Sushi Dojo

"It must have been around 10 o’clock that Akon started playing at club volume. That sentence may either delight you or terrify you. It also may surprise you, considering this is a review of a high end, expensive sushi restaurant. Honestly, it surprised us too, though once it was followed by shots of sake sent down by some dudes down the bar (they had a big bottle) and another round offered up by the manager on our way out, it seemed only fitting. At that point, I believe a Flo Rida song was on full blast. Since it opened, Sushi Dojo has been known as a fun, somewhat lighthearted option on the high end sushi scene, especially compared to its generally temple-like, quiet, serious counterparts. And after checking in again after a few years, that is truer than ever. At least on a Saturday night, expect to possibly hear 2010-era club bangers. The sushi here remains very, very good. You’ll get some straightforward fresh fish, but in fitting with the party-time theme, also expect pieces topped with foie gras and things like sea urchin rolled up in seared toro. You might even come across a gold leaf. At the bar, you’re locked into the $90, 15-piece omakase (or a more expensive sushi and sashimi combo), and that’s the way to go if you can swing it, but at tables you can go a la carte or get a $60, 10-piece option. There are very few places offering an omakase this good for under $100, so Dojo gets serious points for that. Deciding whether it's for you just depends whether you prefer to keep your fancy sushi experiences more zen, or if you aren't mad at the idea of your toro with a side of "Smack That" in the company of some mid-level investment bankers. Food Rundown Omakase If you sit at the bar, you'll have the 15-piece omakase for $90. Considering how rich some of the pieces are, you'll most certainly be full by the end. If you sit at a table, there are some less expensive options, but sitting at the bar at a high end sushi establishment improves the experience enough that we think this is really the only way to go. Below, find some examples of the kind of pieces you might see." - Hillary Reinsberg

"Recently, I was listening to a podcast about happiness (Sorry. I know. Up next, we can talk about our favorite NPR shows and professional American soccer) where the host explained that there are two types of people in the world: "maximizers" and "satisficers." Maximizers are obsessed with finding the very best in life at all times, while satisficers (yes, that's a combination of "satisfying" and sufficing") are usually happy with something that's pretty good. If you read this website regularly, you're probably a maximizer - the person in your group of friends who considers restaurant menus required reading and plans for large group dinners as if they were job interviews. So without getting too Malcolm Gladwell on you, consider this: Dojo Izakaya is a satisficer restaurant. It's satisfying and it suffices. It's not "Perfect For" Parents In Town or for Big Groups, but it is "Perfect For" having a good time with some pretty good food. It's also almost absurdly reasonable. Dojo Izakaya is a sibling of the East Village's beloved Sushi Dojo, but it's more of a random cousin than a brother or sister. The Avenue B space is tiny, and the menu is made up of Japanese small plates. All of this may sound like a backhanded compliment, but it's not. Dojo Izakaya is a fun little place with good bites and incredibly friendly service, where you can easily spend less than $40 a person including personal cans of sake per person. So next time you're looking furiously for a low key East Village spot, remember Dojo Izakaya. Also remember not to lose your sh*t every time you try to pick a place for dinner, you maximizer. It's going to be OK. We're here for you. Food Rundown Gobo Chips These are awesome. You get some fried crispy gobo (it's a root vegetable, so we hear) with a tangy cod roe dipping sauce. Order this. Takoyaki Your other must-order. If you haven't tried deep fried octopus-filled dough balls, change that ASAP. Imagine a savory doughnut hole filled with chunks of octopus. Kani Korokke Believe it or not, these are not mozzarella sticks. And tempting as they sound, they're the far lesser of the seafood-filled fried balls you can get here. These are filled with crabmeat, and they're kind of a fishy mushy whatever. Katsu Sando A piece of thick crispy fried pork between pieces of toasted white bread. A nice bite, if not the most exciting one. Buta Kakuni If you're looking for a (small) item of meat, this is the one to go with. It's a very tender braised pork belly, and it's better than the weird lukewarm hamburger on a plate that is the Hamburg Steak." - Hillary Reinsberg

"Sushi Dojo is a little pricier than your average neighborhood sushi spot, but the sushi here is also good enough to make you consider spending the majority of your money on raw fish." - Team Infatuation

"From Tasmanian trout nigiri to big eye tuna rolls, the fish at Sushi Dojo is fantastic. The only reason we provide a caveat when recommending this East Village spot is some people are more enthusiastic than others about the prospect of top-40 songs blasting from the speakers while they eat uni rolled up in seared toro as part of a $98 omakase at a chef’s counter. But since DJ responsibilities are on you when you order delivery, and you can choose between various omakase, combo sets, and a la carte options, no caveats are necessary." - Matt Tervooren

"There are plenty of things you can make at home with ingredients sourced from the nearest grocery store. Sushi is, most likely, not one of them. That’s why you need Sushi Dojo right now. Just imagine placing an order for a few of their omakase options involving things like uni, toro, and Tasmanian trout. You’d be a hero. Parades would happen for you once a week in your living room. And date night would feel more like a night out and less like another evening eating cold fridge cheese off a communal plate." - Bryan Kim