The girls and I had 7:00 reservations for dinner at Nobu on Saturday night, so after our Soho shopping excursion, we made our way to Tribeca. We had originally picked Nobu because it was on the NYC Restaurant Week list, and we figured it was a good way to eat there for cheaper. (Restaurant Week is very much like Summerlicious, where participating restaurants offer a set lunch and dinner prix fixe menu for $24 and $35, respectively.) When we got there, we found out that it was Nobu Next Door that was offering the prix fixe menu, so the hostess at Nobu very kindly got us a table there instead. The restaurant offers the exact same menu, but Next Door is a bit more casual and works on a "first come, first serve" basis rather than reservations. The prix fixe menu offers three courses, of which you get to choose two. (I apologize in advance for the less than stellar photos; it was really, really dark in there.)
Nobu Sashimi Tacos
We ordered the sashimi tacos to share before launching into the prix fixe menu. A very interesting way of eating sashimi, to be sure. We got three variations: king crab, tuna, and lobster. I chose the chopped tuna, which is topped with onions and cilantro and served with salsa in a corn tortilla shell. It was very, very tasty, really showing off Nobu's innovative Japanese fusion cuisine. I'm just not sure it's worth $8. But then again, we knew going in that Nobu is overpriced.
Rock Shrimp Tempura with Creamy Spicy Sauce
Yellowtail Tartar
For my first course, both Steph and I ordered the rock shrimp tempura. Huge, juicy pieces of shrimp, lightly battered and deep-fried, and coated in an creamy spicy sauce with a hint of zesty ponzu. The portion we got with the prix fixe menu was really generous, too. This is apparently a classic at Nobu, and normally costs $21 off their regular menu, so I really thought it was worth it in the prix fixe. Wynnie went with the yellowtail tartar which, after tasting, I regret not getting. It was just phenomenal. I'm not sure exactly what was served with the tartar, but it was smooth and silky and ridiculously addictive. I think the yellowtail tartar on their original menu is served with caviar, too, but the one we tried was beautiful on its own.
Assorted sushi and tuna maki
After asking our waiter what his recommendation was for the main course, which was between Arctic charr with crispy baby spinach, beef toban yaki, and assorted sushi, he said the sushi was the best choice. So all three of us chose the sushi. I mean, you can't really go wrong with sushi at a Japanese restaurant, right? And, of course, you can't, at least at Nobu. The fish was fresh, the ratio of fish to wasabi to rice was perfect, and the portion sizes were decent. That having been said, I didn't think it was anything particularly special. I mean, there are tons of sushi places in Toronto that offer the same thing and of the same quality at cheaper prices. Perhaps I was just hoping there'd be a Peruvian twist somewhere in there, since that's what Nobu is known for.
"Bento Box"
And finally, a Nobu classic and their most lauded dessert: the Bento Box. Warm Valrhona chocolate soufflé cake, shiso syrup, white chocolate sauce, and green tea ice cream. Absolutely beautiful. The cake was perfectly soft and moist with warm, silky dark chocolate oozing out. I'm not typically a chocolate person, but even I have to admire and respect how wonderful this chocolate soufflé is. It is somehow very chocolatey but not too sweet, and the green tea ice cream, which is the smoothest I've ever had, tempers the strong chocolate flavour beautifully. If you decide to try Nobu, definitely get the Bento Box to end the meal with.
Nobu Next Door
105 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 334-4445
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