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All Reader Reviews of...

Japonica

100 University Pl., New York, NY, 10003
at 12th St.
212-243-7752

Avg. Rating

5
Food: 5
Service: 6
Décor: 4
"Mixed Reviews"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

38% would go back.

 Write your own review

Old Faithful

By maltshuler on 2/1/2010

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 6
  • Yes, I would go back!

This still remains one of the best Sushi places in NYC. Money aside. If you're looking for value, don't go here. If you're watching your dollars, don't go here. If you're looking for an amazing meal, with amazing service in a completely unpretentious atmosphere and the price is not an issue, than this is your place. There are so many, equally priced, over the top sushi restaurants in the Union Sq neighborhood, like Sushi Samba, or Japonais that focus on the presentation and not the food. This place focuses 100% on the food and it's worth every dollar spent.

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35 out of 64 people found this review helpful.

Pleasantly Surprised!

By ScotlanRyan on 10/13/2009

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 4
  • Yes, I would go back!

Incredibly fresh sushi, very surprised. Excellent and kind service. Decor is in need of an upgrade. Although pricey, I would still recommend coming for a special occasion. The Dragon Roll was the best I've ever had.

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44 out of 85 people found this review helpful.

Fake Japanese

By NYJapnesefoodlover on 8/6/2009

  • Overall Rating: 5
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 5
  • Décor: 6
  • No, I would not go back!

Rice is as important as fish for sushi. The rice may have sitting in the rice cooker for more than 48hours or so.. You would never serve such rice to customer at the restaurant where sashimi delax is about $40. Sashimi is as big as kirimi. I had to ask for a knife to slice my own sashimi. Very disappointing...

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35 out of 85 people found this review helpful.

Still Great

By martini1 on 6/13/2009

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Earlier posts are woefully out of it: this is a reliable place for fresh sushi (the cooked food is good too)...Nothing adventurous, nothing frou-frou: just lovely sashimi and sushi, with excellent service and a caring owner. I've been a loyal customer for more than 25 years...

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46 out of 92 people found this review helpful.

End of an error

By msanewyork on 11/6/2007

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

I made the mistake of visiting an establishment that used to be a great. Not anymore, the food is of the lowest quality, service is less. I am allergic to certain types of fish and made clear from the onset. When my dinner arrived it was wrong, dead wrong. When I complained, instead of fixing it, I was told I was wrong. There are so many great Japanese restaurants to visit in NY, spare yourself the agony, or trip to the hospital.

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194 out of 370 people found this review helpful.

Just order delivery...

By Graciefully_Me on 4/25/2005

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 6
  • Yes, I would go back!

Some of the rolls are mildly entertaining, though there's nothing too remarkable about Japonica. Simple, stark, it's a meal. The waitstaff amusing, but a little pushy near the end. The sashmi was quality but I was not overly impressed. Next time, if I get a japanese craving, I'll just order delivery. It's not worth the trip nor wait.

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351 out of 715 people found this review helpful.

terribly disappointed

By markpyd on 3/21/2005

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

unfriendly service, awful yellow tail, falling apart maki rolls, small maki rolls, $7 edamame, overall poor value

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311 out of 687 people found this review helpful.

Serious sushi

By Gustav_Siebenberger on 10/3/2004

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 7
  • Yes, I would go back!

After reading other customers' reviews, we were ready for the worst. However, we were treated to best Oysters we've ever eaten, along with superb cuts of horse mackerel, saba and japanese sardines. Crunchy/spicy tuna rolls were extraordinary. The chef had everything under control with scarcely anything remotely objectionable in presentation. The sake cups and flask came full, which is rare. Overall, closer to perfect than most.

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322 out of 671 people found this review helpful.

gross-

By bunnixo on 4/4/2003

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

got sick as a dog after eating here one night - won't go back again

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297 out of 585 people found this review helpful.

Worst Sushi I've ever had!

By bshapiro on 3/5/2003

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

I wouldn't feed this fish to my dog, and he is japanese. Got the usual one night, plus some custom rolls (recreated some Haru specials, like the kamikaze). We got crunch salmon rolls with burnt skin instead of tempura flake, What must have been 5 day old tuna and unagi sashimi. When we complained the manager insisted it was our fault for not just ordering what was on the menu. We did not pay and left. This happend 2 years ago, so yeah it was so bad I remember every detail and still steer people away. AVOID THIS RESTURANT!!!TRY FUJI's ON THE WEST SIDE FOR A GREAT MEAL, OR ISO ON 11th FOR TRULY HARD TO GET SASHIMI.

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278 out of 606 people found this review helpful.

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