Gari's omakase was a real treat! Their signature sushi were innovative without sacrificing the umami. The only downside was the comfort of the seats. My back started to ache towards the end of the meal...

Had their fabulous omikase fire lunch. The chef chooses the dishes. Incredible flavors and textures. Very expensive but well worth it. You won't be disappointed.

The fish was very fresh. The server was extremely friendly and very informative! Every bite was like a new experience of flavor and textures.

The Omakase is to die for and my Chef's name was Kishikawa. The mark of a good sushi place is when the dead fish do not taste like dead fish and this place does a superb job. It is expensive.

We chose the omakase dinner with both sushi and sashimi. It was imaginative, delicious and beautiful. One of the finest meals I have ever had.

Amazing food, affordable prices and great service. If you can't get a reservation they have a small table for walk ins and are always very accommodating. One of my all time favorite restaurants worldwide

Best sushi in town, the quality of the fish is superior to any other Japanese restaurant in NYC. It's one of a few restaurants that you can relate back to Tokyo sushi

An amazing experience but definitely get your wallet ready, it will definitely take a hit.

Enjoyed a lovely anniversary dinner here - highly recommend the omakase!

Love coming here…. It’s delicious, great service and I feel totally comfortable sitting at the bar alone watching how they make the sushi

Best Omakase I've ever had! It's like an orgy in your mouth. The master sushi chefs mix flavors, textures and tastes to surprise and delight! It doesn't come cheap - about $125 per person for 3 courses of sashimi and sushi. The decor isn't special, though you can get a nice view of the Museum of Natural History if you're by the window. I recommend seats at the sushi bar because that's where the magic happens here. Oh, and if you happen to use the restroom there's a treat there too - you can use the hands free Japanese toilets - not only does the toilet seat raise and lower on its own, but it will wash and dry you too!

Nice sushi place in the UWS. Nice atmosphere for couples and family who brings their children. I had the teriyaki salmon with broccoli, asparagus and a bowl of white rice. It was amazing. The service is good considering it became fully occupied after we showed up. Nice place overall

Great sushi and sashi with good, quick service. No bar, only wine, beer, and sake.

Favorite sushi spot in the UWS - food is consistently good and tastes fresh - servers are always nice - not much of a wait - and the counter seems to be the best spot. Not sure I would recommend the omasake - but when we order a la carts is generally a $100-150 meal for two at dinner.

Simple ingredients, tasty and healthy food. I love how this restaraunt does not drench their sushi in sauces. My friend ordered the crepe dessert and it was incredibly delicious. Will visit again when I am back in NY.

Truly fresh and tasty sushi at a fair price. Everything that we tasted was great - including the gyoza and miso soup. The staff was warm and helpful. I'd put it at the top of my list for sushi places in the area. I'lli definitely be coming back soon.

Definitely my favorite sushi place in New York. Well worth the prices. I had chirashi, the gyoza app, and some pieces of tuna and everything was fantastic. I wish my budget would allow me to feast here once a week. Bonus points for the advanced toilet that I wish I had in my home.

We stumbled upon Gari at lunch after visiting the Museum of Natural history on our last visit to NYC. While planning this trip, we made a point to go back! Wonderful, fresh, well prepared sushi. We loved it again! Top quality sushi and omasake, special chef menu. Everything is so fresh and no wonder its always packed. I definitely highly recommend the omasake chef menu. There are many japanese restaurants but this is really the best i have seen in ny.

Excellent. Highly recommend the omakase experience.

The 5 star ratings system leaves no room for fine distinctions between truly excellent restaurants. If I could take off a quarter star, I would. The Gari style, common to all Gari restaurants, is to dress each nigiri piece in a distinctive way, and sometimes it gets to be a bit ... much. Otherwise, though, the food, presentation, and service are top notch.

One of the best sushi I have ever had!

Fantastic experience from the moment I stepped into the restaurant! The host and staff were all very professional, the space is beautiful it its minimalism, and the omakase experience was the best I've had. The chef attending me was very polite and kind. I can't say enough good things about the entire experience!

Good food comes at a price! You can keep your bill "reasonable" and still have a solid experience, but to really enjoy what this place has to offer, you should get adventurous with the menu. Or even better, order the "omakase", which is the chefs selection of what he believes to be the best fish available at that given time.

Go. Ask for Ray!!! Wonderful experience.

We've been to Gari twice. Once for Omikase and once ordering off the menu. Phenomenal both times. Every detail, every thing on the plate, it's all done well and filled with flavor. A fantastic sushi experience.

I love coming to Gari, especially for lunch and brunch. The fish is fresh so you can happily choose between the traditional negiri or their specialty ones that are more adventurous. I've had (and loved) both. Today, I got the Kaiso salad, which consisted of four kinds of fresh seaweed with onion dressing. Tasty! Next, I got the the Sushi Brunch. Which had 4 specialty sushi and a roll that was chef's choice. Yum! The service was great as well.

+2

Lunch on Saturday with friends, we walked in mid afternoon and got a table. We had the menu option where you basically you keep getting served until you tell them to stop. The food was very good indeed, small morsels but all in all a fine meal, worth a visit when in the upper west side NYC

+1

Simply The Best. Crowded, yet superb & attentive service! A culinary delight on the UWS.

Awesome sushi and not unreasonably high prices.

Choose this place based on high ratings and it met our expectations. The food is delicious, exquisite, every piece is like a state of art (garnishing, set up). The service is on a high level. Highly recommended for visit !!

Best sushi in NYC! I have been coming here for years,one of the few sushi spots where they still have actual Japanese chefs preparing your food. Nothing not to like, beautiful dining room great food and the hostess Priya brought a touch of class to the place! Chef Gari has proven once again no soy sauce necessary.

Fresh and delicious. Order a bunch of items and share. We went here for lunch, but would go back again for dinner too.

Amazing place to eat proper sushi. Their specials are highly recommended. The service is up to the standards.

I’ve tried so many sushi spots on uws and sushi of gari by far the best!! You can always get a table last minute. The quality of fish is phenomenal and the staff are so sweet. Can’t recommend it enough!!!

Amazing omakase. The fish was so fresh and toppings made it unique and special.

Yvonne Perry

Didn’t have a reservation on a Sunday night, so had to sit at the sushi bar. It was actually wonderful to see so many chefs working to create the beautiful dishes here. Very delicate sushi with interesting toppings, like a horseradish sauce. Our order was quite simple, but I was able to see firsthand some of the creations being prepared. Be warned: this place is not inexpensive. But the sushi is a notch above. Our kind waitress was very well informed, so ask questions! Bonus: Japanese toilets in the restrooms!

Gabe Ross

Always my neighborhood go-to. The best sushi in the area by far. Always consistent, authentic, comfort food, fresh fish, a New York classic. Not stuffy like all the omakase spots popping up all over, but much more high end and elegant than the other Japanese restaurants around. It’s the perfect in between, and the quality is always there!

Kelly Punch

We had a wonderful experience. Our server was very nice and helpful. Drinks were pricy but really well crafted. Everything we ate was delicious.

Amy Wapner

Being a very experienced Japanese food appreciator, we decided to start with a simple sushi deluxe dinner. !! And the quality of the fish, the RICE, and the iverall feeling was excellent! We will be back for omikase soon. Thanks so much.

Henri Merceron

This place is so easy to miss..I’m actually not sure it has a sign out front. It probably does but I just went in without looking because my friends told me about it. Seems that that doesn’t slow down business. I went on a Thursday night an hour before closing and although the space isn’t large, it was packed. Lots of energy. I sat at the bar and had my usual …uni and fatty tuna. Both were fabulous (although the uni was $24 each vs the $15 I usually pay at other sushi houses). Can’t say that it was better than those for the price. I had a salmon sushi and immediately noticed that there were none of those white veins (the typical grain that you see normally). I’ve never seen such a uniform slice of salmon. And it was as velvety as it could be. Along with it I had the seared king salmon belly. Truly wonderful flavors along with the richness of the species. The slight char offered a nice flavorful accent. I had the salmon roe only because I’ve never seen such large beads. Not sure that the flavor was different from normal sized roe but the texture was enjoyable. Finally, I had the hijiki seaweed salad. It was unlike any seaweed I’ve had. Don’t know that I can describe it as it was a totally new flavor for me. Perhaps a little earthy. Again, hard to describe but worth the experience. Sitting at the counter where 6 chefs were actively plying their trade, I saw some very uniquely presented sushi and maki rolls that made me want to try EVERYTHING. But I didn’t. I wasn’t that hungry and I would have departed with a $300 bill just for me WITHOUT beverages. I will definitely return. It is not common to have a sushi menu absolutely replete with creative options as could be found here. Great staff too. Very attentive and informative.

Zo

Beautiful and delicate food, beautiful balanced flavours and authentic. Some of the most tender and tasty outside of Japan. Cannot understand the negative reviews other than to think they don’t know what good quality Japanese food is.

Olga NYC

The Chicken Teriyaki was perfectly cooked—definitely among the best I’ve had. The "Sushi Regular," with eight pieces of sushi and one tuna roll, was fresh and flavorful, though the wasabi inside was a bit unexpected. The seaweed salad was delicious and beautifully presented. We were treated to complimentary Konacha tea, though I would have preferred it to be served during the meal rather than at the end. The service was attentive, and the ambiance was cozy, enhanced by beautiful wall art. The only downside was the limited dessert menu.

+1

A R

We have dined at Sushi of Gari on the Upper West Side twice, once in the restaurant a long time ago, and then again for takeout tonight. The sushi has been great on both occasions. It's not my favorite Japanese in Manhattan, but along with Sushi Yasaka, it is definitely the best Japanese cuisine on the Upper West Side. Gari is the more formal experience while Sushi Yasaka is more laid back. Both places are great.

+3

eric yao

After nearly 20 years, Gari remains one of our family’s favorite omakase places! The fresh fishes, their rice and unique sauces make Gari’s sushi among the best. Service is impeccable.

Dawn

The pictures on Google does it no justice. It is SO nice inside, everyone is professional, warm and welcoming. The sushi was probably one of the top 5 sushi places I have ever been. I will definitely go back and encourage others to do the same

Eileen R

Love the omakase here. It’s expensive but really worth it ! I brought my 13-year-old daughter here for the first time and created a monster 😊. We had the 12 pc, Gari Special, and Mochi for dessert. It’s all perfection! The atmosphere is very plain and simple - which is ok since the sushi is the ⭐️

Isabelle

The quality of the fish is extraordinary and the way they combine it with the other ingredients is very delicious. My friends had Gari’s tuna and I had Gari’s special and both choices were very delicious. The service was very friendly and accommodating.

Karl Brumback

Gari is open again after a long renovation ( to the building itself, not so much the restaurant). The space is actually smaller now as they lost a row of tables between the sushi bar and the windows; the big table is gone too. Space aside, the sushi was as fresh and delicious as ever. Great to taste all your old favorites. Still outrageously expensive, but a fun and guilty pleasure nonetheless.

Nicole Park

Will forever love going to sushi of gari They aren’t trying to be “authentic Japanese style”.. they have their own twist on things, pairing the nigiri with delicious toppings! Know what to expect! Everything tastes phenomenal… the omakase is always incredible. Pictured is the Gari Special sushi dinner set :)

Jason Jhung

Worth the money. Beef tataki is hidden appetizer gem. Their chirashi was a little light on fish to me but the fish I received was extremely fresh. All their ingredients are fresh and extra care is put into their delivery packaging. If you are eating there for the first time you really must open with their Signature Sushi or Sashimi. The Hirame Truffle is ABSURDLY good!! The Salmon Yaki Tomato is playful and works well together. All of the Signature Sushi I have had has been well executed and only in rare instances was the fish itself overpowered.

+4

Moran Davison

Perfect sushi, innovative twists on great traditional Japanese classics. The tasting menu is expensive but very unique, definitely not something you would find at any sushi place. The service is good without being too much and the atmosphere is very intimate and cozy.

Lizzy N Kim

One of the best omakase sushi you can find in manhattan :) (in terms of both price and taste)! Some aren’t traditional, but they are VERY delicious

+4

A la carte sushi is very nice but for the pro w not extraordinary. Everyone says to go for the omakase but it looks very fussed up.

Visited here twice and I am not going back. The restaurant has a great interior and immense space That's the only positive thing about it. Food is pretty ok, not horrible but not top-notch either. Their rolls, udon and tempura dishes are pretty good. But it was strange that they served ice cold soy sauce for the tempuras..why? Waitress couldn't answer either. Also the beef nabe, sort of like sukiyaki, I tried..what are they kidding me? They only put exactly 3 pieces of beef! I complained to the waitress and she nodded her head and went in the kitchen. She never came back to our table to give us any feedback. How professional huh.. As you could probably sense by now, it is their unprofessional service that really turned me off. When we were seated, it took them about 5 minutes to come back and take our food. Was it even crowded? No. Not many people were around and still there were one waiter and one waitress going in and out of the kitchen, chatting and whatnot. That tall Korean guy waiter...I really didn't appreciate his manner. When he gave me a check, he didn't even look at me but demanded me to leave the tip in cash. What the heck! Keep in mind that this place is not cheap either. For this amount of money I'm spending, I feel that I deserve a way better service than the service that they provided here. Unpleasant and downright unprofessional.

Good decor, very polite service, and a nice scenic view. The sushi was pretty good, though the menu could be bigger. I liked the desserts as well.

Second time I've had true omakase (well, let me define true as I know it: you sit at the bar and eat piece by piece at the chef's choosing until you tell him you're full), the first being Sushi Yasuda. More creative than Yasuda - which is not to say better - different, entertaining and worthwhile. I'm glad to have an option a few blocks from home which is a transporting experience, worth the money as that.

The Gari experience is truly amazing. The variety of amazing rolls will satisfy any food lover. From the toro with daikon radish, to the uni, 5 star food is common in this restaurant. In a spectacular neighborhood, Gari is a great choice for a weekend for any age.

Reminded again why Gari has some of the best sushi in town! Took a star off because they ran out of our favorite dessert: the Lady M: an amazing out of this world Millefeuille done in a Japanese style!

The sushi here is absolutely unreal. Decor could be a little better, but that's not really why you come here. All rolls are very creative and unique. Possibly my favorite sushi in the city

disappointed. Monday pm reservation notwithstanding, the fish was old and searing it did not help. Get the most expensive option on the menu as my husband did, or get seared old fish. This restaurant does not deserve its excellent Zagat rating.

Incredible food. Gari Columbus really prepares each meal like an artist. My plates were top notch and hand crafted with care and visual appeal, along with great flavors.

The omakase is where it's at! Gari does it just right. The rest of the food was equally as delicious, but that's reason in itself to come here. Solid service, and a clean restaurant overall. I will be back!

Conflicted. The food is great. Fresh fish and somewhat inventive construction of dishes. It's just boring? It is solid sushi but nothing more, nothing less.

The omakase is definitely a must try. A bit expensive, but the ingredients are incredibly fresh. The sear toro almost melts in your mouth. The meal is about $90 for a 12 piece sushi set, but it's definitely worth the experience. Other than the omakase, their tuna samplers is also a good choice. The most spacious of their three locations. It can definitely accomodate bigger groups of people, although I find the service here to be the least attentive of all three locations (our table is constantly out of tea/water on my multiple visits).

How disappointing Gari doesn’t add wasabi or ginger or soy sauce with your order. Regardless of their excuse that there are mandates you have to request it by choosing “utensils “ that’s a really bad excuse bc not only is that a waste of utensils if you don’t need them - those are food items that most everyone expects- especially w an expensive order!! So disappointed!

Not your typical sushi restaurant where you can get tempted to order way more than you really need, here its all about quality over quantity. Get either the omakase (possibly the best sushi one in the city) or either the tuna or salmon of gari plates and treat yourself to their sushi chef's amazingly delicious artistic representation of sushi. No soy sauce is served, nor needed.

Hands down my favorite sushi place in New York. The creative spin on the traditional sushi is amazing. Gari creates some of the most unique flavors with his new sushi combinations. I recommend the Omakase. Make sure you ask for the frois grais sushi. I also like the tuna with tomato. I would eat here everyday if not for the price.

FABULOUS sushi! 🍣 “Best Miso Soup ever” Tempura a tad undercooked but still good. Great lil spot for after the museum although we felt underdressed in sweaters and hoodies.

I am Japanese and wanted some authentic sushi. But the two non-Japanese speaking hostesses at the front didn't even pay attention to me when we went in on time of our reservation and took us to a table with no smile. I felt very unwelcome. Our Japanese server and the Japanese hostess were very attentive. Sushi was very good but drink menu was very limited and over priced. Ambience was not so great, they squeezed in too many tables for that space. We were feeling clostophobic.

Steph W

*Okay granted this is partially our fault buttttt - we asked the waiter for a recommendation for sake. The waiter provided us 3 small samples to try but he did not offer to share the price of the bottle nor did we ask. When the bill came, we found out it cost us $220!!! I felt like this was dishonest and put a damper on our otherwise wonderful meal. Ambiance (5/5): The establishment is pretty small but very organized and neat, clean, and welcoming! We were seated next to the chef's table and loved watching the preparation right in front of our eyes. The chefs worked together seamlessly to prepare the various dishes with special garnishes, sauces, and presentation. Service (4/5): We were warmly greeted at the door. Warm towels for wiping at the beginning of the meal and during the middle course. He went out of his way to ask us in advance if we wanted a birthday dessert since there was only 2 left in the back so he could reserve it. They came out with a sparkler candle for us! Free green tea with the dessert. Food (5/5): We chose the combo omakase for $180 (4 sashimi & 8 sushi). Every single dish was fresh and delicious! Presentation was exceptional and the tastes were infused with art.

+7

You are paying for only the taste in your mouth, nothing else. Omakase was stunningly good, but service, ambiance, and quality of sake not at all worth the price tag.

The sushi is good- even though I paid for a dinner that I hoped was going to wow me Ordered the gari sushi special. A omakase Chicken meatballs. Hijiki. Some rolls. The nigiri had too much rice.

Very good sushi. Expensive. Service was too attentive- never let us pour our own sparkling water. Annoying house policy- one orders a sushi for $16 a piece and they propose to charge the guest for some xtra ginger?!

Omakase extremely overpriced as compared to offerings elsewhere. Somewhat noisy. Service friendly but not very attentive. Felt rushed during a suppodedly relaxing meal.

We went here after hearing that Gari is one of the more high quality yet still affordable sushi places on the Upper West Side. Immediately as we sat down, the waitress pushed very hard for us to order the omakase menu. We were just not hungry enough nor keen enough to pay the market price for that and decided to order a la carte instead. We also did not order alcohol as prices by the glass were higher than comparable nearby offerings, though they did appear to have a fairly extensive assortment of sake. Because of this, it seemed as if the waitress tried to get us out quickly. Our food came out not too long after ordering and we also felt unwelcome and a bit rushed. The fish was quality for value and the service was prompt, but the ambiance was unwelcoming. Customers should be treated well even if they do not order the omakase. We will continue to hunt for the best value for quality sushi nearby.

If you have a family, not the restaurant for you. Do not have booster seats or high chairs. Hard to share different and nice culinary experiences with kids if there are no accommodations.

Our go to sushi place for a while, tonight wasn't great. Very fishy. Not good.

Worst, most rude experience I’ve ever had at a restaurant. Hostess went out of her way to make sure I felt not welcome as single diner. Was not served or seen by a waiter once sat for over 10 minutes

$100 for 12 pieces of sushi? Come on, really? No soup, no salad, no appetizer. Just 12 pieces of sushi for $100. We got the Omakase which the waitress recommended without even bringing menus. Big Mistake. I wonder if I would have liked it if I ordered from the menu. I actually really enjoyed everything I ate but some pieces were better than others and I would have liked to have more of some. But I've been out to sushi 100s of times. If you spend $100 on Sushi for the table, you're getting a BOAT LOAD (literally and figuratively) of Sushi. We spent 100 PER PERSON! And got 12 pieces each. I'm sorry, that's ridiculous and you can't get more than 2 stars. $8.50 for individual piece of sushi. I also forgot to mention that we had to wait an hour for a table, the service was not friendly. My friend asked if he can have a side of spicy mayo and she said "No, you can't". Amazing that we can spend $300 on sushi and you can't even do what you want with it. No soy sauce allowed, you have to eat it as it. Total Rip Off. Go to Shake Shack if you need to eat on this block...or any other sushi restaurant in the city.

The sushi is good, the portions and the restaurant are sliding downhill. Ordered an entrée sized portion of tempura, looked like an appetizer. I asked for additional tempura sauce and was told I'd be charged an additional $1.50. Really? I'm spending $250 for a family of 4 and being charged $1.50 for sauce? You're not that good. Likely will be the last time I go there when I have Morimotos, Hatsuhana, Blue Ribbon and a million other great sushi places to go to.

Very disappointing omakase experience. My wife and I live on the UWS and have tried several of the local omakase spots. This felt more like a nice sushi restaurant than an omakase experience with busy table service and take out orders being prepared right next to my omakase. The chefs selections were a little bizarre. Is it really omakase with no uni, no wagyu, 1 piece of toro, and barely a torch in sight? I was served a hot oyster Rockefeller that was basically inedible and completely out of touch with a fresh sushi meal. One sushi piece had a thin slice of truffle and the chef added a drop of “truffle oil” on top, presumably trying to trick me into thinking I was served a reasonable portion of truffle. Didn’t refill my pickled ginger. Came out to a $500 meal for 2 people and I was in and out in about an hour. The omakase felt more like a gimmick than a true sushi counter experience. I got stuck in a tourist trap and I’m a local!

Although the good reviews, it's a trap. The service is confusing and the attendant (who served us) barely speaks English. The fish is not fresh and all rolls are FULL OF RICE! Tried the foie gras sushi: bad appearance and strange flavor. The eel was good. What a disappointment.

John Maull

Mediocre Japanese restaurant. The sushi was nothing special and certainly not worth $60 for the sushi deluxe. The teriyaki chicken was dry and overcooked. I asked for extra teriyaki sauce to make it moister and was informed that extra sauce costs $5. Really? The gyoza had little flavor. Anyway, I won’t be returning. Too many great Japanese restaurants in this city

Came in with a small child. They do no ot have a high chair, not willing to let you sit the kid in a stroller and were very rude. They dont want to have kids in the restaurant but wouldnt say it anywhere. NOT A KID FRIENDLY PLACE, STAY AWAY IF YOU HAVE KIDS!!!

Not worth the money. We did a Valentine’s Day Omakase. The bill was $480 and we didn’t feel like it worth the money. We’ve had a lot of Omakase and this was very disappointing. Very stingy with the amount of food.

Rather go next door to shake shack. There is a ridiculous $20 per person minimum at this place. Not even sure this is legal in New York? Their tables outside are piled up in a corner. Its like a hilbily backyard, complete with metal chairs. The menus are bigger than their tables and the inside atmosphere is noisy. Totally not Japanese more like a downtown fast-food joint

12 pc. Omakase was tasty, but not appreciably better than plain sushi. Ordered many more dishes too, and went away hungry and unimpressed. Spent $380 with tip for two people, without any drinks. And the waiters are rude, on top of it. Would not replace my toddler daughter's small glass when it fell and broke. Also would not seat us at sushi bar, because we had a toddler with us. Maybe this place used to be good, but I have eaten much tastier sashimi and sushi in other restaurants, in normal quantities, at a fraction of the cost.

We had the Omakase, usually we expect something special from this kind of experience but save yourself the money and head to Wegmas and get their sushi. It’s about the same.

We spent $400 for two here for the sushi omakase, but it fell extremely short of our expectations. The sushi was rushed in preparation, and the rice was sloppy - sometimes packed too densely and was gummy, sometimes packed too loose and just came apart as we picked the sushi up. The fish is very untraditional and not up to par for proper omakase. It was topped with tomatoes, cheese, and chili oil; one piece was deep fried. The atmosphere is also very disappointing. There are 6+ chefs behind the counter, each shouting table numbers out when they’ve finished preparing their tables’ dish. This results in the restaurant being quite loud.

Matthew Peterson

Sushi of Gari lost two long-time customers this evening. My wife is allergic to sesame, which she noted on her order. Unfortunately, when the order arrived, her food had sesame seeds all over it. When she called to report the problem, the manager would not take corrective action until we provided a photo. Having been long-time customers and spent hundreds of dollars on this business, we found the fact that the restaurant did not trust the report absent photo evidence to be very offensive. And when we provided the photo evidence (showing all the sesame seeds on her food), the manager offered a partial refund and did not even offer to send another order. Equally frustrating was the manager's insistence that the photo request was not an issue of trust by rather a matter of "getting to the bottom of the issue," which simply did not seem like a genuine explanation. I'm not sure what information can be gleaned from the photo other than what we had already told them -- there were sesame seeds all over the food.