Temaki hand rolls, unique cocktails, gluten-free options

"To take their signature hand rolls into the world of weekend brunch, this Bib Gourmand temaki in the West Village and Williamsburg thought up some eye-popping mash-ups: in the lobster benedict temaki, butter-poached lobster, Jidori egg and Koji hollandaise are wrapped up in a crunchy nori shell; in an okonomiyaki pancake, there’s salmon, bacon, scallion and a wasabi crème fraîche." - David Shortell

"From May 12 to 19 I see the temaki spot Nami Nori will collaborate at its Williamsburg outpost with other AAPI Brooklyn-based businesses to launch a limited-offer menu." - Emma Orlow

"The West Village’s Nami Nori, now with an additional location in Williamsburg, has seen recent success that helped inspire Shim to adapt Korean hand rolls for fine dining; unlike Nami Nori, Mari will present the concept in a more formal environment." - Emma Orlow

"I checked out Nami Nori’s Williamsburg expansion near McCarren Park, which adds two temaki counters and a few new dishes distinct from the West Village location, including a cauliflower temaki and one with cream cheese, smoked salmon, and caviar." - Emma Orlow

"I'm excited to report that Nami Nori is headed to Brooklyn, with a second location planned for 236 North 12th Street near the south end of McCarren Park in Williamsburg. I note that the original West Village outpost opened in September 2019 and was launched by Taka Sakaeda, Jihan Lee, and Lisa Limb—veterans of the three-Michelin-starred Masa, famous for an omakase priced around $650 per person—who set out to serve high-quality fish at an affordable price. The concept of taco-shaped hand rolls served in a less-formal-yet-sleek dining room (its outdoor setup is also well thought out) made the restaurant an instant hit; two months after opening Pete Wells awarded it a glowing two-star review, praising its ability to serve “irresistible” hand rolls priced at $5 to $7 each and arguing that, with “a modest appetite or a minor act of self-discipline,” one could eat there for about $30 before tax and tip. The team only recently finalized the Williamsburg expansion, there’s no opening date yet, exact menu plans are not known, and Eater critic Robert Sietsema has credited Nami Nori with making sushi “fun and affordable again.”" - Luke Fortney