Kappo Masa Reviews

I have to preface this review by making two unambiguous statements: The wait-staff was new (as is the restaurant) and seemed to be learning as they went along so I will wait for my next visit before factoring that element into my overall rating The food was so outstanding that I had to give this place a top rating despite everything else This is the UES incarnation of legendary Japanese chef Masa's restaurant: less traditional and not sushi-centric. It is housed within the retail outlet of the Gagosian art gallery across from the Carlyle, and is very beautifully designed with great attention to detail in everything. In fact, we detected only the most minor of flaws, and only when pointed out by a notoriously hard-to-please design critic who was dining with us. The reception by the front-of-house staff was pleasant enough but a little "too cool for school", reminiscent of the attitude of the contemporary art world in which I probably spend too much time. We were kept waiting (I understand these things happen in small restaurant) for about 25 minutes, and we had work to get the bar staff's attention despite there only being two other people at the bar. The saké selection is excellent - every one superb - without being too voluminous, my only (mild) reservation that there might be a couple more robust offerings given some of the non-traditional, non-Japanese items on the menu, like Peking duck tacos, sizzling octopus with salsa verde etc. Nevertheless our choice stood up surprising well with the food despite being a delicate junmai daiginjo (Koshino Kanbai "Chotokusen" - the "Pinnacle of Perfection" from Ishimoto in Niigata). Again, our waiter was extremely polite but seemed to be quite new to the party. The first time I started ordering, he simply walked away mid-order. When we managed to get him back, and had a second attempt, he asked him halfway through if we wanted a drink. I said yes, we had a bottle at the bar and he could bring it when he took our order. Her immediately disappeared again. I must say that it was very clear that all the waiters were new (to be expected given the novelty of the place) but there was simply no guidance being given, no experienced direction from above. The third time was a charm. Once we got the order in, it arrived without undue delay. The food swept away any frustration (and hunger) we might have been experiencing. Everything was truly excellent: superbly balanced and sensational in at least a couple of meanings of that word. We had a number of starters: sweet shrimp uni ceviche; toro mizore; chili cilantro bottarga fish pasta (yes - I know how it sounds); the previously mentioned tacos with foie gras; kanpachi with jalapeño; shishito peppers with an incredible miso dip and a few other things. We ordered a selection of sashimi and of sushi, along with a few rolls. The desserts were also tremendous: the soba ice cream in particular stood out. the grapefruit granita was an ideal palate cleanser and the lemon mille-crepes cake from Lady M was a delight. Overall, this place is a winner and I am certain the service will improve as they get into their stride.

We spent 9 days in NYC. Each day we ate at a different restaurant. Each was good in its own way. Kappo Masa was a great disappointment. As others have noticed the place is horribly expensive. The decor is OK and unfriendly. Tables are miserably small and the sitting is unbelievably uncomfortable. The service is simply annoying - smug and designed to make you feel uncomfortable. The food looked very nice and was made with first class ingredients but the taste was, to put it gently, boring. I am sure there are better ways to spend your money in NYC.

We had the omakase and it was simply fabulous. Course after course of exquisite sushi. The menu is extensive so having to choose something if we didn't have the Omakase would have been a feat! The restaurant itself is downstairs from the Gagosian Gallery on Madison near 77th. It's a great neighborhood. The restaurant is pretty and staff very nice. We sat at the sushi bar but there are many options including at a small bar, a lounge and main dining room. The restaurant is large but it was fairly full for lunch at a recent Friday. The service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and genuinely concerned with what we thought of the cocktails - later telling us not only had he made them but he had created the cocktail list. We also had sake and though the list is extensive the server was able to guide us here as well.

Kappo Masa has a fun vibe! The waiters were extremely friendly. There were many innovative dishes on the menu. You wouldn't think to have a salad at a sushi restaurant, but we ordered two and these were no ordinary salads! The sushi and lobster tacos were excellent. I plan to go back so I can try other items on their menu!

I am glad that we decided to visit restaurant despite of some negative reviews here. Its not even that expensive if you compare to top Japanese restaurants outside of Japan. 200-300USD per person maybe and cheaper if you are vegan/vegetarian :) I loved that its not too noisy or overly crowded (always busy though, so book in advance). Service was excellent, staff is very well trained and well educated on the ingredients of each dish plus they provided some nice recommendations. The food was fantastic! Exceptionally fresh, nothing was overly salty, oily or heavy. Menu was extensive enough with really nice vegetarian/vegan options. Being vegan highly recommend kale salad and miso tofu avocado maki. My husband (non-vegan) really enjoyed toro and akami. We are used to highest quality of Japanese good in Tokyo and Singapore and we very pleased to find Kappo Masa in NYC.

Restaurant of the group Masa (chef Masayoshi Takayama). In addition to the tastings menus, there is, at lunch, a choice of two-course lunch menu (prices ranging from $ 26-42, depending on the choice of main course). The wine list is quite extensive. Excellent Japanese restaurant option at UES.

I was taken to Kappo Masa by a friend who loves this place. No doubt the food and the presentation are very good. But I will say that the cost is outrageous. You can go to NOBU 57 and get the same quality Sushi and experience at less then half the price of this restaurant. To be honest I was NOT that impressed with the servers, ANY of them. This restaurant is for people with a lot of money to spend who want to look at the "beautiful" people of NYC. Don't get me wrong, the food was excellent just VERY over priced.

Wonderful Japanese - staff were fantastic and food was delicious. Looking forward to visit again next month.

As regulars and fans of Bar Masa, my family and I went to lunch at Kappo Masa with much anticipation. It is in the basement of the Gagosian gallery on Madison Avenue & between 76th & 77th -- a very nice basement which we felt was more spacious, more serene and prettier than Bar Masa. Much of the menu was familiar with the exception of some interesting additions to Kappo. Our lunch started with a complimentary tofu, seaweed miso soup -- a gently flavored, balanced hot soup. One of the best miso soup I have even had. Pasta made from seafood (i.e. fish or shrimp): we tried fish pasta with bottarga --- flavorful, fresh and the right level of salt, and no fishy taste at all. Beef fried rice we thought was slightly better than at Bar Masa. The wasabi watercress salad here was prepared a little differently from Bar Masa -- less spicy perhaps due to the addition of beets -- but still very good and our favorite salad at both restaurants. We also had sukiyaki which was done just right -- flavorful, not too salty, very tender beef, and the soup/sauce remained temperature hot. The shishito peppers were much larger than usual but still grilled and salted to perfection. The ingredients in all our dishes were superior and fresh. We plan to return for dinner. This will be a favorite lunch place for me: very good food, have "light fare" option, excellent service and among the quieter/more peaceful places at lunchtime.

There were six of us to eat. Two of the diners arrived a little early and decided to have an aperitif at the restaurant bar. They ordered shushi and requested a bottle of sake. The employee who served them suggested they ask for the house one. As you know, “house” wines and spirits from restaurants around the world tend to have reasonable prices and average quality. Well, not in Kappo Massa. This is Miyosakae Tenmi Junmai Daiginjo sake, the retail price of which in a New York liquor store is US$125. Butoooo... In the restaurant it has a price of more than US$700!!, that is, 6 times the price! And that's what we consider retail price in Manhattan liquor stores. Finally, believing we were drinking the “house” sake (we calculated the price would be around 100 dollars, which is already good, eh?) we consumed two bottles. When the bill arrived we realized how much money they were giving us, just US$1,500 for sake! I complained to the manager about what happened because what was expected is that the Kappo Masa employee, while suggesting the house sake, should add that it was a drink in the range of US$700, given how unusual that price is. in a “house” liquor. There was an unpleasant incident where we ended up having to pay a fortune for very average Japanese food. I'll save you a legal robbery, don't step on the Kappo Masa. New York has an immense offer of Japanese cuisine, take advantage of it without falling into the trap of a restaurant that should not exist.

Kappo Masa is situated at the lower floor of Gagosian Gallery of Art, in the elegant Madison Ave. After visiting the gallery, stay for lunch at this exclusive Japanese restaurant. Try the tempura, and feel the atmosphere.

About time we had a good smart Japanese restaurant in the upper east side! A bit pricey but comfortable, good interesting menu and elegant environment. Great peaceful refuge from the hussle bustle of Madison Avenue. A casual branch of the amazing 'Masa' restaurant- it features some similar classics as well as some other delightful delicacies. A definite MUST!

If you’re a fan of Chef Masa then you’ll love this restaurant. You really have to be into seafood to enjoy it.

Great for New York people watching - but found this place in the Gagosian Gallery to be quite pretentious. Food was okay but way overpriced and not worth the money. Good only for participating inn a New York scene.

We were there for lunch the day after Thanksgiving. The restaurant was 10 percent filled. The service was most cordial. At least we were not told at the entrance that photo taking was not permitted, unlike the sister restaurant, Masa. in fact, we felt unconstrained with our I phone/camera. We love the ambience with the new and airy surrounding below the art gallery. The lunch menu was uncomplicated. Between the 2 of us, we had toro uni chirashi bento, tempura bento, maki w truffle roll, lemon crepe, soba cha tea. We loved it as everything was just right and perfect. Watching all the chefs, at least 8, working in the opened kitchen non stopped in unison was a unique performance of its own which prompted me to question why they were so busy despite the scarcity of clients present. The reply was they were getting prepared for dinner, and everything had to be flawless and perfect. Our bill came to a modest $150. If Pete Wells, writer of New York Times Restaurant Reviewer: Kappo Masa (January 6, 2015) were a fly on the wall witnessing such elaborate preparations undertaken by the full entourage of staff for the evening, his review might perhaps be more generous. Irregardless, it was for us a superb lunch experience and Kappo Masa will be on the list on our return visit to NYC, for lunch, not least.

We came in for a drink and appetizer. The waitress pushed the most expensive appetizers. We had one glass of of wine and the bill came to $352 not including tip. The waiteress was aggressive with her recommendations. We looked for something small to eat. I was with a client. She didn't share prices and when looked at other options she pushed for the specials. I live in the neighborhood and will never go back.

Stunning space and amazing food. It really is in a league of its own - the freshness, the expertise of the chef, the care in every detail, the selection of sake. On and on- not a dud detail. I went for three days in a row when I was in NY and had the pleasure of sitting with chef charles- amazing sweet and talented. I can't wait to get back to the sushi counter there! And do try the bottarga surimi pasta - mindblowing!

Having been to Nobu (both locations) and Sushi of Gari more times than I care to remember I was struck -- for the first time ever -- by offensively high prices at Kappo Masa. I've been to Michelin star restaurants all over the world that would not dare to charge these prices. The fish was fresh and the meal overall was good, but nowhere close to being spectacular as one would expect at these prices. Sushi pieces were rather small too. Roll sizes were regular. The service was pleasant and prompt, but not substantially better than at any of NYC high end establishments. So, in summary, unless you absolutely must impress your date with a gallery upstairs and fancy sushi downstairs -- you can find better places in NYC to spend your money.

there were so many delicious hot dishes that it is hard to recommend just one. also the service was amazing!!

Kappo Masa is a contemporary Japanese restaurant located in the lower level of the adjacent art gallery. The decor is modern. The tables are very close to each other - a bit more space between tables would be better. The service is very friendly and attentive . The food is very good with great options, including vegetarian options. It is more on the expensive side, in particular for beverages, but given the quality of the food it is a very good value.

The hype will cost you dearly, really not worth it. Several other great establishments in NYC will beat this place hands down. The food Was average at best! Can't see spending 200 plus dollars for appetizers and or entrées because the ambience was beautiful!!! Parking, tolls, gas, etc add up for a hefty bank roll at the end of the night

Always loved this place and was frequent visitor pre-covid. Expensive, but worth it. Sadly, no longer the case. In the past, they served reasonable portions of amazing fish. We recently went and were served morsels of supermarket quality sushi. $24 for a dried out toro nigiri the size of my thumbnail was a disappointment. Service is still top-notch and the room is beautiful.

The food at Kappa Masa is tasty. Its certainly not worth the price. The staff is incredibly friendly.

i was impressed with this quaint cafe underneath the gaggosian gallery. We started with kobi beef with shaved alba truffles - yummy there were some nice teppanyaki like dishes and great sushi abd saki The people watching was great as we sat nearby larry gaggosian and wathced a parade of stars pay tribute . That included naomi campbell . I was totally entertained its certainly pricey

Definitely a 5 star. Awesome service and a wonderful experience sitting at the sushi bar. Exceptionally good, but exceptionally expensive. Wine is marked up incredibly high.

We were a larger party and looking forward to trying many dishes. We did order a cross section but none were even good let alone excellent. With prices in the stratosphere for most items and maddening alcohol mark ups you would expect something special. We received nothing special except an eye popping bill. There are so many great Japanese restaurants in NYC I cannot see how the underwhelming ripoff will survive. Very disappointing.

The food was amazing and the service was great. However, the place could afford to take one or two tables out to make more space. The tables are very tight together. This is not unusual in NY but at this price range the experience has to be more comfortable. The great food and good service can take you only so far. I enjoyed my experience but would probably keep exploring other restaurants before returning to Kappo, unless I'm by myself and need a quick bite..

Fun atmosphere and great sushi and sashimi. Be prepared for a big bill that's worth it. Right across the street from the Carlyle hotel with great art on the walls and a busy kitchen.

Used to be one of our favourites in NY, we still like it though found it a bit more rigid than usual when asked about gluten intolerances. Nicely designed room, nice and well informed staff, nice food, expensive for what you get but not too much so. We like it, definitely worth a visit or two.

The sushi is great and the Atmosphere is nice. Service is fine. I would recommend this place is money is no object or someone else is pay. The check will blow you away when it comes.

Art dealer, Gagosian's restaurant he shares with us....Each bite is sublime - how can tuna sushi be so different ....uni too, and the soft shell crab ....a small tower of tempura soft shell - is divine. The art is interesting....service wonderful and friendly....once in awhile they get a little overwhelmed by the number of people....it is reasonably quiet if you dine in the alcove rather than the main space. Have not been disappointed on four visits for lunch and dinner.

Move beyond the sushi to experience new tastes and textures - while absolutely fresh and of the highest quality the cooked offerings are exquisite. The entire experience is artful and relaxing with fine woods and spareness. The service is very professional and welcoming

We went at an off time as we were the only ones in there. Great service and the kitchen is open but very quiet. Food was great but very small portions and it is expensive. Probably would go again during a busy time and sit at the sushi bar.

We truly enjoy our post MET lunch visit to Kappo Masa. (5 Minute Walk). At the recommendation of a regular friend we order the Peking Duck & Foie Gras Tacos, Tuna Tartar, Chicken "Something" and finally Fish Pasta with Bottarga.. WOW. Simple flavors, beautiful presentation, excellent service and atmosphere. Ah, don't forget to order the Green Tea Mille Feuille. Will be back 👌🍷🍴😃

Book, beg, borrow a famous persons name and go eat here. the food is magnificent and it would appear the clientele are the same. It felt so special and yes, its expensive, and yes, its hard to get a table - but we got lucky, tried, sat and dined in such style - thank you (of and the store upstairs is a dream, selling some amazing art books!).

nice food and service but they did took us late of 30 mins on our reservation time. However, they offered champagne to apologize

Very fresh and manifestly high quality. The sushi melts in your mouth! The prices were eye-watering, but if you are looking for a high-end treat this place is pretty good.

Beautiful restaurant with absurdly small portions (even the wasabi you get is microscopic) and obscenely expensive wine list (we couldn't get a bottle of white or red wine for less than $120). Service is good and food is fine but for this kind of price you can do much, much better in many Japanese places in NY. We are not going back

Often sushi reviews focus on the quality of the fish, undoubtedly a key component of the experience of sushi; but often overlooked it the rice. Most places don't get the texture, consistency or slightly sweet flavor right; even top places here or in London / Paris; but Masa gets is PERFECT. Thank you Chef

We enjoyed a great meal here before we headed to Broadway for a play. My son ordered dish after dish to sample and the food was beautifully presented and delicious. I can't pick one particular one because they were all good. It is on the lower level of an book store and the design of the restaurant was appealing. We ended the meal with grated ice and grapefruit with a syrup on it that was to die for! The best palate cleanser you can imagine!

Had dinner at this gorgeous, contemporary, and art filled restaurant. Paintings by Picasso, Warhol, and Lichtenstein. It’s a partnership between Chef Masa and a art dealer friend of his. The food is beautiful, but I’m most cases lacks the flavor. The fried rice was oily and tasteless, the ribs were okay but tasteless, the cod was the best, sushi also very good, octopus tasted like pure garlic. Think it still meet tweaking. But it’s obviously in good hands with Chef Masa. We were in and out, with many dishes (see the pictures), in less than an hour! Nice if you are in a hurry. But it was not like there was a line of people waiting to get in. So I don’t get the rush. It is a sharing concept. Like many restaurants today. Good example to compare it to is Zuma. The one in NY or Bangkok or London, does not compare to the one in Miami. But for our taste it was lacking some more spices. Must try Lady M’s cake. Amazing. They also serve this at Masa.

I just love this place - I never miss going there. The sushi omakase is brilliant - the rice perfect and the melting top quality fish a thing of beauty. I also never miss ordering the uni custard and the “fish pasta” with bottarga.... delicious and makes me very happy indeed. Don’t miss the Macha multi layered cake to end with! Mmmmmm delicious. My only gripe is the service - it used to be better and this time was rather brusque- getting the check without asking for it is a total no no in my book after the prices you pay here.

I went to have lunch with a friend today and I have not heard about this place before. It is not easy to find, you have to go through a store or gallery and then you can see the stairs going down. An enormous stone vase marks the entrance, I love the simplicity of that vase. The service was good. The vegetarian option better than I expected for a Japanese restaurant. My creamy tofu roll and the caramel creme brulee with tofu were spectacular and delicious. You can see the kitchen and the chefs making all the food from your table, but unlike other places where you are almost in the counter smelling a sweating guy preparing your food, they are far enough so that you don´t end up smelling as the kitchen. I strongly recommend this place.

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

Have passionately enjoyed Japanese food around the world for over 20 years, including living in Tokyo for 2 years. This place baffles me - the only good part first - the food is pretty tasty and fresh and the cooking and preparation adequate. However, the prices are pretty much double the high end price range (Nobu, Zuma, Sushi Ann etc.) for both food and drinks and the portion sizes (even for a simple sushi hand roll or nigiri) are simply ridiculous. It is really at the point of client abusive and after a third visit I am done with it. Wine and sake prices are simply a bad joke. I never worry about paying fully for a good meal but this really feels like extortion and gratuitous, so thereby warranted my first Tripadvisor restaurant review for some time. Avoid. This is Emperor’s New Clothes lunacy.

Just been there for a sort of "dinner-for-two" and looking for a quiet place where to talk and have a really Japanese meal with your partner. The place is nice and minimalist, I would say. The service really helpful with some of the dishes (the menu is not that easy to understand). The restaurant is not that big, so I recommend to book in advance.

I hate giving a bad review. I really do. I have traveled the world and have tried sushi places in more than 20 countries. This experience may have been the worse. First the atmosphere is not ok..you are in a basement but ok...that is fine..NY and I am sure street level places are super expensive...the sushi was just terrible..we had 4 rolls and two glasses of wine and pow....160.....I never complain about an expensive dinner if decent but I felt ripped off.... I do not want to single out anyone also...but some of the interaction with the staff was just bizarre....As far as the as the other 5 star reviews...i am super perplexed.

The sushi in this upper east side restaurant is very very good, but the service on a Saturday night was not top notch. It is set in a building of an art gallery and the vibe on a Saturday night is definitely "NY chic". I would be back hoping for better service.

Restaurant location is great, right in the heart of Upper East Side, on Madison Avenue. Atmosphere is very refined, a very Japanese setting surrounded by pieces of contemporary art. Food is simply excellent, real Japanese food at the highest level (and I have been eating in Japan so many times...). Service is also excellent. Quite expensive, dining about 120 $ per person, wine excluded, but worth spending. Booking is necessary. Highly recommended, if you are in town.

Came here for late lunch with friends recently. Ambiance was very inviting, service was very good and food yummy. We had some unagi and few rolls which were all very fresh. I'll come back again!

Elegant with a menu of surprising breath and depth. Although the 'usual' Japanese dishes are perfectly prepared with the finest ingredients it would be a shame to pass up this opportunity to explore. Everything I have tried I have been pleased with. Professional and helpful service awaits

"Hidden" entrance, "underground", beautiful layout, tasteful and elegant decor. An elegant bar for drinks on your left, the other "bar" around the kitchen for enjoying the most delicious Japanese dishes you ever tasted. Tables are set in an elegant confined area few meters away. Overall: "fantastic", dishes well prepared, perfectly presented and nicely served: it's "another planet". Price "could" be an issue but...... there is no "free lunch" even on Earth.

This Japanese sushi restaurant is WORLD Class. It's owner/chef is world renown andhas only 3 restaurants in the USA so consider yourself privileged to eat at any. Our Chef's Tasting Menu was out of this world. As were the terrific bartender's concoctions and advice. It is not for the budgeted minded. But otherwise, it is HEAVEN!

I am giving Kappo Masa 5 stars based on my own personal dining experience and satisfaction and not taking into consideration the price factor. Since it was my birthday and given the location/scene we knew it was going to be pricier than an average everyday meal so I'm not going to let that mar my review. We are regulars at Sushi of Gari but a) they are closed on Mondays and b) we wanted someplace with a little more ambience since it was a special occasion. The decor, lighting, flow of the place was nice and soon after sitting down and eating your first bite, you forget you are underground. I read plenty of reviews beforehand so when we arrived, I knew exactly what I wanted to order which helped. We also sat at the sushi bar which I think enhanced our dining experience. I'm convinced they serve you better quality sushi when you actually sit at the sushi bar. I started off with the langoustine (delicate and tasty) and uni custard which was decadent and my favorite dish - I could have eaten 10 more, no joke. If you like uni, this is a must in my opinion.The fish pasta was something different. I wouldn't order it again, not because I didn't like it but because I'd want to try the shrimp pasta instead. All of the sushi we ordered was fresh and satisfying (uni, scallop, sweet shrimp, king crab, toro). They lacked creativity but we weren't necessarily looking for that. We also weren't expecting huge chunks of fish (we prefer quality over quantity) so the portion sizes were fine for us although I see people complaining about that. Lastly we ordered the green tea mille crepe (and my husband's fruit plate that comes with the omakase). Both were tasty and the persimmon soaked in yuzu (?) was refreshing. Service was excellent and the bill wasn't bad at all (although I wasn't drinking). Would return again.

Excellent service by knowledgeable staff. The food is superb and prepared beautifully. A must for Japanese food Seating is great. Sushi bar amazing

My spouse and I dined at Kappo Masa for lunch on a Saturday afternoon in early December 2017. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner on Mondays through Saturdays (closed on Sundays). We made a reservation online using the Open Table system. Kappo Masa opened in late 2014 on Madison Avenue (between 76th and 77th Streets) on the Upper East Side. It occupies the subterranean level of the Larry Gagosian Gallery/shop, across the street from the Carlyle Hotel. Chef owner Masayoshi “Masa” Takayama also operates other NYC restaurants including Masa, Bar Masa, and Tetsu; he also has two restaurants in Las Vegas (Bar Masa and Tetsu). Mr. Gagosian’s part-ownership in Kappo Masa is visible in its artistic elements. You enter the restaurant through the gallery shop, then descend a grand L-shaped staircase open to the floor below. Magically, the restaurant interior makes you forget that you are in the basement. Large paintings and immense vases of foliage decorate the various areas. A trendy bar at the base of the stairs offers a place to enjoy a drink. A sushi bar area offers a few small booths, but the best seats in the house are at the adjacent semi-circular sushi counter. The main dining room offers seating at teak tables with yellow leather seats wall banquette benches. Most seats are within view of the restaurant’s many workspaces, whether the sushi bar, the open kitchen, or the secondary sushi roll counter. The word “Kappo” in the restaurant’s name refers to the cooking techniques of grilling, frying, steaming, braising, simmering, and stewing, and you can observe Kappo chefs performing all of those methods. Kappo Masa offers contemporary Japanese cuisine including both hot and cold and raw and cooked options. Note that the 2-course (affordable) bento box lunch menu options posted on the restaurant website are not available for lunch on Saturdays; you must order from the regular (expensive) dinner menu. We had planned to order from the bento box menu, so when we were alternatively faced with so many offerings on the regular menu, we decided to request the sushi omakase lunch. We loved each bite that the chef personally prepared and handed to us, and it was fun to interact with him on a two-on-one basis. We tasted about 13 items (including fatty tuna, striped jack, scallop, shrimp, amberjack, squid, mackerel, fluke), two rolls (uni hand roll and spicy tuna), followed by a palate-cleansing sushi bite (rice wrapped in a sisal leaf), and a dessert of hot soba tea and icy persimmon chunks. Next time, we want to try some of the composed dishes; we are particularly intrigued by their trademark surimo noodles made from fish protein. Likely we will pass on the pricier items like white truffle sushi ($35), lobster risotto ($58), truffle fried rice ($120), beef tataki wagyu ($150), and caviar- topped tuna maki roll ($240)! We loved our omakase sushi-tasting lunch at Kappo Masa – delicious food, great service, and beautiful surroundings.

The seafood was fresh and delicious. We asked he waiter for his suggestion and were not disappointed.

I wanted to see what the fuzz was about this place and why reviewers were calling it the most expensive restaurant in NYC. I made rsvp. for 2 people with no problem. I arrived at the restaurant and was greeted by the hostess standing by a tiny metal stand which has only room for her mini-tablet. We were prompted to our table immediately. The restaurant was almost empty on a Saturday night. We received good service which I don’t know if it was bc the place was empty or just bc that’s their standard. Anyhow, the food was good and it has good presentation as well. The plates are generous portions which you can share with your partner. The prices to be honest are not that expensive like the reviews made it seem. I have gone to other Japanese restaurants in the nyc and have spent way more $$ on food. Even though the food tasted good, I don’t think I’ll come back here again. To me there is nothing special about this place. I can go to other places and have better time with better atmosphere.

This was undoubtedly the priciest sushi we have ever had but it was outstanding. Love the ambiance and vibe also!

Went with family of dinner to the restaurant of Masa at his other location on 976 Madison. At first couldn't find the location but then realised the entrance was through an art gallery emphasising its contribution to the NYC art scene. The food was superb and the service excellent. Had some excellent sake and the ambience was great. Would we go again? Definitely! However, the truffle ice cream is to be avoided at all costs (and it is costly!).

I really like the West Side Bar Masa. This entry is even better. Over two recent lunch visits, and a dinner as well- it excels. It is blisteringly expensive. The wine list in particular is usurious in the markups. But the food shines. If you like Japanese small plates and the best sushi ever ( and I lived in Japan) you must go. My hint- go at lunch when the specials bring the price down quite a bit. Wow this place is good.

If you want a classy and chic sushi place. Go here. Not too loud and wonderful food. Many many choices for the non sushi lover too.

I was inviting my husband after a day of fastening. We have high expectations and were terribly disappointed. After sitting at the sushi bar, we asked the waitress for the menu, specifying that we loved UNI (sea urchin) and were expecting to get some if we were to choose the chef Omakase. The sushi Chef served us a variety of good & fresh fish, as expected in this kind of restaurant, but nothing extraordinary. At one point before the end of our dinner, I asked the chef how he would serve us the UNI. He replied that they didn’t have UNI that evening. I was very upset and disappointed; if we have known about that, we would have chosen food from the regular menu. We also ordered one duck foie tacos and one uni custard ($46); the latter made me nauseous. With drinks I paid $600.99 for our meal (which I more or less expected). Compared to other Japanese restaurants in NYC, high end or more modest ones, I will NEVER go back to KAPPO MASA and certainly never recommend it to anyone.

Reservation was made simple without any problem. The body guard at the entrance, shared with one of the Gagosian Galleries, mumbled something about the stairs and we found downstairs a half smiling hostess. Our waiter seemed to be Japanese but the cooking staff was not as we could see from the table just in front of the kitchen. We ordered a wide array in quite broad and obscure menu and the dishes came at a machine gun speed. Happily, the portions were so small that we had no difficulty to swallow them while trying to taste the food, really nice but spoiled under such a pressure. At the very end, everybody was still hungry and we had to re order while the waiters were pouring frantically water and wine... The bill was high as one would expect and satisfaction was low even if food was palatable...

we ate at the bar. the chef kept on offering o-toru nigiri and we could not refuse. it was absolutely delicious . something difficult to find also in other famour japanese restaurant. i won't be reviewing anything else since this was the masterpiece of the rstaurant. check goes accordingly of course...

It is a superb experience, but the exorbitant prices put a sour note for me every time I visit, $250 for a few starter type dishes, including tax and tip, it is over the top. I ordered the ice cream escape, but the texture was not smooth, it was icy, it was not outstanding. The rest of the meals was great, the attention to detail is superb. Service was very good. The music could be more memorable.

Kappo Masa was recommended by the concierge at the Surrey Hotel. The restaurant was across the street, very convenient. The atmosphere is simple with an open kitchen. We were not impressed by the ordinary atmosphere. We don't mind paying for an upscale restaurant that has the promise of a memorable meal. However, 2 miso soups, tuna sashimi (enough to fill a cavity) and a medium carafe of sake amounted to $200.00 without tip. The cost would have not been a problem had we left feeling satisfied because we felt like we had hors d'oeuvres. I understand the owner also has the most expensive restaurant (Masa) in mid town NYC. Don't even consider these. You'll waste your money!

The beet, watercress coleslaw is still divine!!! Sushi is so fresh - everything good and very very expensive. Had dinner and a lunch.

Our lunch cost $100 but we thought it was worth $50. The food, service, presentation and décor are all very nice, but not commensurate for the cost. We shall not be returning. There are too many options for good food in Manhattan that will not bust your budget, and we didn't think it worth a second visit.

Every visit, I like to try a new restaurant. Kappo Masa was listed as one of the most awaited restaurant openings and I enjoyed Bar Masa on the West Side, so I had to try Kappo Masa. Located in the lower level, we were welcomed by the hostesses, and, having come early, had a chance to enjoy the bar. We had just received our drinks and soon were seated at the chef's table. The sushi chef was very friendly and he recommended the freshest sashimi we have had in NYC. My recommendation is to trust the chef's recommendations and you will have an enjoyable evening!

We came to see this restaurant as it's walking distance from our house we are really surprised with the quality of service and food! We sat at the sushi bar , was a nice experience ! We will come back for sure and bring friends ! The ambience is beautiful and the decoration is very cool

As you descend the important staircase it is instantly clear that Kappo Masa is serious cuisine. Beautiful sushi bar, open kitchen and elegant dining area set the stage. The menu is large with creative offerings. It range is wide. Everything is expensive so the expectation is high. Some was great other items were disappointing. My glass of California Chardonnay was crisp and perfect at $20. My guest had a non alcoholic fruit drink that he enjoyed at $15. Standout dishes were the sautéed spinach which was sublime and the fried rice with frois gras at $30 was divine. My $12 miso soup was tasteless. Most of the sushi was excellent. So my group had a good experience even with a few disappointments. At those prices disappointments are not acceptable.

This was the best sushi and Japanese food I can ever remember having. The atmosphere was incredible, and restaurant was spacious and aesthetically pleasing.

I used to love Kappo Masa but this time it was certainly disappointing and the food was just TERRIBLE. I hadn’t been there in a year and the sushi (which is supposed to be the best) was not fresh and certainly did not meet the standards.. especially when you are paying what the restaurant charges. We ordered a chicken bento bc someone at the table doesn’t like sushi and we had to leave it untouched, it was gross. The rolls were huge and bad, the eel was cold and tasteless. The cod was very regular and it’s presentation terrible. It’s fine to pay a high price for a restaurant that is good, or be fine with not having a good meal because it’s cheap; but this was unacceptable.

Came here for lunch. Dinner prices are a bit high, but lunch is quite reasonable. Food was great - light, fresh and tasty. Very nice décor in the room and great service too

Chef Masa congratulations , everything we are was spectacular Flavor, presentation service , I never ate that type of Japanese creations , just excellent

Tastes, textures and flavours are very good but laughably overpriced.. Teeny portions. Slowest service-gloomy basement. Not worth it. Avoid.

Visited with my wife for a special occasion 10/5/19 We were hoping for a quiet,refined,upscale experience and we were very disappointed. Evening started with very unpleasant interaction with restaurant manager who had total lack of manners and class/ unacceptable for this level of establishment/ to a completely sick waiter with running nose right above you. Restaurant is very noisy, crowded and service is very rushed even for NYC standards. Wines prices are totally outrages, on average 4-5 times above retail. The only positive aspect of this restaurant is very high quality of fish and nice preparation and presentation. Overall would not recommend and not planning to visit. Alex

Close to Central Park, this restaurant is not cheap, but offers good service and great japanese food.

I had dinner here with my sister in July 2016. We had a lot of dishes and all were very good. My favourite was a spicy tuna tataki. The fish is fresh and the dishes are inventive but not complicated. The service was friendly, my servers were very helpful. I also liked the location-its in the basement. This makes the restaurant a bit mysterious. I would definitely return to try more from the menu.

The quality of the ingredients is very good. The dishes are nicely presented. But the cooking is average compared to other Japanese Fusion restaurants. The sukiyaki was too see. The eggplant was too greasy. The rice unary was fresh but lacked taste. The servings are very small for what the restaurant charges.

The ambiance is enhanced by the open kitchen. The Sushi and Sashimi choices are special and the fish couldn’t have been more fresh. Presentation was A++. Traditional and more creative takes on classic grilled and cooked items are worth exploring and the fish pasta simply outstanding. It’s pricey but you get your money’s worth for sure.

We’d been here on a trip before the pandemic. We went for lunch and it was fantastic. We decided to try it for lunch this time and it may have been even better. We sat at the bar which was a nice experience though it reinforced how glad I’ll be when we don’t have to have barriers and staff with masks on etc. We ordered an Omekase and there were a great variety of items presented to us. It was not too much and in fact we even ordered one additional roll. Not that the additional roll was needed or that we were hungry really - it was more of everything being so delicious we wanted even more. I want to give a shout out to our server Tommy. He was attentive and a great guide - including for Sake and I’ll point out the Sake list was very diverse and the pricing very fair.

A great spot, excellent Japanese food, but eye watering expensive. They should be more reasonable. They have a reasonable set lunch, dinner is super expensive. Service is very good and friendly, nice aesthetics and decor. It is coowned by famous gallery owner Gagosian.

Fabulous quality with creativity and culinary finesse. Genius preparation of gluten free pasta. Ultra careful service. Pricey but worth it.

Must have been here 6-7 times and the food is top quality with good service The receptionist are very efficient We requested table change due to strong a/c and this was done without any fuss very efficiently

I sat at sushi bar Very slowly service Complicated experience watching sushi chef giving food to everybody else while you just wait an hour Normal food experience Not worth the price and the wait...

The menu is mysterious and appealing which I love - so I will have to go back to try the many dishes I would like to try. Enjoyed the Watercress, beet slaw, the fois gras & Peking duck tacos,sizzling octopus, and spicy chicken wings ( delicious but not very spicy).

This is my second experience at this restaurant, which was terrible. I wanted to give it a second chance because the food itself is not too bad. However, its like a sauna, eating sushi at a hundred degrees and when I asked them to put a fan or to turn down the temperature the condescending manager was so rude, not to mention didn't offer anything to make our experience more comfortable. The service itself was also abysmal and slow, and the whole experience was so overpriced for what it was. As an owner of a food business in the UK, and someone that values customer experience and service this is just one of the most awful examples of customer service I have come across. I would avoid this place and head to places like Blue Ribbon (Columbus circle) instead, so much friendlier, better food and great service. My favourite hostess there is Tom Tom!

Place is ok, nothing special. Shabu i will not recommend. It is not a soup just boiled water. In Japan completely different. Portions extremely small. 2 person bill about 270 USD. As far in New York not so many good place compare price/food, I will say nothing about that place.

My wife and daughter love sushi me not as much. However if Kappo Masa was near me I would eat there every week. It was so good so tasty and just well done. The service was awesome and was not rushed took the time to explain what I was getting.

Excellent meal and service here was probably the best in NYC. Reception staff wonderful - service - fabulous - Chef outstanding. try the asparagus, Cod was fantastic. Looking forward to being back.

First of all, it's noisy and not fine dining. We needed a reservation someplace that could seat us at 8:30 so this is where the concierge from the Carlyle suggested. It could be considered upscale but to me it feels like eating in a busy airport. We are not price sensitive but don't like to feel hustled either. The prices don't make sense in regards to the quality of the food and service. The service is average. They continually try to wipe up every speck of food on the table brushing a dirty rag up against your chopsticks which to me is off-putting. It's also off-putting to have them picking up and rearranging my chopsticks between every course. It seems like a failed attempt to justify their prices since they never really clean the table properly. It's mostly for show in my opinion. They also rushed us through some of the courses and tried to remove dishes that we were still eating by picking them up to clear them before asking if we were finished. To me that's not just unprofessional, it's rude. The food was good but almost double what you might expect to pay for similar food elsewhere. The portions were average sized to slightly below average. The only dish I tried that was above average quality were their corn fritters. The sushi rolls I tried would have been okay if the rice wasn't overcooked, hot, and porridge like. I have never had an eel avacado roll like theirs before. It was filled with bones and dried out eel, mushy/slimy over cooked hot rice and no sauce. Most places that are getting $250 per person (with tip) without drinks for such a small amount of food offer some little sweet bite at the end of the meal. Even a basic hole in the wall Chinese spot will give you a fortune cookie. In summary, if you want to spend $250 for average Japanese food and average service in a chaotic setting while walking away hungry this place is for you. Enjoy.