Flame

This place is a bit run down. Has a slight odor when you walk in. The food was okay, however I saw a mouse scurry across the dining room floor which killed the mood. Came at 9 something on a Wednesday and I understand the staff was trying to hurry up and close by 10:30. Ate fast and asked for a to go container all before then, but our server couldn’t hide her irritation. (Ended up not mattering because the mouse made me lose my appetite.) Another table she looked after also walked over to her asking for a beer they’d ordered a beer they ordered a while ago.

One of our party was craving sushi after the American Museum of Natural History, this was a short walk and no weight for a table. The hibachi tables were screaming yelling and generally having a really fun time. It looked like. We took a quieter table for two in the back and the server was overwhelmed and inattentive, the table was jiggling and unstable, one of our drinks we ordered was not brought to the table and the veggie longevity noodles took much too long for our liking, fortunately it was absolutely delicious, so was the mushroom dumplings!!

A lively hibachi experience to celebrate our friends’ elopement day. The flames, laughter, and cheers set the tone for the night. Every flip of the spatula felt like a toast to love and friendship. The food was amazing, the energy infectious, and sharing it all together made the evening feel like a true celebration of joy.

Came here on a busy night, the hibachi tables were full so we had to be seated at a standard table which was understandable. Although it was busy there weren’t many workers there. That evening we had several issues with the service, however the food was actually decent besides the very cold vegetables. The steak was seasoned and tender, and the appetizers were delicious, which actually makes me consider going back for the hibachi tables (with hopes the service might be a little better). The waiters did bring several incorrect orders to our tables, we weren’t provided utensils either. After repeatedly attempting to get a waiters attention, he seemed to intentionally ignore us several times throughout the evening. They also forgot an extra rice, and when it was given the waiter handed the rice with his entire hand over, and touching the rice. The hibachi tables looked fun and seemed more attended to.

I made a reservation on google and it wasn’t clear it wasn’t for hibachi. It was for a table. We waited until the kind host could get us in. Service took forever and was messy. Server gave me a Coke instead of iced tea. Couldn’t find a server to fix it. Appetizers came out after the entrees were served (it’s just soup and salad). Gratuity is included (20%) so they are not in the business of good service. Chef served me just steak even though I had ordered steak and chicken. Food was over-sauced, over-seasoned, and overall disappointing at the price point. This place obviously benefits from the swarms of UWS kids that celebrate birthdays - not their commitment to service / food.

This is our second time at this location. The sushi area seems to be always empty. The hibachi scene this time was active and rarely lively. Upon our arrival there was no hostesses or wait staff to greet us or to seat us. The special rolls are relatively large and tasty. The menu font is a bit tiny so make sure to read carefully or ask questions. They received a three star rating for amount of time it took for a staff member to realize we were waiting to be seated and after attempting to flag down the bartender and two members of their staff. Truly disappointing. The food is good and recommend if you’re in the mood for some sushi

My kids are Hibatchi-obsessed! Every city we go to on our travels, they ask if there's a hibachi restaurant. And I love it because it's one of the few meals everyone is happy to eat AND it keeps them entertained. Flame is definitely at the top of our list. Our chef was adorable and talented and the food was delicious! (Which is the main problem with most hibachi places) Everything was really yummy and I was so happy to see all three of my kids gobbling everything up. It is on the pricey side but I think that's just NYC prices, nothing out of the ordinary.

Great time for a large group on * special * occasions because it is pricey. The chef was awesome and attentive. Someone in our party had an allergy to shellfish and they made his food in the kitchen which was awesome. The drinks were really good and made well. And the food tasted amazing.

Was wandering in the Upper West Side with a friend on a random Saturday and randomly found this spot. The initial draw was that they had happy hour on a Saturday and I am always down for a drink deal. Ended up deciding to stay for dinner, so incredibly happy that we did. I didn't even realize that we had habachi spots in NYC, I usually go upstate to indulge in this craving, but now that I know this is here, I will be coming back! Inside gives off a fun theatrical take on a Japanese hibachi spot, the tables don't come off as on top of each other. There are actually quite a few that feel secluded, and great to book if you are here for a party. For the show, I didn't feel like the chef was doing stuff just to do it, everything was fun but not overly done. Loved the sake shot from the sauce bottle!

The food was pretty good but it's pretty tough to mess up hibachi grilling. It was just two of us on a weeknight and we had the hibachi table to ourselves, which is nice and weird at the same time. That experience is sometimes best when it's a larger table. My fun companion is gluten free, and they did nice job to accommodate and even cooked the whole dinner in the kitchen so it didn't commingle with mine. For the appetizer, you choose either salad, shrimp, etc. Most places include a shrimp appetizer and soup and salad. Now for the deal killer..... They automatically add 20% tip to every bill, AND calculate it on the taxed amount. So let me get this straight.... you have decided that the experience I've had is worthy of a 20% tip, and you've decided that in advance, and have applied it to everyone? And... did you understand that the tax amount you collect is passed directly to the State of NY, so you're now making a profit on it? I don't care how good your food is... sorry guys I'm never going back.

We were looking for somewhere close by to eat after visiting the museum of natural history ( a few blocks away) and discovered Flame ! RSVPs were closed online but we decided to chance being walk-ins and I'm so glad we did. The hibachi section was fully booked but we were perfectly fine being seated within a few minutes as dine ins. Food ( roti ,wings, pad Thai, basil fried rice ) service, drinks , and decor were all excellent. I would 100% visit here again next time I'm in the neighborhood.

Wasn't expecting to like this place much, as it's very Asian fusion. And full disclosure, I didn't try the hibachi. However, I really enjoyed the pad thai; the portions were quite generous and though it's a fairly common dish, theirs was one of the best I've had in NYC. Sushi also was pretty decent. Not super cheap here, but I'd come back to try the hibachi.

the restaurant was low lit and had cute booths for us to sit in. the server was really nice to giving us time to look at the menu and she came very timely to make sure we were doing well. we got sushi here despite the place having hot food and hibachi options and it did not disappoint. the fish was super fresh and delicious! it was a really pleasant experience eating here and i recommend if you're craving sushi after a day at the museum of natural history as it's nearby

Best sushi place I've had in a while! Came in @9:30pm - got a couple different things: The pan fried chicken dumplings and the pan fried pork buns are a MUST - apart from the sushi. Both very crunchy on outside and filling was delicious in both! Definitely dip in the soy sauce for an added kick! For sushi we got the spicy tuna roll, the mango salmon, the spicy girl and the galapagos - all EXCELLENT choices but I 100% recommend the spicy girl and the mango salmon. The mango salmon has a sweet taste - dip in soy sauce and you will be blown away - it definitely WORKS. The spicy girl is crunchy and maleta in your mouth! Service was excellent and super quick. The place was very clean. The tables, the floors, even the bathroom was really clean! Staff was very friendly. Also if you have a birthday they will bring out a gong (another party near us had a bday) - pretty cool!

My friend and I discovered this gem after a long day in the park, and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and service. Though we didn't have reservations, we were quickly seated at the bar, which suited us just fine. As sushi enthusiasts, we were excited to try out their offerings and ordered a glass of wine each for happy hour, followed by our main dishes. I can confidently say that the quality and value of the sushi at this establishment is unmatched in Manhattan, and I've tried my fair share of sushi places in the city. For appetizers, we opted for the Sashimi Ceviche, which was exceptionally fresh, with all the flavors coming together seamlessly. Additionally, the Black Sesame Tuna was an absolute standout, with its perfect texture and melt-in-your-mouth freshness. As for our main course, we ordered the Trio Sushi Mix Platter, which was one of the best items on the menu. Each piece of fish was an absolute delight to savor, and we could tell that it was incredibly fresh. The quality of the fish was exceptional, and we couldn't have been more satisfied. Aside from the food, the service was top-notch. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They also offered helpful suggestions, which made our dining experience even more enjoyable. In summary, we highly recommend this place to sushi lovers, as they offer the best value for their sushi in the city. We will definitely be returning, and bringing more of our friends along for the exceptional sushi and top-notch service.

Typical gimmick of a hibachi place with Manhattan pricing. They provide separate seating for non-hibachi part-takers. Sake list felt very limited. Overall, the chef was very friendly and entertaining. That's where the good times end. The portions, flavor, and cook of food was sub par. I had the chicken dish which felt very stringy and overcooked (of course safer over cooked than under cooked). My partner ordered seafood items and felt same about their dishes, very over cooked. Not sure if I would return as flavors felt bland. Wanted to give this place a fair chance but it seems their focus is on turnover quantity instead of quality of food. Flavors are not true to hibachi style.

Came in based on reviews and wasn't disappointed. Sat at the Bar on a Sunday afternoon with no one else there, bartender was attentive and friendly. The hibachi part had waves of people coming in, not sure if all had reservations, but the food smelled delicious. I got the pork steamed buns, Goyza and a roll, don't recall the name but all were tasty. I'll keep on the short list for when in the neighborhood.

I can't lie, this might've been the worst meal I ever had in nyc. Nasty sushi, like super bad

We stopped in at 5pm on a Tuesday so it was happy hour 5 to 7, $6 Prosecco $6-8 beers. Great start to a meal. We were seated at a cozy booth in the back. Servers are very kind and attentive - water refills and check ins, the management cares about the customer experience. The food was very good. We did a mix of sushi and a beef dish. The beef quality took me by surprise actually, one of the best flavored cuts I've had in a regular menu. Sushi portions were generous. Fairly priced overall. I'm definitely coming back for the hibachi. It looked like such fun, everyone was laughing.

Flame, located just a block away from the Museum of Natural History is mostly known for its hibachi. We were in the mood for sushi and opted for it over Momoya (which we will have to try another day!) We weren't sure if we would get a table, but it turns out this place is massive, and unless you come at the busiest of times, it should be all right to get a table. The service is fast! We ordered the crunchy maki combo (yellowtail scallion, salmon, tuna), and the sushi was good, without being special. We also got the shaking beef which comes in a really large plate such that it appears to be a small portion. The beef slices were nice and juicy, but they could have been more plentiful. Overall, satisfactory.

The food is good and smaller portions than most hibachi places. The service is good and the staff is nice. The restaurant is fine on the inside it they also have outdoor dining for sushi

I visited this restaurant 2 years ago and had a really good impression of the food. This time when I visited, I didn't like the food that much. All their food seemed so much oilier -- the Scallion Pancakes (could taste that the oil being used is like old oil) and the Drunken Noodles. The Pork Dumplings weren't bad. The Dancing Eel Roll was just okay. I forgot I had ordered it last time and didn't like it that much. It's still just okay, and while the pineapple was refreshing, there was a bit too much of it as it took up most of the filling. I like that they do have an extensive menu and am willing to return to try their other menu items, but I'm not in a hurry to return.

Great food! We went here for dinner after enjoying the American Museum of Natural History! What a great meal and relaxing fun time we had with habatchi dinner!!! Food was great! Steak and seafood cooked to perfection! Yhe atmosphere was relaxed and happy.

Time limit! 90 minutes then please move or leave but although not at capacity they will need your table. Choose fried rice for hibachi $5 up charge. Decide between red CE or noodles not both. Salad? Extra. Soup extra. But they will squirt saki in your mouth as part of show. Very lively saw at least 3 children birthday groups here during our 90 minute stay. I'm so glad I live near mt fugi. Had a horrible stomach ache after eating here but cannot say if it was food noises or being rushed(the new normal?) Food was typical kinda. Service was hurried. Ambiance was loud and lively Sit order hurry up n eat.

Service was good. We were able to walk in at 2:00 on a Saturday and were immediately seated. The music was a little loud but that's only because they seated us right by the only speaker in the room. We ordered sushi, not hibachi, and it was delicious. I had the classic dragon roll and it hit the spot. Great place to escape the summer heat or winter chill and relax in comfortable seats.

Amazing place, amazing staff. Well worth the money and time to visit. Great atmosphere and gordon the chef only add to the amazing vibe, the food is cooked right in front of you and they even do tricks with the food, and you get free karaoke as well. Would highly recommend if you are in the area with a group of friends. We will definitely be back !! 10/10

Food was great The chef was entertaining But we had a 7:30 reservation and we're not seated until 8:12 and then waited another 15 minutes before chef arrived. They ate short of staff on the chef end. Need to fix this issue.

My review stands as is....want my money back... period. It is what it is. I was asked to review, and that is what I did.

I came by for a friend's birthday party with a large group. It was a reasonable fun experience, but the vegetarian option was pretty bland. Portions were very small for the cost.

Great UWS spot for sushi, hibachi, and unique menu items like lobster miso soup! Always fast & good service whenever I come. Good about gluten-free options and the waiter was knowledgeable and helpful when ordering. Just know that it gets busy and loud because of the hibachi. But still a solid spot!

Came here on the recommendation of my sister in law for a date with my girlfriend. We had a reservation for a table but they offered hibachi so we went for it. We waited only a few pleasant minutes for other people to join. The service is fabulous and we had water and dipping sauces immediately after being seated. Andy came by to take our drink orders and then when the other parties arrived he explained the process of ordering and gave us a few minutes to peruse and choose. My lady chose the ribeye and ginger salad and I selected the duck breast and beef pot stickers. Pot stickers were the appetizer winner and the rib eye was a religious experience. Going from the Rib eye to duck was an unfortunate disappointment. The rib eye is too damn good. The duck was decent, some pieces were gamey and others were straight up tasty morsels. Now for the show: our hibachi master was entertaining and engaging, lots of singing and birthday jokes. I was laughing my ass off a good portion of the show. Thankfully people ordered the fried rice so we experienced the CUHLASSIC onion volcano- magical. After all our entrees were served our hibachi chef ended with a peninsula of fire around the border of the grill and some juggling of fire sticks- thrilling. Would I come back? Not sure, but I would love to try another hibachi place after this experience. "Solid first time hibachi experience" - Anna Plus: I really enjoyed the music they played and the volume was at a level where I could hear the lyrics and have a conversation with no difficulty

Food was delicious and the guy who cooked our dinner was so, so fun! The vibes at Flame are great-- fantastic place for a birthday or group dinner. Our actual waiter didn't really check back once our chef started, but besides that, everything was great!!

Really nice people. they tried to accommodate us changing our reservation at the last minute but that didn't work because the habachi time slot are hard to move around. we decide to have a regular dinner in the restaurant and order off the menu. we ordered some sushi rolls, duck buns, basil fried rice, shaking beef, and teriyaki chicken. All the food we ordered was just...OK. I felt like it was a little bland. spicing it up a little could go a long way. Even the meals tagged spicy were not spicy. i was somewhat confused. oh yeah...this is a birthday spot. they keep hitting the gong bell and singing happy birthday while you eat...kinda annoying. if you're looking for chill....this ain't it.

We wandered in after a stroll in the park. It was a Friday evening 6:30ish and we didn't have a reservation. They said the Hibachi tables were all reserved but they seated us in a pretty room in the back. Probably for the best, there was a kid's birthday party in the Hibachi room, lol. Anyway, we were really happy with the service, ambiance, and food. Here's what we got: Salad - it was huge for a side salad, but the dressing wasn't the normal ginger dressing that my husband really likes. 3 out of 5 stars Shrimp Tom Yum soup - good flavored broth, yummy shrimp and tasty veggies. 5 out of 5 Seafood chowder - good seafood but bland overall. 2 out of 5 Drunken noodles with chicken - THIS WAS THE BOMB. Hands down the best we've ever had. Big fat homemade noodles, perfectly cooked veggies, generous amount of chicken, and delicious flavors. Since we were there before 7 it was happy hour so got a good deal on drinks. Would definitely come back.

*Review of the non-hibachi menu* Came here on a Tuesday evening as a walk-in and there were multiple tables open for non-hibachi dining. The service was great and when we asked about happy hours, the waiter told me there's a happy hour for drinks until 7pm on weekdays (not sure about weekends) $6 for beer, $7 sake, $8 something.. but I ended up ordering two glasses of draft Sapporo so I didn't get to remember the rest of the happy hour specials haha. I ordered the Flame roll and crunchy spicy snow crab maki with avocado at an additional cost. As a Specialty roll, flame roll is $21 and it did not meet my expectations. The rice was overcooked and dense (and it felt not enough rice on the rolls), and the overall texture of the fish on either sushi did not *melt* in my mouth the way I expect pricier rolls to be. I don't think the fish quality and preparation were great. I came here for sushi and realized this place is better known for Hibachi, which the table sounded a lot of fun from constant entertainment and singing that I can hear on the non hibachi table. However, we were still hungry so we ordered the Thai pineapple basil fried rice and it was SO GOOD - I would come back here just for this. Even the rice that felt overdone on sushi tasted amazing and flavorful for the fried rice. I think we picked the wrong kind of table to sit here haha. Overall, the service was great, but the sushi wasn't up to par and I was a bit skeptical of many different cuisines on the menu as it's hard to pull off all dishes well. I say go with Hibachi but not the sushi.

Great sushi spot on the upper west side! They have sushi, hibachi, and other Asian fusion items. They have a lot of sushi combo deals which were reasonably priced and fun! I did the crunch maki but our friends did the sushi deal for 2 and it looked amazing! Definitely recommend for a casual sushi night or for a fun habachi experience

I had a great birthday here. They were able to accommodate my allergy. Definitely a nice hibachi spot on the UWS.

I loved getting to try the veggie lo mein here! The noodles are soft and it's filled with a variety of vegetables including mushrooms and asparagus and bell peppers! The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the interior decor is beautiful!

Awesome bday dinner for my oldest Son who is now known to close fam as "Sexxxy Boy" via the cool chef ! Cool vibes family atmosphere!!

Flame is open for outdoor dining!! I was actually really warm in their outdoor seating. My BF ordered the steak hibachi and it was actually pretty good. A lot of hibachi places don't have much flavor to me but this place did. He also ordered the hibachi fried rice as an upgrade and it was also really good! I ordered the salmon teriyaki bento box. It was a pretty big piece of salmon so I was pretty satisfied. The flavor was there, the California roll was good and the Shumai was great! I like how they gave me a shumai here rather than a fried gyoza at other places but that's just my opinion. Flame roll was goooood! It was packed with fish and fish eggs, they didn't skimp on anything! Even the gold flakes were a lot.

I really wanted to try the oink oink fried rice but sadly they were out. I LOVED the fatty tuna and truffle soy sauce. The truffle was strong - it was fantastic We went around 3pm and it wasn't crowded, it's really spacious inside and they have outdoor dining as well.

This place doesn't take your allergies seriously; inform to this white dude with glasses that I'm allergic to seafood and sesame seeds, then he proceeds to asked: "how severe is your allergy?" I mean, wtf? I'm allergic to it, period, it non of your business how severe it is, I could die if I eat it.

Flame is a phenomenal hibachi restaurant on the upper west side in the Manhattan Valley neighborhood. I had the Hibachi Steak and my wife had the hibachi lobster tails. All of the food had great flavor and it was cooked to perfection. The hibachi menu is pretty standard with steak, chicken and seafood. They also offer several sushi options and appetizers. The ambiance is really on point and very sophisticated. The service was impeccable.

Was visiting my friend in the city and she suggested we order takeout from Flame. We ordered a couple different rolls and everything was so good! My favorite roll was the truffle soy toro. The soy sauce had truffle oil in it and complemented the roll perfectly. I had never had escolar before, but the flavor of the fish almost reminded me of tuna. The garlic on top of the sushi was a nice touch to the roll. All the food was so good and the sushi was very fresh. Took about 20 minutes for the food to be ready. All staff was wearing masks. Guests are also required to wear masks unless they are sitting down. I saw plenty of hand sanitizers throughout the restaurant.

Fun, tasty and better than expected. Best for a group. Lovely chef and staff. Handled our allergies and vegetarian request well and with respect. Good time.

First of all I would like to Thank the staff of Flame restaurant. Everyone of them were super friendly and the service was excellent! Me and my fiancé had an amazing time there. I took him for a Hibachi lunch for his birthday and I was so delighted and touched by the amazing gesture from the staff. They sang a birthday song for him which was really sweet. My fiancé thoroughly loved the food, staff and the restaurant. Thank you all once again and we will definitely visit again. Keep up your excellent service!

Ordered takeaway for my birthday picnic in Central Park. I will warn you if it's not a set from the menu if you ask them for example for chefs choice for 9 people they won't do it. So not super accommodating but overall the sushi was very fresh and everyone enjoyed!

The price is expensive but the sushi dining room is lovely. Did not care for the hibachi and how many folks were crowding over there. Sushi was fresh and service was nice. Would definitely check this place out again!

The sushi rolls are great and fresh so always in point. The shumai lacks a lot it used to be amazing and now they limited the shumai to 4 pieces and tasted burnt so meh not great. Drinks are great. Vibe is always mellow and nice dim lighting and when sitting for hibachi it's always entertaining. Service is great as well no complaints

Ordered hibachi fried rice under hibachi entrees. The menu says "all entrees come with app, hibachi vegetables, and jasmine rice." Under hibachi fried rice it specifies no app included. I ordered it thinking I'd still get the vegetables since it didn't specify not. It's just egg and rice. When I called and asked they said to have gotten the vegetable entree however that didn't come with fried rice like I wanted, just jasmine rice. Misleading and didn't offer any remedy. Fried rice was oily and bland.

The manager misled us with the menu and threatened to call the cops on us even though we were willing to pay. They charged us for something that we didn't order and refused to come to a medium. The manager treated us as if we were incompetent and timed us for paying the bill.

Loved this Yelp find and double loved their Sunday brunch specials paired with our Yelp check in offer (free appetizer!!) We sat at the counter and immediately connected with the bartender. Sassy, spunky young woman with bright eyes and a beautiful smile. Great service. We each choose from the brunch specials and enjoyed a house wine, miso and ginger salad that accompanied our brunch special entree. I choose the Sushi and Sashimi combination and my bestie choose the Chirashi. We also enjoyed the crystal shrimp dumplings (free app). So very fresh. Beautiful presentation. This was our cheapest meal in NYC and one of the most enjoyable and delicious. Flame will be a staple on our to visit list when we return to the big Apple!

We were not late! We arrived on time. It was the restaurants fault we didn't eat get any food for 1 hour and 25 minutes and didn't finish cooking our for till an hour and 45 minutes after we arrived!!!

Happy hour! They have sake and other drink options at a discounted price before 7 pm. We got cold sake for $6, which came in a wine glass and was refreshing. The scallion pancake is a must, it came out fast and burning hot, the flavor was bomb. We also got the spicy girl and fashion rolls. They both were packed with flavor. The menu says it's spicy, but the spice is not bad at all, the rolls are Well balance with flavors and textures.

Great food! Friendly staff! Good drinks! Margaritas! Funny chef! They have outdoor dining!

Hibatchi! Hi-level. No bar scene. Could be better service.. but clean and good food Will go again

I made a reservation a month in advance for my 8 year old's birthday. Showed up and they said they don't have the reservation and we can wait 40 + minutes. No apologies. Last time we came there was also a 30 minute wait with a reservation. This place is not run well, it's a shame.