Geisha Table

The Eastsider Geisha – which is currently closed as it prepares to move into new next-door digs – has gained a little sister in this izakaya from the Serafina group, tucked inside an UWS boutique hotel; it serves sushi, yakitori and eclectic Japanese small plates in a bite-size space featuring a central communal table and a bar pouring sakes, Japanese beers and shochu cocktails.

A tiny gem of a restaurant, with an izakaya-type menu and a focus on quality sushi, Geisha Table offers an intimate setting for the sort of Japanese cuisine usually found at larger “designer” restaurants. The team of four executive chefs behind the counter says it all, harmoniously preparing dishes that reflect their training under toques at other top establishments in the city and the cuisines...

The Serafina Group unleashes a smaller version of the Upper East Side eatery, with additional nods to other Asian cuisines.

Serafina's Japanese wing. Shares hotel space with Italian sib, but reflects antipodal approach. Intimate izakaya all about simple, elegant cuisine. Chefs take inspiration from pan-Asian backgrounds, produce super-fresh sushi, ceviche, skewers. Sakes, Japanese brews, and shochu cocktails for sipping at the black tile bar. Sociable space highlighted by central communal table that's as much a work...