Sakagura
Sakagura – A subterranean Japan in Midtown Manhattan
Over 200 kinds of sake for you to choose from
A sleepy lone security guard gave us the customary nod and turned back to his TV. We looked at each other and wondered if we might’ve walked into the wrong building. We followed the (rather) vague signage, traipsed down the concrete stairs and cold bare walls – each with a wary step but we were confident of our source and didn’t think he would’ve led us astray.
After what seemed like several flights of stairs, and not just a couple, we were met with a totally different scene. Warm wood and cherry blossoms met us at the entrance, alongside a smiley and friendly host who took our coats and showed us in.
Sitting in our cosy little booth, the long list of sake overwhelmed us – there are after all over 200 varieties! The easy way was of course to select according to budget but we didn’t mind splurging for the odd bottle (or two) so, we enlisted the help of our server – who was knowledgeable and helped to select the sake after asking us a few questions, and giving us some tasters. Yum!
The sake experience was truly exceptional. We received new sake glasses for each type of sake we had, and even got different shaped sake glasses depending on the type of sake we had.
Food-wise, it was interesting and delicious. We love how it was tapas-style as we could try as many different dishes as we wanted – and given that there were four of us (and we love food), we had quite a bit! Everything we had were fresh and delicious, particularly the Hirame Ponzu – thinly sliced fluke sashimi topped with grated daikon radish and dressed with citrus vinaigrette – and the Fluke Carpaccio – thinly fluke sashimi drizzled with olive oil topped with plum paste and salmon roe and Shiso leaf.
By the end of the evening, we were no doubt inebriated, and enlightened about authentic Japanese food – a lovely experience! Good sake and lovely food…if this was what life was about in Japan, I’m there on the next flight…
Warm, moody and cosy ambience at Sakagura
p/s…Anthony Bourdain loves the selection of sake too – ‘No Reservations.’
Sakagura
211 East 43rd Street, (Midtown) New York, New York 10017
USA.
Phone: (212) 953-7253
~Lara
(2009)
Photos: © Sakagura
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