Shinji's — Restaurant in New York

Let's be clear that everything at Shinjis tastes amazing. It not really a bar it's more of an experience. Some of the drinks are pricey, but they are worth it. It's even more worth it once you understand the technical efficiency they display in conveying flavors and textures.Just make sure when you go, you tell @miguelgx7 hello. He was an amazing guide through the Shinji menu Here's what I had:

Sumac Society: News flash, you can enjoy a non-alcoholic drink that isn't fizzy. This incredible concoction incorporates everleaf forest, sumac, yuzu, egg white powder, and freeze-dried raspberry. I bet there are things named here that you don't know of. I know I didn't, but this drink was delicious and has me making me spice and herb list for a few new ingredients.

Shinjis Gin Fizz: Now, if you're a seasoned drinker, I'm sure you've had or heard of a Ramos Gin Fizz. it's a labor-intensive cocktail that's even harder to get right. Shinjis puts their own twist on it. @Miguelgx7 gave me the breakdown, but I don't think I could do it justice. This sweet and tart Creamsicle is an absolute treat, and it doesn't take 30 bartenders to shake it to make it.

Arroz Con Bangkok: There were so many flavors, textures, and levels. This was a roller-coaster ride. The drink has a sweet and slightly dreamy (yes, dreamy) texture to it. But the experience of drinking it can change depending on which side of the drink you drink from. See, this cocktail has an interactive garnish. I told you this place was an experience.

HoneyPenny: You've never had a martini like this. Does your martini have Meade? Has in been in contact with bees wax? Served bone chilling cold this is an absolute standout cocktail.

Unknown: I don't even know what this was, but it was hot and cold and made my mind trip. Think of one of the most flavorful teas you ever tasted, but it's hot and ice. Sorcery indeed.

The Tropicana: No visit to Shinjis would be complete without a shot of the Tropicana. Crazy enough, this was the cocktail that kind of got me in the door, and after seeing the menu, I wanted to try everything else. Calling it a screw driver is a bit of an understatement. Just know that there is orange juice and vodka in there but a whole lot more...

I took my partner here for his birthday because he really loves interesting cocktails, appreciates a beautiful bar, and is always in pursuit of great hospitality. I thought that Shinji’s would be a great experience for him after seeing pictures of the bar and knowing that he had never been there before.

To be honest, it’s okay. And for the price point, okay is unacceptable. The pictures make it seem a lot more beautiful than it actually is; I think a part of this is that whenever anyone opened the door the sunlight blasted the room and the illusion of this speakeasy tucked-away hidden gem was shattered.

I was disappointed that for cocktails that are priced upwards of $30+, I saw them batch the drinks. The cocktails were okay. Not the best martini but also not the worst - the brine powder that came with the drink was the most interesting part. Other cocktails we tried similarly did not feel that much more elevated than what you’d find at other decent bars (and for much less). Don’t let the flashy gestures of the bartenders distract you from the fact that most of the cocktails’ prices stem from presentation and not quality. So they throw some liquid nitrogen over the fruits and create a momentary foggy show - so what?

And for a $120 wagyu sandwich, which I was most excited about, my meat was a little stringy which was very surprising though the flavor was there. Even if they flew fish straight from Japan, it doesn’t necessary mean it’s that great - the hand rolls were very meh. Again, I feel like they put on these elaborate shows (such as tableside service, which was more like the corner of the bar service) to offset the lack in quality and distract us from noticing.

That being said, our bartender gave us good service.

All in all, I think Shinji’s is trying to capture an exclusive, refined, not-many-people-know-so-that’s-what-makes-it-special vibe but if your prices don’t justify the quality, it doesn’t quite land the way you want it to.

1 star for service, but for the amount I paid I think I could find much better alternatives...

My wife and I made a reservation here at opening on a Tuesday before an event in the area later that evening. Upon arrival, we were seated at one of the four booths adjacent to the semi-circular bar, which itself only has 8 seats. While we were only there for cocktails, we did enjoy perusing the lavish food menu of high-end bar snacks and other Japanese delicacies before selecting our drinks. The cocktail menu is divided into interesting, proprietary house drinks that are high on production value and plush ingredients (a cocktail served in a hollowed out orange, a sidecar with fois gras, etc), and the establishment's take on classic cocktail recipes. We opted for the Honeypenny (a honeyed variation of a Vesper martini) and the Flatiron (their localized Manhattan variation), before moving onto the Daiquiri and Last Word (house variation). Given that we weren't seated at the bar, our server delivered our drinks via a trolley and performed the final preparations tableside. The cocktail glasses were dramatically chilled with liquid nitrogen, which is poured from a silver pitcher and is then left frothing in the glasses as the server shakes or stirs the pre-bottled cocktails (which are poured from a 750ml wine-style bottle into the mixing vessel). We found all four drinks to be well-balanced, nuanced, and expertly proportioned to deliver the familiarity of the classic drink itself, while lending a unique slant via other subtle flavors. The service was great, the space was very chic, and we loved the drinks. All of the criticism about exorbitant pricing seems a bit unfair to me. Sure, the wagyu sandwich is $120, but I found the drinks priced in the mid $20 range to be of good value- this place certainly beats any of the stuffy cocktail bars in Midtown that are charging $30+ per drink for a...