Sake Bar Decibel — Restaurant in New York

Where do I begin? I feel hurt, disappointed, slighted, sad, and confounded.

I’ve been here several times and this was a great place to come, enjoy nice sake, relax with friends, and have a good time.

But my visit tonight was nothing of the sort. It was the complete opposite. I’m so shocked I don’t know how to articulate.

When our small group (many ethnicities- several Japanese included) entered the bar, the manager told us that we had 1hr. 30min. to drink and that everyone in our group had to drink. We understood and agreed to his requirements and were guided to our table.

Everyone in our group ordered drinks. We ordered many cocktails and a full 750mL bottle of Ginjo to share. Our bill was $140 which is a pretty decent bill for a small group. We were asked by 5 servers what we were going to order when we had already ordered. We received our drinks and started drinking when the manager asked us to move everything to another table. We accepted and kindly moved to another area of the restaurant to be accommodating in a small space. Every staff member was unbelievably rude to us for no reason at all. We remained calm and tried not to let it get the best of us.

However, 50min. after the time we entered the bar, three servers came to our table to tell us to pay for the bill immediately, and then said we had to leave because another group was waiting. We told them we weren’t finished drinking (we all still had full glasses of sake), but that we would finish in 15min.

One of the servers came to our table and said “Tip isn’t included so you need to leave a tip at your table. Are you not going to tip or what?” with an awful attitude. I speak Japanese and my Japanese friends were shocked at how unruly her behavior was. We always tip 20% when we go to restaurants, but this was a unique situation where we actually had to consider whether we were going to tip at a lower rate or not to tip at all.

On our way out, I had a conversation with the server who asked to give her tips despite her lack of care or humanity. I gave her a lower tip in cash and told her honestly that I was very disappointed with the service and baffled at her attitude toward guests.

After leaving, I realized that this server and the manager were painting a bad image of Japan and it really broke my heart.

I will never go back. I will also tell our large Japanese community to never go back again. This bar will close and I...

Last night, I went down stairs to a restaurant that from the outside was nondescript. We were greeted by a line of people in an incredibly cramped space, a rope blocking the line from the eating area. A chunk of the floor was missing from the corner. At this moment I was worried we would be waiting for way too long to hang in some overhyped basement restaurant. Luckily, the wait was only 10 minutes; what a bargain of a wait it was. The seating area was incredibly dark, which could be considered annoying, but I thought it gave a very cool ambiance to our eating experience. Using the small fake candle at our table, I looked up and down the menu looking for all my favorites and anything that stood out. We were sat down, and although there wasn't much I hadn't seen before, it was all good. Dumplings, cabbage pancakes, potato tempura, pickled veggies: it was all good. All of this complimented by an extensive list of sake. I won't claim to be an expert at cooking Japanese, but I do spend a lot of time working through my multiple cookbooks. I can tell this stuff isn't just thrown together. It was made expertly and well balanced. Not to mention service was incredibly quick; everything came as it was finished. The only thing that could make it better is if they had a robata grill, which may prove difficult for the space they had. I definitely recommend this place for an outing with a couple close friends looking for...

Sake Bar Decibel is hands down one of my favorite hidden gems in NYC. Tucked away in a cozy basement, stepping inside feels like being transported straight to a secret bar in Tokyo. The atmosphere is dark, intimate, and a little gritty, with low lighting and graffiti-covered walls, which all adds to the charm. It’s the perfect spot for a memorable night out, especially if you’re looking for something unique and authentic.

Their sake selection is amazing! The menu has everything from fruity and floral to rich, dry sakes, and whether you’re a sake pro or just getting into it, the staff is so knowledgeable and helpful. They guided me to a bottle that was exactly what I wanted, and it was incredible. And I have to give a shoutout to their lychee martini—it’s refreshing, subtly sweet, and the perfect mix of flavors. It’s easily one of the best lychee martinis I’ve ever had.

The small plates here are spot-on, too. I loved the miso-glazed eggplant, crispy karaage chicken, and the melt-in-your-mouth sashimi. Every dish pairs perfectly with the drinks, enhancing the whole experience. The service is fantastic; the staff is attentive, friendly, and they make you feel right at home, adding to that welcoming, underground vibe. Sake Bar Decibel is perfect for a date night or a night out with friends when you’re looking for...