The intimate space, designed by the MOR Project, includes an interior with 30-foot ceilings. There are plasma-screen televisions showing vintage samurai and “Godzilla” films, though ask nicely and you can get them switched to a sporting event. A wall featuring graffiti interpretations of traditional Japanese tattoo art adds to the contemporary feel.
At night, music is pumping and the place jumps. It is social scene first, sushi second. The afternoon proves to be much more serene. The music is lighter and lower, and the outside provides a constant parade of shoppers and businessmen strolling past.
So as hip as this place is, I need someone to explain the Kobayashi to me. It is a tribute to national eating champion, Takeru Kobayashi, who ruled the Coney Island Hot Dog eating contest for so many years.
When I pointed it out to my friend on the menu, he immediately protested, saying there was no way he was going to eat that.
I still ordered, knowing that curiosity would get the better of him, and it did. He soon proclaimed it one of the best items we had.
It was pretty good. The Hebrew National Beef hot dog was fried in a sesame roll. The cheese inside makes the dish, and dipping it in the mustard was an added bonus.
While that was the most unusual item we ate, the other selections were just as strong.
Though it is billed as an upscale Japanese sushi, the prices didn’t seem terribly expensive.
The sushi and sashimi were between $6 and $13. Reasonable, especially the quality that we got.
The sampler plate of sushi we had featured some interesting items. One we enjoyed was the salmon that was wrapped in seaweed and was excellent. Another favorite was the tataki tuna.
Filet mignon skewers were next. The soy mustard glaze that came with them was good, but we both found the meat to be a little chewy.
