Bar Masa Reviews

This place is so dead and I went around 10pm on a Saturday. I basically had the entire sushi bar to myself and it was a big bar that seats at least twenty. It's not even a real sushi bar, but more like an actual bar because the chef does not cut the sushi at the bar. Awful ambiance for a Japanese restaurant. Whereas the parent restaurant is too traditional, this place is westernized with some hints of the orient. Looks depressing is all I can tell you. The food here is nowhere near the quality of the parent restaurant. Not even close. Whereas Masa has probably some of the finest sushi you ever eaten but at outrageous prices which I do not feel are justified, here you're paying at lower but still ridiculous prices for local quality sushi you would get around the block. I rather go to Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar or Monster Sushi at more reasonable prices. There is a reason why it's so empty. When you go to Nobu Next Door, it's same quality as Nobu and a long wait because it's crowded there. The only difference is NND does not take reservations and so you don't have to wait a month to eat.

Went for a few drinks and some small plates one night. Didn't need a reservation but I was shocked at what we had and the price we paid for it. They make a big deal about "expert mixologists" making cocktails. We sat at the bar and watched and saw that any college student of the 70's could have done the same. All the small dishes were nothing special and some were badly done, dry and overcooked. Not sure how this place gets away with this. Go elsewhere.

We wanted to try Masa but didn't want that many courses and we only had about an hour so we went to the next best thing Bar Masa. We sat at the bar and ordered different appetizers. All were delicious!!! I also had a special treat of sitting next to a very famous celebrity at the bar. Can't wait to go back...

A great place for sushi when you want to spend $1000 less than Masa. The toro tuna is the best I've ever had

I’ll start out by saying that Masa, the restaurant, is my favorite sushi place in the world, having dined at the finest in Japan. You can find many of the same dishes at the same quality at Bar Masa. My favorite is the toro with caviar, although it comes with a hefty price tag. The service is impeccable and the bar fully stocked. I will visit every time I am in New York.

We walked in and got a seat at the bar without a reservation, something that would be very difficult at MASA. They have a vast menu, portions are small but the taste is what commands the price. There are many creative twists on traditional items (pasta made from seafood for example) amongst more traditional items with amplified flavor. The toro tartar with caviar appetizer was to die for, and I would go back just for that. Service was top notch as well.

Mussa is really the best Japanese in town there Sushi is OK but the other dishes are insane they have an amazing see urchin and an amazing oysters steamed that are very good you should try the amazing list of Sacchi and one dish did you should not forget to try is the uni 1/2 Shell

This place is terrific. While the sushi is fresh and first rate, you would be short changing the place, and yourself, if you didn't try the non sushi fare. Think small plate with Asian influences. We like to sit at the bar, and seats can normally be had at lunch or dinner. The tab is not for the faint of heart, but you will not find better food of this type anywhere in NYC.

Bar Masa has been my favorite restaurant in New York City since it opened 20 years ago. It’s a rare gem that has maintained its excellence and consistency over two decades - a true testament to its dedication to quality and artistry. Every visit feels like a special occasion, thanks to the impeccable service, refined atmosphere, and extraordinary menu. A few standout dishes that have become personal favorites include the Toro Caviar, Kanpachi with Serrano Potato Julienne, Watercress Beet and Wasabi Slaw, Steamed Chicken Dumplings, Spicy Dancing Shrimps, Roasted Uni Shell, and Sea Urchin Temaki. Bar Masa’s ability to deliver perfection time and time again is unmatched. It’s a place that has set the bar in this city and continues to exceed expectations year after year. If there’s one restaurant in NYC that stands the test of time, it’s Bar Masa.

Food was a bit tired. And dishes didn’t seem as fresh as they should have been—especially for the price. I would give it a miss.

For people who want a taste of the acclaimed restaurant Masa but can't get a reservation, this spillover version is a reasonable but still very expensive alternative. The dishes were all superb, but for two persons with average appetite, our tab came to US$ 350 with drinks and tip. (Haven't eaten at Masa yet, but understand a meal there will exceed US$ 500 per person.) The names and descriptions of the dishes are hard to grasp, and no matter how much the waiter explains, you won't have a clear idea of what each dish is until it arrives. But even if you just shoot in the dark while ordering, you will probably still be okay, because all our choices proved to be good. The interior decor is not bad, but unremarkable. Two different white wines by the glass did not appear to have been well-chosen, so we switched to the beers, which were better.

I'm surprised with so many reviews for Masa, that nobody made the distinction that Bar Masa and Masa are separate restaurants (and totally different experiences), even though they share the same kitchen. Good luck getting a reservation at Masa and the price is fixed (except for booze). Bar Masa you can walk in and get some wonderful sushi and have a wonderful night out. Bar Masa is very simply, a very nice Sushi Bar, serving some very fresh sushi (most of the fish is from Japan). The design is very simple, long sit down bar, double / quad seating along the back. Casual setting (we ate here with our 5 month old). 1. Service. Hostess and Server were fantastic. A+ service. Not Michelin Star service, but that's not what this restaurant is about. 2. Menu. There's a broad menu and while the items are pricey and the portions are small, but its about the flavor, taste and execution. You're going to need a lot to get full (we spent $500 for 2 - no booze). Peking Duck Taco - this was prepared very well, good duck, good preparation, small hint of hoisin sauce, this is Chinese Style Mush Peking Duck, executed very well. Arguably insanely overpriced for an appetizer, but if you care about value - you're not going to love the check. Uni / Black Truffle Risotto - tasty, it was one of my favorite dishes. Wonderful flavor, rich, excellent. Surimi Shrimp Pasta with garlic - this was by far the tastiest dish - infused with wonderful flavor, don't be fooled by how simple it looks. It was fantastic and truly special. Alaskan King Crab California roll - crab was nice. Spicy tuna with fresh green chili - very nice. Yellowtail & Scallion - very nice -fresh fish Nigiri Assortment - the fish was very fresh, well prepared and reasonable to high-end NYC sushi joints. Masa Toro Toro Roll - this was very well flavored and while pricey, it was tasty. Overall, the value was short, but it is Bar Masa, owned and operated by Chef Masa - and its good sushi. I would doubt there is "bad" sushi here - and if you get bad sushi (as in other reviews), then you should let the chef know ASAP.

If you like Japanese food and minimalist, sleek Asian decor and dishware (designed by the owner),Bar Masa is for you. The food and service are excellent. The price, while pricey, is not out of line for the quality. Bar Masa while elegant, is still relaxed in terms of attire. The location next to Columbus Circle is great for anyone going shopping, museum hopping or going for a stroll in Central Park.

Had a drink at the bar. Not only was it a lovely space but the martini was superb and the glass it was served in was supremo. This bar is in The Time Warner building at Columbus Circle. If you need a break from shopping, this is the place to take one.

We had to settle for a mostly vegetarian meal. But there was a nice selection of such dishes and it was surprisingly good. Short wait time in the evening.

CoD was very good. Shabu beef was not what we expected (cooked in a soup, we thought it was going to be on a hot stone), eggplant hibachi was so-so. Not to our taste but 4 Stars because if we had ordered things we knew, I’m certain we would have liked them. This is a good place. We just chose the wrong dishes for our palate. We’ll probably give it another try.

We stopped by on Sat night before an 8pm show. The team got us a table quickly, expedited the meal - the overall service was very good. The only thing that didn't sit right was the pricing. The $68 steak entree with truffle sauce was modest at best. I could easily eat two or more of these orders, which would make this a very expensive night out, especially after their $18 side order of rice. I also don't care for paying $29 for a glass of Chardonnay, sort of ridiculous actually. Overall, I thought the quality was good, it was not great and we would not return. The nearby Bakery, Bouchon, helped round out the night a little better. The dessert menu at Bar Masa was rather unappealing to us.

You will pay the price for eat at this great sushi place. But it's simply amazing, and is better to go here and not to Masa too expensive. This is a casual place inside Columbus circle mall and you will easily find a table also without reservations

Honestly we expected much more, both as a setting and as dishes. I would not recommend it also considering the quality / price ratio.

We expected much more than was delivered. For the money this was a poor value meal and quite forgettable. Sushi was OK, grilled meals were OK, the ribs however were actually unpleasant and we left a lot. Service was nice but felt a little scripted.

Ok, the whole meal was off the charts delicious, but this review is simply to tell you GET THE UNI! It was divine, and I'm still craving it days later.

Very nice place although it is in a shopping center. Food and cocktails are very good. Service is excellent. A little bit pricey but worth it.

This is very obviously a poor cousin of the more famous Michelin starred Masa next door. It always surprises me that that when there is less expensive restaurant run by a more famous one, the compromise is very often on the quality of service. Good food alone cannot make for a great experience. The first impression is very often the lasting impression and it all began with a cold reception and then followed up by the indifference of the girl who took our orders for drinks. Seeing that there was a ginger syrup based cocktail I asked her if had a Gari cocktail. After I explained what it was, she said she would ask the barman. I never got an answer and very obviously did not get the cocktail I wanted. Seeing the "nose in the air" attitude of the barman (who acted as if he was the Masayoshi Takayama of the bar) I guess the girl did not get an answer from him! Going the extra mile for a guest was certainly not in the service guidelines. Read my review "Starred Chef with a Big Heart" of the 3 star Michelin Restaurant of Guy Savoy in Paris on what makes for an exceptional dining experience. Fortunately, the young man who attended to us for the food had all the qualities that one looks for in a good restaurant. No questions remained unanswered, very useful suggestions and most importantly service with a smile. The Spicy Tuna Carpaccio was delicious, the Sea Urchin dish was a wonderful discovery and the vegetarian options were excellent. Have tasted better Cod Miso elsewhere, though. We finished the evening on a high note after starting with a sour note.

Will look forward to booking a table at Masa sometime, since its little brother was such a nice experience. We sat at the bar and had really excellent tuna that we had to order twice, beef skewers, maiktake with truffle, a beautiful agedashi tofu with many fixins, a few rolls, and a bottle of 2016 Chartogne Taillet Saint Thierry from their above average Champagne list.

We missed out on eating here last time we were in NYC, so we made a point of going this time… twice in the week, it turned out - this review covers both visits: The first time we ate, the excellent Opal served us - eloquently explaining how it all worked, and patiently describing and recommending dishes. I started with the Spicy Dancing Shrimp, which was so impressive on the plate that the local foursome seated next to us asked what I'd ordered and promptly ordered a plate for themselves! The food is beautiful, there are plenty of unexpected (but welcome) textures and flavours - it's superb. The second time we went (two days later), the friendly, knowledgable Johnny served us - and another credit to Bar Masa, as with Opal, Johnny knew the menu inside-out and was excellent. We tried a load of different dishes this time (apart from the chicken dumplings - my wife enjoyed these so much, they were ordered again, and again). The beef at Bar Masa is the best I've eaten, anywhere. Seriously, try the skewers or the tacos… gorgeous! Thanks to Opal and Johnny for being brilliant - you guys made the experience much more than just about the food! :-)

I don't usually give 1 star reviews because nothing is so bad, but for this place, need to call it out. Went there on a Sat night dinner for 2 and found these issues: 1/ No uni: this is big no no for Masa, like Five Guys running out of beef patties. But OK, this might happen if we are in a snow storm or some sort of tough weather. I'll give them a pass because some of my favorite places can run out near the end of the night. 2/ Masa fatty tuna = normal lean tuna. First thing server says "we are known for our fatty tuna". We do a piece of fatty toro. In fact the toro we get is actually lean tuna, not even medium fatty tuna. The "Toro" we get is dark red in color, has lean consistency (not a soft consistency), has lean tuna written all over it. I know the difference between O-Toro, Chu-Toro, Akami having been eating good sushi 2x a week on average for years. Thinking back I'm almost insulted because it would mean that the restaurant thinks I'm stupid for not knowing the difference. Imagine going to a steakhouse, ordering a ribeye and getting skirt steak instead. So in addition to no uni, they misrepresent their toro. I should have said something right then and there, but we decided to stay classy San Diego. 3/ Poor Skills Sushi chef: when the sushi came, the fish was overly cold and rice not warm and fresh. Duane reade serves cold sushi for $6 for 12 pieces. The true indicator of skill is when the rice comes warm (body temp) and fish does not taste like it's from the freezer. This way flavor is balanced. My conviction was further reinforced by the clientele. They are what we describe as unsophisticated / misinformed clients. Hence the business model of masa is to target who cannot really recognize good sushi from bad. None of the clientele really knew sushi or Japanese food in general, which is totally fine; if you need to go because you just want to experience it, no review is going to stop you anyways. Finally, all reviews need to end on a positive note, so I'll try to list the sushi places which you should visit instead: Sushi Yasuda - sure the head chef went back to Tokyo and they increased prices while removing tip (a move later copied by Danny Meyer). But the sushi is still pretty darn good. (Warning, Went in big groups and did have issues with the service in the past. Just recommend to speak slowly and be patient) Sushi Nagazawa - the guy apprenticed for Jiro. He did 6 types of mackerel when I went and it was the only time I remember that mackerel could be so flavorful or valued. Great experience. He definitely will not try to serve you lean tuna cold and call it fatty toro. Karumazushi - a friend described it as a temple of Toro. This is where I learned the world of Toro. Indeed it is, there is a pretty hefty price tag, but not out of line when compared to Bar Masa.

I had lunch at Bar Masa while staying at the Mandarin. The sushi was incredibly fresh and delicious, but be prepared for some sticker shock when you get the bill.

I have been to Bar Masa several times for lunch. Each time, the food was excellent. The menu was small but the taste was big. I particularly enjoyed the Tempura donburi. The service was also very good and the prices, on the high side, were still very reasonable.

You are paying for Bar Masa's location. A drink will be $26 (with tip $30). My cocktail was excellent, but not worth $30. I expected at least some nibbles with that price tag. What I found most baffling about Bar Masa is why charge so much when it is located in a shopping mall. Their location takes off points their ambition for distinction. Suggestion: move elsewhere. Also, hospitality should be included in the price. And finally, please, please get rid of that pseudo-Picasso, pseudo-Kandinsky painting at the left end of the bar. It's awful!!

One would expect a feeling of satisfaction, joy and fondness after a visit to a high end restaurant. To start off : 1) I ordered the duck and fois grass taco's: they were forgotten 2) One of my table companions got the wrong cocktail. 3) Drinks and food were sometimes pulled away before people finished- at least ask if they are finished 4) it becomes even more baffling that hospitality is not included. 5) the non-alcoholic cocktails are subpar for the pricing. Quality of food: the sushi is good, fresh. The lobster soupe is at most 'reasonable' with the lobster ( very small portion) being almost rubbery, the fried rice lacks substance, a very meager offering. The Peking Duck and foie grass taco's were very disappointing: too much hoi sin so one could really discern the duck. I have eaten in many high-end restaurants, but the experience I had is not compatible with the quality one expects from a high-end offering with in my opinion astronomic pricing. Avoid.

Lunch omakase was 7/8 bland and uninspired and 1/8 disgusting. Despite only one other table being seated, servers never asked how our meal was. Beef/foie gras bento box was passable (foie delicious, beef flavorless). My lunch companion and I both agreed we would have had much more enjoyment literally lighting the 200$ cost of our alcohol-free lunch on fire and watching it burn then consuming the overpriced trash that was what bar masa puts out as their Chef’s choice experience.

I think it was great. The staff were friendly, the meal was excellent. The beverages / alcohol was top shelf (no pun intended). My waiter bartender was delightful and smart. he led me down a Japanese whiskey path that matches my likes. The food was amazing and the presentation was above reproach. It was like being at Masa without having to commit to a really big menu, tasting, etc... Thank you Chef,

located in the front part and entrance, this is the lesser (read: significantly cheaper) counterpart to its famous 3 michelin star MASA. Here the menu is a la carte and there is a row of small tables and seating along the bar. The tables usually get booked during the prime hours but you can usually get a seat at the bar where they have the same menu. As we were staying at the Mandarin downstairs, we just called and hostess said there was seating available at the bar but no tables. As we had our teen with us, we said we probably couldn't sit at the bar, but per NYC laws, teens are apparently allowed in the bar area! So we as the hostess to hold the bar seating for us and went up. The food was very tasty as we shared several different dishes ranging from the sushi, to the chicken, to the sukiyaki. Portions are pretty decent. Cocktails are unique and we tried a few different ones. While we were there, Chef Masa came out from the back (MASA) area to greet another patron who happened to be sitting next to us at the bar! And yes, goes without saying that you will be paying $$$ for was is essentially an elevated form of the many standard japanese restaurants in NYC, but nonetheless worth a visit!

Very nice place, a little overpriced for my taste, quality is very nice, service is great, didn’t eat much and paid 350 dollars for two persons and a kid. Best for me were the nigiris.

Popped in for an early lunch before we had to check out and catch our flight home. On first first viewing it looked a little stale, just a bar and a row of tables. Then we got into the menu and had it explained to us by the staff and wow. The food is off the scale. Expensive but well worth it. Between the 4 of us we had all sorts. Had to re order sashimi 3 times it was so good!!Really happy I did not turn around at the door. On looking at the website I think this maybe the bar for the 3 Michelin star restaurant Masa???

It’s been a while to go to this restaurant. I was very surprised to witness the changes... The food was still on good side, but still price was not compatible. Miso cod was very boring presentation but butter uni was delicious and great. Chicken dumpling was a bit off taste in sauce, edamame was less salt but cooked just right. Sukiyaki on rice was pro and con- cooking Beef was very good but the amount of sauce was a bit too much. Egg should have been a bit softer - it was close to hard boiled egg. Lack of Sukiyaki egg’s important role to harmonize with other ingredients. Many food was disappointingly not available to order such as caviar, Kama and 2 or 3 more dishes. One after another, I was shocked to hear “this isn’t available today” by our waitress. It was not Saturday or Sunday when fish market was closed- I wonder what happened...????? Another surprise was B ranked per NY restaurant’s hygiene investigation. Usually, restaurants make some effort to place “pending” if they are not qualified as A, but very surprised to see B mark was placed at the entrance. Our waitress was not friendly or attentive at all. Another waiter tried to steal our working-in-progress plates immediately. I know this restaurant’s very busy and accommodating so many guests per night but we paid more than a couple of hundreds $$ easily yet they tried us to get out of there ASAP ??? - that’s not good gesture to me (maybe not a big deal for them but we paid those waitresses quite high gratuity even though they were not so deserved). I can mark easily 1 star this time but still some of foods were so delicious (but expensive - of course) that made my stomach happy, to be fair, I decided to give 2 stars. I don’t think I go back there again sometime soon but hope to see their changes (for good ) next time if I go again.

The toro was fresh, but you would think for $68 for a minuscule portion you could at least get a presentation that didn’t involve a plate with left over glue from a prior sticker. The white truffle ice cream was good as well (although not amazing), but again for $65 you would expect a bit more effort put on the presentation. Overall really expensive and disappointing. We had lunch for 3 people *without alcohol* for $625 ($525 before tip) and none of the dishes “wowed” us. The uni mushroom risotto was good. All in all it could have been a nice lunch for $300 or they could have at least put a little bit more effort into making it special. I think it’s resting on its laurels a bit. The poor presentation is really no excuse. Not coming back.

Offering dishes of comparable quality to the 3 Michelin stars of the same name and adjoining, this restaurant is exceptional. The dishes are sublime with finesse and inventiveness. However, the rates are disconnected from reality. It is true that this is New York and a large part of the population lives above ground, but it is objectively an exaggeration.

Everything at Bar Masa is simply outstanding. When you get the best of the best price should not be an issue, as you cannot expect to be in the best Japanese restaurant in NYC and pay a moderate price. From the best ingredients, the execution, presentation and service Bar Masa deserves all the best compliments. We have been coming to this restaurant for the past 10 years and never had not even a mediocre experience, every single time it was outstanding. Congratulations for the consistency, keep up

We happened upon this restaurant quite by accident. We'd gone into The Shops at Columbus Circle to have a look around, and were intrigued by Center Bar for it's design ascetic, but we weren't sure we wanted to dine there. Lo and behold nearby we found BarMasa. The service and the food were outstanding. It was so good we went back the next night. Our favorites were the White Asparagus with morel mushrooms, Chicken Dumplings, Beef Skewers, Spicy Dancing Prawns and Grilled Chicken Wings. On this trip, we dined in NYC, London and Boston. This was the standout meal from the whole trip.

I had one of the best sushi dinners in the world. The service was very good, it is pricey but worth it.

Friendly helpful service on unusual dishes High class foods and wonderful presentation A tasty learning experience

This is the bar version of the hard to get into Masa. I enjoy this place. It is a very quiet space with great service. Multiple Japanese dishes. Actually it is an amazing extensive menu. Must visit.

I came back to New York and a must is the walk to Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle. The reason is Bar Masa which is one of the excellent restaurants in this building. I choose lunch to go there and the reception as usual was very friendly. My place at the bar was already prepared and the nice guy behind the bar heped me to a lychee Martini, even it was not on the menu. After a perfect Miso Soup the Sashimi Tasting was a dream. The fish is not only fresh but of a quality I seldom found in the world. I will be back even the budget was stressed by the check

Bar Masa is the casual offshoot of 3 Michelin star Masa, next door, often described as the most expensive restaurant in the US. So, we were ready to pocket out "beaucoup d'argent" for our lunch there on a quiet July Thursday (only one other couple was present during the lunch). However, the lunch itself and a few questionable practices on the part of Masa felt like a major disappointment, if not a turndown. First, the restaurant's website advertises "Omakase tasting served with miso soup and kale salad", with seasonal nigiri sushi selection priced at $56 and seasonal sashimi selection at $76. Nonexistent. Instead they got sushi or sashimi tasting, with neither miso nor kale salad. The prices are equally higher, in reality vs website. The sushi tasting small is $60-plus and the "large" version is $115 or so. So, we ordered 2 large sushi tasting. Wasn't an omakase, but rather a shmomokase, just a plate featuring 2 kinds of rolls (6 pcs) and 13 pcs of sushi (nigiri). Wait! How 13 nigiris can be divided by 2, to constitute 1 portion? Each person gets, what, 6.5 pieces of sushi? To add insult on injury, the server inquired if we wanted a freshly grated wasabi. Sure enough, it resulted in extra $20 on the bill. Should have been disclosed, and then we still would have ordered 1 freshly grated and 1 regular to compare the experiences. Michelin Guide habitually deducts stars from restaurants deemed overpriced. Masa is an epitome of this shameful practice. A Chef Tasting Menu is Per Se next door is priced at $355 pp for a truly unforgettable gastro journey. $405 for a few pcs of sushi is as bad as it gets. Was the quality of the product served better than a sushi lunch served everywhere in NYC for $30? It was, somewhat. Wasn't better that much. Spend your money elsewhere for a comparable experience.

The sushi was barely tolerable. The service was dreadful and rude. Do not bother. At a price point of $300 per person (not omakase, one tiny bottle of sake) I do not expect the server to lean over me to pour water for the person next to me, yet he consistently did this, instead of walking around the table. The waitress got the order wrong and two of us did not received our sushi.... no apology, for the fact that we had to wait. The waitress brought the bill to the youngest person at the table, despite my having made the reservation, having led the group into the premises, and having spoken to person at the front desk. When they wanted to close the establishment for their dinner break, they sent the bus boy to announce 'we are closing the door'. When I compare this to River Cafe or similarly priced establishments in NYC, I can only wonder why is this place considered great? I have eaten better sushi at local hole-in-the-walls, and had much better service.

Being less expensive doesn't mean cheap. But here you can savor opulent treats like the White Truffle Nigiri or the White Truffle ice-cream without the burden of having to pay the whole course menu at Masa. The problem is not wanting to repeat both over and over (like in our case jajaja) which ended up costing the same as regular Masa jajaja. Sushi is great quality, obviously not stellar like Masa but very solid. They've got a great range of hard to find spirits. Service is more down to earth. Plus they're open all day!

Blind tasting would give very positive - but not outstanding - feedback on the food. However, atmosphere and prices pull the rating down. More of a nice and cool sushi place than a great restaurant.

It's next door to Masa - maybe it should called Masa Next Door as Nobu ha ha ha - on the 4th floor at Columbus Circle/Time Warner. The decor is sleek, and ever the sporadic Japanese style, which I don't dislike. However, for the price they're charging, the furniture is on dingy side. They offer fixed menu. Small portion. Not bad, but totally not worth the money. A young couple on a first or early date who looked a little awkward. My dessert came with green powder beneath and theirs did not. So I joked to them to complain. The boy prompted did. A little relief for them, and, also, a call-out on the kitchen. Don't think I'll return because of the price.

It felt very un-American to leave the restaurant hungry. We had the bento lunch box and whilst the food, particularly the tuna was excellent, the portions were far too small, particularly given the price. Service was not really that friendly either. Would not go back

Great tiny restaurant. Really nice drinks (amazing bar staff!) and small Japanese bites. It is expensive, but it is Masa-san! Love this place, wish they had some more cooked meats on the menu. Excellent food.

Sensational sushi Omakase menu. Highly recommended. Nice location, perfect service. And also other nice dishes besides Sushi ;-)

Just a brief revue The food is very good the resturant is very small the service is dreadful Asked to deviate from the menu as they had run out of mushroom and they wanted to charge me $18 for three slices of cooked salmon when it arrived it was like eating a dish made by a ten year old when we complained the mangeress said we had asked for it to be added to the noodles really poor show much better Japanes food out there dont waste your time or money

Went here with family, food was good the the prices were unreasonable! For us four, it was 550$. There's better Japanese in NYC for a better price. Not worth it. Nothing special

Best Japanese food I ever had before. Can be lunch with colleagues or friends. Good also for solos, you can seat by the bar and service is quick and helpful.

The sushi is as fresh and delicious as you would want. It is prepared simply and good. The steamed salmon lunch dish is excellent! High recommend it. The staff is friendly and efficient. Prices are what you need to pay for food of this quality.

Very much enjoyed our meal here. They have bar seating and tables available. Location is in the upscale Time Warner center. The restaurant is clean, modern and comfortable. Menu is more extensive than Japan Michelin sushi restaurants. Bar Masa has many cooked/ hot dishes as well as udon. They had run out of truffles on the nite that we dined there. Their sushi was excellent, however... we sat at the bar... but there was no sushi chef there. Rather, your order is taken and the food is prepared in the back. So, you don't establish a relationship with the sushi chef. A nice selection of whiskies was available (including yamazaki 18 and 25 as well as Pappy Van Winkle 20 and 23) Our server was terrific! The only reason why this did not get 5 stars is that there is no interaction with a sushi chef

Stayed at the Mandarin Oriental for over a month. I wasn’t a huge fan of the lounge there but luckily there was Bar Masa: just as close (to all intents and purposes! It’s in the same building at least), great cocktails and sake menu and welcoming bar staff. I popped in a bunch of times, sat down at the bar, and chilled for 20-30mins while I waited for friends to meet me to begin the night.

We have eaten at Masa and Bar Masa. This is the cleanest, best Japanese food you will ever eat. The baked uni is absolutely, outrageously delicious. I could eat that everyday for the rest of my life. We had a wide variety off the menu and the other couple that we were with had never had sushi and didn't think they would like it. Now they love it but it will never taste like it does at Bar Masa. Also, I was in love with the bamboo sake cups.

We (the Begum Playaneuron) and I (the Aga Playaneuron) used to love Bar Masa in the Time Warner Center. No reservations, but if you got there at 6:00 PM you could get out in time to make an 8:00 PM curtain at Lincoln Center. It shares a kitchen with Masa, the astronomically expensive Kaiseki restaurant and delicate. The food was wonderful. This time it was mediocre. We shared a sushi tasting, cod roasted in miso, grilled myataki mushrooms, and a roast quail. The sushi was no better than you would get in a neighborhood sushi takeout - as opposed to the fabulous sushi we had in the restaurant before. They didn't ask if we wanted the wasabi on the sushi - they just presented us with a pile of wasabi. The fish didn't sing. The rice was undistinguished. The quail was uninteresting. The cod and myataki mushrooms were up to the old Bar Masa standard, subtle, interesting. We tasted two deserts, a lemon tart outstanding in its boredom, and a heavenly grapefruit granite. So give it 50% of the old, wonderful Bar Masa. Certainly no longer worth the price. Sigh.

Let me caveat this review - I don’t eat fish, so cannot comment on the sushi. However, I eat here 3-5 times per month and have done for a few years. In all those visits I’ve only been disappointed with one dish. I’ve had just about every meat and vegetarian dish on the menu, time and time again the food here is so good. The dishes are light, beautifully flavored and well presented. Perfect place for a date, business dinner or a solo meal at the bar.

The service was very slow. One of our entrees included very very small pieces of bread - one for each person. We requested more bread and were served only one piece - not for each person, but one. Prices are high.

An excellent soba, good sushi, basic but good tempura, they offer a lunch menu which is exquisite and not expensive.

With friends we wanted to have a light dinner before the Show. Personally I was a bit disappointed with the cocktails... There was something missing. Nevertheless the dessert was delicious! Lemon Millefeuille - I do recommend.

We were coming to this restaurant for ages, having every single time an incomparable experience. This last time the service was not even close of it used to be, we were rushed to order, eat and leave, the quality of the food was not the same. It tasted like very standard, not even close to the previous experiences. Please guys do not let this place go down......please come back to your original standards

Honestly we expected better food and way better service. Seemed the servers did not want to work there and when explaining the menu they were not as good or elaborate. The food taste was just ok. Compared to nobu I would rather go to nobu for their food. Their grilled mushrooms were burnt to the point some parts of the mushroom was bitter. I had way better sushi in regular places.

We were a party of eight people for dinner. This is a great place to eat in the city. We started with a nice bottle of Sake and a bottle of red wine to kickstart the evening. We ordered sharing food and whatever we ordered was actually very good from the duck, meat, fish, prawns, ceviche to sushi was mouth watering. My hats off to the chef as we had a wonderful time. The service was very good as we did not know when water was served and our plates were taken so it could be replaced with fresh plates. The sommelier was very professional and recommended exactly what we wanted, never once tried to oversell. Generally a fun evening and probably a highlight of our stay in this amazing city. The bill came to $1450 inclusive of tip. Money well spent. Strongly recommend to visit this restaurant whenever in New York.

My wife and I went to Bar Masa with high hopes for an outstanding anniversary dinner. The restaurant’s decor and atmosphere was fun with a diverse clientele. The service was excellent and our bottle of Sake was perfect. Unfortunately, the food was below average and way overpriced. Our chicken dumplings were mushy, tasteless and totally overpowered when dipped in the sauce ($24), the uni custard was lumpy and congealed ($48) and the mushroom fried rice was inedible & sent back. The duck tacos were good but miniature; not worth $24. The langoustine was dry and flavorless ($48). We did get some sushi, but that too was average. Bottom line: I would try Bar Masa again because the kitchen was probably having an off night. But if you go, don’t be afraid to send the food back if you’re not satisfied.

Not to be confused by Masa, this is Bar Masa which has an ala carte menu. The menu is diverse and food superb. Very nice wine list and well curated compact list of Sakes. You are unlike;y to need reservations at lunch.

We ate here for dinner and tried several of the dishes. We also ordered a couple of cocktails. It's a nice space and the food is great.

staff good, food good, relaxing time. Even had a place to charge cell phone. Less expensive than Masa Restaurant down the hall, and just as good.

Just when you think you know good sushi, Bar Masa comes along and shows you a whole new level. The rice is creamy, almost like risotto. The style here is to age the fish a bit, an effect analagous to dry-aging meat. It intensifies the flavor and firms the texture. Before the sushi, we ordered and shared a variety of hot and cold small plates. Some were excellent, like the seared beef tataki. Some were good, like the duck with foie gras fried rice. Service was attentive, helpful, and friendly. Yes, you walk through a shopping mall to get there. So what? I can think of some very fine restaurants in some pretty ugly neighborhoods — Peter Luger and LeCoucou come to mind.

Bar Masa is a bit pricey but quality food and a great atmosphere. If you are looking to have a power lunch in Manhattan then consider Bar Masa.

I had seen this place for many years, and i guess it can be on the pricier side but it was worth it. I actually think for the quality of food and the service that the price is appropriate. I had my favorite go to but the rolls were excellent and my husband was with me who had a special whisky that can't really be found many places as well as his favorite nigiri. Our server was Finley , he was at the bar, he was very professional and extremely knowledgeable ...he was also extremely patient and a perfect experience. I will definitely go back to bar Masa.

Bar Masa is the little brother of the nearby, three Michelin star restaurant Masa. The sushi is excellent. However, I ate only vegan food whilst my carnivorous friends ate real sushi and Kobe beef. We were all happy with our food. Warning, Bar Masa may be Masa's little brother, but it prices are certainly not little. Bring your AMEX card. You'll need it!

Let me start off by saying the wait staff was excellent, very friendly and attentive. The food was good but for the price it was not worth it. If I’m going to spend that kind of money I expect the food to be exceptional not just “good”. $24 for a few tiny pieces of chicken is not worth it. I did really like the vegetarian sushi, the udon was very good and dessert was delicious.

Focus on the first part of the menu and you shall be happy. Tai truffle above all. Snapper rolled around sprouts topped with Truffle - simply unbelievable. An $88 California Sauvignon Blanc was not up to par with the menu. Sushi rolls are made with the best ingredients but the rice at Morimoto tastes better to me.