Tokyo Record Bar
category: Japanese restaurant
address: 127 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012, United States
Phone: +1 212-420-4777
worktime:
address: 127 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012, United States
Phone: +1 212-420-4777
worktime:
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 6:30 PM–12 AM |
| Tuesday | 6:30 PM–12 AM |
| Wednesday | 6:30 PM–12 AM |
| Thursday | 6:30 PM–12 AM |
| Friday | 6:30 PM–12 AM |
| Saturday | 6:30 PM–12 AM |
| Sunday | Closed |
site: https://tokyorecordbar.com/
rayting: 4.1
services: From the business: Identifies as women-owned,
Service options: Dine-in,
Popular for: Dinner,
Accessibility:
Offerings: Beer, Cocktails, Late-night food, Wine,
Dining options: Dinner, Dessert,
Amenities: Bar on site, Toilets,
Atmosphere: Casual, Cosy, Trendy,
Crowd: Tourists,
Planning: Reservations required, Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations,
Payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments, Credit cards,
rayting: 4.1
services: From the business: Identifies as women-owned,
Service options: Dine-in,
Popular for: Dinner,
Accessibility:
Offerings: Beer, Cocktails, Late-night food, Wine,
Dining options: Dinner, Dessert,
Amenities: Bar on site, Toilets,
Atmosphere: Casual, Cosy, Trendy,
Crowd: Tourists,
Planning: Reservations required, Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations,
Payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments, Credit cards,
Name: D********** N**
Date: 2024-02-07 18:30:53
Rating: 5
Comment: Lovely spot with a great Hi fi sound system while the dj spins vinyl records.We order Yellowfin tuna over rice, Japanese fried chicken, Seaweed salad and the bartender recommended a Cocktail called Tokyo Cloud.We cant wait to go back :)
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Name: A******** L****
Date: 2024-01-23 22:15:29
Rating: 4
Comment: My experience at Tokyo Record Bar was exceptional. The friendly staff went out of their way to make me feel genuinely appreciated. The welcoming atmosphere, combined with the fantastic mix of great food and music, created an enjoyable setting. The spot-on sake pairings added a delightful touch, enhancing the flavors of the meal. Even dining alone, I quickly forgot about it, thanks to the engaging experience. Tokyo Record Bar truly delivers top-notch service and thoughtful touches, making it a standout dining destination.
Name: B** G********
Date: 2024-01-20 16:47:33
Rating: 4
Comment: This review is for the downstairs restaurant. The shtick of the place is great. Cool vibe, lots of energy, I like that each person picks a song.The food didn’t hit the mark for me. There were 2 items of the 7 course menu I’d order again. For $75, I would have wanted better.
Name: M****** F********
Date: 2023-12-11 23:48:32
Rating: 5
Comment: I am pretty sure all of the negative reviews are from people who don’t understand the concept of this great, unique spot.It is a tasting menu, you never know what you’ll be having until it arrives to your table — how fun! Each course was a fresh combination of ingredients that left you wanting more.It’s an intimate space and everyone is served the same course together. It feels like you’re at a big dinner party with strangers, everyone was chatting across tables and guessing who requested which album.The service was so good especially when they are juggling so much to ensure it’s well timed without rushing you.Will definitely be bringing friends back here!
Name: A** B*******
Date: 2023-10-27 00:43:35
Rating: 5
Comment: Had a really great time and dinner here the other night; after reading some of the negative reviews, maybe it just depends on the particular night. I would say the overall vibe is similar to that of a Japanese record bar and an Izakaya (but the NYC way) Do try to come on time, bc they like to seat everyone at the same time and bring out the courses accordingly. Since the menu changes, I will say the highlight dish from my night was the octopus with pistachio.
Name: B*** F*****
Date: 2023-08-22 16:50:22
Rating: 5
Comment: Tokyo Record Bar is located downstairs in the same building as Airs Champagne Parlor. I also have a review of Airs. TRB is a neat little place. They only have a tasting menu so there is no hassling with a menu. We did the basic (2 carafes) sake pairing. Picking our songs and having the DJ create a unique playlist with dinner was a treat. Since we were in Airs, upstairs before our seating at TRB, we heard several of the songs on the previous diners playlist and the two couldnt have been more different. It will always be a different experience at TRB.The food was delicious. The oysters with roe were a little briny for my taste, but still good. The carrot wellington-like course was delicious and I wish I could figure out how to make those at home. All of the courses came out in smooth intervals and we had plenty of time to enjoy each. I was a little disappointed in the dessert course of watermelon with honey and other ingredients only because I am a watermelon purest. But others at the table enjoyed it. The slice of pizza to go was the perfect breakfast the next morning. They even brought a slice out with a candle for the birthday boy.
Name: A***** H**
Date: 2023-08-12 04:37:26
Rating: 5
Comment: A fabulous date night spot (or friendly gathering) with its niche being the ability to play a vinyl record of your choosing from their extensive list!Went for a date night dinner with their prefix course. While every dish was great, the oysters that were served as an appetizer were truly remarkable!I no longer recall the name of the dishes served, but hope the photos do them justice :)Overall, the experience was unique and intimate! Located in the basement floor of a bar (with a very unassuming exterior), the ambiance is great and service is fantastic. Ask your server for recommendations on sake pairings!
Name: J***** H*******
Date: 2023-07-23 17:47:27
Rating: 5
Comment: Incredible experience Tokyo Record Bar.The food was outstanding. Each course better than the last and left quite full! Loved the to go pizza as the final course. Everything before it was delicious too, from the pulled pork rice cake, to the oyster with roe to the tuna over eggplant to the octopus salad to the scallops!The sake pairing was generous and delicious.The service was tremendous with exceptionally engaging and friendly staff.And of course the ambiance is the best part, with the patrons all selecting a single vinyl record song that the staff play throughout the course of dinner.A heavenly date spot!! Just go!!
Name: C**** P******
Date: 2023-07-15 16:28:30
Rating: 5
Comment: What a cool concept for a restaurant! Great for date night or catch up w a good friend.We had a blast. Vibes were great, food was creative and flavorful. It wasn’t over filling - just enough food.The people that run this place feel like friends. They topped us off a few times and I would absolutely go back!
Name: A*** J*
Date: 2023-07-15 14:49:47
Rating: 5
Comment: I dined here for my birthday and loved every minute of it! This place is so cool and I love how intimate it is (seats up to 16). As soon as you are seated, you scan a barcode at your table and pick 1 song from a vast list of songs to give to the DJ, so she can make the playlist for the night. Selections range from 1950s to now, which makes the playlist so unique.We all loved the food! All of the plates were flavorful and well presented! We also did the Preimium Sake tasting and each selection paired nicely with each dish. What makes this place stand out is they change their menu every Monday, making you want to come back and see what else they have to offer!Tokyo Record Bar is a cool dining experience and Ill definitely be back! Try it, you wont be disappointed.
Name: S******* L**
Date: 2023-07-04 00:40:15
Rating: 5
Comment: This place blew my got dam mind. So much fun, so much creative flavor. Really fun selection of music by the guests. Music choices are all great though, so it would be hard to go wrong.We loved sitting right in front of the chef, getting to interact with him and his wife who were DJ’ing. I think we didn’t know we were picking the best seats in the house.Food was very tasty and plated with care. We’re in the middle of season 2 of The Bear, so we were feeling extra appreciative of the effort and presentation that went into it.Every dietary restriction was taken care of and given special consideration. All around me people seemed to need accommodations and they were all considered.It was hot as hell this summer, so the chef made us ice cold towels to wear part way through the evening to keep us cool.Pics of what we ate. Enjoyed all of it! Just don’t expect the same menu as it seems to change week over week.What a fun experience and a great price.Oh yes, and fresh baked pizza to go. Yes, chef!
Name: J*** T
Date: 2023-05-25 17:45:20
Rating: 5
Comment: Incredible dining experience, well worth trying to get a booking. It offers an intimate and unique dining setting. The food is sublime with each course being better then the last. Staff are incredibly friendly and they have a amazing offering of saké. Dont miss out on this
Name: T
Date: 2023-03-18 23:45:59
Rating: 5
Comment: Had the best time here! we spent our first night in nyc here and it kicked off a great trip for us, everyone that worked here was phenomenal and the food was out of this world
Name: W***** X*
Date: 2023-03-11 08:18:14
Rating: 4
Comment: Definitely a fun experience and one to take your guests to to impress! First off, the decor was bougie New York style in a basement rather than Japanese style. The songs are selected by the dining crowd and played for the entire 1.5 hour experience, alot of options to choose from. You can optionally get a sake pairing with the 3 main courses, they go down pretty smoothly. The appetizer was an oyster, and the mains included a pescatarian option for myself and grilled pork for the regular menu. There was another sashimi plate to share and a deep fried croquette which were the only Japanese-esque dishes. The desert was a chocolate ganache which was very rich, and they end it off with a thick slab of pizza which you could take either way. Overall I would say its not very like the experience in Tokyo and youll eat less Japanese food than expected, but it was still a great dinner!
Name: S*** D*********
Date: 2023-03-07 18:49:44
Rating: 5
Comment: Fun omikase spot in the village. Really good food from a rotating menu they change up each week. Their scallops and oysters specifically were amazing! Super nice staff and fun experience. Loud and lively - the record aspect makes it fun and adds to the ambiance. Highly reccommend!
Name: E****** K**
Date: 2023-03-06 13:33:10
Rating: 4
Comment: Hard to get reservations so check back often. This is located underneath a champagne bar. Walk into the bar and they will announce you to the restaurant. The restaurant has curated menu that changes every week and seats 12ppl. There is also a curated record that plays during dinner and the music choices are amazing. The thing that got us was that the dinner wasn’t traditional Japanese it was a mix of Japanese, Italian and bit of American flare. Definitely trendy though and the ambiance was fun. Bring a small group or date for sure.
Name: O***** G******
Date: 2023-02-21 18:42:34
Rating: 5
Comment: So awesome!! Don’t be late, everything is timed/coordinated. They did a great job of accommodating my vegetarian friend
Name: R*** V******
Date: 2022-12-03 16:25:23
Rating: 5
Comment: Such a fun experience! Went for a friend’s birthday and we loved the exciting atmosphere they provided. Set menu was really tasty and unique. A great place to dig into some sake and pick some records to drink and eat to!
Name: K**** L****
Date: 2022-10-30 20:56:44
Rating: 5
Comment: I cannot recommend this experience highly enough. Getting a reservation be tricky but its worth the effort.The food cannot be faulted. The duck was truly the stand out dish. While degustation meals can sometimes be unfulfilling, the portions were generous and we walked out absolutely stuffed full. I would really recommend adding a sake experience to complement the dishes and kick off the night.The intimate environment enables the host team to deliver a truly unique experience with a curated playlist and attentive service. They created a bond between diners and brought a whole heaps of energy!
Name: D***** F*****
Date: 2022-10-28 16:33:21
Rating: 5
Comment: Highly recommend - its a really fun place, you choose songs to play, its fairly small with tasting menus, the staff are very attentive, the food is interesting and constantly rotating menu, it was both vibrant and fun, and also nice and somewhat intimate for a good date night - recommend for the experience! Plus Pizza to go at the end!
Name: O**** Y******
Date: 2022-08-19 12:35:18
Rating: 5
Comment: Absolutely insane experience last night here for dinner. Came to celebrate my husbands birthday - he is not easily impressed but this did the job! Great ambiance. Food was delicious. Did the omakase sake pairing & tried the cocktail. I read reviews that the food portions were small but we thought it was the perfect amount. We loved picking songs to listen to on vinyl. Highly recommend a glass of champagne at Airs Champagne Parlor before dinner.
Name: M******* E
Date: 2022-07-30 16:03:21
Rating: 5
Comment: Though my song didn’t play, still a great dining experience. The fish and the brisket were my favorites! For 4 people, the bottle of sake was a better deal than the carafes.
Name: D****** P*******
Date: 2022-07-10 10:50:17
Rating: 5
Comment: Would 100% recommend this place. $65 for five courses of good food with an awesome atmosphere. You all select a record when you first get seated to be played whilst you are dining and we loved guessing whether ours was going to be up next and trying to work out what each other had picked. A true hidden gem in the city. We want to go back already.
Name: J**** Z**
Date: 2022-07-08 01:16:21
Rating: 4
Comment: Fun atmosphere, with music and a very kind staff. Food, however, was not as impressive
Name: H***** D********
Date: 2022-06-19 18:28:36
Rating: 4
Comment: Tokyo Record Bar is a memorable dining experience run by a personable crew.If you enjoy interesting or novel things, TRB wouldnt be a bad choice. At $65 a person, I think youre getting a fair amount of value. Not every plate had ideal seasoning or balance (my husband had trouble eating the fried rice + I struggled with the raw peas + overwhelming sweetness in the scallop dish) but some of them were very pleasant. The fish and the shrimp dish were tasty and the miso affogato + pizza at the end were extremely on point conclusions. 👏 One thing to note is that our 10:30 reservation didnt get seated until 11pm or so. 🤷♀️The ambiance, music selection, and personalities of the staff made the evening an overarching net positive. I would be very eager to follow how the cuisine here evolves. 🤔Overall, the experience was very unique and stimulating. If you are seeking a good spot for a date night or a change of pace, TRB is worth a visit.
Name: C*** D**************
Date: 2022-06-18 03:22:19
Rating: 5
Comment: Second time I’ve been and it remains one of my favorite dining experiences in the city. Thoroughly enjoyed everything they served, the atmosphere was impeccable, great sake selection, and it is more than worth $65. Set up a resy reminder for this spot and book it as soon as availability pops up.
Name: S**** H**
Date: 2022-04-24 23:42:17
Rating: 5
Comment: This restaurant has a fun lively vibe - you get to select 1 song and they’ll play it over the speaker so the whole room can listen (like karaoke without the actual karaoke) - sadly my husband’s choice never got played 😢. The restaurant menu is a tasting course/omakase - and they are very good about adjusting to your dietary preferences/allergies. All good was delicious asian fusion, and there’s many sake options. It has 3 seatings on a Saturday night and the space is small so reserve ahead of time. It seems like a popular place for celebrations - 4 different groups celebrated birthdays at one sitting! The service was excellent and you could tell the staff were about having a good time and taking care of you. Very enjoyable experience, great date spot!
Name: D******* W**********
Date: 2022-04-12 14:22:49
Rating: 5
Comment: I found the entire experience incredibly refreshing. The food was imaginative and well-thought out. The course progression made sense and the sake pairings were delightful. The music was fun! I wouldn’t come here expecting a deep dive into American vinyl so for the casual listener it was more than welcome to the ears. The shining star of this place is the staff though!! They could not be more fun or sweet and ultimately elevated the whole experience. Worthy of a visit for sure.
Name: S***** A*****
Date: 2022-03-27 18:49:06
Rating: 5
Comment: Loved this experience at TRB! A tasty 7 course affair, with beer that went down too easy, good music (chosen by the guests) and good banter from the DJ and host.This place was a recommendation, so had no idea what to expect. With none of the faff of having to choose your menu, the 7 courses were enough to have you rolling out. I was very happy with the selection:1. New Brunswick oysters2. Red snapper sashimi, oolong tea3. Lobster risotto4. Baked cauliflower and broccoli in a spicy sauce (wish I had asked what it was and not just plough through it!)5. Skate Katsu and spicy mayo and slaw. This thing just fell apart, sooooo good!6. Banana brûlée7. Pizza ???! For desert??? Why not. Was a unit of a piece.I’d be back here in a flash. Maybe try the sake flights next time.Particular music highlights were: 99 problems; Little Red Corvette.Thanks to the Chefs and DJ for a great evening!
Name: Y*****
Date: 2022-02-28 01:00:32
Rating: 5
Comment: Very fun, with unique food options — the watermelon katsu was very memorable
Name: A***** S*********
Date: 2021-12-28 15:08:39
Rating: 5
Comment: Great experience! They do a great job at pairing the food with the music.
Name: C****** F**
Date: 2021-12-01 03:36:17
Rating: 5
Comment: One of the best dining experiences I’ve had in NY. Do yourself a favor and go.
Name: P*** R***
Date: 2021-11-28 05:43:43
Rating: 5
Comment: Amazing! The food was absolute delicious. Sake was great. Wonderful and unique experience. The lobster corndog was just outta this world.
Name: D*************
Date: 2021-07-07 16:58:52
Rating: 5
Comment: I think the full experience is waiting for you inside, so do that if you can. The host is super fun and friendly and ready to set the party vibe - at one point between courses everyone in the room got up and started dancing to one of the songs. It was a PARTY! Never felt too crowded though - seats appropriately spaced. I thought the food was good and I’ve had my fair share of tasting menus. The sake was flowing. In a word - this place was FUN. It’s definitely an experience. I’d take out of town friends here bc it’s one of those New York things.Also, i thought you could pick any song but it’s actually from their record collection - a set list of songs. You literally can’t pick a bad one lol.
Name: M***
Date: 2021-04-09 19:30:42
Rating: 5
Comment: Much enjoyed the outdoor dining on a rainy evening (with the sounds of music and raindrops)The sake pairing with the izakaya pre fixe was above and beyond!! The best sake experience in nyc! Especially loved the friendly server’s detailed and fun explanations for each sake that was chosen for the night!! Can’t wait to go back for indoor dining for another atmosphere!
Name: S****
Date: 2021-03-06 04:53:34
Rating: 4
Comment: Hip Japanese spot. The course meal was fun and fresh including house made Korean kimchi served with other side dishes. They may want to use little less sauce; they got either little too salty or heavy though, all the dishes were still very tasty. My favorite dish was a salmon & salmon roe don.
Name: E**** W*****
Date: 2021-02-20 12:37:36
Rating: 5
Comment: Did the Izakaya prefix dinner paired with the omakase sake tasting and everything was delicious!
Name: J*** W***
Date: 2020-11-24 22:35:13
Rating: 5
Comment: You have to set food into this place when coming to NY. For Hifi lovers like me, Tokyo Record Bar was an unlikely experience with such a cool DJ that night. Food is ridiculously good and service very pleasant.
Name: M****** G******
Date: 2020-01-16 03:15:57
Rating: 5
Comment: Incredible hidden drinking and dining experience, ask for Austin to teach you everything you ever wanted to know about Sake ... and to top off the evening, we were served pizza after our pre-fixe meal #winning #amazing #sakeittome
Name: E**** F*******
Date: 2019-10-11 06:23:00
Rating: 5
Comment: Best place for: food, drinks and music! You can select your tune from the record menu and while having sake and awesome Japanese food you will be grooving on the music you like!They play records on high end gears: McIntosh and Sonus faber, absolutely stunning!Don’t wait anymore!!!
Name: E***** L***
Date: 2019-06-20 15:10:13
Rating: 5
Comment: Not just another hidden restaurant...It’s tiny 18-seat restaurant under a bar on macdougal street where everyone dining pick the vinyls that will play during the meal - everyone has one song! It’s really a group experience. Everyone enters at the same time and is served the same 7-course menu together. The staff is amazing and really makes the night. Everything is happening in this unreal yet cheerful atmosphere. The food is good but a bit of a hit or miss with some excellent dishes and some more plain. If you like sake, I recommend having the pairing, they’ll obv tailor it to the courses but also to you.You’ll leave wanting to stay longer but just be grateful you got to spend these two wonderful hours there :)More @le_foodreview
Name: N*******
Date: 2019-04-20 15:20:47
Rating: 4
Comment: Fun dining experience despite the cheap paper plates.
Name: S**** M**
Date: 2018-12-21 10:24:45
Rating: 5
Comment: I touched base with them in September - well before tables were available as it was my daughters 21st birthday visit to NYC in November and I had read good reviews for here and how difficult it was to book a table. Amanda replied and booked us a table well in advance.So glad we did as the evening was so fun. sStarting off with some champagne in the champagne bar - followed by a very nice sushi tasting menu. The record list was varied and different - and we played a game to see if we could pick each others songs when they were played.The staff remembered it was my daughters birthday - and bought sweet out with a candle and played Stevie Wonder Happy birthday thanks!!We paid and gave a tip - but got confused and didnt pay the accustomed 15-20%. We were asked if everything was ok as we hadnt given the correct tip - we did feel slightly threatened by that - but now looking back on it - they were really polite and did say that they were worried that everything was not up to scratch. We did leave some most dollars on the table as we left - and the experience with the tipping helped us in our stay.Glad we went and experienced the night - highlight of our stay - great fun and recommend anyone to visit. the a/work in the toilet is a brilliant manga artwork.
Name: C***** V*********
Date: 2018-07-28 21:07:07
Rating: 4
Comment: Great experience having dinner at the bar and listening to the music everyone chose. Japanese food was good and funny at the same time, specially the delicious pizza after dessert. The whole experience is much better if you sit at the bar and see dishes preparation and the DJ. Super fun staff.
Name: M****** W****
Date: 2018-06-17 01:47:34
Rating: 5
Comment: Fun dining experience, delicious omakase Japanese menu at an affordable price.If seated early, you can elect records to be played by the record player DJ.Intimate (seats ~18), advance booking required.
Name: P W***
Date: 2018-04-01 16:24:46
Rating: 4
Comment: We came in the other night, I was so excited that I scored a reservation for a Friday night. It’s very crowded due to the tiny space. Music was very loud, but I enjoyed the playlist. Food was good but nothing special or great. Each dish had an interesting idea but was not well executed. The prix fixe is relatively cheap compared to other NY restaurants. The sake options are very pricey and not worth it. The service was good enough, but I agree with the other reviewers that it could be better since it’s such a small space.
Name: M W
Date: 2018-02-15 06:11:11
Rating: 5
Comment: Went here for Valentine’s Day and wasn’t sure what to expect based on reviews; however, the food and the service were fantastic - both upstairs at the bar before dinner and throughout the rest of the evening. Absolutely loved our time here and will definitely be back.
Name: N***** S*****
Date: 2017-12-21 01:47:23
Rating: 5
Comment: Amazing experience! Great food and fun atmosphere. Highly recommend!
Name: L*** C*****
Date: 2017-11-24 18:18:27
Rating: 5
Comment: Im not sure where all the complaints are coming from. I was prepared for a very mixed experience and came away delighted. The food was delicious and super reasonable. Maybe the set menu isnt like that as we did a la carte, but each dish was exceptional and fairly portioned.
Name: M***** A**
Date: 2024-02-10 00:43:55
Rating: 5
Comment: What an incredible experience. The space was beautiful, the food was incredible. If you do one thing in NYC, this has GOT to be it. Amanda and Benny are the most gracious hosts, my date and I laughed, we cried, reminisced with a dope playlist. Met cool people around us, and just had the most incredible time. Benny was incredibly knowledgeable about the sakes and took us on an incredible journey of memories and origins with the sake and showed us the proper methods of respect. Once again, could not recommend this beautiful, delicious, intimate experience more