Naniwa Naniwa is your average Japanese restaurant, with a somewhat longer menu than most. I wouldn’t recommend the sashimi there since Lon’s order was expensive at $18.95 (during lunch) for mediocre fish. He didn’t think the pieces were cut well, resulting in tendonous bites. The wasabi was weak but the accompanying miso soup was very good, rich in flavor with lots of tofu. He also ordered an octopus and scallion appetizer with a mustard dressing that was over-sauced and again average.
I ordered a Japanese Hot Pot, one with seafood and egg. Most of the seafood and the udon noodles were over-cooked but the broth was very good, rich with the sweetness that comes from seafood, not sugar. It really made me sad since it had so much potential. Is it really too much to ask to not over-cook seafood?
Although I wasn’t impressed with my order or Lon’s, Sara got the Lunch Special of the Day (I think it changes daily) which did impress me. It wasn’t spectacular food but it is possibly one of the best Japanese lunch deals in NYC, at least midtown. For $11, it included salad, a piece of futomaki, 2 pieces of cucumber roll, 2 nigiri (salmon and fluke), a large bowl of tempura soba, and fruit. Naniwa isn’t good enough to make a special trip for but if you work in the area, it’s worth checking out their daily lunch special.
Is this place owned/run by Chinese people? Or non-Japanese people? That’s my litmus test for whether the food will be good at a Japanese place.
If you want good japanese food and willing to take a trek out to Long Island, I would suggest Yamaguchi in Port Washington, on Main Street across the street from the LIRR station. Yes, it’s owned and run by Japanese, and the menu is quite authentic. Although most of the clientele are American, and half the menu is geared toward their tastes (i.e. sushi/sashimi combos, teriyaki this or that), the other half of the menu is similar to that of a traditional izakaya, serving small tapas-style dishes.
To get their, just hop on the Port Washington line LIRR train from Penn Station, and take it all the way to the last stop.
Having grown up in Port Washington, Yamaguchi was the first restaurant where I ever had sushi, I believe I was 15 (or so), and my friend Marc took me there. The two of us sat at a table directly in front of the sushi bar.
When I picked up the blob of wasabi and asked my friend what it was he (I guess humorously) told me it was something other than what it was (Honestly I forget what he said) and so I popped the whole thing in my mouth.
Well all the chefs at the sushi bar witnessed it and thought it was hilarious. My nose felt like it was on fire, but I enjoy a good prank.
Anyway, the restaurant was definitely good and I went back many times, and of course, now, I’m totally hooked on sushi.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane!
WHICH DISH IS THIS MAN.???
It did look like Naniwa was run by Japanese people. All of the staff was Japanese as well. Does it give them extra points when they don’t speak English very well.