Ninja New York

SUMMARY:
So my brother was turning 18. He is the type of person that is so hard to shop for; has everything he needs, doesn't want anything else. I decided that instead of getting him a material gift, I would take him out somewhere nice. I knew though that this had to be a unique experience; something that would be memorable. I saw this place on the Travel Channel called Ninja NY. It boasted a dining experience unlike any other. The restaurant looks like an old world Japanese castle complete with bridges and moats. And even better, your served by an authentic Ninja. 

Located in Tribeca, Ninja NY sits inconspicuously on Hudson Street. Passing by, you might not even notice it. At first we didn't, and we were looking for it! This is all a part of the Ninja experience. It is subtle from the outside, and discreet; but once inside, you are transported into a cave, with just enough room for a few chairs and a hostess podium. To the right of the podium is an elevator that brings you downstairs into the Ninja Castle. 


Once downstairs, a Ninja immediately popped out and scared us. He asked us which path we would like to take into the dining room: the easy path, which was behind a large wooden door, or the challenging path, which was behind another door to our left. Obviously we chose the challenging path. I don't want to give too much away, but it was cramped, narrow, and involved going up and down some stairs. 


Once inside, the decor was incredible. Each table is in a semi-private area with screen doors. There are bridges and railings that mimic the exterior of a Ninja Castle. Large lanterns hang from the walls illuminating the space. There is also another seating area that resembles a rock garden (not semi-private though). It honestly was incredible. 


Once we were brought to our table, which was a private booth with a screen door, we met our Ninja for the evening. He gave us Ninja Scroll Menus (PS- if you go, check out the description under Miso Soup). We ordered the fixed course menu, which I definitely recommend, especially if you are unfamiliar with Japanese food. I personally am not a huge fan of Japanese food, but I enjoyed it. I had no idea what I was eating half the time, but I think that half the fun was trying the new foods, and then being surprised about what it was later. 


Our dinner consisted of 5 courses which lasted the span of approximately 2 hours. I definitely appreciated that they really take the time to space out the meals accordingly, because quite honestly I would have been ticked if it felt rushed. They take that kind of time with all their tables it seemed.


There was also a magician on staff who had some really entertaining tricks. He would visit your table if you wished throughout the course of the night. The real entertainment though comes from the Ninja servers. Some dishes are what they call "Ninja Art" dishes, which involve some sort of show/magic. For instance, one involved pulling a sword out of our appetizer, another a karate chop. There was definitely a lot of fire and mist coming out of many of the dishes which was very cool. Even in between meals the Ninjas try to sneak up on you and scare you. Sometimes they just yell... but one Ninja set off a flash bang which completely blinded the entire table for about 3 minutes. That definitely was awesome.


When I received the bill I almost had a heart attack. I am not going to lie, this place can get pricey, especially when going with a group. Then, our Ninja brought over complimentary authentic Ninja New York sticker sheets for everyone. This made me feel a bit better. Looking back though, I feel like it was well worth it. It is something that my brother still talks about to this day. 


CONCLUSION:
If your looking for a unique experience and you have an open mind, then definitely try Ninja New York. You have to realize though, that with this type of restaurant you are paying more for the experience than you are the food. If you go with any other mindset, you probably won't have as much fun as you could have. Surprisingly though, the food was enjoyable. You have to make reservations, and they are very busy, so reserve in advance. For first-timers, the hostess suggested reserving a semi-private room, which we did; definitely do the same if it is your first time to ensure you get the full experience (there is no extra charge for sitting in the semi-private area). If your the type of person that doesn't enjoy being scared, still go. You can handle it. It is all in good fun.


QUICK REVIEW:
Price: Dinners range from $30+ Course range from $49+
Dress: Trendy Casual/Dressy
Reservations: A Must
Parking: can take Public Transportation, parking garages located nearby
Must Order: "Ninja Art" Dishes
FYI: Apparently, servers must go through a Ninja training program to work there. 

Tula

SUMMARY:
So for the past year or so, I've been driving by this small, yet trendy looking place on Easton Avenue in New Brunswick called Tula. I always wanted to try it, but never really got around to it. One day, my boyfriend and I were trying to think of a new restaurant for the night, and for some reason we both thought of this one.

We placed a reservation through opentable that afternoon, and snagged a table for the night. Upon entering, we were politely greeted and escorted to our table. Tula is not a large space. It is rather intimate, with dim lighting, candlelight, and cozy booths. Our waitress was really excited about the menu selection, which made me enthused. The menu changes frequently depending on the season. This is also reassuring and exciting because it shows they prepare their meals with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and switch things up from time to time.

For an appetizer, my guest had Carrot Soup, which honestly, I was a little apprehensive about. I've heard of butternut squash soup, pumpkin soup, sweet potato soup, but carrot soup? I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. It's taste and texture was similar to a butternut squash soup, and seemed to be spiced like any other typical fall soup... but then... the heat came. There was definitely a kick to this soup. Just enough to make you go for the water glass, yet subtle enough to make you want more. It actually was the perfect balance of flavors. For dinner, I had the most amazing take on a carbonara. In addition to the pancetta, egg, and cheese (which by the way, they were generous with), they added roasted butternut squash. It was an unexpected surprise, but the flavors worked really well together. Oh, and did I mention? The pasta is homemade.

For dessert, we split a homemade banana empanada with dulce de leche ice cream. My biggest mistake was splitting it. I highly recommend getting your own, and keeping it to yourself. The empanada was fantastic on its own, but the ice cream made it. It was a huge baseball-size worth, and was so incredibly dense. Tula actually gets the ice cream from the ice cream parlor next door. The caramel flavor combined with the warm banana was killer. I'd honestly go back just for that.

CONCLUSION:
All in all, we had a great experience and would definitely return. The staff was friendly, the food was delicious, and the location is awesome. After dinner, you can stay at their bar/lounge, or venture out to the many bars and clubs that are in the area. Something I didn't mention though is the price. It is definitely a place you want to make a reservation for, and get dressed up to go to, but the prices are reasonable. It is a nice evening out that won't put a huge dent in your wallet.

QUICK REVIEW:
Price: Dinners range from $10 - $34
Dress: Trendy Casual
Reservations: Yes
Parking: Off-street, limited. Give yourself enough time to get there and park.
Must Order: The Banana Empanada
FYI: The restaurant next door, Evelyn's is the same owner (but I haven't tried it).