Tuesday, December 6, 2011

An appreciation of sorts: That kind of weird sushi place on the Bowery

Might as well stay on the Bowery... This past summer, I exchanged emails with EV Grieve readers John and Madeline ... the point of the conversation: 355 Bowery, home of Osaka Vibe Sushi. It was more of an appreciation in this day of so many fashionable eateries along this stretch ... There's a lot going on in this photo that John took....


The C grade! Jello shots! The handwritten sign on neon paper! The promise of karaoke! The eternal help-wanted ad! Not to mention the vaguely sketchy fire hose handle attached to the door (see bottom photo for that) ...

Plus, you could usually count on finding someone asleep on the front stoop...


The place eventually got its grade up to an A. Never been inside. No plans on it either. This is an appreciation from afar.


Anyway, we've been meaning to post all this... Meantime (horrors!), we've noticed that the place has been closed of late... a sign appeared over the weekend...


Come back soon, kind of weird sushi place on the Bowery... the 7-Eleven is opening soon next door. We need you.
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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 6, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    Afghan sushi.

    ReplyDelete
  2. abrodDecember 6, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    This place is always empty, even before the renovations. Always struck me as an "eat here at your own risk" kind of place.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 6, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    Agreed, there is never anyone in here. There just is not the business on this road to support anything in the area. Tourists come out of their hotel just long enough to jump in a cab. I give the 7-11 2 years tops and it'll move out, too. Half old school, half changed, half given up on - the Bowery no longer has any consistent identity. yuck.

    ReplyDelete
  4. VH McKenzieDecember 6, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    Sushi with a C rating? Ew.

    Pass me a jello shot.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 6, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    I'll have the prix fixe dinner but may I substitute a jello shot for the wine?

    ReplyDelete
  6. KurtDecember 6, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    Osaka Vibe was formerly known as Orange Valve and I believe the fire hose handle you refer to was painted orange (get it, get it? oranage valve?!).

    I came in here once 4 or 5 years ago to watch a playoff basketball game because every other bar was too annoying and this place is crazy. It's run by Chinese and we were the only ones in the place except for a few guys in the back playing either Dominoes or Mah Jong. They started selling simple Chinese food (dumplings, etc.) a couple of years back but I guess that didn't work so they conveniently changed their name to Osaka Vibe and started serving sushi.

    I walk past all the time and there is never more than 5 people in there. I can't figure out how they could possible be making any money because their rent has to be sky high.

    ReplyDelete
  7. glammaDecember 7, 2011 at 11:07 AM

    your last two sentences were the stuff of genius. talk about nailing it on the head LOL!

    ReplyDelete

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