Matsugen

Forget questions about which fork to use for the salad, the Japanese have their own established dining etiquette rules. So it is no surprise that a proper soba house run by Jean-Georges Vonrichten (also one to enforce dining etiquette) have their own, in house soba instructor- surely a blessing to the fine dining clueless. He does exactly what you would think a soba instructor to do: he teaches you how to slurp. Don't be scared to bring your elderly grandfather prone to eating his soup noisily; with soba, it’s actually a recommended technique for the best flavor, (though beware of the decibel limit).



Taka Matsushita, as soba instructor extraordinaire, and one of the three brothers Matsushita who opened the new Matsugen with JGV, will hold your hand in this fine dining establishment. Designed by thomas juul-hansen (designer of Jean Georges' Perry Street), the space is sleek and minimal, complete with the requisite communal table and giant fish tank accounted for.

This place gets 5 stars for the ambiance. The food actually gets 3 because its just not all that. Back to the ambiance- beautiful space ... and beautiful people dining! Really a wonderful date spot.