Nobu Downtown

Nobu Downtown Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: When Nobu shuttered the doors of its original TriBeCa location, diners were worried that they’d have to travel to Midtown to experience chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine. Instead, the relocated Nobu Downtown, now in a huge, neoclassical building near the Fulton subway stop and designed by David Rockwell, has expanded the beauty of its former version, filling out the space with an upstairs lounge with overhanging Sumi-e ink swirl sculptures and an expansive downstairs restaurant that honors the quintessential elements of the original. With an undulating wooden kirigami-style canopy supported by ash trees, separate seating areas for saké tasting and dining, and a sushi counter, the colorful venue is an exciting evolution.

Likes: A beautiful layout with careful spacing among diners to allow for private conversation.
Dislikes: Expensive.

Food & Drinks: Nobu in New York has always been adventurous and guests will likely have an experience that they haven’t had in Nobu establishments elsewhere. The menu is as inventive as ever with iconic Nobu creations like new-style sashimi, yellowtail jalapeño, black cod with miso, and creamy spicy crab sitting side-by-side with expanded fusion selections including spicy uni and Kumamoto shooters, grilled octopus choclo and kushiyaki with anticucho sauce. Desserts are a revelation with choices such as a bento box with Valrhona dark chocolate fondant and imperial matcha gelato, a caramel soba cha brownie or pineapple coconut cake. An extensive saké menu offered in the tasting room and to diners seated throughout the restaurant is at the forefront. Cocktails are inventive, and 16 wines spanning the globe are available by the glass. While the place is on the pricey side, the lunch bento box is a deal with an array of Nobu signature dishes costing $50-$70. For a quicker and less spendy meal, the upstairs bar has a distinct menu.