Yakitori Totto
New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 245-4555
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Between Broadway and 8th Avenue
- Directions:
- N, R, Q, W at 57th St; 1 at 59th St
- Hours:
- Mon-Wed 5:30pm-1am, Thu-Fri 5:30pm-3am, Sat 5:30pm-1am, Sun 5:30pm-12am
Editorial Review for Yakitori Totto – by Kara Zuaro
The Scene
At this lively second-floor joint, cooks glance up from mini-charcoal grills to shout Japanese greetings to all who enter, and waitresses with hair tied back into bright bandanas plug orders into Palm Pilots. Walk-ins pack the bar and slide into the tables along the wall. The private seating tucked behind partitions is often manned by suited businessmen, hungry for a taste of home.
The Draw
Organic chicken on a stick finds many forms here--expertly seared liver, snappy skin coiled around its skewer, a "chicken meatball" dipped in raw quail egg, or the chewy cartilage of soft knee bones. On the non-poultry tip, beef tongue and pork belly are deeply flavorful; slick raw octopus is marinated with crunchy scallions; and Asian mushrooms steep in an earthy broth. Fried bitter melon is extremely sour, but tiny peppers topped with bonito flakes offer a more palatable kick. Heavenly apricot tofu makes a fitting finale.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoRead the menu's English translations carefully if you're squeamish about eating raw poultry or chicken hearts. Less adventurous eaters should opt for the white meat drizzled with a tangy barbecue sauce.
What to DrinkYakitori is beer drinking fare and Japanese lagers are served in chilled clay mugs here, but the sake with lime makes a refreshing pairing, too.
Look GoodNot sure how much to order? A hungry diner can fill up on three to four sticks of yakitori and one rice ball. To ensure that everyone is full, get the tamago, a rich, savory omelet, for the table, too.
User Reviews for Yakitori Totto
06/14/2008 Posted by fk2008
I've been a fairly regular to Yakitori Totto for more than a year, food is decent but I had THE worst service I have ever had last night. I went there 5:30pm when they open which almost guarantee a spot without wait. I was first seated at the bar spot closet to the entrance where you cannot really enjoy your dinner without hitting your right elbow every time you pick up your chopsticks. (the place was fairly empty since it just opened for the night) I requested to move and they offered a table if we leave before 7pm, which was fine every time I went. Not this time, not only the waitress came over 4-5 times over the hour reminding us that we have to leave by 7pm from 5:40 til 6:30, never once asked how's the food and only refilled our hot tea once out of request. (The waitresses are pretty much different every few weeks - either they have different shifts or really high turnovers, so I think they're only trained how to put into orders into the handhelds device.) To top that off, another wait staff who wasn't serving us came over around 6:30, firmly asking us to move to the bar to finish the rest of our dinner. It was until I asked to know the reason why I was asked to move that she acknowledge and apologized for a seating mistake they have. I was on my last course(well, they came randomly, so don't expect appetizers to come before "main courses", which is ok with me), which I waited for at least 5 minutes after I finished my dishes prior to that, and I was asked to move without any reasons or apology. Our waiter came to apologize and I told her that she's rude coming here reminding us we have to leave by 7pm way before for numerous number of times and failed to tend to her customer, she apologized and claimed she would talk to her manager. In my opinion, this is too little, too late, and I did not hear any apology in any form from the manager. This is a totally disappointing experience, maybe because I'm not Japanese as per prev. posters.
Pros: Decent food. It's great if you are Japanese?
Cons: Very rude, unprofessional staff, long wait if you don't have reservation
06/13/2008 Posted by dwb2016
White not a seasoned yakitori expert, I was treated to an unforgettable dinner at this understated 2nd-floor dream, and was lucky enough to be joined by a real Japanese transplant to New York. The food might have been the best I've ever had in Manhattan, in the most authentic Tokyo setting. We were feeling adventurous and went for whatever was most obscure; the raw octopus was RIDICULOUSLY good, and the yakitoris were screaming with flavor and freshness. I'm struggling to think that you could go wrong with any dish at this restaurant. The setting was so intimate and inviting with gorgeous and bubbly Japanese waitresses. Snagging a table may be difficult but worth all the hassle! I have rarely been so satisfied with a meal. Go with a small group (max 4 people) and with your appetite. Don't be scared to try something different! Don't walk, run to this one-of-a-kind Japanese heaven far and away from every standard sushi joint.
Pros: Fabulous food, great shochu cocktails, beautiful people, did I mention FABULOUS food?
Cons: Difficult to get a table
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