Nobu 57 :: New York

I’ve never been a seafood fan and I can’t say I’ve ever been that enamoured with Japanese cuisine… but Nobu 57 in New York City changed all that with one swish of a sashimi knife.  I’m now of the opinion that if you haven’t had the pleasure of Nobu’s signature Miso Black Cod in your mouth, you haven’t lived.

Nobu 57, near Central Park, is co-owned by Robert De Niro and the dining station of choice for glossy Manhattanites and celebrities alike.  They come here for the understated, stealth-like service, the chic décor and the mouthwateringly delicious Japanaese fusion cuisine.

But do you have to be rich and/or famous to go there?  Will a few rolls of sushi cost you the down payment on a three-bedroom house?  The answer to both questions is no – you just have to play it right.

If, like me, your usual budget is more Wendy’s than Michelin star, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Nobu’s menu as a decadent treat once in a while.  Just follow two simple rules:

1. Lay off the booze, which will instantly send your final bill through the really quite lovely ceiling
2. Steer clear of the Chef’s Choice stuff – it’s pretty pricey

For around $100, two people can share a couple of tempura and sushi dishes, miso soup (usually about as appealing as washing-up water, but it’s seriously tasty here) and the Black Cod, which is served to the sweet sound of a choir of angels, with a halo of holy light around it (in my head).  And if you’re happy to flash a little more cash, go for the Wagyu Beef; it’ll have you doing a Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally.  That’s not a comparison to Katz’s foul pastrami and fat sandwiches, by the way.

Also, you don’t have to book months ahead.  For a Friday night table, I booked a week in advance and called to confirm the day before.  But you can also rock up on the night and sit at the sushi bar.

If celeb spotting is your thing, the dining room at Nobu 57 can look like a page in Us Weekly – I’ve spotted Michael Caine and Liam Gallagher on tables near mine.  But for me, the A-list food is always the star of the show.