It’s hard to find authentic Japanese food in the city. Often times, it’s just generic Asian-American, or a somewhat eclectic mix of Asian cuisines smashed together with generic Mt. Fuji murals and Japanese lanterns.
And even when you do finally encounter a Japanese restaurant with a menu that has authentic dishes (not just sushi and chicken teriyaki), it’s even rarer for the staff to be Japanese as well. Only a handful of places do this in New York.
Rockmeisha is one of them. Japanese service is incredibly good, and this is where you should go to experience it.
The menu is fun. And not fun in the usual way, with cool graphics or novel items. It’s fun in that, while you are handed a traditional menu, you also have to look around. You’ll find little hand-written menus posted on the walls, on the table, on a chalkboard, or across the room. It seems the longer you look, the more hidden options you’ll find.
The owner and head chef is always busy in the kitchen making your order, and he does an exemplary job. Everything there is worth trying, especially the specials.
Rockmeisha is one of the few places where I feel nostalgia for my time in Japan not just because of the flavors of the food, but the flavors of the restaurant istelf.