Eating at Nobu is like breaking out an old record collection and revisiting classic tunes. Sure, I can get dishes like yellowtail jalapeno, rock shrimp and black cod with miso anywhere now. But there's a special, fuzzy place in my heart for Nobu...it's where I lost my "upscale sushi" virginity all those years ago in Tribeca. Every meal in any location has always been awesome and never has let me down. Just like vodka!
This particular location is very pretty and the big cocoon-like booths look really cool. Why are they still at the Hard Rock? Does Mr. Hard Rock have nude photos of Mr. Nobu eating at Panda Express or something?? They also have the most expansive menu that I've seen from Matsuhisa-san, so branching out from the oldies but tasties was a must.
Their version of hamachi kama was (yooda, yooda) the best I've ever had. Impressive in size, the heavy on the salt based seasoning and brick oven baked flavor was outstanding. The yellowtail meat was so tender that it had everyone gnawing on the bones with bare hands just to get every bit. The server almost lost a limb when he prematurely assumed we were done.
After very little convincing, so minimal in fact that I think I exclaimed "YES! THAT!" while pointing at the guy as soon as he said "chu-toro", we got the daily special of the medium fatty tuna topped with truffle, crispy garlic and greens. They were indeed a divine couple of bites that had me wanting more. I love tuna more than life. Even my car license plate says "tuna" in Japanese.
Nobu still delivers after all these years!