Blue Ribbon Sushi

Raw-fish fiends looking for a contemplative, Jiro-like omakase experience will want to look elsewhere. Two decades in, Bruce and Eric Bromberg’s Soho sushi joint is still an easygoing, distinctly American take on the genre: The energy is less “sushi bar” and more “bar & grill,” nobody will say a word if you want to swirl some grated wasabi into your soy sauce, and, because everything is ordered from and delivered by servers, the best seats in the house aren’t at the small bar. Yet despite the lack of pretense, the quality of the fish is still quite impressive and the sprawling menu guarantees everybody can find something they’ll enjoy. Thanks to the à la carte ordering, relatively gentle prices, and wide-open operating hours (noon to 2 a.m., every day), this is also a great place to drop in if you’re simply looking to try out a few new types of fish to add to your sushi vocabulary before you splurge at one of the pricier omakase counters around town.