Shuko

"As of June 10th, Shuko near Union Square has reopened for limited takeout service. They’re open Wednesday through Saturday from 1pm to 8:30pm, and you can order directly through their website ." - hannah albertine

"Usually, you end up eating in Union Square because that’s what’s most convenient. Maybe you’re meeting friends all coming from different neighborhoods, or maybe you’re picking up a salad after you took a workout class, because those are the primary activities of Union Square. But there are no situations in which you just end up at Shuko. You have to plan to come to this fantastic Japanese restaurant—and you absolutely should. The omakase at the bar here is one of the greatest special-occasion experiences you can have in this city." - willa moore, bryan kim, matt tervooren

"Everyone will have a great time at Shuko, but the Union Square restaurant has special appeal for a very specific type: someone who wants an upscale experience that isn’t too stuffy. The chefs behind the 20-seat counter wear Shuko-branded baseball caps, and—rather than the typical silence or jazz—the dramatically lit room is filled with the sweet sounds of Skee-Lo and the Beastie Boys. At $270, the roughly 18-course omakase is firmly in the "major birthday or anniversary" camp, and, while the types of fish are similar to what you’d find at a 60-minute omakase, the service and attention to detail make this place worth it. You’ll eat shima aji and ocean trout over warm, well-seasoned rice, and they will be some of the finest pieces of shima aji and ocean trout you’ve encountered." - bryan kim, neha talreja, hannah albertine, will hartman

"New York’s vibrant omakase-style sushi dining has a new standout in Shuko, a small, brick-walled fish palace with modern music near Union Square. Diners put themselves in the hands of chefs and Masa veterans Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau with the $155 sushi tasting or the more composed $195 kaiseki menu. Dinners might include fatty toro tuna, trout skin dotted with uni and trout roe, or lobster with mushroom and cauliflower." - Paul Schrodt

"Shuko is one of New York’s best places for omakase sushi, which automatically makes it an excellent destination for anyone avoiding cheese. It’s also one of our all-around favorite special occasion spots in the city. So when you’re ready to celebrate the fact that the cheese-hater in your life was recently promoted (ideally to a very high-paying job, since dinner here starts at $180 per person), come here for a celebration you’ll still be talking about five years from now." - emma mustich