Sushi Restaurants in New York City: Six Picks

In a city teeming with sushi restaurants (well really, all restaurants) some guidelines are often helpful. Here is a sampling of New York's finer sushi offerings from the $400 tasting menu at Masa to a BYOB on the Lower East Side. Happy Dining.

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill
6 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019
212-397-0404

The favorite downtown restaurant team, of brother's Bruce and Eric Bromberg, has brought their signature commitment to premium ingredients up to their new Columbus Circle location. The no-reservations restaurant has a sleek bar coupled with a main dining room with full views of the sushi chefs. In addition sushi, sashimi, and rolls of hakozusho, maki, yasai, taiheiyo and taiseiyo there is a full grill menu for those in your group who prefer their food cooked. For straight sushi you can head to the downtown (119 Sullivan St.) or Brooklyn (278 Fifth Ave.) outposts.

Masa
10 Columbus Circle (4th Floor), New York, NY 10019
212-823-9800

For a lavishly overpriced meal dine at sushi demi-god, Masa Takayama's New York installation. Reservations are a must and the place to eat is at the bar where you can witness the expert preparation of your $400 tasting menu (excluding tax, tip, or drinks.) For just a taste, head next door to Bar Masa, which has a no-reservation policy and more reasonable pricing.

Morimoto
88 Tenth Ave., New York, NY 10011
212-989-8883

Morimoto, of the Food Network's Iron Chef fame, brings excitement to Chelsea with his excellent sushi and inventive appetizers and cocktails. If you are feeling adventurous the $120 pri-fixe menu will give you a taste of the chef's whim.

Nobu
105 Hudson St., New York, NY 10013
212-219-0500

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa has spawned an empire of restaurants branding his name. His proliferation has led to some criticisms. But his devotees swear by his innovative fusion cuisine spanning from the raw: sushi and sashimi to the cooked: shellfish and fish. Other New York locations include: Nobu Next Door (105 Hudson St.) and Nobu 57 (40 W. 57th St.)

Sushi Seki
1143 First Ave., New York, NY 10021
212-371-0238

This small, affordable sushi bar on the Upper East Side attracts budget-minded sushi addicts. With a $50 starting point on the chef's omakase menu and inventive seasoning (jalapeno is a favorite) this may quickly become your sushi destination of choice.

Cube 63
63 Clinton St., New York, NY 10002
(212) 228-6751

This off the beaten path sushi restaurant in the Lower East Side is a rare find among the sky-high prices of most high end sushi restaurants. The tiny dining room is decked out in modern furniture and back lighting in happy contrast to the dark wood and red uniform of most sushi establishments. The short inventive menu, BYOB (bring your own bottle,) and a personalized omasake tasting starting at $30 this restaurant is a real find for budget-conscious sushi lovers.