Ikigai
Japanese restaurant · Fort Greene ·
Japanese & Polish fusion tasting menu, non-profit
Japanese & Polish fusion tasting menu, non-profit
"A creative, 10-course kaiseki that channels chef Rafal Maslankiewicz’s Polish roots ($185), this Fort Greene dining room blends Japanese tradition with personal influences from a cook trained at Masa and Eleven Madison Park. The most revelatory dishes are the Polish-inflected ones, like an okinawa potato with braised red cabbage and pops of black garlic puffed quinoa, and a memorable last course: a solitary knedle — a traditional Polish dumpling made from sweet mochi flour — stuffed with cheesecake in a pool of black sesame sauce and sour cream." - Andrea Strong
"It’s not every day that dinner begins with rhododendron kombucha in the backyard of a Fort Greene townhouse, convincingly retrofitted into a Japanese tea room. Ikigai also stands out for its kaiseki-style dishes with Polish flourishes, like a potato dumpling crossed with sweet mochiko flour, then served over raspberries and sour cream. This 12-seat counter spot, which donates profits from their 12-course tasting to Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, is a great choice for an intimate, relaxing special occasion: like a birthday when your age ends not in a 0 or 5, but maybe a 1, 3, or 7." - bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja, molly fitzpatrick, will hartman
"It’s not every day that dinner begins with rhododendron kombucha in the backyard of a Fort Greene townhouse, convincingly retrofitted into a Japanese tea room. This restaurant stands out for its kaiseki-style dishes with Polish flourishes, like a traditional potato dumpling crossed with sweet mochiko flour, then filled with warm cheesecake, and served over raspberries and sour cream. But Ikigai is just as noteworthy for operating as a non-profit—they donate earnings from their $185 tasting menu to Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, an organization that combats food insecurity. Remember this for a special occasion that feels thoughtful and relaxed at the same time." - willa moore, bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick
"Blending Polish flavors with kaiseki-style dishes, the $165 tasting menu at Ikigai includes things we can confidently say we’ve never tried before, like sweet potato dumplings filled with cheesecake. They don't skip any details, from a welcoming cup of tea in the garden to the donation of profits to an organization that combats food insecurity." - bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah
"At this kaiseki restaurant in a Fort Greene townhouse, you’ll find wonderful Polish-inflected Japanese dishes, like a traditional potato dumpling made with sweet mochiko flour, filled with warm cheesecake, and nestled on a bed of sweet-tart raspberries and sour cream. The dining room, which looks like a woodworking masters thesis, and the backyard tearoom are just as delightful. Little details, like milk bread and rhododendron kombucha in that tea room to start, make a 12-course meal at Ikigai a great choice for an intimate, relaxing celebration. Interestingly, this place also operates as a non-profit, donating earnings from their $165 tasting menu to an organization that combats food insecurity. " - will hartman, willa moore, neha talreja, molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim
