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Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Flatiron, Union Square, GramercyUnion Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)
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Came here for my birthday dinner with a small group of friends, and this place definitely did not disappoint.
I had no trouble at all making reservations for the night for a small group of 4. I started with a drink - the Geisha, which was recommended since I love sweet drinks. Did not disappoint - good rec from the waiter!
We ordered several things: Spicy tuna roll, "The Rock", Tuna flatbread, Lobster rolls for appetizers.
The spicy tuna roll was surprisingly tasty. The presentation was not anything special, however it was the taste that was so surprisingly fresh and tasty that I would definitely want more.
The Rock came out quick and we all realized that's because you cook it yourself ( 5-7 seconds on each side of beef) on this small piece of rock. Presentation was quite cute, but the taste was alright - nothing as special as cooking beef like korean bbq would be. Still, not bad.
Tuna Flatbread was delicious. Ahh man, the mix of the tuna with cheese on top of the flatbread was just absolutely great. YUUMMM.
Lobster rolls were not as special - I thought they were actually pretty average.
For entrees, we ordered the Tuna Steak, Le quack Japonaise and the Crispy Crab Sandwich. As usual, the Tuna Steak did not disappoint, especially since it was so nice and tender and juicy, with that realy nice potato puree. Now I'm getting hungry thinking about it again.
Le quack Japoniase was a very big dish where you kinda assemble your own duck dish roll. Tasty, the mango chutney sauce was beautiful, and the duck meat was never dry, but it wasn't too special, though it was tasty.
Kabocha cheesecake and Apple Tart for dessert finished our great meal. Their desserts are not to be missed, especially since they never feel too heavy after a great meal! Kabocha cheesecake has a mix of pumpkin with pineapple taste to it. I hate pineapples but loved the cheesecake, in case that would give you any indication of how good it was! Apple tart = AWESOME.
Definitely worth coming here for a celebration! The servers are very nice and accommodating, and stuck a nice sparkler on my cheesecake for my birthday!
I went here with some coworkers to an organized dinner and learn party. We had the upstairs area to ourselves. After discussing what we were there to learn, it was time to eat. We were all hungry and ready to tackle every food on the plate.
As appetizers, the first dish was the sweet and sour calamari, it was delicious. We were all hungry for it, and it left my palate wanting for more. The next appetizers were successively the gourmet pizza and the bibb salad with red miso dressing. I did not enjoyed the salad as much as I enjoyed the calamari.
After the salad, we were served tuna steak, I liked it very much. The next entree after the tuna steak was the filet mignon, yummy, one of my favorite dish of the night.
I asked one of the party organizer if our tables could be served sushi. He sent the server to our table and I ordered the salmon sushi rolls, wow- jackpot, definitely the best dish of the night. The salmon sushi were rolled with fried shrimps, and it was amazing. For desert, I had the Kabocha cheesecake. I liked it very very much. In fact if I had to go back to Japonais, it will be for their sushi and the kabocha cheesecake.
The only problem with this place is that it is not very good for learning gathering, as it was really loud at the bar downstairs.
The French - Japonese fushion doesn't disappoint.
Foodwise: Lobster spring roll, Crispy Shrimp and Salmon rolls, the Rock (filet mignon on hot rocks), and spicy yellowtail sushi rolls all fantastic.
Desserts: Try the cheesecake it is perfection!
4 stars! Try it!
This place is great! I came here after my bday plans fell through last night. There was a short wait to get a table so we had a few drinks and finger food at the bar. There are two sides to this place, a lounge side where you can eat but chill on comfy couches or the more formal side if you want to sit at a dinner table. We went for the lounge side because they play club like music and the vibe is laid back. They have an excellent menu of drinks and what I really like is that they have a virgin cocktail list of drinks!!!!! Why dont all restaurants/clubs do this? I loved my lycee drink! I had the crunchy salmon/tuna roll and the wasibi mashed potatoes! They were to die for! I also brought my own cake which they didnt have a problem with. My waitress, who was such a cutie, took it to the back, and put sparkler candles in it and brought it out to make me feel special! They do charge you a small fee if you bring your own cake per person, but its ok, whateva! Im just glad they where willing to store it and slice it for me. I'll def be back with more friends!
We had my Mom's 60th Birthday dinner here for 9 ppl and it was fab. The staff was accommodating and the food was great. The portions were small but with higher end restaurants its quality over quantity. I had the staff put out the pre fixe menu ($35-app/entree/dessert) for the guests. I tasted a little bit of everything on the menu and we all thought the food was delish. I brought my own cake and there was a $4 plating fee pp. No biggie because the night went so well. The appetizers came out with the quickness! I even had guests arrive 15 minutes late and within 5 minutes of ordering they received their apps.
The only cons were the music (a bit loud and out of genre with the restaurant--typical nyc) and the intervals between each dish.
All in all, for the price it was a superb night. Thanks, Japonais!
Just stumbled across this place with a girlfriend for happy hour and am happy we found it!
I can't comment on the food, although definitely want to go back to try it...
The happy hour drinks (tried about 3 because the bartender was nice enough to let us sample!)... seriously delicious people. It gets better, SUPER CHEAP HH Specials. I think it was like $4 for mixed drinks?
Place- gorgeous and HUGE!
Will have to go back to get the full experience.... stay tuned!
Classic in its sense of a hip sushi spot. Everybody follows suit from Nobu lets not all forget that. The sashimi here is what you come for. Great fish served perfect. Great space and a well designed restaurant. Japonais obviously didn't hold back on its renovation of the space. The dishes and drinks are all reasonably priced for what you get. Easier to get into than nobu so why not.
This place is just fab!! The decor and ambiance inside is the place is very nice. The music is just right not low not high - hearable. Ok now the food.....
i got for starters the lobster pumpkin soup.. yummy with a little salt and pepper added to it!. Its presented in a little white pot with a big green leaf underneath the pot on the rectangle plate and the waitress removes the lid for you to eat. Nice creamy thick soup with chucks of lobster meat =)
Next we got "The rock" - which is pretty cool experience. You get to cook the slices of small steak meat they give you with the hot rock..
For entrees, i got the tuna steak.. YUMMMM - its half cooked tuna and half raw tuna melts right in your mouth and its sitting on greenish mashed potatoes with a side of fried mushroom and something else (not sure) the fried isn't oily which is plus!
my fiend got the Grilled himachi, the flavour is out of this world. WOW! its a light flavorful broth with 4 i think scallop and shrimp dumplings and they are sooooooo yummy and on top of the 4 dumplings is the grilled himachi. SO so good - so much flavor!
this place is very good, my 2nd time here and def coming back soon =
I love sushi....and fortunately in NYC it's not tough to find great Japanese. I'd heard great things about Japonais and am happy to say that it did not disappoint. While the menu is not solely based on raw fish, non-sushi lovers can enjoy lobster, tuna steaks, filet, ribs, chicken and lamb.
I didn't eat here but other people said that the food was decent...The interior is modern & spacious, but the drinks were too sweet, and lukewarm!
First it was the cheap liquor and half priced appetizers. And then I saw the artsy hearts. I'm a sucker for big hearts. The hearts didn't really go with restaurant's theme but they reminded me the ones sprinkled throughout San Francisco. I didn't leave my heart in SF but since it is my hometown, it does touch me right there.
Japonais is beautiful. It's open to the streets and out pours beauty. The place is elegant without being pretentious and it's got a swanky feel. I thought it would be fun to sit open air and dine on sushi. Plus I felt like drinking. I never drink.
"Are you going to get sloshed?"
"I think I will."
We order the Ahi Tuna Ceviche, a trio of Nigiri, and the Le Quack Japonais.
"You wanted a Sake Martini, correct?"
"No, I wanted a Peach Bellini."
Let's not drink the hard stuff now. My sparkling drink arrived ready to be downed. I think I'll have three. No, not really. One drink cost just as much as an appetizer. The drink goes down smooth. I feel kissed by peaches.
The Ahi Tuna Ceviche is served perfect on the platter.
"Aren't you going to eat it?"
"Nope. I just order food so that the table looks pretty."
I was quite content sitting and sipping. Japonais has some of the most comfortable bench seating. The armrest was at perfect height. I could lounge there all night. Fool, I was enjoying every minute of that raw fish. It was so soft, I barely had to chew. The yuzu and white soy dressing was just enough to give it a unique flavor without overpowering the tuna. The tempura shallots also offered a little crunch. It was excellence.
The Nigiri was devoured. I had none of it. The Le Quack Japonais was a new spin on peking duck and it was plenty for two.
"How could one person eat all of that?"
"I guess we are like birds tonight. Birds who eat birds. That's just wrong."
But at Japonais, it was just so right. The plate was divided into sections. The hoisin sauce and mango chutney had their own baby silver spoons, the noodle like cucumber and scallions were dancing in an embrace, and the duck was so nicely marinated it didn't even need the hoisin sauce. Tangerine segments held the duck in place and baby bok choy was like the accent of the dish. The nicest thing about the entree was that the duck stood out on its own. They don't cheat you at Japonais. There were no bones and there was so much duck on the plate that I started to wonder if that duck was injected with growth hormones. It was good too. Tender and succulent, every delicious food cliche could be applied to this duck. Mushu wraps were also served on the side in a bamboo steamer. I split the dish with my companion and somehow even the split plate ended up looking like a work of art. Food is nicely presented at Japonais.
We asked for the check and one of the staff put down second course plates on our table only to realize the plates were really for the table next to us. They try at Japonais but they don't quite deliver in terms of service.
However, I did eat my words for dessert about the service at Japonais. In a heightened moment of emotion my companion knocked over a glass of water. Luckily the water didn't spill on anyone or damage anything. The water did, however, make its way over to our next door neighbors. Japonais was quick to hand out extra napkins and wipe the water off of the floor.
"Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry. It's just water."
"Maybe this is your cue to leave?"
"I think it's time to go."
"I'm so sorry. It's just water. Thank you."
Sorry Japonais. We were that one party foul of the night. We bow to you. Please forgive us.
What an awkward review.
Summer 2009 restaurant week review
We had a dinner reservation and were seated promptly. Where I sat, there was a drop of water that would hit my back every 10 minutes or so. Maybe a leaky A/C. I was willing to let it go because I prepared to reflect my discontent on my gratuity, only to find that tip (make that a whopping 20%) is included in the bill. But here's the deal on the food:
For apps, we got the lobster spring rolls, and the crab cakes. Both were good. Portions small. Nothing I didn't expect.
For entrees, we got the salmon japonais and the chestnut chicken. They were both alright, but not spectacular. The salmon could have been a bigger piece (you better eat that slice of lemon that comes with it, because you will still be hungry), and I don't recall what was so chestnutty about the chicken. The chicken dish included rice and was a generous portion, so I forked over some food to my salmon-eating hungry friend. But the chicken was just... chicken. Maybe if their cut it up and cooked it around a bit, it would've tasted more interesting.
For dessert, we both got the kabocha cheesecake, instead of the sorbet. Thank goodness we did, because it was my favorite part of the meal. The pineapple mousse whipped me up good. The pumpkin cheesecake was crazy nice.
The atmosphere is loungey-clubby. The open-air front is nice for letting fresh air in, and diluting some of the noise. The food took a while to come, and the waitress apologized; fortunately for Japonais, I was not with with my other friends, who prize eating before talking, because then this would've turned into a mess of a night. 3 of 5 stars because for the price, it's not holy heavens, but it is an acceptable good time.
I am not going to lie, I really enjoyed the food here. The chicken was juicy and it reminded me of how chicken would be prepared in Asia, where they hardly ever bake or fry their chicken dry. However, the networking young businesspeople "at the bar" kind of let themselves be heard around the entire restaurant and the people even spilled into areas I doubt they were supposed seep into. Plus, this further distracted waiters from doing their job, which is calmly serving their assigned tables and not navigating the crowd. Hence, A- for food, D- for ambience. That brings down the star rating from "I'm a fan" to "A-OK". I think that's pretty fair.
I came here during restaurant week and was seriously blown away. The decor is trendy but service is kinda slow, although it was understandable because it is restaurant week. This is what I was able to sample:
- lobster kabocha soup - it was okay
- lobster spring rolls - good but not amazing
- crab cakes - AWESOME!
- salmon japonais - DROOLICIOUS (so good that I had to make up a new word for it)
- kabocha cheesecake - fluffy creamy heaven + drooliciousness
I went again today for their tasting menu and was a bit disappointed. Our menu today:
- japonais burger - it was good the first couple of bites. but god damn that burger was fat AND ended up really greasy plus messy to eat. It came with pomme fritas aka sweet potato fries with spicy mayo dipping sauce and that was decent.
- tuna pastrami sandwich - it was def better tasting than the burger. not greasy and a good portion.
- tokyo drums - sweet and pretty tasty although kinda messy as well
- sweet and sour calamari - for some reason i thought it was going to be fried but it's not. it was actually okay. not amazing though
- japanese chicken fried rice - O.M.G this was the dish that actually made me have to write a review. It was THE WORST fried rice I've ever had. It was dry and tasteless. Plus it was def not worth $7 bucks for that little portion they gave me. Don't waste your money on this. just give me $7 bucks and I'll make you some bombass fried rice
I had Chicago friends who raved about the one there and so when I saw the Japonais steps from my hotel, I couldn't resist trying it with some friends.
It was a Thursday night and the place was pretty empty. I think it has to do with the very high prices and the mediocrity!
The sashimi was fine, but nothing spectacular. The rolls likewise. We ordered a few apps, the spicy calamari was not very good, the lobster spring rolls were very bland and the flour based wrappers were chalky.
Overall I don't think I'd eat here again. Just no reason to as it really was very underwhelming.
One of the worst restaurant week selections we have ever made.
How is this restaurant even called Japonais when I tasted no Japanese influence in the dishes we ordered?!
Spring rolls, crab cakes, ribs, chicken, pumpkin cheesecake.. WTH
Nothing stood out as even good. Mediocrity annoys the hell out of me- GO BIG OR GO HOME! I got a $10 glass of wine that was better than the $35 meal. This is why AA can't get me to quit drinking.
OK, so the ambiance and decor is nice. If you're trying to take your date out to a trendy-looking place I would recommend it, as long as she doesn't have a taste for fine food.
After squinting at our menus for over 10 minutes (it is WAY too dark in there for a 7pm dinner seating) and waiting for our waiter for another 10, a by-passing server for a different section noticed us and came over to take our order for her unattentive co-worker's behalf.
My bf and I decided on trying something from the sushi menu as well as their traditional kitchen menu
"The Rock" is their popular appetizer which may be more of a "neat thing" than a tasty thing. Sure it's kinda cool that you can heat up raw pieces of meat on a small hot stone, but not if your beef is drenched in soy sauce. It was incredibly salty and when I mentioned this to our waiter, he chuckled and said "they tend to overdo it sometimes." What kind of comment is that? Yikes.
We got the crispy shrimp and salmon rolls which were very good, however lacking in the *crisp* Besides, you put japanese spicy mayo on just about anything and you can't go wrong.
The toro was good but nothing special and quite frankly a little on the puny side
We got the grilled hamachi, which was probably the best dish of the night, and even that didn't blow me away.
One thing I don't understand about this restaurant is the ambiance and music. It seems like the owners are concentrating more on making this a hip, trendy place to attract the 20-somethings but in actuality they should focus more on improving the food and service. At one point the music went from this smooth blues number to a Beenie Man reggae song. Also some of the diners look they're under-age clubbers in their scantily dressed clothing.
I just don't know, I left the restaurant disappointed, hungry and confused.
After having passed by Japonais a hundred times (on my way to work), I finally came in for a long and proper Lunch. The setting is very modern and chic, and quite nice when they have the large windows/doors open. The service was excellent and the food was good. We started with the Wagyu Carpaccio, Lobster Spring Rolls and Hawaiian Hamachi. The Wagyu Carpaccio was delicious, the Lobster Spring Rolls were a bit too fried and the Hawaiian Hamachi was just a hair shy of beating out the wagyu in a taste test. Overall, good start. For entrees, I indulged in the Tuna Steak and my companions opted for the Petit Filet and Japonais Fried Rice. My Tuna Steak came out just right, seared on the outside and rare in the middle; it was also floating on a nice roasted scallion potato puree. Overall, the entrée was good, but not extraordinary. We topped it off with the assorted homemade sorbets, which added just the right amount of sweetness to the whole meal.
Be warned that Japonais isn't for those on a budget. My companions and I were all quite surprised when the bill came, but slightly intoxicated and content none the less. On a plus note, our waiter offered us a free (large) Kirin when a gnat had flown into my companion's glass; highly unnecessary, but definitely appreciated. I will have to come back to try out their dinner menu, it really is a nice space.
Bloody Mary Mix is awesome with Wasabi and Soy Sauce in it. We only had drinks and a spicy tuna roll that was ok. Great Ambience
I love the Tasting Hour here and I am ecstatic that they have now extended their hours to be All Night Mon-Thurs and 5-8pm Fri and Sat!
The atmosphere is very sleek and modern, in line with what you'd expect from one of the restaurants off Park Ave. I've been to the one in Chicago too - that one is over the top b/c of their outdoor area and people go there more as a lounge. I would say the NY one is more of a restaurant.
During Tasting Hour, they have $4 cocktails including a startini drink which is really delicious but beware - very sweet! They also have appetizers for $7 each. Surprisingly, the best deal is their 2 maki for $7. They only have tuna, avocado, spicy tuna, salmon and shitaki mushroom roll (no inside out and you cannot combine fillings)....but still, compared to the local chinese owned Japanese join down the street where 2 rolls would net out at $8.50 anyway, it's a steal! And to enjoy it in such a fancy atmosphere!
I've also sampled the Tokyo Drums (very good, heavily glazed, tasty mayo-ey dipping sauce ), lobster spring rolls (just average) and calamari (good but average).
My favorite is the Japonais Burger - I really enjoy this burger. It is SUPER juicy and tender. The spice they use really gives it some nice heat and a kick that makes you want more. The truffle mayo and cheese perfectly complements the burger and is deliciously melty and gooey. The sweet potato fries are AWESOME. A nice generous portion well worth the $12. Even if you miss tasting hour, I think the burger is still around the same price.
The only negative thing about Tasting Hour is that they seat you in the lounge, and the tables and chairs are very low and not so comfortable. The regular menu seems overpriced, and since the food is so good off the tasting hour, I doubt I will ever get to anything on the regular menu. Oh, and p.s. reservations are recommended even for tasting hour!
This is yet another swanky Japanese restaurant that New York seems to be already plenty stocked of. I've never been to the one in Chicago, but judging from pictures I'd say the NYC transplant fell a little short of my design expectations. I needed a place that comfortably fit about a party of ten with good food and great atmosphere. Atmosphere wise, this place has got it. Sleek, fancy, modern. I loved that they use round tables too. There's nothing worse than setting out to catch up with friends and have great conversation, then getting seated at a long table like the last supper. You can only hear those 4 people immediately around you. So I appreciate good old roundtable discussions from time to time.
The food and it's presentation was interesting if you've never seen expensive, thin slices of beef cooked on a hot rock before, yeah it will impress the socks off of ya. But if you have, then its soo been-there-done-that.
Overall the food was decent, but not exactly anything outside of the box or unseen before. In fact there was really not too much that was very memorable about the meal. I was here over a year ago and certainly haven't made a return trip or have really recommended it to others either. I guess that says a lot.
I do have to say that they have pretty killer happy hour deals, which in our economy is a welcome sigh of relief!
On the taxi ride over to this place I actually got a bit giddy....I have visited the Japonais in Chicago and was completely impressed with the beautiful scenic view, surroundings, and amazing martinis served in the lounge.
I wondered if the New York version would deliver? I know I will not get an open-air view of the chicago river...but maybe...
I was not disappointed. The place is posh, a NY mix version of Lady Gaga playing in the background, and we were immediately seated in one of the possibly prettiest places in town. Mind you I'm just a humble NY visitor.
Not too soon after we ordered, our drinks arrived. Starfruit Martini....it was icy, light on the sweet flavor and tingly to my tongue. Still rolling on excitement of hitting a sweet sushi spot.
Spicy tuna rolls arrive. They are spicy, and super fresh. Super fresh you say? Oh yeah. After years of noshing on Spicy Tuna I know when someone has delivered to my table an especially fresh version. Loved it. Shrimp Tempura was also outstanding.
The waiters were prompt, the place maintained its 'hip' and young vibe, and now, yes please keep duplicating the red revolving doors for your next venue, Japonais. Its definitely a chic trademark 'Do'.
Three stars for decent food and a nice atmosphere. Zero stars for our waiter, who at the end of the dinner presented us with the check, asked us to settle out right away and then disappeared for ten minutes while we waited like dummies with our credit cards out.
Good items:
tuna ceviche, "the rock", "le quack japonais", lobster spring rolls, coffee and doughnuts, chocolate decadence and the pumpkin cheesecake.
I don't think I'd go here again, there are better spots to spend $80+ on dinner.
I would say try it, but only once.
The Startini is a tasty drink, it's on the $4 happy hour specials.
The food was not good, got chicken drumettes, lobster roll and calamari. None of them tasted very good, they were served up hot and we were hungry - the food was bland.
The decor is cheesy and trying hard to be NY-sleek, but comes off like a hotel lounge.
Service was snooty and the server was obviously managing several tables but he kept pretending not to hear us when we needed his attention. I would say go there if you don't have other options, but Butai next door is what I would totally favor.
I came here a few months ago. The venue is very beautiful and nicely decorated and the service was impeccable. They were very attentive and answered our questions and were very helpful.
We had a large group go to dinner and I think everyone really enjoyed the food there. I started with the lobster spring rolls and my husband got the calamaria. They were both nicely presented and tasted good.
For the entree, I got the Filet Mignon and my husband got the rack of lamb. Again, very nicely presented and very tasty. My sis in law got the duck which was also really good!
I noticed if you come early enough, there are special happy hour menus. The staff was happy to oblige us with the happy hour menus (for our appetizers) because our dinner reservation was so early. I would most likely come back here again because of our pleasant experience here.
Minus 1 star for chestnut chicken that dry on the outside and not thoroughly cooked on the inside.
Other than that. was one of the BEST meals we had in NY this trip. Very cool "NYC" clubby atmosphere. great DJ. good people watching.
All the food was delicious - had the seaweed salad. had the BBQ pork bun with 2 sauces
The Rock was yummy - though ran out of heat b/c I like my meat totally well done as opposed to less so.
husband loved the kobocha dessert - said it was a cake-y cheesecake.
The duck - huge portion. mango chutney good with it. would've liked it with fluffy peking duck bread as opposed to the mooshoo bread. but that's ok.
Manager was very attentive and waiter was great until the end when he got swamped by 3 groups and it was really hard to get his attention.
Glad I went here despite some of the reviews here. Needed a cool NYC "scene" restaurant with good food (at least what we ordered)
Delicious food, attentive service, nice decor, and very, very pricey.
We had reservations for 8, but arrived a few minutes early. Eight rolled around and the table wasn't ready. The maitre'de suggested we relax in the bar, and that sounded like a good idea, so we headed over there.
We really didn't come for drinks (we came to eat), so I got some spring water and someone else got a diet coke. The other people in our party just hung out and talked. The bartender and waitress made it clear that if we wanted to be in the bar/lounge, that it was preferred if we ordered drinks. They kept pestering us to order alcohol (not even joking, 3 or 4 times in 10-15 minutes). When we said we we're just waiting on a table and having soda and spring water, we got a heap of attitude. I realize soft drinks aren't liqueur drinks, but we were waiting for a table to eat dinner, not pointlessly taking up space, sipping tap water, and passing the time. What the hell were we supposed to do, sit on the floor while the table is prepared? Asses.
Kind of a nasty start to the dining experience, but I didn't write off the place. I was really expecting some interesting and tasty food. Anyway, we finally got seated and got down to eating. As is the case so many times with these hyped up, chic-type places, the food was average at best, came in tiny portions, and was not very satisfying. And the pricing, even though I was aware that it wasn't cheap, was quite obnoxious for the mediocre food they serve. It's not abominably bad, but it certainly wasn't worth $100 for 2 apps and an entree. When I left I couldn't get over how disappointing the whole experience was.
I'd say there are far better Japanese places out there in the city. Check around on Yelp or Zagat's (who gave this place an 18 out of 30 I believe), there's certainly better places to go.
By the way, even though it will sound strange, I really liked the vibe of the bar (aside from those 2 staffers of course), The music was eclectic and fun and the lighting and decor was pretty cool. I would recommend having a few drinks in the lounge and just chilling out. Just make sure you come to drink alcohol and not a soda - the bar staff may take it personally that you aren't spending $20 for a scotch.
FOOD: nothing I had was really all that great, esp the baked oysters w/ cheese. It was the weirdest combo between cold n raw topped w/ something warm n savory. gag. HOWEVER, the sliders were pretty delicious...not sure if it's because of its subpar comparisons or if it was actually good. OOOOOR..maybe the food dropped in quality because I went during Restaurant Week. I swear, I've never had a good meal during this time...w/out ordering OUTSIDE the RW menu.
Ambience: Modern, high ceiling. Sexy. Impressive. Nice date place.
Service: good
Can I give negative stars?
-Food is bland and boring.
-Drinks aren't strong.
-Service is NON-EXISTENT. Hostesses made us wait for a table for 7 @7pm for 20 min after our reservation even though there was absolutely no one in the dining room (we had already been there for 2 hours at happy hour!). I guess that's when hh ends so it's a hectic time for them, but come on!!!
-The waiter removed our tuna tartar when we were only 1/2 done with it... the manager came over to apologize for their premature taking away of our food and gave us a new one... which he promptly charged us for (twice)!
-Charged us $2.50 each for 3 extra rolls we asked for (there were 7 people and they gave us 2 rolls!). Wouldn't comp it when we complained. The rolls are also really really bad hard and bland.
Happy hour is their 1 redeeming factor - leave as soon as it is over!
Hit up Jamponais for Restaurant Week. My friends and I had been wanting to come for a while now.
The menu is pretty extensive, the regular menu items really weren't badly priced, we could have just ordered from there instead of RW.
Tips:
1. If you order from RW menu you can choose an $8 glass of either white or red wine.
2. You could also order a $40 bottle of wine.
3. Happy Hour includes well priced drinks as well as $7 appetizers.
We got here on time, were seated right away. The dining room is beautifully decorated. My options from the RW menu were:
1. Lobster Spring Rolls - mango relish and blood orange vinagrette.
2. Petite Filet Mignon - 4oz grilled fillet with uni butter, white miso truffled potato puree and grilled asparagus.
3. Kabocha Cheesecake - Japanese pumkin cheesecake with five spiced mousse and almond cookie crust.
We also ordered a shrimp and salmon maki roll (without realizing it was one of the RW options - but the RW dish only came with 3 rolls). The roll was very good, came with a sauce on top. It kind of came apart easily however. The fish definitely tasted fresh but it certainly wasn't the most unique roll I have ever tasted.
The spring rolls were absolutely perfect. The sauce did not overpower the lobster taste, it complimented the dish perfectly. I could have eaten ten of them in under a minute. I definitely recommend it.
The filet mignon was cooked to perfection. I like my meat medium rare, and it was exactly the way I like it. The mashed potatoes were a perfect compliment to the meat, thick and creamy. I even ate the asparagus (despite not being a vegetable fan) and enjoyed it. I cleaned my plate!
The desert was alright. It had a very strong taste of anis. I am a chocolate person so I would have perferred a chocolate desert. The cake tasted a little burnt around the edges, but the mousse had a great texture.
Other people at my table also loved the filet mignon and spring rolls, and thoroughly enjoyed the chicken and salmon entrees. The watermelon soup desert was a beautiful dish-- looks like a watermelon (you have to see to believe).
The service was good, our waitress was certainly attentive, however, a little too pushy with having us order drinks, wine, etc. She also came out to tell us how many minutes until our next course. Although I appreciated her effort to keep us informed it doesn't allow us to simply sit back and enjoy our dining experience as it unfolded.
Overall, many hit dishes, a couple bland ones, and prettty good service. But I think this place is a great place for a big group since the food could cater to everyone's tastes.
I feel bad about being critical of this place, since my dear friend from college took me there....ummm...Japonais, you couldn't impress me.
No "Yummy Approval" stamp for you.
First of all, the food is overpriced for what it is. We had a bunch of appetizers in the lounge with a nice sauvignon blanc. Here are some of the dishes we tried:
--Wagyu carpaccio w/ yuzu and dark soy ginger sauce ($14)
--Manju buns: homemade steamed braised pork and scallion buns w/ hot mustard ($9: 3 buns)
--Sweet and sour calamari: fried calamari in a sweet and sour sauce with wasabi vinaigrette ($14)
This is my thing: since I'm a born n' raised n' food-spoiled-Japanese, just throwing some Japanese (or Asian) flair into a dish is not enough for me.
The carpaccio tasted like thin sliced raw beef: It didn't even taste like WAGYU to me (it should've been more buttery), and was topped with some supermarket yuzu dressing. I suppose that was why it was only $14. And manju? OK, they were just freakin' pork buns, baby!! Also, the hot mustard was so not necessary: too much seasoning going on in that little porky boy. The calamari was just all right. Not bad - but again, it was just spicy fried squid with, ah, wasabi dressing? Hey, where were you, Wasabi? Whazaaaap!? It did not taste like wasabi.
I get that it's a fusion cuisine, but I've seen/tasted more innovative and "superb harmony of textures and spices in you mouth" kinda fusion cuisine elsewhere (such as, "Gari of Sushi" in NYC). Japonais couldn't even come to close to any.
OK, Misha's Yummy Judgment has come:
2 stars for their trying-too-hard, half-ass-Japanese/whatever dishes (I threw extra 1/2 point for our cute wait staff with nice BUNS)
H-o-w-e-v-e-r, the ambience was nice. We stayed there for a couple of hours on the comfy corner sofa. The place is airy, and has a high ceiling.
I agree with most of the average reviews on this place. Met for apps and drinks last night and it was OK. It would be great if it wasn't priced like it is. The lobster rolls were good but not great. The beef kabobs were good but less than two ounces was a joke. And I felt like they were rushing us the whole time, they kept asking to take dishes with half the food still on them and drinks half full. I'd pass and just hit the bar .
My friend took me here for my birthday last night for dinner. It was a really cute place, very big. I liked that it was open in the front.
For drinks, we had the startini and the strawberyy, lime martini. The strawberry lime martini was like stoli raz with sprite. I wasn't impressed. The startini was good though, tangy.
We started with "The Rock", one of my favorites from the night. Small peices of steak are brought to you on one plate and a very hot rock on another plate. You cook your steak on the rock at your table. Alot like Gyu-Kaku but way cooler cause it's a rock, haha
We also had the drumsticks, nothing special, as well as the lobster rolls- also mediocre.
For the main course we shared the burger with pommes frites. Some of the best fries I've had in my life. The burger was really tasty to, really seasoned well. Good bread and cheese.
For dessert we had the dish with the apples and ice cream, I can't remember the exact name of it. Was really good but not enough ice cream for the amount of apples.
Overall, it was delicious. The service was 5 star. I will surely be back, especially for their $4 happy hour drinks.
Not a fan. First of all, the bartender ignored us and took forever to pour one glass of wine and open a bottle of beer because she was very busy chatting it up with some dude. The patrons in the bar area were equally obnoxious. My personal favorite was the man in his 50s sitting next to me who was flirting with the 25 and under girls. Gross!
When we were finally seated the food was totally disappointing. The lobster spring rolls were nothing special. My entree was ice cold and not that tasty. The wasabi mashed potatoes were boring.
I left feeling very dissatisfied with the food and annoyed by the amount of money spent on such a lousy meal.
Because I enjoyed its Chicago counterpart so immensely, I gave the NY branch an undeserving extra star.
Where Japonais shined in every aspect in Chicago, the NY one was nothing but disappointment for me.
My friend had her goodbye/birthday dinner here and the staff did nothing to accommodate our party of 11 with any form of hospitality.
We weren't allowed to be seated even though 9 of us were already there.
They made us crowd around a standing table by the bar.
9 people, winter coats, scarves and loads of presents. You get the picture.
When we were finally allowed to be seated (still the 9 of us), we were given menus and I snuck away to ask the maitre'd to please bring a dessert of some sort at the end of the meal so we can sing Happy Birthday.
He asked who the birthday girl was and I pointed to her and he nodded.
You'd think that was indication that my request was acknowledged. Not so much.
They do have a wonderful wine/cocktail selection and although I didn't have any sake at this particular location, I can vouch that it is some of the best I've ever had. It comes in a glass vase with a hole in the middle for ice. Very cleverly Japanese.
Their pear martini is delicious and their fresh orchid martini is almost deathly (as in alcoholic content).
The food, although pricey is pretty decent overall.
The kobe beef that you cook on a searing rock is great as always but did not come on the large, smooth, round rock like it does in Chicago. A few points docked for lack of presentation.
One of my favorites in Chicago is the Tuna flatbread.
In Chicago it came on a wonderful crispy (real) flatbread with nicely marinated raw tuna and various sauces.
The one in New York that was presented to my friends was nearly its polar opposite.
It tasted (and looked) like a a chicken pizza. The flatbread was doughy, the sauce was heavy and the tuna indistinguishable from white-meat chicken.
When we finally worked up the nerve to do something about it, the servers gave no indication of even pretending to be helpful and we were awarded with a "that's too bad" shrug.
Their sweet and sour calamari is some of the best I've had.
Its unique flavors go well with the tough texture of squid and the dish is minimally fried.
The lobster spring rolls were decent although not amazing.
I've had many of their entree dishes and most were good (The "Le Quack" is one of my faves with their tangy mango salsa and tangerine slices).
I opted for the Japonais burger just to mix things up a bit and I wasn't disappointed.
For $14 you get a giant very well-seasoned burger with Maytag blue cheese. It came with herb-roasted sweet potato fries and a horseradish mayo.
For a restaurant this pricey and at risk to being forgotten in a city full of wonderful unique restaurants, the service really needs to be raised a bit.
For a Friday night prime time meal, the restaurant was nowhere near crowded. We were by far the largest party and since my friend made reservations way in advance, they should have expected us.
As mentioned earlier with the birthday surprise, when it came time for dessert we had to ask two other waiters for a small dessert (which we had to pay for) before it was brought to us. Obviously communication is not their strong suit either.
However, once we managed to get them to bring out something, it went extremely well. They snuck up behind my friend while we distracted her and lit the cake with a real sparkler.
The dessert was delicious. The chocolate mousse cake was delicately made and melted in your mouth. It came with a raspberry gelatin pudding and a few chocolate beignets (think: munchkins but less crudely made).
I think my Chicago visits to this restaurant really tainted my NY experience and in juxtaposition with my feelings on Sushi Samba the NY version vs the Chi one...I think I can firmly say that these trendy chain restaurants work much better in Chicago than here.
In a city famous for their metamorphosis of cuisine, chain restaurants roll off the tongue as well as scalding milk on a hot day.
No thanks.
I was introduced to Japonais just before the New Year while on a trip to NY. It was a pleasant surprise dinner date and I have to say my date did a great job selecting a restaurant that was both romantic and a fit for my tastes in food, decor and ambiance. He scored some points for picking this place! I am a sushi lover and though he is not he still picked this place because their menu offers other options.
I found the service superb. I wish I could remember the name of the server. He was very attentive, even as other tables were seated in his area. He was also very honest about what to order and what to skip. I asked about the lobster dish and he politely told me that it might not be the best entree to order. I appreciated that advice and went with the crab cakes as my primary entree. They turned out to be some of the best crab cakes I've ever eaten and being from the Tidewater area of Virginia, I've had a cornucopia of crab cakes in my day.
My date had the salmon and he enjoyed it. For starters we had different sushi rolls. This was the best shrimp and salmon roll I've ever had. I go to a number of sushi restaurants in Atlanta, ordering the same roll, but Japonais really exceeded my expectations. Despite saying he didn't like sushi he seemed to enjoy my rolls and the crab rolls he ordered.
Dessert could have been better. Perhaps because I am just not a fan of apple pie or apple inspired desserts.
Drinks were decent, I would give them 3.5 stars compared with other bars. I wanted to come back to Japonais the next day, but my trip to the Big Apple was over. Next time I am in the Union Square area I am going to visit Japonais again. No doubt.
Was in town for the weekend and met a bunch of friends out for dinner here. I only had sushi and sashimi off the menu, so can't really comment on the rest of the food.
The chef special roll we had was AMAZING! The yellow tuna roll and real crab California roll was also delicious. I also had the smoked salmon sashimi and it was absolutely scrumptious.
The ambiance was really beautiful too. I would definitely recommend this place, although maybe more for special occasions-it was a bit pricey. I should mention I am a grad students, so funds are low.
I have been to Japonais several times and have always been impressed. The food is quite good as are the cocktails (try the startini)...
Between 5 and 7 Mon-Sat they have a tasting menu in the lounge which has 7 dollar appetizers, 4 dollar cocktails, etc.
Definitely a good deal...
Sometimes the service is a subpar, but generally I think Japonais has a very nice ambiance and menu...
Appetizer:
Lobster spring rolls
spicy mono octopus roll with spicy tuna and eel sauce
Main Course:
Filet Mignon with uni butter and white miso potatoes
Dessert:
kabocha cheese cake pumpkin pineapple mouse and almond cookie crust
sorbet with watermelon soup and yuzu cookie
Japonais was extremely packed the night I decided to go. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about this place and also extreme reviews. They were either extremely terrible or extremely good. The horror stories were so bad that I almost considered canceling my reservation because I didn't want the chance of having a horrible dinner. One thing I do not like about japonais is the mandatory tip. I was afraid this was the reason for the horror stories of horrible service.
We waited over 30 -45 minutes after our reservations before being seated. It was so crowded that it was standing room only and we decided to sit by the bar on the high tables to be seated earlier instead of waiting for a real table. So far ... not great ... I was getting a little nervous.
We got our menu and I was disappointed the "rock" wasn't on there. I've been looking forward to that all day! We decided to start off with the Lobster spring rolls and spicy mono octopus roll.
The lobster spring rolls were extremely small and I had a little mixed feeling about it. I enjoyed it but it tasted too much to me like a cheap spring roll and stuffed with some lobster.
The mono octopus rolls were actually a pleasant surprise. This was extremely delicious. I was dying for more. The texture of the octopus and tuna and sweetness of the eel sauce blended perfectly together.
The service was actually pretty good. The food came out pretty speedy and the waiter was attentive. Once we finished our plates were cleared off and table was reset. Our water and beverages never hovered a dangerous level.
The main course arrived and the Filet Mignon was TINY but I already knew it was going to be so it wasn't a shock. I asked my steak to be cooked medium rare and as I cut it open it was perfectly pinkish red. Just the way I like it. The best part about the steak was the Uni butter. WHAT A BRILLIANT idea! I've had a lot of Japanese food but I've NEVER had uni butter before. It was creamy with uni but also had the taste of butter. The sweetness of the uni blended well with the butter. Mmmm delicious! I give this 5 stars! I loved it.
The cheesecake dessert was amazing. Completely not expecting it at all. I know this was either hate it or love it since ive read so many reviews about people hating it but my gf and I LOVEd IT. The pumpkin flavoring was awesome and the mousse like texture was great. The cookie at the bottom was also delicious.
Unfortunately I couldn't say the same about the sorbet. Nothing spectacular about it. Just sorbet in watermelon juice... whoopdi doo.
Bottom line tho. Japonais blew my expectations away. I was seriously expecting a TERRIBLE dinner experience cause of the horror stories but everything tasted great and service was awesome . Only complain is since we were in such close proximity to the table next to us the server who served the sorbet dessert to the table next to us spilled the watermelon juice on my gf's cashmere overcoat and the server didn't apologize just gave us a napkin and said here.
Happy Hour Deal~Just 4…
Jersey City, NJ
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Category: Japanese
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Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Japanese
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