Last weekend, I experienced a restaurant dilemma. I had to find a place with a rare cross-section of features for a group dinner. I wanted sushi but a close friend (whose Birthday was the next day) wanted a restaurant with a full bar. It sounds simple but most of the decent sushi restaurants in New York only serve beer, wine and sake. We also needed somewhere downtown, for proximity to cool bars. Oh, and it had to be affordable. I rattled my brain, asked some Twitterers and Chowhounders, but nothing fit. We could have done Haru, but I’ve been there a zillion times and it felt boring. We could do Sushi Samba but… cheesy! We could do 15 East but, too expensive. We could do Bond St but I’ve been a zillion times AND too expensive. We could do Matsugen but trecking to TriBeca on a freezing cold evening was unappealing. I consulted my Wish List a few times but most places listed “beer and wine only”. Then I decided to see for myself.
Sachiko’s on Clinton has been on my Wish List for years. I don’t recall how it got there. Since it’s an under-the-radar restaurant I figured someone with good taste had recommended it. I tried my luck and left a message at Sachiko’s, assuming I was out-of-luck and we were Sushi Samba bound. Shockingly, Sachiko’s called me back, confirmed their full bar, and I notified the troops of our reservation at this LES nook that nobody had heard of. Luckily, my friends have learned to trust my taste over the years.
Sachiko’s is a humble hideaway with red walls and an expansive sushi bar in the front, plus ample tables in the back with separator curtains for privacy. They also have a beautiful little courtyard, for warmer months. Though they offer plenty in the way of cocktails, don’t expect a party scene. This is real, authentic Japanese in a mellow environment. That’s not to say the food is boring by any means. Sachiko’s goes beyond typical sushi platters and offers various types of soba noodles and kushiage (deep-fried kabobs) plus fusion dishes like sesame tofu with foie gras.
To start we shared slippery green tea soba noodles with a sesame dipping sauce and scallion and wasabe bits. We then shared a special tartare trio with two types of tuna and salmon. The best part of Sachiko’s is the attention they pay to detail. When our tartare arrived they brought us a tall, artful spray bottle with white soy sauce inside. I wish I had taken a photo of it! I assume the point of the soy spray bottle was to prevent us from soaking our sushi in soy, as a lot of people do (myself included). But frankly, it was just fun.
A friend and I shared the above “Jewel Box” for our entrée. As you can see, it’s an assortment of the freshest fish in the house including king salmon, tuna, fresh water eel and others that I can’t remember. The fish is rolled into little balls around the rice and presented in this elegant box. I’m no expert, but the way I judge a sushi place is their ability to offer pieces outside of the usual suspects and still have each taste melt-in-your mouth fresh. Fatty fish like salmon and tuna are passable at most neighborhood places but if a restaurant can serve me a box with white fish, sea bass, etc with each satisfying equally, I am impressed. That was the case with this beautiful Jewel Box.
It is amazing to me that a restaurant like Sachiko’s was half empty on a Friday evening. I would like to keep it my little secret but I also want them to do well. Based on discussions on Chowhound, Sachiko’s has been hit-or-miss over the years, which may be the cause for slow nights. Things must have changed recently though. What Menupages currently lists is different than the real menu. My experience can attest that if they had any rocky times over the years, they are back on an upward trend. Sachiko’s is a diamond in the rough, and I’m lucky to have found it!
BONUS: Check out their cute promotional video!
Location: 25 Clinton Street Food: Excellent Drinks: An expansive sake list plus beer, wine and yes, cocktails! Our waiter recommended his favorite bottle of sake to us which was round and smooth. Unfortunately I can’t remember the name. Service: Very Good Average App/Entree Price: $7/$24 (varies greatly depending on your sushi appetite) Value: Excellent You Gonna Finish That? Every last bite.
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LES Sushi with a full bar! Woo Hoo. Good to know and added to my “to eat/to drink” list.
this looks good
I especially like Sachiko bc I think you found a restaurant tailored for me :)