience my wife and I had at a Michelin-star sushi restaurant recently. But after coming to Omakase by Korami, I realized that omakase is supposed to be a much more intimate experience, where every savory piece of nigiri is lovingly crafted by the artist (Alan) right in front of you. And the entire experience was one where I was welcomed into the restaurant's family for one far-too-brief meal. The attention of the general manager, Alex Lian, particularly made us feel like home. I have NEVER had a general manager discuss with me my favorite whiskeys and then physically run across the street to get that specific whiskey from a local pub.

It feels kind of stupid to say that a meal at a restaurant can inspire you to be a better person. But for some reason, as I'm writing this, I weirdly think that this is true. Even as I leave New York, I leave hoping to mirror both Alan and Alex's passion for their work in everything I do.

And Alex, Alan, if you're reading this, thank you for a phenomenal meal at your table. We'll see you...

Overall excellent experience! 1 hour seating - great for pre-theater. Short version: Service - 5/5 Quality - 5/5 Presentation / Detail - 5/5 Accommodations (dietary) - 5/5 (clearly stated on their website what they’re able to accommodate) Atmosphere - 4/5 - pop music playing (not too loud but definitely noticeable) the place only seats 10, 2/4 volume level

Longer version : As someone who’s been to dozens of omakase places in the city - this is definitely up there on the list!! It’s rather inexpensive for the great quality. It’s a 1 hour service - perfect for pre theater with the 5pm or 6pm seating (it’s truly a 1 hour though seating though, gentle nudging once you’re done to keep the next seating on time.) The fish was all very fresh and delicious; the Sablefish and skipjack were stand out tasty to me. Also the Seabreem with yuzu pepper sauce - very creative and simple. The Bluefin Tuna with shiso and ponzu relish - sweet and savory. I personally didn’t have it but the Wagyu hand roll both groups around me raved about. They didn’t skimp on portion size! They even put birthday candles in it for the 3 people celebrating and all sang and played birthday music - very kind and festive. The fish was incredibly tasty, well portioned (fish/rice ratio) though some of the rice fell apart a few times. Crisp and flavorful nori. They were very accommodating for me as a pescatarian. Great sake and beer list - small and very diverse, something that works for every palate and with the menu. I do wish they had a tasting (maybe 2-3 sake to pair) but understand an hour is a short period...