So if you’re planning something like a 30th anniversary dinner or a meal with a few clients who occasionally wear Balenciaga, it’s probably not the right spot. That said, as mentioned earlier, this is not a fancy place. As long as you don’t mind spending $18 extra, we fully encourage you to get the special called the “Big Mac.” It’s chopped toro, seared toro, wagyu, and two kinds of uni all stacked together inside a crispy piece of seaweed, and it’s the sushi equivalent of wearing a luxury bathrobe while standing knee-deep in a hot tub overlooking a sunset (near a beach). The overall experience is kind of like having an in-home chef with a high-quality supply of arctic char, sea scallop, and creamy botan shrimp.Įach seating lasts exactly one hour, and once your omakase is finished, you’ll have the option to order pieces a la carte. The fish might vary slightly from day to day, but you can expect things like hamachi and lean tuna to start, followed by some richer pieces like Hokkaido uni and toro topped with caviar that will stalk you in your dreams like Freddy Krueger or the first person you made eye contact with at a middle school dance. To get dinner here, you have to text for a reservation, and your only option is a 10-piece omakase menu that costs $50. The service is casual and friendly, and you might even see a chef waving a blowtorch around like it’s a sparkler on the Fourth of July - but despite how laid-back this place is, the sushi is comparable to what you’d find at a restaurant requiring month-in-advance reservations and a commitment of several hundred dollars. It’s a tiny space that’s about as half-decorated as a college dorm room on move-in day, and the soundtrack consists of whatever the employees feel like listening to (think MGMT circa 2007 and Rap Caviar circa now). This East Village restaurant has a total of 11 seats, all of which are at a counter.
And that’s essentially what Sushi By M is: a stripped-down version of a high-end sushi spot, with excellent fish and no other frills. It’s still a high-performance vehicle, just without all the extras. Imagine Big Willie Style, but with a tracklist limited to “Miami” and “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.” Or a luxury car minus the inessential parts, like the power tailgate and panoramic moonroof.