Tomi Jazz — Restaurant in New York

I enjoyed Tomi Jazz so much that I came here twice in two weeks! I had been wanting to check this place out for a while, not because of the jazz but because they had Japanese comfort food, at a reasonable price. I hadn't before because I don't normally venture to this neighborhood.

On the first visit, I came with my friend at 5:30 and there was already a line outside the door. They don't accept ressos. We waited maybe about half hour? For drinks I had the Zen (homemade green tea vodka, triple sec, syrup, matcha powder, lemon peel, and nutmeg). I didn't love it as it was a little too bitter for me. I also had the lemon drop, which was too sweet for me. For food, shared the crab cream croquette, seasoned octopus with wasabi, cod roe spaghetti, and omurice. I'm really glad we shared everything because eating any of these one dishes alone would have been too heavy. The crab cream croquette was good but I didn't taste any crab in there. The octopus had too much wasabi. The cod roe spaghetti and omurice were my favorite. Very saucy and what I would expect of Japanese comfort food.

On the second visit, I came w my husband, sister and her BF since they too have been wanting to check it out for a while. This time, it was a Thursday at 5:30 and again, there was a line. I can only imagine the line when it gets to prime dinner time or perhaps a Friday/Saturday night (FYI, there is a cover charge Fri/Sat/Sun) - so come early and on a weekday if you can. This time, we had the Berkshire sausages, curry, corn, and shrimp croquettes, fried rice, cod roe udon, and omurice. The sausages were kind of like mini smoky hot dogs. The croquettes came out perfectly fried again but they all tasted similar. Fried rice was standard and the stars of the show were yet again the cod roe udon and the omurice. I think I prefer the udon over the spaghetti because it seems to soak up more sauce. For drinks, I had some plum wine cocktail (didn't love this) and the Echigo beer (stout) - can't go wrong with a beer! If none of these drinks interest you, there are plenty of others to choose from, including a long sake list. It's a full bar so they can make you anything you want.

As for the jazz, I'm not really a jazz fan but it was cool to listen to some live music while eating dinner. The vibe is very much speakeasy. It's also a small place so you will most likely be sharing a table with strangers. Both times, we were led to the back, where you can't see the band but by the time the main courses came, someone would come and ask if we wanted to move to the front, so that was really nice of them. Also the first time we came was a belated birthday celebration for me and my friend surprised me with having the band play happy birthday!

Overall, I didn't love the cocktails, but I loved the food and...

I knew there would be a line. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was that I didn’t know I would be treated with such disregard.

We arrived at 5PM. The line was already formed and stretching past the Little Thai Kitchen. In other words, split into two sections to avoid blocking the neighbor’s door, as instructed by the signs. “The other neighbors can fend for themselves,” after all, they probably haven’t complained. No one from Tomi Jazz came out to say hello or explain how long the wait would be. They just open the door and let in the next few people, slowly, probably to allow the kitchen to keep up with the orders at a steady pace.

After more than 30 minutes, the line stopped moving. In other words, all the seats were occupied. The next to enter would have to wait for someone to leave. As the signs ordered, the maximum stay at the bar is two hours. We were lucky, and the line moved a bit before that.

The signs outside also instructed us to have already chosen what to eat before entering, so their work would be optimized, and the stay time would be shorter. They also said that everyone in the group had to be there to enter, that there are no reservations, and other duties that every obedient customer must follow to deserve being part of this “select group of privileged.”

We entered at 7PM. Two hours in line, most of the time standing on the narrow, dark staircase that leads to the basement, with no one showing up to explain, only the orders on the signs.

The place is very small, the decor is curious (not to say “neglected,” as no one dusts the objects). The music is good. All of this could have made it a rewarding experience, if it weren’t for the waiters rushing around, bumping into your back every two minutes, and always seeming to be in “fight-or-flight” mode. Definitely not the peace and tranquility I expected to find in a jazz bar.

We were there because my daughter turned 15 and wanted to go to a jazz bar in NY as a gift. I felt bad for her and for all of us.

The place has all the potential to be a picturesque and excellent experience (especially since the food is also good) if they didn’t treat customers in line like a herd of animals, if they handed out tickets with estimated entry times (physical or digital), and if they reduced capacity to 90% of what it is, so the staff could move around without bumping into people.

That’s the problem with a hyped place that doesn’t know how to prepare. From the website, you can already sense the neglect they have towards customers and communication in general.

In summary: it’s a good...

This is a fantastic little Japanese speakeasy. They open at 5. My husband and I arrived at 5:15 and there was already a line down the sidewalk. We waited 2 hours on the nose to get in. We appreciated the heat lamps that they placed outside. Inside there are only about 20 seats. You have a 2 hour time limit which is pleasantly, not rudely, enforced. We got seated at the bar. The place itself has a really great vibe. There is a lot to look at. The bar is packed with stuff. Japanese decor scattered around walls and the ceiling and placed in any small nook that they could find in this cute tiny hole of a spot. Dark and intimate setting with mostly just candlelight for lighting. Live music starts at 6p and was very lovely with a guitarist, pianist, and flutist. $10 cover per person to get into the club but this is not used to pay the musicians. An employee comes around at some point with a QR code if you wish to tip the musicians.

Food/drink: they have a huge drink selection, including lots of sake and Japanese wine and beer, in addition to traditional American liquor. Also huge selection of house cocktails as well as virgin drinks available. We had the lemon drop (it was okay, didn’t care for the mandarin vodka), Clever (very tea-forward), Road Runner (good flavor, but started to curdle after a few minutes due to the coconut milk mixed with the alcohol), and Boston sour (my husband said it was good). The food menu was also pretty extensive and also had a lot of vegetarian options. For appetizers we got the corn croquettes (they were good, hot and fresh, but tasted more like a fish stick) and the fried Brie which was delicious and melty. Entrees are mostly rice and noodle dishes. We got the avocado spaghetti and yakimeshi fried rice, both of which were delicious although the spaghetti was closer to lukewarm and would’ve been more enjoyable if it was hotter. Dessert we got the honey toast with vanilla ice cream which was a huge chunk of white bread topped with ice cream and whipped cream and strawberries. It was enormous and is definitely for 2 to share. We thought it was going to be like French toast but the bread was just plain, kind of dry if you don’t let the ice cream soak into it. It was cool to look at, but flavor wasn’t anything special though, probably wouldn’t get it again.

Bonus is that their menu items are extremely well priced, we didn’t feel like we were getting robbed at the end of the night. All the employees were also very kind and polite.

We will...