{"id":7028279,"date":"2026-08-05T09:06:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T09:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/som2nypost.com\/uncategorized\/gold-class-daruma-omakase-gold-class-value\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T09:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T09:06:12","slug":"gold-class-daruma-omakase-gold-class-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/som2nypost.com\/?p=7028279","title":{"rendered":"Gold Class Daruma Omakase | Gold Class Value"},"content":{"rendered":"


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You would not believe the level of cringe in writing this post. Not because of this post per se, nor does it have anything to do with Gold Class Daruma, or sushi chef Yuta Nakamura\u2019s omakase offering. But rather, because I had to go through the torture of re-reading my very own post<\/a> on the Grace Hotel\u2019s resident Japanese restaurant, three years ago in order to refresh myself to write this post, three years later. Any time I blast myself back to the past is a time I realise just how much changes \u2013 the writing (yuck), the photography (actually not bad), and sure enough, my views (what was I thinking?).<\/p>\n

This is either a good thing in that I\u2019ve ostensibly matured, or it\u2019s another case of wheel-spinning at trying to become better at something that\u2019s always out of reach. But as far as Gold Class Daruma\u2019s sushi omakase? I can confidently say things have only moved forward. At least something\u2019s improved.<\/p>\n

The multiplicity of changes in the omakase scene in the last few years has led to an influx of sushi offerings that\u2019s almost unrecognisable to that of even three years prior. This post isn\u2019t the right place to expand, but it\u2019s accurate to say the concept is closer to becoming mainstream<\/a> than ever before<\/a>. However, while more and more people discover the joy and wonder that only a truely glamorous omakase experience brings, it nevertheless remains a relatively expensive way to enjoy sushi \u2013 why yes, I\u2019m actually aware dropping $200-$350 on dinner is\u2026feel free to complete that sentence yourself. Even more so as kaitenzushi (sushi train) is, quite frankly, quite decent. With Sashimi Shinsengumi\u2019s <\/a>continued covid-induced hiatus, there are currently only two omakase experiences at a price point that could be considered \u2018value plays\u2019 (this is the other<\/a>). And to be clear, offering a tin of Caviar and carpet-bombing every dish with truffle for \u2018only\u2019 a few hundred dollars is not the kind value I\u2019m talking about. I like luxury ingredients as much as the next guy with more money than sense (except the difference is I have no money and no sense) but give me deliciousness underpinned by variety and a sprinkle of novelty and that\u2019ll win 8 days out of 10.<\/p>\n

Yuta Nakamura clearly understands the brief: at $99, his omakase at Gold Class Daruma SLAPS. It offers all the standard kit: the sashimi plate (otsukuri<\/em>)<\/strong>, chawanmushi<\/strong>, a saikyo-yaki <\/strong>that\u2019s honestly as good (in its own way) as all the other places that cost double, 10 pieces of nigiri and yes, you still get your fatty ootoro<\/strong>. Sure, the dessert is a bit weak, and you will absolutely have a better time if you prefer your rice (much) softer vs the standard al dente\/chewiness found elsewhere and yeah, if you put on your \u2018I\u2019ve had a bad day so I\u2019m going to be nasty to everyone\u2019 hat, you\u2019ll be able to nitpick to your heart\u2019s content.<\/p>\n

But far out, the ease of booking (underrated, especially if you don\u2019t have the patience\/connections), baseline execution, vibe and of course \u2013 value \u2013 makes for an offering that has little to no competition.<\/p>\n

I know, you\u2019re already going \u2018what, only 10 pieces?\u2019 Well the craziest bit is that requested extras are charged in the low single-digit dollars. Let me be clear: this is made-to-order sushi at nearly sushi train-level prices, and as an extra kicker \u2013 you don\u2019t necessarily have to get the same pieces either (though of course you can if you want). In our case, we asked for an extra five nigiri, and all were completely new fish, different parts of the same fish (bonus education points), or the same fish served a little differently.<\/p>\n

So what exactly has changed for Gold Class Daruma since 2018? Well, it seems like pretty much everything (the chef included!) \u2013 but most importantly, the fact that it\u2019s now solidly on my returns list.<\/p>\n

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