Sushi of Gari UWS (Gari Columbus)

Didn’t have a reservation on a Sunday night, so had to sit at the sushi bar. It was actually wonderful to see so many chefs working to create the beautiful dishes here. Very delicate sushi with interesting toppings, like a horseradish sauce. Our order was quite simple, but I was able to see firsthand some of the creations being prepared. Be warned: this place is not inexpensive. But the sushi is a notch above. Our kind waitress was very well informed, so ask questions! Bonus: Japanese toilets in the restrooms!

We had a wonderful experience. Our server was very nice and helpful. Drinks were pricy but really well crafted. Everything we ate was delicious.

The Chicken Teriyaki was perfectly cooked—definitely among the best I’ve had. The "Sushi Regular," with eight pieces of sushi and one tuna roll, was fresh and flavorful, though the wasabi inside was a bit unexpected. The seaweed salad was delicious and beautifully presented. We were treated to complimentary Konacha tea, though I would have preferred it to be served during the meal rather than at the end. The service was attentive, and the ambiance was cozy, enhanced by beautiful wall art. The only downside was the limited dessert menu.

We spent $400 for two here for the sushi omakase, but it fell extremely short of our expectations. The sushi was rushed in preparation, and the rice was sloppy - sometimes packed too densely and was gummy, sometimes packed too loose and just came apart as we picked the sushi up. The fish is very untraditional and not up to par for proper omakase. It was topped with tomatoes, cheese, and chili oil; one piece was deep fried. The atmosphere is also very disappointing. There are 6+ chefs behind the counter, each shouting table numbers out when they’ve finished preparing their tables’ dish. This results in the restaurant being quite loud.

Always my neighborhood go-to. The best sushi in the area by far. Always consistent, authentic, comfort food, fresh fish, a New York classic. Not stuffy like all the omakase spots popping up all over, but much more high end and elegant than the other Japanese restaurants around. It’s the perfect in between, and the quality is always there!

This place is so easy to miss..I’m actually not sure it has a sign out front. It probably does but I just went in without looking because my friends told me about it. Seems that that doesn’t slow down business. I went on a Thursday night an hour before closing and although the space isn’t large, it was packed. Lots of energy. I sat at the bar and had my usual …uni and fatty tuna. Both were fabulous (although the uni was $24 each vs the $15 I usually pay at other sushi houses). Can’t say that it was better than those for the price. I had a salmon sushi and immediately noticed that there were none of those white veins (the typical grain that you see normally). I’ve never seen such a uniform slice of salmon. And it was as velvety as it could be. Along with it I had the seared king salmon belly. Truly wonderful flavors along with the richness of the species. The slight char offered a nice flavorful accent. I had the salmon roe only because I’ve never seen such large beads. Not sure that the flavor was different from normal sized roe but the texture was enjoyable. Finally, I had the hijiki seaweed salad. It was unlike any seaweed I’ve had. Don’t know that I can describe it as it was a totally new flavor for me. Perhaps a little earthy. Again, hard to describe but worth the experience. Sitting at the counter where 6 chefs were actively plying their trade, I saw some very uniquely presented sushi and maki rolls that made me want to try EVERYTHING. But I didn’t. I wasn’t that hungry and I would have departed with a $300 bill just for me WITHOUT beverages. I will definitely return. It is not common to have a sushi menu absolutely replete with creative options as could be found here. Great staff too. Very attentive and informative.

Beautiful and delicate food, beautiful balanced flavours and authentic. Some of the most tender and tasty outside of Japan. Cannot understand the negative reviews other than to think they don’t know what good quality Japanese food is.

Sushi of Gari lost two long-time customers this evening. My wife is allergic to sesame, which she noted on her order. Unfortunately, when the order arrived, her food had sesame seeds all over it. When she called to report the problem, the manager would not take corrective action until we provided a photo. Having been long-time customers and spent hundreds of dollars on this business, we found the fact that the restaurant did not trust the report absent photo evidence to be very offensive. And when we provided the photo evidence (showing all the sesame seeds on her food), the manager offered a partial refund and did not even offer to send another order. Equally frustrating was the manager's insistence that the photo request was not an issue of trust by rather a matter of "getting to the bottom of the issue," which simply did not seem like a genuine explanation. I'm not sure what information can be gleaned from the photo other than what we had already told them -- there were sesame seeds all over the food.

Unbelievable meal, quality, sakis, service, ambiance. Sushi's, steak, gyoza, chicken yakitori, phenomenal. We are regulars!!!

Ok so this really was a 8er wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow! That's what my lady said as she took the first bite. The maitake tempura was hot tender inside super crispy and to be eaten right away. Great flavor and really goes well w a Sapporo and garis sake. Then we went to the garis special. 8 pieces of sushi with each a different "topping " that compliments the fish. The rice was to perfection the combination of sweet from the rice wine they cook it with and the natural rice flavor. Hint the special is great no need for soy or wasabi. Flavors were a maize ing! Then we got the spicy scallop roll too. Excellent. Not your mundane spicy roll. The scallop pops in taste and texture. And after we still wanted to try more not that we were hungry but the flavors were so damn good. So we had the fluke and tuna yukke and both were decadent. Service was great. We sat outside with nice breeze and people watching. This is a must try and not your classic sushi but it does not disappoint! Worth every star!

*Okay granted this is partially our fault buttttt - we asked the waiter for a recommendation for sake. The waiter provided us 3 small samples to try but he did not offer to share the price of the bottle nor did we ask. When the bill came, we found out it cost us $220!!! I felt like this was dishonest and put a damper on our otherwise wonderful meal. Ambiance (5/5): The establishment is pretty small but very organized and neat, clean, and welcoming! We were seated next to the chef's table and loved watching the preparation right in front of our eyes. The chefs worked together seamlessly to prepare the various dishes with special garnishes, sauces, and presentation. Service (4/5): We were warmly greeted at the door. Warm towels for wiping at the beginning of the meal and during the middle course. He went out of his way to ask us in advance if we wanted a birthday dessert since there was only 2 left in the back so he could reserve it. They came out with a sparkler candle for us! Free green tea with the dessert. Food (5/5): We chose the combo omakase for $180 (4 sashimi & 8 sushi). Every single dish was fresh and delicious! Presentation was exceptional and the tastes were infused with art.

I came here for dinner and the food was AMAZING. The sushi al a carte (signature style) is the way to go. The service is nice and it is a really beautiful space. It is extremely over priced, so get ready to take out to the credit card - but it that isnt an issues, this place is a GO TO.

Not bad at all, but definitely overhyped and way overpriced. I don't regret going, but I wouldn't go back.

One of the best omakase dinners I have ever had. We had the sushi and sashimi combination, and every piece was stellar. The fluke with a poached egg and truffle? My god. Amazing. Some of the sushi combinations had us raising an eyebrow at the description, but wow -- warm tomato and salmon with garlic oil? Who'd have known?! The service was stellar, and we will definitely return. The restaurant was quiet, which I appreciate as my husband is hard of hearing and sometimes noise can ruin a meal.

I came here for Valentine's Day with my husband. I actually wanted to go two years ago and my husband didn't. He regrets not coming sooner. Hands down the BEST omakase we have ever had!! We had to wait about 10 minutes for our table. I wasn't thrilled but it is NYC dining. The wait staff was very nice and apologized for the wait. When we sat down we were greeted by a lovely waitress who had the most beautiful heart braid in her hair. My husband ordered a Sapporo and I tried a new beer that I have never seen before called Kagua Saison. It was delicious! We then ordered the tuna appetizer as it was highly recommended by the waitress. We were not disappointed. It was a trio of toro tuna, tuna ceviche, and ahi tuna. We absolutely loved it! For our main course, we got the sushi omakase. It was fantastic, fresh, and delicious. I still dream about how amazing it was. We were given complimentary saki as well as cookies for dessert. We loved the service and the food and will be running back

I ordered a few of the vegetarian rolls here. The fold is all presented elegantly and the restaurant has a bit of an upscale vibe. It seems like they take a more traditional approach to sushi, so the vegetarian rolls were pretty standard, but well-executed.

Wonderful service and delicious sushi and sashimi. We dine frequently at this small but cozy restaurant and have never had a disappointing meal or experience.

This place has been a staple in the upper west side . Post pandemic , they have renovated the inside, especially near the entrance area . Too bad they are now only open for dinner. The food quality and service are still consistently good.

We had an assortment of nigiri sushi... here are some of the highlights: Yellowtail - we have never had it so tasty. Striped Jack and Amber Jack - have never even heard of these before and wow were we glad they suggested we try them. Fatty Tuna with Scallion cut roll - just wow For us, the difference between great sushi and amazing sushi is how smooth it goes down, and the lack of that fishy smell. Gari has all of that. The server was also very pleasant and gave us lots of suggestions, and the setting was lovely. Five stars all the way.... can't wait to go back!

Rarely is a restaurant truly worthy of 5 stars...and to be able to do so through delivery is even more impressive. I ordered one very special, one salmon tomato purée roll, and one tuna tofu purée roll. To start I had the tsukune chicken meatballs The meatballs were absolutely delicious. A sweet teriyaki base with a hint of ponzu made these really flavorful. You get two skewers with three tiny little bites. Another skewer would be great :) The sushi was so special in the way the chef utilized special ingredients to create unique textures for every piece of nigiri. For a slight and satisfying crunch, a deep fried lotus root. For a hit a umami, a touch of chopped mushroom. Really special The rolls were absolutely delicious. For anyone that likes tuna and salmon and wants a roll without spicy mayo and avocado, give these rolls a try. The tomato is toasted and melts in your mouth, pairs really well with the salmon, the tuna tofu is unique and you just have to trust me on this one. 100$ for one but a forever memorable meal at that. Must try in the area. Worth traveling to 100%.

The omakase here is truly divine. Gari's sushi aims to bring innovation to sushi such that the sauces compliment rather than overpower the fish as soy sauce often does. I noticed there were no soy sauce dispensers around to demonstrate their confidence in this vision! The flavors, garnishes, and pairings of each piece were so remarkable, that it made me realize I never had a true omakase experience until coming here. After every piece, I found myself saying "that was my favorite." Come here if you want to be taken on a lovely flight to umami heaven!

Got robbed tonight at Sushi of Gari. Most overrated, overpriced omakase in the five boroughs. To not be served Uni or Ikura at $160 a pop is criminal. Service was excellent but whoever approved the tomato piece needs help!!

Most overpriced omakase in the city. 12 pieces of average, wholly uninteresting fish for $160. No Uni. No Ikura. Everything is topped with nonsense, over the top garnishes. Who puts steamed tomato on bland salmon? Will not be going back, and neither should you.

I have been going to Sushi of Gari at Columbus cirlcle, but after a disappointing experience for omakase and their service, I decided to give it another try at another location. All tables are separated with clear partitions for covid safety. I was in a bit of rush, so I did not do omakase. Salmon yaki tomato, which is one of their signatures and my all time fave is a must- you can find their other signature sushi on their website. This time I ordered Tuna of Gari which was absolutely amazing! In addition, I ordered tamago, salmon yaki tomato, green tea tiramisu and hot sake. Both food and service were perfect. My partner I left full and satisfied + I had the same thing for to go for my mom. I will be returning to this location from now on.

Eating at Gari Columbus is a really lovely experience! I saw comments about excessive noise, but it was really peaceful when I went. (Granted, there were only two other groups there so there probably wasn't a lot of preparation occurring.) The people were very hospitable, and the entire restaurant was aesthetically pleasing--it was a nice getaway from the bustling Upper West Side! My sister and I shared a spicy scallop roll and the Sushi Deluxe, which came with a fatty tuna and scallion roll and 9 pieces of nigiri. (I'm not totally sure about the names but think they were mid. fatty tuna, tuna, baby yellowtail, seared salmon, yellowtail, salmon roe, boiled shrimp, fried scallop, and one seared one which I don't know.) I really enjoyed all of the pieces I tried, although the seared salmon piece was almost completely split in half for some reason. (Also, my sister said that the unidentified one was too gamey for her taste.) I would definitely get the fried scallop and the seared salmon nigiri a la carte in the future, and I really liked the fatty tuna roll and the spicy scallop roll and would order them again as well. We had made the mistake of eating a lot for breakfast, so we were quite content with this amount of food, but I think under different circumstances, we probably would have wanted to order more. However, the pieces are pretty large (especially the spicy scallop cut roll) and we had a number of fattier cuts of fish that left us very full! Thank you to Gari Columbus for a wonderful dining experience!

Extremely happy I got to try this place! I knew about this place during the pandemic while visiting nyc, unfortunately they were closed. But once they finally opened up I had to get into this restaurant! We went yesterday without a reservation and the host was very accommodating. We sat at the bar and had to finish up in an hour, which is totally doable! I got the omakase and it was so delicious! The flavors were out of this world and so fresh! I wish there were more places like this. The service was excellent, didn't felt like we were rushed although I felt like I had to rush just out of courtesy. Definitely would love to go backs and I'll definitely make a reservation.

If you want Nobu quality without the Nobu price this is the place! I do not usually feel safe eating raw fish at a place that does not have a Michelin star, but the raw salmon and tuna here is super fresh and delicious. It melts in your mouth! My only complaint is that I wish they had better hours. Their hours are very strange.

I came here for omakase on a Saturday afternoon and the food was delicious! Gari's sushi has more bells and whistles and definitely isn't a place to go to if you're a purist. But the combinations are thoughtful and exciting and the portions are just right. For $120, we got 12 pieces. The rice was flavorful and had just enough stickiness. I also enjoyed the seaweed salads, although I enjoy the one with the mushrooms better.

Nov 2016- Hubby and I brought Mini-Me and her friend into the city for the evening to see the Macy Day Parade Balloon set up- Which was a huge let down* ohh ridiculous the lines.. We were all hungry and I quickly Yelped for local places and it was Sushi or Mexican. Gari Columbus won - of course. We didn't have a reservation but the hostess greeted us as if we were regular customers and sat us at the bar. She made mention that certain items on the menu were not allowed to be ordered at the sushi bar-- hubby said no worries. We ordered hot tea and pop and set to figuring out what we wanted. I'll be honest here, it all sounded so delicious and I wanted everything. Hubby and I ordered Tuna of Gari & Gari Special, Mini-Me and friend, went with Sushi Deluxe. After the waitress left this gave me time to look around and I had to use the restroom so Mini-Me went with. Nice décor in the restaurant, but décor does not make the meal so, I was pretty excited to see what we were being presented with. Presentation- Beautiful- I wish I had taken more pictures - I only took 1. sorry Freshness of the fish- Yes!!! delicious. You know when you have bad fish. Combinations and pairings of flavors- The two tasting combination plates hubby ordered went well together. I really loved the toppings that brought out the delicateness of each fish, but also enhanced the more hearty. Additions: We did order additional sushi from the bar, I wanted to see how some of the standalone bites stood up. Didn't disappoint. Negative: But that fried oyster, was a bit over fried so the creamy texture that is possible was lost, I'd have to try again to see if this is the standard way to serve it. We did order dessert mocha for Mini-Me and her guest, but it's Mochi, I would have loved to see something more creative. Final result: So all in all for the 4 of us for dinner a bit over $300+. and this did not include tip. Would I go back? yes I would, do I think the price point is high? slightly. I am more than happy to pay premium $$ for sushi that holds its own and Garo Columbus did not disappoint. I am sure not everyone has the same experience but ours was great. I am planning to come back for our anniversary lunch and have the Omakase and update my review to include that. Anniversary lunch? YUP... I drag our anniversary out for at least a week!! LOL

One of my favorite omakases in NYC! At about $100 for 10-12 pieces (with the option to add more pieces), it's also one of the more affordable omakases. Fish is always fresh and the inventive toppings are delicious and unique. The 10 pieces are large and pretty filling too. For a less expensive choice, the chirashi matsu is wonderful. The monkfish liver, black cod, and fried chicken appetizers are also good choices.

My review may be a bit biased because we didn't order the omakase, which I understand is the selling point for Gari - I was watching the sushi chefs put together some very interesting combinations, including what looked to be a very generous dollop of mayo. But, in terms of price and quality, I thought Sushi Yasaka was better; actually, I've found the UWS sushi places to be, for the most part, pretty average compared to the ones in the East Village. Perhaps just less competition? Anyway, back to Gari. In the end, I was more enthused about the frosted windows than the food, though there were some standouts. The best appetizer we ordered was the beef tataki or sliced filet mignon, served cold with a dab of horseradish and a cluster of spring onion. Delicious, only lightly seasoned, and the meat was fully rare but amazingly tender. The miso marinated cod wasn't as stellar. A Japanese restaurant that means business should turn out a stellar miso cod, though I have a feeling chefs look upon it as a brunch line cook might look upon eggs Benedict. Tricky to get the filet cooked just right and tender and still maintain a sauce that doesn't overwhelm the fish. The piece we had had a strange, almost alcoholic aftertaste. Also skip the seaweed salad. It was a comically small portion for $9 and had a very clumpy onion dressing. I did like the sushi (tried the fatty tuna with scallion) and thought the cuts of fish, particularly the eel, were delicious. The rice was a bit too hard and chewy for my taste. My fiance's chirashi was also tasty but at $42, was not really worth it compared to Yasaka's or even Ise's versions. Next time, I'd stick with the sushi.

I don't know if it's the best sushi in the city, but it sure is the best sushi I've ever had. We ordered the Gari Special and the Tuna Special and both were delicious. The service was top notch: the waitress was friendly and helpful. Also, I was very happy to see that they're taking COVID regulations seriously and that they asked us for proof of vaccination. It made me feel safe and allowed me to enjoy my food without worrying whether the other guests were vaccinated or not.

incredible service and food. would absolutely go again sushi was so fresh and melted in your mouth. ended up getting a second round of sushi that was recommended by our server, was even better than the first!

The omakase here is non-traditional: try asking a sushi chef in japan to put hot tomato on raw salmon. Say wuttt. Regardless, if you come with an open mind and sit at the sushi bar, you are guaranteed for a ride that's pure bliss. You can check out some of the signature pieces here: http://www.sushiofgari.com/signature/ Definitely keep count of how many pieces you've had - our chef told us we'd had 12 pieces after only 10. I am sure it was unintentional because he later admitted it was a mistake, but if my boyfriend wasn't taking notes we would have been overcharged 40 bucks and walked out with less than full stomache...

Came with friends for a celebration and ordered the sushi regular. I noticed two pieces of fish looked a bit dull, not shiny like fresh sashimi should be. I didn't want to make a fuss, so I ate it anyway. I had to run for the bathroom twice after I got home. Maybe it's because this place just reopened, but it could use stricter quality control.

My all-time favorite sushi restaurant! The omakase, while not traditional, never fails to blow my mind with its innovativeness. Each piece is an adventure, and as a person who's normally picky with sushi, I can definitely say you can trust the chef here. Love!

Omg this is hands down one of the best sushi place I ate at! At lunch, there's only omakasei on the sushi bar, but that's definitely the best way to go. You can get all sushi, all sashimi or mixture. We decided to go more sashimi the sushi since I don't like rice. First up, the sashimi plate with taro, sweet shrimp, oyster, tuna and salmons. Man, the fresh was so fresh! And the best was the taro!!!! It literally melts in your mouth on its own. Second plate up were sashimi too. I can picture it in my head but I can't remember the names of it. I know one had s crunchy fried lotus root, it was so good! The one in the middle is some spicy come with tuna; that was amazing too. Last couple of dishes up were nigiri. My favorite one was the torch fish with quail egg melts all over it. This was by far hands down the best! If you're here, you need to get one of these. Next one up is snow crab leg... Wow is the only word to describe it. Next up, salmon with friend tomato... Another one that blows your mind. Last one up was... Don't remember... I lost track. Tip: make sure you make reservation because it only serves customer who had made reservations.

Always good! Very fresh, friendly service and good dining environment!!! So clean and so nice!

Food: fresh fresh fresh!! We've had both the Gari special nigiri which is nigiri with additional toppings that are often hot or cooked with a yummy sauce, as well as the sushi deluxe nigiri which is your typical simple nigiri and the sashimi dinner (14 pieces). All of the fish are fresh and the presentation is well thought out. The black seaweed salad is so yummy and I'm always happy to see real seaweed salad instead of the plastic green ones. Service: top! we sat at the bar, as we always prefer to when it's just the two of us and our server was not only knowledgeable but answered all my questions promptly and never missed a beat with our drinks and extra ginger. Ambiance: definitely gives a "neighborhood" feel with its size which is what we love. The house was full on a week night but we also did see walk-ins. Walk ins are not always possible so do make a reso when you can. The half cup of hot tea at the end really tied the evening well.

Get the omakase. It's worth the price for some of the best sushi I've ever had. I love the flavor profiles of every sushi they crafted. The mushroom appetizer is also delicious. Don't be afraid to splurge here and treat yourself!

This is one of my good friend's favorite Japanese restaurant but this was only my second visit since I don't live around the neighborhood. It is a bit on the expensive side but the food was very fresh and service was great. We made the reservation on open table and a credit card was needed to secure the reservation.

Awful service. We wanted a nice lunch out with our 6 month old baby. First the hostess was rude, since we had a young child. Second, they did not have a high chair. What restaurant in the UWS and all those families does NOT have a high chair. Third, fine you have not high chair, we offered to use our baby stroller. All we needed the hostess to do was remove remove one of the four chairs from the table. She refused saying we were blocking people. What people?? The place was EMPTY, and I see why. We left given they didn't want our business. The worst - avoid this place at all costs unless you want to be treated like second class citizens. (Recommendation for ownership: the hostess should be fired! You are losing business because of her.)

Mid-priced sushi restaurant, nearby the The American Museum of Natural History. Lucky to get a table without reservation tonight. Sushi was very good. Also, got to try their tempura and beef short ribs as appetizers. But, I think at places like this it's best to order omakase at the bar to truly experience the chef's creativity. Service was good. Recommend. Plan on trying their other Sushi of Gari restaurants. : 8 calendars

I've never had waitresses sing me "happy birthday" in such a genuine way without making me feel like I need to jump out the window to escape complete mortification. 99% absolutely perfect, lovely service. Not to mention, we were a party of 4 and they seated us on time even though our dinner companions had not arrived yet. No stressful, glaring looks or a need for hurry. We ate some edamame and drank plum sake while waiting. Something to note: they only do wine, beer, and sake here. No cocktails, which was somewhat disappointing. We ordered several apps: -Short ribs: delicious sauce, served with taro chips, a bit chewy. -Tempura kabocha squash: absolute light, crispy perfection. -Seaweed salad: perfect umami, fun variety and colors of seaweed. -Shrimp shumai: classic and delicious. -Kara age: didn't arrive. Hence not 100% perfect service. Guess the waitress forgot? We were so full, we didn't mind. And we weren't charged for it. ...And the sushi. All of our rolls were fresh, well-prepared, and delicious. We ordered some classic rolls and the Tuna of Gari special. They served me an amazing chocolate mousse cake for my birthday with a candle on top, all washed down with some refreshing green tea. This place is very emblematic of the Upper West Side: very few frills, casual but elegant, and yes, expensive. While all of our food was delicious, the hefty price tag was a bit shocking. We eat at the nearby Sushi Yasaka on 72nd on a monthly basis, whose sushi is comparable if not superior for a much cheaper price. However, what you don't get at less expensive sushi places is the peaceful, pleasantly slow-paced vibe of Gari Columbus. No one is rushing you to seat the next table. No loud thumping music. Just a zenlike oasis where you can sip your tea and talk at leisure with your loved ones until you're ready to disappear into the night.

By far one of the best dining experiences I have had in NYC to date. We had a reservation for 2 at 7:15, but showed up a whole 30 minutes late. They had given up our table, but thankfully, they sat us at the sushi bar and we opted for the omakase. I started with miso soup, edamame, and a teriyaki beef roll. For my entree I decided to go for the omakase. Our waitress, who was so tentative the entire evening, accommodated the chefs selections for the evening for us. It was truly one of the most visually and taste bud stimulating restaurant experience I've ever had. Highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar if you can, and of course, get the Omakase!!

Extremely disappointing experience. Service was terrible. I sat at sushi bar and was completely ignored. I was a female dining solo and although the manager assured me this was absolutely not the case, I do wonder if that was it. Unlike other sushi places, especially high end places where sushi bar space is at a premium, it is typical, in my experience, that the sushi chefs and waitresses take care of you. They ask you if you want additional pieces, make eye contact, and provide service. This is why it is usually fun to sit at the sushi bar. Well, not here. I finally gave up and asked for my check. I did let the waitress know I was dissatisfied and that I wanted to speak to the manager. He comped me my alcohol and I suspect part of my food. He apologized and offered to address it but at that point, do you really want to stay? I left hungry and will never go back. I feel like the woman in Pretty Woman. I went expecting to spend some money and have a memorable meal. Memorable for sure but not the way I expected. As far as the food, it is an interesting riff on more traditional omakase. The fish was very fresh but their emphasis is more on the sauces and flavor/texture combinations than variety or uniqueness of fish. Also, to echo another reviewer, the order is very random, basically driven by when you sit down and what he is making for other diners at the time. In more traditional Japanese omakase experiences, the order of the food is part of the experience. A way to fully appreciate the chefs skills and the flavors of the fish. It's part of the sensory experience. Here its a conveyor belt. Sadly, I was one of the early patrons when Gari first opened on the UES as a stand-alone. That was a real experience. I get that they are now a brand catering to mass market. However, that is still not an excuse for poor service, especially at such high prices. Being told by the waitress that they temporarily lost the sake cabinet key and that is why she couldn't bring me a refill after asking 3 times......really? Sometimes it's better to say you are out and offer an alternative. If you are a serious sushi lover, especially for the price, you can probably do much better at a place that isn't a chain.

After hearing rave reviews about this restaurant, I finally went here myself on a Wednesday evening for dinner. From the outside, Gari looks like a regular sushi place - not pretentious, but rather a warm and relaxed environment. We each ordered the dinner omakase menu and paired it with one of their premium sakes (they were nice enough to let us try it first!). The omakase menu (~$100/person) was comprised of 3 sets of 4 pieces of sushi. This menu varies based on the day and what is available. The first piece we had, which was fatty tuna, absolutely melted in my mouth. That really set the tone for the meal. Out of the 12 pieces that we tried, the majority were really fantastic - there was a mix of fish, shrimp, scallop, crab, and even sea urchin (which personally, I could have done without). They also tried some out-of-the box combinations, like cooked tomato with salmon, and I was impressed by the creativity. My only complaint is that the 3 plates were served very rapidly, when it would have been nice if there was more time in between plates to relax and chat. Overall, I had a great experience, but definitely expect to pay a hefty price. Would absolutely come back!

This review is based mostly on price; Gari costs about 25% more than Seki, Blue Ribbon, or Yasuda- yet is 25% inferior to those places. Service is ok, not great. We arrived 15 minutes early, yet weren't offered a drink menu while we waited. Fish is fresh, no issues there- but VERY small, even by high end sushi standards. If you are celiac/gluten free, you're in DEEP trouble; sushi is off limits (rice is already soy sauced) and even several sashimi are already marinated in the shit (!) The bottom line: your $200 stretches a mile farther at the previously mentioned spots, and if you want to stay in the neighborhood, Momoya is almost as good at half the price. By the way- many of the customers are fur-wearing, obnoxious yuppie assholes

Lots of attitude but bar none amazing, sushi and fantastic creations very pricey but wonderful. Try: Sashimi --- Chopped tuna with pine nuts, served with tempura seaweed Sushi -Tuna with tofu sauce -Chopped Toro with pickle -Yellowtail jalapeño -fluke with ceviche sauce -salmon/ roasted tomato & sweet onion -Fried Oyster -chopped eel/avocado -squid w/parsley sauce -Squid with plum and Shisho leaf -salmon roe -sweet shrimp -spicy scallop hand roll - Cod marinated miso -Fired fugu- blowfish -Baked oyster with rice, egg and pistachios -Chopped horse mackerel -Chopped toro with Japanese pickles -Uni with wasabi soy sauce -Copped eel and avocado -Snow crab with caviar

Amazing! Just the same consistency every time I come to nyc. This sushi if Gari Columbus is the best! I would not go to any of the other locations. Been going to this one for years. The other ones seem to have different menu items too. The Gari special is gorgeous. Also the tuna avocado starter dish is phenomenal! Yum!!

Gari Columbus serves excellent, fresh sushi with very unique toppings. They've mastered remarkable ways of enhancing the fish flavor by adding incredible ingredients I couldn't have imagined, such as the deep fried lotus roots. This is the first sushi place I've been to that adds toppings to sushi. Very original and delicate. For Omakase, we were seated at the bar directly in front of the chef in charge of our order. The chef described each dish very well for us. Starting from appetizers to the sushi and finally the dessert, my experience at Gari Columbus was wonderful.

Alright, I'm a fan. I wish I can tell you what to order but I hardly know myself. I ordered the Omakase and some misc appetizers that I can give you my two cents on. How the Omakase works is that the chef gives you what he wants. A starting price is given but you can keep on going till you are content. As a person who eats too much, this may not be wise. With a party of 3, all who loves sushi/sashimi, ordered about 7 rounds of chef selections. We told the waiter to stop feeding us after. Although apparently, there is such thing as half a round. You get a complimentary shot of sake at the end of your meal. Well deserved. All the selections were different from each other-- ranging from flavor, style and fish. I found the fish with the skin slightly disturbing because I didn't like the texture but nothing at fault from the chef. You can tell the waiter what you prefer or don't like. For appetizers to avoid and to save your stomach room, avoid the mushroom one, short rib, and oysters. The seaweed salad was surprising welcoming. The other appetizers I mentioned are decent but nothing worth your stomach space or memory of the place. By the way, it may get pricey if you order too many rounds...I mean it will.

If you're looking for a twist to omakase, then Gari will satiate your curiosity of what it tastes and looks like to merge global flavors onto a plate. The lunch omakase for the sushi only option is quite a steal ($95), and if you want to experience your first omakase without burning your wallet, Gari can offer such. One of the more memorable items on the plate was a salmon sushi with a spicy-tomato topping. The heat, acidity, spice, sweetness, and fattiness--surprisingly--in a single bite was amazing. My least favorite sushi was one that included truffle oil and poached quail egg: an overkill of every luxurious, strong flavor possible that tasted more disparate than harmonious. Would I recommend Gari to a purist? Probably not. However, if you are open to stepping outside the traditional renditions of an omakase, then Gari is one place worth trying.

This is an amazing sushi restaurant. My mom likes it so much. The combo has different kinds of delicious and fresh sushi. Also the manager is handsome and nice. Waitress kept giving us hot tea, great service!!!

Sushi is perfectly cut and fresh. Waiters were quick even though it was pretty busy. I suggest trying new rolls here because hey have many unique ones worth trying. Ambiance is good for a date night. Service was great we were seated right away without a reservation which was so accommodating.Do not come with kids Enjoy

This is my favorite Japanese restaurant. I was there today for the Omakase. I tried many times. It was so so so good. A must try place in New York City especially Omakase.

Very disappointed. Had to deal with this god-awful pounding noise the whole time I was dining, not sure why the chef mincing fish or whatever has to do it in the sushi chef area and not inside the kitchen to minimize the noise. The salmon avocado roll was sloppy, so are the salmon and yellowtail sushi. Not coming here again