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All Reader Reviews of...
Jewel Bako
239 E. 5th St., New York, NY, 10003
nr. Third Ave.
212-979-1012
| 6.6 | "Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
Excellent sushi, beautiful restaurant
suecat from 10035 | Posted on 10/14/09
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I agree with the previous reviewer. This place is beautiful and a real treat. It is pretty expensive---I spent $100 a person last time. But the pieces of sushi I had were unbelievable, subtle, and filled with flavor. Drop in even for a drink and a couple rolls. You won't spend too much that way, and you'll get to try it for yourself.
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you're crazy if you didn't like this place
kflower from 10033 | Posted on 6/11/09
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i'm very confused reading these bad reviews. i can honestly say, this is the best sushi i have ever eaten, and i have eaten quite alot of fresh raw fish in my life! i went here for my birthday last night and ordered the trio of tartar and the mushrooms for starters which were both incredible. i decided to order the sashimi a la carte so i could choose which pieces i wanted, and i have never eaten better uni. considering i dove for live sea urchin when i was in turkey, i still can't believe how fresh and yummy each piece was (i actually ordered another round after our first round was finished) the live scallop was out of this world and the ikura was like nothing i had ever eaten before.....fresh, fresh, fresh, i loved it!
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never again
ivess28 from 12452 | Posted on 4/30/09
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We ate here for my Mom's birthday last night thinking that It would be the best restaurant to celebrate in. Since this sushi place is supposedly the best one in the city, we wanted to try it out. Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods said that they have the best sushi here. When we tried it, it wasn't amazing. It was average. The price we had to pay for each sushi was 5$(or more) which for me i think is a rip off. I believe there are other sushi restaurants who have better food than this place. The only thing i can really give credit to this place is it's ambiance. Very pretty.
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One of best Sushi Sashimi Restaurant in New York City
stellakim from 07020 | Posted on 3/30/09
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I have been most famous sushi resturants in New York city as well as most famous ones on Japan and everywhere else and this restaurant is one of the best outside Japan in my opinion. I had great sush at Masa as well but this one outdid with Best Lobster sashimi I had ever. you can see details from my daughter's blog www.luxirare.com where she posted her experience. Pictures in that blog tell better than word can ever do. Highly recommanded Restaurant if you know how to enjoy sushi.
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A waste of time, money and tastebuds for ANY sushi lover!
colieski from 10990 | Posted on 3/9/09
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Upon walking in, you immediately notice the extraordinary design, small and intimate with a rounded bamboo ceiling. We were an excited table of six ready to try it all only to find that the sushi and the service were very disappointing. Our server never told us about the specials, but when asked, he raved about their amazing array of sea urchin. I ordered the recommended soft sweet one. However, when dinner came, they were out of ALL the varieties so they brought fatty tuna... REALLY!?! Then we were excited to order the scorpion fish because it sounded really interesting, but our waiter replied- It's just black cod... Two people from our party had ordered the tasting menu that included the "black cod," which was bland... what a surprise. The tasting menu, itself, just seamed to be random sushi that had no thought of what spices and sauces would bring out the flavor of the fish. The fish was fresh, but so what- it's sushi. It 's supposed to be fresh! A few hours later, after some wine at a nearby wine bar, we went for pizza-- Exciting, tasty, and served with a smile!
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The name says it all
artofandrew from 11215 | Posted on 3/8/09
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It is very difficult to walk into a restaurant with such high expectations and actually have them fulfilled. Jewel Bako is one of those rare instances, where friends will rave and rave about the food and decor, and after a couple of hours of dining, you walk away feeling that their recommendation was not even high enough. The food is absolutely perfect! Anyone who is remotely interesed in Japanese cuisine, and has some money to spare should not miss this special place. It is a wonderful restaurant to have a romantic dinner. I took my wife there on our first date, and we will go back every year on that date as long as they are open and serving the equisite food that they are well known for. (Ask for the fresh grated wasabi, and you may find your future spouse as well).
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Love at first bite
otbek99 from 11215 | Posted on 3/7/09
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I went here on a first date. The food and ambience is superb. The service is hospitable. We especially liked the mushrooms appetizer. The sushi rolls are fresh and the wasabi amazing! I have been back every year since with my "first date" as he is now my husband. We will keep going back as this restaurant is special to us and we love the food!
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I Have Been Hooked
chiway from 11201 | Posted on 6/27/08
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Spending an evening at the sushi bar at this sushi haven is divine. Sit back, relax with a bottle of sake from their wonderful selection, and watch Chef Yoshi bounce around the sushi bar in a frenzy, serving you piece by piece of some of the finest fish in NYC, cut and composed with seasoned rice in masterful fashion. There really is no other way to experience this place. Sitting at a table is an unacceptable substitute. I came here and dined at a table and upon leaving, quickly forgot this place existed. A series of chance happenings led me back to Jewel Bako a year later, and after having sushi omakase at the bar, I became addicted. Now, I go back every chance I get.
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God I love Sushi
jma0511 from 10036 | Posted on 5/24/08
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I don't know about some of these reviews but I eat sushi 3 or 4 times a week and Jewel Bako has ruined the chance of me ever enjoying sushi elsewhere a little pricy but damn worth it
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Can't think of anything negative
RKan from 10003 | Posted on 4/26/08
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First time here. Totally wonderful. Went on a Saturday night w/an old friend, 8 p.m., no reservation - got sat literally immediately. Sure, the bottle of champagne was slightly pricey for the quality, but other than that, everything was pretty much perfect. Extraordinarily fresh, interesting, and beautifully prepared sushi & sashimi. All my favorites -bluefin tuna, eel, salmon, shrimp - were excellent, but I usually don't like spanish mackerel and here it was very good. Sitting at the bar allows you to watch the care & expertise with which the food is prepared. Can't speak to anything other than sushi. I don't often write rave reviews and was half-expecting a real letdown, but I was VERY pleased. Oh - service was attentive and and perfectly pleasant.
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