Hatsuhana Sushi Restaurant Review
What is the best sushi near me? Well we got an answer for you if you live in New York City. Hatsuhana in Midtown is one of New York City's tastiest and classiest locations for sushi. Hatsuhana is surrounded by the sights and sounds of some of the cities most notable and attractive architecture (including nearby Rockefeller Center) Hatsuhana is sure to impress both newcomers and city veterans. The food is fresh, the atmosphere is subdued and gently lit, and the service is catered to a low-key, refreshing meal in the city. But what you'll find at Hatsuhana isn't the flashy 21st century, high -tech, high-style typical sushi shop, the kind that have been popping up all over the city since the food met with mainstream.
Instead, what you'll find is sushi from an earlier time. A time when the meal was not over burdened and over analyzed, but was simply unheard of, and reserved for only the most hip and in-the-know business-types. Hatsuhana first opened for business in 1976 and those that had the chance to try it in that decade may find that not much has changed and that may be the best thing about it. The food consists mostly of the simple, low flourish sashimi that the finest chefs were known for at the time. Though the style may seem a bit outdated compared to the new options in the genre, it retains a certain charm and the taste doesn't disappoint. Hatsuhana still uses the freshest fish and has a rice that is more than suitable to appease the palate. For dinner one should certainly order one of the main sushi platters available, which offer up a variety of pieces and can be shared among diners. For the more timid among patrons, there is also a reasonable selection of cooked fair, typical of the Japanese cuisine, notable tempura and Teriyaki. All this is offered up in both table and bar-style seating, with service provided either directly by the chef or by a server.
All this is offered up in both table and bar-style seating, with service provided either directly by the chef or by a server. The bar is the most intimate and rewarding option, as the diner can see the fish available and can glimpse the preparation by the chef. Those with larger parties however will want to find a seat at one of the many tables, which are furnished with unfortunately somewhat uncomfortable seating. This seating however, again harkens to when the restaurant first impressed its early customers, and is easy to ignore as part of the overall aesthetic. Overall, the restaurant is a fine choice for an evening meal.
Dinner can be expected to cost a bit less than 30 dollars per person, or more if the table orders sake, which is highly recommended. The whole experience can range from 20 minutes to several hours depending on your company, and it could even be a reasonable spot for lunch, where prices are naturally a bit more affordable. Visitors to the city looking for a fresh place to eat may look elsewhere, but for a good meal in the heart of the city it's a fine place. Upon finishing and walking out, if the sun has gone down, customers will be greeted by a sea of lights, and a world as busy as it was coming in, one of the charms of it's location. Next year will be number 40 for the sushi standard Hatsuhana, and it's made it this long for good reason. It's a classic, it's enjoyable, and it's location is unbeatable. There's little to complain about for the average diner at this, one of New York City's sushi institutions.