Stephen Kwok

If you haven't seen videos from food bloggers regarding this place, then you're surely missing out. Upon entering, you are greeted with a warm, ambient, classical Japanese restaurant. The walls and decor are calming and serene. The menu offers a vast array of food to choose from. Some are classic Japanese dishes you'll see in other restaurants, but you'll also find restaurant specialties. To my surprise, the sushi was perfectly balanced, probably due to our little Buddhist monk and his dry ice! The sashimi were soft, and the flavor were neither too fishy nor too weak. My friend and I were disappointed that we could not try the sake ice cream, but all the food were delicious nonetheless. Of course, the service here was impeccable as well.

My friends and I came here for the holidays. Of course, that means we ordered the holiday's pre-set menu. The food was delicious and visually appealing. It filled us perfectly, not too bloated or empty. We also ordered drinks since it was the holiday, which turns out to be much stronger. The restaurant is aesthetically beautiful, with a wonderful view of The Vessel and the Hudson River.

For some reason, we were the only customers in the restaurant. While I found that odd, it worked in my favor as all of the hot dishes came out piping hot! I am NOT saying that they would come out cold if there was a full house, but only stating how the food came out in their ideal temperature. I recommend the lobster. While it may be pricey, the melted cheese and refreshing lobster taste is worth it. Not only that, but it is easy to remove the meat from the shell. The other seafoods were delicious as well. There were no fishy aftertaste or any sand in the oysters. The atmosphere was relax and calming, although that could also be due to the fact that no one else was there. The only downside is that the ice cream is only one small scoop. However, given how this was a free dessert, we cannot be picky about that. The service was impeccable and the waiters/waitress were all patient and helpful! I will definitely come back, although not too often as the price are a little on the higher end of the spectrum.

The museum is so entertaining, it is a shame that it is quite small. Spanning over 2 floors, majority of the museum is artworks and historical information of dogs throughout time. There are also fun activities for those who are not as interested in art. Learn facts and history of current dog breeds. There's even a kiosk that finds a dog that looks like you! Most notable is the scavenger hunt. Fun for all ages, I recommend doing both scavenger hunts! As a tip, make sure you check their calendar as they hold special events on certain days.

This place is 80% gift shop and 20% museum. If you are curious at the history of the NY transit system, then you'll enjoy this place. If you're like me and not a huge history buff, then you can visit for the aethetics and souvenir. Feel free to add this to your itinerary, it'll only take 15 minutes or 25 minutes if you are actively learning about the history. Note that I only rate this 3 stars because I am not a huge history fan and am not interested in the transit system.