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Home > Restaurants > Kai

All Reader Reviews of...

Kai

822 Madison Ave., New York, NY, 10021
at 69th St.
212-988-7277

8.0 "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?
50% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 8.5
Service: 8.0
Décor: 7.8
Value: 7.0
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  • Showing reviews 1 through 4 of 4

Pricey - the best tea in New York

omotosando | Posted on 9/24/04

Overall Rating: 7 (Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 7
Service: 9
Décor: 9
Value: 3

This place is quite pricey. I paid $35 for a bento box lunch that was good, but not great. The tea was sublime (but also pricey). If you like tea, you should go to see what tea is supposed to taste like (which unfortunately it rarely does, even at some of the most expensive restaurants in New York). The service is very attentive. The atmosphere is very tranquil and if you have spent time in Japan and like traditional Japanese restaurants, it will bring back happy memories.

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159 out of 328 people found this review helpful.

Kai's Omakase is the Best NY Japanese.

jpobg | Posted on 2/24/03

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 8
Décor: 8
Value: 9

I had 200$ Omakase special Course. Kai have 55,70,85$ three course, and over110$ Omakase. I specially ordered 200$ Omakase at that time. That was great! NY has a lot of Omakase course on the counter ( not table, eat in front of Chef open kitchen. ) Matsuhisa in LA, Hatsuhana in NY, KAI in NY are top 3.

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218 out of 461 people found this review helpful.

10 Course or Bust

lala_c from 11216 | Posted on 2/21/03

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 9
Service: 8
Décor: 7
Value: 9

We were a party of 4 when we attended on a Saturday evening. The space is very hushed and decor is all Japanese minimalist w/charming little potted sod on the tables. The menu gives you the choice from 3 prix fixe, at $55, 75, & 85. We chose the $85 10-course, forbiddingly called the "Iron Goddess", after a type of tea. Some of the courses are set, while 2 or 3 give you the choice. It would take more than the allotted 200 words to describe ea. course individually. Just know that everything was precisely portioned, balanced in flavor, freshly made. I will say this though, I chose the lobster entree - it was presented dramatically in a salt dome. The sauce and vegetables were excellent, though the lobster itself was a bit overdone. Still, everything before & after was delicious. A few of the courses were paired w/a diff. tea, like you would w/wine. At the end, we were all amazed at our endurance to last the whole meal. The staff was v. accomodating and knowledgeable about the teas and sake. Def. a place for special dates or an expense account dinner.

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195 out of 429 people found this review helpful.

Kai

sahw from 10019 | Posted on 2/5/03

Overall Rating: 7 (Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 8
Service: 7
Décor: 7
Value: 7

Interesting selection, very fresh fish. Go early during serving times so that you can taste the full menu and not be limited to what is left. They seem to run out of entrees quickly. Be prepared for the famous all around you.

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180 out of 373 people found this review helpful.

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