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No Work Allowed

3.9 (38 reviews)
Closed 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

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Erick S.

Recommend: Thai Teani (martini), Ume Yuzu (plum wine) The experience here does not compare to Tomi Jazz, but if you don't want to wait in a long line, or simply want to experience another of Midtown's Japanese-inspired jazz bars, then give this place a try. I went on a Friday night, live jazz starts around 7:30p. I ordered a few drinks, including the ones I recommended above. Food is okay, but pricey for the portion size. When the place gets packed, it gets very loud and service is noticeably slower for everyone. The jazz band was good, but when they took a break they went up to every table to ask for tips/donations. I usually tip on my own accord, but would have appreciated not having my meal/conversations interrupted. Overall not the worst experience, but not a first choice considering the other jazz bars in the area.

Crying tiger
Joyce Y.

The ambience is great, the jazz is great, the lychee beer and tako wasabi is great...but the crying tiger steak is terrible. I ordered a medium rare and received a rare steak, the nam jim jeaw was straight-up just too sweet, the steak was filled with so many inedible fatty parts, and the kicker is that the website lists it as $32 but the QR code menu lists it as $45. I assumed the QR code would just lead to the website so I ended up thinking it was $13 less than it actually was and overpaid for a very disappointing meal. No Work Allowed needs to fix this admin issue to refrain from misleading customers.

Rina D.

Food is just ok but the vibes are definitely here! Given that the space is pretty tight/small, make sure to go early so you can decide how close to the performers you want to be. Service is definitely slow as they cater to many tables and get really busy. Took multiple asks to just get some napkins. It does get pretty loud so it will be hard to talk here. Just come here to enjoy the vibes!

George C.

Right on East 53rd St, this place is a great addition to "restaurant row" here. It's a Thai-Japanese fusion Izakaya and the food is solid. How it works - we came on a Friday and it seemed like people ate in waves. That's because they have live jazz (there was a saxophonist, bassist and pianist when we went), and they play in 45-60 minute sets. There's a minimum spend of $15 per person for each set. But that includes food or drinks. So you can spend the whole night here if you want by getting one drink per set. Not bad at all. Food is solid as well. We really enjoyed the flavors of everything, especially the scallops and the noodles. Some dishes have a nice southeast Asian flare to them, like the noodles which were slightly spicy. The only thing that was a little too salty was the grilled mackerel (or whatever fish it was). We left after 1 set but will come back again

Inside jazz
Emily H.

New basement jazz bar in Midtown East. Very cute and cozy vibes inside. Perfect for our girls night. Loved the music too. There was basically no line when we went at 7:30pm on a Friday night (unlike its neighbor Tomi Jazz). We were let in to the bar immediately and then got seated shortly after, within 15-20 minutes I'd say. Honestly felt like I got the Tomi Jazz experience from here lol. Their drinks were sooo good. We got the Ume Yuzu and Thai Teani, and both drinks were delicious. We also got the bone-in Karage, truffle fries, crying tiger, and mentaiko pasta. Food was good, a little pricey and small portions. I liked the crying tiger the most. Definitely better for their drinks. However, their service is horribly slow. We asked 3 times for ketchup and they still didn't give it to us, until I had to very aggressively requested the waitress to get us ketchup the last 4th time. They also took forever to give us our check, we had to ask for the check 3 times too. The inside is small and cute, but it's freezing. They definitely need more heaters. Overall, food & drinks & vibes & music were great! We all had a great time. But service definitely needs improvement.

Kelsey A.

What an adorable, charming, intimate jazz bar. There are a few tables and bar seats, then the band. It's dimly lit and perfect for a date night or a fun girls night. The band was wonderful, and the Japanese menu was a charming contrast.

Cool interior ambiance
Sophie C.

Got lost and stumbled across here-- very glad we found it! You have to walk down a flight of stairs, so it can be easy to miss from the street. We did not have a reservation, but we came early on a Monday night. They have an interesting menu and I definitely would like to come back to try more. They have a $15/person minimum and a ~75 min maximum on Fridays and Saturdays. Their fried squid with salted egg dip was absolutely delicious. Their salmon curry pasta was also scrumptious, and a little spicy. They are very attentive with their service, but respectful to not interrupt the jazz trio. Super cool spot and go to the restroom for a surprise...

Ume Yuzu
Ellie Z.

No Work Allowed is a "Japanese izakaya with a Northeastern Thai twist" that offers dinner, live jazz music, small plates, cocktails, and a great time. Live jazz starts at 7pm (Tuesdays through Fridays) and 5:30pm on Saturdays. I highly recommend the Ume Yuzu (8.9/10): This is a shochu based cocktail (Japanese distilled spirit) with plum wine, yuzu liquor, yuzu puree, lime juice, and seltzer. I LOVED this drink. Honestly one of my favorite cocktails that I have had in NYC. If I had to describe this drink in one word, it would be "refreshing." The plum wine adds a nice sweetness to the bright tangy flavor of the lime juice and yuzu. It also is a great sweetness level (especially since I like my cocktails on the fruitier/sweeter side). Highly recommend!! This place is located right next to the very popular Tomi Jazz so if the line for Tomi is looking a little too long, I promise you won't regret popping into here!

Stephanie D.

Came around 6:30 on a thursday and it was pretty empty but filled up later. The drinks were good but not great but the food was better. The scallop ceviche was very fresh and light. And the chili garlic pasta was the most flavorful. The crab fried rice and pad thai were good too. Service was a little on the slower side but ambiance and vibe were good with the jazz and decor

chili garlic pasta
Fiona O.

This place would be 4 stars, but the portion was very underwhelming. I got an entree with an app split amongst others, and I was still hungry after. I would say my dish was very good (slightly saltier than I would have liked, but it grew on me the more I ate). Service was good, and it was a cool place to be with jazz playing nearby. Don't come here if you want to talk very much! Come if you want to just enjoy some music! Order lots too.

Spicy raw octopus
Carol C.

This place truly is a gem! We got seated and got a pear tonic and pineapple prik glua to start the night. I decided to try something new and got the raw octopus and it took me by surprise! If you're not into wasabi or ginger- it might not the dish for you, but if you are- this is definitely refreshing and delightful! I love a good truffle fry and if they sprinkled more truffle seasoning- it woulda been even better!!! The pasta was evenly coated in a thick sweet creamy curry sauce and the salmon piece was HUGE!! Definitely worth the price and to top the night off, there was live jazz music playing too!! The vibes were amazing and it definitely had me forgetting about the stress of work on a Tuesday night!

Shrimp Pad Thai
Erin O.

This was such an incredible dining experience and I'm so glad we were able to check it out. My friends and I were originally planning to dine at Tomi Jazz, but after seeing the line to get in we decided to try No Work Allowed instead, and I'm so glad we did! The staff told us that it might be a ~45 minute wait for a table, but after only a few minutes, one magically opened up for us! The seating arrangement in this restaurant is a bit strange... there's essentially a long hallway where tables are placed at, and then a spot in the back that is a bit more private but doesn't have a view of the live music. We were seated just a couple tables away from the band, which we preferred. The live music was incredible and went on during our entire hour-long stay. There is a table minimum, so we ordered some drinks and food which was also amazing. Each thing we tried here - the sweet potato tempura, shrimp pad thai, and krapow moo kai dao - was delicious and jam packed with flavor, but the standout dish that I'd come back for again was the krapow moo kai dao. I'd highly recommend this place for both the food and the jazz! You really can't go wrong here.

Loved it here! Vibes and food was great and the music was perfect. TOBY WAS THE BEST!!!!

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4 months ago

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4 months ago

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1 month ago

Very small and service was very slow. Food was ok, I had their Pad Thai. Bartender didn't seem the friendliest.

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1 year ago

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11 months ago

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2 years ago

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10 months ago

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2 months ago

Such a nice jazz bar. Kind and attentive bartender and amazing vibes. Good music. 1 drink cover.

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1 year ago

Really mid food and cocktails for the price... felt sad on the inside in a way... jazz was good

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2 years ago

Adorable place with little to no wait time for a table!! The staff were friendly and the live music was excellent!

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Tensai - ebi niku udon ($18)

Tensai

4.3(56 reviews)
0.1 miMidtown East

This is an adorable, cute and cozy little udon shop. Not good for a large group. Some of the best…read moreudon I have had outside of Japan. I highly recommend and cannot wait to visit again.

I had stopped by this little hole in the wall a handful of times before stopping in several months…read moreago during a cold winter day. The place was pretty quiet, and the staff was friendly. To drink, I had a Hot Organic Super Matcha Tea for 4.95. It was alright tea, and I wish teas were included in the price point, as otherwise, this place feels pretty traditional. In terms of food, I only ordered from the seasonal menu, so I'm not sure how the rest of the dishes are, but from what I had, I would go back for a light traditional meal. My appetizer was the Dashimaki Tamago/だし巻まき卵たま, or sweet savory omelet with daikon for $6.98. This came with three pieces along with a little dollop of grated radish. The pieces had a light sweetness to them along with a bit of savoriness. They were juicy and a bit bouncy while maintaining some softness. This was standard and good. My main dish was the $19.98 Beef Tan Tan Udon, or ground sirloin beef, spicy broth, baby bok choy, kikurage mushroom, scallions, and sesame seeds. While I have preferred udon from spots like Raku, the udon had a mild chew to it, and they were still good. The broth had a mix of sweetness and spiciness with a nice depth of flavor. The vegetables inside tasted fresh, and the meat added some richness. This was good as well. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to go here, but the food was good. If you're in the area and looking for no frills Japanese dining in a more comfortable atmosphere at pretty decent Midtown East prices, I would recommend this place.

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Tensai
Tensai - Karaage

Karaage

Tensai - Spicy Cucumber $8.98 (Persian cucumber with chili oil, garlic chips and chili thread)

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Katsu-Hama

Katsu-Hama

4.0(1.8k reviews)
0.5 miMidtown East
$$

I am a sucker for delicious Katsu and you'll struggle to find better than Katsu-Hama. Katsu-Hama…read morehas a quaint, Japanese vibe in a small but comfortable dining area. It's not especially big, so you may have a bit of a wait if you frequent right at lunch or in the evening but whatever amount of time you have to wait it will be well worth it. Service is top tier but you come for the food. They have a varied menu with a lot of options so if you're bringing a buddy that isn't up for Katsu, they'll have plenty to choose from. The Katsu is the star and I think what sets this place apart is that they offer Berkshire pork katsu as an option. Arguably some of the best pork, it's great to have the option if you're looking to heighten the experience. I love their pork katsu and go nuts over the chicken katsu curry. It's super crispy, slightly greasy but never off-putting. And it's served with the most delicate and delicious cabbage slaw. I could eat a mountain of this it's so good. Highly recommended.

This place is a bit hard to spot, but it's on the same side of the street as the sorta famous (50…read moreyears +) Phil's Stationery. Katsu-Hama is about two doors to the Left of Phil's, and has minimal, very discreet signage. I got some tonkatsu...I forget the exact type, but it was essentially the most fatty of the tonkatsu offered. It came with cabbage (with a sesame ginger type dressing), daikon radish (with some type of sauce on top), and the standard sauce for the tonkatsu, along with some crushed sesame seed and hot mustard. I'd have to say...the tonkatsu was quite good....not quite as sublime as my favorite tonkatsu place in Tokyo...but still, very, very good. The dish also came with a bowl of miso soup (good, and not overly salty) and a bowl of white rice, which I considered the most disappointing part of the meal. The rice seemed a bit dried out...not moist.... All in all, an excellent meal. I'd definitely come back.

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Katsu-Hama
Katsu-Hama - Oyster and katsu

Oyster and katsu

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Izakaya MEW - Salmon Carpaccio

Izakaya MEW

4.3(3.3k reviews)
1.1 miMidtown West
$$

Honestly, I really enjoyed my time at Izakaya Mew. I love the underground vibe because it gives it…read morethat cozy dim vibe. The servers were pretty attentive and funny, they'd check on us regularly, somehow managing to convince us to get even more items based on what we liked. As a big fan of seafood, I really enjoyed the Scallop Uni Butter Scallop and the Shishamo Fritters. A lot of the items didn't feel heavy which is always a plus with Izakayas, and allowed us to order and try even more items on the menu. Definitely the perfect place to come with a group of friends after work !

We stopped in for a work lunch, and I ordered the Kaisen donburi. They were out of uni, which our…read moreserver let me know right away and mentioned they would lower the price to $30 instead. At the time, I thought that seemed fair enough, but looking back, I'm not so sure. For what was left in the bowl, $30 still felt overpriced. The fish slices were cut extremely thin, and there was really only a single layer of fish, so overall it just wasn't very satisfying. That said, there are still quite a few items on the menu that caught my eye and that I'd like to try. I'm going to chalk this one up to ordering the wrong dish rather than writing the place off completely. One thing that did leave a bad impression, though, was the interaction at the end of the meal. The girl who brought our check wasn't exactly rude, but she seemed visibly annoyed when we asked about using Apple Pay but ended up putting the charge on my card and it felt like asking her to bring over the Apple Pay machine was somehow inconveniencing her. She also didn't bother asking whether I wanted my receipt. Maybe none of it was intentional, but her overall demeanor came across that way and left us ending the meal with a bad taste in our mouths.

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Izakaya MEW - Dining area

Dining area

Izakaya MEW - Volcano Roll and Chikaten Roll

Volcano Roll and Chikaten Roll

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Okatte Tanto NY

Okatte Tanto NY

4.5(60 reviews)
0.2 miMidtown East

Called beforehand on a Friday night for two and seats were ready when we arrived at 8:30pm. Upon…read moreentering, it felt like I teleported to Japan. Many of the clientele are Japanese so we knew we were at an authentic place. We got: - Fried oysters: the batter was light and crispy and oysters piping hot - Vinegared Mackerel w/ Ponzu Sauce: fresh & tangy - Intestines Hotpot: comforting & light despite the fattiness of the intestines - Creamed Mentai Udon: they split it in 2 small bowls for us since we were sharing. Udon had a nice bouncy chew and sauce was not heavy We also got a bottle of sake, and they poured it in a beautiful sake decanter to keep it cold. First time seeing cold sake presented this way which was very cool. We tried Suntory draft beer since that was the only draft they had, which was odd since most Japanese places carry Asahi/Sapporo, definitely not as light as the other two beers I'm used to. Even though I was stuffed by the end, I didn't feel lethargic, everything felt light without compromising flavor. Service was attentive although our udon came at the very end, we thought they had forgot about it.

There are a few restaurants in NYC that make you feel like you are stepping into a Japan portal,…read moreand Okatte Tanto is no doubt one of those. As you step into the restaurant, you immediately feel a sense of formality and strictness. It's also very quiet in the restaurant, and friendly to solo diners, adding on more to the Japan-esque feel. The food is high quality here, but the portions are small, and it is pricey. I would budget to spend around $100 a person here after tip and tax, if you ignore the prices on the menu and try a variety of things. The tuna from the bone is the most famous dish here, but I was not able to get it as they sell out very fast. But I tried the sashimi and it was high quality -- just that it was not enough food for me. But that makes it more in line with portions back in Japan. They have an extensive sake list and they also have the casual cocktail options like lemon drops you would find in Tokyo. The atmosphere really transports you straight into Japan if that is something you are looking for. Expect to pay a premium for small-ish portions, but at the same time very well-made and authentic food.

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Okatte Tanto NY
Okatte Tanto NY
Okatte Tanto NY

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No Work Allowed - bars - Updated May 2026

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