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All Reader Reviews of...

Bar Masa

10 Columbus Cir., 4th fl, New York, NY, 10019
nr. Eighth Ave.
212-823-9800

Avg. Rating

5
Food: 6
Service: 3
Décor: 8
"Mixed Reviews"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

25% would go back.

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Avoid

By wwmillard on 9/20/2012

  • Overall Rating: 4
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 2
  • Décor: 7
  • No, I would not go back!

Beautiful place, crummy service, expensive , mediocre food.

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6 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

Food is great - service is hit or miss

By CynicalSunshine5 on 2/27/2009

  • Overall Rating: 7
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 4
  • Décor: 7
  • Yes, I would go back!

Bar Masa has become the "usual" spot to meet a friend of mine for a quick bite and to catch up, more because of it's convenient location than anything else. I really love the food - I'm no expert on Japanese cuisine, but I think the sushi is fresh and inventive and the noodle dishes I've tried are unlike anything else I've had. However I have found, on more than one occassion, that the service can either be very slow (with either food or check) and very lax - the employees should be more professional in their manner. On another occassion, the bartender was chipping blocks of ice loudly for the drinks - it was an irritatiing noise that made it difficult to carry out a conversation. On other nights the service was perfect. It's really hit or miss, but the food is always on target.

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75 out of 146 people found this review helpful.

Food is now poor

By gourmandissimo on 11/20/2005

  • Overall Rating: 3
  • Food: 1
  • Service: 3
  • Décor: 9
  • No, I would not go back!

Food quality has apparently slipped. I have sampled Japanese cuisine in over 250 restaurants and service at Bar Masa was slack and unprofessional. But most disappointing was the food which was cooked in foul tasting oil. A disgrace to Japanese food.

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305 out of 617 people found this review helpful.

they need a better manager

By beauty on 6/9/2005

  • Overall Rating: 5
  • Food: 7
  • Service: 1
  • Décor: 7
  • No, I would not go back!

I was there with two of my friends on a Thursday and it was quite busy at Bar Masa. The food was pretty good and matched up cheif Masa's fame. However the service was treeible. One of the servers as even talking on the cellphone while no one was cleaning our table. The manager-like guy was walking in and out for no reason. I meant, couldn't he see the waiter talking on the cellphone and couldn't him hire someone who would concentrate on the guests of the restaurant? I think Masa needs a better manager for that beautiful place. What a shame! Also, the bartender can not tell the difference among the sakes on the list! I was really turned down by the low qualified employees there. I hope to see the change, because I would like like to go back there for the food. Until then, I won't spend any money and time for such a price.

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337 out of 692 people found this review helpful.

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