Japanese
http://www.ninjanewyork.com/
25 Hudson St. – TriBeCa

A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words

The place is visually pretty cool. Every party gets a private room with a shoji screen in the back that Ninjas keep opening to scare you. Ours was off the main area, so we could not see anything in the restaurant, which was a tad disappointing. I would recommend Ninja for a group of people. Steve’s Sister and her fiancee were in town visiting for the weekend and we thought it would be fun to check it out.  It’s extremely gimmicky, but fun. We’d had a few cocktails, so that helped!

As soon as I saw the menu, I knew we were in for a mediocre meal at best. And what’s crazy is I’ve read rave reviews on this place.

The presentation is impressive. The platters are all cool, they use dry ice, the sushi comes on huge wood boards. But sadly, the food is really pretty bad. I’d stick strictly with the sushi and sashimi.

The rolls are bizarre. They are coated with tiny puffed rice, which makes it like eating dry tasteless cardboard. If you drown it in soy sauce to add moisture it’s better, but then of course you lose the delicate flavor of the fish. I did not try the Teriyaki roll, but just looking at it across the table was enough. The eel roll was good, but you can never lose with an eel roll.

I’d say the Driftwood Roku is the best bet – 6 pcs. sushi and a spicy tuna roll. The Floating Sashimi is a chef’s choice of 3 pcs. of premium sashimi for $25, which would be OK for an appetizer but not enough for a meal.

Dry Ice Presentation

I had the classic Japanese braised pork belly in dashi broth. It was nasty. Braised? Slimy and boiled. Tasteless broth, tasteless meat and big lump of tasteless cabbage on the side. Enough said.

If you are a rock shrimp tempura fan, do not get the ‘Creamy Shrimp’. OMG, it has the classic flavor in there somewhere, but it’s drowning in ‘Creamy Mayonnaise Sauce’. Way overkill.

MENU

APPETIZERS
BATTO JUTSU $16
A combination of Tuna Sashimi and Beets served with Ginger Sauce Comes with a bowl of Tuna Confit dressed with Sira-ae Sauce
2 CREAMY SHRIMP $16
Fried Shrimp mixed with a Creamy Mayonnaise Sauce combined with Condensed Milk and Dry Gin, sprinkled with Cashew Nuts and Coriander Leaves
EEL ROLL $8
SHRIMP TEMPURA ROLL $12
Shrimp Tempura and Avocado, Scallion and Cucumber rolled in Rice Cubes served with Sesame Sauce

ENTREES
PORK TOBAN $28
Tenderly braised Berkshire Pork Belly in Japanese traditional Dashi Broth served with assorted Vegetables
DRIFTWOOD ROKU $28
Daily 6 varieties of NIGIRI SUSHI and Spicy Tuna Roll
FLOATING SASHIMI $25
Three different type of Sashimi Specially Selected by our Chef
TERIYAKI ROLL $12
Grilled Beef and Red Leaf Lettuce served in a Teriyaki Sauce
VEGETABLE ROLL $8
Cucumber and Avocado Roll

DESSERT
ICE CREAM $10
A bowl of Vanilla, Green Tea and Black Sesame ice creams
BON SAI $8
Designed as a beautiful Bonsai Tree. Sweet Potato Custard decorated with twisted Pie Crusts
2 GREEN TEA (for Two) $6