Midtown in the Manhattan Borough of New York City runs from 34th Street to around 59th Street and extends across the entire island. Midtown is home to such attractions as Rockefeller Center, the Museum of Modern Art and the Theatre District. The area is home to hundreds of restaurants, including a variety that specialize in Asian cuisine. Some focus on one particular style of food from the region, such as sushi, while others combine elements from different culinary traditions, like Chinese, Thai and Korean, to create new and innovative dishes.
Often visited by celebrities as diverse as Nicole Kidman and Jay-Z, Tao is on East 58th Street in midtown Manhattan. The restaurant held "Zagat" dining guide ratings of "extraordinary to perfection" for its decor, "very good to excellent" for its food and "good to very good" for its service as of September 2010. The pan-Asian menu begins with 16 appetizers, such as the squab lettuce wraps, the Thai crab cakes with mango chili sauce and the Kobe beef tartar tempura. For the main course, seafood lovers may opt for the rare tuna with Asian stir-fry and peppercorn sauce. Those who prefer beef may select the wasabi-crusted filet mignon with tempura onion rings. For dessert, try the giant fortune cookie or the chocolate spring rolls. The wine list features more than 100 selections. Tao serves lunch Mondays through Fridays and dinner nightly. Reservations are required and taken online or by phone. Business casual attire is appropriate.
Tao
42 E. 58th St.
Manhattan, NY 10022
212-888-2288
taorestaurant.com
Established in April 1977, Kurumazushi is on 47th Street in Midtown Manhattan and specializes in sushi. The restaurant held "Zagat" dining guide ratings of "extraordinary to perfection" for its food, "very good to excellent" for its service and "good to very good" for its decor. Fifteen appetizers and soups lead the menu, including the Russian king crab in a chef's special vinegar sauce and the fatty tuna tartar with beluga caviar. The restaurant offers five prix fixe dinners, including the Kurumazushi, which comes with one appetizer, a choice of soup, an assorted sashimi plate and an assorted sushi plate with ice cream to finish. The a la carte sushi menu has more than 50 items, including uncommon fare like imported Japanese sardines and imported sea eel. Kurumazushi serves lunch and dinner Mondays through Saturdays and closes every Sunday. Reservations are highly suggested and accepted by phone. Business casual attire is the norm.
Kurumazushi
7 E. 47th St.
Second Floor
Manhattan, NY 10017
212-317-2802
kurumazushi.com
China Grill opened in September 1987 and is on West 53rd Street in midtown Manhattan across from the Museum of Modern Art. The restaurant had "Zagat" ratings of "very good to excellent" for its food and decor and "good to very good" for its service as of September 2010. All of the dishes on the menu are intended for sharing, allowing diners to enjoy a variety of dishes with each visit to the restaurant. To begin the meal, China Grill offers 11 appetizers, such as the Asia noodle dish of the day and the Thai shrimp cocktail. A signature entree is the barbecue beef spareribs, which come with goat cheese mashed potatoes in a demi-glaze made from soy sauce and mushrooms. The restaurant has a full bar. China Grill serves lunch Mondays through Saturdays and dinner nightly. Reservations are recommended and arrangeable online and by phone. Business casual is the attire. Outdoor dining is available along the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, weather permitting.
China Grill
60 W. 53rd St.
Manhattan, NY 10019
212-333-7788
chinagrillmgt.com
