Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City
New Yorkers (and probably most people) love a good secret. Perhaps it all started during Prohibition when secret bars were necessary. Today there are secret cocktail bars, noodle shops, burger joints, cake shops, and even a high-end sushi restaurant.
Sushi Azabu is easy to miss. There is a sign attached to the side of the doorway but most would walk right by without thinking too much about it. And even when you do open the correct door, you would still wonder if you stepped into the right one. Because you immediately come to a dark, unmarked stairwell. When you’re brave enough to turn the corner, you discover an intimate little sushi bar with a handful of tables.
This is Sushi Azabu, which has been open a few years now and has earned a strong following and a Michelin-starred. The dinner omakase can run between $150 and $200. That’s actually somewhat of a bargain for this level of such, which is mostly flown in straight from Japan.
But that is rarely in my budget. So I got an even bigger bargain by coming at lunch. I treated myself for my birthday and didn’t want to go overboard. I spent just under $40 and felt like I had a very special plate of raw fish.
I chose the chirashi which is cuts of varied raw fish over warm sushi rice. I thought it was a way of getting to try a few different pieces of fish without paying for a tasting menu. I was right.
And wow, all of the fish was just superb. From the miraculously tender steamed octopus to the fatty toro to the luscious egg custard (ok, not fish) to a sweet jumbo shrimp, it was some of the freshest sushi I’ve ever tasted. And I didn’t yet mention the fact that they included uni (my favorite) as the cherry on top. And it wasn’t just any uni – it was uni from Japan, which is a real treat.
I started my birthday with this special secret and it was too good to not share with all of you. The secret sushi den is down the stairs and the real secret is to come at lunch. Price: $38
| SUSHI AZABU |
| 428 Greenwich Street (between Laight and Vestry Street), Tribeca (212) 274-0428 |
| sushi-azabu.com |
