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All Reader Reviews of...

Jewel Bako

239 E. 5th St., New York, NY, 10003
nr. Third Ave.
212-979-1012

Avg. Rating

7
Food: 8
Service: 7
Décor: 8
"Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

62% would go back.

 Write your own review

Oishii - Delicious

By antiquecutie on 3/9/2011

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

My husband and I are huge sushi fans...and Jewel Bako was one of the most authentic sushi joints in nyc. It may be a little pricey, but their fish is flown in from Japan and offers a variety of fish! Chef Sho was at the sushi bar, one of the first female sushi chefs I have ever seen, and she did not disappoint. Everything she touched was Oishii. If you really want a spicy tuna roll, don't even waste your time coming here. Spicy tuna rolls were made for an American audience to cover up low quality fish. Just come with an open mind and have fun! If you can, sit at the bar!

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63 out of 113 people found this review helpful.

Excellent food in underserviced establishment at the wrong location

By ZiniDaKazem on 8/8/2010

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

I came all the way from DC to check did A. Zimmern serve as a marketing tool for the place, or is it for real. No need to write a book about how good or bad the experience has been at J.B., but few words should be shed on it. Food was excellent, and all I expected it to be. Interesting flavors, fresh and imaginative presentations. Service was slightly under par considering the cost of the meals, true the place was slammed tonight (8.8.10) and one might try to give them excuse due to it. However, when you open a place on Saturday night, one must expect to be busy and bring on board more then 3 servers on almost 25 tables (poor management). Will I go back,definitely, can I tolerate service under par, yes if food continues to be excellent! Place is definitely not for East Village location (meaning cost should be bit lower)! Go check it out, you won't regret it!

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71 out of 147 people found this review helpful.

RE: Never again

By fy78 on 4/26/2010

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

First of, if you watch Andrew Zimmern you probably don't have much of a taste palate. Second, you're probably expecting your run-of-the-mill sushi joint serving volcano and dragon rolls, etc. Good grade sushi is subtle without much need of window-dressing. Five bucks is a small price to pay for good sushi.

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87 out of 195 people found this review helpful.

Excellent sushi, beautiful restaurant

By suecat on 10/14/2009

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

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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122 out of 233 people found this review helpful.

you're crazy if you didn't like this place

By kflower on 6/11/2009

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

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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110 out of 227 people found this review helpful.

never again

By ivess28 on 4/30/2009

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 10
  • No, I would not go back!

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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141 out of 284 people found this review helpful.

One of best Sushi Sashimi Restaurant in New York City

By stellakim on 3/30/2009

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

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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132 out of 273 people found this review helpful.

A waste of time, money and tastebuds for ANY sushi lover!

By colieski on 3/9/2009

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

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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134 out of 277 people found this review helpful.

The name says it all

By artofandrew on 3/8/2009

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

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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127 out of 268 people found this review helpful.

Love at first bite

By otbek99 on 3/7/2009

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

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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138 out of 273 people found this review helpful.

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