Advertising
You are not logged in

New York Magazine

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Home > Restaurants > Japonais

Japonais

111 E. 18th St., New York, NY 10003
nr. Park Ave. South  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-260-2020 Send to Phone

  • Price Range: $$$

    Key to Prices and ratings

    Upscale
    • Almost Perfect
    • Exceptional
    • Generally Excellent
    • Very Good
    • Good
    Cheap Eats
    • Best in Category
    • Excellent
    • Delicious
    • Very Good
    • Noteworthy
    • Very Expensive
    • Expensive
    • Moderate
    • Cheap
  • Reader Rating:

    8.4 out of 10

      |  

    5 Reviews | Write a Review

  • Cuisine: Japanese/Sushi

Official Website

japonaisnewyork.com

Hours

Mon-Wed, noon-3pm and 5pm-10:30pm; Thu-Fri, noon-3pm and 5pm-11:30pm; Sat, 5pm-11:30pm; Sun, closed

Nearby Subway Stops

4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W at 14th St.-Union Sq.

Prices

$19-$39

Payment Methods

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

  • Lunch
  • Outdoor Dining
  • Prix-Fixe

Alcohol

  • Sake and Sojou
  • Full Bar

Reservations

Recommended

Delivery Area

South St. to 242nd St., FDR Dr. to West Side Hwy.

Profile

The pseudo-Japanese big-box formula, which Nobu pioneered so inventively over a decade ago and which so many places now slavishly imitate, has become, arguably, the signature restaurant style of our era. At Japonais, all of the time-tested gimmicks are on display. There is the theatrical interior (ceiling rafters carved in the gentle shape of a wave, a Dr. Seuss–like topiary stuck with balls of moss, bathrooms flecked with gold) designed by one of the co-owners, Jeffrey Beers. There is the gimmick-laden menu (myriad categories and subcategories, French headings), the crowded bars, and the dimly lit cocktail nooks (one upstairs, one down), where people sit on sultry, low-slung couches, sipping their highly sugared drinks, tapping their toes to the unrelenting nightclub beat.

Despite the menu headings and the vaguely Continental name, there’s nothing very French about the food at Japonais. The main courses tend to be standard Western entrées dressed with a variety of random Asian flavors. One of my guests, a stolid steak eater from upstate, enjoyed his filet mignon but questioned the presence of white miso in his potato purée. If you can handle the cost, the Wagyu rib eye is the best beef dish on the menu (it’s rich but not too fatty), and the rack of lamb is okay, provided you like your lamb touched with sour plum sauce. I ordered the tuna steak but have no memory of it, which may not be a bad thing, since the hamachi I sampled on another evening was overcooked and mired in a bizarre mushroom broth, filled with fishy dumpling balls made with mashed scallops and shrimp. For poultry eaters, there’s a massive, very un-Japanese portion of roasted chicken, flavored, not unpleasantly, with chestnuts, and a Peking-duck knockoff called Le Quack Japonais, which might have been decent if the pancakes hadn’t been chalky and the duck seized in industrial amounts of hoisin glaze.

Delivery

To place delivery orders, call 212-643-1222

Ideal Meal

Spicy Mono and Tuna Tuna Salmon rolls, Wagyu-beef carpaccio, sushi and sashimi, apple toban yaki

Related Stories

New York Magazine Reviews

Featured In

8.4 "Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10
Write Your Own Review
100% Would you go back?
100% Would you take a date?
0% Would you take kids?
100% Would you go on business?
80% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 8.6
Service: 8.8
Décor: 8.8
Value: 7.0

JAPONAIS we love this PLAISE

moongo from 10010 | Posted on 10/16/09

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Food: 9
Service: 8
Décor: 9
Value: 8

The quintessential order: tuna tuna salmon roll and "the rock" -- a perfect combination for your surfing and turfing pleasure. Overall, the menu wasnt the most impressive, not the kind of place where everything looks good. The rock is a must, raw thin sliced kobe beef in marinade, cook it yourself on the mysterious steaming hot black stone (DONT TOUCH THE BLACK STONE!). Added bonus; it will help you fill the awkward silence if your date is boring. Tuna tuna salmon was one of the best sushi rolls Ive had in New York... granted the tuna was a special kind they dont normally have so maybe better than the standard menu. I was pleasantly surprised by the huge green topiary-looking balls floating over my head, then disappointed to learn they were styrofoam. We went on a Thursday night, and were surprised by how quiet it was, in a good way. Overall, know what to order and listen to the chefs recommendations. Affordable wine list. Skipped the dessert but left wanting to go back for round 2.

If it is not Restaurant week LOOKOUT!! Overall a GREAT TIME!!!

tie730 from 10128 | Posted on 2/17/09

Overall Rating: 8 (Recommended)
Food: 8
Service: 9
Décor: 9
Value: 5

Thought it would be a bit more exclusive but seems like anyone can go in. We had a rezz for 4 and waited about 20 mins for the table. The place is huge. Oredered "THE ROCK". It is a must. Beef was delicious. Then we had Prix Fixe which was great but not mind blowing, however, the CHEESECAKE dessert is not to be missed. Best dessret I have ever had at one of these trendy/upscale/clubby retaurants. Waiter was very FRIENDLY!! SAke was Tasty but 10 bottles later and the bill shot WAY out of range so watch out when ordering the drinks. Place is defentily worth a try and I will be going again once this recession ends.

Read All 5 Reviews >>

Advertising

Latest News Near

Advertising
Advertising