On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
Neighborhood: East VillageAstor Place (6)
8th St-Broadway (R, W)
2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Loading...
My quest to visit all of the Michelin-starred restaurants in NYC continues with another doubleheader: A Voce for lunch and Jewel Bako for dinner.
Jewel Bako is a real delight. Everyone is so happy here, it's simply contagious. And for good reason, for there is little to disappoint.
I began by sharing a salad with my friend, and then we both opted for the omakase. The salad was beautifully presented, had very fresh greens, and a nice citrus vinaigrette. I usually never order salads, but this was enjoyable. The omakase began with a serving of miso soup. I found it remarkable because the flavor of the broth was interesting and had some nuance to it making it far better than most miso soups -- a promising start. Omakase is of course entirely the chef's selection, but we were asked if we had any preferences or dietary restrictions. We had no restrictions, but knowing they do have certain selections they fly in from Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, I requested that the dinner include some of these. That request went over really well as no less than 6 of the 12 nigirizushi were from Tsukiji. I will refrain from detailing each of the 12, but suffice it to say all the selections were fresh and tasted incredible. I loved the abalone, it was so good! The salmon was actually done with one salmon roe on top of it which was a nice whimsical touch. The needlefish was also quite good, and I am always thrilled to see it as a selection. I loved the contrast in the two types of snapper offered. And, I can't believe this, there was one selection I never saw before. The fish was enveloped in a lone shiso leaf, and it was really quite good. I wish I knew more about it, but the sense of mystery was nice for someone who has eaten more than his fair share of sushi. Just excellent overall. For dessert I had the green tea ice cream which was accompanied by plum sake and green tea, both compliments of the house. The green tea flavor really came through in the ice cream, and it was really quite good as a result. The plum sake also really paired well with the ice cream. I will have to remember that in the future.
The decor is trendy with the setup basically being two abbreviated tunnels flanked on the far end by a partially visible sushi bar. Tables are small and are really ideal for romantic encounters. I was impressed how they made great use of a limited amount of space. I was also impressed by the very good service -- so attentive and always done with a big smile.
This is not the best sushi spot in the city, but it is definitely in my top five. But with that said, more attention is given here to ambience than some other notable places. So trust assured, you will have a great meal and a great time. Definitely recommend.
I just had dinner at this restaurant and I was totally amazed by the freshness and the great taste of the sushi. Most of their fish are imported from Tokyo, Japan.
Perhaps the best deal I had on sushi for a long time, for $50 the chef Omakase offers twelves different types of perfectly made sushi. My favorite as always were the salmon and the Otoro, but I also enjoyed very much the abalone, the needle fish, the eel and the two types of snapper. The half sushi roll was delicious as well. It was my first time having the shiso leaf on my sushi, and the "minty" and basil flavor of the leaf was very enjoyable and quite memorable.
For an appetizer, I was served miso soup. I liked it, I usually can only tolerate tofu in miso soup.
For desert I ordered the green tea ice cream and the complimentary hot tea was a perfect match with my desert.
The tunnel shape ceiling really caught my attention.
So why did I give it 4 stars, well just because Sushi Azabu remains my favorite sushi place.
1. The decor is sick, one of the cooler looking restaurants ive set foot in
2. the sushi omakase was very good and reasonably priced.... can't quite remember exactly but I think it was 8 pieces for $50
3. the seaweed salad is not traditional and kinda weird... id stay away
4. the japanese mushroom app is just plain old boring
5. the uni was scrumptious
6. they have three different types of toro, which made my tummy happy
7. great place for a date
My boyfriend took me to Jewel for my birthday. He made reservations(two months prior) for two seats at the sushi bar for the "Chef's Omakase Tasting Menu"($). We both love sake and sushi and we're very much looking forward to a nice bottle (or two) with our splurge of a meal. Upon arrival there is no one to greet us(no biggie) in the beautiful but vacant place and we wait a few minutes before I have to go look for someone. Once we're acknowledged, the owner indifferently tells us he has no seats for us at the "empty" sushi bar due to mistake but he'll give us a free bottle of sake, then unapologetically walks away leaving us to the hostess. Seated in the lovely dinning room with full view of empty suchi bar chairs we are given some pretty bad sake which ended up being the cheapest on menu(insulting). Ouch is now turning into unbearable. But just then some of the most delicious suchi I've ever had starts arriving at our table. Im so blown away by the mixed experiences and then notice some business men are seated at the sushi bar. Considerable amounts of time starts passing between delicious coarses as more expense account parties start filling up the dinning room. At one point we wait so long for our next course it takes all I've got to just grin and bear it because my adorable boyfriend is starting to give me the "Im so terribly sorry look". I could actually continue on with more insulting details but I'm getting pissed all over again just thinking about Jewel Bako. So If your party is corporate and on an expense account it looks like they'll roll out the red carpet. But, if your there for a romantic meal, I hope you don't get treated like rotten old fish. I own my own mom and pop business and understand first hand that you won't always get it right.Authentic/heartfelt apologies do go along way. I will never return to this place.
This is my favorite sushi place in NYC. Not because it has the best sushi, because Yasuda takes the cake there, but because it has the best value. $50 omakase for sushi at Bako's quality has thus far proved unbeatable in my experiences. Developing a rapport with Chef Yoshi at the sushi bar certainly doesn't hurt either. Chat with him a little while he bounces around the sushi bar in a frenzy, serving you piece by piece from his best stuff of the day, and he'll be sure to remember you. His attention to detail and elephant-like memory ensures that he will properly cater to your invidividual palate on repeat visits.
But, eating at the sushi bar is imperative. Sitting at a table is an unacceptable substitute. I came here 4 years ago and dined at a table and upon leaving, quickly forgot this place existed. A series of chance happenings led me back to Jewel Bako a year later, and after having sushi omakase at the bar, I became addicted. Now, I go back every chance I get.
Favorite item: Sake glass filled with vinegared sushi rice on the bottom, sliced cucumber, ikura, and some of the freshest uni you will find in NYC, half seared, half left untouched and beautifully, vibrantly orange.
P.S. - Jack Lamb needs to quit his day job and open more sushi bars.
As Degustation's sister joint, Jewel Bako had big shoes to fill; and boy, did it fill them! I can safely say, it was the best sushi I've had it New York. We ordered:
+ 360 ml bottle of sake - fruity, and supposedly light but got us drunk very quickly.
+ Large spicy tuna roll with scallions and cucumber.
+ Japanese snow crab roll with avocado and kani miso
+ Small avocado roll - the avocado was insanely creamy. where did they find those? I want!
+ Small shrimp roll
+ Small yamaimo mountain yam roll (its white, tastes nothing like normal yam, but its awesome)
As is the signature of any great sushi place, the ingredients were F.R.E.S.H. It seemed like everything had been picked right out of the secret river and garden connected to the kitchen.
The decor was also fantastic. It was as if we were sitting in an ornate bamboo tunnel. Actually, may be they were trying to make it look like the bamboo sushi chefs use to roll the sushi. YEAH. We were the sushi (jewel) under the bamboo! I've got it! I've got to look up what bako means, I may be on to something!
I loved Jewel Bako's sister restaurant Degustation so I was very excited to try Jewel Bako especially after I found out they served fresh Geoduck ("gooeyduck" - the fowl-looking giant clam from the pacfic northwest)
Result: I felt very contradicted hence the 3 out of 5. I'll explain with alternating pros and cons
Pro: Fresh Fresh cuts of fish, melts in your mouth yada yada
Con: Very low portion to dollar ratio - for $4-$7 a pop, I except double the of the portions we received.
Pro: 4 selections of Saba or Mackerel (my favorite) - which included the Baracuda! I was so excited...
Con: When I ordered one piece of each, only 2 were available...buzz kill
Pro: Geoduck! love the crunchy texture and natural fresh flavor
Con: none here
Pro: Sashimi/Sushi Omakase - very nice 10 piece selection (including Baracuda, sweet shrimp, fresh fresh Unagi) with small 3 piece roll and white miso soup
Con: Sashimi/Sushi Omakase - for the $50 price tag, I can get more at equally good sushi places like Morimoto
We also had a spicy tuna roll and the Anago/Shiitake "sumo" roll that were very good. Service is just okay, felt a little rushed.
This city has so many restaurants, aside from my Pac NW friend, I will not be thinking of Jewel Bako anytime soon.
With a name as adorable as Jewel Bako and a coveted Michelin blossom to said name, this place had a lot of impressing to do. I'm happy to say that I walked away sufficiently impressed.
First of all, this may be the cutest restaurant I've ever dined in. The decor is wonderfully precious without being cheesy. Two separate identical dining areas holding two rows of tables against either wall of each converge in front and back at the entrance and the sushi bar. High sloped walls made me feel like I was taking my meal in the belly of a happy magical whale, you know, the kind without gross internal organs.
The splendid fresh fish was easily worthy of a king of whales. I went with the sashimi set menu, and my friends ordered the snapper roll, the scallop roll with yuzu zest (they seared the scallop on request), and the scorpion fish. We also got edamame and mushrooms en papillote to start.
Both the starters were stellar examples of standard Japanese fare. The edamame were all cute little two-bean shorties sprinkled with bright crunchy sea salt, and the array of mushrooms was plentiful and nicely varied, and all were steamed beautifully.
My friends' rolls and scorpion fish were decent, though I thought the scorpion fish might have tended towards bland, but my sashimi platter was superb. A financially sound order considering the per-piece pricing of the a la carte menu (even with an extra order of mirugai), it came loaded up with gorgeous slabs of stunningly fresh fish arranged neat and pretty on a rectangular plate. I had toro, tuna, snapper, scallop, yellowtail, orange clam, salmon, and amaebi along with two thick cuts of mirugai. Each and every piece of sushi was memorable in both texture and flavor. Not a chew came short of fantastic.
At the end of our meal, Jack Lamb himself showed up and advised our server to take care of our dessert. We each got a plate holding a green tea profiterole and a scoop of black sesame ice cream. Both were tasty and wonderfully free. I wonder if it was a treat due to the recession, or if we were just that gosh darned lovable. ...yeah, the place was on the empty side. Service on the whole was leisurely but attentive - they kept an eye on us but let us dine at our own pace, which was fine by me.
Our meal ended up at just under $50 a person, which, all things considered, not terrible, and easily the least I've shelled out at a Michelined joint. It was a great dining experience in the cutest of venues, and I'd be eager to repeat it some time soon.
Attention to detail is an understatement with these guys. Their service and food were both divine. They are attentive and friendly but were also very conscious to give our table space to fully relax and indulge in such a culinary experience. We were there for almost three hours. Slowly eating, laughing, and drinking away a summer night. I couldn't have been happier with my time at Jewel Bako.
I had the chef's omakasse, which was most likely the best sushi I've ever eaten. I wish I could regurgitate all the different fishies presented by the waitress, but I wouldn't be able to give her descriptions or knowledge of each delicate work of sushi art any justice. The chefs truly are masters of their craft.
To be honest, im not a huge sushi guy (hence my skewed 4 stars) but I do know their food is of the highest quality and service of the most elite caliber. I walked out of Jewel Bako a believer. A must visit for sushi fans.
Excellent, excellent restaurant and service. If you're going to come here, you might as well go all the way and get the Omakase tasting menu. Three full savory courses and a sweet course, plus various pieces of nigiri that just appear from the chef when they're ready. There's something very cool about seeing a hand-held blow torch used on raw scallops.
If you visit NY and LOVE sushi...you'd be a FOOL to miss this place!! I still have dreams about here..it was just THAT GOOD.
All 5 of us had the Omakase (Chef's choice - $90/person), and not a single one of us had any regrets. The sashimi was amazing, which is not surprising since it comes straight from the Tsukiji Fish Market in Japan. If I was to do anything differently the next time I come here, I would probably just eat the Sushi/Sashimi Omakase. I could have done w/out the salmon skin salad, shrimp, and tuna tartar starters (and i think its slightly cheaper!). Since my tummy gets full fast I'd rather not waste precious space and just skip to the important stuff!
I've also got to say that the owner of Jewel Bako is fabulous! He was very attentive and even went as far as to customize our cocktails to our specific tastes. He even took the time to chat it up with us a bit. What i loved about him most was that even though we had ended up staying way longer than intended, he was not pushy when it became apparent that our table was needed. And when my dessert was taken away from me before i had finished, he gave me another one before we left the door!!
If you want to see more about this place check out the link below (its how we found this hidden jewel!)...Andrew Zimmern went here on Bizzare Eats...but honestly theres nothing bizzare about this place :]
http://www.youtube.com...
Note: If you want to eat the live lobster sashimi...you have to let them know in advance :'( that's the one thing we weren't aware of... i'll definitely have to try it the next time im in NY!
Great quality but very expensive. Recommend the geoduck, barracuda and unagi. But the next time I crave sushi I can get the same quality at Morimoto for a quarter of the price during lunch.
This place is memorable. It scores an A on all fronts: food, service, and decor. The interior is intimate and beautiful-you really feel like you're sitting in a jewel box.
We came here for my husband's bday and were treated like royalty, from beginning to end. What set this place above other dining experiences I've had lately was the service. For instance, the host served us several complimentary appetizers and drinks. It was a busy night too, so they didn't need to this. He was extremely warm and attentive so we left him a ridiculous tip!
The food was amazing. Fresh, really nice textures. I ordered the tuna tartare and some rolls and they all melted in my mouth. I'm dying to go back again but haven't had the chance. Great place for a date; you'll make a good impression on your lady!
I went here 4 years ago and I haven't forgotten that meal since. We had the omakasse and it was divine. I remember just about every single delectable bite that place had to offer. And the crazy thing was that they had a lot to offer. Right when we thought we were going to get the main sushi finisher, they brought more and more food. I remember eating to the point in which it hurt, but thank goodness for the delicious sake that helped push those last few pieces of mackerel down.
The decor is amazing here and though I abhor this behavior I will name-drop. We got seated next to Natalie Portman. It was awesome.
I'm a big fan of places where your food is still somewhat alive when you eat it.
In this case, it was the Amaebi - they were still moving their tentacles when they brought out the heads. Luckily, they take the heads back and deep fry them until golden brown so you can crunch down and enjoy all of the warm gooey shrimp brain juices inside.
These sweet shrimp died for a good cause - and were treated with respect.
I salute you.
When Jewel Bako opened in 2002, it was THE sushi place in NYC.
Back then, it was firing on all cylinders. The owners Grace and Jack Lamb humbly greeted the guests as they arrived. They were NYC's hottest new restaurant power couple. Grace was a former executive at Tiffany's while Jack had worked as a captain at Bouley Bakery when it was a restaurant. Their presence and charm was infectious and inspiring. The decor was dramatic for such a cozy little space, but it worked. The real hype, however, was the sushi.
The chef gave me Spanish Mackeral Tartare perfumed with Shiso, Charred Spanish Bluefin Toro with avocado, Tender Octopus with Yuzu and Chili, A shooter of Tiny Glass Eels, Spiny Lobster Sashimi, and a dozen more tantalizing treats. The restaurant used to carry up to 40 species of fish every evening! I had 20 courses or more (I lost count halfway thru) for $180 including sake, tea, tax, and tip. I doubt I will ever pay so "little" for so much.
Well, that was then and this is now. Jack and Grace are seldom present. The original chef has long left Jewel Bako for 15 East. The quality has slipped as a result. The selection of sushi is far more pedestrian. And the restaurant isn't filled with the same buzz and energy. You will find better quality sushi at Sushi Yasuda and Bar Masa.
And yet, Jewel Bako is still my favorite place to go for solid sushi and good conversation in the East Village. The prices are high, but you have to be reasonable. This is sushi in NYC! Duhh!
I made a reservation for this restaurant after seeing a show about eating live lobster (like, JUST killed in front of your eyes) on a travel show, and was disappointed that the receptionist did not warn me that you had to tell the staff IN ADVANCE that you want to order that so that they can get the lobster (the host said they don't have a tank, so they have to order the lobster for the day of your reservation). Anyway, we were disappointed by that (-1 star) since my bf was looking forward to it.
In any case, the sushi was super fresh (yes, even flown in from Japan), but I'm not the biggest fan of sushi, so I probably didn't appreciate it as much as I should have for the price.... the two of us were $150 without any alcohol (-1 star)! Lovely restaurant, great service, but too expensive... I'd rather spend that money going to eat at 3 other restaurants for the same cost!
Scale of 1-10:
Food: 7
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Dinner for 2 people (including tax and tip): $200
Favorite dish: omakase
Pros:
-Original cuisine with some of the omakase sushi dishes being pretty good
-Nice decor, quiet, and upscale dining room
-One of my wife's favorite restaurants
Cons:
-Expensive
-Didn't like about a third of the stuff they served and when I told them I didn't want mushrooms with one dish they just left it out instead of substituting with something else
-Small portions, left hungry
This place is phenomenal. I was in New York on business, and I was looking for a good sushi restaurant near a friend's place. Thanks to all the Yelpers who recommended this place.
The quality of fish is the freshest I've ever eaten. I didn't know how good a normal salmon sushi and tuna sushi could be until I ate here. "So this is what salmon, yellowtail, and tuna are supposed to taste like!" I couldn't believe it. Even eating at supposedly top notch places such as Nobu and others here in L.A., I found that no other place even come close with the sushi here at Jewel Bako.
The place is pricey, and the sushi warrants the cost...If I remember correctly, it was about $6 for one piece of sushi, and $12 for a piece of otoro (which, if you are willing to spend $$ for, you have to try!!!!). The yellowtail, tuna, eel, salmon, mackeral...of every piece of sushi I tried, I was just blown away after every bite...the quality, freshness, texture, flavor.
The ambience here is also very classy and clean...You'll be able to see in the photos...This place is very easy to miss if you're just walking by on the street....I was pleasantly surprised by my experience here.
sweetmotherofgucci this place is good! It's by no means budget dining so def go there ready to splurge and more adventurous diners must ask for the specials or anything not on the menu. You will be happy you asked.
Everything here was so pretty (except the chairs, which are a bit like those spray painted gold ones at tacky weddings).
Oh before I forget, you absolutely must get the trio of tuna tartare. Yummy, stunningly good. I'll absolutely go back here... on pay day!
I got the little omakase and it was one of the best sushi dining experiences of my life.
my dinner alone + tip was $120.
the sushi bar is the heart of Jewel Bako enveloped by two equal sized dining rooms, shaped like lungs. this place breathes good taste. romantic. the japaneseness and europeanness are fused together without a flaw--fuse, not fusion--it's inherently genuinely japanese beyond the blue eyes. it's the kind of place which you wanna dress up for, dress down for, and which can move any date to tears.
the fish is consistently great, as well as the freshly ground wasabi and edible flower garnish... and you can always bet on seeing the owner Jack Lamb cruising back and forth between here and Degustation.
only once something went seriously wrong: the food inspector showed up in the middle of our dinner, commanding the restaurant to heat up the (sushi) rice to a ridiculous bacteria-killing and fish-COOKING 120ºF! that was a full painful hour of explanation, negotiation and settlement. the staff couldn't stop apologizing, bringing out comp'ed appetizers and keeping us informed on the big battle. what chef Yoshi ended up doing was saving the good sushi rice for the customers while steaming up a new cookerful of regular rice for the inspector. the second half of our dinner after this episode? better than ever.
Sushi Quality is fresh but comes at a premium. Fish is supposedly flown in daily from Tsukiji market @ Tokyo. Proactively run by Jack and Grace Lamb, this establishment is overseen by perfectionists who will stop at nothing to ensure the best quality fish and dining experience. Even after the $95 omakase, you may have to order more or leave hungry so beware. Their sister restaurant Degustation is next door and JLOB is around the corner.
Decor: trendy, classy.
The best freaking sashimi of my life...
Maybe it was the freshly grated wasabi, but the Japanese Red Snapper...brought me to tears. I'm not even kidding.
And for freaking $6 a piece it had better! Heh. No, really. It was fantastic.
My sweetie and I ordered edamame, the trio of tartar's, the large roll tasting menu, and three types of sashimi, all to share. The large roll tasting menu came with miso soup and a small dessert with a green tea ice cream profiterole, a chocolate flan-ish type pastry square, and red bean paste. They also gave us hot green tea.
Yes it was expensive, but all of the fresh fish was exquisite. The best I've ever had. And you have never lived if you've not had fresh wasabi. Don't believe the people who say the portions are tiny. 70% of people would not be able to finish the $90 tasting menu. (Our friends got a mini-version and could barely finish).
If you know me then you'll know it's saying a lot that I could have eaten a meal completely composed of sashimi at Jewel Bako and been completely satisfied.
the assininery that goes on here borders on slapstick. The sushi is very fine/edgy - which can make it very hit or miss but the servers and front of house were such pompus asses that I will never forget it. treated my date awful. some of the sushi was incredible but others were just OK and it was $245 for the two of us.
The place is a tiny gem of a restaurant and I felt like I was dining in a spaceship because of the curved wood panels on the sides of the walls. I loved it.
I had the omakase and my friend ordered a la carte. For several of my courses, they brought out 2 portions anyways which I thought was very sweet. We started out with their newest sake (summer...something...) which was a chilled fruity sake. Very smooth and yummy.
The omakase was really more food than I could ever eat but here goes:
-palate teaser: seared hamachi with radishes and miso paste
-appetizer course: monkfish pate in ponzu, spicy tuna torte cups, snow crab spring roll
-sashimi course: a variety of fresh fish (the striped yellowtail and salmon melted in my mouth)
-entree course: king salmon baked in paper (the white creamy sauce on top and crusty brown sauce on the bottom was delicious)
-sushi course: 8 pieces of nigiri sushi and 3 maki roll pieces (the seared toro with cracked pepper was my favorite)
-dessert: green tea ice cream profiterole and chocolate ganache bar
Who says sushi isn't filling? I rolled out of there like a rice ball.
The service is amazing; I especially loved how all our servers were so animated and friendly. We actually bumped into our waiter and the host later in the evening at PDT. Only in NYC would that happen. Lovely place to eat.
Decent, but I wouldn't go much better than that. The sushi was totally ordinary for me, the other name-brand experiences in New York have much better.
I did enjoy the show of them grating the wasabi at my table, and the co-owner Jack Lamb was terrific. He had a wonderful demeanor, and came by with different wasabi roots he grated to allow us to taste the difference between each root (there really is a difference!).
Their decor is always quite nice here.
My photo of the uni is from Jewel Bako when Masato was still the head sushi chef there. This place used to be one of my favorite sushi spots. I would have a smile on my face all week if I had a reservation. Uni on a spoon, barracuda, ika-uni, anago "both ways," mmmmmm... I know it's overpriced, but for me it was worth it because of the overall experience. It's a nice treat every now and then. Masato is an awesome chef, and you can't get Jack's personality anywhere else.
However... I'm holding on to one star because my last experience there wasn't too great. Our waitress started using our wine bottle to serve other glasses and when we questioned her, she first denied it and then came back with a new bottle with an attitude as if she was doing us a favor. (This was over a year ago, so hopefully she's not there anymore. I was a regular at the time, and she was new, so it was just disappointing) I told Jack who was apologetic, but it just left a bad taste in my mouth. Then when I found out Masato left, I just never went back. I'm thinking about going back again though...
P.S. Masato is now at 15 East.
While Yelpers have been friendly to this place, I've seen more than a few unhappy reviews elsewhere over the last few years. According to some, Jewel was one of the best in town, then the chef left, and then everything went to straight to hell. I can't comment on this, never having been here during that golden era. I also can't compare Jewel to NYC's finest, never having been to NOBU or Yasuda or Masa or anywhere else that lofty. But I can say that I had a great meal here last week, possibly the best Sushi experience I've ever had.
The fish was perfect. The otoro might the best piece of fish I've had, making a stronger impression than anything I tried at Le Bernardin. And some of the others, including one that was part of their daily selection flown in from Tokyo, was especially interesting. The sushi preparation was beautiful, and it was obvious how much attention had been paid to the seasoning. The rice was perfect. If I had to bitch about anything, it would be that some of the rolls were a bit heavy on the wasabi. I love wasabi, and this was a rare chance to have the real stuff, but with fish this good, I think any strong seasonings need be used with a delicate touch. I want to taste the fish.
The space is beautiful. The atmosphere strikes a good mix of ceremonial and casual. The servers treated us like special guests, without ever seeming stiff or suffocating. They were eager to make suggestions (and offer samples of sake) and also knew when to give us space. It seemed ok that they were wearing suits while we lounged in standard East Village slacker-ware.
Next time I want to sit at the bar. And I want to save up for a full omakase meal. I'm sure this the way to get the best out of this place. And I like to watch. The sushi chefs here are more fun than usual to watch, since the bar gives an easy view of the work area and the chefs' methodical, precise movements. And all that amazing fish.
Jewel Bako is recommended for a romantic sushi date. Unlike many other prime sushi spots, Jewel Bako has a really hip modern decor with good lighting so that your date doesnt see your eyes roll over with glee over toro. The curved ceilings remind me a bit of Butter but without Butter's hipper than thou atmosphere.
Jack and his wife are incredibly gracious hosts. Each time I have come here, they immediately put you at ease without much pomp and fuss but still making you feel special. Service here is excellent.
The sake list is good and quite reasonable with some interesting options. The sushi here is very delicate and somehow the rice and fish all seem quite fragile as they melt in your mouth. This is not the place to wolf down your food. The options are interesting with Tasmanian sea trout, many different kinds of yellowtail and snapper, and some other special delights depending on what's fresh. Many have unique toppings but not anything crazy like Gari (though Gari is yum yum eyes roll over too). Here it is all about the people you are with and the fish.
to the point about this sushi joint:
crazy fresh. crazy small. crazy structure.
the place is a design delight. the atmosphere is chill. the sushi is elite. the service was attentive. the experience with friends was amazing.
pretty good. high quality sushi, nice portion but not very creative. enjoyed, would prob go back but nothing too memorable.
After reading the reviews and seeing the place featured on Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, this place jumped straight to the top of my must try list. After finally dining there tonight, I came home completely underwhelmed. I love good sushi. And I trust my fellow Yelpers completely. BUT - this place just really left something to be desired.
The decor was ultramodern as you can see in the picture above. But as we were led to our table, I couldn't stop getting the eerie feeling that I was stepping into Kubrick's Space Odyssey 2001.
First came drinks. I ordered a draft Sapporo but what showed up to our table was a child's sized glass with flowers etched on the side. At first I was a bit confused, but then the waiter brought my Sapporo in a bottle and poured it into my kiddie cup. Is this how the Japanese of the future take their beers in Neo Tokyo? I became simultaneously annoyed at my baby beer but excited at how the sushi will be.
We ordered the trio of tartares, the sushi and the sashimi dinners, and then asked our maitre'd for his recommendation on a large roll (they categorize their rolls in large and small) to which he promptly responded with "I always recommend the king crab roll". The plating of the tartares were exquisite and even came with deep fried yam chips delicately stacked next to the fish. The sushi and sashimi dinners were elegantly prepared with generous portions of fresh, beautifully prepared fish. And the large roll was...well, large.
Let me start by saying that I will never order a king crab roll again in my entire life. What a pretentious dish! This was merely a California roll that's been stuffed with king crab and three times as expensive. BARF!
The trio of salmon, yellow tail, and seared tuna tartares was just as unremarkable. I thought that of the three, one would REALLY make me wet myself. Unfortunately the yam chips were the only thing memorable food item on that plate. The dish looked great, the fish was fresh, but after I tasted it, it just made me kinda sad. What I thought would be Paris Hilton turned out to be just Nicole Richie with a slutty garnish.
With our dinner entrees I have no complaints. However, not finding fault didn't equate a homerun either. Jewel Bako is the poor man's Nobu. Except at the price points they're charging, it's like you're going to one of the top sushi restaurants in NYC... except you're not.
I came here for Valentines day this year and this is one of this best sushi I have had. I had a really had a difficult time looking for this place because there was no signs with the restaurant name anywhere. The restaurant is pretty small, but it is a very beautiful place. I had called ahead and placed an order for the lobster sashimi. The lobster sashimi was actually better than I expected, the lobster meat was so sweet and fresh. It was really neat that the lobster head was still moving when they brought out the sashimi part of the tail. The soup of the lobster was very light and very good. Then we went on to have a sample of all the rolls and the eel roll. They were all very good. The waiter had mix up our order with another table and brought us another roll instead of the eel roll so they ended up giving us free dessert on the house. They brought out this pastry filled with green tea ice cream, it was to die for. I have tried finding it at other Japanese restaurant but nothing came close to the one at Jewel Bako. Even though they mix up our order a little, their service was by far excellent. It was well worth the money.
One of my all time favorite sushi place in America. Very very fresh fishes, lobster, shellfish, etc..You're probably going to have to go catch them yourself or go to Japan for fresher fish and shellfish. How fresh you ask? Well the lobster, clams, and geoduck was still alive and the chef prepared it in front of us after we put in a order for some. So I recommend getting those along with the Toro and salmon.
They say their fishes are straight from the fish markets in Japan. And after trying this place out, I do believe them.
Just FYI, Jewel Bako is on the pricey side and portions are not huge, but it is definitely worth coming here to dine. One of the best sushi places you'll try.
Jewel Bako is a perennial favorite of mine. My girlfriend recommended me this wonderful boutique sushi house and I am in love with it.
Definitely do as others say. Try the chef's sushi or special omakase, preferably at the bar...and definitely do it when Yoshi is around. Try the marinated blue-fin tuna, fresh sea-water uni, tanzanian wild salmon and japanese yellowtail. You will not be disappointed.
Try Degustation next door, as well. See my review of that.
The fish here is unbelievably fantastic and the service is spot on.
Apparently I went on an off night because my friend and I were not impressed by Jewel Bako at all. I thought the place smelled like a basement (kind of like mildew) and the decor felt like it was out of the 80's as well. There weren't any seats at the sushi bar (I didn't bother making reservations because going here was a total last minute thing), but we ordered two tastings (sashimi and rolls). The rolls were all huge but none of the fish on the rolls impressed me or my friend and the sashimi was good, but I've had better from Whole Foods. I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.
There are so many great sushi places in the city that's a hard to pick a favoritie, but Jewel Bako ranks high up there. Its a great date place. The fish is flown in daily from Tokyo and it couldn't be fresher or of higher quality. The omakase is the way to go and I believe the chefs specialty is their eel (let me know if I'm wrong Jack). It's a little pricey but worth the splurge. It also comes with a nice sake list. :)
.
Where do I begin? The omakase sashimi was extremely fresh and tasty. It was my very first time having raw conch meat. We also ordered the tri-tartare, which included salmon which I'm not so fond of but she insisted I try it since it was a king salmon, the blue fin tuna (though I would've prefered Toro), and Yellowtail (which was delish). Each individual tartare was paired with a different caviar and the entire dish was accompanied by lotus root chips which went lovely with everything. We also ordered the scorpion fish which wasn't bad at all. Out of the Makimono rolls we tried the anago roll, which is sea eel with aspargus, cucumber and yellowtail. Very good. My only complaint, miso soup came with one of the orders and there was way too much miso paste in there.
Private party in Honshu
Jersey City, NJ
Special~ Just for Yelpers!
Jersey City, NJ
Neighborhood: East Village
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: Sushi Bars
All of these restaurants have Michelin stars,…
Some noteworthy NYC restaurants that just missed…
The big O when it comes to freshness. My top 5 in…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
