Lou's Athletic Club

Just dined here as a party of 6 (4 adults 2 children) and our expectations were certainly exceeded. Food was excellent. The menu offered enough of a selection without being overwhelming. The servers were courteous and kind. Will 100% return.

I have lived in nyc for over 12 years and in that time had maaany meals. This is by far the best meal I have ever had in my entire life. It almost doesn’t feel real because every course was so perfect and expertly prepared. To start we had the grilled squid with a spicy citrusy sweet sauce, the vegetable tempura, and the oysters which were topped with yuzu vinegar and some fresh salmon roe (what a bite omg). Then we had the mentaiko pasta with crispy bacon which was so creamy salty and unctuous and also had the tora Don (raw shrimp, raw scallop, king crab, Ikura, uni, and a little bit of caviar) which was the most mind blowing bite of the whole meal. I will definitely be coming back to try more stuff. It’s insane that this place is tucked away off knickerbocker. Might be the best Japanese food in the whole city. Just the absolute best dinner I have ever had ever ever.

Food was amazing. Everything arrived fresh, tasty, and really well-packed. We also had an issue with DoorDash, and the owner immediately offered to help, making sure our order would still be delivered on time. Highly recommend! And using this space to say thank you again for the help!

We’ve been coming here often and absolutely love it. Lately, I’ve seen some reviews complaining about the prices, and honestly, I don’t understand it. There are plenty of cheaper Japanese spots around, but with lower prices often comes lower quality. If that’s what you’re looking for, this place might not be for you. If you truly appreciate Japanese cuisine and respect the craft — especially when chefs create their own sauces and dressings from scratch — Tora is the place to be. You can genuinely taste the difference. It’s clear they don’t rely on prepackaged ingredients, and that level of care deserves recognition. Much respect to the owners and chefs — please don’t change a thing! Keep doing what you’re doing. We love it. Thank you!

I had such a great experience at TORA. The vibe is cozy and stylish, and the staff were super friendly and helpful. Everything I ordered was fresh and full of flavor—especially the sushi. You can really tell they care about quality. The bar has such creative cocktails. I’ll definitely be coming back!

I came in with my friends a couple weeks ago, and the place is amazing. The food is so pretty and tastes great. It was a large party so we ordered a lot and got to try a lot of the items on menu. Highly recommend the scallop carpaccio, the tempura, the salmon zabb, and the corn ribs. For the dessert, the top layer was a little too sweet, but the bottom tasted great. 10/10 Definitely coming back.

+6

Hidden gem spot in Bushwick!!! I tried multiple things and tbh i come here for Oysters but didn’t expect that all the foods here are awesome plus the service is on top. I have Server under name Billy and Glen they’re super friendly and attentive. Atmosphere is also nice . I def come back for sure and if s/o looking for izakaya spot in BK I totally recommend to come to Tora Izakaya & Bar !!!!!!!

+2

Went to TORA NYC recently and decided to order takeout, but even from that short experience the hospitality stood out. While we were waiting, they offered us water and were really welcoming, which already left a good impression. The space itself looks beautiful modern, intimate, and definitely feels like the kind of place that would make a really nice date spot. We ordered three dishes: the Yokan Roll, Negichutoro Don, and Gyudon. The Yokan Roll was a really nice example of how modern sushi rolls balance texture and richness. Inside was spicy salmon and cucumber, and it was topped with lightly seared salmon, mentaiko sauce, tempura flakes, and tobiko. The seared salmon added a gentle smokiness while still keeping that soft buttery texture salmon naturally has. The mentaiko sauce, made from seasoned pollock roe that’s widely used in Japanese cuisine, brought a creamy, briny umami flavor that paired really well with the fish. Tobiko added those signature little bursts of saltiness, and the tempura flakes gave a light crunch that balanced the richness of the sauce and salmon. It was a well constructed roll where each topping actually had a purpose. We also got the Negichutoro Don, which had minced medium fatty bluefin tuna over rice. In sushi terminology, tuna is categorized by fat content akami being lean, chutoro the medium fatty section, and otoro the richest cut from the belly. Chutoro tends to be the sweet spot because it has enough fat to be buttery while still keeping that clean ocean flavor. The texture here was incredibly soft and almost melt-in-your-mouth. Negitoro as a dish traditionally mixes minced tuna with scallions, since the word “negi” literally means scallion. The tuna quality here was great and the texture was amazing, but I do think it could be elevated slightly. If the scallions were minced and mixed into the toro instead of sitting on top it would distribute the flavor more evenly. A little shredded nori could add some aroma from the sea, and honestly avocado would pair really nicely with the richness of the tuna. The Gyudon was probably the most comforting dish we ordered. Gyudon has a long history in Japan and became popular in the late 19th century as a quick, affordable rice bowl. Thinly sliced beef is simmered in a sweet savory broth that’s very similar to sukiyaki sauce, usually made with soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and sometimes dashi. The beef absorbs that slightly sweet umami flavor as it cooks. Here it was served over rice with scallions, sesame seeds, and an onsen egg. Once everything was mixed together, the egg yolk coated the rice and beef and brought everything together. The sauce, beef, and egg created that rich silky texture that makes gyudon such a comforting dish. Even though we only ordered takeout, that level of service was noticeable. Overall the food was really good and thoughtfully prepared. The fish quality was great, the bowls were comforting, and the hospitality stood out even in a quick takeout experience. The restaurant itself looks like a really nice place to sit down and enjoy a meal, so we’ll definitely be coming back to dine in next time.

This is my third time eating at Tora, and I have genuinely never had a bad experience here, in fact, every experience has been amazing. The first time I came here, I had the tonkotsu ramen and my partner had the negichutoro don, both of which were great. The ramen surprised me so much, I haven't had a bowl that I love in New York as much of this one when it comes to noodle texture and broth depth and flavor. We also had the hamachi crudo, which is fresh and excellent, and is highlighted by the yuzu truffle vinaigrette. The second time I came here I had ramen again hehe, but we also got a grilled mackerel which was grilled to perfection and could have been an entree instead of an appetizer with just a side of rice for the generous portion. We also tried the mentaiko pasta which was great, but honestly not our favorite when it came to the balancing of flavors; it was a bit too rich. This time around, we got our favorite: the hamachi crudo again :) We also got the truffle wagyu ramen which lacked a little depth in the middle of the bite, but the quality of the beef and the broth were great. I also got the chashudon which was the perfect comfort food on a cold day when I wanted a filling meal. Overall, I absolutely love this place and I hope that it starts to get more business!! But not so much that I can't get a table haha. Not every dish is for everyone, but I love getting to come here and try something new every time, knowing that at the very least it's going to be good and at its best be amazing. The service is exceptional and caring, and the drinks are great too. Definitely recommend this place to anyone I know in the Bushwick area and I hope this review convinces you to give it a try :)

Absolutely incredible surprise of as space. We had almost given up on local eateries after years of local dining (with a few exceptions). This was great food, impeccable service, fantastic drinks and the space itself is small yet perfectly utilized. We went for some staples we enjoy elsewhere, and now we can’t wait to venture out to their other options.