Nobu

105 Hudson St., Tribeca, NY

8.7

map & more

Neighborhood
Tribeca

Cuisine
Japanese
Sushi

Nearby
Canal Room
Knitting Factory
Santos Party House

212-219-0500

Official Website

By Andrew Steinthal
May 20, 2009

There are a lot of haters out there these days who claim Nobu sold out. They say Nobu is old news, that it’s not as good as it once was, that the service isn’t amazing, and that it’s way overpriced. Don’t be fooled people. We say the naysayers are just pissed because they lost their jobs and are poorly channeling their life’s frustrations. Hands down, Nobu is the best upscale Japanese restaurant in New York City, and Immaculate Infatuation will back that statement until another restaurant as ridiculous as Nobu proves otherwise.

Infatuation’s recent trip to the royal fish house reaffirms our belief that Nobu is still the cream of the crop. Now, unless you’re with someone who really understands the menu and can place a proper fish order, the different priced tiers of the omakase (chef’s choice) tasting menu are the way to go. As I’m sure you know, Nobu isn’t cheap, so unless you’re rolling in dough, it’s a place saved for special occasions. Just promise us that when those occasions arise, you make the most of your trip. So, don’t go on the cheap and only order a couple of dishes. Rather, go big, or go home. Do yourself a favor and experience the full spectrum of what Nobu is all about, because you’re probably not going to be back for a while.

Food Rundown:

Big Eye & Bluefin Toro Tartar
It’s the price of an expensive entree but worth every penny if you’re brave enough.

Fresh Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño
Never sleep on the often overlooked yellowtail sashimi when ordering apps. It’s mandatory at all Infatuation sushi meals. Thin slices of fresh ‘tail, kicked with a nice peppery spice thanks to the jalapeño … makes mouth happy.

Fresh Fluke Sashimi with Dried Miso
This is the quieter little brother of the yellowtail sashimi dish. While the yellowtail gets all the attention, the fluke sits in the corner, often unnoticed and plotting its revenge. It comes served in a similar fashion to the yellowtail, laid across the plate in thin slices resembling a pinwheel, but the flavor is much more mellow and subtle. It’s fantastic and shouldn’t be missed.

Broiled Miso Black Cod
It doesn’t get much better than this. As far as I’m concerned, this is the Nobu signature dish and a must order every single time.

Lobster Salad with Shitake Mushroom and Nobu Spicy Lemon Dressing
This is an incredible and phenomenally expensive ($40) salad. Luckily, you just won the lottery and want to blow some cash. Consisting of a plate of greens piled high with lobster and shitake mushrooms, the lemon dressing is perfect and subtle enough that the lobster is still the focal point.

Rock Shrimp with Ponzu or Creamy Spicy Sauce
Do yourself a favor and get one order with the ponzu and one with the creamy spicy sauce. Go to any relatively upscale sushi joint in this town and you will see a knockoff of Nobu’s rock shrimp. None come close to the original.

Filet of Salmon with Teriyaki
Generally, Nobu does sauces well, and their teriyaki is no exception. I could drink this stuff straight out of a glass.

Sushi/Sashimi Dinner
It’s mandatory to do a round of raw fish. Get a Sushi Deluxe to split, and order a couple pieces of toro and Japanese red snapper on the side.