Scratch Restaurants Group, the Los Angeles-based, Michelin-starred group from husband-and-wife chef team Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee, has opened Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: New York, in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. “Opening a permanent fixture in New York City has been a goal for us since we started with this concept,” say the Lees in a statement. “This is arguably one of the finest cities in the world for food when it comes to the diversity, quality, and innovation you can find in one concentrated place.”
The location offers guests their signature innovative 17-course omakase-inspired tasting menu known for Chef Phillip’s bold interpretation of nigiri and Chef Margarita’s signature Matcha Bon Bon dessert, at an intimate 10- seat sushi counter ($225pp plus tax and service charge) Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: New York follows the successful layout of previous iterations of the restaurant. With three seatings offered a night (5pm, 7:15pm, and 9:30pm), the nigiri tasting menu showcases fish and shellfish flown in twice a week from Tokyo’s Toyosu Fish Market. A sampling of their signature pieces include Hamachi painted yellow with sweet corn pudding and topped with a fine sprinkle of breadcrumbs made from Kallas-Lee’s famous sourdough; as well as Lee’s signature 1-2 punch of Roasted Bone Marrow nigiri seasoned with soy sauce, sea salt, and freshly grated wasabi root; followed by a fan favorite of Unagi that’s fried crispy in the rendered bone marrow fat from the previous course and then dressed with poblano yuzu kosho, soy sauce, ponzu, lemon, and sea salt. For dessert, guests enjoy Chef Margarita’s Matcha Bon Bon with makrut lime, white chocolate, and shortbread paired with a Hot Green Tea that is brewed with a bit of umeshu plum wine, smoked lavender honey, and fresh yuzu.
The beverage program—led by Sake Sommelier and Director of Operations Gavin Humes—showcases a thoughtful selection of Japanese beer, sake, and whisky. Three different beverage pairings are offered (ranging from $105-$125) to pair with Chef Lee’s sushi; the first includes three sakes, two micro cocktails and a beer; option two includes six pours of sake; and the third option includes six pours of Japanese Whiskey. Beverages are also available a la carte.
The Sushi By Scratch Restaurants arm of the restaurant group continues to exhibit rapid growth into some of the most noteworthy culinary destinations across the country, with locations now in Montecito, Los Angeles, Miami, Austin, Seattle, Chicago, Dallas and Healdsburg.
