Gellie E.
Yelp
I always try to do an omakase when I'm in New York, and Omakase Osukaa popped up on Yelp as one conveniently located in Midtown East (a lot of the omakases I was initially considering were located in East Village).
I booked the lunch omakase on Resy, which is $48 for 10 courses (before tax and tip). There's also a 13-course option for $79. Note: If there is a cancellation/change/no-show within 12 hours of your dining time, you will be charged a $50 fee per person on the reservation - so be sure to show-up!
My reservation was for 1:15pm. The counter was about half-filled when I got seated. I was seated at the far corner and didn't really have a good view of the chef/action. I like how they have staggered start times to give you more scheduling flexibility, but I think it takes away from the counter experience of watching and interacting with the chef.
Once I was seated, the hostess activated a magical moist towelette to cleanse my hands before the meal. The meal is still primarily eaten with chopsticks, but there is a hand roll provided as the last course (but it's always good to wash up before eating regardless). She checked if I had any food allergies, took my order for drinks, and explained the course options. Between the 10- and 13-course meal, I opted for the 10.
For each course, the chef would walk over, place it on my serving plate on the high counter, and then I had to clunkily transfer the piece to my own plate. The chef would also describe what it was as he put it down, but he was very soft spoken, so sometimes it was hard to hear him. Other omakases that I've been to have had the chef more seamlessly transfer the piece directly to your serving plate or hand, and have also provided more visual cues (such as a board or printed menu) to guide you through the meal.
The meal was served quickly, but without feeling at a rushed pace. When I was served the final course (a hand roll), I was surprised that we were on the last one already. I especially liked the hand roll for the crispy rice inside which gave it some extra texture. I enjoyed the omakase overall. There were some unique bites and lovely little enhancements such as foie gras, truffle, caviar, and wagyu, but I felt like the experience was lacking since the chef stood distantly and kept to himself. I also thought that the penultimate course (a toast) had an overlapping flavor profile with its predecessor, which felt repetitive.
I liked Omakase Osukaa for its quality and affordability, but it doesn't quite stand out to me as a favorite amongst the numerous omakases in Manhattan.