Bar Goto

The miso wings are a must order! Amazing flavor and spice and only 16 dollars for 10 wings. The cocktails are decent too! The inside is small but it has a Japanese style influence which is cute

This place is awesome! We had reservations for a party of 2 for a Saturday evening. The place was poppin so make sure you make a res too! The vibe inside is dark and intimate. I would not recommend for parties larger than 4 For drinks we got the:- Sakura martini: surprisingly refreshing?- Far East Side: yum! - Hojicha old fashioned: (I did not taste but was told it's delicious)For food, we got the okonomiyaki. It was pretty salty and I don't think I'd buy it again (esp. for $19!)Overall - recommend for a lovely date night!

While wandering around LES for a bar, we stumbled upon Bar Goto. From the outside, it gave a modern Japanese vibe. When we went in, they only had a standing area for us, but moved us to a table when it opened up.We came here only for drinks and tried the Far East Side ($19), Hojicha Old Fashioned ($20), Lychee & Pear Chunai ($17), and Plum Boulevardier ($20). I personally didn't like the bitterness of the tonic in the far east. The chunai and boulevardier were just OK with the Old Fashioned being the best. But for how small of a glass you get, it's not really worth $20 for a drink. While I love Asian inspired drinks, I didn't think they tasted well together. Plus, it was so loud in there with the acoustics of various conversations going on that it was hard to even talk to anyone. Not really the best place for a first date on a busy night unless you're at the bar sitting right next to each other.

We decided to stop in here for a drink after having dinner nearby and we are so glad we did! We were instantly made to feel welcome by our server and she continued to be so friendly throughout our experience. She even helped us narrow down our drink choices when several cocktails were speaking to us. The atmosphere in the bar was cozy and joyful, with lots of conversations among and between other customers and the bartenders. The space is definitely intimate, but the decor is refined and the lighting was moody. It was just what we wanted as we were trying to escape the cold. That escape continued as we got our drinks, the Sakura Martini for me and the Far East Side for my partner. Both drinks were lovely, complex, and refreshing. I especially loved the touch of the cherry blossom floating in my martini. My partner also ordered the hot toddy later in the night that he really enjoyed. Highly recommended Bar Goto to those seeking interesting cocktails, friendly faces, and a warm atmosphere.

nice japanese cocktail bar, very relaxed atmosphere and friendly bartenders. cocktail menu isn't long, wasn't able to try any food

Food: probably the best okonomiyaki that ive ever had in NYC. The taste was flavorful but i was more impressed with the way they put on the sauce they say the drinks are creative but i wasnt too impressed with the drinks (my friends had highball and i had pear? Cocktail but it was okay- not like crazy great)Ambiance: okay- typical Japanese style, modern type of ambianceService: pretty okay, but didnt like the fact that they pushed for check right after we finished okonomiyaki Overall: 7/10 (mostly due to Okonomiyaki)

I was a fan of the Hojicha Old Fashioned. The Far East was light and refreshing, but maybe not something I would order again. The bar was pretty empty when it opened, and service was quick. Their water cups are like 2 sips so they refilled my water 10 times.

This place was featured on Bon Appetit's Top 100 places in NYC to check out a few years back, and is one of my friend's favorite places whose taste I trust wholeheartedly. We both love Japanese things and I got the vibe that this would be a bit of a hidden gem.Walked in and was able to get standing room before getting a table twenty minutes later on Fri around 6 for a party of 3. You are welcome to stay in the standing space (not an actual room, it's a small place) while waiting for your party with a drink - they do NOT take names/waitlist people so know this beforehand.The actual bar space is quite small, maybe seats 10 people while the rest is standing room and small tables. Better chance getting a table.FOOD AND DRINK- OKONOMIYAKI - this was delicious. I've been on the hunt for good okonomiyaki and prefer the hiroshima style with noodles but this was sooo nice and hefty, filling, savory, and not ot mention beautiful.FAR EAST SIDE - i like a citrusy drink and really enjoyed this, was bright and sweet but not too sweet.MISO WINGS - tender, miso-ey, savory, what more could you want? I would say to not miss the okonomiyaki if you come here. Also my friend told me to get the celery appetizer which I forgot so if and when I come back that will be a priority order!

It's quite crowded, dark, and noisy here, as per the norm for NY bars. The staff is generally very helpful and friendly. I especially like the Melon Ball, which, as its name suggests, is fruity and creamy, and not overly sweet. It definitely tastes like fresh cantaloupe and honeydew.

Was able to walk in on a Friday night with minimal wait. Ambiance was nice, space is quite small and it can get a bit noisy.The drinks were extremely extremely dry to the point where my friends could not even finish them. The only decent one was white rabbit. Maybe there food is better but I would not recommend their cocktails.