Sad to report Bar Uchu (not the Sushi part) has closed. I LOVED that place. So bummed. These small restaurants open with great young chefs and it works for awhile because they do not need to do much business to avoid losing money but then they realize you can never make money with an 8-12 seat restaurant that does two turns a night. Bar Uchu, Semilla, Luskus on and on they just keep breaking my heart!
When Gem closed for the summer and said they would reopen in September, I thought for sure that was the end. Glad I was wrong, but as you said, hard to make money doing a max of 24 covers five times a week.
Went to Gem last weekend for dinner and loved the new menu.
Thatâs too bad! It did seem strange to me that the cash flow machine and namesake (ie, the whiskey) wasnât monetized at all. I imagine it will become a whiskey bar with small platesâŚ
Definitely bummed to hear that. We really enjoyed it when we went a couple years ago. I understand the challenge though.
On brighter news! Had a wonderful meal that night at the Sake Bar at Cagen. The current format is the front of the house is small plates and Sake and the back the high end Omakase.
It was my third meal at the Sake Bar and they are starting to dial it in. The food was good the first two times but I felt there were too many options and the overall format/concept needed to be refined.
They offer a 7 piece sushi option for $55, a Sashimi selection and then several a la carte options. We did the 7 piece sushi and added an Uni dish, fried fish and black cod.
The back is a 6-8 seat Omakase which I did last week and it is as great as ever.
I was excited when I read about a new a new high end Sushi spot called Omakase by Maaser because it will be open for lunch on Saturdays. I have always struggled to find a good sushi option for lunch on the weekends.
I went today and I have to say I was absolutely blown away!!! 17 piece Omakase for $115 and free corkage in a beautiful serene atmosphere. The Sushi was exceptional.
I canât recommend this spot highly enough.
I was told the dinner menu is identical to lunch.
And the Chefs were more than happy to share some wine.
The only minor issue is that glasses are just ok.
Some photos from Cagen Sake Bar.
luthun was okay - a handful of really good/great dishes, but 2/3 of the menu is rather average (mostly as a result of being overworked). we had the chefâs counter $125 tasting. still byo as they donât have a license yet. i was speaking with the guy that will run the wine program and it seems he wants to focus on edgy/unknown wines. the entire experience is a little amateurish, the sound/music/lighting situation needs a lot of work as does the efficiency of service.
I posted some photos for Omakase Room by Maaser! Still thinking about the sensational meal and planning on going back as soon as I can.
Bummer I have been thinking of going.
i hear you. close to your place, so stop by and see what you think. thereâs very talented cooking going on there, but it needs a lot of direction.
That is a bummer. We loved our only meal there. That caviar hand roll is an all time bite of food.
Another great business dinner at The Modern Bar Room. 3 course meal for $75. Food is very good. Nice wine list with many choices under $150. Clients are always impressed. The best mid-town business meal spot I know when you want quick, very good food, great service and a nice wine list.
Reasonable BYO fee as well (I posted amount on another thread, I think $35?)
Went back to Omakase Room by Maaser. Food was just as good as my first meal. Slightly different experience at night as they are busier and 6 other people who I know happened to show up and we had quite a bit of wine flowing between them and us and across the counter with the Chefs. It was an overall great lively vibe versus Saturday which was just a beautiful serene lunch.
Really enjoyed Flora Bar last night, in what was the old Whitney Museum on Madison Avenue on the restaurant-starved Upper East Side. Wine list is very good, service top-notch and food quite good also. Corkage is $50. Probably one of the best places in the neighborhood.
Robert,
Based on your initial post about Omakase Room by Maaser, I had lunch there today.
Obviously I respect your food palate and restaurant opinions otherwise I wouldnât have gone.
I thought lunch was very good but not great and hereâs why -
We were the only two having lunch at 1pm and nobody showed up for the 2pm seating. I felt like the chef was prepping me for next yearâs 4th of July hot dog eating contest at Coney Island as the 17 courses were all served within 45 minutes.
I thought the quality of fish and cut was very good but not quite at the highest level like it is at say Cagen.
Some of the sushi is overwhelmed by too many enhancements with strong flavors.
That said, it is an absolute steal at $115 with no corkage (chef asked us if we knew you once the two of us each broke out multiple stems and bottles. He and his assistant happily indulged in several glasses each that we poured for them).
However, at the end of the 17th course, chef asked us if we were still hungry and wanted a few more courses. We said sure, and told him we had enough after either the fourth or fifth additional course. When the check came, it was $230 each which is still very reasonable, but not the incredible bargain it would have been.
I will definitely go back now being prepared for the pace but I will stop after the 17th course.
Ray - I am so sorry your experience was not as good as mine. After last nights meal which was great but definitely a fast pace I see more what their business model is. A little surprised it was so rushed at lunch. I agree at $115 it is a great deal. When I go back I will try to either do the last lunch seating or the 9:00 dinner slot. I also liked some of the enhancements slightly more than you but know what you are saying.
For a party of 5 or 6 they require a set menu selected in advance at Shun. That is crazy.