"If you go to a lot of sushi omakases, you may start to notice patterns. Here comes the otoro, the uni, the scallop, the uni and scallop. After all, only so many nigiri combinations exist in this world. But the tasting menu at Itamae AO is different. While this Midtown restaurant does not serve a sushi omakase (only one nigiri makes an appearance), their Nikkei meal is fish-heavy and feels like an experiment aimed at discovering entirely new taste receptors in the human body. Most of the eight courses consist of delicate seafood accentuated by a sauce or leche de tigre that makes you pucker and sweat, and might inspire momentary confusion followed by an intense rush of joy. For instance, a Japanese sea bass topped with a fried caper leaf in a smoked Jimmy Nardello leche de tigre. If that sounds exciting to you, come here and embrace uncharted territory. Cost: $160 per person." - ryan pfeffer