Sekai Omakase

When they say this place is an experience, they mean it. An unassuming spot in Manhattan that will wow any sushi fanatic. You'll be greeted and given warm towels to wipe your hands before starting.Reservations are basically required and omakase is served at a bar setting. There is nothing like watching a true sushi master showcase their artistry with fresh fish and you'll get that here. Every dish was carefully plated to perfection with a traditional sushi set up.I don't know if I've had better sushi in too many other places. This place can be summed up as unassuming, fantastic, straightforward yet unique, and fresh.

Experience at Sakai Omakase was beyond my expectations. I booked the reservation ahead to make sure I got seats for my anniversary. I got there on time and lucky enough to find a street parking space as you know finding a parking in Soho is not that easy. The restaurant is on basement and no sign outside, it looks like many omakase place like to do nowadays. Service was great and always pay attention to what customers need. Excellent quality of food for the price I pay. I'm glad I picked this place to celebrate the special day. Recommended.

I was treated to Sekai for my birthday this year and couldn't have had a better time! The setting leans no-frills, with a sparse, spartan, spare dining counter in a basement room.Service was attentive and the omakase pieces mostly standard, but executed well. The real surprise was on their supplements menu after the main sequence which had several less-common offerings - I ordered a torched hirame which was done very well.A very solid option among the current era's explosion of omakase offerings in NYC!

Been coming here year over year! So great! The service is wonderful and the ambiance is so nice. On Valentine's Day they give everyone a rose! So nice! The pieces are so quality. On the higher end price point but still approachable for a special night!

The whole course was very well put together, and the place was nice but not too outrageously fancy. Fish was fresh, and it started off with three different appetizers and ended with a nice little dessert. I personally am not big on shiso, but if you like shiso, you'd like the appetizer.The service was good, and particularly, it was interesting how they walked around and showed us the pics of each fish we were eating, which I liked because normally, the japanese names for fish aren't that intuitive.

I made a last-minute, same-day reservation here and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The prices were reasonable, and the freshness of the fish exceeded my expectations. The presentation was vibrant, and I especially loved being able to choose from the charming selection of sake cups. Overall, it was a delightful experience, and I would highly recommend dining here!

Private area for omakase hidden down in the basement. They gave us some appetizers and a lot of different fish to try along with a pudding dessert. The fish was so fresh and they paired the fish well with different sauces and fresh wasabi. Loved the experience! Service was excellent and they tended to you whenever you need since it is a small group at a time.

Solid. Last minute booking for 4. Originally booked 5 but the 5th was stuck at work, literal life and death at a hospital. The staff let the change in headcount slide which was appreciated. Space is sparse, modern and clean. Only complaint would be how close our seats were at the counter for a few bigger guys. This was more apparent when they had to squeeze between us to bus plates or refill drinks. On to the food. The bites skewed traditional but they're adding foie gras, caviar and other garnishes. Still, their compositions showed more restraint than what you would find at other places. All in, about par for the price point. If you're in the area then it's a decent choice.

I was skeptical given the recent proliferation of omakase spots of varying quality, but this one is a winner. The ambiance is perfect for people seeking a quiet, classy experience without the noisy hype of AYCE/AYCD drama. The chefs are soft-spoken here, with a gentle touch that mirrors the light, delicate flavors of their seafood repertoire. The final dessert was such a pleasant delight: Just the right taste to wrap up the evening, with the best compliment I can give: "Not too sweet, and not too heavy."

Minimalistic omakase that impressed with fish quality & simple flavor enhancements with wasabi and soy. At $108 pp and 16 courses, Sekai delivered a no fluff experience but did leave something to be desired. To start, 2 appetizers are served - one being an octopus with yuzu dressing, and the other being a mackerel (?) with grated radish and micro greens. The octopus was interesting, and the mackerel was just okay. Not the strongest start, but interesting for sure. A third appetizer consisting of a steamed sea bass was available for additional price. This was good, but not worth the extra add on in my opinion. Moving onto the nigiri, 12 pieces are served, and theres 1 tuna hand roll at the end. Again, the fish quality here is superb, and simple flavor enhancements are used with wasabi and soy. Probably not the ideal omakase for those who prefer more interesting flavor combinations, but still very good. They also have some pieces with native Japanese fish that I haven't seen before in other omakases. Highlights of the night definitely include the chutoro, ebi, scallop, king salmon, and hokkaido uni. We also added on the barracuda and wagyu with caviar, which were both good. Do note - the additional a la carte pieces get quite pricey. The rice was really perfectly seasoned.Our chef was a bit quieter, and it was difficult to hear the explanations for each piece. It would've been helpful to have a daily omakase menu to get an idea of what we were eating. Overall, Sekai Omakase was a good experience, but most of our party wasn't feeling quite as full as we'd expect after 16 courses + 1 app + 2 a la carte pieces. The vibe is also on the quieter side. No special pieces or desserts for celebrations - just a candle in the buckwheat pudding (which is silky smooth and delicious). Total dining time was about 1.5 - 2 hours - very well paced.