YouScoop spent last week in the Big Apple and will deliver a few NYC scoops over the next couple of weeks.  First on deck - the best sushi in the City.

Blue Ribbon Sushi, 119 Sullivan Street in SoHo, offers absolutely no frills and does not take reservations.  The restaurant has a cult following in NYC, though the space can feel a bit tight.  A newer post, Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, opened across the street from the Shops at Columbus Circle and offers a more comfortable experience (6 Columbus Circle - just off of West 58th Street).

Inside the Time Warner Center, on the fourth floor of the Shops at Columbus Circle, you’ll find Bar Masa.  The casual side of the the incredibly expensive Masa (meals there start at $300+ per person), the restaurant does not accept reservations.  Bar Masa serves superior sushi, and though still expensive, offers an amazing Japanese dining experience at a fraction of the cost of neighboring Masa.

Nobu, at 105 Hudson Street in Tribeca, just might be the most famous sushi restaurant in the world, and for good reason.  The food is incredible - and no other restaurant in town attracts more celebrities.  The Nobu empire headed to Midtown a couple of years ago, opening Nobu 57 at 40 W. 57th Street.  Securing a reservation at Nobu or Nobu 57 can prove difficult, but check in the late afternoon for last minute cancellations.  Next Door Nobu, also in Tribeca, only accepts walk-ins. 

Bond Street, 6 Bond Street in the East Village, is back after a devastating fire.  Not as high profile as Nobu, but not quite as casual as Blue Ribbon, Bond Street stakes claim to a really nice middle ground.  The restaurant fills each night with a young and attractive clientele, eager to enjoy fine Japanese fare.

At Morimoto, 88 Tenth Ave. in the Meatpacking District, diners walk into quite a scene.  Morimoto worked for Nobu, then moved to Philadelphia to open his own restaurant.  The NYC outpost opened a little over two years ago and continues to receive rave reviews.

Blue Fin, 1567 Broadway in the W Hotel Times Square, welcomes tourists and theater-goers alike.  While large and relatively family friendly, the sushi is still top notch.

Soto, 357 Sixth Ave in the West Village, bills itself as a place for experienced sushi connoisseurs, not a place for novices.  Expect artful dishes with vibrant and distinctive flavors.

Be sure to order the omakase menu whenever possible, especially if you venture to Soto (where it is apparently a MUST).  Omakase meals typically start at $80 per person, but are well worth the price.  In an omakase meal, the chef chooses and serves his best dishes of the night - typically in 5-7 small courses. 

Visit any of the above and you’ll be on quite a roll (click on restaurants for available links).