Zenkichi - Valentine's Day 2017

I've written before about Zenkichi in Williamsburg, which is my favorite Japanese restaurant in NYC. Their extremely intimate atmosphere is perfect for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner. Miraculously, I still had the email about this meal (which featured the menu) archived so I can accurately state what each dish was, even though I'm posting 2+ years later!

Zenkichi
77 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY
https://www.zenkichi.com/

The restaurant's subdued front entrance is extremely easy to miss - look for the single lamp hanging over the otherwise unadorned wall. 

Lovely Valentine's set up.

Miso Soup

Hamaguri Clam

Assorted Chilled Plate:

Kumamoto Oyster

Hokkaido Zuwai-Gani (Snow Crab) Sunomono (Cucumber Salad)

Ankimo (Monkfish Liver) Uma-Ni

Bluefin Tuna Tartar & Caviar

Nasaba (Winter Mackerel) Hako-Zushi

Though everything on this plate was wonderful, I'm especially nuts about monkfish liver. Zenkichi's take was wonderfully subtle and delicate. 

Sashimi Plate:

Kanpachi (Amberjack)

Kinmedai (Bigeye Snapper)

King Salmon

Uni & Nori Tempura

Saikyo Miso Black Cod

This is Zenkichi's trademark dish - we've had it every time we've gone, and it continues to impress with its simple but rich, succulent flavor. 

Lobster & Uni Gratin

This should have been good, but it was actually quite disappointing. I think the dish must have sat for a while before service, as the creamy sauce had congealed after leaving the broiler. The uni did not fare well under the heat, having dried out and imparting an unpleasant fishiness to the whole dish. Why do this to poor uni??

Kobe Beef Filet Mignon

Brussels Sprouts

Tomato

Black Truffle

Hudson Valley Foie Gras Donburi

This incredible fusion dish finished the meal on an extremely high note. 

Frozen Black Sesame Mousse

Sesame Cookie

Japanese restaurants can often lack in the dessert department, but we are nuts about this black sesame mousse, which we get every time we visit. Did they need to include stupid gold leaf though??? I have a terrible pet-peeve against the stuff.