Studio 151 — Speakeasy Sushi

The omakase counter at Studio 151. Photo from @Studio151nyc Instagram

You want a cool place perfect for a date night? This is it. A speakeasy sushi spot, tucked behind a discrete dimly lit door, up a flight of dimly lit stairs, and accessed through a gated entrance you have to be buzzed passed, you discover another dimly lit space that feels like a stylish living room full of cozy couches, coffee tables, trendy artwork, and vinyl records.

Our Omakase Sushi Adventure

We went for the omakase experience. For the omakase uninitiated, that’s a sushi-tasting experience where the chef serves you what he wants. You just sit there and enjoy. They are fun, but they tend to be very expensive (like $200-$400+ per person expensive). At $80, this is one of the cheaper ones. I’m not a sushi expert, but everything we tried was delicious and approachable. No challenging pieces of fish, which, depending on how you like your sushi, could be a good or bad thing.

Studio 151's Atmosphere

We went at 9 p.m. on a Wednesday night. It was a very chill atmosphere. My wife was impressed the moment we walked in. They sat us on the couches, where we had a longer-than-average wait, but the staff was very apologetic and gave us some free sake and a bowl of wasabi peas. We were well-lubricated from some pregame cocktails down the street at The Wayland, so we didn’t mind.

The gracious host gave us the rundown of the place and told us they move some tables and chairs out later in the night, so I am not sure if it becomes more of a scene late-night or on the weekends (they have a more club-like space downstairs). There are only a few seats at the counter for the omakase tasting, so if you want that, plan in advance and make reservations. The rest of the seats are at the bar, a few high tops, or lounging on couches where you can order a la carte sushi, hand rolls, and, of course, drinks.

Verdict: Go

Website: https://www.studioonefiftyone.com/

Address: 151 Avenue C. (Second floor) NYC, NY 10009

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