Sakagura

Great food but be extremely cautious about the wine (they don't serve wine but call and ask if you want to bring your own wine). Love the food but the staff was contradictory about the wine policy. We called before about the cork fee (as they don't serve wine) and was told 20 dollars per bottle. When we got to the restaurant, we were told that the bottle was bigger so they need to charge 50 bucks. We asked for 40 bucks (it's a bigger bottle, equals to 2 small bottles) and got an illogical answer - "we are a sake and beer restaurant, we can't open a wine bottle). How ridiculous it is

We just had another fantastic meal at Sakagura. Excellent pork stew, great sake and desserts. The service however was at the level of a TGIF. Our waitress seemed to be quite unaware of the dishes we ordered, what dishes required spoons, vs chopsticks, etc. This would be fine at a corner diner, but at 200 bucks a person, the staff needs to have better training.

I've been going to this place for a while, and they periodically add new items to their menu. I tried the curry duck soup soon after it appeared on the menu and cannot get enough of it now. Everything else I have eaten there is just as good...including the sashimi!

... this place would not survive. Sure, food was good, venue is unique and the means of getting there is half the fun but I found the service to be atrocious. Once was enough.

Funny, but I get the sense that "I'm still hungry" doesn't actually know the first thing about food. First of all, if you're looking for Texas sized portions, don't go Japanese. Sakagura is considered, at least among the Japanese expat community, top notch. Secondly, if you're looking for one of the most extensive sake lists in the city, this is the place. Thirdly, the service is stellar and if you're looking for food/sake pairings/recommendations the staff is knowledgeable about both. Their homemade tofu is *stellar*, yes, the menu is sashimi only (I fail to see why that's a drawback), and the buta kakuni is highly recommended (by me).

Sakagura is a slightly above-average Japanese restaurant, exactly what you'd expect from the E 40s. This place is probably good for groups of people who want to drink a lot of sake. It is not good for people who want to eat great Japanese food. The whole small plate thing is a cute idea, but fell short of expectations. Also, there are a number of raw fish dishes which are actually the best things on the menu. Given this is the case, you're better off just going somewhere with a great, full sushi/sashimi menu.

Ok, you don't see the restaurant from outside and there's no menu posted outside- but don't be afraid to go in! It's a nice place but yet casual. It's like izakaya but better than bunch of izakaya in east village. All the dishes are nicely presented and taste great! and they are all "Japanese" food... sushi is not the only Japanese food. So if you want to try what most of Japanese food is, but you don't want to pay too much, this is the place to go. They have all different kinds of sake as well. I heard they have the best [select]ion of sake in NYC. and yes, i'm japanese!