Teruko

“Teruko - What a welcoming environment. I'm not sure what's in the air here at Teruko but I couldn't stop smiling from ear to ear while I was at the bar. Nevermind the huge selection of whiskey, the hospitality made me feel like I was a regular. The one two punch of Haruka and Alex made me feel like I could sit at the bar for hours. Those ladies are absolute gems of hospitality. Melon Daisy - A beautiful daisy with just a little bit of nutty flavor on the back end from the sesame shochu. There's pandan along for the party but it isn't loud or outrageous. Kome Bamboo - I usually like my drinks high powered with octane to spare but a low abv is nice every now and then. Sherry, toasted rice, plum, Sake, and charcoal oil. A light weight plum forward sipper. Million Dollar Cocktail - I love a good egg white drink and this one fits the bill. Gin, tomato, pineapple, yuzu and egg white bring a great cocktail to your lips. Don't be swayed by the tomato, it adds a nice salinity to the drink. ”

“I have travelled the world extensively over 40 years. I ate at all restaurants ranging from pop & mom's to Michelin three stars. This is my honest review of the speakeasy Japanese restaurant Teruko in Chelsea, NYC, USA. A beautifully designed Japanese restaurant located in the basement of the Hotel Chelsea. You access it by the stairs to the right of the hotel entrance, from the outside when facing the building. Inside, the atmosphere is dimly lit and sophisticated, with a mix of table seating and counter seats. If you're dining solo or as a couple, I highly recommend the counter seats, where you can watch the sushi chefs in action -- including, notably, a female sushi chef, which was a rare and welcome sight. The restaurant boasts what must be one of the largest whisky lists in New York, truly impressive even though we didn't sample any. Service was attentive, efficient, and friendly throughout. We tried a range of dishes: the house-made tofu with scallion sauce was one of the highlights -- delicate and full of flavor. The miso black cod was well prepared and nicely balanced, while the pork tenderloin katsu was also good, though I would have preferred a slightly deeper soy flavor. The lobster tempura was technically well executed, but the batter somewhat overpowered the lobster's delicate texture. The miso soup was solid, and the sushi selection -- especially the uni, eel, and snow crab -- was excellent. Dessert was another standout: a miso caramel with sesame crumble, combining rich and unexpected flavors beautifully. Overall, the cuisine ranges from good to outstanding, depending on the dish, and the setting is truly elegant. However, the bill was quite steep, so I'd recommend this spot more for a drink and a light meal rather than a full dinner if you're mindful of value. Still, it's a memorable dining experience and a great addition to the Chelsea scene.”

“This place has some history behind it. Tucked away in the cellar of the historic Chelsea Hotel. Let me start by saying that The service was very good. The food was good too. However, the sauces paired with the dishes put out by this great establishment are a dissapointment. The sauce for the spiny lobster tempura and mushroom tempura have no taste & no texture. Just watery. It really took away from the dishes since tempura itself is very plain and savory yet airy. The sauce for the chicken nanban was the best tbh even though i hate mayo. It had texture and was savory but if it had some spice it would have given the sauce some depth. That really would have made that particular dish. I found myself using that sauce for all of my dishes. The grilled steak was good but not great, although the presentation was certainly there. Same with the red snapper. The portion was less than expected for a main dish although the presentation was good. The fish was good as well, the sauce however was moot. Added no depth and no flavor to the dish, not even a background charachter. In summation I would say this place is def worth try but moderate the level of your culinary expectations.”