Shiki Omakase — Restaurant in New York

Absolutely incredible and easily one of the best spots for high-quality, but not break-the-bank expensive sushi in NYC. Shiki Omakase has been on my bucket list since they first took the internet by storm with their $65 12-course omakase, so I was ecstatic when I finally managed to snag a reservation. While $65 for 12 pieces of sushi certainly sounds expensive -- and it is -- most omakase sets can easily cost upwards of $150 to $200. Despite their low (ish) cost, Shiki manages to deliver an outstanding set of sushi with top-tier service. The fish was super fresh, and it was really fun to be able to watch the chefs prepare the sushi right in front of you.

Their menu rotates seasonally and depending on what's available at the markets that day, but when we visited, we were treated to their oysters, madai, hamachi, salmon, akamizuki, hotate, kanpachi, toro and caviar, uni and truffle, albacore tuna, A5 wagyu with uni, and unagi. Every single bite was phenomenal, with the perfect ratio of fish to rice, and with a great balance of other toppings, sauces, and flavors to create a fun experience of different textures and flavors with each bite. A few of my favorite pieces included the uni with truffle -- it was so rich and creamy, and it had a great earthiness and umami flavor from the truffle; it can be tough to balance two such strong flavors together, but they did an amazing job -- and albacore tuna with chili crisp.

They're also fully willing to accommodate dietary restrictions; I don't eat meat, so they substituted my A5 wagyu piece with a toro and uni nigiri. The combination was incredibly decadent -- the toro was rich and fatty, and served the role of the wagyu perfectly. It paired wonderfully with the remarkably creamy uni, which was super fresh and didn't have any of the dreaded fishiness that uni so often does.

In an effort to seat as many people as possible in this popular, but incredibly small, space, tables are limited to just one hour. The meals are pretty efficient, but they still do a good job of pacing the pieces so that you can still fully enjoy each bite without feeling rushed. The main thing lacking in this experience vs. a traditional omakase is that you aren't able to have a full conversation with the chef. It's still a pretty intimate experience, with only around 10-15 people allowed in the restaurant per slot, but the best part of most omakase is that you have one chef assigned to you and maybe one other party, so they're able to have a full conversation with you throughout the meal, answering questions, bantering, and really showcasing their craft. I absolutely love Shiki as a slightly more accessible option for omakase, and they've quickly become one of my favorite special occasion / treat destinations. However, if you want the true omakase experience, it might not be the right...

Food: 10/10. For $68, you get excellent sushi (2 appetizers, a hand roll, one uni roll, and 9 nigiri on top). The fish they use here is much fresher and better than other omakase spots around this price point. I mean, there’s two pieces during the dinner that have uni. Caviar, A5 Wagyu, and scallops are also among some premium ingredients. The sushi itself was well made and paired with interesting but delicious additions (I liked the yuzu on top of the salmon and the sturgeon caviar on the otoro piece.)

Service: 6/10. Honestly, our sushi chef was amazing. He even noticed that I was left-handed, so started to place the ginger on the right side of the plate and each piece of sushi on the left. But the reason for a 6/10 is the waitress we had, as well as the weird upsell in the middle of our dinner. They walk around with an iPad halfway through dinner and try convincing you to buy extra pieces of sushi, which are NOT cheap (a hand roll is almost $20). After shoving the iPad between my and my girlfriend’s shoulder, we politely told her we were not going to purchase any of the additional items. Instead of nicely nodding or something, she very disappointingly muttered “Okay.” She seemed very annoyed that we didn’t add any items. As a service worker once myself, the most important part of service is to be cheerful, informative, and make the customer comfortable. Our waitress had an unfortunately grim face throughout service. I did cash tip directly to her, so I hope this experience was just due to a bad day or something.

Atmosphere: 9/10. Brightly lit, small restaurant. Well designed. Great crowd in there usually as well. Only complaint is that it does get a bit crowded at the bar, but I understand that they probably have to accommodate as many...

If you're looking to try omakase in New York, you need to make reservations for Shiki Omakase. Everything about this place is absolutely phenomenal!

There's about 10-12 seats, so it's a very intimate setting. But the natural light from the windows and the minimalistic decor makes the restaurant feel very open and comfortable. You can only eat here if you make reservations, so plan in advance! Additionally, they do charge a cancelation fee past a certain time, so please be mindful of that as well. Shiki Omakase is only a few minutes' walk from the subway, which is perfect for tourists not traveling around with a car.

The service here was simply top-notch. They're so attentive and have a great eye for detail. My friend is left-handed, and the sushi chef actually placed the sushi a certain way to make it easier for her to eat. She didn't mention this, but it was something he picked up on by just observing. Additionally, we celebrated our friend's birthday, and they made it a celebration to remember. They made a complementary special piece of sushi and turned up a fun birthday song. We brought in a cake which they kindly kept cold for us and then brought out with a lit candle and a sparkler for my friend to hold while they sang to her. It was one of the cutest things ever when one of the chef's started dancing along to the music.

Now let's talk about the food. Every bite was delicious. You can tell they put a lot of effort into their craft and choosing the best ingredients. You truly are getting what you pay for. From start to finish, you will be delighted with what is presented on your plate. I have nothing else to say except that it was probably the best sushi I'll have for...