Shhh Omakase

Omakase in NYC has blossomed over the years with many options in the city. As of this review, I had been to SHHH a total of three times. It was nice to hear that there was a good quality omakase spot right by Chinatown/LES. They are located on a narrow street and it is truly the definition of a speakeasy. The outer building has the signage of a beauty salon. You have to walk closer and on the window you will see Shhh Omakase. However as you enter, it is not a sushi bar. They have soft serve and frozen drinks in that area during the day. Once your reservation is confirmed there is a doorway that leads into a very cozy sushi bar. The decor and ambience is unlike the fancier sushi restaurants in the city. The vibes inside Shhh are akin to like a back alley hole-in-the-wall establishment that only locals know about. And that is one of the aspects that make this place very unique because you know that service will be more personalized. The seating is very tight as well as the walking space behind you. Worst case scenario is you have to scoot the seat in a bit more as people brush past you but once everyone is seated, very minor issues.As of this review they offer two options for omakase:-14 course for $98 pp (3 appetizers 1 soup/chawanmushi 8 seasonal nigiri)-16 course for $128 pp ( 4 appetizers 10 unique nigiri 1 handroll and in house soft serveThere is a $25 optional add-on of a special uni-ikura don that is a nice treat afterwards. I usually add it for my guest. Depending on the amount of reservations, there are at least two sushi Chefs preparing and serving at one time and they are very good at what they do. The servers / waitresses that have been taking care of myself and my guests each time are very beautiful and so polite. There is unlimited sake so if you ever make a reservation there, be ready to drink. I have visited three times as of the writing of this review and each experience was a bit different the the last. All their ingredients are fresh and used within two to three days. So whatever fresh fish they have on hand for that night is on the menu as they do a great job of ordering supplies each week.In addition to the seasonal omakase, they offer an a la carte menu:- Hotate (hokkaido sea scallop and salmon roe- Botan Ebi (botan shrimp with tamago shaving- Akami (bluefin tuna with onion salsa- Chu Toro (medium fatty tuna with caviar and gold flakes-O Toro (fatty tuna with caviar and gold flakes)-Kinmedai (golden eye red snapper)-Medai (yellowtail with banana pepper and truffle oil)-A5 Wagyu w foi gras-A5 Wagyu w uni and caviarThe whole experience comes full circle due to the great service along with the carefully crafted pieces offered in the omakase. During my first visit, along with the chefs behind the counter was a cool guy named Sing. He was able to make the rounds and check on every customer as well as explain each piece in great detail as the chefs were prepping. He also kept coming around and filling up the sake glasses and chatted with everyone. I can tell they care about every customer and treat everyone like family. And that is why I bring my friends back to dine in. Also special mention to Katherine who provides service with a smile when I dine in and is always so nice. *For reservations they usually have three slots that you can book via Open Table or calling the restaurant. Pro tip from the beautiful server mentioned above- Weekends are usually busy but the last slot either 8p or 9p (check the schedule) is where you and your friends will have the best experience. No need to rush and more sake time. Of course choose the time that best fits your schedule.

Great omakase in Chinatown that has goals to include a speakeasy in the basement and an ice cream parlor in the front!We came as a party of five and chose the 17 course menu for around 150. They have great fun atmosphere and unlimited free sake with very friendly service.It is different from other omakase places in that they offer a lot of small plates like oyster with ikura, snails, squid, clam. The fish is fresh and changes based on what gets shipped in so there are definitely more unique options here.We finished off with a great lychee ice cream. I'm glad I tried it. Definitely better than many other omakase places but Sushi Ishikawa is still my favorite as I feel that the pieces were more unique and had melt in your mouth as well as omg this is amazing feel.

What makes this omakase unique is its diverse menu. From sea snails to conch to toasted black cod, each course is strong. An enjoyable experience, although it would have been nice if they could explain each dish a bit more clearly, sometimes I wasn't exactly sure what I was eating. The ambiance is also unique in that is trendy and modern.

What a wonderful evening of Omakase with friends! Itamae Jason's omakase was absolutely enjoyable. Our server Kat was nice and attentive. She made sure our complimentary house sake was always flowing. It was hard to pick a favorite, as each omakase had a different texture and taste that I enjoyed. For example, the Hokkaido Scallop and Ikura. The scallops were sliced, what a difference in texture and taste. Delicate and not briny. The pickled ginger was cut in cubes vs the traditional slices. So much juicier to the bite, quite gratifying. The slicing, dicing, cutting techniques really does affect flavors and textures. I think I had tasted succulent, slimmy, crunchy, fresh, pickled, tender, velvety, smoky and balance of sweet, sour and salty. Would highly recommend to friends

I had my birthday dinner here a couple weeks ago and I couldn't have been happier. My partner and I got the higher tier omakase. Every piece was exceptional, creative, and absolutely delicious. Some of the pieces just melted in our mouths and we were in food heaven. We drove in from NJ and had omakase at other places before, but shhh stood out the most to us. The combination of fish and different, intrinsic flavors just adds so much depth to each plate. The black sesame soft service ice cream at the end was the perfect, refreshing dessert to end the meal.We left feeling very happy and full. The service was phenomenal and the owner treated us like family. They gave special attention to us and it was an intimate experience.We even stayed after our meal was over to have some more drinks. The interior is very cozy and beautiful ambiance. We will definitely be back! (D&D)I have more photos but I maxed out on the capacity I can upload here... still remembering the flavors and tastes as I'm looking at the photos again!

Incredibly friendly, attentive, and informative service. The ambiance and vibes were perfect. Unlimited sake meant everything was fun and upbeat. The omakase itself was superb. One of the most unique and inventive omakase meals I have had, and the fact it was had at such a reasonable price is amazing. I will be coming back a lot, I can't wait to recommend this place to all my friends.

Great place to bring someone for a surprise party. When you first enter the place, it looks like an empty ice cream shop with no one working the counter. You peak behind the curtain to see if anyone can help you with a scoop of black sesame ice cream and BAM! Omakase speakeasy restaurant. This ain't a cheese and fries for 2.95 type of place. This is high quality fish flown in from Japan and meticulously prepared for your taste buds. The unlimited sake will make you're forget that you're in the back of an ice cream shop and the bill at the end will make you question how this place is making a profit. There are specific start and end times for the meal, so definitely make a reservation online. As always, remember it's not how you take pictures of your food but how you enjoy your food.

Great service, delicious courses, and beautiful atmosphere. Thank you for the wonderful experience.

This was an amazing experience. We actually pass the entrance on the first run. And then you walk into a little ice cream parlor. Then you actually walk into the restaurant area which only seats a capacity of 13 max but they will fit 14 if it's a private party. Every dish was amazing. It was truly an Omakasa experience and I have been too many. Singh the owner was very accommodating and friendly and he has a passion for this. Thank you for the experience and we will be back for sure.

We went to shhh omakase for my friend's birthday. They promised unlimited sake, and they made sure our bottle was never empty. The staff was friendly, and it was overall a fun vibe fit for a birthday dinner. They also accommodated my shellfish allergy. The pieces that we got, although not mind-blowing, were good. I would recommend for birthday dinners on a Friday night!