211 East 43rd St. , New York, NY 10017
If you’re unfamiliar with the above address, do not be alarmed when you pull up for dinner to a typical looking New York City office building. Sakagura is located in the basement, down the stairs from the lobby through a hallway and into this slice of Japan. This traditional Japanese restaurant is complete with true Izakaya decor and a sake list that could keep you busy for hours. Native Japanese with a desire to feel the comforts of home and locals looking for a true Japanese experience frequent this spot and keep it bustling on a nightly basis.
This is no sushi restaurant with overpriced fish; it is strictly about traditional Japanese dishes and Sake. If you know what you are doing, its a delight. If you’re a novice, they can direct you. Start with light and fruity – try some semi dry, finish with a sparkling sake or just try a similar option from the menu, but sake is the name of the game here. As for the food, it also delivers. Small dishes, like Japanese tapas fill the menu and act as a nice accompaniment to the flowing sake (or imported Japanese Beer). Perfect for a table of two or a large group, the menu lends itself to fun, sharing and trying new things.
As mentioned, the sake list is impressive with over 200 options on the drink menu. The attention to detail enhances the drinking experience; I noticed throughout the restaurant that no two sake drinking glasses are the same. Every table has a unique set and they are swapped out with each new sake ordered. The cold sake is also served in a beautiful glass carafe in a lovely bucket with ice, adorned by flowers, perfect for a romantic date! My personal favorite is ordering the Masu size of sake where a few glasses worth is poured into a lacquered wooden box for sipping in the traditional Japanese way. The pour of course is overflowing as a sign of prosperity, a staple in the Japanese dining custom. Everything about the restaurant adds to an authentic experience for the diner, reminding you that sometimes, going out of your comfort zone and into another culture can be a great thing.
The food may seem to be secondary to the sake, but it is no afterthought. Great attention is paid to each flavor pairing and ingredient. The Tuna sashimi is fresh and light, a nice way to start the meal. Try the chilled roasted duck with scallion and basil sauce: a supple piece of duck with just enough flavoring and sauce. I also loved the Ebi stick, a super-fresh piece of shrimp deep fried and wrapped in seaweed – a fun handheld treat bursting with flavor. The full menu provides a little something for everyone, a number of vegetarian dishes if you are so inclined and the freshest of fish. Each dish is small but full of details along with the perfect sauce or seasoning.
As someone who recently visited Japan, I am now on the constant lookout for a taste of the real thing in America and Sakagura does the trick. Go now before it loses its unique charm or moves out from the basement and onto the street!
Insiders tip: Do call ahead for reservations and note that they will give you a couple hour window to eat in, so do not expect to eat and drink sake all night long.However, two and a half or 3 hours is enough for a great time. Also, do not be confused by Soba Totto, the Soba noodle restaurant located at the same address on the street level. This is another Japanese restaurant, but not the subterranean delight, Sakagura.