The food is good but not so impressive that it's worth going through your contacts and calling people to get a referral. NYC has so many great restaurants. You are not going to miss much if you can't get a referral.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Ben B.
I just wanted to drop some reviews about this place as I saw my personal shots of their dish on my phone when scrolling. Unfortunately, they are already closed. I went here around January, but hopefully a Japanese restaurant like Bohemian will open around NYC. It was like finding a hidden treasure chest in the cocktail world.I tried a glass of Hibiki 21 whiskey, and let me tell you, it was really good. Seriously, the flavors in that Japanese whiskey were something else. Then, I ventured into the Yuzu Shiso Margarita, and it was a game-changer. It's like a regular margarita got a Japanese makeover. The yuzu and shiso combo was so refreshing. My favorite meal there was the tartare and wagyu beef, and it was a fresh explosion of flavors.I couldn't get enough of it.The staff was not just attentive but also super friendly and flexible. The place was practically empty, which made it feel like our own little secret hideaway. I rate it 5 stars because of the great drinks, the dish, and the ambiance itself.
Robert Marmorstein
Went here for an early Valentine’s Day dinner with the lady and had an awesome time. Luckily I had read that there were no markings outside and you have to walk down a hallway to get into the restaurant or else I would’ve been lost lol. This contributes to the restaurants super specific, very cool ambiance. I thought the Mac and cheese was good, I thought the chicken karaage, and the truffle creamed spinach were very good, and the wagyu tartare was great! But the main event was the Miyazaki Wagyu steak. This steak was possibly the best I’ve ever had. Upon eating it my girlfriend turned and reported “This is the best piece of steak I’ve ever had.”Drinks were all awesome, experience was great, and I’ll definitely be bringing people to this place. Absolutely loved it.
Reid M
Came here as it was recommended from friends who have been a few years ago. The restaurant was empty, and we quickly found out why. Starters tasted low quality, and the sushi we ordered (which was incredibly expensive), was horrific. We were going to order the waygu, however after the sushi, we asked to cancel this dish. They then had the audacity to cancel the order, and still charge us $120 for it! Eventually they agreed to take it off the bill, but I have never experienced service like this, especially at a very expensive restaurant. The drinks were great, and the bartend was very nice.
chris yo
Privileged to have came to this restaurant twice. Intimate setting, laid back, great food and very attentive staff.My love partner brought me here for Valentines Day and recently for my birthday. It’s one of his favorite restaurant. Their tasting menu were exquisite and their ala carte menu is actually really reasonably priced. Definitely holds a lot of food memories here.And special thanks and shoutout to the very well appreciated handwritten greetings with my birthday cake!
Chris Y.
Privileged to have came to this restaurant twice. Intimate setting, laid back, great food and very attentive staff.My love partner brought me here for Valentines Day and recently for my birthday. It's one of his favorite restaurant. Their tasting menu were exquisite and their ala carte menu is actually really reasonably priced. Definitely holds a lot of food memories here.And special thanks and shoutout to the very well appreciated handwritten greetings with my birthday cake!
Dawn Q.
It's hard to nab a reservation here so I was very excited to finally get to check this place out! The ambience is interesting... intimate, casual, and artsy. I did find the one completely bare wall to be a little jarring. Other than that the comfy lounge chairs were cool and fun. There's a small bar with counter seating in addition to the lounge. We ordered a few of the drinks and they were all excellent. My boyfriend particularly enjoyed his matcha manhattan. For the food, we tried a number of the dishes. You MUST get the wagyu tartare. This is outstanding and served on a cheesy toast. GET THIS. I was also surprised by how much I liked the roasted vegetables - unusual when veggies are quite this tasty. We also tried a pork belly rice dish and the omakase. The omakase came with 8 pieces and a small sushi roll (For $110). While some of the pieces were good, for that price I think you can get a lot better. Would skip it. Overall, it was a unique and interesting experience. Some of the dishes knocked it out of the park and the drinks were excellent. It's pretty pricey but I guess that's what you pay for the exclusivity. Good for small groups!
MrWoo
An exclusive referral only restaurant that caught our attention. The cocktails were good but the food was adequate. I don’t know if it was because I had my hopes up too high, but definitely planning on returning for more cocktails. Hope to seat at the bar sitting next time when I visit.
Jenn H.
We started with the washu beef tartare on blue cheese toast. It was so awesome.. I don't even like tartare but this was so delicious. The miso black cod with grilled miso marinated mushroom was so well made and yummy. The fish came off in perfect slices in its own. So tastyThe foie gras sushi was so delicious.. who would have even thought it!Washu beef steak sampler was the way to go to sample all the different parts, which tasted completely different.Love the food! I will be back for sure!
Yuna C.
Given the exclusivity of the restaurant, the ambience is more intimate and laid back - everything is very simple and minimalistic. Our server was very thorough and we're so glad to be recommended the two specials for the night - omakase and steak platter, which were the most memorable dishes of the night. Though the number of guests who can enter is limited, service was slow and we were in the restaurant for 3 hours.
We have been coming to this restaurant for many years, back when Kadoi-san was the General Manager and reservations were mainly available to existing patrons. Recently (after the pandemic), food and service have deteriorated to a disappointing level, especially the service. Go somewhere else for sushi or sashimi, mini-burger or steak, nothing special here.
Charles M.
First I want to start by saying I LOVE the Bohemian. We've been going there for many years now regularly, and it's always been a very special experience with great food to boot. However I am going to give a low rating this time as a warning to management. The last few times we've been there have been pretty "meh", with the last time in particular being really bad. Let's start with the elephant in the room: there are some days (during the week?) where staff is just bad. Some examples of that: - We arrived right on time for our reservation and rang at the door. Once. Twice. Thrice. Nobody answered or let us in. 5 mins later and after ringing many times we were finally let in... by someone who was waiting for the restroom. What the hell Bohemian? I get being busy but literally not even acknowledging us or opening the door? Why? There was another group after us, staff didn't open to them for at least 15 mins so it was not just us. Really bizarre behavior, especially when it's cold outside. - Then we were told the table is almost ready it will be another 5 mins. We wait, then 15 mins later we ask again and they say it will be another 5 mins... And before you know it 40 mins have passed and we don't yet have our table. I get sometimes having some delays, but 45 mins after reservation is NOT ok. And the worst is that staff was just ignoring us, I had to basically camp in front of the kitchen to get them to talk to us. They could have offered a drink or something for the inconvenience, but nope, just ignoring us was better I guess. Some of the rudest staff I have ever seen in any restaurant, what the hell happened Bohemian from the days your staff was actually building connections with your customers? Then beyond the obvious staff problems there's been a shift since the pandemic that makes Bohemian less of a stellar experience: - A lot of tables, chairs and furniture are very worn out. Definitely could use a refresh. - They seem to have added some tables in the middle which were previously empty. What was once a pretty quiet and "chill" room is now super crowded and noisy. Definitely no longer getting the "zen" vibes we were getting for the first many years. - Service is just hit and miss. After we (finally) get seated, anything goes. I'm fine with some wait, but waiting 1 hour to get cocktails to the point they arrive after some dishes is ridiculous. Then dishes regularly come in any order, so we got 2/3 appetizers together for a table of 3 and the last one came like 30 mins later, not great... For the food I'll just say it is always great as usual, if there's one thing where quality has not dropped it's the food which is always consistent, so kudos to the chefs in the kitchen. But the staff at the bar and dining room needs to get their act together. We'll probably still be back despite the terrible experience last time, but it's definitely falling out from our go-to list and must-haves when we have guests to nice-to-haves. Hopefully management gets the message and makes some adjustments.
Victor Jung
The ultimate of speakeasy dining. This venue has special place in my heart as a Warhol and Basquet art lover and foodie for Japanese Waygu and delicacies.
Carmel M.
Been here several times and for the most part it's been very consistent. Food is very good, though the rice dishes (other than the risotto) were mediocre. Mac & cheese is out of this world, Branzino is perfect, washu sliders delectable. Chicken kara age was good but surprisingly salty. Service is very nice but veeery slow. Took about 40 minutes to get the first drinks. Having said that, we will definitely be back.
HK
Food was great, but I found the price too high for its portion, even considering inflation. On another note, not sure if it’s exclusive anymore since their menus are on display outside the restaurant.
The food is good but not so impressive that it's worth going through your contacts and calling people to get a referral. NYC has so many great restaurants. You are not going to miss much if you can't get a referral.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
I just wanted to drop some reviews about this place as I saw my personal shots of their dish on my phone when scrolling. Unfortunately, they are already closed. I went here around January, but hopefully a Japanese restaurant like Bohemian will open around NYC. It was like finding a hidden treasure chest in the cocktail world.I tried a glass of Hibiki 21 whiskey, and let me tell you, it was really good. Seriously, the flavors in that Japanese whiskey were something else. Then, I ventured into the Yuzu Shiso Margarita, and it was a game-changer. It's like a regular margarita got a Japanese makeover. The yuzu and shiso combo was so refreshing. My favorite meal there was the tartare and wagyu beef, and it was a fresh explosion of flavors.I couldn't get enough of it.The staff was not just attentive but also super friendly and flexible. The place was practically empty, which made it feel like our own little secret hideaway. I rate it 5 stars because of the great drinks, the dish, and the ambiance itself.
Went here for an early Valentine’s Day dinner with the lady and had an awesome time. Luckily I had read that there were no markings outside and you have to walk down a hallway to get into the restaurant or else I would’ve been lost lol. This contributes to the restaurants super specific, very cool ambiance. I thought the Mac and cheese was good, I thought the chicken karaage, and the truffle creamed spinach were very good, and the wagyu tartare was great! But the main event was the Miyazaki Wagyu steak. This steak was possibly the best I’ve ever had. Upon eating it my girlfriend turned and reported “This is the best piece of steak I’ve ever had.”Drinks were all awesome, experience was great, and I’ll definitely be bringing people to this place. Absolutely loved it.
Came here as it was recommended from friends who have been a few years ago. The restaurant was empty, and we quickly found out why. Starters tasted low quality, and the sushi we ordered (which was incredibly expensive), was horrific. We were going to order the waygu, however after the sushi, we asked to cancel this dish. They then had the audacity to cancel the order, and still charge us $120 for it! Eventually they agreed to take it off the bill, but I have never experienced service like this, especially at a very expensive restaurant. The drinks were great, and the bartend was very nice.
Privileged to have came to this restaurant twice. Intimate setting, laid back, great food and very attentive staff.My love partner brought me here for Valentines Day and recently for my birthday. It’s one of his favorite restaurant. Their tasting menu were exquisite and their ala carte menu is actually really reasonably priced. Definitely holds a lot of food memories here.And special thanks and shoutout to the very well appreciated handwritten greetings with my birthday cake!
Privileged to have came to this restaurant twice. Intimate setting, laid back, great food and very attentive staff.My love partner brought me here for Valentines Day and recently for my birthday. It's one of his favorite restaurant. Their tasting menu were exquisite and their ala carte menu is actually really reasonably priced. Definitely holds a lot of food memories here.And special thanks and shoutout to the very well appreciated handwritten greetings with my birthday cake!
It's hard to nab a reservation here so I was very excited to finally get to check this place out! The ambience is interesting... intimate, casual, and artsy. I did find the one completely bare wall to be a little jarring. Other than that the comfy lounge chairs were cool and fun. There's a small bar with counter seating in addition to the lounge. We ordered a few of the drinks and they were all excellent. My boyfriend particularly enjoyed his matcha manhattan. For the food, we tried a number of the dishes. You MUST get the wagyu tartare. This is outstanding and served on a cheesy toast. GET THIS. I was also surprised by how much I liked the roasted vegetables - unusual when veggies are quite this tasty. We also tried a pork belly rice dish and the omakase. The omakase came with 8 pieces and a small sushi roll (For $110). While some of the pieces were good, for that price I think you can get a lot better. Would skip it. Overall, it was a unique and interesting experience. Some of the dishes knocked it out of the park and the drinks were excellent. It's pretty pricey but I guess that's what you pay for the exclusivity. Good for small groups!
An exclusive referral only restaurant that caught our attention. The cocktails were good but the food was adequate. I don’t know if it was because I had my hopes up too high, but definitely planning on returning for more cocktails. Hope to seat at the bar sitting next time when I visit.
We started with the washu beef tartare on blue cheese toast. It was so awesome.. I don't even like tartare but this was so delicious. The miso black cod with grilled miso marinated mushroom was so well made and yummy. The fish came off in perfect slices in its own. So tastyThe foie gras sushi was so delicious.. who would have even thought it!Washu beef steak sampler was the way to go to sample all the different parts, which tasted completely different.Love the food! I will be back for sure!
Given the exclusivity of the restaurant, the ambience is more intimate and laid back - everything is very simple and minimalistic. Our server was very thorough and we're so glad to be recommended the two specials for the night - omakase and steak platter, which were the most memorable dishes of the night. Though the number of guests who can enter is limited, service was slow and we were in the restaurant for 3 hours.
Restaurantji Recommends
We have been coming to this restaurant for many years, back when Kadoi-san was the General Manager and reservations were mainly available to existing patrons. Recently (after the pandemic), food and service have deteriorated to a disappointing level, especially the service. Go somewhere else for sushi or sashimi, mini-burger or steak, nothing special here.
First I want to start by saying I LOVE the Bohemian. We've been going there for many years now regularly, and it's always been a very special experience with great food to boot. However I am going to give a low rating this time as a warning to management. The last few times we've been there have been pretty "meh", with the last time in particular being really bad. Let's start with the elephant in the room: there are some days (during the week?) where staff is just bad. Some examples of that: - We arrived right on time for our reservation and rang at the door. Once. Twice. Thrice. Nobody answered or let us in. 5 mins later and after ringing many times we were finally let in... by someone who was waiting for the restroom. What the hell Bohemian? I get being busy but literally not even acknowledging us or opening the door? Why? There was another group after us, staff didn't open to them for at least 15 mins so it was not just us. Really bizarre behavior, especially when it's cold outside. - Then we were told the table is almost ready it will be another 5 mins. We wait, then 15 mins later we ask again and they say it will be another 5 mins... And before you know it 40 mins have passed and we don't yet have our table. I get sometimes having some delays, but 45 mins after reservation is NOT ok. And the worst is that staff was just ignoring us, I had to basically camp in front of the kitchen to get them to talk to us. They could have offered a drink or something for the inconvenience, but nope, just ignoring us was better I guess. Some of the rudest staff I have ever seen in any restaurant, what the hell happened Bohemian from the days your staff was actually building connections with your customers? Then beyond the obvious staff problems there's been a shift since the pandemic that makes Bohemian less of a stellar experience: - A lot of tables, chairs and furniture are very worn out. Definitely could use a refresh. - They seem to have added some tables in the middle which were previously empty. What was once a pretty quiet and "chill" room is now super crowded and noisy. Definitely no longer getting the "zen" vibes we were getting for the first many years. - Service is just hit and miss. After we (finally) get seated, anything goes. I'm fine with some wait, but waiting 1 hour to get cocktails to the point they arrive after some dishes is ridiculous. Then dishes regularly come in any order, so we got 2/3 appetizers together for a table of 3 and the last one came like 30 mins later, not great... For the food I'll just say it is always great as usual, if there's one thing where quality has not dropped it's the food which is always consistent, so kudos to the chefs in the kitchen. But the staff at the bar and dining room needs to get their act together. We'll probably still be back despite the terrible experience last time, but it's definitely falling out from our go-to list and must-haves when we have guests to nice-to-haves. Hopefully management gets the message and makes some adjustments.
The ultimate of speakeasy dining. This venue has special place in my heart as a Warhol and Basquet art lover and foodie for Japanese Waygu and delicacies.
Been here several times and for the most part it's been very consistent. Food is very good, though the rice dishes (other than the risotto) were mediocre. Mac & cheese is out of this world, Branzino is perfect, washu sliders delectable. Chicken kara age was good but surprisingly salty. Service is very nice but veeery slow. Took about 40 minutes to get the first drinks. Having said that, we will definitely be back.
Food was great, but I found the price too high for its portion, even considering inflation. On another note, not sure if it’s exclusive anymore since their menus are on display outside the restaurant.