Ninja New York

went there for my b-day and loved atmostphere-- which gave us a good privacy. Even though there were kids' b-day parties going on we didn't get too bothered since we had our own private booth. Their hospitality was great and food was pretty good but pricey. If you are up for an adventure before your meal, or if you want some good quite privacy, this is the place to go!

Pros: atmostphere, friendly staff

Cons: food was bit pricey

Posted 02/03/09

Ok, I made a reservation for this place a MONTH in adavance, received 2 confirmation calls, and made one the day before my party. I had no idea these people were so incompetent. Needless to say i ended up with 12 people without a table. and to top it off the manager was an idiot and had absolutley no idea what to do... we ate in LES for alot cheaper and had alot more fun. PASS ON NINJA!!!!

Pros: none

Cons: lots

Posted 10/19/08

So for my 30th Bday my wife took me to a suprise dinner at Ninja. Let me say that I really had a wonderful time. Food excellent! Entertainment excellent! Random attacks by roving ninjas...PRICELESS. If you can have two brushes with certain death at one dinner and live to blog about it then how could anyone complain. When I asked for the Ninja star (chocolate souflee) for desert I would never had suspected that a real ninja star would be thrown at me. I guess the first attack didn't finish me off so another ninja attempted to land the "ninja snuff" bka "touch of death" on me. Fortunately I have fast reflexes or my review of this restaurant would've have been far less favorable. All jokes aside though, I think when you're considering ninja as a dinner destination keep in mind that this is a "theme" restaurant. Take the stick out your you know what and have a good time!!!

Pros: Setting, Food, Theme

Cons: Brushes with death....joking

Posted 10/03/08

I've been to Ninja twice, both in groups of about ten people. The food is phenomenal when you get it, but this is not a guarantee. This time, we came to the restaurant and were put in a holding pen for a while before we were given a table. Once we got there, we sat down for nearly half an hour before one of us felt compelled to leave our "hut" and ask for a waitress. She took our drink order and came back another half hour later with half the drinks and the food menus. Without getting too much into it, the meal took upwards of three hours and the waitstaff had to be continuously reminded that someone's meal or appetizer or drink were missing. The food was SOOOO delicious- honestly I think we probably ordered one of each item on the menu, and even the guy who had just returned from Japan said it was the best sashimi he'd had in NY, and closest to holding a candle to the Japanese. The meals came out to roughly $150 each (with two beers) It's tough to say whether I'll be going back to Ninja--certainly not in a group... The food was to die for but the slow service made me want to die.

Pros: phenomenal sashimi/sushi

Cons: the dinner lasted an eternity

Posted 08/15/08

I've never felt the need to write a user review for anything unless I have been extremely. disappointed, but not in this case. I was so impressed, I had to pass on my complete and utter satisfaction with this restaurant.
I was so pleased with everything! I made reservations for a suprise birthday dinner for my fiance. They were very accomidating in seating everyone before we got there, so he had no idea what was going on until we entered our little cave room. The service was amazing, attentive, polite and accomidating. We did a pre-fixe menu at $30 pp and for the price we received a delicious four course meal. The courses came out perfectly timed, I didn't feel rushed or bored waiting for anything. I brought in a cake for the dessert and while the cake cutting fee was more than the cake ($30 flat) they made a 3 layer 7" cake serve 11 people.
Everyone at the table loved the food and was super impressed by the whole atmosphere. I'm looking forward to my parents coming into town so I can take them, any excuse to go back. This restaurant is definately on my top 5 best restaurant experiences.

Posted 05/13/08

I am from the city and love themed restaurants.

this one was fabulous! The scenary downstairs is really fun, and this must be one of the few places where you can have private conversations because you basically get your own room.

The food was excellant! The dessert was alright, but I had no room by then anyways.
The sake tastings were delicious!

I would definitely recommend this restaurant!

Pros: Great Food

Cons: It is expensive!

Posted 04/25/08

Place is aboslutely horrible. We had a reservation at 8 oclock and we didnt sit donw until 9.
We ordered off the overpriced tasting menu. The food took forever to come out. When my
steak finally arrived I found a part of a plastic bag in my potatoes. I understand that mistakes can happen
(although they shouldnt when your're paying this much for dinner). But what really disgusted me was when I kindly asked if my plate can be change they replied that the best we can do is change the pototoes. Finally at the end of the night when I got my check I was billed for the replacement pototoes. There was so much confusion when I brought it to their attention that I got fustruated and left. I will never return to NInja New York and strongly advise others never to eat there!!!

Pros: None

Cons: Everything

Posted 04/05/08

Came here for a birthday dinner with 8 people. Expected to be a theme type of restaurant. The service are friendly and comical (Acting out as ninjas and spoke with an Asian accent even though our server is not Asian) but that's about it. The food is below average, tasteless and poor presentation. Have a sake tasting menu but it was okay. To top it off, they end it with a small magic show at your table. It was way too overprice, I would rather spend the money on a real Japanese restaurant with change left to buy myself a ninja costume.

Pros: Service

Cons: Everything else.

Posted 03/14/08

I went with two friends and, one of us had arrived a bit early which was already a problem. There is no bar for people to wait for the rest of their party. One can either hover around the elevator vestibule on the ground level or go downstairs and wait in an " empty room"
There is a lot of confusion before you even get to your table. One has to take an elevator down, make sure you find the rest of your party, follow a Ninja through a narrow and dark hallway and so on. It is more more something I would expect at Disney World.
The concept of having your own little room is nice, however the lighting is horrible, the chairs ( you sit on the floor japanese style) uncomfortable if you show up in a skirt like me. The food was average at best. Nothing special but expensive for what it was. I don't mind spending money on great food but I would not go back. Overall it was gimmicky, more for kids but with a menu that clearly caters more to an adult crowd.

Pros: interesting theme, private rooms could be romantic with better lighting

Cons: bad lighting, food, concept

Posted 03/13/08

I admit I went ehre due to guests from out of town wanting to see something new and interesting. I was skeptical and it lived up to every bit if skepticism I had.
Food was nothing special at all. I have had the same sushi from a grocery store. The portions were eclipsed by the Noah's Ark of a tray they brought it out on.
It was also way way way tooooooo expensive for mediocre food.
At the bend I was hoping one the nija's would put me out of my misery with their Kitana Blade. Even trhe cute little antics they have isn't enough to drown out the fact that you are paying for the hope of a good time.

Pros: Food came quickly

Cons: Everything else

Posted 01/24/08

went here for my gf brother's bday. He loved it, absolutely loved it. the Food was ok, nothing too crazy. The sushi rolls were not that good nor fresh. I had the pork which was pretty good and the kiarkaubra (spell) was good also. Presentation and theme is what you go here for not Japanese food. For the price (which is insane for this food) head over to Morimoto for a real japanese fusion treat. The shtick wears off pretty quickly and if you are even mildly claustrophobic i do not recommend. I felt like i was eating inside of a dark elevator all night. The staff was great and entertaining. Go here once, then find someplace else for quality Japanese fusion.

Pros: ninja theme, village layout, presentation

Cons: price and the sushi

Posted 01/12/08

I went with friends from out of town to this restaurant over the weekend, expecting the food and atmosphere to justify the high cost of the meal... me and my party were terribly disapointed. The service was the only shining star to this dismal meal, our server was one of few in New York who actually seemed to enjoy their job.
The food was horrible, we had ordered both sushi, and a few of the "ninja signature dishes" and it fell short of expectation for the price being paid. The desert was the worst thing i have ever tasted. It was supposed to be a green tea brule, with a layer of cheese cake below. The texture alone was enough to make me put my spoon down and walk away.
All in all, this restaurant is purely a gimic, the space was awesome, but the food is not worth $60+ a plate.

Pros: The space is nice

Cons: The food is horible

Posted 11/26/07

What a great concept! the decor in here is FANTASTIC! unlike anything else i've seen in NYC. A complete japanese village with each table in it's own "hut". The staff is attentive and engaging keeping the experience fun and with their own magician!
The food is a very good japanese menu with at least 3 tasting menus to choose from in addition to a la carte. Overall the food was very good with a couple of standouts. The presentation of the food, however, is the best in the city. with "exploding" conch shell, "floating" sushi, and a generous use of swords in the presentation!
Very cool place for a reasonable price

Pros: Ambeince and decor one of a kind and very fun. Food and presentation also unique and fantasic.

Posted 11/18/07

Went here for a friend's birthday and this place has alot of potential (ambiance/food), but the service was plain bad. Our server whose name begins with a N was unenthusiastic and nonattentive. The theme is a bit cheesy, and it is too bad this restaurant spent $3.5 million to create this space a couple years ago. There was a magic show at the end of our meal, while entertaining, but extremely random. The restaurant was more/less empty and I don't see this place in business much longer.

They just began takeout, so I would rather choose that over the uneventful dining experience we had. Food is pretty good, but not worth the cost.

Pros: Cool space

Cons: Poor service and cheesy staff

Posted 11/10/07

Interesting place, the food was ok, def large portions, but not a place for sushi if that's what you're looking for. Ninja theme was all a bit cheezzzy, did a few tricks here and there, but nothing too special. Def, a place that you'll spend money at.

Pros: sake was good

Cons: staff didn't know what they were doing at some parts

Posted 10/29/07

I have been in Ninja several times, my husband and I are experts in Japanese NYC restaurants and we love it, we recommended to friends and they love it, too. Food is great, cool design, high level service, chic, spectacular food presentation, great atmosphere. The restaurant can be pricey for some people, but quality is expensive. I recommnded for special occasions.

Pros: Great ambiance, beautiful presentation, great food.

Cons: None.

Posted 10/10/07

instead of dessert, i actually found it more pleasant to recieve a ninja star to the forehead as i left.

Pros: Ambience

Cons: Food, Cost and everything else

Posted 09/29/07

I went here to celebrate my boyfriend passing his exam. The decor of the place is very cool and the ninja waiters are entertaining. I thought the service was great, had no problem whatsoever. The prices of the food are way overpriced and not worth it's value. My boyfriend had a course menu and I ordered the steak. We had a drink each and the bill was $160 not including tip. The steak was very average for $45. I would suggest coming here only for a special occassion and make sure you bring your wallet. I would also sit in the cells (very cool). Oh and on Sunday night it's ladies night free glass of champagne ;)

Pros: Cells, Servers

Cons: Prices

Posted 09/10/07

This place offers horrible service, mediocre (at best) food and prices that belong at Daniel. We were there with 8 people and spent over 1200.00, each having 2 drinks. We ate in a private room which was basically a jail cell and the waiters (ninjas) were slow and kept forgetting drinks, appetizers and other things. I couldn't wait to get out of there and get some real food. TAO, Megu are much better restaurants with better atmospheres and if you are going for strictly good food, go to Nobu or Blue Ribbon Sushi.

Pros: The atmosphere is OK, but nothing great

Cons: service, food, price

Posted 08/19/07

Celebrated my hubby's bday there today and had a blast! Everything from the atmosphere, service, drinks, food and magic tricks were very cool! I would highly recommend it and go back! The food was just as good as NOBU!

Pros: great service, food, atmosphere

Cons: Wish they would have more signature dishes

Posted 07/12/07

Ninja is basically a cheesy themed restaurant that belongs in Times Square. Food was terrible and BEYOND overpriced. And get this-- after accidentally leaving a 10% tip-- a couple of saki bottles contributed to a math oversight :)-- a ninja (waiter) ran downstairs outside and asked us why we didn't leave more $$. Just plain obnoxious.

Pros: decor, magician

Cons: overpriced, cheesy, terrible food

Posted 07/02/07

I was brought to Ninja for my birthday and had a wonderful experience. The design of the restaurant is both interesting and fun, even the presentation of the food was great. Our waiter was more than courteous, he shared jokes and made great meal suggestions which I absolutely enjoyed. Since I definitely didn't expect to encounter this type of atmosphere at a restaurant, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The food was definitely pricey but the entire exprience was quite refreshing.

Pros: Great Service, Great Ambiance, and great presentation of the food

Cons: Very Pricey

Posted 06/27/07

I heard about this restaurant through a friend and was very excited to check it out myself especially when I saw the youtube video , it was awesome! you can barely notice it from the street and you walk in and there is a receptionist and an elevator and she announces that your party is coming down and u go into the elevator , when u get off its very dark and a ninja jumps out at u- I screamed! the unexpected is the best part :) they then ask if you want the long way or the short way- I totally recommend the long route- the atmospehere is amazing , and everyone gets their own nook so when ur eating its very intimate, you can only see the pple with whom u are eating with. Drinks /Food were fabulous as well as outstanding preparation, I only wish that our firey orders werent malfunctioning! I will def go back here and will definately recommend this place to others!!
One thing i thought was great was they accidentally overcharged us and we didnt realize, they were nice enuf to call us this am and advise us that they were going to credit our card- great customer service, this restaurant will definately be a new york hot spot!!! Best of Luck

Posted 06/20/07

Sushi is not good quality. No white meat chicken, which in the dishes they prepare, the dark meat is vile. You are not getting anything worth your money. Was humid because they can't turn the air on all the way. We spent spent so much money that I still can't believe they got away with charging what they did. You would actually spend less at Nobu and get a meal that you deserve, go there.

Pros: the first 2 seconds walking in to find your table is fun, other than that, downhill from there

Cons: the first 2 seconds walking in to find your table is fun, other than that, downhill from there

Posted 06/13/07

Probably the most disappointing dining experience since I've lived in ny. You know the restaurant is gimmicky when you see that they sell t-shirts at the entrance. They sat us promptly and the sake tastings were good but that is about as good as the restaurant gets. The food was underwhelming. Other than the sushi, the menu is barely asian. The sushi is extremely simple and underwhelming. The same goes for the main dishes, even the ones with the "ninja star" that supposedly are presented with some extra trick. The food definitely doesn't warrant the prices charged. And they definitely can't be explained by the fact that there's a magician. Too much of a disneyland feel, and not enough satisfaction with the food.

Pros: sake

Cons: price, food, magician

Posted 06/10/07

This place is terrible. The servers/ninjas don't want to be there and are unenthusiastic at best, the food is awful and the prices are very high; easily $100 a head. I am still smarting about the experience and cost days later. Save you money and don't go.

Pros: None

Cons: Very Expensive

Posted 05/17/07

Worst place ever? The Sushi was OK but overpriced. The drinks sucked. The cheese tempura appetizer was disgusting. Two out of four of us sent our $40 entrees back and told them to keep them. The "Ninja show" was a dork doing card tricks. At least they didn't mess us our Kirin Lights before they brought our $320 check! Don't go.

Pros: not many

Cons: the hour I spent there

Posted 05/04/07

You would never want to eat in this strange place. If you go downtown expecting people watching, you are in a wrong place!! You don't need a private room to enjoy food. In this restaurant there are only private rooms. What is this secrecy? After a long meeting in a conference room, you would not want to be put in such a place again. The food is average. Nothing special really. There is no server to serve you, but stupid costume wearing staff.

Posted 04/06/07

This place is more gimmicky entertainment than good cuisine. My friends took me here for my birthday, as a surprise. And I was! This was definitely not what I was expecting, which made it even more fun.

We all had the pricey tasting menu and although the dishes were creatively presented (we had to take pictures!), we were still left hungry afterwards.

Ninja is a themed-restaurant and although it's more superficial than substance, it does have great decor and eludes to its theme as a Japanese village very well. Take it with a grain of salt when you go to Ninja.

Know what to expect and don't expect more.

FYI- a more accurate meal price is $$$$$+

Pros: The Japanese-style village theme

Cons: The food

Posted 03/24/07

A friend had told us about the good food and fun atmosphere here. So we decided to give it a try. They seated us at the rock garden, which one waiter told us later, it was more like the lounge or wating area, even when we did requested a private room over the phone. After complaining they placed us next to their kitchen door and entrance door area. The manager finally got us one private room but it took him an hour to do so. Service were terrible in the beginning. The hostress were on the phone over 20 minutes before acknowledging she has guests waiting to be seated. Very rude welcoming. The food were good, especially the Conch, but not exceptional for the $$$$. At least the waitress who served us were friendly. The ninja were not that impressive also. All non japanese people. They gave us ninja keychains also to apologize for the bad service. If you do make reservation, make sure they do not seat you at the rock garden!!!!!!

Pros: nice display of the food

Cons: service, ambience

Posted 01/22/07

Fun place, decent sushi. Great for 1st dates!! The rooms were fun and watch out for the crazy guy who jumps out at ya. My date freaked out, the funniest thing I've ever seen.

Pros: ambiance

Cons: prices

Posted 01/15/07

Ninja was a waste of my time and $$$$$.

Service- We are seated at Rock Garden even after I reserved for the Village and it was confirmed 4 times prior to heading there tonight AND they forgot the preorders that they kept asking us for through email...

Ambiance - the guy in the next table used his cell phone to light up his meal... it was tiny lobster! the table setup in the Rock Garden was not advantageous to large groups. since the tables were kidney-shaped we were unable to fit all our plates on the table... and I had to eat my rolls while holding the plate in my hand...

Food - the T-bone steak was ridiculously salty, the Kuro-Subuta tasted like FAT... the good things were the Shabu-shabu, Floating Sashimi and sake tasting menus...honestly.. it took us 3 hours to finish our meals... bc between every course there was a 25-min wait...

if your looking for good japanese food.. just walk around St. Marks.. and stay away from this place!

but they did give us some complimentary ninja star keychains! cute!

Pros: prompt seating, best chopsticks

Cons: food, service, ambience

Posted 01/14/07

VERY NICE place the food is great it is $$$ but i think worth it magic show giving not good for kids not kid menu frendley

Pros: not for kids dinning my 9yr old was missing the chicken fingers, hours are not great

Cons: romantic one on one, food good for adults people very nice

Posted 01/07/07

My girlfriend and I went to Ninja New York for our New Year Eve?s dinner, and we had a great time. Besides the table space (we got the smallest space possible for two people) and the dark walk to the table (a ninja startled us), everything else was fantabulous. We enjoyed that the waiting staff all dressed up in ninja costumes. We also found the staff to be extremely friendly and attentive. I tried the tasting menu, while she ordered from a la carte, and the food was delicious, creative, and aesthetically pleasing from appetizers to desserts. We also tried unfiltered sake from the tasting menu as well, and although we were not sake experts, we (more like I) thoroughly enjoyed it as well. The ninja magician at the end of the dinner added that extra moment of laughs and amusement that other restaurants did not offer. Overall, it was a great and refreshing experience that I hope others would give it a try as well!

Pros: Food, Service, Experience

Cons: Space

Posted 01/07/07

Ninja is a definite must try in NYC. The restaurant is really cool. Has a great entrance and design to walk through to get to your tables. The tables are virtually private sections, they have a door to separate you from other diners. The menu is mainly price fixed meals ranging from $60-$90. It is an expensive restaurant. Most of the food on the tasting menus were delicous, some were just ok. The Lamb dish (main course) was amongst the best dishes I have ever eaten. The Conch apetizer was also very good. The sushi was good but I would enjoy the cooked foods when coming to Ninja. Their drinks were great as well, their mojito was a favorite of ours and their Sake selection is vast. Waiters are dressed as Ninjas and one even performs magic tricks for you at your table. This place is definitely worth going to but be prepared to spend some money.

Pros: Decor, Food, Atmosphere

Cons: A little expensive

Posted 12/27/06

Ninja is probably my favourite Japanese restaurant in the city. Last time I was there was for my birthday a month ago. It is simply one of the best dining experiences, absolutely unique with its amazing decour and impeccable service. The moment you walk in you feel like you are transported to Japan, the staff is very polite and attentive, and the food is dellicious. Definetely try some of the ninja art dishes, which feature a little cooking performance by the waiter. I've tried almost everything on the menu and it is all fantastic. Ninja is the perfect place to go with a group of friends or with someone special to celebrate a festive occasion. I highly recommend it.

Posted 11/21/06

I went with a group of nine on a Friday night. We were seated promptly, but the wait staff was very slow - we did not order until we had been seated over thirty minutes and did not eat anything for an hour. Some of us ordered off of the tasting menus, some off of the a la carte menu. Some of the food was passable (none was anything to rave about), but some was absolutely dreadful! I had one bite of a crab-and-grapefruit dish (part of a $70 tasting menu) and had to force myself to even swallow it politely. The ninja gimmick wasn't even that well-executed - the waiters seemed to think it was a total joke. Not recommended.

Posted 11/18/06

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we both had a blast. the dishes are innovative and the staff are good-humoured and always in character. Yes it is pricey but you are definitely paying for the experience. The minute you walk into the restaurant, you are impressed by the decor and you immediately know you are in for a great meal. The presentation of the dishes was impressive and they even have a magician that walks around to entertain the guests. I absolutely love this place!

Pros: ambience, staff, presentation

Cons: price

Posted 11/18/06

I absolutely loved it here!!....not only is the food good but it?s a fun atmosphere. Our ninja waiters and waitresses were fantastic. Don?t be scared by the selection of food. I was at first and actually tasted some things I never thought I would such as conch which was delicious!! The sushi was also very good.

Pros: Seated promptly, good food

Posted 11/12/06

Went last friday night for a friend's bday dinner. I have to admit, I had low expectations after reading the reviews. It ended up being a very enjoyable experience. The interiors are extremely themed-out... (think stage set for kilbill), but overall interesting. The staff is very playful and attentive. Our party did the pre-fixe which was actually pretty good. 5 courses, fair portions, VERY filling!!! (the vegetarian options were presented very elaborately). In general it was a fun night out, but it definitely had to do with the crowd we were with - easy going and ready for fun.. My only critique was that it was pricey, but considering the ambiance and perfomance, it's worth it for special occasions.

Pros: It's an all-encompasing dining experience.

Cons: Pricey, but worth it for friend's bday

Posted 11/07/06

I always find it a bit amusing when everyone thinks they're Tim Zagat.

Bottom line, you go to Ninja Ny for the ambiance and entertainment because that's the concept of the restaurant.

Think Hard Rock, Jekyl & Hyde, Bubba Gump, etc..etc.. You don't go for the food, but the ambiance right?

And I don't really understand all the complaints about the prices either. It's NYC. Expect to pay! If you can't afford it, go to some Japanese restaurant down the block opened by some Chinese people. Ninja NY spent 3.5 million dollars in construction. They need to recoup that somehow right?

Anyways, it's a great restaurant. Go!

Pros: Ambience

Cons: Nothing

Posted 10/29/06

My experience at Ninja was mixed. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the decor, the waitstaff was friendly and attentive, & the magician was entertaining, but the food was just ok. I had the Spicy Soft Shell Crab Tempura for an appetizer which was good, then for the main course I had Kuro Subuta which is a pork dish. There were six or seven small pieces of very fatty pork on the plate and that's it. By the time I removed all the fat there was even less meat on the plate. It didn't come with vegetables or even rice. What kind of Japanese restaurant doesn't serve you rice with your meal???!!! I had to put in a special request for rice!! Finally I had the chestnut dessert which was barely noticeble on the plate because it was so small and only part of it was tasty. In the end go check it out for the novelty of it, but don't go on an empty stomach and make sure you take out your life savings from the bank before you go because the eats here aren't cheap!!

Pros: Ambience, magic tricks

Cons: Food, portions, price

Posted 10/22/06

My friends have been raving about this place and how interesting the food is. I was skeptical at first to bring my boyfriend here for our Anniversary. But he loved it!! Even though I knew what to expect when taking the elevator, I still got spooked. The food was great and great presentation. Everyone that took care of us was very polite. The price we paid was worth it with the amount of food we got. I was sooo stuffed at the end I couldn't finish my Bon Sai. Nothing beats a magic trick at the end of the meal. We both love it there and thinking of taking our friends there one day.

Pros: Everything about this place was great

Posted 10/13/06

Ninja new york is one of the best found that I could have found! We were a party of six, we loved everything. The food is really tasty and delicious, not only the way it's presented....!!!The ninjas are really friendly, helpful. Great atmosphere. service is amazing too. I love the idea of having a private room. I was so happy because my friends loved it too. We left so full, drunk, and very pleased. For sure, we will be back! top noch!

Pros: Thumbs up, ambiance, food

Posted 09/29/06

The atmosphere is unlike anything else i've been to. The seperate rooms and dark lighting is a nice touch. The service was prompt and polite. The food was unique and delicious. I had the garlic steak and it's among the best i've ever had. The portions are also very big and very filling. The magic show at your table is also very entertaining. I highly recommend this place. Only negative is that it's on the pricey side of the tracks. But, you get what you pay for...

Pros: Food, Service, decor

Cons: $$$$

Posted 09/14/06

I just went there last night with my husband for my birthday, and LOVED it!!! After
reading the negative reviews on this site, I was not really expecting great food but wanted to go for the atmosphere.
As soon as you walk in, you go through a dark hallway filled with surprises. When you get to the dining area, everyone gets their own little room which is nice and private. The ninjas that served us were very polite and prompt. We didn't have to wait a long time for drinks or food. The food was Great, and came in a large portion, which I wasn't really expecting. I would recommend getting the Creamy Shrimp, it was DELICIOUS!! The magic show at the end was very entertaining also. We both loved this place so much that we will definitely be going back there again!! ( No, I don't work here =P )

Pros: Everything about this place is GREAT!!

Posted 09/14/06

I would agree that the sushi and maki rolls are nothing special. They do have some types of tuna that you can't find in most places though. The tasting menus are a lot of fun, presented beautifully if not hilariously (on a sword or with dry ice!), and are actually quite good. Yes, there's a ninja theme here, but I didn't feel beat over the head with it. It's definitely worth a try but be prepared to spend a lot.

Pros: Artful Courses, Unique Dishes, NINJAS!

Cons: Sushi, Card Tricks

Posted 08/29/06

This is worst dining experience I've ever had in NYC. This place belongs in a foodcourt of a suburban shopping mall. It's like a low-budget Disney experience gone very wrong. The prices are outrageous and the food is similar to mid-budget sushi that you left in your refrigerator for a few days. Not even tourists should try this - it's not what eating in NYC is about.

Posted 08/03/06

I love this place- only for its atmosphere. It's fun, and the magicians are so funny. Don't expect to be blown away by the food. I've been to this restaurant a couple of times already, and each time I ordered from a different prix-fix tasting menu, but nothing tastes good. I've even tried their sushi and sashimi and still wasn't impressed. Food is mediocre to below mediocre. BUT I will go back- solely for its atmosphere.

Pros: atmosphere, entertainment, service

Cons: food

Posted 07/25/06

The food was good although the a la carte selection, particulary the sushi, was somewhat limited. We all ordered different things and the best was probably the vegetarian tasting menu. I've had better sushi elsewhere for less money, but you go to Ninja for the ambience and funky presentation - not for an outstanding meal. There is an excellent selection of sake and desserts though. The crowd is not great either - I went on a Saturday night and it was packed with tourists and B&T.
In short - fun to visit, good for groups, but I will not be back on my own buck.

Pros: amazing presentation, funky tasting menus

Cons: expensive and touristy/B&T

Posted 07/14/06