Omakase Shihou - Upper East Side (Lunch Available)

"Great value for lunch omakase in the UES. The $49 lunch set comes with an appetizer, 9 pieces of nigiri, miso soup, and dessert, which felt very reasonable for the quality and amount of food. The fish quality was good, especially the o-toro and salmon belly. I personally prefer a more traditional/simple style of sushi where high-quality ingredients are served with minimal seasoning, and some pieces here had a bit more toppings or flavor combinations than I usually like. That said, everything was well prepared and enjoyable. The caramel ice cream dessert was surprisingly delicious and a very nice ending to the meal. Overall, a solid and satisfying lunch omakase with great value."

"We decided to try this place because we’ve been passing by it multiple times. We tried the $49 lunch omakase. The price is great, but it’s a bit disappointing for an omakase. The appetizer has a strong Smokey flavor which is overpowering the fish afterwards I think. Nigiri are quite standard. The tuna is great and the salmon’s fun, but others are not that exciting. My scallop doesn’t taste too fresh (with an oyster note), but it’s ok I guess. Miso soup is not my cup of tea but maybe someone else would like it. Ice cream is fun. Overall, it’s not as great of a deal as it might seem, but still a fine meal."

"Wonderful and scrumptious experience! We booked the 13-course Autumn lunch special for 3 at the counter on a Saturday. Despite buffering 30 minutes, the MTA was dysfunctional beyond our expectations per usual and we were on the verge of running late, so we called to let them know of the situation. They were very kind and understanding and let us have a 15 minute grace period, which we ended up not even needing because we sprinted there upon pulling into the station. Upon being seated in the cozy but elegant space, the courteous staff explained the menu, including a la carte items and drinks. The chef quickly sprang into action, and we were served heavenly bite after bite. To be honest, we didn't even really capture all of his expectations because we were too captivated by his masterpieces in our ravenous states, but every course was unique and fresh, yet giving a harmonious overall experience. My personal favorite was the striped jack nigiri, which had a bit of ponzu brushed onto it before serving. Second favorite was the appetizer - it was mindblowing flavor packed into each grain of rice."