Exploring an Omakase in Midtown Manhattan
While on the hunt for new sushi spots, I decided to check out Sushi By M on East 5th Street in Midtown Manhattan. This omakase restaurant, by Chef Tim, promises an intimate and simplistic experience with a menu that changes weekly based on the best fish available.
Concept
Sushi By M offers two omakase options: a $69 menu and a $100 menu. We went for the $100 omakase to get the full experience. The place focuses on giving each customer and each piece of sushi the time and attention they deserve, with unique flavor profiles reflecting thoughtful preparation. Chef Tim combines his prior experiences with innovative twists, aiming to deliver a standout sushi experience. The layout at Sushi By M is pretty straightforward with 17 seats at the sushi bar, where you can watch the chefs in action. I sat on a cushion next to the wall, while my friend sat in a chair across from me.
A sign outside and a view of the menu 👀
Design
The overall design preserves the traditional look and feel of a Japanese sushi restaurant. When our food arrived, the server presented each plate and explained the ingredients. However, his voice was so low and the background music so loud that we could hardly hear him. His overall appearance and demeanor felt a bit strange, which made the experience awkward. The service was quite disjointed. We had at least five different servers, and it seemed like there was no coordination among them.
Sushi, sushi and more delicious sushi! 🍣
I’ve noticed that American restaurants often combine ingredients in a way that prevents people from fully appreciating the individual qualities of each ingredient. One notable observation at Sushi By M was the dish featuring oyster, sea urchin and ikura. I would have rather had these distinct flavors individually. Less is more!
Aesthetics
The sushi presentation at Sushi By M was great, with dishes dishes neatly arranged, showcasing the fresh and high-quality ingredients. We enjoyed a range of tuna, scallops, sea urchin and even some sushi with truffles and caviar. Each piece looked appealing to look at and there were some unique flavors that gave us a delightful culinary experience.
Oysters and baby squid 🦑
The overall aesthetics of the restaurant left something to be desired. Seeing the staff in their everyday clothes (like sweat pants) instead of a uniform didn’t match the high-end sushi experience. They only had one lough speaker playing music near the entrance, making it hard to hear the servers when they explained the dishes. This detracted from the otherwise impressive sushi experience.
Value
The sushi itself was great—fresh, flavorful, and nicely presented but, for $100, I expected bigger portions. We left feeling like we could have eaten more. There are definitely better places to have sushi in New York City and Sugarfish is still my number one spot for the best value. One highlight was discovering Saratoga sparkling water, which added a refreshing touch to our meal but I’m not going to a restaurant to having sparkling water.
Verdict
Sushi By M offers a mixed bag. The sushi is top-notch with excellent flavors and presentation. But the service and atmosphere need work. For $100, I expected more professionalism. The loud music and casual dress code of the staff detracted from the experience.
