Upper East Side
15-course | $175 | 6-seat
Last month we finally had the pleasure of trying our most anticipated sushi counter in all of New York. As one of the top omakase experiences amongst fellow sushi-lovers, we had to see what Sushi Noz was all about. After months of endless Instagram stalking and, quite honestly, obsessing, the night had finally arrived to visit the long-awaited Sushi Noz.
For those unfamiliar with the sushi restaurant, there are two very important distinctions to consider when making your reservation. Guests may choose between either the Hinoki or Ash Room experience. What is the difference you may wonder? Surprisingly a lot. The Hinoki counter stamps in at a lofty $300 price tag, where guests are served by the famous chef Nozomu Abe himself. Diners can expect top notch, and even rare delicacies expertly presented by chef Noz. Switch over to the Ash Room and guests will experience a sushi-focused omakase with Noz’s second hand man, Chef Matsu. Coming in at $175, the Ash Room gets you a similar night of amazing Japanese bites for a more affordable price. Wherever your budget leads you, you are surely in for a treat.
As the sushi loving girls that we are, we opted for the Ash Room experience. Sushi Noz is appropriately located on a quiet street surrounded by nature and peace, in the heart of the Upper East Side. As we stepped inside the sliding doors, we were immediately transported to what felt and smelled exactly like a Japanese dojo. The beauty and craftsmanship of the architecture can hardly be described. We were politely ushered to the Ash room by our Geisha-like hostess and shown our seats.
The night began with a salmon appetizer, moving directly into the nigiri. To begin, Chef Matsu presented us with our most anticipated piece of the night, the Ika – squid. This piece had been on our minds for months, filling our Instagram feeds as well as our dreams. Scored artfully and delicately, the first bite did not disappoint. The night proceeded with a continual flow of delicious bites. While each piece was as enjoyable as they come, we did regret to see a unique variety of fish. But with such high quality, we don’t see much to complain about. Some of the most enjoyable and unique pieces were the shiro ebi nigiri – baby shrimp, and the egg yolk handroll.
Overall, we were very happy with our meal. While we were disappointed to miss out on an experience with Chef Noz himself, Chef Matsu was highly skilled and enjoyable to watch. With expectations as high as our own, we were pleased but not blown away. We would highly recommend a visit to Sushi Noz for those in New York, but surprisingly did not see is as a do or die, as expected. We will need to schedule a trip back to check out the Hinoki Room in order to truly understand what all the hype is about.
Noz Omakase at a glance
Rice: We were expecting excellent rice, and Sushi Noz delivered. They take their shari very seriously, and it does not go unnoticed. Tangy and warm.
Fish: The nigiri lineup at Noz is impressive. More so than many other omakase experiences we have enjoyed, Noz introduces many new and rare finds flown in from all over. The shiro ebi nigiri – baby shrimp was a favorite.
Vibe: The vibe is serene. The chef was quite but friendly.
Experience: The Ash room is a great experience for those looking for quality omakase in a traditional environment. For more entertainment, we suggest heading next door to the Hinoki counter with Chef Noz himself.
Value: Sushi Noz is worth the price for the amazing experience; however, we recommend it as a special occasion.
Check out our favorite NY omakase blog for more on Noz. Josh and Natalie always give us the best NYC omakase recommendations when we visit!
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