Aburiya Kinnosuke opened in 2005 with a vision to introduce an upmarket izakaya-style restaurant to New York City. If you’re looking for sushi, you’ll need to find somewhere else. Instead, the menu here champions the traditional Japanese method of robata grilling.

Traditionally, an izakaya is an informal venue, a kind of Japanese gastro-pub, if you will. While Aburiya Kinnosuke is chic and refined in decor, it’s stayed true to the traditional izakaya informality. And the menu, with its choice selection of salads, sashimi and homemade tofu (a particular favourite with customers) is expansive.

Here you might tuck into grilled and salted sea eel, duck with houba sesame miso, baby octopus tempura or Okinawa-style stir fry with pork and pickles. Plus, with its impressive sake menu, as well as decent selections of beer and wine, Aburiya Kinnosuke will make you forget all about the sushi.