This is the real deal!! Tsukimi is an excellent restaurant and truly represents the best of many influences including Japan, France and the amazing world-renowned restaurants of Copenhagen. You know it will be a special experience at Tsukimi as soon as you see the dish lined shelves behind the counter as you sit down at the counter - all the dishes are unique for each serving. The food, service/staff and atmosphere are exceptional. All of the dishes hit the mark! The quality of the ingredients are clearly the best of the best. The drink selections match the incredible food - some of the most extraordinary the City has to offer. A couple of suggestions: 1.Fix the light at the end of the counter on the right. 2. Consider slightly smaller portions as there are so many dishes. We guarantee no one will complain nor leave hungry. Tsukimi exceeds all of the hype. A must for anyone who wants to experience the best of the restaurant scene in NYC.
We love Tsukimi! We are planning to return again for their spring or summer menu. Such a great find, and I selfishly wish they could just be my little secret. Aesthetically pleasing plating, good portions, unique flavors, and their desserts always hit the spot. The chef and staff are all wonderful, and the experience has been pleasant whenever we've dined here. Highly recommend!
Holly C.
Booked Tsukimi to celebrate my mom's birthday and it did not disappoint. I would say this was a solid 4.5/5 meal. What a wonderful kaiseki experience for us to enjoy fresh seasonal ingredients being prepared like a form of art. The restaurant looked very deceiving from the outside as I thought the sign was very discreet and I doubted myself wondering if I was walking into the right place. However, once I stepped inside, I was greeted by a friendly staff, leading me and my mom to 2 of 12 intimate seats in the small restaurant. The place was very clean and comfortable, with 6 seats on each side and ample space between each party. We started the first course with a trio of trout, saba and aori ika. Every bite was refreshing with perfectly balanced of flavors and textures. The egg custard with uni and caviar was one of my favorite dish. The egg custard was steamed to perfection and there was an explosion of flavors from the creaminess of the uni, saltiness and crunch of the caviar, and with a touch of savory taste from the potatoes foam. The Amadi soup was very hearty. The broth had a lot of depth and flavor which was paired nicely with the bamboo shoots and fiddlehead which added another level of textures. The Kapachi was plated so beautifully like a spring garden and we almost didn't want to eat it. The fish was super fresh and the citrus from the yuzu sauce was the perfect touch to make this dish very refreshing. It was almost like a palette cleanser to prepare for the next dish. The scallop tempura was a surprise since I saw that it was paired with egg yolk and was a little skeptical since it just looked and sounded very heavy. But to my surprise, the scallops were perfectly fried with the perfect amount of batter and not oily at all. The scallop was big, fresh and sweet. The egg yolk was not overly salty and had a good balance of flavor when paired with the shungiku puree. For the sable fish dish, I know the main focus was the fish, which was well seasoned and perfectly grilled. But what I really enjoyed was the white asparagus. It was just simply blanched but it was so fresh and tender. I've never seen white asparagus so big before! The wagu was charred perfectly and literally melted in my mouth. I also enjoyed the rice which as well seasoned and loved how it was paired with bamboo shoots which gave it a nice texture. The miso soup was very flavorful and my favorite was the homemade tofu which was silken soft with a rich soy bean taste. Up to this point, the meal would've been a 5/5 rating. However, I feel 2/3 of the desserts fell short for me. Although the sorbet was refreshing and served its purpose as a palate cleanser, I couldn't really taste any kumquat or honey in the sorbet at all. In fact I feel the basil jelly was a bit bitter. The pineberry soufflé however, was divine. It was airy and light with fresh pineberry at the bottom. I particularly like it when combined together with the sake lees ice cream. The last course of the meal was just a Sakura mochi which was good but nothing memorable which was unfortunate because the last dish always leaves an impression but it unfortunately wasn't very impressive. Overall, I really enjoyed Tsukimi. It's a traditional kaiseki experience using fresh ingredients from the season. You can tell every dish was prepared using various techniques and well put together. Do not expect it to have any modern twist because it's not a fusion restaurant. The staff were very friendly and attentive. They were very personable and I loved how they spent time explaining every dish to us in detail. Their menu changes every season and I would love to go back to try their summer menu! I highly recommend Tsukimi!
Amber C.
An underrated Japanese Kaiseki that has one Michelin star and is not advertised heavily on social media platforms. The ambiance is very serene, peaceful, and I felt like I walked into a fine dining restaurant in Japan. All seating is similar to a counter seating where the servers bring out food in the center to you personally. They treated us with the utmost respect and I enjoyed how quiet and attentive the restaurant was. We were not given a menu beforehand so everything was a huge surprise (some may not be a fan of this). Don't worry, they ask you if you have any allergies beforehand. I went in July 2023 and each dish was unique and presentation was on point! I really enjoyed the incorporation of different ingredients and how they had a variety such as wagyu beef, sushi, and fish (raw and cooked). Their dishes can represent breakfast, lunch, and dinner of the Japanese cuisine. I was pretty full after - don't be fooled that the dishes are small because it eventually fills you up. In the end, they give you a personalized menu of the date and the dishes. I would come back here in a different season to try their other innovations.
Olivier Miotto
An incredible experience.The food was fantastic, the service impeccable and the food and sake pairing offered some little wonders.The layout of the room (we eat on either side of a type of bar, so we face the other guests) can be confusing but is not really annoying.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Held
Fantastic food. Each course was delightful and put together with careful attention to detail and good variety. The service was great with the restaurant quickly noticing I was left handed and adjusting accordingly.The sake pairing offered a variety of unusual sakes including a sparkling sake, a dessert sake, and a sake targeted to be eaten with beef.Would happily go back.
yihan
My favorite of this month. Worth a revisit！！
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ellen C.
The food is really nice, I loved the appetizers! The meat is all so tender and not too salty but just right. The portion will fill u up.
Susan G.
A really unique experience! I came here for a special occasion with my boyfriend and was not disappointed. You share a meal with a small room of other people and all enjoy the food at the same time. The interior is simple but chic. The hospitality and service is amazing. The staff is so knowledgeable about the food and preparation. The food was also delicious. My favorites were the unagi and the chestnut dessert. We even got a menu at the end with some kind words. Overall, an entirely creative evening experience!
The food was amazing, especially the wagyu! It was our first time trying aged sake, and it was pretty good. Loved the first two desserts ?.Not having a light above our table at a Michelin-starred restaurant was unexpected ?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Maitake Fermented Butter Olive Nori Wagyu Potato
Paul R.
Tsukimi is the embodiment of opulence; the pinnacle in science of the palate and of what is achievable if the artist dares to Venture into the realm of the undiscovered, the very unknown; in every round the chef tantalizes you with creations unbeknownst to the mortal taste buds - the exemplary culinary precision with which the dishes are presented and culminated are the modern-day swordplay of Santoku knives in memorium of samurais past - the embodiment of perfection, dedication, selflessness, and utmost respect for the relentless pursuit of perfection that which sentient beings seek - the very essence that miyamoto musashi sought in his book of five rings brought to a delicacy that serves to please in your hometown / an absolute Accolade to be reckoned with - to many more culinary conquests - we are humbled in your excellence - thank you Karen and thank you chef- we are indebted to your art ! May you continue on your glory! We applaud you in eternity
Elizabeth H.
TLDR: I didn't want to skew the average but this meal overall was really a 4.5/5. It started off with straight 5's, but the final savory course left much to be desired and 2 of the 3 desserts missed the mark. Overall though, an excellent meal and experience. SETTING: Tsukimi is in the East village behind a nondescript storefront. I made a reservation for my partners birthday weeks in advance. You can get a res through Tock where you prepay for the meal ($697 which includes a 20% service charge and tax on a $530 bill for 2). We were VERY excited given all the excellent reviews and because Tsukimi has 1 star, which not a lot of Japanese places in NYC have. There are two counters with 6 seats each facing each other with a narrow walkway for the servers. I've never seen such a restaurant layout but it was unique and a cool experience. The chefs are cooking in the kitchen which you can kind of see into depending where you sit. FOOD: The meal here was truly excellent. It's amazing quality and a GOOD amount of food- it's not like some other places where you pay an arm and a leg for 10 pieces of sushi. Every dish here had tons of fresh fish or accompaniments, whether it be crab, uni, caviar, truffle, etc. As the meal progressed, my partner remarked this was maybe the best meal we've had in years! I was riding on a high proud of myself for finding this place. All was going well, a true 5/5 experience, until the final savory course. This was wagyu tenderloin cooked on charcoal served with rice seasoned with Japanese mushrooms and a broth that was just incredible. The depth of flavor in every dish was just amazing- but the wagyu... the wagyu was chewy. It was tough to eat and left much to be desired. From there, 2 of the 3 desserts (1) carrot sorbet with foam, and 2) this Japanese candy with chestnut and matcha) were just okay. One of the three (this persimmon with milk foam concoction) was excellent and unique. But the final savory course then 2 of 3 desserts were a bit of a let down given how high we had been riding on all the other courses. SERVICE: The service was just impeccable. I can see why Tsukimi has a star. The staff was exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable, and had a true passion for the food. I love when you're dining at a restaurant and the staff is just as excited as you are! VERDICT: All in, we had an amazing experience here and I will definitely be recommending this restaurant to anyone in NYC looking for something a little different and unique (and special). The meal was delicious and I loved the authenticity of the food. We will be back!
Yen P.
My husband surprised me with a trip to Tsukimi to celebrate our anniversary last year. I wouldn't have known such a cute space could exist from walking past the door. You enter through some stairs down to the restaurant and you're immediately greeted with very polite staff. They take your coat and you'll realize you're in a very intimate "bar" setting. Everyone is seated on either side of the restaurant so that you're sitting next to your party and facing the other guests. I think there were a total of maybe 12 seats total. We had the seats where we can peak into the tiny kitchen. I loved watching the chefs meticulously put the dishes together. The staff was also warmer than what I've experienced at fine dining restaurants so that made the experience extra nice! You won't have to place an order for anything other than your drinks as its a preset menu. We got a bottle of sake which complemented the experience beautifully. They'll continuously fill your cup for you and you get to take any leftover liquor home. Because there were so many dishes I can't possibly go over all of them so I will talk about some highlights that I still remember to this day (we were there in May 2023!). There was a course with rice, sea urchin and fish roe. This dish was sooooo rich and I still remember what it tastes like. The flavor is muted but so comforting. Even though everything was soft in texture I don't think the dish needed anything else. There was a soup that tasted just like something my mom's made. It was a sort of nutty flavor and the aroma was amazing. I wanted to savor every sip of this dish. One of the dessert courses had rhubarb chips. The moment these reached our tastebuds, the guest seated across from me and I just looked at each other with wide eyes and nodded in agreement. These were the most delicious little crispy pieces of rhubarb that I don't think I'll ever get to taste again! I am very grateful to have been able to eat at Tsukimi. We had a wonderful experience from start to finish and would highly recommend!
Eva
A good restaurant. The food was of the best quality and tasted very good. All dishes on the tasting menu were top. The corresponding sakes were all perfect (good sake menu). The service was always present without being intrusive, very friendly, polite and courteous.
This is the real deal!! Tsukimi is an excellent restaurant and truly represents the best of many influences including Japan, France and the amazing world-renowned restaurants of Copenhagen. You know it will be a special experience at Tsukimi as soon as you see the dish lined shelves behind the counter as you sit down at the counter - all the dishes are unique for each serving. The food, service/staff and atmosphere are exceptional. All of the dishes hit the mark! The quality of the ingredients are clearly the best of the best. The drink selections match the incredible food - some of the most extraordinary the City has to offer. A couple of suggestions: 1.Fix the light at the end of the counter on the right. 2. Consider slightly smaller portions as there are so many dishes. We guarantee no one will complain nor leave hungry. Tsukimi exceeds all of the hype. A must for anyone who wants to experience the best of the restaurant scene in NYC.
Delicious experienceCareful serviceRecommended sake pairing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We love Tsukimi! We are planning to return again for their spring or summer menu. Such a great find, and I selfishly wish they could just be my little secret. Aesthetically pleasing plating, good portions, unique flavors, and their desserts always hit the spot. The chef and staff are all wonderful, and the experience has been pleasant whenever we've dined here. Highly recommend!
Booked Tsukimi to celebrate my mom's birthday and it did not disappoint. I would say this was a solid 4.5/5 meal. What a wonderful kaiseki experience for us to enjoy fresh seasonal ingredients being prepared like a form of art. The restaurant looked very deceiving from the outside as I thought the sign was very discreet and I doubted myself wondering if I was walking into the right place. However, once I stepped inside, I was greeted by a friendly staff, leading me and my mom to 2 of 12 intimate seats in the small restaurant. The place was very clean and comfortable, with 6 seats on each side and ample space between each party. We started the first course with a trio of trout, saba and aori ika. Every bite was refreshing with perfectly balanced of flavors and textures. The egg custard with uni and caviar was one of my favorite dish. The egg custard was steamed to perfection and there was an explosion of flavors from the creaminess of the uni, saltiness and crunch of the caviar, and with a touch of savory taste from the potatoes foam. The Amadi soup was very hearty. The broth had a lot of depth and flavor which was paired nicely with the bamboo shoots and fiddlehead which added another level of textures. The Kapachi was plated so beautifully like a spring garden and we almost didn't want to eat it. The fish was super fresh and the citrus from the yuzu sauce was the perfect touch to make this dish very refreshing. It was almost like a palette cleanser to prepare for the next dish. The scallop tempura was a surprise since I saw that it was paired with egg yolk and was a little skeptical since it just looked and sounded very heavy. But to my surprise, the scallops were perfectly fried with the perfect amount of batter and not oily at all. The scallop was big, fresh and sweet. The egg yolk was not overly salty and had a good balance of flavor when paired with the shungiku puree. For the sable fish dish, I know the main focus was the fish, which was well seasoned and perfectly grilled. But what I really enjoyed was the white asparagus. It was just simply blanched but it was so fresh and tender. I've never seen white asparagus so big before! The wagu was charred perfectly and literally melted in my mouth. I also enjoyed the rice which as well seasoned and loved how it was paired with bamboo shoots which gave it a nice texture. The miso soup was very flavorful and my favorite was the homemade tofu which was silken soft with a rich soy bean taste. Up to this point, the meal would've been a 5/5 rating. However, I feel 2/3 of the desserts fell short for me. Although the sorbet was refreshing and served its purpose as a palate cleanser, I couldn't really taste any kumquat or honey in the sorbet at all. In fact I feel the basil jelly was a bit bitter. The pineberry soufflé however, was divine. It was airy and light with fresh pineberry at the bottom. I particularly like it when combined together with the sake lees ice cream. The last course of the meal was just a Sakura mochi which was good but nothing memorable which was unfortunate because the last dish always leaves an impression but it unfortunately wasn't very impressive. Overall, I really enjoyed Tsukimi. It's a traditional kaiseki experience using fresh ingredients from the season. You can tell every dish was prepared using various techniques and well put together. Do not expect it to have any modern twist because it's not a fusion restaurant. The staff were very friendly and attentive. They were very personable and I loved how they spent time explaining every dish to us in detail. Their menu changes every season and I would love to go back to try their summer menu! I highly recommend Tsukimi!
An underrated Japanese Kaiseki that has one Michelin star and is not advertised heavily on social media platforms. The ambiance is very serene, peaceful, and I felt like I walked into a fine dining restaurant in Japan. All seating is similar to a counter seating where the servers bring out food in the center to you personally. They treated us with the utmost respect and I enjoyed how quiet and attentive the restaurant was. We were not given a menu beforehand so everything was a huge surprise (some may not be a fan of this). Don't worry, they ask you if you have any allergies beforehand. I went in July 2023 and each dish was unique and presentation was on point! I really enjoyed the incorporation of different ingredients and how they had a variety such as wagyu beef, sushi, and fish (raw and cooked). Their dishes can represent breakfast, lunch, and dinner of the Japanese cuisine. I was pretty full after - don't be fooled that the dishes are small because it eventually fills you up. In the end, they give you a personalized menu of the date and the dishes. I would come back here in a different season to try their other innovations.
An incredible experience.The food was fantastic, the service impeccable and the food and sake pairing offered some little wonders.The layout of the room (we eat on either side of a type of bar, so we face the other guests) can be confusing but is not really annoying.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic food. Each course was delightful and put together with careful attention to detail and good variety. The service was great with the restaurant quickly noticing I was left handed and adjusting accordingly.The sake pairing offered a variety of unusual sakes including a sparkling sake, a dessert sake, and a sake targeted to be eaten with beef.Would happily go back.
My favorite of this month. Worth a revisit！！
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is really nice, I loved the appetizers! The meat is all so tender and not too salty but just right. The portion will fill u up.
A really unique experience! I came here for a special occasion with my boyfriend and was not disappointed. You share a meal with a small room of other people and all enjoy the food at the same time. The interior is simple but chic. The hospitality and service is amazing. The staff is so knowledgeable about the food and preparation. The food was also delicious. My favorites were the unagi and the chestnut dessert. We even got a menu at the end with some kind words. Overall, an entirely creative evening experience!
Restaurantji Recommends
The food was amazing, especially the wagyu! It was our first time trying aged sake, and it was pretty good. Loved the first two desserts ?.Not having a light above our table at a Michelin-starred restaurant was unexpected ?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Maitake Fermented Butter Olive Nori Wagyu Potato
Tsukimi is the embodiment of opulence; the pinnacle in science of the palate and of what is achievable if the artist dares to Venture into the realm of the undiscovered, the very unknown; in every round the chef tantalizes you with creations unbeknownst to the mortal taste buds - the exemplary culinary precision with which the dishes are presented and culminated are the modern-day swordplay of Santoku knives in memorium of samurais past - the embodiment of perfection, dedication, selflessness, and utmost respect for the relentless pursuit of perfection that which sentient beings seek - the very essence that miyamoto musashi sought in his book of five rings brought to a delicacy that serves to please in your hometown / an absolute Accolade to be reckoned with - to many more culinary conquests - we are humbled in your excellence - thank you Karen and thank you chef- we are indebted to your art ! May you continue on your glory! We applaud you in eternity
TLDR: I didn't want to skew the average but this meal overall was really a 4.5/5. It started off with straight 5's, but the final savory course left much to be desired and 2 of the 3 desserts missed the mark. Overall though, an excellent meal and experience. SETTING: Tsukimi is in the East village behind a nondescript storefront. I made a reservation for my partners birthday weeks in advance. You can get a res through Tock where you prepay for the meal ($697 which includes a 20% service charge and tax on a $530 bill for 2). We were VERY excited given all the excellent reviews and because Tsukimi has 1 star, which not a lot of Japanese places in NYC have. There are two counters with 6 seats each facing each other with a narrow walkway for the servers. I've never seen such a restaurant layout but it was unique and a cool experience. The chefs are cooking in the kitchen which you can kind of see into depending where you sit. FOOD: The meal here was truly excellent. It's amazing quality and a GOOD amount of food- it's not like some other places where you pay an arm and a leg for 10 pieces of sushi. Every dish here had tons of fresh fish or accompaniments, whether it be crab, uni, caviar, truffle, etc. As the meal progressed, my partner remarked this was maybe the best meal we've had in years! I was riding on a high proud of myself for finding this place. All was going well, a true 5/5 experience, until the final savory course. This was wagyu tenderloin cooked on charcoal served with rice seasoned with Japanese mushrooms and a broth that was just incredible. The depth of flavor in every dish was just amazing- but the wagyu... the wagyu was chewy. It was tough to eat and left much to be desired. From there, 2 of the 3 desserts (1) carrot sorbet with foam, and 2) this Japanese candy with chestnut and matcha) were just okay. One of the three (this persimmon with milk foam concoction) was excellent and unique. But the final savory course then 2 of 3 desserts were a bit of a let down given how high we had been riding on all the other courses. SERVICE: The service was just impeccable. I can see why Tsukimi has a star. The staff was exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable, and had a true passion for the food. I love when you're dining at a restaurant and the staff is just as excited as you are! VERDICT: All in, we had an amazing experience here and I will definitely be recommending this restaurant to anyone in NYC looking for something a little different and unique (and special). The meal was delicious and I loved the authenticity of the food. We will be back!
My husband surprised me with a trip to Tsukimi to celebrate our anniversary last year. I wouldn't have known such a cute space could exist from walking past the door. You enter through some stairs down to the restaurant and you're immediately greeted with very polite staff. They take your coat and you'll realize you're in a very intimate "bar" setting. Everyone is seated on either side of the restaurant so that you're sitting next to your party and facing the other guests. I think there were a total of maybe 12 seats total. We had the seats where we can peak into the tiny kitchen. I loved watching the chefs meticulously put the dishes together. The staff was also warmer than what I've experienced at fine dining restaurants so that made the experience extra nice! You won't have to place an order for anything other than your drinks as its a preset menu. We got a bottle of sake which complemented the experience beautifully. They'll continuously fill your cup for you and you get to take any leftover liquor home. Because there were so many dishes I can't possibly go over all of them so I will talk about some highlights that I still remember to this day (we were there in May 2023!). There was a course with rice, sea urchin and fish roe. This dish was sooooo rich and I still remember what it tastes like. The flavor is muted but so comforting. Even though everything was soft in texture I don't think the dish needed anything else. There was a soup that tasted just like something my mom's made. It was a sort of nutty flavor and the aroma was amazing. I wanted to savor every sip of this dish. One of the dessert courses had rhubarb chips. The moment these reached our tastebuds, the guest seated across from me and I just looked at each other with wide eyes and nodded in agreement. These were the most delicious little crispy pieces of rhubarb that I don't think I'll ever get to taste again! I am very grateful to have been able to eat at Tsukimi. We had a wonderful experience from start to finish and would highly recommend!
A good restaurant. The food was of the best quality and tasted very good. All dishes on the tasting menu were top. The corresponding sakes were all perfect (good sake menu). The service was always present without being intrusive, very friendly, polite and courteous.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5