This place was truly an experience. I sat at the side bar on the left, right after coming down the stairs, and our bartender, Lam, was amazing. He paired every dish perfectly with the right sake and was incredibly knowledgeable about the entire menu and craft cocktails. We started with the best sake I've ever had, called Ippo by Bōken. If you get the chance to try it, I highly recommend it. It paired so well with all of the special dishes; Lam also made us a great Saketini with it. We did the Chef Tasting Menu, which I think was the best choice. It lets you try a variety of amazing hot and cold dishes, and every bite feels unique. The sake pairings complemented each course perfectly. I also loved the atmosphere of the restaurant, and overall, it was such a memorable experience. read more

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Walking into this place I fell in love with the gingko tree, just beautiful open space. I got the feeling that this place isn't really like an intimate causal family restaraunt where u cheers with the omakase chef, but very like professional, quiet, peace, private. Not really one where you develop relations with the staff, but if you work in the area or business meeting, you'd come for a lunch. I loved the concept of the open kitchen and seeing the staff work. I'm definitely not in the tax bracket for this dining experience so if you're a fan of fine dining take my review with a grain of inexperience haha. Don't care too much for their drinks (the paloma was incredibly smokey, think I wanted more fruity, and the drink was strong too) but they did have nice champagne, I appreciated how pretty the bubbles were. They do have pretty heavy stoneware type plates and stuff that take up space and the place is big so plate clearing does have some delay. Tuna avocado tartare- interesting motar and pestle like bowl but little amount. Its fresh, good quality fish, same with the yellowtail just not like wow factor. Gobo kale salad- omg amazing dressing, the mixing of the flavors and the textures of greens. Quality ingredients. I really wish I had a recipe to recreate this. But I did enjoy this. The fact they can make two very dry vegetables have a nice crunch and mingling of flavors was amazing. Foie gras duck taco- great crunch, interestingly seemed like they took duck skin and fried it for a crispy part and then put it on the foie gras so it wasnt very duck flavor. But texturally this bite was satisfying and the foie gras does have that kind of organ buttery bite. Surimi pasta- so interesting. Little portion but rich in flavor. The flavor was good. Apparently they hand make the noodles out of fish paste so it was cool. Had a slightly chewy texture with the flavor of a sort of oil pasta. The Nigiri is pricy (maybe 13 per piece), but definitely super fresh and great texture. You do get a little omakase experience at the bar where the chef stands there and makes it for each customer one by one. He was very professional and I loved watching him use the shell to mince the tuna for the tuna radish one. The fish quality is amazing and skillfully built. The aburi sushi melted in my mouth. I was a bit skeptical of the uni (imported from hokkaido) as I don't usually like uni like that but I think this was one of the few mind blowing experiences I've ever had in my life. Chewing it... wow just felt like I was being transported to the Pacific ocean. Disclaimer: this is a review without consideration of the cost and just taste, it is understandably incredibly pricy. I think the quality and skill level is definitely up to par, but the ambiance isn't celebratory/ fine dining curated experience and more of a private quiet vibe (also went near end of lunch set and the our waiter/sushi chef was kind and attentive). read more

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I believe they changed the chef, the test is so bad! I used to love this place, I order takeout every week. I'm so disappointed with current food. read more

Kappo Masa - Salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

If zero stars existed, I would choose it. It was deeply disappointing -- and frankly embarrassing -- to bring an honorable guest from Puerto Rico, a worldly traveler with a true appreciation for fine cuisine, to this establishment only to encounter such an unfortunate experience. We waited nearly 45 minutes for the fried chicken with truffle, and when it finally arrived, it consisted of just two small pieces, priced at $75. The presentation and portion were entirely unjustifiable. Equally concerning was the lack of authenticity -- not a single Japanese chef was present in a restaurant that markets itself as Japanese. The overall execution felt disconnected from the culture and culinary precision one would expect. The final disappointment was the bass with teriyaki glaze, which was, regrettably, among the most poorly prepared fish dishes I tasted. In every aspect -- from timing to authenticity to flavor -- the experience fell far short of expectations. What should have been a memorable evening turned into a regrettable one!!!! read more

My husband and I came here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon while we were in town with friends. I was skeptical because it was easy to get a last minute reservation and the reviews on Yelp are incredibly mixed. Upon walking downstairs to the restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised by the large but warm atmosphere of the dining space. Service was quick and efficient and I thought all of the food was fresh and delicious. We ordered a bunch of sushi family style as well as the chicken dumplings, fried chicken, agadashi tofu and mushroom fried rice. I was also delighted to find out that the Brussels sprouts cauliflower dish was roasted and not deep fried. Great restaurant option on the Upper East Side. Only con is that it is incredibly pricey, but everything else was tops. read more

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Very good food. I still love Bar Masa more, but my parents loved this more and they are hard to please.

Lots of hits and misses...but for the price, ultimately this place is just not worthwhile. The only standout item was the duck fois gras tacos; these were delicious and special. All the other non-sushi items were average or below average. The sushi rolls were quite good though. I really enjoyed the soft shell crab roll and spicy tuna roll. The tempura shrimp with a spicy mayo dipping sauce (similar menu item to rock shrimp tempura and dipping sauce at Nobu) was a disaster. Three jumbo shrimps tempura fried with shell on?? 50% of the dish was fried shell...so odd. The avocado and tuna tar tar is a mega rip-off. Two measly spoonfuls and it's gone. The beef skewers were boring. As for the nigiri...hit or miss. The unagi nigiri was a joke. Dry, tasteless and minuscule. The toro was fine, but not for almost $30 a piece.... read more

Food was not worth the price. Very expensive for mediocre food. If you like good sushi, I would try some place else.

Everything about Kappo is great. The negative reviews probably come from other sushi places trying to lure locals away. But no way...is it's a local hotspot. No tourists at all really, which is great from anyone living in UES read more

I visited Kappo Masa for my birthday and was very excited. The food was lovely, I loved the duck tacos and calamari which had hibiscus chips. I ordered a wide variety of sushi, which was good but not great. The service could have been a little better considering the waitress spilled the sake while serving and did not clean it up. They also failed to clear the plates before serving us the following courses. They also did not clean up in between any of the courses to ensure the table did not have any crumbs, etc. I was expecting excellency but the service was a solid B-. read more

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A wonderful omakase experience of flavors crafted in the most succulent and beautiful pieces of art. The service is just wonderful. Highly recommended. read more

Giving it a two for food, five for service and five for the cocktails. Really meh food: had three appetizers, and two rolls. The rolls were blah: (yellowtail and Alaskan King Crab). The appetizers were the crispy rice, fried chicken and the skate with curry. The fried chicken itself had little flavor, the skate was ruined by too much salt and being overcooked, plus the curry seemed like it was from a bottle of tabasco sauce. The crispy rice was ok. There were some lovely features to the place, nice bathrooms, etc. Service was wonderful, drinks were great too. I just left wondering what I spent so much money on? Really disappointing. read more

I love the food here, I've been here a few times whenever we visit NYC. However, I don't know about the service. For the price point, I'd expect more. read more

Well let's say that what was supposed to be a nice night with my sister turned into a DISASTER!!! We met for a our bi monthly dinners all over the city. Last night we decided to dine at Kappo Masa one of my favorite spots for sushi in the city. We had a lovely meal, drinks and had time to catch up. Low and behold we both were violently sick after dinner all night. I called to inform the Manger of our experience he told me that he was just getting things started for the evening and hadn't had calls from anyone else today stating that anyone else had been sick. Um hello! This poor response to Food Poisoning is deplorable and unacceptable. I would think twice before dining here at Kappo Masa. Very disappointed in my experience. read more

Everything about Kappo Masa is perfection. My husband and I came for omakase lunch and OH HOT DAMN was it good. Our chef, Jackie, was the man, as was our server Kim, and the manager, Rachel is fantastic. We even ft to meet the chef and he was great to chat with. When you come here you feel so taken care of. Also, take a look around, all the art is original, including a Picasso painting. Awesome. Anyway...back to the food. I couldn't get enough of it! The fish...the uni...the eel...the beef...everything was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. A special shoutout to the shrimp pasta, and an even more special shoutout to the roasted uni half shell. There have been very few times when I've eaten something that was so good it made me want to cry...the roasted uni was one of those things. Absolutely incredible. We also had the Lady M cake for dessert which was a great way to end one of the best meals of my life. read more

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The food here is amazing. The service is nice, a bit pretentious, but it comes with the territory. Ambiance is nice too. Always see local celebrities dining there. For the 1st time, it would help to come with a group (vs just 2) to try as many dishes as possible. read more

This restaurant has a mouse problem and leaves glue traps outside their back entrance on 76th street trying to prevent mice from coming in. They plaster them all over the sidewalk- today there was a bird stuck on the trap. Don't eat here - they have mice and are despicable humans. Calling board of health on them tomorrow. Side note: I was able to take the bird to the bird sanctuary on that west side and they were able to free him - he lost all his tail feathers but they think he'll make it. read more

Kappo Masa - A bird stuck in a glue trap set by this horrible restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

We had an omakase dinner on a Saturday night. The food spectacular, though I did not like the speed. We asked to slow down and the chef accommondated our request. The ambience was just what you expect of a refined place in a beautiful fall evening. Bravo. read more

Good food but when you consider prices it becomes sort of a glorified japanese food hall diner. However, if you are paying $3K/night at a nearby hotel, then this is right up your alley. read more

This might be my favorite of the Masa restaurants. It is the perfect blend of Japanese food and sushi. Discretely housed under a museum shop on Madison Ave, you can easily walk past it 100 times and never notice it was there. This is a true example of getting what you pay for. We had: - Beef Carpaccio with Truffles - Delicious, the beef was sliced perfectly with a generous helping of truffles. - Coconut Lobster Tacos - Wonderful combination and totally delicious - Beef Sukiyaki with Foie Gras and Poached Egg - Delectable, delicious beef with a bit of foie gras complimented by a poached egg. The broth was rich and delicious. - Assorted Sushi and Sashimi - Fresh and delicious, everything you would expect sushi from Masa to be. A lot of people have complained about the price, but honestly this is not as expensive as other restaurants in the Masa family or other sushi restaurants in general. It is up to the individual person to decide if "good food" is worth a high sticker price. If no food is worth a high price to you, then don't go to a Masa establishment because you are walking in negative and will never be satisfied. That being said, we can't wait to come back with our kids because there are menu items they would love! read more

Slurp! The sushi here is insane. Fresh and flavorful and delicious. Maybe Im just being emotional but Kappo Masa was life changing. The ambience is modern and chic. But the main attraction is the food. One has not experienced sushi until you've tried Kappo Masa. Just beware it does cost a pretty penny. read more

Kappo Masa - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Returned to this restaurant because I don't like leaving bad reviews. Food was great, being treated like garbage was not. What do you have to do to get basic respect in this restaurant? Very rude hispanic waiter with glasses that worked the early shift. He took every opportunity to make me uncomfortable. Did not bring me(specifically me) a menu and only acknowledged the other people seated at my table. Had to verbally ask for a menu multiple times before getting one. Took everyone's order and briskly walked away as I asked to make my order known as well. Finally told him what I'd like to eat, was asked if I even knew I was ordering, what the fish was, how it was prepared. Came back to offer wines, desserts took everyone's order except mine. I gave my card for the bill and it was handed to someone else. read more

Really good sushi and cooked dishes. Masa is a master. Everything is super fresh, top quality and unique. read more

Kappo Masa - Shrimp Uni pasta. Pasta is made with shrimp paste - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Always hearing about the stupid prices at the well-known sushi bar Masa, I've never even bothered going. Now, with the new Kappo Masa opening, apparently a less formal, less pricey version, I figured it was a good chance to try Chef Masa's sushi. After taking the elevator down from the Gagosian Art Gallery to the basement level, we entered the swanky dining room, with at least 10 men and women in suits to not quite greet us, but to stare at us as we wondered which direction the hostess's stand was. We finally spotted it through this sea of employees meandering around, and were shortly after shown to our table. Once I quickly perused the menu, I thought about how ridiculous the supposedly higher priced Masa must be. Other than the $16 or $18 soups and salads, everything else on the first page of the menu was around $30 to $40. There was also the Seared Japanese Ohmi Beef Sashimi that our waiter made a point of recommending, which was $120. The menu is enormous, with tons of choices in several sections spanning four pages. If there were no prices listed, I would have gladly ordered tons of stuff, but in the interest of keeping the dinner to a reasonable level, we just ordered a few things, at being careful not to order the especially ludicrously priced items: - Beef Garlic Fried Rice ($28) This was very delicious, but was still just a very tiny portion of fried rice that wasn't really better than you can get at many Japanese restaurants. The only difference was that this one was nearly thirty bucks instead of three bucks. - Unagi with Cucumber Temaki Handroll ($34) Not actually a handroll, but four small pieces of eel semi-wrapped in some seaweed with some rice. Again, $34 for these few small bites was just criminal. - Spicy Tuna with Crispy Green Chili Roll ($22) A good take on your typical spicy tuna, this was a delicious roll, with 8 very well-made pieces. - Yellowtail with Scallion Roll ($18) Also a very good roll, closest to a reasonably priced item, but still not quite. - Toro Sashimi ($15) and Salmon ($6) Each order of sashimi comes with two pieces, but they probably add up to the size of one decent piece. They were pretty good, but nothing better than some of the other top sushi places in NYC. OK, sure, we got mostly white people Japanese restaurant type choices, but it was the only stuff that didn't seem too expensive to enjoy (who wants to order the Uni Risotto for $48? Or the Toro Toro Roll for $68?) I understand that this is a restaurant in an art gallery on Madison Avenue, so the prices aren't going to be fair, but this just seemed out of control. The pieces of sashimi were so minuscule, and while good, were just hard to enjoy knowing what each bite was costing. They were offering two desserts, a Miso Creme Brulee and Black Sesame Ice Cream, but I was too scared to order them since they weren't listed on the menu. If I ever come into some money that I can burn for no reason, I'll be back here to try some more of that extensive menu. Otherwise, never again. read more

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My husband and I have been coming here for years to celebrate our Anniversaries and to treat ourselves on occasion with friends. The quality, service, ambiance and experience have been among the best that the city has to offer. That being said, this is not the case anymore. While the food and ambiance are still top tier, the service we experienced was quite frankly, the worst we have had at any restaurant to date. I hesitate to call out anyone directly, however, our server, Panyawut, made for a subpar experience, especially as we saw the noticeable difference in professionalism and attention from the other servers attending to guests near us. Not only were items missing from our order, but he also was inattentive and had a poor attitude towards us. It was not the fine dining experience that we have come to expect from Kappo Masa. I really hope management takes note of this as we are reconsidering returning based on this experience. read more

Really 3.5 stars, rounding up for the quality of the sushi and service. Very expensive but top grade sushi: The Uni and Toro box lunch was unbeatable. Tempura only so-so, and the sashimi lunch was quite good. Small portions so you won't get stuffed. A great sushi experience but very pricey, even for the UES. read more

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Super elegant. Clean bathrooms. I had the following and they were all fresh and delicious. * Fresh water eel sashimi * Salt water eel sashimi * Sweet shrimp bc sushi * Salmon sashimi * Yellow tail sashimi * Drunken tangerine cocktail read more

Simply the best! After a long hiatus a friend suggested that we meet here for dinner for her birthday. Everything was prepared, presented & tasted to perfection! read more

This restaurant is so overrated that the word "overrated" doesn't quite describe it. From the start, the waiter PUSHED AND PUSHED the entire table to order the tasting menu. At $350 a person--it's no wonder. He is tipped on the amount of the check--which, if he hadn't lied to us at every single turn and had the actual meal been good--it might have been an experience of a lifetime. However... First: I've had better sushi at my neighborhood all-you-can eat. This sushi was masqueraded in sauce and good pottery. The actual taste of ALL of the food was D minus at best. Most of it was inedible. The cooked fish was fishy and the raw was just bland. But the service was despicable. Second: one of our party (our host!) took us there as first timers to enjoy raw fish but she stated very clearly to the waiter that she was not into raw and if he could tailor her "tasting menu" to cooked, she would order the tasting menu, after she had told him that she was content to just order alla carte. He very vociferously told her that of course the chef could easily accommodate that request. But of 6 courses (such a rip off even for pricey upper east side nyc) only one was cooked for her. Third: At one point I asked "what is this?" when referring to a fish that I didn't recognize and was told "I'll tell you in a minute.." That minute never came. And it became crystal clear that the bottom line buck was front and center. Once the order was placed from a confusing pushy waiter, the dye was cast and the customer took a back seat. It was sell, sell, sell all night long. Fourth: the bill was $2400. Yep. Oh--and it was so loud you could not hear yourself think. Unbelievable really. Never again. Please do not go to this restaurant. They should not be in the restaurant business. read more

This restaurant exists so the .0001% do not have to look at the little people while they eat sushi. The food is good but nothing special. It is absolutely not worth the money. The presentation is poor. The omakase is just one piece at a time sushi there is zero experience. The sake list is offensively overpriced. 6 times markup with nothing under $150 a bottle. Same for wine. The bartender is slow at getting cocktails out. Bottom line is this restaurant could not exist almost anywhere besides its current location. The clientele and proprietors are basically an Elizabeth warren campaign add. read more

I went in a couple of days ago with some friends, and to say it was disappointing is an understatement. Most things were average, and some were downright bad. i ordered a toro hand roll, and after one bite, felt actually sick. The toro was in long fillets and was not easy to eat at all. The service was great, but the food was sub-par. And the prices were sky high to top it all off. read more

I came here for the Valentine's Day Omakase and it was the most overpriced, underwhelming meal I've ever had. Service was rushed, the sushi was not as good as Ise or other places at lower price points. The tuna tartare with caviar was an affront to high dining, the duck was over cooked and dry, and the ceviche with shaved truffle did not work at all. Nothing about the flavors felt like a hit and nothing meshed well. Coming here makes me question if it's even worth it to go to the original Masa if this is the quality to expect at the price point given. read more

Its actually between 3 and 4 starts. My friend who works at one of the gallery at upper east side recommended here for our lunch date. *Tip: The restaurant is located inside a gallery so you have to go inside the gallery and make a right.* The environment was really modern with the eye-catching flower blossoms at the center and comfortable lighting. It was nice sitting at the counter appreciating the delicate work of sushi making by the chef while waiting to be seated. The service here was of high quality. Coming in for a quick date during my friend's lunch break, we decided to go with the Bento. We had a Unagi bento ($38) and a shrimp and vege tempura bento (28). Although it was pretty pricy but I think the Unagi was one of the best Japanese grilled unagi (or to say the only one) I had found in NYC. The Unagi was grilled to perfection with the sauce blended into each part of the fish and dripping onto the rice. Tender, delicious, satisfying! For the tempura, I think it was pretty good too. The breading was thin and crispy which I liked! But it was just not that special. Standard. Overall, the environment was beautiful but I would probably come back after a long time if I really really want some Unagi bento! Because there are so many Japanese restaurants out there in NYC. read more

Kappo Masa - Unagi Lunch set & Tempura lunch set - Sushi Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The food was outstanding. Sushi was super fresh and delicious. The service was outstanding. The timing of each dish was perfection. I don't understand the complaints this is a 5/5 for me every day. read more

This one star is for a particular server who saw that I had no battery life on my iPhone and asked if i needed the phone to be charged. Such attention deserves a star. Now let's get down and dirty. 1.terrible entrance with no hostess at the door, the bouncer looking dude at the gallery had to help me with directions. 2.the prices are what you expect at other masa's which is ridiculously absurd. 3. Decor is too simple. again for the price I expect some visual feast for my eyes. Yellow Leather sofas and a giant vase just doesn't cut it. 4. Food is exactly like bar masa's ...really ?!?! No surprise whatsoever. 4 dishes in and $130 later I decided to stop throwing my money down memory lane. Service was nice, staff was nice. Just nice. For the price tag it's like buying a chanel boy bag for $10000.00 in 2016 read more

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Delicious. Authentic. Scrumptious. Yes. YAsss. If you're a looking for a place that would require you to mortgage your house for one sushi roll (but it's totally worth it), look no further. This place couldn't be anymore hidden in the most boggie way possible i.e. walk through an art gallery to get to your table. The staff is very knowledgeable, attentive, and just the right amount of class where you don't feel like they're judging you for not starting in a movie or being a fortunate 500 ceo. I'm saying can I just enjoy my $48 duck tacos in peace? #gosh. The food is fresh in that it honestly feels like they scooped the fish from an ocean. Grass fed it. Let it roam around with his homies. and then brought it to my table for a proper meal/burier #thankyouforyourservice. For a special occasion, a birthday dinner, or last meal before sentencing, I would definitely recommend this place. read more

Came here this past weekend for date night. The first impression I got was quite wonderful. The atmosphere seemed sophisticated and lounge-like. When my boyfriend called to make a reservation prior he had specifically asked if the omakase was sushi. The person on the other end of the line had said yes, but she was not telling the truth! Wish we would have known before- hand it was kaiseki type omakase and not just sushi/sashimi cause honestly we would have skipped it. The dishes that came out were beautifully presented but I have to say there was nothing remarkable about the taste. The Uni porridge had major potential but there was such a mixture of flavors that I could not focus on the taste of... UNI! When the sushi portion of the omakase came out there was all but 6 pieces all together. Now, to my understanding this is a baby of chef Masa. His reputation for sushi is pretty high standard and this sushi didn't meet that expectation. Now, I'm fully aware this is not his shining pride and joy at $450 a person, but just no. Also dessert was a plate of strawberries. . . . What? Dinner vs price of dinner didn't match up guys. The stars are mostly for the atmosphere, the presentation, and the service. The staff and service were exceptional, so I'm not sure where the bad reviews regarding that aspect came from. Overall I would not recommend spending your money here. After dinner we said we should have went to Gari instead. read more

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Found! Delicious Japanese fare on Madison Avenue. Sure its expensive, but after you shopped at Prada, Gucci and Tom Ford its a drop in the bucket! But seriously the prepared food and creative rolls standout. The scene is modern and lively, despite its below grade address. Come here for a special lunch. For more great reviews of the New & Authentic visit TheLoupe! read more

I was looking forward to the Omakase meal, just as a pre NYE celebration. I was sat at the end of the bar close to where the staff set up their station. The team was very loud making it for an uncomfortable experience, one woman who was part of the service team at the bar area spoke extremely loudly and was speaking next to my ear on top of my chair through my whole meal. As I was having my meal I saw a cockroach by my seat behind the counter, I quickly approached the host stand and relayed this information to the host as it was extremely uncomfortable to have to see that at a restaurant. They did nothing about it. No manager approached me to apologize, or even say anything regarding the violation and what I had just witnessed. I guess spending that much money on an Omakase meal really is nothing unusual for them, but I was expecting a much higher experience for the name of the restaurant and the caliber it states to be a part of. Will not be returning. read more

No. It only gets 2 stars because the drinks were out of this world. The decor is BEAUTIFUL. If you want to impress a date, look no further. Kappo Masa features artwork likely from the prestigious gallery right above the restaurant. The drinks are so tasty and they have quite the selection of exotic fruit juices and liquors to choose from. We sat at a table and ordered sushi. While I usually like to sit at the counter, we opted for table service. They brought over about 18 pieces over 2-3 courses. I honestly felt like the fish was not even mediocre. It didn't melt in my mouth. It didn't taste extremely fresh. It didn't have any specialty to it. I was absolutely not impressed. As the night went on, I could feel the AC cranking up more and more. I asked several people if they could turn the air down as I was literally shivering. They all said that they would but after 30 minutes went by, it didn't get any better. They should have communicated to me that the air could not be turned down or offer to move me to another part of the restaurant not underneath an AC vent. We couldn't wait to get the check. Overall, I was not impressed. read more