By Andrew Cristi
SUSHI, WINGS, AND BEER?! NYC’S Hippest New Hot-Spot, YO! SUSHI Proves That Such A Place Can Exist!
We know – we already had you at the part that said “Sushi, wings, AND beer”- it all seems like a pretty unbeatable combination. But, this place goes way beyond satisfying a night out with the boys as it proves to be able to please everyone from the guy who loves inhaling some delicious, meaty wings to the lean fitness gym rat who eats clean- it’s also the perfect date night spot and lunch rush phenomenon! Located at 23 W 23rd street, branding eatery empire YO! Sushi has brought their innovative greatness to the NYC dining scene- and invited Wingman for a tasting!
Founded in 1997 in the United Kingdom by Simon Woodroffe, YO! Sushi is the exceptionally inventive addition to the culinary market that offers conveyer belt sushi and an extensive menu of over 80 traditional and contemporary Japanese-inspired dishes that are not only items that will impress seekers of authentic Japanese cuisine, but also surprising taste sensations that will thrill any audience. Already dominating overseas in the U.K., Ireland, Europe, and the Middle East as an upscale restaurant franchise that is taking the world by storm, the unstoppable brand has come now come to the U.S. in locations in Florida, Boston, and of course, the Mecca of trendy dining; New York- and it is soon to easily be the talk of the town as socialites, scenesters, style influencers and celebrities will be flocking there in droves.
Insightful marketing manager Imogen Rossi stated during our tasting that she hoped that the food would inspire a vocal reaction from those dining- and gushes, oohh’s, and aahh’s can easily be heard all over the restaurant. Every bite of anything brought out by the kitchen is not only delectable, it’s also unique and unlike nothing else out there on the market- and the same could be said for each treat visually as well. Sculpted to perfected and hand-crafted like a work of art, every single dish provokes endless audible praise from the restaurant’s guests. And, with each plate so extraordinary in its visual presence, YO! Sushi will ensure that it won’t be long before guys are photographing pictures of their sushi just as much as girls!
For our tasting, Rossi treated us to the Aburi Sushi Platter, featuring a wide array of inimitable options all on its own– Salmon, Scallop, Hamachi, Beef, Shrimp, Albacore Tuna. That’s the thing about YO! Sushi- the menu is so endless that even one platter offers such a diverse round-up of choices that restaurant-goers get a great taste of everything, and while everything on this platter was phenomenal, the Hamachi and Beef were true stand-outs. And, the idea of getting beef, scallions and caviar for five dollars might sound ludicrous- but here, it’s all part of the affordable trendy luxury that goes with the experience.
But, Sushi is not the only thing on the menu- in fact, far from it. Another thing our gracious hostess Rossi kept ensuring about the multi-faceted brand was how appealing it could be for our audience- and she couldn’t be more right; for young guys looking for a night out, YO! Sushi is a great time. The restaurant proceeded to bring out the wings platter featuring three different types of wings; Japanese- dusted with sansho pepper and lemon, Korean- coated in spicy Korean gochujang sauce, and Asian- with sticky teriyaki, sesame oil, and white sesame, and three different types of Nori tacos (yes- TACOS!); tuna, avocado and salmon. The idea of eating tacos and wings at a sushi place was cool enough to begin with- an easy crowd pleaser, but even then, this restaurant makes sure that even eating wings and tacos is a novel experience as every bite seems like something that has never been tasted before. Even their Furi Fries were unlike anything the culinary world has to offer as they are coated in sriracha, mayo, yuzu furikake, aonori, bonito and white sesame sauce- making all other truffle fries seem ordinary.
With fries, tacos, and wings all constantly coming out, it seemed as though the intuitive restaurant knew just how to please us (and our readers!) And it didn’t stop there- YO! Sushi then proceeded to bring out Kastu Sando, which were mini panko breaded chicken sandwiches in a terrific spicy mustard! Adding sandwiches to the list? How can it possibly get better than that?!
Easy; the obscure gourmet creations and authentic dishes were so jaw-dropping that it almost made it hard to close our mouths while we ate. First, there was a Yuzu Tsukune Ramen- a traditional ramen dish with a soft boiled egg, amazing chicken meatballs, wakame shishito peppers, and kamaboko fishcake in a serene and soothing broth. Then, there was the Hamachi and Orange Ponzu Sashimi- a fish so beautifully light that it felt like eating delicious citrusy flavored air. And then there was the mind-blowing and original Takoyaki; crunchy battered octopus drizzled in mayo, tonkatsu, aonori and bonita flakes- and out of every mouth-watering item brought out, this took the cake as it was more than just a food- it was an event.
Speaking of cake and turning food into an event, we didn’t even get to dessert yet. Now this is the time when it becomes imperative to make sure you bring a date and impress them- and trust us, they will be impressed! AS WILL YOU! The desserts at Yo! Sushi are so incomparable that they truly need their own vocabulary all their own. First, there was a Hirata Donut- a deep fried bao with vanilla ice cream, miso caramel sauce, pistachio and soy bean powder- and while that was a roller-coaster of taste explosions all in its own right, nothing could possibly have prepared us for the Strawberry Kakigori- a shaved ice treat with strawberry syrup, vanilla ice cream, strawberries, blueberries, mochi, condensed milk and sunflower seeds. Again- take our advice- bring a date here fast and get two spoons, you will get very lucky!
And, of course, we can’t leave our readers high and dry, can we? Don’t worry, guys- YO! Sushi didn’t just turn out to be a great place to eat- it’s also a great place to drink! We had a fantastic Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc which offered a citrusy lime flavor and a light airy taste for those summer nights. Then, there was the beer- Hitachino White Ale, which our brand ambassador described as an exotic cross between a Blue Moon and a Shocktop. And last but not least, for the brave, don’t forget to do shots of sake!
So grab the guys and go for a night out, or take the date you’ve been dying to impress, or make a lunch business meeting that much more worthwhile, just YOLO- and go to YO! Sushi. Just, whatever you do, make sure you head there fast so you can still say you were one of the first!
YO! Sushi, www.yosushiusa.com, 23, W 23rd St · (646) 781-8640
Mike McCarthy