Need unbelievable sushi in NYC? Go to this speakeasy (actually!)

There’s no scarcity of sushi eating places in NYC, however on the Large Apple’s latest sushi omakase, coming into the institution requires a little bit of intrigue. The Office of Mr. Moto isn’t your commonplace sushi omakase — it’s a speakeasy. The door to the restaurant is unmarked, and one may simply stroll previous with out realizing it. To even enter the restaurant requires not solely a reservation but in addition some detective work. First, potential diners should resolve a cipher in a letter (despatched by e mail) earlier than coming into that code on a PIN pad on the Victoria-era mailbox on the entrance.

The brainchild of the staff behind TabeTomo and Tomokase, each the decor and meals at The Workplace of Mr. Moto are designed to move diners to Nineteenth-century Japan. Visits are at present priced at $185 per particular person. This distinctive sushi restaurant is open Wednesday by Sunday at two time slots — 6 p.m. and eight:30 p.m. — at both The Counter (six seats) or The Gallery (eight seats).

A time machine to Nineteenth-century Japan

Named after the fictional explorer and gourmand Mr. Moto, all of the restaurant decorations and artifacts pay homage to Nineteenth-century Japan, when the nation deserted its historic isolationist insurance policies and entered the worldwide stage.

“All artifacts have an underlying theme of westernization,” mentioned restaurant companion Mier Wang. “For instance, the primary English newspaper in Japan, the primary public phone, the true letter from a traveler setting sail from New York to Japan in 1853 — one of many first folks to take action.”

After your meal, bear in mind to move to the basement. Referred to as The Library, this cozy lounge is full with leather-based furnishings and a self-playing Yamaha piano, a big a part of Japanese historical past.

“Even our piano within the basement was purposefully chosen as a Yamaha piano,” mentioned Wang. “Yamaha was a big stakeholder within the modernization of Japan.”

A sushi omakase that’s all about historical past

As anticipated of high-end sushi omakase, the choice at The Workplace of Mr. Moto is pristine, with careful attention given to seasonality, preparation, and sourcing. Government Chef Toshio Matsuoka creates immaculate items of sushi, all sourced straight from Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan. Due to that, the menu choice will change in accordance with the seasons, relying on what’s recent.

Whereas all of the sushi is phenomenal, the menu’s development of sushi historical past is what makes this omakase distinctive. The 21-course meal begins with three seasonal starters however shortly transitions to a collection of oshizushi, conventional pressed sushi from the 18th century. Diners select between masu (ocean trout), anago (sea eel), and saba (house-cured mackerel). This early sushi kind used vinegar not solely as a flavoring profile but in addition as a way of preserving the fish.

Because the development continues, the sushi items will begin to spotlight every little thing from traditional Nineteenth-century nigirizushi preparations to trendy elements and types corresponding to uni, temaki, and the liberal use of the blowtorch, which Chef Matsuoka makes use of on a number of items, together with an unlimited Hokkaido scallop and a splendidly textural kinmedai, Golden Eye Snapper. All these lead to bites which are directly delicate or pleasantly chewy, screamingly recent, and smoky, all accentuated by the distinctive Nineteenth-century ambiance. That is actually a one-of-a-kind omakase expertise that’s to not be missed.

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