Ikigai

J. Taylor Arnold a month ago

This was the coolest and most unique dining experience I’ve ever had. It was also the most expensive I’ve ever done, but by the end I was convinced it was worth every penny and they could be charging a lot more and it’d still be worth it. I went for my partners birthday and two others were celebrating their birthday and the dessert course (which was insane how good it was) had a candle and they brought little cocktails to everyone and we all cheered to the birthday people by name. We got the alcohol beverage pairing which I highly recommend. First cocktail is shown here and then a few more of the glasses. Service was impeccable and genuine. Especially Kiyomi (guessing on spelling), her warmth and kind banter put us at ease and we were talking about her all night. Truly a special place. Plus the mission is so great!

Lisa Lopez a month ago

I went here last week to celebrate a friend's birthday with four friends. From the time you enter, the staff are there making you feel welcome and comfortable. It's a chef's tasting menu. We paid $195pp. They have add-ons as well for an additional fee. We did both add-ons. One was a Wagyu beef over a mushroom flavored rice. The beef melted on your tongue like butter. And the rice was the perfect accompaniment with a nice earthy flavor. The price is worth it for the experience and taste. There were about 12 courses. You start off in a Japanese garden setting with tea and the opening courses. You are then moved to the interior restaurant. It is an intimate setting with seating for no more than 12;people. Each course was introduced by the chef with a story of how the menu item was conceived. This was my first time doing a chef's tasting menu and I have no regrets. Every bite made you think this was the best thing you've eaten until you had the next bite and you thought that's the best thing. I have many allergies and they accommodated me without a problem. We also had someone with dietary restrictions which were also, easily accommodated. Overall, an amazing experience in service,

Caleb Haddad 2 months ago

If I could rate my experience here more than five stars, I would in a heartbeat. We went here for my partner’s birthday and she was over the moon with the experience. Everything from the ambiance to the dining experience to the food to the service to the storytelling was beyond perfect. We’re still salivating over the photos from the evening. Chef Rafal Maslankiewicz is a creative genius and has curated such a special and innovative menu. Thank you so much for such an amazing experience. We will absolutely be back. - Caleb and Samantha

Jerry H 3 months ago

One of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had, it’s just a phenomenal and special place. Each dish was delicious, fun, and inventive. Watching the chefs work was entertaining and the service was top tier. Highly recommend spending the effort and time to reserve one of their sittings. Again, a truly special place and one of the best restaurants in not just NYC, but in the country.

Paula Rosine Long 7 months ago

What a perfect birthday dinner. I picked Ikigai for their mission, but I can also just recommend them on the quality of their food and the experience itself. Five stars all around! First of all, everyone working at Ikigai was so welcoming, warm and kind. And fun! So if fine dining strikes you as cold or pretentious, never fear: this place is a delight. Every dish was perfection. Without exaggeration, that was the best octopus I ever had in my life. The best tomato soup I have ever had. And the chawanmushi just totally blew my mind - it might have been my favorite! The presentation was also so beautiful that I found myself wishing I could do literally anything in the world as well as these artists arrange food. This was an incredibly special evening that I will always treasure. Thank you! ❤️