Trust Bae

Good times in the city, with chef Frances. creative omakase with a touch of Filipino hospitality and flavors. Good atmosphere, amazing food, good drinks great vibe. I had a great time from the moment I walked in. The hoist and the staff’s were extremely attentive, and on the money. Will be back! The food journey with Chef Frances is one you WILL not forget.

AMAZING OMAKASE EXPERIENCE! My friends and I went here recently and absolutely loved it. I loved every dish/piece we got. I love the Filipino twist to the traditional omakase experience. NYC needed this restaurant! Being Filipino, I always love finding Filipino food that is delicious! Also, the chef was HILARIOUS! Super nice and super funny. She makes the experience so much fun! All the food was delicious and the drinks were also super tasty! I definitely need to go back soon/bring all my friends. If you find yourself in nyc and want Japanese/Filipino, this is a must go to place!

Found this place on social media, and we are so glad we made reservations!! Our dinner experience at Trust Bae was 10/10, we enjoyed not only the delicious food but also the company we shared with Chef Frances, staff, and our fellow customers. Each course has a meaningful background that relates to Chef’s journey and the food was presented beautifully! We look forward to coming back when we’re in town again! Get your reservation in cause these time slots are HOT and GONE FAST! Cheers, trust bae - you were so good!

This upscale Filipino Japanese omakase fusion restaurant is truly something different. The very talented Morimoto sushi season 1 champion chef Frances takes you on her culinary journey. She puts a twist on some traditional Filipino cuisines which makes the experience something to remember. Each of the 16 courses are well prepared and thoughtful. This was not a simple restaurant for dinner. It is a culinary experience in which each and every bite had flavors and textures that are unmatched. I highly recommend! A+

The entire omakase experience was new to me in that the courses were both Japanese and Filipino influenced. The customer service was a 10/10! Chef Frances was engaging and the 16 courses were all unique and delicious. Drinks there were especially super good!

When you are visiting or live in NYC, you want to make a reservation for a great experience at Trust Bae. This is a great dining experience created by the wonderful Chef Frances and her team. You will savor in seafood and beef delights. Trust Bae also can make great mocktails for your consumption to pair with this amazing meal. Don't delay book today!

Strictly comparing this to other popular omakase restaurants in the area (Shinn, Taikun, Thirteen Water, Matsunori, Omakase by Korami, Takumi): I really, REALLY looked forward to dining here from all the hype but left disappointed. For a pretty steep price point, you get a similar assortment of fish (salmon, hamachi, red snapper, sea bream, otoro, chutoro, and uni) but unfortunately, nothing unique and no particular dish stood out among the rest. I felt the fish portions were rather small and the rice was nothing reputable (not warm, didn't have that "melt in your mouth" feel). Compared to other Omakase restaurants, which go for half the price, Trust Bar fails to let the fish shine. Instead, they try going the extra mile with additions of truffle creme (on several fish), foie gras, or smother in gold dust. It felt redundant and almost unnecessary. Of note, they offer two appetizers and a soup/palate cleanser, which were decent. I’m Filipino and actually thought they under performed in the fusion aspect. The uni udon palabok, for instance, was lacking in the umami flavor I typically attribute with the dish. The sinigang palate cleanser was not an appropriate choice as sinigang is meant to be sour and salty. The ube halaya mochi felt like a cheap dessert, and would have expected something like an ube panna cotta or Leche flan equivalent. No wagyu on the menu despite it being $185 pp without included tip/taxes. They also have a no cancellation/refund policy, which I think is rather strict. From what I hear, I believe that the cost is for the "service" and "entertainment" from the owner chef, who we did not have. Our chef appeared distracted, was not the one preparing the fish (it was all pre-made ahead of time), and also could not tell if it was chutoro/otoro being served (we corrected her). So that may have partly been the reason for a less than average experience.. but ultimately, it should be the food to make the experience. Conclusion: for $185 pp omakase, you're better off going to Thirteen Water (or equivalent) twice for the same quality and double amount of food. We actually went to Mari two days later (for $145 pp), which was a true Michelin star experience and much worth the price. Addendum: after reading some of the poorer reviews in recent weeks/months, there appears to be a consistent pattern across the board as far as the lack of food and service quality for this price point.

Let’s go Filipinossss!! Proud Fil-am here 👋🏼 hi. Wow, amazing. Me and my friend were so excited to experience and elevated Filipino spot and we were it disappointed! Service was fantastic the moment you walked in, took our coats, sat us down and ordered us drinks right away. The Calamansi sour and the Manila old fashioned were on point, well-made, not watered down, not too sweet, not too sour… you get it, it was perfect. Each dish transported me back home to when my Lola cooked me dinner when I visited her or to when my mom made me that bowl of Sinigang. And then there was the dishes of nigiri 🍣 that placed new memories of the present moment. The owner was not there, and I wish she was bc I heard she’s hilarious!! But the one that was there that replaced her for the evening, I felt like maybe she should have known more about the dishes in a way of what inspired the chef to replace traditional flavors with another. All in all, loved the show of it all with golden spray and the surprise takeout (mouthwatering garlic rice and juicy crispy lechon). If you love omakase and looking for nuance flavors, highly recommend.

This is an amazing, unique experience that I would recommend to any person in NYC! Chef Frances is an extremely talented and charming person. They had a great sense of humor and I enjoyed listening to them while each course was being prepared. This review is long overdue; my partner and I attended the latest reservation at the time (9 pm in April 2023). At the time, it was $150 per person including 20% gratuity. In my opinion, that was worth it and I still think it would be worth going to despite the increase in price now. As a Fil-Am, the best part of this night was being able to try delicious Filipino-inspired omakase in good company and being able to listen to the chefs banter, humor the diners and share more about themselves and Trust Bae. The food is very good; I cannot say anything bad about it. Each course is curated, creative and presented in a very aesthetic way. This is an experience that will forever live in my mind and I was very lucky to be able to try it. I would probably come back again in the future when the menu changes so I can try something new. Highly recommend!

My friends and I decided to try Trust Bae for our birthdays. The place is intimate and beautifully decorated. Chef Frances is very open and funny. She told us how she got started in the restaurant industry and where she gets her inspirations for the menu. Chef Frances' playlist is fire and can be downloaded on Spotify. It is timed perfectly with each dish served. The 16 course Filipino Japanese omakase will run you about $185 for 90 minutes. The staff is wonderful, very attentive. There were 5 August birthdays that dined and chef and staff sung to us. Chef kept giving us sake shots. For those who didn't drink, the staff curated amazing mocktails. You will Trust Bae very full. Each course is prepared beautifully and meticulously. Each bite is an orgasm in your mouth, the flavors mix so well together. Watching Chef Frances work is amazing. You can tell she loves what she does. I highly recommended Trust Bae with Chef Frances for an unique, delicious, and fun dining experience.

Contrary to popular belief, NYC isn't really the culinary utopia it's made out to be. Why else would omakase dominate when kaiseki is considered the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine? And why else would it take this long....130+ omakase restaurants later....for one to dare to fuse a much tastier cuisine with sushi's clean (re: bland) flavors? (Sushi on Me not withstanding) I bet somewhere in Tokyo and Manila, they're laughing at how us poor New Yorkers FINALLY got a Filipino-Japanese fusion restaurant. I don't blame them. It's high time. Especially when the food is this good, and served by the luminous, hilarious, amazing Frances Tariga. And bless her heart for not only knowing how to fuse two very disparate cuisines together, but also to distinguish kaiseki from omakase. Trust Bae offers both. KAISEKI: You start with the kaiseki portion, a cornucopia of small dishes that perfectly balance seasonal ingredients with what make Filipino and Japanese food great--without sacrificing the integrity of either. There are even nods to other cuisines, such as the gorgeously delightful fluke over pani puri. You'll likely end with the palate-cleansing Sinigang Soup (so good it should come in Evian bottles), before proceeding to the omakase portion. OMAKASE: Here we have the mostly nigiri portion. And if you expected solemn, stately pieces of dead fish over vinegared rice, you wandered into the wrong omakase. Edomae this is not. Expect dead fish, yes, but brushed with adobo sauce, shishito jams, and other tasty non-soy sauce seasonings. Expect them to be topped with gold dust, pickled lotus rootlet, and other toppings that Nakazawa could never. I'm still not sure if I loved the Otoro Taco (the shell is made from seaweed!) or the Chutoro (literally topped with the oil drippings of blow-torched toro) better. End this section with a small basket of Seasonal Seafood Tempura that offers a light, crispy batter you've never experienced before. DESSERT: There's only one dish here, but even it comes with unique style. Handmade Ube Mochi (is there any more perfect fusion of Filipino and Japanese?) is the name of the game here, but it gets a glow-up by being seared until the mochi is a crisp shell whose insides melt in your mouth. Again, how has no one ever thought to make crispy mochi? If there's any justice in the world, Trust Bae will be around forever and ever, long after all the other stuffy, starred, boring, overpriced omakases have gone to the graveyard.

We had a wonderful experience which were Filipino dishes crafted in Japanese and French or European style. Altogether was a unique experience. You eat around the bar where she prepares the food for her last touch. Most of the dishes either had gold, caviar, or torched. One will not be able to discern that the dish is actually a Filipino dish as it was refined. Even the simple lumpia or egg roll was tiny and creative presented with drama. The dishes were all very small so even though you had many courses, you feel full but not bloated which is a good thing. Only 8 people at a time can sit around her counter. She has about 5 extra small chairs along the wall either to wait or have some drinks. I just wish that reservations can be confirmed for sure without my having to physically go over to ask for confirmation and wait for someone to contact me because the confirmation through Open Table or was it Resy did not have it. Lately, this problem of contacting a human being to make reservations have been an issue for me. The place may confirm but when you look at Open Table or Rest, it is not there. Same thing with another reservation App.

Fantastic ambiance. You will thoroughly enjoy your interactions with the staff members and especially with Chef Frances--she was vivacious, engaging and thoughtfully explained everything she was serving and chatted with all 8 guests around the counter. There were two people celebrating birthdays and we all got two rounds of sake shots to celebrate on the house, which was so generous and kind for the Chef to offer. Food was fantastic. The combination of flavors of Filipino and Japanese was so creative. Definitely one of the more memorable omakases I've had. While I typically choose places with only nigiri servings, I came here expressly to taste the fusion dishes and Chef Frances did not disappoint. The only reason that I didn't give 5 stars is because the service is literally scheduled back to back. Once I got in at 6:30pm, we sat at the cocktail tables for about 10 minutes before being seated then the 15 course meal was served in a pace that felt quite rushed, especially for a meal that coasts around $200 with tax/tip. Also the payment machine had a weird malfunction where by it charged double the tip amount for the drink I ordered. I caught it and the server was very apologetic and refunded it by cash as she couldn't reverse the charge. She also very kindly offered a drink as a way of apology which I appreciated but declined since they already gave out two complimentary drinks. I'd definitely recommend this place since it's serving such creative and delectable dishes but only wished pacing if service were more leisurely.

I've been to a lot of omakases, and comparatively, the food/service was NOT worth it for this price range ($185/pp + tax + preset 20% gratuities). We came as a group of 3 for my friend's birthday. When we got there, they placed us at the end counter, where there were seats for 2, and then a column that separated the 2 end seats from the rest of the counter. They then gave us the 3rd seat on the other side of the column. As a party of only 3, we obviously asked if we can switched seats so that all of us can sit together. We asked the staff several times, and they were very resistant. Eventually they moved the 3rd seat to our side of the counter, in a space meant for 2 seats. The seat was pretty much sticking out and impeding traffic flow. For how much we were paying for this experience, we weren't even able to sit and converse properly. I didn't find the service/show that entertaining either. There was a lot of dialogue from the chef in which she gave stories behind each piece? A lot of the dialogue, I thought was a little awkward. Because our group was sitting at the end, separated by a column... throughout the night, the chef was mainly entertaining the other side of the counter and negating our smaller side. In terms of food, there were no standouts. The sushi pieces were extremely small compared to other much more affordable omakase joints in the city. There was not a lot of fish (or rice). It is a Filipino-Japanese fusion omakase, but in the appetizer portion, it leaned more on the Filipino side. Overall, trust bae focused more on showmanship than the actual food. Every other dish had some sort of lighting, smoke, gold flakes, or caviar. Unfortunately, that does not justify the price and subpar omakase experience.

1000% blown away by our experience at Trust Bae!! Exceeded all our expectations. No one is doing what Chef Frances is doing with ideating the modern presentation of Filipino food at the level she is elevating it with. All the hype is true! I had so many dishes that I've never had anywhere, albeit their basis are from traditional Filipino recipes. The vibe is fun, cool, and chill. The staff were incredible. We ended up being the only guests in there that night and it was like we were hanging out at a friend's restaurant. Presentation factor was impressive. Taste was beyond. The menu rotates seasonally, so will have to come back again soon on another trip to NYC to try a different menu. You leave there stuffed and they send you home with a little meal. It was fish with garlic rice and some tomatoes. Perfect breakfast food that I had the next morning. Love when the restaurant sends a little to go with you! The only bummer was Chef Frances wasn't there that night, but we will catch Chef yet! And I got a cool Trust Bae baseball cap to take home with me!

TLDR: so excited for a Filipino fine dining experience in the city that I can wholeheartedly say I love. No disappointing aspects of the meal, great conversation and energy from the chef, and full of Filipino nostalgia. The 16-piece omakase experience is the only option available. My favorites were: - Binalot which was coconut sticky rice served with king crab leg, crab stew, crispy shallots and topped with a paksiw (coconut milk and vinegar) foam - Lumpia with mirin soy braised oxtail, truffle cream, oxtail jus gelée, and chive - Otoro tartare in nori "taco shell," truffle cream, caviar, gold flake, and and spritzed with house seasoning - Scallop nigiri with cured foie, truffle soy, puffed amaranth, and shaved truffle - Brûléed ube halaya mochi with toasted soy powder and shiso flowers I also got a couple drinks - the queen pia, which was fruity and sweet, and also the hot number which tasted like a fruity margarita. I thought they were good, but nothing that would make me want to return just for the drinks. The conversations with the chef were one of my favorite parts of our meal. Chef Frances explained that the meal encapsulated her upbringing in the Philippines, her experiences as a personal chef in the Middle East and abroad, and even her experience on a cooking competition. She kept the energy lively and even spoke to the Filipino patrons in Tagalog. Super fun. The restaurant is quite small; I think there were only 8 available seats per seating so I can imagine this experience becoming hard to book in the future. The music was mostly hip hop, R&B, and pop and I found myself singing along the entire time; vibes were great. Service was pretty efficient and friendly. No complaints. Overall: if this were cheaper I'd try to go as often as possible. Can't wait for my next experience with Chef Frances!

Literally the best meal I have ever had in NYC. My friend who is a big Michelin star rating person said this was even better than the two Michelin star restaurants she has tried. It is pricey ($165 for 16 courses) but it's 1000% worth it! Each course was executed perfectly. Not only is presentation beautiful but the flavors and textures for each course was just mins blowing. I love how Chef Frances incorporated traditional Japanese Omakase with Filipino flavors. The dining experience was intimate with 8 people at the counter with some fun karaoke music playing in the background. It's def. A vibe for sure! Such a fun dining experience :) All the ratings are true! Def. Go when you get a chance! Apparently the menu changes every few months as well :)

Best Omakase experience ever! From start to finish, it's all worth it. Chef Frances prepares the best culinary masterpiece in each of the food she prepares. And since it's Filipino-Japanese fusion, you'll experience the unique flavors of the Philippines in every bite. Really recommend this restaurant. Amazing, exquisite food. Excellent service, you get that warm,,welcoming atmosphere, the chef explains the dish as if she's taking you on a cultural food tour of the Philippines. Cool, relaxing ambience, food setting and presentation are well thought of. Try it, you wouldn't be disappointed.

Please take your money and spend it elsewhere. This is not worth a $185 course meal. I've been to much better restaurants within this range and even below. To me, this was a $80-$90 type of experience. The pace of each course felt very rushed as opposed to really getting the chance to enjoy each tasting. The sushi toppings didn't pair very well and overpowered the taste of the fish as well. Additionally, the sushi was extremely small. If you've ever been to sushi by bou, it's literally that size, except sushi by bou is $50. Also, the sushi was clearly prepared by an amateur. You can tell by the technique. There were no standouts that truly amazed the palette. When the chef went around the room to ask which dish I liked best, I struggled to find one and say it out loud. If you're looking for omakase in this price range, go to sushi ishikawa, kissaki, Noda, Oiji Mi......hec even Shinn East is worlds better.

A very fun experience! I have been eyeing this place for a while and finally got a chance to make a reservation. You pay ahead (tax and tip included) on open table and there appears no cancellations are allowed. The food was incredible! Everything was so flavorful and well out together. In the end they ask what your favorite piece was but I could not choose, all of them were spectacular. The vibes were a bit like a night club, dark with interesting lighting and pop music. Overall a very fun experience, highly would recommend!

This is a very belated review. Discovered this place via Instagram and oh my goodness, just book a reservation here. You won't regret it. This was truly a special and unique experience. Not sure if things have changed since I went, but it's a VERY intimate experience. 10 person chefs counter. Don't come too early because you just have to wait outside until your seating time. And don't show up late because the courses are timed out. I initially was worried with the amount of time given how many courses you have - I thought it would feel rushed. But it surprisingly was the perfect amount of time! Chef Francis is a character (in the best possible way). She is behind the counter prepping all the courses. I highly recommend chatting with her! Food-wise, some courses are more unique than others, but everything is made with high quality ingredients, and DELICIOUS. I've honestly never had an experience like this and many of the courses I've never seen anywhere else. Well worth the money!!!

Trust Bae is as entertaining as the food is good. Chef Frances Tariga is as unique as her Filipino take on sushi. The service is great and the ambiance is like being at a private party. Everything is terrific and the food quality is excellent. Just know that you will be eating a lot of food in 90 minutes. You will enjoy yourself as you have a wonderful culinary experience.

I went to Trust Bae for date night and it was such a special experience. We sat right in front of celebrity Chef Frances and watched her prepare the delectable courses with us while explaining everything about it. The dishes were so unique and felt like I was tasting something I've never tasted before. On top of that, the dialog with Chef Frances and her stories was absolutely hilarious. We also shared the time with two other parties that made it even more fun. I had such a good time and will be returning again very soon! Quick Tips - Watch Chef Frances on Watch What Happens Live and Beat Bobby Flay! - Don't be late - Get your cameras ready - They'll be starting karaoke nights, so get your voices ready!

Fantastic evening! A unique omakase. Chef Frances makes everyone feel welcome at this intimate venue. Every course will blow your mind. I came here several weeks ago and I'm still speechless. But I know one thing- I'm already planning my next visit. Reservations are hard to get but so worth it.

Trust Bae requires pre-paid reservations for their omakase, which we made in advance; we were pretty excited to check out Chef Frances' newer restaurant that pays a homage to her Philippines roots. When you enter, you are seated by their 'lounge' area, where you can also order from their cocktail/drink menu. Once getting checked-in, you are then led to your spots at the counter. Our menu included: +Kinilaw Pod - prepared with coconut ponzu vin and golden rice arare +Botan Ebi Roulade - with pani puri, pickled baby corn, and kaluga caviar +Binalot - coconut sticky rice, king crab, paksiw foam, and crispy shallots +Lumpia - slow-braised oxtail, crispy spring roll, truffle cream, and punched radish; this wasn't really crispy but more chewy +Palabok - crispy rice noodles, hotaru ika, achiote tofu, shrimp head jus, and chicharon +Sinigang Soup - with bonito broth, tamarind, daikon; we were not fans of this, as it was just so sour +Akami - lean tuna, soy garlic adobo, and garlic flakes +Hamachi - yellowtail, shishito jam, and shallots +Sawara Tinapa - smoked Spanish mackerel, house-pickeld wasabi +Sisig Inari - crispy chopped pork, garlic rice, and toyomansi +Chutoro - toro fat fried, smoked nikiri, and pickled lotus rootlet - this was one of my favorites of the evening, as you can't go wrong with toro +Otoro Taco - with fatty tuna, crispy nori shell, caviar, and gold dust; this was also another favorite of the evening +Hotate - scallop, truffle soy, cured foie gras, black summer truffle +Okoy Tempura - sweet potatoes, bean sprouts, snap peas, micro herb salad +Seasonal Seafood Tempura - served with tentsuyu dipping sauce; this course seemed to have been replaced with a fish katsu bao, which was also one of my favorites of the evening - loved the panko-crusted fish with all its sauces in the fluffy steamed bao bun +Ube Mochi - with housemade ube halaya jam For drinks, we tried a couple of their handcrafted cocktails: +the Calamansi Sour - prepared with suntory haku vodka, calamansi, egg whites, and strawberry syrup +the Hot Number - with el tesoro tequila, lime, guava, ancho reyes, and burnt rosemary The super sweet hostess asked if we wanted customized mocktails, so we shared our preferences; however, the bartender didn't seem to want to create anything for us and just referred to the cocktail menu, as he believed the offerings were similar; well, they weren't at all, and we didn't really enjoy the drinks. We noted all our allergies/aversions on the reservation, but we were asked before we were seated again, which meant that accommodations/customizations were going to happen in real-time; there was a slight feeling of pressure from here, so we opted to just go through the omakase as it was being offered. I just ended up giving all the pork/cilantro dishes to the hubs. The playlist was great and provided a nice relaxing vibe to the experience; there was a party to the right of us who was just a little too loud and took most of the attention from the chef; I felt bad for the other party who seemed to have been forgotten. Overall, we didn't feel the price reflected the value of the omakase offerings; I think it was more to have an experience with Chef Frances, who is pretty personable and had a great sense of humor; we did leave hungry and had to go for round 2 afterwards. +personable Chef Frances +Chutoro +Otoro Taco +fish katsu baos +sweet hostess! +advance pre-paid reservations required

We went here in March and it was amazing. The ambiance is perfect for date night or dinner with a friend. This is a 16 course Omakase for $150 a person, which you pre-pay. Once you're there, you can order drinks. Do not expect this to be an average Omakase experience. The chef does Omakase with a Filipino twist, which works excellently. The chef is engaging and explains each piece beautifully. The pictures I took do not do the food justice. Service was amazing and will definitely be back.

I came into this without any knowledge of Filipino food and was pleasantly surprised. Even though I had no base to compare the tastes to, I was still blown away by how flavorful all the food was. The first part of the courses were similar to appetizers with a twist in most of them. After cleansing your palette, the courses shift to more nigiri style with increasing flavor profiles. By the end, I was eating some of the best sushi I've ever had. The main chef played a large role in creating a fun atmosphere, with a second chef helping out and friendly waiters to get anything you need. Great place to visit for special occassions

Went with 7 other folks and had an awesome time. Loved the decor, loved the location, loved the professionalism and attentive staff. Chef Frances had an emergency and could not attend. Would of been great to meet her, an experience her energy, but her staff and the chef who served us were apologetic and honest about the situation. They all did great, and we all enjoyed our time there. The food? EPIC. So many artistic, insightful, flavorful combinations with top notch ingredients and no holding back on preparation. The fee was pricey, but I truly felt we got our money's worth, and that's really hard to get nowadays. There was sake shots, and storytelling, and performance with smoke, and torches, and gold dust, and it all came out so timely and efficiently, it made all feel special. I am allergic to shrimp, and I didn't have to wait extra for a modification dish, it came out just as quick and was just as tasty as the other dishes. After being stuffed and satisfyingly smiley, we were handed to-go bags with the branded logo on the side, and inside was a 2-layer bento box, with garlic rice at the bottom layer and fish, tomato and egg on the top one. Awesome surprise! I ate that for breakfast the next day. I'd surely go again. Didn't take photos, because the lighting wasn't really great for it, and I actually didn't mind that, cuz that food took allll my attention. Go!

Impromptu date night and a last minute reservation landed us at Trust Bae. We were the first seating of the night and were lucky to have the place to ourselves. (For the price of pre-paying, it better be to ourselves.) The staff and ambiance was super - unparalleled attention from the whole staff, from hostess, to bartender, wait staff and chef. This is gonna be a long-ish read...buckle up. Now the food...As a Filipina, I was very excited to see the mix of flavors that remind me of home cooking and it's always cool to see how these get integrated into other styles of cooking and flavors. However, as an omakase, it felt overly manufactured in that each individual bite, while ENTIRELY delicious, was a lot to take in. Maybe that's the point? It just felt like with some really beautiful pieces of sushi, there was a lot of dressing around it. Also, while our chef was incredibly lovely and engaging (VERY entertaining), it's not the best to know you're still learning how to be a Filipino/sushi chef (read, the fish cuts were small (expected), but not the cleanest, and yes, would fall apart). 16 bites later does anyone REALLY know what they've just consumed? After you move from course to course did you REALLY understand what you ate? You definitely feel a slight sense of being rushed through (let alone needing a potty break here and there). That being said, you won't go wrong tasting dishes like uni udon noodles, sinigang palate cleansers, torched or smoked sashimi pieces, or the piece-de-resistance, the golden toro taco (delicious, a lot of pomp and circumstance, have your phone ready and there will be music playing...no seriously, but they will remind you). All that being said, I would still definitely recommend the experience and that you come hungry. I don't know if I'll be itching to come back quickly, although we were told that Chef Frances changes the menu frequently which is exciting (we didn't see her the evening we were there), but in my opinion it makes it hard to feel like they'll get the menu consistent with they're constantly iterating on what's next. If that's your jam, more power to you, but for those who want a consistent omakase experience, maybe not my first choice.

The absolute best dining experience. Chef Frances and her staff were incredible from start to finish. She has such an inviting personality, and not to mention her food is ridiculously good. Trust Bae is a small restaurant in NoMad - 8 seats per seating. The Omakase experience was extremely fun, not drawn out, and actually filling (can't say the same for others in the city). The lighting is dim coupled with neon signs. Not optimal for photos of the food, however the staff does have a mini ring light they bring around. Legit enjoyed every one of the 16 courses. Will absolutely be back. Also, apparently the late night seating at 11pm on Saturdays include karaoke.

If you're into sushi, then this is the place for you. I'm not really into sushi but out of the 16 courses there were only 2 that I wasn't a fan of. The experience was amazing though, to have the chefs explain each course and put so much joy into making the food, it was great to see. They played great music, low lights to set the mood. I also had the Queen Pia as the drink, please get that cocktail, it's so good! It's a little more pricey than your average restaurant but $180 for the experience and having 16 courses which do get you full by the way (I was full by course 9), it was totally worth it. The lumpia was my favorite course.

Strictly comparing this to other popular omakase restaurants in the area (Shinn, Taikun, Thirteen Water, Matsunori, Omakase by Korami, Takumi): I really, REALLY looked forward to dining here from all the hype but left disappointed. For a pretty steep price point, you get a similar assortment of fish (salmon, hamachi, red snapper, sea bream, otoro, chutoro, and uni) but unfortunately, nothing unique and no particular dish stood out among the rest. I felt the fish portions were rather small and the rice was nothing reputable (not warm, didn't have that "melt in your mouth" feel). Compared to other Omakase restaurants, which go for half the price, Trust Bar fails to let the fish shine. Instead, they try going the extra mile with additions of truffle creme (on several fish), foie gras, or smother in gold dust. It felt redundant and almost unnecessary. Of note, they offer two appetizers and a soup/palate cleanser, which were decent. No wagyu on the menu despite it being $185 pp without included tip/taxes. They also have a no cancellation/refund policy, which I think is rather strict. From what I hear, I believe that the cost is for the "service" and "entertainment" from the owner chef, who we did not have. Our chef appeared distracted, was not the one preparing the fish (it was all pre-made ahead of time), and also could not tell if it was chutoro/otoro being served (we corrected her). So that may have partly been the reason for a less than average experience.. but ultimately, it should be the food to make the experience. Conclusion: for $185 pp omakase, you're better off going to Thirteen Water (or equivalent) twice for the same quality and double amount of food. We actually went to Mari two days later (for $145 pp), which was a true Michelin star experience and much worth the price. Addendum: after reading some of the poorer reviews in recent weeks/months, there appears to be a consistent pattern across the board as far as the lack of food and service quality for this price point.

came here to celebrate a joint birthday with my mom and trust bae did NOT disappoint. the food, vibes and staff were excellent and I can't even explain in words. you just need to go yourself and experience it!

Well, where to start? I didn't expect this service and food for this price. First of all why call it omakase, just because you seat at the counter? This is nothing to do with omakase. So my experience was not pleasant because chef and staff were so obsessed with people to post on social media. I don't like when someone remind me to post something, if I would have great food and service I would post it anyway. The night when we had dinner there is some invited food blogger seated next to me, so the whole staff was focusing that this blogger get really nice videos and pictures of the dishes. Like come on, I paid for my dinner, why I had to experience this shit show next to me? Food was good, what can be bad if you put "gold" and caviar on every dish. You just use expensive ingredients and it's ok combination, but I doubt you don't get anything like this in Nee York. Oh our chef was half drunk (only in front of us she had 3 shots with customers and we were second seating), so I don't feel it was respectful. Interior of restaurant is giving club/bar vibes, not really pleasant for "high-end" experience. So after all, just spend you money on something really interesting, go to some Korean fusion places, Thai fusion places, Japanese fusion restaurants. I think restaurant like Oiji Mi, Saga, Atomix, Joomak were same price level as Trust bae but I was not disappointed there. Even around this neighborhood there are more options for nice dining. This restaurant probably the first that I had such bad experience in New York so far.

This upscale Filipino Japanese omakase fusion restaurant is truly something different. The very talented Morimoto sushi season 1 champion chef Frances takes you on her culinary journey. She puts a twist on some traditional Filipino cuisines which makes the experience something to remember. Each of the 16 courses are well prepared and thoughtful. This was not a simple restaurant for dinner. It is a culinary experience in which each and every bite had flavors and textures that are unmatched. I highly recommend! A+

I have been following Chef Frances for a while now because I became a fan while seeing her compete on Food Network on Choped, Cutthroat kitchen and a few other shows! I have eaten at many of the restaurants she's cooked for and will continue to eat wherever she cooks. She is doing a Filipino Omakase experience that will change your views on what omakase should be. Her vibe is very relaxed while she provides the details of each dish and what she was inspired by when she though of each dish. The courses are all different and hit your pallet differently, my favorite was the Scallop, Foie Gras and truffle bite. That and the oxtail lumpia, I could eat like 10 of each. Anyways the experience was great, the cocktails are super tasty and each item that I tasted was memorable. The dinner is 150 per person not including tip and beverages. I'd like to come back with more friends and maybe take up their 8 bar seating. Book now because I think they are booked for the next few weeks!!

The food was good but not absolutely delicious as I was hoping for. It was also slightly rushed service and we had two instances where we felt the course underperformed. 1) the Lumpia shell was not crispy or crunchy so either it was made a few hours before and simply heated up and not fried or it was poorly made. Having had Lumpia before made by several Philippino friends, i was especially excited to try the Trust Bae variation. 2) The rice paper/seaweed skin for the taco was also not crisp and felt stale. All in all the fish and other food was good but not worth the price for omakase.

Was left unimpressed by this new modern Filipino Omakase. Dishes were good but not memorable. Some felt out of place like okoy tempura. The dinner went by fast with minimal interaction. 1 free sake was provided. The chef we also training her employees during our dinner session which I think took away from the experience. Sadly would not recommend.

The food was INCREDIBLE!! It's an omakase experience with a Filipino twist. It was amazing how she was able to fuse two very different cultural foods together. You can really taste BOTH Filipino and Japanese flavors in each course. Chef Frances personality is so infectious, inviting and hilarious. It was a real treat to be up close and personal with such a talented person. Also the Ube Mochi was made right in front of you and it's insanely good! If she sold those separately in a bakery, lines would be around the block!!!! My one feedback is the name could use some work. "Trust Bae" sounds like a young hipster bakery. Otherwise, Bravo! Looking forward to her growing career.

Came back for second night and everything tasted just like I remembered, but even better. Even though Chef Frances was out sick, the Staff was on point with presentation, ambiance, and was so welcoming as they remembered our group. Every piece was perfection!

Wow. What an experience. Chef Pais has such an incredible personality. I am sure this place will be an incredible success. It's only about a month old. Love the fusion between Filipina and Japanese food. The chefs personality is bigger than life and perfect. Because the food is bigger than life and perfect, not bigger in proportion, bigger in flavor and creativity. Very small restaurant that sets everyone all at once, so you really want to be on time. Six seats.

We did walk-in out of nowhere bcoz the place is lit! Everyone was very welcoming & proffesional glad to see chef Frances in action will definitely recommend & it's a must try here in NYC

It was not bad. However it did seem to optimize for the "show" rather than the food itself. We had only two other diners when the two of us went, so the service was incredibly rushed. One of the other diners commented on this, and the chef said that it was because there was only four of us. I understand that service would go faster with less people, but it was so fast I barely got to appreciate each but before the next one came out. Each of the bites were all in all not bad, and a couple of them were very good. However in a similar vein, some were complete misses, and could have been great if it weren't for some showy elements that masked the taste of the fish itself. This restaurant seemed to be trying to replicate the vibe of Sushi on Me, which in our opinion, had many more hits and at almost half the price point.

Great twist on omakase. Def a fun experience in NYC and different then most omakase differed

Thank you, Chef Frances, for a wonderful meal. Chef Frances and Chef Clark will delight you with course after course of elegant food created in unique and fun ways. Chef Frances hosts a small group of strangers and at the end makes us feel like a group of friends while she is entertaining us and making amazing dishes. Definitely a delightful meal to celebrate a special occasion or treat someone out.

Such a memorable experience! I was constantly wondering how Chef Frances transformed the ingredients on the menu to the dish in front of me, which is a testament to the creativity and execution here. It is more like a kaiseki than omakase. Aside from the delicious meal, the team and chef were awesome in their interactions with everyone. I definitely plan on returning.

Wow! Next level. Amazing drinks. Amazing food. But the biggest difference between this and other omakase places is the chef is interacting with yo, entertaining, and explaining all the dishes throughout the night. It was almost like a performance. She really was the star of the show. Very memorable night!

This was such a magical birthday experience!!! There are only 8 lucky individuals for each seating at a bar and chef Frances treats everyone like family. The atmosphere is fun and festive and the food could not be better! We have sampled tasting menus all around the world. This was the first time that every single bite was sheer perfection! When the chef asked me my favorite course I couldn't decide because I loved them all equally. I also recommend the delicious Manila old fashioned. I am already planning this again for my birthday next year but I doubt I can wait that long. Thanks so much for such a wonderful celebration!!!

Trust Bae Filipino Omakase Experience (or lack thereof) My low rating is based on poor management and not the Filipino Omakase food itself. I like so many in the community was excited to support Filipino food in this way. We made the reservation in June, waiting over a month. Trust Bae charged the full amount of $386.64, having already included automatic 20% gratuity. After trekking from Long Island into Manhattan we were alerted via email 45 minutes before the 6PM reservation that Trust Bae was cancelling on us due to "unforeseen circumstances." My boyfriend made the reservation through Open Table and tried to contact the restaurant through it for a refund that evening having wasted our time and money. The following morning Trust Bae blocked my boyfriend on Open Table. Open Table directed us to contact Trust Bae immediately. Please be warned that they cannot be contacted via phone call. They only take emails and text messages. Over 24 hours since our reservation was cancelled. Trust Bae texted my boyfriend after the 25th that his request has been forwarded to management. My boyfriend's bank provided the credit back before the restaurant took any action. Un-trustworthy is more like it.

My daughter's Christmas treat for me was a special dinner just with her (no other family members) here tonight and it was an awesome unique experience for me in many ways - food, service, ambiance topped off with quality fun time with my young urban professional (yuppie it used to be called) daughter. Read the more positive detailed, culinary reviews here and I concur!

Found this place on social media, and we are so glad we made reservations!! Our dinner experience at Trust Bae was 10/10, we enjoyed not only the delicious food but also the company we shared with Chef Frances, staff, and our fellow customers. Each course has a meaningful background that relates to Chef's journey and the food was presented beautifully! We look forward to coming back when we're in town again! Get your reservation in cause these time slots are HOT and GONE FAST! Cheers, trust bae - you were so good!

A small, intimate place but both the food the the service are impeccable. Chef Francesca made the evening an unforgettable experience. I will definitely be back.