Jō

This restaurant is a recent addition to the scene and may not have been widely discovered yet, but the dining experience here is truly exceptional. The owner and chef previously ran Kajitsu, a renowned NYC restaurant known for its Japanese kaiseki-style vegetarian cuisine. I visited Kajitsu in 2019 and felt it was the best place in the city to experience authentic Japanese shōjin (Buddhist vegetarian) cooking. Now with their new venture, Jo, they've expanded beyond vegetarian offerings to include meat and fish, while still staying true to the seasonal, multi-course kaiseki approach. With a broader range of ingredients, the flavor combinations, visual presentation, and overall richness of the dining experience have reached new heights. The tasting menu features over ten courses, and the vegetarian dishes are especially memorable — offering flavor profiles and textures that are virtually impossible to find elsewhere in NYC. These dishes really open your eyes to the creative potential of vegetarian cuisine. Their fish and meat dishes are also excellent: meticulously crafted, delicately seasoned to highlight the natural flavors of the ingredients — with only one pork dish being slightly on the salty side. A standout element was their rice course, which was the most creative I've encountered in any kaiseki meal. It featured three distinct rice preparations, showcasing the versatility of rice and its pairing potential with various ingredients — a truly unforgettable experience. As for ambiance and service, the restaurant leans toward a precise and professional aesthetic. The chef and staff clearly aim to focus the diners' attention on the food, ensuring that every detail is flawless. While the atmosphere might feel a bit serious or subdued, it aligns well with the overall minimalist and contemplative tone of the restaurant. In summary, Jo is highly recommended for anyone interested in vegetarian cuisine, kaiseki dining, or Asian culinary artistry. It’s a place that promises — and delivers — a unique and elevated experience, and I hope it continues to flourish.

Went for the 8:30pm à la carte menu on Saturday night, and I felt this was an *excellent* experience—I’m already dying to go back! I was initially a bit concerned by reviews suggesting the environment wasn’t friendly, but I found everyone very warm and inviting. (I think they leave it in diners’ court to begin interactions, and that’s perfectly reasonable, in my view.) This is exactly the kind of place you’d go with a friend or two to have a night of really great food, drink, and conversation. We tried many of the menu items, and certainly look forward to trying more next time. Hard to find a better experience in NYC than this—and soon, I’m afraid it’ll be very hard to get a reservation, too!

Jō keeps serving food that satisfies completely. The food quality is high. The service is attentive. The prices don't hurt. Everyone from my family returns here happily. The workers seem chosen for their good looks. I'm thinking about returning to try new menu selections.

Traditional Japanese tasting menu with high quality ingredients and highly skilled preparation

We were excited to try this chef’s Kaiseki, but walked away disappointed given the $300 per person price tag (plus a 20% prepaid tip). Unfortunately, the service lacked the warmth and hospitality we’ve come to associate with high-end Japanese dining. The chef maintained almost no interaction with guests throughout the night, which stood out—in a negative way—compared to other omakase experiences. Course introductions were often rushed or at one time skipped entirely, and any questions were met with lukewarm, minimal responses. The only positive interaction came from the beverage staff, who offered more engaging and helpful explanations to my questions and look for recommendation. The food itself didn’t live up to expectations either. The website did mention “pescatarian diets can be accommodated with advance notice. hence we expressed our dietary restrictions on the reservation well in advance but it was not reiterated at our arrival, and were disappointingly ignored. If the restaurant couldn’t cater to the dietary restrictions, we would expect the restaurant to contact us well in advance or at least reconfirm at the start. Sadly that didn’t happen. While the menu rotates, the structure and quality felt uninspired. We were served rice in four separate courses—including both the first and last—which felt like filler rather than thoughtful progression. The sukiyaki featured only two slices of beef, and the salad course lacked freshness and premium ingredients. Altogether, the selection didn’t feel worthy of the price tag for the omakase label. The ambiance was okay, and we didn’t get the sense that return customers were being cultivated. The only highlight of the evening was dessert. We hope the restaurant takes this feedback to heart. There was a lot of hope from us here when we came, but the experience needs more intention, generosity, and human connection to live up to the premium expectations that foodies would expect from a highend Omakase restaurant in NYC.

I was a regular Kajitsu/Kokage diner back in the day, and I love this new place so much! Authentic Japanese food and a great atmosphere. Highly recommend!

A wonderful kaiseki that embraces a very traditional style, which showcases the beauty of the high quality ingredients and their clean pure flavors.

The restaurant was exceptional - outstanding food, attentive service, and a great atmosphere. Everything came together perfectly for a memorable dining experience.

The ambiance is minimal in a "cost-cutting" way and not as a deliberate stylistic choice. The food is representative of kaiseki cuisine overall, but nothing stands out as memorable. For instance, I'm writing this review a month after my visit and can't really place what stood out. The portions are significant. In fact, they serve three different types of rice. It's a lot of rice. While I do appreciate good flavored cast-iron cooked rice, three bowls in a row of it is a little too much. Overall, I am hesitant to revisit especially since NYC is inundated with options for good kaiseki or omakase spots.

Jō recently opened up in the Midtown East area, offering a kaiseki tasting menu. Making reservations was easy, and make sure you request a center seating at the counter. Service was kind and friendly, and the pacing of the omakase was great. the plating was aesthetically-pleasant, and the items were fresh. Look for the honey-colored door, as you may miss it! +kaiseki tasting menu +friendly service +seamless reservation process

very authentic kaiseki. unlike other places in new york, you won't find any luxury ingredients like caviar over here