Thirteen Water

"There must be some sort of tax incentive that encourages sushi businesses to open in the East Village. There’s no other way to explain the huge number of omakase spots in the neighborhood, most of which opened over the past few years. Thirteen Water is one such place, and it sets itself apart with a creative array of toppings that actually enhance the nigiri, rather than overwhelm the fish. For $75, you can sit at a casual U-shaped counter and eat 13 courses that might include scallop with finger lime, barracuda with yuzu kosho, or hamachi topped with ribbons of shishito pepper." - neha talreja, bryan kim, kenny yang, hannah albertine, will hartman

"Nowadays, you can't walk half a block in the East Village without running into a place where you can eat sub-$100 omakase sushi. There are a lot of spots to choose from, but Thirteen Water sets itself apart with a variety of interesting toppings. A meal here lasts exactly one hour, and it consists of a $75 omakase with 13 pieces. You'll get things like barracuda with chives and yuzu kosho, salmon with roasted tomato, and toro topped with more toro and caviar. Try this place the next time you need something a little different. The only seating is around a U-shaped counter, and there are five seatings per night starting at 5pm." - Bryan Kim