It always tastes super fresh, without the slightest hint of fishiness. Plus, it’s always perfectly chilled. Really is there anything worse than hot sushi? You just know it’s been left sitting out somewhere, potentially growing bacteria. You’ll never worry about that at Koi. I’ve also tried their simple tuna sushi and had an equally pleasant experience. A friend of mine loves yellowtail sushi, and Koi is her favorite place to get it.

Sure the popular specialty dishes are incredible and worth trying. But it’s nice to know that if you’re ever in the mood for just some good, simple sushi, Koi won’t let you down.

Koi Crispy Rice: Spicy Tuna or Yellowtail Tartare over Crispy Rice
I recommend the Spicy Tuna if you only choose one. It’s the classic way to eat crispy rice and Koi does it really well.

Creamy Rock Shrimp
Little pieces of shrimp tempura coated in a delicious cream sauce. Nothing else like it!

Salmon Carpaccio
Delicious cuts of salmon sashimi in a soy type sauce but really you have to try it to understand. I frequently order seconds.

Your Favorite Sushi
When you go to such a fancy restaurant, you might feel strange ordering something as simple as salmon sushi or tuna sushi, but I think Koi really shines here. So order at least an order of your favorite Sushi.

Baked Lobster Roll
So decadent. So much more than a roll. You have to try it. It’s exactly what it sounds like but the sauce is just incredible.

Koi is great at honoring requests for specific tables (especially if you call in advance). I particularly like the patio half-circle booths, but then again, so does everyone else. But so long as I request it when I make my reservation, I always get one!  I love restaurants that keep their promises.

I’m always so pleased by my servers’ knowledge and charisma. Since I’m quite familiar with the menu I always ask my server lots of questions about the specials and they always seem to know what to recommend to me based on what my favorite dishes are. I’ve also noticed that the servers always seem available, but they don’t hover. They don’t make you feel like you need to rush. Plus, if you order a lot of dishes, they’re great at timing it so that not everything comes out at once (which means you have to eat the hot items first). Furthermore, I’ve dined here on occasion with a friend of mine who has dietary restrictions and they’ve been very accommodating to her needs.

Plus–the bathrooms are always tidy! Not all restaurants can manage that (and I’m so grossed out when they can’t) so props to Koi!

My all time favorite is the lychee martini. It’s delightfully sweet without being syrupy. And man, is it strong! I’m serious, if you drink more than one-and they’re so delicious you will-you better have a designated driver! 

Another favorite of mine is the Wasabi Praise. It’s a brilliant blend of Vodka, Saki, Lime Juice and fresh wasabi. The vodka and saki balance perfectly, while the wasabi gives it a little kick, and the lime juice makes it tart. Yum!

If you’re not a fan of sweet cocktails, I’d recommend the Ginger Sidecar made with Cognac, Ginger Liqueur, and Sweet and Sour. The Ginger gives it a really unique flavor: almost dry. It’s not overly sweet at all.

Finally, if you ever have the chance to go to Koi when they have one of their seasonal cocktails, you must partake! One year around Thanksgiving, I had a pumpkin martini at Koi that was absolutely to die for! The pumpkin flavor made it fluffy and sweet, so it felt like I was enjoying dessert through the entire meal.

As if you needed to be tempted further, I’ll just leave you with a few other appetizing names of their cocktails: Koi Chai Tea, Tangerine Cosmo, Blackberry Martini, Saketini, and the Espresso Martini.

I just found aout about Koi’s new Skinny Menu!  How exciting!  All of these items have under 300 Calories, so you can even order two for a nice, delicious meal without the guilt!  I would go for the Steamed Chilean Bass followed by the Grilled Chicken Lettuce Hand Roll, YUM!  For an underwhelming calorie total of 416 calories, you seriously cant go wrong!  And knowing that Nick Haque doesn’t put anything on his menu that isnt delicious makes this all the more an absolute must to try out.

Anyway, Koi New York was featured in Business 2.0 Magazine.  Koi Restaurant in New York City is located right in the Bryant Park Hotel, just blocks from Bryant Park.  If the name of that park rings a bell, it should, because that’s where NY Fashion Week takes place.  Pretty cool.  When I’m a famous restaurateur, I will be attending upscale events like fashion week.