A new high-end, but more affordable omakase from Sushi Seki and Sushi by Bou alumni has set up shop in the West Village.
Omakase Room by Maaser is now open at 321 Bleecker St., between Christopher and Grove streets, with two menus priced at $75 for 12 pieces and $115 for 17 pieces. Owners Chunyu Chen and Peter Lin worked as sushi chefs for 20 years before finally deciding to team up and open their own place.
Chen describes the omakase as edomae-style with a twist, where pieces could include chutoro with fresh pickled wasabi, torched salmon marinated in housemade soy sauce for 24 hours, or still-writhing giant clam. Fish arrives four times a week from Tokyo. “The main purpose is to bring more of the flavor of the fish with another ingredient,” Chen says.
Chen and Lin built out the 14-seat bar — named as such since maaser is a charitable concept in the Torah — by themselves, they say. It’s a spare room with blonde wood and white walls, similar to many other sushi bars around town. There’s no liquor license yet, but once that comes through, the focus will be on sake.
Omakase by Maaser joins quite the group when it comes to sushi restaurants in NYC, a robust genre that spans from neighborhood California roll spots to high-end affairs at $300 a head. Maaser lies right about in the middle, above the timed sushi counters but below most tasting menus.
Omakase by Maaser is open Tuesday through Thursday noon to 3 p.m. and and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.