Ninja New York: Unless you’ve been to Ninja’s sister restaurant in Japan, you’ve never seen anything like this. Enter the unmarked building where a host dressed in black ninja duds summons an elevator that delivers guests to a second “ninja” downstairs, who guides visitors through a cavernous labyrinthine “village” of private dining quarters. Despite the Jekyll & Hyde shtick, the far above-average Japanese cuisine is considerably more creative and complex than that of other family-oriented eateries. By that same token, the gimmicks may be a turn-off to those who pay these prices for more “serious” Japanese dining at nearby Megu and Nobu. With the exception of razzle-dazzle servers delivering multi-course tasting menus, the dining experience here is a private one, thus great for dates and kids' parties alike. Check out the mid-sized lounge that closes around midnight despite after-hours potential. Everyone should see this place at least once, but it’s not the kind of thing that one would make a weekly experience. |
