15 East - NYC

Shrimp (omakase) 

The first day that I arrived to NYC (after moving back from Miami), I told a friend of mine to take me for good sushi. In Miami, we don't really have that many great sushi spots. We have several hole-in-the-wall type of places which are okay...we have the chains (for example, Zuma) which are amazing but not unique. However, we do have one which is called NAOE and it delivers an Omakase experience but honestly that is probably the only place. It has 8 seats total and you can only make a reservation through OpenTable. It's safe to say that NAOE is a very unique experience. The word "Omakase" means that you leave it up to the chef, sort of like a tasting menu. I didn't quite fancy the sushi that much at NAOE. I went twice and I really wanted to enjoy it but the flavors were just so unique and new to me (the fish is imported from Japan amongst other places) that it was hard for my tastebuds to enjoy it. Some pieces I did like but the majority were too fishy or just too new for me to fully love.

So...we walked into 15 East and my friend said one word: Omakase! Then of course we ordered wine & sake. Like magic, the hands behind the sushi bar got to work. The fish was beautifully presented and EXTREMELY delicious. I would even recommend this to someone who doesn't like sushi! I don't know what it was but this was a completely different experience than I had at NAOE. The fish was just out of this world. Maybe it was more local or just prepared better. I don't know...but I was absolutely surprised at how much I enjoyed the fish. The last piece presented to us was shrimp. Not just any shrimp. It was alive. Did I eat it alive?  No. However, you could definitely taste how fresh that piece was being that it was alive just 15 seconds before entering my mouth. I definitely will return. Maybe I will try the dining room this time and check out that aspect of this restaurant. I am very impressed.

To book a reservation at 15 East, the easiest way is through OpenTable

15 East
15 E 15th St
New York, NY 10003
(212) 647-0015
www.15eastrestaurant.com