Geisha

This restaurant is nicely designed and an overall trendy spot. It is a nice date spot if you have small appetites. The Kobe beef is tasty, but the amount of food is so small you'll want to grab a slice afterward like we did.

Pros: Nice decor

Cons: Small portions; over-priced

Posted 03/20/09

we had drinks with friends at the bar, followed by dinner. the bartender with the accent and the dark hair looked cool, but it went downhill fast. we were the only people in the bar, and he paid zero attention to us, served us the wrong wine, and hot beer. we had to walk down to get him when we wanted a drink. the kicker ? he added 20% to the bill without asking our permission (for 4 people) and when we only tipped 18%, he sent the hostess to the back of the restaurant to complain while we were in the middle of dinner. this was over $5.00. It was embarrasing, not only for us, but for the establishment. To the manager Lars' credit, I did speak with him afterward, but his apology was too little too late. The food was great in the back, but the bartender was such a complete moron without any sense of decency that I will not ever patronize this establishment again.

Pros: sushi is good

Cons: the male bartender is a moron

Posted 12/17/08

At least the hostess gave a smile, but the sulking waiter didn't exactly add to the ambiance of the cramped table. The lobster dumpling in foam is silly and flavorless. The sushi rolls are original in concept, but I think they forgot the ingredients-I'll give Geisha kudos for serving VERY fresh fish, but $18 for just fresh isn't worth it. The rolls and most of the appetizers were bland, extremely bland. Boring food that's overpriced for what's served. Nice atmosphere, but cramped seating (that doesn't have to be). Here's a new complaint-the food is served too quickly. We didn't try the $10 desserts because, well, do I really need to try yet another warm, molten chocolate cake? The service is marginal. So was the tip.

Pros: fresh sushi

Cons: bland sushi, bland appetizers, bland food, bland service

Posted 11/02/08

Whoa Momma, I want to cry it was so good. Okay, deep breaths, calm happy thoughts, easy, easy. Okay now I'm ready to write my review, thank you for your patience.

The amazing sushi we had a couple of appetizers, which were unreal. Great taste and beautiful presentation. I wish I had noted their names, the best I can do at the moment is give horribly unhelpful description. I'll take better notes next time...but believe me, there will be a next time!

Pros: fresh food,service

Posted 10/21/08

Making reservations at Geisha was seemless. When we got there the seating bothered me a bit because they sat us (2) on a small table when there where other tables with more space. For appetizers we had the Shrimp Lollipop which was really good but it was literally 2 peices! You would expect alittle more, geese. I had the beef ribs which was okay, nothing special. My boyfriend had the duck, which was very good. Again, the portions seem small. The service was not pleasing for a place that got such good reviews. I tired it, but dont think i would go back.

Pros: Duck

Cons: Small Portions

Posted 04/24/08

took my best friend to dinner here last night and we Loved it. we were always curious about his place bc of the name so we finally decided to ck it out. for starters we had:

Yellow fin Tuna Tartar - YUMS!
Lobster Dumplings (steamed w/ anise spiced lobster foam) - YUMMS! very light

for entree we shared:

Grilled lamb, crispy tart of zucchini, yellow squash, tomato confit, goat cheese, caramelized onions, natural lamb jus - PERFECT! the tart complimented the lamb perfectly and we couldn?t get enough of the sauce.

Roasted Maine Lobster, udon noodles, wild mushrooms, leeks, asparagus tips, pea shoots, black truffles - very good, they were generous w/ the lobster but I did feel like the dish was heavy and slightly greasy.

we also ordered a side of the Wagyu fried rice which was ok but nothing special for $14.

for dessert we shared the Brulee Tasting which was a seasonal creme brulee trio of cinnamon, ginger, and hazelnut served w/ warm madelines - DELICIOUS though the madelines could?ve been bigger, sheesh, they were tiny, probably like a quarter of a normal sized one

I would definitely come here again. the food was great, the service was good, the decor and scene was pretty trendy, even for a Tues night they were busy. its def. not cheap but worth a try for sure. too bad I didn?t get to try the sushi but the main courses sounded too good.

Pros: food, ambience

Cons: pricey

Posted 04/07/08

geisha is my afternoon spot i go there anytime i possible can because the food is amazing, It is a very relaxing spot after work were you can choose from a large filling meal or just a nice cup of warm tea.

Posted 03/27/08

We were in town for a convention and we used CitySearch to find this restaurant and needless to say we were very pleased. I hosted a dinner for 10 people in the middle of the week and had no problem getting a table at a reasonable hour. This could be a good thing or bad! The winelist was of higher quality wines and did not have a ridiculous mark up on the prices. The food was outstanding and everyone was trying different dishes with postitive results. My colleague ordered one of their exotic martinis that looked like blo*d in a glass and tasted terrible, the staff took the drink away and we never saw it on the bill. So overall I would say the dining experience was very pleasant, we were seated promptly, the service was excellent, and I will recommend it to my friends.

Pros: Service, Food (Fish and Steak), wine list

Cons: Exotic Martini's , Sushi was just good not excellent

Posted 02/06/08

We arrived 45 minutes early for our reservation and they accomodated us with no problem. Honjyozo hot sake was smooth as silk. Filet mignon could be cut with a fork (medium rare). Red bean, green tea and vanilla mochi had a heavenly texture, unlike anything I'd ever had before for dessert. Service was flawless. Ambiance was swank and modern. A truly PERFECT dining experience.

Pros: Food, Ambiance, Service

Cons: None to speak of

Posted 10/05/07

We went here for a celebration sushi night. We ordered an expensive bottle of wine but were scammed into paying for the most expensive bottle of wine on the menu. When our check arrived, we realized that they billed us for the wrong wine, so we politely pointed this out to our waitress. She faked a frown and said ?oh, I made a mistake and I?m very sad about that," but she and the manager refused to comp us the price difference. It was a total rip off and, on top of that, the food was disappointing. The sushi was average when compared with Nobu and Ooki. Definitely not worth a visit or the money, even the pre-rip off amount.

Pros: seated promptly, good food presentation

Cons: average food, overpriced

Posted 08/29/07

. 3 different floors with bar downstairs. Expensive _______ ______________ _____________ ______________

Posted 07/18/07

Omakase...OMK...some of the best posts....EVER.

shermancartermiller_jr and caymus 16 ....... i have only one word to describe Geisha....

the BEST Jerry! the BEST!!!

Posted 05/17/07

My friend took me to Geisha on Wednesday night. This was a much sought after event, for he is friends with one of the sushi chefs; who is nothing short of a Master. The menus were quickly whisked away, and we were informed we were doing Omakase (for those neophytes--that is the chef selection). From this point forth, this is the ONLY way to dine at top sushi joints. The chef picks out the freshest, best fish, and you get delicacies that are not on the menu.
For example, we were presented two flaming Conch shells, that after eating the snail (think calamari) we were instructed to "drink from the shell." Hello: this was like drinking from the Fountain of Youth. They should bottle this sake/homemade Soy concoction and hawk it around town.
The highlight of the night was tasting Tuna Cheek. Yes, it Sounds ghoulish, but this is simply the most divine slice of fish you will ever sink your fangs into.
Bottom Line: this place rules for serious food. Moreover, the scene is very happening. A gaggle of models were sitting right next to us, which every now and then (in between courses) was fun to look, I mean, laugh at.

Pros: Excellent Fish, Extremely knowledgeable staff, unique menu items

Cons: None

Posted 05/17/07

Caymus16 may be right that Geisha is stellar, but that phony is just parroting a knowledgeable chef friend who explained everything to him after the fact. Believe you me, he did not know what Omakase is.

Caymus knows nada about sushi and actually asked if the california rolls were in season.

Caymus16 regularly eats stale doritos, chicken breast marinated in wishbone dressing and soft supermarket baguettes.

He's a wannabe in the foodie scene and cannot even find his way to Chinatown.

He was once heard to order a "toasted white bagel" at Essa Bagel.

Don't fall for his $10 words, that boy was in way over his head last night...

Posted 05/17/07

Geisha is a cool addition to the neighborhood. The sushi is inventive and fresh. The atmosphere is extremely cool as well. There are different floors and separate dining areas. Great for a group or date. Can't think of a better choice for a fun night out uptown!

Pros: cool, trendy, fun

Posted 04/30/07

This is definitely a high-end restaurant and the food is worth the price. It very much reminded me a scene from $ex and the City, where the bar and tables are packed with glamorous people, having dinner and drinks after a stressful day at work. I'm going back there in the very near future and taking all of my friends with me!!!

Pros: Service

Cons: None

Posted 04/01/07

i had much expectation for geisha and that's the reason i booked a table for two of us on Valentine's Day dinner, was expecting food & decor would leave a superb impression but it turned out the whole dinner experience was below average. the hostess was professional & fun but the server & food runner did NOT qualify for the price i paid. the restaurant set up was a bit too limited in spaces, 3 stories of apartment like building so we have to take elevator before we eat(and elevator is tiny..), decor is very geisha but not impressed enough for big occation like Valentines day, food were a bit over priced and taste not much better than other hundreds of japanese restaurant.

Posted 02/14/07

Geisha is my favorite restaurant in NY. My office is nearby and i try to eat there once a week. The food is so perfectly prepared and artfully combined, it almost brings tears to my eyes. I am serious! The trio of tartars appetizer is fit for royalty. Each is a work of art - particularly the white tuna tartar is a perfectly subtle combination of flavors. The chef must be a genius. The shrimp lollipops appetizer is served on sugarcane skewers. need i say more?
The pre fixe lunch deal is fantastic. You get an appetizer, choose from several great entrees,, AND get a dessert - all for something like $30 which is great. My fave entress is the miso glazed salmon which is a slice of heaven. It's not possible for me to describe how blindingly delicious this dish is. Simple perfection. oh my. it melts in your mouth. Perfect piece of fish - cooked rare for perfect flavor - excellent balance of sweet tanginess in the miso. WOW. Served simply with a few mushrooms and a couple of scallions - it is my favorite japanese dish in all of manhattan. Also the vegetable udon dish is indescribable. buttery thick udon noodles in a broth with perfect fresh little veggies. the best comfort food.
as for desserts - the choc tasting is rich sinful goodness. The blancmanger is creamy coconut cool and refreshing with a touch of dk chocolate. Creme brulee tasting is just the right amount - and creamy rich with 3 diff't flavors. I love the rice pudding dish - its like little blintzes with rice pudding inside. excellent.
anyway, it is too difficult for me to illustrate in words how great this food is. Go check it out! try to get there during lunch so you can enjoy the pre fixe.
i eat out all the time, but Geisha is my absolute fave. It has never disappointed. OH - and the sushi is out of this world too!!! but you can get great sushi in a lot of places in NY. you can't get great dishes like these in other restaurants. so i don't usually get the sushi. anyway, it's a real gem!!

Pros: Best Japanese restaurant. Period.

Posted 01/18/07

my friend treated me for my bday and she couldn't pick a better place! everything i had was great--the shrimp skewers were tasty as were the fried oysters and the lobster with udon noodles was excellent!!! my friend had the red snapper tho which she said was not as good as she thought it would be. other than that, it was an enjoyable meal and the staff is very courteous and attentive! the ambience of the place is pretty chill too, a lot of people have drinks/snacks in the front section of the place. i would def come back, for either drinks or dinner again. I'm not a sushi eater and found plenty of non sushi things to try.

Pros: lobster w/ udon noodles, ambience, service

Cons: sat in the back room, altho nice too, wish we sat upstairs

Posted 09/26/06

Went here with my parents just for a nice Friday dinner. Quite a wonderful restaurant. Great ambiance (we were seated on the second floor, in the area facing out of the windows) and very nice, attentive service. I had the white tuna tartar, which was delicious, and my mother had the special lobster appetizer. Excellent all around. I had two rolls for dinner, my parents both had the miso salmon, which I had eaten before. The salmon fell apart in our mouthes and the rolls were well balanced. Dessert was another story, as they have a nice list of teas, which you should ask for (they have more than they give you in their dessert menu). Anything nutty is delicious, I've had them all!

Pros: Nice staff, great ambiance, and excellent food

Cons: Can be very loud

Posted 08/02/06

The first time I went here I thought it was just okay. It tasted as good as a regular sushi joint you find anywhere. However the second time I went the food was great. You just have to order the right things! The fried oysters in spicy dipping sauce is divine and the tar tar tasting is exquisite. The rolls and entrees are just okay...nothing special. Perhaps this place is better suited for drinks and a small bite.

Pros: Fried oysters, Tar tar

Posted 05/22/06

Went there for friend's bday, the tab ended up being ridiculously expensive, the atmosphere was nothing special, in fact there was a custmer who was sprikling the whole place with her BO. I would not recommend this place to an enemy. While the sushi and appetizers were ok (nothing special) the portions were so small, and so over priced that we could not believe it. There were many a-times when asked what I think about literally a spoonfull of the food, that i would say "I think I like it but I havent fully tasted it with my whole mouth". DO NOT go to this place, if youre going to spend $60 a person on appetizers alone, please just go and have yourself a piece of steak!

Posted 12/30/05

Of course, many of us have had bad sushi experiences where the fish quality was low grade and our stomaches would be turning when we got home. But have you ever had a mediocre sushi experience? You know... the fish is fair quality but they only give you a sliver that's laid on top of a whopping mound of rice. Then there's the huge slab of fish on top of some buried rice you can't see. Now, really, do you LIKE taking two bites from one piece of sushi?! I don't. At Geisha, the fish quality seemed excellent and is quite proportionate to the amount of rice. I shared a $50 sushi/plate. For two women, it was just enough food for lunch and all around quite satisfying. Ambience is chic, but in a smart way.

Pros: sushi, decor, service

Posted 09/29/05

I came here for lunch. We were seated immediately. The menu did not look particularly impressive. I had the shrimp on a skewer appetizer, which was quite good. The Cod Fish entree was less than impressive. My companion had the salmon which came only half-cooked. The menu did not specify that it would be done this way. I ordered the Jasmine blossom tea ($12). The server put twice as much water into the pot as she should have and obviously did not steep it long enough. I essentially drank water. The decor is pleasant, but two-person tables upstairs are very small. My lunch here was not a horrible restaurant experience, but there are certainly better places for the price.

Pros: Decor

Cons: Food

Posted 07/11/05

Yes the crowd can get annoying and the servers don't always know what they are serving exactly, but the food has been right-on all three times I have been there. The Spanish mackarel tartar is to die for! The sauces that the chef create are so simplistic, yet amazing and compliment the super fresh fish. The sushi has always been like butter! As for the desserts, I'm a sucker for yuzu and litchies! Definitely a must for the food as long as you can deal with the fake double-kiss crowd. If you want a more quiet experience, you must eat upstairs. The sushi room is a bit loud.

Pros: shrimp lollipops, skate, Sake

Posted 05/24/05

We were seated and HOUR AND A HALF late for our 8 o'clock reservation. In that time we were smashed into the horrifically small bar area with barely room to move, let alone sit or get a drink. People were crammed out the door. I cannot imagine what would have happened if there were a fire. When we got upstairs we were smashed into the smallest table I have ever seen next to a loud and extremely drunk group of 15. The food was subpar, although the cocktails were good. Ridiculously prized for the terrible service and awful wait however. I will NEVER go here again and I can't warn people enough not to subject themselves to this mess.

Posted 05/18/05

This possibly the most terrible experience I had recently. We were asked change seats twice, the wine was came from a bad bottle, the food were incorrect, and servers is incompetent and rude, gave us a funny smile by saying "well, what can I do, it must be your lucky day". The music is really loud! The soup is extremely salty and watery. In short with so many resaurants in NYC - this one should be overlooked. Don't waste your money.

Cons: RUDE waiter, loud music, bad wine list

Posted 04/24/05

Like La Goulue, ones goes to Geisha for the relative proximity to one's place. I wouldn't go downtown for this place! The bar area is good with nice cocktails and I use it all the time to meet people for drinks. The food is great but the crowd is no longer what it used to be. All the models have moved on! It can be pricey unless you just order maki rolls:-)

Pros: Proximity, Good food

Cons: Pricey, Non-unique

Posted 04/07/05

From the mouth-watering sushi, to the unique decor, Geisha is a new favorite Japanese in an area that lacks many others worth mentioning. The saketinis were expertly mixed, the crab salad memorable, and the service was wonderful. We will certainly be returning often.

Pros: Fresh Fish, Great Service, Unique Decor

Posted 12/14/04

I've been to Geisha twice and both times the food was excellent! The dining room upstairs is more quiet and intimate, the lounge when you first walk in is good for small groups of friends wanting to have drinks and some food to supplement, and the dining room in the back has anime projected on plasma tvs. The mussels appetizer and the halibut with curried spinach were both yummy, but I enjoyed the chef's plate the most (sushi and sashimi, you can pick $50, $75, $100 or more). Extensive list of sakes and cocktails. It is a little bit pricey, but the portions are sizeable and you won't feel like you are paying to breathe the air. It's a really nice restaurant with really good food without trying too hard to be 'trendy'.

Pros: Food, Extensive drinks list, Courteous staff

Posted 08/22/04

There were serious problems with the kitchen and the food preparation, with dishes arriving incorrectly or undercooked (shrimp). One of the very worst dining experiences I have had in 12 years in NY.

Posted 06/30/04

I loved Geisha. i have no idea what the bad remarks are about. The service was lovely, the space is tres chic and the food, which is what this should be about, is delicious. The Lobster with noodles is amazing. i dream about it and being a lobster lover, find myself eating up with the noodles which make the lobster more of an unnecesary, yet delicious accesory. YUM!!! My date had the candied shrimp and they were also amazing. The mille feuille was out of this world and i would pick this place over and over again as my favorite dine out. A MUST!!!!!!!

Pros: amazing food, nice personel, great ambiance.

Posted 05/08/04

Service was terrific......unfortunately everything else was below par. Food is boring (oysters warm, sauces gummy...the first creme brulee I couldn't finish) and wine list very generic/over priced. Room(s) cramped, ugly (and half empty). Hostess(s)/manager rude and coarse (not even a good-bye even though we had to step between them to exit).

Pros: service

Cons: , management, wine list

Posted 04/27/04

This possibly the most hostile environment in the biz. The waitstaff is incompetent and rude. The music is weird and really loud! The food is extremely salty and not up to snuff. In short with so many resaurants in NYC - this one should be overlooked. Don't waste your time or money.

Pros: location

Cons: , not people friendly, rude

Posted 03/30/04

The interiors are fantastic. Both interesting and relaxing (I went for lunch). The sushi was like warm butter. Each piece was delicate and melted in my mouth. The service was rather friendly too. It is worth another trip

Pros: Decor, Food

Posted 03/22/04

The first thing my date noticed when we walked in was that that the waiters outfits, aside from being incredibly tacky, were in fact Chinese, not Japanese. That was not a good sign for what was supposed to be an upscale establishment. The evening continued with poor service, hit-and-miss food and an unbelievably pretentious crowd.

Hey, we did sit beside Paula Adbul and she was getting incredible service, but I don't think even she would come back.

Cons: , Poor service, Pretentious crowd

Posted 03/04/04

A promised "ten-minute wait" stretched over an hour without apology as we were passed up for who-knows-how-many tables for two. I don't expect VIP treatment but can only stomach so much insult. They could serve the milk of paradise and I'd rather starve than give Geisha my custom. Vote with your feet and stay well away.

Pros: sobering

Posted 03/03/04

Ive been to Geisha last night, on a busy Saturday, and I had a great experience. The service was very professional. The manager was adorable; she took great care of us. We ordered everything she suggested and everything was excellent. Everybody made sure everything was perfect, even the Chef stopped by at our table. The hard part was trying to leave Geisha. It took longer to reach the front door then to get a table. The lounge was overcrowded and everybody was pushing. But after all, it was a little price to pay for the great time we had.

Pros: great food, great service

Posted 02/21/04

I gave Geisha 3 trys and 3 times they struck out. The service and the food were very inconsistent. One or the other was good on each occasion but never together! The sushi was dry, the lobster was tough, the chicken salad way too salty! I had to down a Sapporo just to wash the salt away. Maybe that's the plan? Service was clumsy & weird. No finesse. Our server was pushy also. It was way too loud and HOT in the room. Bad muzak. The coat check lost my scarf too! Sorry, I won't be back.

Posted 01/30/04

We sat at the sushi bar and let the chef select his choices for us. .. very fresh and delicious plate after plate - try the martini glass app- yum! ask for the one from hawaii - thats who we had and he's def thumbs up!

Pros: Fresh fish, trendy

Posted 01/13/04

i was highly disapointed. way too loud and cramped. so-so food. our lobster was over-cooked and the grilled chicken salad was really bad. we did like the grilled shrimp and the tartare with the green tobiko but the entrees were boring. bland cocktails. average service. not worth the trip to the upper east side. didn't like the asian-kitsch either. too predictable and stereotypical. really bad, loud music. won't be back.

Pros: tartare, grilled shrimp, pricing

Cons: service, boring entrees, loud cramped atmosphe

Posted 01/12/04

The food was great but not enough to buffer the trashy crowd! I was hesitant to go here after I heard the same guys that own the Serafina Pizza chain (need I say more...) own this but said ok when I heard Le Bernardin helped with the menu. What a motley match-up!!! I will always go back to Le Bernardin but never again to Geisha. It's just a Japanese-Serafina dressed up a little bit & with much better food but still eurotrashy & way too loud & clublike for a serious restaurant. No thanks! I'm sticking with Nobu.

Pros: great food, pretty space, great area

Cons: eurotrash, too loud & clubby, affiliated w/Serafina

Posted 01/01/04

Ate here on a busy tuesday. Food was great and the sashimi selections were impressive. The only dish we didn't like was the chicken salad. Service was a little rocky but I understand becasue they just opened. We had a great sake tasting with 3 different high grade sakes and some decent cocktails. It was really hard to get past the bar area though which was packed and we had to wait 45 minutes to get a table because they don't take reservations. What is that? And the hostess was REALLY RUDE and clueless too. Next time I'm going to Matsuri for better atmosphere without the attitude.

Pros: great food, good sakes, big sushi selections

Cons: rude hostess, no reservations, way too cramped bar

Posted 12/29/03

Been waiting for Geisha to open for awhile. I'm a fan of Eric Ripert's & live nearby. The food was excellent but service left something to be desired. Night was good until a man who I later came to find out is the owner, was pushing himself onto the diners being intrusive & annoying. He approached our table while we were browsing menu & started suggesting items. I could tell he knew nothing about cuisine. It was really embarrassing & I smiled blankly just wanting him to leave. I get that it's his restaurant but please sir leave the diners alone!! The other reason I probably won't be back is the scene. The bar was packed with Euro-trashy men & over-done, barely dressed women. Not the crowd I'd expect in a place with such a talented chef. It was Au Bar meets 'Absolutely Fabulous' meets a Versace Outlet Sale...ick.

Pros: fantastic food, very affordable, knowlegeable staff

Cons: obtrusive owner, tacky euro scene , no reservations

Posted 12/28/03