15 East, tucked around the corner from bustling Union Square, is an oasis of calm. Its tranquil, contemporary dining room and serene servers are the perfect compliment to the restaurant's sublime Japanese fare. The sushi was transcendent. And, frankly, I wouldn't expect anything less from Chef Masato Shimizu, formerly of the now-faded East Village fave Jewel Bako.
My friends Lo, Paula and I couldn't help but moan with delight as we tucked into an array of goodies from the sushi bar -- Slow-Poached Octopus with Sea Salt, Japanese Snapper Sashimi with Ponzu Sauce, Sweet Sea Urchin, and a 10-piece Omakase Sushi Platter (pictured above) that thrilled with each bite.
Unfortunately, for all our throws of pleasure, there seemed to be one thing missing: We were still hungry.
Now, that wouldn't have been a problem if 15 East's menu wasn't so darn pricey, but none of us wanted to fork over the entire contents of our wallets for another forkful, no matter how divine.
So, with our palates still happily humming and our stomachs still sadly grumbling, we rounded the corner and headed straight to Republic. A few sundry apps and a bowl of Asian noodles later and we were sated -- and the bill came to less than a quarter of the cost of 15 East.
Admittedly though, Republic's noodles are only a pale facsimile of the real deal, but we made do. Then again, why make do when Manhattan is home to a host of fine hand-stretched noodle hot spots in Chinatown? At that moment though, I was too full to want to wander down to East Broadway for authentic Chinese fare.
But, I wouldn't stay full forever...
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