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In the shadow of Lincoln Center, this sunny sushi bar attracts the pre-culture crowd with location and décor more than cuisine and service. The space itself has all the self-conscious, Pop polish of a Peter Sellars set, with big yellow daisy cutouts bedecking the exterior and a glittering interior wall fairly frescoed in sequins. Cramped aisles keep out the tiny tutu set—or keep them out of doors, in the umbrella-shaded streetside café, in good weather. Indoors, customers—often seated elbow-to-elbow at the bar—scarf down decent Alaskan-king-crab rolls and swig down glasses of plum sake, because they forgot to book reservations, or ransack their piggy banks, for the far pricier sit-down experience at Bar Masa. — Jessica Wakeman

Prix fixe weekend brunch offers seafood along with non-sushi fare like Japanese omelettes with mushrooms, smoked salmon and field greens, warm poached salmon with yuzo dressing, and a cold chicken salad, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Note
Reservations accepted only for groups of  six or more.

Edamame, $3.75; Philly roll (cream cheese), $7; Alaskan-king-crab roll, $8.50