Japanese-French Fare at Class on 38th (NYC)

Class on 38th is an elegant Japanese establishment located a short distance south of Bryant Park, offering interesting shochu and sake-based cocktails (they do not have a full liquor license yet) and elevated izakaya cuisine. Situated within a narrow space adorned with tiles and exposed brick, the restaurant offers reinterpretations of traditional izakaya dishes.

We savored several dishes during our visit, with standout selections including the Toro Uni Caviar, a delicately crafted tin featuring Bluefin fatty tuna, sea urchin, ikura, and Kaluga caviar served atop Hokkaido milk toast. Another highlight was the Tataki, showcasing seared bluefin akami zuke marinated in soy, complemented by white truffle soy and shiso avocado puree. Additionally, the salmon ikura kamameshi, prepared in a traditional clay pot with Japanese Koshihikari rice, roasted Scottish salmon, salmon roe, myoga, and shiso, proved to be a delightful fusion of flavors and textures. The Toro Uni Caviar dish tantalized with its seductive, silky textures, while the tataki impressed with its minimalist yet very good execution. As for the salmon ikura rice dish, it delighted with perfectly cooked rice, generous portions of salmon, and a beautifully balanced seasoning.