Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in MiMo / Upper East Side

Absolutely loved Makoto. It was our first time since they moved their location up to Level 3 of the Bal Harbour Shops. Super lovely, energetic, and the interior was gorgeous. We started off with the crispy brussels sprouts, which were so delicious that we put in another order. The truffle salmon was one of the best dishes I’ve ever eaten — it melted in my mouth and they did not skimp on the truffle. The dynamite hand rolls were out of this world, warm and flavorful. The spicy tuna crispy rice had the perfect crunch. Side note: if you like sweet cocktails, get the usagi — the passionfruit notes shined through in this dessert of a drink. The chilled house sake we got was also divine. The rolls were fresh — we ordered the caterpillar roll, the spicy yellowtail roll, rainbow roll, and snow crab maki. My favorites were the snow crab maki and the rainbow roll. We ordered miso seabass and wagyu fried rice for the mains — the miso seabass melted in my mouth, and I loved the mix of citrus and sweet flavors that came through in this dish. When we got to the wagyu fried rice, I was already stuffed, but it was delicious with the egg mixed in. We finished the meal off with the toban yaki, one of the most unique desserts I’ve ever had. It was a cross between a crumble and a sorbet dessert — the flavors were incredible. The service was amazing and we loved our server Helena. 10/10 experience at Makoto and can’t wait to come back!

I’m often skeptical when a restaurant is so highly rated but this place did not disappoint. From the reservation ease through the entire experience it was nothing less than absolutely perfect. The dining room, staff and food were fantastic, one of the rare occasions in this city.

The hostess' treatment was rude, she was very impatient and spoke in a disrespectful tone, the treatment of the waiters was excellent, they gave us recommendations and the conversation with them was pleasant, but the service at the entrance leaves a lot to be desired

Another wonderful experience. We brough 2 nephews from out of town, and they were blown away by the food, service, attention to detail by the staff, and the show. We ate family style and were given adequate time between courses to enjoy our family. Then we topped off desert with the Bomb! This is a delicate outer shell of merengue, with fresh seasonal fruits and freshly whipped cream. Bravo! This restaurant has quickly become our go to place to eat especially when we have guests in town. Sharing this experience is on the top of our list.

Each dish was amazing and the service was top notch. Top dishes for me were foie gras mousse, A5 Wagyu, and gnocchi with truffle. Expensive but worth every dollar. We loved sitting at the counter but if you want a more typical dining experience ask for a table when you make reservation.