A longtime Rockland restaurateur has opened his first place in Westchester.
Chef/owner Doug Nguyen, who ownsSabi Sushi in Piermont and was the founding owner of Wasabi in Nyack, was always interested in Scarsdale so when he heard Kirari Sushi closed, he seized the opportunity.
The result is Nomi Sushi, which opened Aug. 18. What's different about this restaurant from his other spots (pre-Covid he also owned four places in Manhattan), is the focus on omakase. While a la carte is available, Nguyen said the curiosity of what's coming next is something diners increasingly prefer. It's also fun for him as it gives him the freedom to create what he wants, relying on the seasons and whatever fish is available at the market (he sources fish from all over
including Japan, Spain and Norway).
That means dinner on Wednesday will be completely different than supper on Saturday. "I like coming up with new ideas and surprising people," he said. The goal is to give customers an experience that's savored one course at a time.
For Nguyen, who likes adding fruit and vegetables to his creations, that might mean something with apples, which is one of his favorite ingredients. Sample dishes include a strawberry roll with tuna, blowtorch scallops, salmon yuzu and a blue crab hand roll.
All omakase meals are six courses, with options for the regular version ($115), added extras ($130), omakase lite ($98), sashimi ($120) and sashimi "more" ($140). This latter one includes premium fatty tuna belly and caviar, lobster and Wagyu. There's also an omakase boat for four for $450.
In addition, the a la carte menu features an abundance of hand rolls, sashimi and sushi such as yellowtail jalapeno, a truffle scallop roll, three fish carpaccio and pink lobster tail (prices range from $14 to $45). Naturally, there's a Scarsdale roll featuring tuna and avocado on the outside and blue/stone crab and spicy sauce inside.
The 27-seat restaurant also specializes in Japanese whiskeys, vodka, gin, and saki, mainly from small producers.
As for the décor, Nguyen had the place gutted, creating a warm, intimate space with blonde woods, subdued lighting, brown tables and gray chairs.
It's a vibe that melds perfectly with the restaurant's moniker, which Nguyen said translates to "drink and eat sushi."
If you go
Address: 30 Garth Road, Scarsdale, 845-756-7072, nomisushiscarsdale.com.
Hours: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Prices: Range from $14 to $45 for the a la carte menu and start at $95 for the six-course omakase.
Hungry for more food news?
Sign up for my free weekly newsletter, which often includes behind-the-scenes info I don't always share in my stories at profile.lohud.com/newsletters/manage.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland chef opens Nomi Sushi in Westchester
