Search

Mr. Robata - Contemporary Japanese Cuisine Stars on Broadway

The two-year-old Mr. Robata on Broadway in the Theater District offers diners as many or perhaps even more culinary options than any other Japanese restaurant in the City. Its specialty is Robata, a rustic Japanese grilling technique practiced in  farmhouses throughout the country. It involves grilling meat, seafood and vegetables over charcoal at precise temperatures. Yet, the Robatayaki grill selections are but a quarter of the menu at Mr. Robata (there are seven entrées and eight vegetable possibilities). The rest of the menu lists seven steak, seafood, and chop picks, eight starters, six salads, four burgers, and what amounts to a full page of sushi selections encompassing thirteen traditional rolls, sixteen sushi and sashimi dishes, six signature rolls, a sushi sampler, chirashi (sashimi over rice), and a chef’s special platter.

Mr. Robata on Broadway in NYC's Theater District

Mr. Robata is, in short, an Asian-type department-store restaurant—as in, “whatever you want, we got.” Within this modern, pleasant spot diners can also order an outstanding three-course $35 prix-fixe dinner from 5 to 7:30pm that lists some of the best dishes from the a la carte menu.

Many choices combine Western and Asian components, even more than Asian restaurants that bill themselves (often incorrectly) as “fusion” eating places. Almost every one of those seemingly straightforward Western steaks, seafood, and chops (that come with a choice of one Robata vegetable side) has an Asian touch. The filet mignon sports a ginger teriyaki sauce, the rack of lamb has a red wine miso glaze, and the boneless pork chop comes with wasabi cream cheese, passion fruit ponzu, and ginger teriyaki.

Mr. Robata on Broadway in NYC's Theater District

Our table ordered both traditional Japanese mainstays like edamame, seaweed salad, and a five-piece sushi sampler, as wells as some less frequently encountered dishes like a noodle salad, braised pork belly with wasabi mashed potato, and Ahi tuna tacos (speaking of fused or fusion options).

Mr. Robata on Broadway in NYC's Theater District

The edamame turned out to be a mountain of warm, salty, steamed soybeans. The “kaiso” seaweed salad harboring grilled eggplant and cucumber with yuzu miso dressing was more interesting than most versions of this dish but also tougher. The deeply flavored braised pork belly set tongues a-tingling while the Mr. Robata noodle salad (steak or chicken) was the most creative offering combining disparate yet harmonious ingredients like Asian noodles, greens, mango, avocado, dried fruits and coconut. A perfect starter for the table of four is the Misty signature roll cut into bite size pieces. Its cucumber wrap gives it crunch while its tuna, King crab and avocado, tomato salsa and cilantro topped with a clump of golden tobika generate an impressive soothing tastiness. Other recommended picks are the very fresh salmon, that diverse sushi sampler and a rich, rewarding chocolate mousse.

All the food at Mr. Robata is appealingly presented. Servers are sweet and well informed but there are occasional long gaps between courses.

1674 Broadway btw. 52nd & 53rd Sts., 212-757-1030; mrrobata.com. For a closer look at their menu, click here; for reservations, call 212-757-1030 or click here.

Bringing a group to NYC? Free planning services

Let us know what you are looking for and we will try to connect you directly and get discounts.

Enter the code: 3972

More Articles