New York Magazine

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Home > Restaurants > Masa

All Reader Reviews of...

Masa

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

Avg. Rating

7
Food: 7
Service: 7
Décor: 6
"Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

57% would go back.

 Write your own review

Scam City

By bensonestein on 4/10/2013

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

This has to be the biggest scam since PT Barnum was around. I'm quite wealthy but I'd never pay more than $500 for TWO people to dine and with a bottle of good wine included in that. I don't care if they served entire chafing dishes of rare caviars, rare truffles, gold flecked this and that, etc... It's a rip off plain and simple.

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
8 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

not even close to worth it

By jennygirl on 7/14/2010

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

Comment on: Holy Mackerel my husband and i went this past saturday night for dinner. first let me say we spend a great deal of money on restaurants and consider ourselves quite the foodies. we knew making that reservation that we were about to spend at least 1500 bucks and were happy to thinking we would have a great experience. we were very excited and had been to his apprentice's place in los angeles called urasawa and were completely delighted so we expected this to be even better. sadly, it was a real disappointment. the food was bland, we left hungry and the service lacked personality. our bill came to 1400 dollars and 209 dollars of that was for operational expenses and was made clear this was not for gratuity. i did not let my husband leave an additional tip. we left hungry and extremely unsatisfied. mostly because we felt rushed. we started way after the group next to us at the bar and way before some people that arrived after us and for some reason, we all had our dessert together. 2 hour dinner. sucked so bad. it was a real tourist trap!

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
140 out of 246 people found this review helpful.

A sublime experience

By theschlo on 12/17/2008

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

If service, or the temperament of Masa himself, is ever less than exceptional, I did not experience it on my visit. I was able to get a reservation at the counter for the same day I called, and from the minute we walked in everything was incredible. The food shines above and beyond any other Japanese/sushi restaurants I've been to in NYC. Each piece of sushi is crafted to be something unique, with the addition of other flavors depending on the type of fish you're being served. Is it worth it? Yes, because you won't have this experience anywhere else, and the menu is comprised of only the best, seasonal items. You can't rationalize the cost per person, it's irrelevant. If you're thinking of splurging - do it, if only once in your life.

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
155 out of 313 people found this review helpful.

Emperor's New Sushi

By johnnykluv on 3/28/2007

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 3
  • No, I would not go back!

Everyone laughed at me for going here on my own because of the price and I did not have the last laugh. Why they put this in a mall is beyond me--it is in NYC, not the suburbs. The decor is bland. The sushi chef was excellent and very pleasant and polite. It is a sushi tasting menu so that if you are still hungry, tough luck. "That's it," were the chef's final words to me after the last piece. Some of the pieces were quite memorable and exquisite at the time, but as a chef in the region said, "A lot of expensive seaweed and rice." I would not go back, yet I would go back to Yasuda for the sushi despite their rush act and rudeness because of the sushi. I knew what I was getting into with the price here but in the end it didn't justify the food.

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
571 out of 1118 people found this review helpful.

Treat thyself

By foodie99 on 10/18/2004

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

Decided to treat my father to a very special 70th birthday present by going to Masa. What a great decision this was. Every single bite was incredible. Special green tea cake with birthday candle was nice finishing touch. In addition to spectactular food, from initial hairy crab appetizer, through out-of-this-world blowfish sashimi, buckets of toro, and so much more, this was a truly spiritual experience - leaves one in a state of pure bliss - which lasted many hours. Unforgettable and unsurpassable. Nobu is great. Masa is the pinnacle. Highly recommend a one-time special splurge like I was able to do. Go!

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
487 out of 1002 people found this review helpful.

excellence

By dominique on 5/3/2004

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

out of this world

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
461 out of 960 people found this review helpful.

Masa once vs. Nobu 3x

By sensei on 4/16/2004

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 6
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Understated and refined, shrine-like atmsophere; copious quantities of buttery toro, in every which way, and superb quality ingredients and presentation across the board. Though wine list leaves much to be desired, sake listing is extensive and fresh. Our meal was all seafood and mostly raw, except for the foie gras shabu-shabu which was unexpected and succulent. Staff is pretty raw too though, and at this level of service should know exactly what they're serving and how to pronounce it. The price tag is truly insane - I would happily return on invitation - but otherwise, utterly prefer to afford Nobu 3x over Masa once.

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes No Request Removal
480 out of 930 people found this review helpful.

Add Comment

You will be prompted to sign in with your NYMag or
Facebook account.

  awful average excellent
In determining overall rating, food and service are given more weight.
Rate
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Food
Service
Décor
Would you go back?

Some Hints:

  • The best reviews give a clear sense of why you liked or disliked a restaurant, bar, or store. And that means details. Mention specifics dishes, type of crowd, pros and cons...
  • If it's helpful to compare one place to another, go for it.
  • Come up with clever, funny, pithy subject lines, and write in the first person.
  • Don't forget to read the user rating guidelines and rules.
CloseUpdating your review
By
| Not you?
Advertising
Advertising