SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa

I walked into SUGARFISH without a reservation on a Monday night and was put on the waitlist. After about 10 minutes, a spot opened up at the counter, which already gave the evening a nice, casual NYC rhythm.<br>I went for the Trust Me Lite because I wanted a lighter sushi experience, and I also added a special nigiri with Long Island lobster. Overall, the sushi was very solid: fresh fish, high-quality ingredients, clean flavors, and good balance in the pieces. Nothing felt overcomplicated, which is exactly what I appreciate in this kind of sushi spot. The lobster nigiri was also a very good addition — two bites that were simple but genuinely satisfying.<br>The atmosphere is dark, with soft lighting, and I personally liked that mood. It works well if you enjoy a slightly more intimate-looking, almost hidden sushi-bar feeling. That said, the space is small and not especially comfortable. The counter and tables are close, and the restaurant feels built more for efficiency than for a long, relaxed dinner. There is also an upstairs waiting area with some sofas and the restrooms, while most of the actual action happens downstairs.<br>Service was informal and efficient, although a bit chaotic at moments and definitely fast-paced. For someone looking for a practical, high-quality sushi meal without too much ceremony, it works well. If you are looking for a more calm or polished dining experience, this may not be the place.<br>My personal rating: 7.75/10.

What a delicious restaurant. Everything was AMAZING. We got the Trust Me dinner. Incredible and quite filling. Fish was of amazing quality.

We came on Monday night for a dinner. It was relatively empty, compared to more popular days when it gets quite crowded and there’s a wait list.<br>I’d say the food was good, very fresh sushi, both standard and à la carte. Unfortunately, they keep it so dark inside that we had to use phone lights to read the menu. Could not see what we were eating. But it tasted good anyway and the music was good. The price was ok for Manhattan.

A really nice sushi restaurant, with several branches all around Manhattan.<br><br>We were a group of 3 people that came for dinner, shared a trust me menu, along with several additional dishes and everything was very delicious and the ingredients were fresh and of very high quality.<br><br>If you plan on coming here for a dinner, make sure to either make a reservation in advance, or arrive enough time before you'd like to eat, as the waiting queue can get quite long.

Phenomenal experience. All of the sushi plates were incredibly fresh 🍣 and full of flavor . This experience was so special that I plan to carve out time to drop by SUGARFISH whenever I’m in the Flat Iron District. Last but not least ,shout to Sophie; fantastic service and awesome recommendations for me , being a first timer from Miami ! See you guys next time !

Sushi quality is top notch and given the price, a steal for this part of town. Love the limited set menus which make ordering easy (but also the flexibility to add à la carte items). A perfect place for a quick date. The only thing I can think of as a downside is just how dark it is. I could barely read the menu in the lighting and found myself wishing to just brighten it up a little.

I was impressed by their ambience, fish, and pricing. The staff, especially the hosts, were so friendly and organized. While there are smaller and extremely high quality little sushi spots all over NYC, here you absolutely get value for your money.<br><br>Also it’s plainly listed that most of the fish is farmed sustainably, otherwise they have a direct relationship with independent fishermen for wild-caught. It’s often hard to know if your fish is sustainable, but sugarfish makes it easy.<br><br>Coming from the West Coast, my standards are pretty high. The quality, the value, and the dining experience are great for the price.

If you’re after good sushi and sashimi in Lower Manhattan, this is definitely the place to go. We tried their “Trust Me” set menu, which is a great sampler showcasing a variety of what they offer. Everything was fresh, delicious, and well balanced, and the portions felt just right.<br><br>The staff were attentive and friendly, and the pricing was reasonable for the quality of food you’re getting. The place has a dark, dimly lit atmosphere, which might not be for everyone, but it actually fits the classic, intimate sushi bar vibe quite well.<br><br>Overall, a solid spot for quality sushi, good service, and a relaxed dining experience. Highly recommended.

Absolutely wonderful staff and service,everyone super friendly on point and pleasant. Loved this location it was fun to watch the staff work while at the bar. The food is unbelievable everything was amazing didnt need soy sauce or wasabi. Melt in your mouth,fresh and flavorful. Definitely recommend for any sushi lovers. Iced green tea was smooth and lovely.

SUGARFISH is a beautifully designed restaurant with a calm, modern atmosphere. The fish is fresh, the presentation is elegant, and the “Trust Me” set is a clever way to make sushi approachable without losing refinement.<br><br>Still, it feels a bit too polished — like the warmth and soul of traditional sushi have been replaced by a perfectly timed system. The rice was a little loose, and the flavors, while clean, lacked the depth I was hoping for.<br><br>I respect what they’re doing — making high-quality sushi accessible to more people — but personally, I prefer a place with a bit more character and intimacy.

Please do yourself a favor and come here if you like sushi. The freshest fish out there and the yummiest rice to taste. I recommend getting the “trust me” experience. It’s a 6 course meal and will get you FULL.<br>My favorites are the salmon nigiris and toro handroll. This is truly an exquisite experience and only for 50$.<br>Most of the times you’ll have to wait 30mins tops but in my opinion it’s very worth it. Also the workers are very nice.<br>This is my favorite sushi ever.

Amazing sushi, melt in your mouth good!! Also the tip is included in the price so gratuity is not required. Get the loyalty card, if you eat here at least two times you get a free omakase on your birthday. Well worth it!!

Iconic shaped nigiri is what this sushi restaurant is known for. I was pleasantly surprised when we asked if we could be seated with the baby they were enthusiastically able to make accommodations - 5 star service throughout.<br><br>The ambiance is also quite nice - dimmed lights made for a moody eating experience. The restaurant itself is a bit tight on space (there is an upstairs area also) so you'll be sitting quite close to another party / table.<br><br>The food is where I have a bit of a gripe about. Normally sushi is hard to f-up in NYC; it will typically be very good. But just something about the nigiri today was off! The sushi rice was just too vinegar-y. On top of that many pieces made too much use of ponzu which added a note of acidity that became a bit overwhelming with the rice. The fish itself was good and I thought the sesame salmon bite was exceptional. However, a bit more use of things like fresh wasabi would have been welcome in the actual nigiri itself.<br><br>Overall, not bad! Glad I tried it out. And again, service is truly exceptional. Also cool that this is a no tipping restaurant and they (hopefully) pay their staff better wages and bake that into the menu price

Outstanding sushi restaurant! We truly love this place and highly recommend trying their omakase experience. The fish is of exceptional quality, and everything is so fresh. The service here is excellent as well. However, be prepared for potentially long wait times, as it can sometimes take over an hour or two hours.

We’ve been to SUGARFISH over dozen times and every time food was on point.<br>Value is incredible for the price and quality of sushi. Rice is warm and made fresh for each course.<br>They don’t take reservations but if you go off time, you can seated within reasonable time.<br>Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner!