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.
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