Kinjo - Review - DUMBO - New York - The Infatuation
"In our batsh*t city, most $95 omakases are rushed, a little impersonal, or served in a room that could be a dentist’s office. Not at Kinjo. It’s a sub-$100 omakase cosplaying as a $300 one, in a stylish, former Dumbo factory that's now a factory of dressed-up nigiri and fifth dates. photo credit: Willa Moore photo credit: Alex Lau photo credit: Alex Lau photo credit: Alex Lau Pause Unmute Once you actually locate the Brooklyn restaurant—in an unmarked warehouse—and figure out how to get in—through an unmarked door—you could frankly be anywhere. (That’s a good thing.) Behind a curtain is one long 14-seat omakase counter facing two chefs who move in tandem like a pair of artistic swimmers. There are limited distractions, so it's easy to focus on your dining partner, not to mention the Dumbo local to your left, and the shrimp nigiri that just landed in front of you, which is ever-so-slightly seared, and then brushed with a smoky curry glaze. photo credit: Alex Lau photo credit: Alex Lau photo credit: Willa Moore Pause Unmute Kinjo can likely get away with its $95 price tag because the 11-course menu goes heavier on the cooked items (usually about two or three, plus dessert). This might be a disappointment to some raw fish purists. And those cooked dishes— like a koji duck with pineapple hoisin sauce wrapped in charred flour tortillas—slightly pale in comparison to the nigiri. But for a fancy-feeling omakase experience, Kinjo is a great choice that's not as expensive as most. There’s a bar up front and a couple of tables where you can grab a drink before your reservation, or just stop in for a few a la carte bites and a moment of quiet on an evening in Dumbo. Food Rundown Omakase Because no one can seem to open a sub-$100 omakase place without it these days, Kinjo serves otoro with caviar. But there’s also akami zuke with a slight sweetness from Asian pear on top, and scallop topped with both calamansi juice and lime zest. The several cooked items are less exciting. But when your check comes in at around $100, you’ll probably look past this fact. photo credit: Alex Lau" - Willa Moore
