Suga Suga, You’re Really not that Fly
For those that have followed me for the past year, you’ll know I eat a lot of sushi. I have my favorite places, but am always open to trying the newest, hottest places in town.
I went to Los Angeles back in September for a bachelorette party and made it my duty to separate from the group during brunch time to try Sugarfish. The rest of the crew was waiting down the block at Sycamore Kitchen on La Brea for your standard Saturday morning hangover brunch, while I was being just your average food blogger eager and excited to try the west coast staple. I didn’t have much time, so I got the To-Go Trust Me box, and while I waited for my order, I got to mingle with the staff where I found out Sugarfish was opening their first restaurant in NYC, right by my office.
I felt kind of silly leaving the group, but figured I might as well embrace it and enjoy the fresh sushi from its hometown. After having a photo shoot in the backyard of our Airbnb, I got to enjoy the very delicate sushi and sashimi, and as I ate it, was instructed which fish should be dipped it which sauces.
To-Go TRUST ME
Organic Edamame
Tuna Sashimi (Big Eye)
Albacore Sushi (2-pc)
Salmon Sushi (2-pc)
Yellowtail Sushi (2-pc)
Snapper Sushi (2-pc)
Toro Cut Roll (4-pc)
Blue Crab Cut Roll (4-pc)
The concept is creative and the fish was definitely fresh, but overall the meal was nothing special, and I was left hungry and disappointed that I didn’t get Sycamore Kitchen with the rest of the group.
Fast forward three months later, and I decided to give the NYC location a shot. Maybe the in-house restaurant dining experience would be different? There must be some way to justify the endless Instagram posts, SnapChats and three-hour long wait times. I totally avoided the restaurant during opening month hoping the hype would lessen, but still had to wait an hour and a half on freezing cold Monday night.
The first thing I noticed was that all of the Trust Me's were $10 more than at the LA restaurants, but looks like they are easily getting away with the hiked price.
This time I got the NOZAWA Trust-Me
Organic Edamame
Tuna Sashimi
Albacore Sushi (2-pc)
Salmon Sushi (2-pc)
Snapper Sushi* (2-pc)
Yellowtail Sushi (2-pc)
Hirame Sushi (2-pc)
Toro Hand Roll
Blue Crab Hand Roll
“Daily Special” (2-pc)
The Edamame was good, but a little skimpy on the portion. I enjoyed the Tuna Sashimi, but I have had way better. The pieces of Salmon and Daily Special Scallop Sushi were my favorite, and I loved the Toro and Blue Crab Hand Rolls, but was this all worth $51? Definitely not!
(Albacore, Salmon, and Snapper)
We sat down at 7:15pm and were out the door with the check paid at 7:50pm. The entire meal felt very rushed. My sister got the Trust Me and a lot of our sushi pieces were the same, but they all came out at different times, so we were never eating at the same time.
Needless to say, it was good, but again, nothing special. I am not going to say I will never go back if I am in the neighborhood and there is no wait, but you really can’t pay me to wait more than 5 minutes.
I am sure my review won’t stop the high demand and crazy lines outside Sugarfish, but I have to give the restaurant a 5/10 based on my overall experiences. The concept is simple, basic and very overrated. If I am going to spend the money, I prefer a true, homey and authentic omakase experience, or I am perfectly content ordering a few rolls off the maki menu at the million other amazing Japanese restaurants in the city.
Sugarfish
33 E. 20th Street
New York, NY 10003
347.705.8100
