In the early days, Japanese food to the average New Yorker simply meant rolls, slices of fish, sometimes adorned with mounds of vinegar-infused rice. The arrival of Nobu, Megu, Blue Ribbon, Gari (all of them household names among foodies nowadays), gave New Yorkers ceviche-inspired sashimi, fusion salads to go with the traditional offerings. Japanese dining is no longer about choosing “sushi deluxe” or “sushi combo”, which means for the uninitiated, it can be quite intimidating.
What about from the other perspective: that of the aspiring restauranteur? It is incredibly difficult to stand out among the new-age restaurants with their glitzy decor and celebrity chef. Any attempt for fusion immediately draws comparison to Nobu.
Nobi Kusuhara started a restaurant started the original Sasabune in West Hollywood over a decade ago, and amidst all the glitzy modern Japanese restaurants, he went back to the basics. No hot foods, no reverse-imports (ahem, california rolls), just the highest qualify materials. More importantly, he was confident enough that he even took away the menu. Once you walked in, you are expected to put yourself in his hands.
So as the story goes, Kusuhara dispatched his disciple Kenji Takahashi to New York to establish the New York version of Sasabune, armed with years of experience, and not a lot of money. With limited funds, Kenji took up shop in a tight and cramped location in the upper east side. Decor was basic and bare, plates looked like they came from Chinatown (we’re all spoiled by exaggerated plates nowadays). However, he brought into the Big Apple the very sign that made Sasabune West LA so successful:
You should trust him, he's good.
There are just 30 seats in the restaurant, so if you plan to visit, definitely call ahead for a reservation. Upon sitting down at your table, the familiar dining ritual of receiving a menu is bypassed completely. The waitress asked what you don’t eat, then the feast begins.
The place is REALLY small.
The meal started with some simple Sashimi over ponzu sauce. This has become quite a familiar dish to New York diners, and it’s really quite excellent.
The meal started with some Sashimi
Each plate of nigiri sushi comes in pairs, on a simple plate. The waitress first explains what the fish/shell fish is, then barks a simple order of “no soysauce” or “with soysauce”. The signature “warm rice” is present and makes picking up the pieces a bit tricky.
With Soysauce!
No Soysauce!
Dishes come and go at a brisk pace. If you are monitoring what your neighbors are getting, you will see some subtle differences in materials. Was it because we were Asian?
Octopus and Abalone, our neighbors didn't have this.
Then finally, we reach the blue crab roll. When you see the arrival of the roll, it means your dinner is over. However, Kenji is definitely a man that leaves the best for last.
Looks simple, tastes divine.
At this point, your meal costs “around $70″. If you choose to eat more, items will be presented a-la-carte. So if the waitress asks if you’re still hungry, remember that the $70 dollar budget is one the chef tries to meet, not a flat rate.
The Bar
It’s hard to categorize this restaurant. If your friends are in the city for a few days, do go to the more fancy dining experiences. If your friends are true sushi fanatics, definitely give this restaurant a try. It is among my personal favorite restaurants in the city.
CS
Rating: 
Sasabune
401 East 73rd St (Between York Ave & 1st Ave)
Phone: 212-249-8583
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIt’s hard to categorize this restaurant. If your friends are in the city for a few days, do go to the more fancy dining experiences. If your friends are true sushi fanatics, definitely give this restaurant a try. [...]
It’s always bitter sweet to recommend your favorite little restaurant. While you want others to share your joy and delight, sometimes it makes it difficult for me to get a reservation
I’m still upset by the service we received at Sasabune tonight. I’ve been to the restaurant before and had a lovely time and savored the delicious morsels of sushi. However, tonight, the service was just horrible, to the point that it was just plain rude and obnoxious. My friends and I sat down at 9:15 and by 10pm all our courses had been served. The staff did not even try to hide the fact that they were rushing us out. Each course was served so quickly that I hardly had time to breathe, much less to enjoy the food. By the fifth course I couldn’t keep up and just had to stop eating for a few minutes, but rather than wait for me to finish, the wait staff kept bringing out the next course. By the end, I had three different courses in front of me. If you truly believe that your food is the best and the freshest, wouldn’t you want the person eating it to enjoy every bite, every taste? We were not given the opportunity to taste anything tonight. For $100/person, we deserved better service than the fast food service we received tonight. If you don’t want people to sit down at 9pm, then don’t take the reservation. I’m upset I didn’t say anything to the restaurant staff. But, I’ll say it on Yelp and all the other restaurant sites. I want my money back!
I could definitely understand your frustration, but at the same time, the chef is not completely at fault. Eating at Sasabune is like sitting at a sushi bar of other restaurants. The plates are served as soon as they are made. No french style timing here.
Perhaps try sitting at the bar next time, I bet you’d like that a lot.