Sushi (omakase)

by Celia Sin-Tien Cheng
March 10, 2005

SUSHI OF GARI
402 E 78th St
(1st & York Aves)
New York, NY 10075
212-517-5340

I’ve heard raves for Sushi of Gari for years but never managed to try it until now. How foolish of me to not have tried it sooner! Sushi of Gari is, in my opinion, the best sushi restaurant in town. If I lived in the UES, I would be there everyday. The style of sushi is what restaurants like Matsuri would like to emulate but fall short by 2000 percent.

The omakase (chef’s choice) is the only way to go. It starts around $70-$80 for the first ten pieces. The price varies depending on the fish and specialties of the day.

The sushi came in two waves. The first set of five included an unadulterated piece of toro, salmon with a perfectly aromatic roasted tomato on top, and a tempura style deep-fried daikon over rice. The second set included a fresh tofu cream on maguro and the hot piece, rice stuffed in a gratin-style baked oyster, was positively amazing! The waiter kept admonishing us to eat it while it was hot.

I have not tried Gari, the sister restaurant recently opened on the UWS, but my advice would be to make sure that whichever one you go to, Gari himself is there that night. Follow the chef!

Also in Japanese, Seafood, Sushi, UES